Old village head’s house was one of the better-built ones in the village.
Compared with other people’s earth houses made from yellow mud and wheat straw, old village head’s house also had a few stones and broken bricks.
He brought out a worn-out box from inside the house.
After opening it, a homemade earth bow, polished smooth and shiny from frequent handling, was revealed.
Chu Xun picked it up and weighed it. It was very light.
Its resilience was also very poor; at most, it could be used to shoot a few rabbits or small birds.
There was also a rough bowstring beside it, and the whole thing looked shabby.
Old village head’s eyes showed a look of reminiscence.
Holding the bowstring, he said, “This bow was made for me more than ten years ago, back when I was a hunter. I never took it out again after I broke my leg.”
He strung the bow and handed it to Chu Xun.
Then he took out a burlap map from the bottom of the box.
“This is a map of the old forest. You can take a look, but there are plenty of jackals, wolves, and wild boars in there. You must be careful. Absolutely do not go deep inside, and as soon as it starts getting dark, come straight down the mountain.”
Chu Xun slung the bow over his shoulder and took the few arrowheads and the map from old village head.
He thanked him solemnly. “Village head, once I catch some game and earn some money, I will definitely repay you properly.”
Old village head waved his hand and sighed. “That’s all I can do. It is still far too hard to earn five strings of cash just by hunting. If only you hadn’t fallen so ill.”
Chu Xun smiled and said nothing.
If the original owner had not fallen ill, he would not have come to this world.
After saying goodbye to old village head, Chu Xun first went home and stayed in his room to carefully study the map.
Second Uncle Chu and the others knew he had made up his mind, so they did not try to persuade him anymore.
The whole family busied themselves with their own work, carrying water, watering the fields, and going into the mountains to dig for wild vegetables.
Second Uncle Chu planned to wait a few days and then go into the mountains alone to hunt and take the risk himself.
No matter what, he could not let Chu Xun be in danger.
But he never imagined how fast Chu Xun would act.
After opening the shop and browsing the weapons page twice, he finally found a weapon that met his needs.
It was an archaic-style recurve bow, and it was cheap too, costing only forty Shop Coins.
Back when he was in the army, Chu Xun had taken part in plenty of unarmed wilderness survival training, so going up the mountain to hunt was not a problem.
But relying on this old, broken bow in his hands to enter the deep mountains and old forests was truly impossible.
The bow lacked enough resilience; even at full draw, it would probably only barely kill a rabbit, and it might even snap.
To catch game, he needed a proper bow and arrow set.
After packing up his things, Chu Xun set out.
…
Qin Yue’er had just returned from the village’s only well with half a bucket of water.
Just as she was about to cook, she heard someone outside the yard calling her name.
When she walked out to look, she said in surprise, “Brother Xun, why are you here?”
Chu Xun waved and walked into the yard, smiling. “I came to see how your sister is doing. Has she gotten a little better?”
Qin Yue’er lowered her head, somewhat shyly. “After taking the pills you gave her last night, Brother Xun, my little sister felt much better. She took another dose this morning and is sleeping in the house right now.”
Chu Xun nodded. The ibuprofen really was quite effective.
She probably would not need all twelve pills before she recovered.
When Qin Yue’er saw that Chu Xun was not speaking, she bit her lip and unconsciously pressed her legs together.
It was as if she had thought of something embarrassing.
She raised her moist eyes. “Brother Chu, y-you came here because you need something from Yue’er?”
Chu Xun looked at her slightly red cheeks; it seemed she was still a little shy when speaking to him.
Then he stepped forward and directly came right up to Qin Yue’er.
Qin Yue’er panicked. She wanted to step back, but her legs had gone soft and she did not even have the strength to move.
“Brother Xun, y-you suddenly came so close. What… what are you doing?”
Chu Xun wore a strange expression and almost wanted to say, “yes.”
But he still said warmly, “I just wanted to ask whether your family is short of anything else. Is the grain enough to eat?”
Qin Yue’er thought he was about to give her more grain and quickly refused.
“It is enough, Brother Chu. You have already done so much for me. Yue’er cannot ask for anything else from you.”
That will not do. I am in a hurry to go hunting.
Chu Xun waved his hand and directly wrapped an arm around her slender waist. The sensation was soft and supple.
Qin Yue’er cried out in surprise and fell against his solid chest.
The scorching masculine scent made her whole body heat up, and her cheeks burned red.
She lowered her head in panic. “Brother Chu, I… I…”
Chu Xun lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. “You do not want to see me?”
Hearing that, Qin Yue’er hurriedly explained, “No, Brother Chu. Yue’er has already been yours since last night… how could I not want to see you?”
“Then why not even invite me inside for a sit-down?” Chu Xun breathed warm air by her ear.
Qin Yue’er’s ears turned red, and her legs went completely weak.
If not for Chu Xun supporting her waist, she would probably already have collapsed to the ground.
Blushing, she said weakly, “I was afraid of damaging Brother Chu’s reputation. You are a scholar, and I am just a widow with a bad reputation. If someone saw us… ah!”
In the next moment, Chu Xun picked her up entirely, and she curled up in his arms.
She screamed, then hurriedly covered her mouth.
She looked nervously toward the house, fearing that waking her little sister would be bad.
Holding her soft body, Chu Xun smiled. “I do not study anymore. I am just an ordinary person now. And… I missed you.”
Qin Yue’er only felt her whole body go weak, with not a trace of strength left to refuse Chu Xun.
Ever since last night, when Chu Xun had been willing to give her three pounds of precious white rice and had also helped cure her little sister’s illness, she had already thought of Chu Xun as her man in her heart.
It was just that she felt she was nothing more than a White Tiger-cursed lone star, a widow carrying around a twin sister who was a burden.
How could she possibly be worthy of a proper scholar like Chu Xun?
But she never expected Brother Chu to come looking for her on his own and say that he missed her.
Qin Yue’er shyly nestled in Chu Xun’s arms.
The two of them carefully went around Qin Xing’er, who seemed to be sleeping on the ground.
…
Qin Xing’er kept her eyes closed and silently let tears fall, her pale face full of heartache.
So the grain at home, and even the medicine used to treat her illness, had all been exchanged for her sister being beaten.
Sister, I am sorry. I have been the one dragging you down.
She held back her tears, and a look of determination flashed in her eyes.
Sister, once I am better, let me take your suffering for you!
As long as Chu Xun stops hitting you, even if he bullies me to death, I will accept it willingly.
…
『PS: Qin Xing’er hugged Chu Xun tightly and looked at her sister in dissatisfaction: “Sister, you have already been beaten enough. Let me bear the pain for you!”』