Two more days passed, and the hunting team finally returned on the eve of the New Year.
This hunting trip went relatively smoothly. Thanks to thorough preparations in advance and the old hunter’s constant reminders about safety along the way, no one was injured.
In addition to catching some wild rabbits and pheasants, the team also bagged a three-hundred-pound wild boar.
When the massive boar, carried by five or six men, made its appearance, the entire Pear Blossom Village erupted in excitement.
Some people even drooled openly on the spot.
It had been too long since they last tasted meat—they were craving it!
The wild boar was taken directly to the Captain’s house to be butchered on-site before distribution.
As for the other game individually hunted, it belonged to the hunters themselves.
Su Xiangdong had caught one wild rabbit and three pheasants. Combined with the share of boar meat, the Old Su Family could finally enjoy a bountiful New Year.
As soon as he returned, Su Xiangdong was surrounded by the children.
The little ones, Su Zi’an and Su Jinrui, chattered nonstop, firing questions at him.
To them, Su Xiangdong, who had brought back meat, was a great hero.
After being away for eight or nine days, Su Xiangdong looked noticeably thinner.
Mrs. Zhang brought a basin of hot water, helping her husband wash his hands and face, then retrieved two roasted sweet potatoes from the stove.
She had requested these from Grandma Su in advance: if her husband returned, they were for him; if not, they would be shared among the children in the evening.
“No need, save them for the children’s dinner tonight. There was plenty to eat in the forest—I’m not hungry,” Su Xiangdong shook his head, then magically pulled a large handful of wild chestnuts from his pocket.
They had discovered a huge chestnut tree in the forest, with wild boar footprints beneath it. The Captain had a sudden idea and set a trap under the tree, successfully catching the boar that came foraging.
It was a pity that most of the chestnuts scattered on the ground had been ruined by that big boar.
Everyone gathered around Su Xiangdong, listening with great interest.
At the thrilling parts, the children widened their eyes, and Su Ziyi even clenched his fists dramatically, as if the boar were right in front of him.
Lying on the kang, Su Jiu waved her little hands and kicked her legs, filled with curiosity about the Great Qiong Mountain.
The mountains were rich in resources, and once she was a bit older, she could explore them.
Su Xiangdong had only been home for a short while before he was called away to help butcher the boar.
As soon as word spread about the butchering, the village’s elderly and children rushed to watch.
Su Youtian, with his hands behind his back, led Su Zili and his brothers to see the butchering.
Mrs. Zhang and Grandma Su stayed home to prepare dinner, while Mrs. Feng remained in her room, tending to her husband and children.
In the evening, Su Xiangdong returned, surrounded by the children, carrying five pounds of wild boar meat.
There was no time to prepare the pheasants and rabbit, so they steamed sweet potatoes instead.
They also stir-fried a large plate of sweet potato leaves.
Grandma Su steamed the usual day’s worth of food all at once, stunning Mrs. Zhang.
“Mother, why did you steam so much? Do we still have surplus grain?” Su Xiangdong couldn’t help but worry as he looked at the large basin of sweet potatoes and leaves.
“Don’t worry, today we’ll eat to our hearts’ content!” Grandma Su waved her hand.
With surplus grain on hand, there was no need to panic.
Thinking of the five hundred pounds of sweet potatoes in the cellar and the five large bags of wheat in the house, Grandma Su felt confident.
And now, there was also a rabbit, three pheasants, and five pounds of wild boar meat.
“Old man, tomorrow go to town and bring back the second son’s family so we can celebrate a reunion New Year together,” Grandma Su reminded her husband as she served everyone sweet potatoes.
Normally, they wouldn't taste meat for a year or even half a year. This time, with meat finally available at home, she naturally wouldn't forget her second son's family.
Grandma Su first scooped a small half-basin of sweet potatoes and sweet potato leaves, asking Mrs. Feng to take it into the room to eat with her husband.
It was also at this time that Su Xiangdong learned that Third Brother had returned.
