Xu Feng wasn’t in a rush to go home. There were still over 5 kilograms of venison in the bamboo basket—far more than he and Xiyue could eat. It was just right to trade with fellow villagers for some grain and daily necessities.
“Xu Feng, can I trade 2 kilograms of white flour for 500 grams of venison?”
“I’ll trade 1 kilogram of eggs for 500 grams…”
…
Although most people in this era didn’t have enough to eat, there were always some families doing slightly better.
Xu Feng only kept 1 kilogram of venison for himself. The rest he exchanged for coarse and fine grains, eggs, and even 500 grams of wild crucian carp.
That was a great find. If he could get some tofu to stew it, it would be perfect to nourish his wife.
Once the trading was done, those who had gotten meat rushed home immediately to cook it while it was still fresh—both to treat their children and to restore their own strength. After all, no one wanted to get scolded by their spouse for being too tired at night.
The rest who had stayed were simply onlookers, hoping to catch a bit of meat broth if they were lucky.
Seeing Xu Feng finish up, Shoushan came over. “Xu Feng, we’re going up the mountain again in a couple of days—same time as last night. If we manage to take down that wild boar, we’ll have a truly prosperous New Year.”
“Sure, but next time let me know in advance. Don’t spring it on me like yesterday.”
They were practically going to war. Next time, there was no way he’d stop halfway.
“Hahaha, I really didn’t mean to interrupt your ‘business’ last time. Don’t worry, it won’t happen again!”
After working together, they were now familiar enough to speak like friends.
Even Shoushan, the Village Chief’s son, couldn’t help but envy Xu Feng. Not only was he tall and strong, but he also had a beautiful wife.
Back when the Lin sisters first arrived in the village, who hadn’t been tempted? But judging by their appearance and clothing, they were likely daughters of some capitalist. In those days, ordinary folks wouldn’t dare get involved, and with no food to spare, they ended up being married off cheaply to Xu Feng.
Now that policies were easing, it was too late to regret.
“Well then…”
Just as Xu Feng was about to say he’d head home to catch up on sleep, Xu Qiang, Aunt Li’s eldest son, came up.
“Brother Shoushan, take me with you next time too!”
Xu Qiang was clearly envious, seeing the full basket of supplies Xu Feng had brought back. With just a little more, maybe he could finally get himself a wife.
“Anyone can go to the mountains, but let me be clear—if we run into a bear, no one’s going to cover for your life.”
More people wasn’t necessarily better for hunting. First, the prey might not be enough to split. Second, Xu Qiang wasn’t even as tall as Xu Feng and had no experience. What good would he be?
Plus, Aunt Li was a troublemaker. If her son got hurt, she’d come raising hell.
Xu Qiang regretted his words the moment he spoke. Wang Jun had already proven that wasn’t just a story.
And he wasn’t exactly fast. If they really encountered one, he could die out there.
That thought sent a chill down his spine. He hadn’t married yet—he couldn’t afford to die in the forest.
Xu Feng nodded at Shoushan and, without wasting words, picked up his things and headed home.
As he walked out of the courtyard, the onlookers all gave him a kind of ceremonial stare.
Many were thinking the same thing: maybe the village had one less scoundrel now.
Xu Feng didn’t care what they were thinking. All that mattered was showing his wife his spoils.
Pushing open the bedroom door, he saw Lin Xiyue sleeping under a small blanket, still catching up on rest after staying up all night. She hadn’t even heard him come in.
Though Xu Feng had also been up all night, his energy was unusually high. Just seeing her pretty sleeping face made his heart stir—he couldn’t resist bending down and kissing her soft cheek.
He really didn’t know what kind of idiot he must’ve been before, to lay a hand on a wife this beautiful.
He shook off those thoughts. First, he had to deal with the meat.
He boiled a pot of water to scald the chicken feathers, then cleaned the crucian carp he’d traded for.
He didn’t have tofu at home, but he’d managed to get a piece from the Village Chief earlier.
After an hour of preparation, he was just about to set the fire to stew the meat when someone pounded urgently on the courtyard door.
It sounded serious. Xu Feng rushed to open it.
It was his sister-in-law, and before he could even ask, she blurted out a terrible piece of news.
“He… he’s not going to make it!”
Lin Xixue’s voice was panicked, her eyes filled with tears.
To be honest, Wang Jun had always felt like a familiar stranger to her. They’d only shared a life together out of necessity.
If he truly passed away, she would be sad—but more for her own pitiful fate than for him.
The noise woke Lin Xiyue. Once she understood what was going on, she hurried over too.
Wang Jun lay in bed with a pale face, barely breathing.
Even if they had money, the medical conditions in this era wouldn’t have helped.
Xu Feng stood by the bed, his emotions mixed. He had known from their last meal together that Wang Jun didn’t have much time left, but he didn’t expect the end to come so soon.
Lin Xiyue, holding Xu Feng’s hand, was already crying—not for Wang Jun, but for her sister’s miserable life. New chapters come out on novelping.com first.
It was one thing to marry a cripple, but now…
Not long after, Wang Jun’s face suddenly flushed with color.
Xu Feng recognized this as the final surge of life before death. He probably just wanted to say his last words.
“Xu Feng, I have one request. Please take care of Xixue. If she gives birth to a son, let him carry the Wang surname. Name him however you like. Dying early… might just be a release. Actually…”
Before he could finish, his head tilted, and he took his final breath.
“Don’t worry. As long as the sisters agree, I promise.”
Birth, sickness, and death were all part of life—not everyone had the chance to live a second time like Xu Feng.
Just yesterday, Wang Jun had already told Xixue to follow Xu Feng after he was gone.
Though it wasn’t morally accepted for two sisters to share a husband, in this era of starvation, who could afford to care?
Lin Xiyue had no objections. She only felt sorry for her sister.
…
Wang Jun didn’t have any family, so his funeral was handled quickly. Most of the village didn’t even know it had happened.
And even if they had, no one would care. In times like these, everyone lost someone.
A straw mat and a scoop of dirt—that was the end of it.
“Xixue, grab your things. Go stay with your sister.”
Lin Xixue nodded. She didn’t have much to pack anyway, and anything that belonged to Wang Jun would stay behind.
“Try to stay positive. You think I can’t support both of you?”
Seeing the sisters silent, Xu Feng could already guess what they were thinking.
Back at home, the first thing he did was bring them over to the grain bin.
“Look. This is what your man brought home after one night on the mountain.”
His wording was ambiguous—he wasn’t actually Xixue’s man yet.
Lin Xixue’s expression turned a little awkward at his careless words, but it was quickly replaced by shock.
“Where did this come from? There’s still grain and fish in the mountains?”
What a silly woman.
“Didn’t I tell you? I hunted a deer last night. We can’t eat too much venison, so I traded it with the villagers for all of this.”