After returning home.
Chu Xun originally thought that everyone at home had already started eating, but unexpectedly, no one had even picked up their chopsticks yet.
A large basin of chicken was placed in the center of the table, its aroma filling the room.
A bowl of thick millet porridge had been set at the seat prepared for him.
It was the kind with not even a trace of broth on it, and two peeled bird eggs were placed on top.
Second Uncle Chu waved to him with a smile. “You’re back. Come eat. Xunzi, you worked the hardest hunting today, so you should have the first bite.”
He was overjoyed today. His nephew had finally made something of himself.
Second Aunt Chu took an empty bowl, directly picked out a large piece of chicken breast and a plump, tender drumstick, and handed them to Chu Xun.
She said gently, “Xunzi, come on. Try your Second Aunt’s cooking first. How is it?”
Chu Qing, sitting nearby with proper composure, was playing with a beautiful shuttlecock in her hands and could not put it down.
She had deliberately washed her face and combed her hair. Her lips were red and her teeth white, her figure graceful, carrying a gentle feminine softness.
“I helped with the cooking too, big brother. Hurry and try it. Is it good?”
Seeing this warm scene from his family, Chu Xun felt warmth spread through his heart.
He took the bowl and chopsticks from Second Aunt and said, “Then I won’t be polite.”
The chicken was wrapped in a golden layer of oil, and the meat underneath was tender and fragrant.
The moment he put it in his mouth, the firm yet smooth and tender texture burst instantly across his tongue.
The rich juices slid down his throat into his stomach, spreading through his limbs and bones like an explosion of flavor. It was indescribably comfortable.
Chu Xun could not help saying sincerely, “Delicious, really fragrant!”
In truth, the chicken did not have much taste at all.
At home, they did not even have the most basic coarse salt. It all depended on the broth from stewing wild chicken and mushrooms to add flavor.
But for this body, which had not eaten meat for a long time, this bite of chicken was truly a luxury.
“Since Xunzi has eaten, let’s all start too,” Second Uncle Chu said as soon as he finished speaking.
Second Aunt Chu then picked up her chopsticks. First she picked a piece of tender meat with both fat and lean for Second Uncle Chu, then she selected a piece of pure boneless meat for Chu Qing.
Only then did she take a chicken rib for herself, biting the skin and sucking the broth from the bone.
The meal was eaten with great enjoyment, every bite fragrant and delicious.
Even the broth at the bottom of the basin was wiped clean by Second Uncle Chu with some wild vegetables, which he stuffed into his mouth and ate.
After eating and drinking his fill.
Chu Xun stopped Second Uncle, who was about to go water the fields. “Second Uncle, I want to go to the city tomorrow.”
Second Uncle Chu was stunned. Sitting on the stool, he asked in confusion, “What are you going to the city for?”
Chu Xun said nothing. He simply walked into his room and came out carrying a small cloth bundle.
Under the puzzled gazes of the whole family, Chu Xun slowly opened the bundle.
“I want to sell this thing.”
“This is… deer antlers!!”
After seeing what was in the cloth bundle, Second Uncle Chu held his breath, utterly shocked.
Inside the bundle lay a pair of small deer antlers, still stained with spots of blood.
Chu Xun curled his lips and said, “That’s right. When I went into the mountains, I found a deer carcass and casually cut off the antlers.”
He was not very familiar with the county seat. The place he had visited most was a rundown schoolhouse outside it.
If he wanted to sell the deer antlers for a good price, he would need Second Uncle to act as his guide.
Second Uncle Chu leaned closer to the deer antlers and swallowed. “This thing is really valuable. Before, a hunter from the neighboring village took the risk of being discovered by wolf packs, went deep into the forest, and brought out a pair of deer antlers. He sold them for a full seven strings of cash!”
Chu Qing’s eyes lit up as she said happily, “Does that mean after we sell them, we can pay back the money we owe Squire Liu?”
That way, the family land would not have to be handed over.
Big brother would not have to risk his life hunting in the old forest anymore.
Instead, he could stay home and farm in peace!
But Second Uncle Chu shook his head. “That man’s antlers were bigger, better in quality, and he happened to catch a good market too. That’s why they sold for more. Xunzi’s pair is quite a bit smaller, and a bit dry. I’m afraid it will sell for much less.”
Hearing this, the whole family could not help but feel regret.
Only Chu Xun said carelessly, “It’s fine. This money is enough. I can go into the old forest and hunt again.”
“No!!”
“No!!”
Second Uncle Chu and Chu Qing spoke at the same time, stopping Chu Xun from going back into the old forest.
Chu Qing stepped forward, her face full of worry. “Father already said there are jackal packs and wolf packs in the old forest. Big brother, you absolutely must not take the risk and go in again.”
If something happened to Big Brother, what would they do?
Second Uncle Chu also earnestly advised, “Xunzi, I know you’re anxious to pay back the five strings of cash you owe Squire Liu. But you cannot joke with your own life. Do you know how many hunters are buried in the old forest every year?”
Second Aunt also repeatedly tried to stop him.
She said that even if the land was gone, the family would still have enough to live on; they did not care about those three meager acres.
But no matter how they persuaded him.
Chu Xun remained extremely firm. “Second Uncle, stop trying to talk me out of it. You all saw my hunting skills today. Nothing will happen.”
With the system shop, his archery was several times stronger than that of an ordinary hunter.
And his military career in his previous life also gave Chu Xun enough confidence to retreat safely in the old forest.
Right now, for him.
The most important thing was to use hunting.
To reasonably cash out the items in his shop.
Seeing that they could not persuade Chu Xun, the family felt helpless.
Second Uncle Chu said that if he was going hunting, he would go along too.
But Chu Xun made the excuse that more people would only startle the wild beasts and make it even more dangerous.
In the end, the family could only give up. If they went in, they would probably only become a burden to Chu Xun.
At night, Second Uncle Chu told the others to rest early.
Tomorrow morning, they would set out for the city.
…
Early the next morning.
The sky had barely begun to brighten.
Second Aunt had already cooked a pot of thick millet porridge and steamed two large bowls of beans, telling Chu Xun and Second Uncle to take them as dry rations.
Chu Xun looked at the black-looking mixed beans in the cloth bundle and twitched his mouth, truly not wanting to eat them.
When he came back today, he would bring rice and white flour home no matter what.
If he had to keep eating those mixed beans and dark flour that tasted like mold, he would definitely throw up.
After carrying the hare and carefully tucking the deer antlers into his chest, Chu Xun set off with Second Uncle.
The county seat was nearly twenty li away from Chu Family Village.
The mountain roads were complicated, and walking there would take at least one shichen.
…
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