Moreover, he had injured his leg and was bedridden.
The sweet potato in Su Xiangdong's mouth instantly lost its flavor…
He had seen with his own eyes how Third Brother had lived all these years.
Though six years younger than him, Third Brother had toiled so hard that he looked even older.
Now, with a leg injury, life would likely become even more difficult in the future…
"Alright, hurry up and eat, then wash up and sleep. You'll have plenty to do early tomorrow morning!" Grandma Su glanced at her eldest son and urged.
After finishing his meal, Su Xiangdong went to sit in Third Brother's room for a while.
No one knew what the two brothers talked about, but Su Xiangdong went in with a heavy expression and came out looking much more relaxed, as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
The next day, Grandma Su and Mrs. Zhang got up early to start the busy preparations.
Old Mr. Su fetched the stone mill from the woodshed, moistened a cotton cloth with water, and wiped it over and over again, making sure there wasn't a speck of dust before calling for Oldest Brother.
When Su Xiangdong saw the small half-bag of wheat his father brought out, his eyes nearly popped out of his head in shock.
He nervously glanced around. Fortunately, the courtyard gate was tightly shut, and the walls were high enough that nothing could be seen from outside.
"Dad, this wheat… you didn't steal it, did you?"
How could their family have wheat?
And so much of it at that!!
"Look at you, so easily startled. Grind it properly into flour. Your mother will make dumplings tonight." Old Mr. Su glared at his son, tossed out these words, and then turned to head for the cellar.
He filled a large part of the basket with sweet potatoes, placed a chicken inside, covered it with a few pieces of firewood, and then topped it off with pine needles.
From the outside, it looked like just a basket of firewood.
After finishing all this, Su Youtian set off toward the town.
Su Xiangnan was actually a live-in son-in-law in the Tang family.
His father-in-law, Tang Weiguo, had only one daughter, Tang Meiyun.
After marrying Tang Meiyun, Su Xiangnan took over Tang Weiguo's job at the cotton textile factory.
His wife, Tang Meiyun, through connections arranged by Tang Weiguo, worked at the supply and marketing cooperative.
Normally, it was the Tang family who helped out the Old Su Family, never forgetting to share any good things they had.
This time, with something good in the Old Su Family, they naturally wouldn't forget the Tang family either.
As for the wheat, since the Tang family lived in town and didn't have a stone mill, Oldest Brother would grind the wheat into flour, and when Second Brother returned, they would pack some flour for him to take back.
Killing the chicken, slaughtering the rabbit, grinding the flour, cleaning the dust… With the courtyard gate closed, the Old Su Family's yard was bustling with activity, filled with the festive atmosphere of the New Year.
Su Jiu lay on the kang, while Grandma Su rummaged through the bottom of the chest and pulled out a few small clothes, holding them up against her granddaughter.
"Though they're a bit big, they'll do for now. This year hasn't been good, and Grandma didn't prepare anything. Next year, Grandma will definitely make you a bright red New Year outfit." Grandma Su promised as she changed her granddaughter into the "new clothes."
By then, Guai Nan's hair would have grown out, and with a perky little ponytail tied up, she would look just like a lucky doll.
Anyone who saw her would adore her.
Grandma Su thought happily to herself, growing even more determined to make clothes for her granddaughter.
Lying in bed, Su Xiangxi listened to the lively commotion outside, feeling deeply unsettled.
In previous years at this time, he would have been helping sweep the yard, chop firewood, and fetch water—nothing could be done without him.
Now, he lay in bed like a useless man, unable to do anything.
He even needed help with basic bodily functions…
Thinking of how his wife had been attending to him these past two days—caring for him, asking about his comfort, and being meticulous in every way—Su Xiangxi felt not the slightest bit of happiness.
He knew that his wife was indirectly begging for his forgiveness.
But what she had done—trying to freeze their own daughter to death—could not be easily forgiven.
Before evening, Su Youtian returned with the second son's family.
They had sent out a full basket and brought back an equally full one.