Having gone up the mountain many times, Han Lin had never encountered large wild animals before, but with his experience he knew that among endless mountains, such beasts must exist.
So when he saw many leaves trampled flat, his suspicions were confirmed.
He lightened his steps, carefully approaching.
The wild boar hidden behind the foliage also noticed movement. Its eyes fixed on him, its body ready to charge at any moment.
Han Lin seized the timing—two shots. One hit the boar’s eye, the other its foreleg.
Blinded and injured, the boar lost all reason and thundered toward him.
Han Lin set aside the used weapon, flicked several silver needles from his sleeve, and embedded them into the beast’s hide.
Then he leapt, spear in hand, and stabbed the boar several times in quick succession.
Assaulted repeatedly in such a short span, the beast’s howls quickly faded, its body weakening until it finally lay still.
Han Lin dealt two more finishing strikes, making sure it was truly dead. Retrieving his needles, he lifted his head toward the trees beyond.
“Who’s there?” he called as he advanced.
“Comrade, did you kill this boar yourself?” From the woods emerged two men in military uniforms.
“You’ve got guts, coming up here alone?” one asked, while the other went to check that the boar was indeed dead.
“Comrade, are you from nearby Huangzhuang Brigade? Didn’t your brigade strictly forbid coming here?” The questions came in a steady stream while Han Lin stayed silent.
“Hello, comrade. I’m Qi Yilei, a soldier stationed nearby.” Seeing Han Lin’s quiet demeanor, the man introduced himself.
“Hello, comrade. I’m Han Lin.” He shook Qi’s hand, instantly sensing this man’s martial skill was not low.
“Han Lin, you’ve trained, haven’t you?” Qi’s curiosity grew, questions flowing without pause.
This time Han Lin didn’t ignore him, answering bit by bit.
He had long wondered who the people active on the mountain were. Now, seeing them, he couldn’t resist asking a few things.
But soldiers were bound by strict discipline. Outgoing as Qi was, cheerful and talkative, anything he wasn’t supposed to say, he didn’t.
That was fine with Han Lin. All he needed was to know they weren’t dangerous.
According to Qi, their unit had been tasked to patrol after reports of wild boar sightings. They were combing the mountains to track and eliminate the beasts.
They had already located this one but, judging its massive size, had worried they couldn’t take it down alone. They’d called in two comrades to coordinate an ambush.
Before they could act, Han Lin had appeared and struck decisively.
“What do you want to do with this boar? Need our help carrying it down?” Though Qi found Han Lin righteous in bearing and clearly local, the display of skill had made him wary.
“I’d appreciate that,” Han Lin replied without pretense, aware of the test.
Wild boar meat wasn’t tasty—before, he would have disdained it. But now things were different.
A beast this large, handed over to the brigade, would mean a share of meat for everyone—and extra work points for him.
“No trouble at all. You lead the way, Comrade Han.” Qi exchanged a look with his partner, grinning broadly.
Han Lin picked up his weapon, glanced once more toward another part of the forest, then decided to descend.
All three were young and strong. Even with the boar slung between them, they made quick time.
He brought it straight to the brigade office, drawing stares from all along the way.
By the time he reached the brigade leader, a whole procession had followed behind.
“There are boars on our mountain?” The leader looked at the beast. Though clearly dead, his voice trembled.
“I was lucky. Happened to run into two PLA comrades.” Han Lin smiled, introducing the soldiers.
Most villagers thought soldiers went far away; they didn’t realize troops were stationed nearby.
Now, seeing two in the flesh, curiosity burned in every gaze.
The soldiers were patient, answering all harmless questions with good humor.
Han Lin handed the boar to the brigade and earned a handsome number of work points.
The leader listened to the soldiers’ tale while casting a marveling look at Han Lin.
“Old Third, you’ve been hiding your skills? Why didn’t you ever say so!” he exclaimed openly.
Everyone in Huangzhuang knew Han Lin as idle, useless at work, laziest of all. Who would’ve thought he knew martial arts?
“I just fooled around with it at school. I didn’t dare say,” Han Lin shrugged helplessly.
“You rascal!” the leader chuckled, then announced that since two soldiers were present, they should slaughter the boar right away—and invited the comrades to dine with them.
But the two had only come to confirm Han Lin’s identity. Having done so, they declined the invitation and left quickly, despite the leader’s eager eyes.
Still, the boar had to be butchered. With busy farming season near, this would be a reward beforehand.
Everyone could store some meat, and eat better during the hard work ahead.
As the hero of the hunt, Han Lin naturally received the largest share, winning envious looks all around.
Many gathered around, prying into his mountain venture, eyes alight with temptation.
“This was no credit of mine! It was the two soldiers. Without them, if I’d run into this beast, I might not have come back.” Han Lin quickly played down his role, not wanting to encourage others.
The danger was real. Even with soldiers patrolling, nothing was guaranteed.
He dared because he trusted his own ability. But the young men here didn’t have that.
If anyone followed his example and came to harm, even if rescued in time, it would still bring him endless trouble.
So he lingered, talking until he had frightened the fire out of their hearts. Only then did he feel at ease.
That evening, Han Lin and Yang Dai brought their share of meat to the Yang household.
His elder brother and sister-in-law weren’t home. Only his father was there, frowning as they entered.
“Don’t think that just because you’ve got a weapon you can run up mountains every day. Do you even know your own limits?”
“What’s up there worth it? Can’t you just do your job properly?” His father scolded harshly, then softened slightly when he glanced at Yang Dai.
“That foreman at the chemical plant site—he thinks highly of you now, doesn’t he? Show him your worth. That’s a connection.”
“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.” No matter what his father said, Han Lin only replied with that line.
His father nearly hurled the teacup at his face but restrained himself for Yang Dai’s sake.
“There really are boars up there. Don’t go again.” Mother Han came in with her share of meat, face full of worry.
Word of Han Lin killing the boar had already spread through the brigade.
Though distorted in retelling, by the time it reached her ears, the story was of her son nearly dying to a monstrous beast, saved only when two soldiers appeared.
Tears welled as she clutched his arm, inspecting him.
“You’re alright? Oh, you fool, what were you thinking?” Her voice cracked as tears fell.
Han Lin had meant to stay silent, but her tears landed on his hand, warm yet searing.
So ordinary, yet they burned him like fire, making his chest tighten.
“Don’t cry.” He clumsily wiped her tears. Four simple words, yet heavy in his throat.
His birth mother had died early. Raised in the palace, he had never known the affection of a maternal figure.
Mother Han’s tears caught him off guard, startling him to his core.
His heart thumped wildly, telling him: now, he was cherished—no longer a weed in the palace, lofty yet discarded at will.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be careful. I won’t do this again.” He gave his solemn promise.
“You’d better remember that.” Relieved to find him unscathed, she went to the kitchen to cook.
Han Lin followed. “Teach me today. Show me how to cook this meat.”
“My own wild boar meat will taste better if I cook it myself. You just guide me. No need to lift a hand.” He coaxed her, taking over the kitchen.
“Having a wife really does make a difference.” She looked at his busy back, sighing. “You’d never have done this before.”
Before, he was either gone or lying around, never showing up until mealtime.
“Your son’s improved. Why aren’t you glad?” Han Lin laughed. “Truth is, it’s all thanks to you. You found me such a capable wife. Today, even a factory leader came by, inviting Yang Dai to work.”