“Husband, you must be hungry. I’ve prepared the meal and have been waiting for you to come back.”
His maid wife had already set out the bowls and chopsticks on the table. She stepped out of the room and looked at the bag slung over Li Chen’s body, her eyes filled with delight.
She had heard his earlier conversation with Zhou Dahai and the young men.
Just half a day up the mountain, and he had gained such a harvest?
He had even killed a huge leopard?
And in the morning, he had shot down a wild boar with just two arrows, earning the entire village’s praise…
Her husband was simply amazing.
Just as she was thinking this, Li Chen suddenly placed a small furry bundle into her arms. “For you.”
“What is this? A kitten?”
She held the little creature, whose eyes had not yet opened, and asked in surprise.
“A tiger cub,” Li Chen said.
“Wow, such a cute little… what? A tiger? Oh heavens!”
Her hands trembled, and she nearly threw the cub away.
Fortunately, Li Chen reacted swiftly, catching the little tiger in his arms before it could fall to its death.
“Ah, I’m sorry, Husband…”
She spoke awkwardly.
“It’s fine. It’s just a newborn tiger. Its eyes aren’t open yet. When it does open them, the first person it sees will be its parent.”
Li Chen gently stroked its still-thin fur as he spoke.
“Really?”
She half-believed him and cautiously extended a slender finger to poke the cub’s soft belly.
The little tiger squirmed and let out a cry.
“Why does it sound like a duck?”
She almost laughed.
It didn’t seem fierce at all.
“They sound like that when they’re young. When they grow up, their roar will frighten people.”
Li Chen smiled.
“Oh my… so its mother is dead. Poor little tiger…”
Yu Qingwan held the cub, her eyes reddening.
Li Chen knew she was thinking of her own past.
He sighed softly and patted her arm. Then he took out the rest of the game and stacked it neatly inside the house, planning to lower it into the well later to keep it fresh.
“One, two, three, four… five wild chickens, and more than thirty big birds. Husband, you’re incredible…”
She looked at the pile of prey with joy.
In this era of war and famine, only grain and meat could bring true peace of mind.
“There’s also the big leopard. You forgot to count that.”
Li Chen smiled and stepped outside to drag the leopard in.
Under the lamplight, each strand of its black fur gleamed with an oily sheen.
“It’s so big… so frightening…”
Even though it was dead, the leopard still terrified her. She hid behind Li Chen, peeking out with only one eye, her voice trembling.
“We won’t sell it. Taking it to the city would be too conspicuous and might bring trouble. I’ll clean it up later, and we’ll keep the meat to eat. I’ll tan the pelt properly and make you a fur coat for winter, so you won’t feel cold.”
Li Chen nudged the leopard with his foot and smiled at her.
Holding the cub, she stared at him, her eyes reddening again.
“You don’t like it?”
Li Chen was startled.
She shook her head vigorously. “No. It’s just that Husband treats me too well.”
Tears fell down the front of her clothes.
In this chaotic world, with her family gone, she had once lived like a wandering ghost, unsure of tomorrow.
Never had she expected to meet such a good man by fortune’s grace. It was like seeing a lantern in the dark night or sitting by a fire in the cold. The warmth in her heart was beyond words.
Li Chen understood why she cried. He wiped her tears with his broad hand. “Do not dwell on the past, do not clutter the present, and do not fear the future. Just remember that someone will always stand by you.”
“Husband…”
Overwhelmed by emotion and no longer shy before him, she threw herself into his arms.
With one hand holding the cub and the other wrapped around his waist, she wept softly.
After a long while, she finally calmed down.
After dinner, Li Chen searched the entire village and eventually found a mother dog that had recently given birth. He exchanged two small wild chickens for the lactating dog to nurse the tiger cub. This chapter is updated first at NovelPing.
The family he traded with was overjoyed and thanked him profusely. For them, exchanging wild chickens for grain meant significant income.
After feeding the cub, Li Chen felt the fatigue of the long day.
Before sleeping, he carefully set up the safety measures inside the house, then climbed onto the heated kang bed.
After her initial fear, his maid wife had already grown fond of the little tiger.
After all, girls had an innate weakness for furry creatures. She even held the cub while climbing onto the kang.
But when Li Chen returned after drawing water and washing up, she placed the cub in a small straw nest prepared beneath the bed.
Then, just as Li Chen lay down, she timidly slipped into his quilt.
“If Husband is tired, I can serve you…”
Her voice was as soft as a mosquito’s hum.
She breathed gently against his ear, making him itch and almost laugh.
Even in the darkness, he could imagine her cheeks burning red.
He hadn’t expected her to take the initiative tonight. This girl was growing bolder.
…
Perhaps being reborn had strengthened both his body and spirit. After nearly two hours of exertion, Li Chen still woke the next morning refreshed and full of energy.
His maid wife, on the other hand, felt weak in the legs, but her complexion was glowing, and her eyes seemed brighter than ever.
At early dawn, just as the hour arrived, Zhao Dashi, Liu Chenxu, and Hou Xiaobai were already at the door.
But when they came, they were surprised to see Li Chen and the beautiful young sister-in-law simmering a pot of pork bones.
The rich aroma drifted outward, thick as unbreakable mist.
“Brother Chen, we’re here. Hey, why are you boiling pork bones? Did you run out of meat? My family still has some. I’ll bring it over!”
The simple-minded Zhao Dashi stared at the pot, eyes wide.
“Crush the pork bones and boil them into soup. It strengthens the body. When we get back later, you’ll each have a bowl.”
Li Chen smiled and stretched his body. “Let’s go. First, we’ll run 5 kilometers up the mountain. Only strong endurance can support everything else.”
He strapped on his sandbags and ran lightly toward the mountain.
After running 5 kilometers, he immediately moved to the forest and performed ten sets of pull-ups, ten in each set.
It was simply his usual daily training routine.
He wanted to test their potential before deciding on future training plans.
Liu Chenxu and the others had no idea that this was not hunter training at all, but the basic training regimen of special forces soldiers from another era.