Chapter 10

Xishan Village has two fools, one is Chen Wuji, the other is Chen Bushi.

It's just that Chen Wuji is a bit more thoroughly foolish.

And the reason Chen Bushi is also called a fool is merely because he doesn't fit in with the villagers.

This scholar, his speech and deeds are unlike those of the villagers.

Even when celebrating festivals, he does it differently from others.

Thus, over time, he became an oddity in the villagers' eyes, a fellow who appears well-read but whose brain is actually being eaten by insects.

But hearing his words just now, Chen Wuji suddenly felt that Tao Yuanming might also have been seen as a fool by the local villagers back then, after all, a fellow who shouts about short joys and bitter evenings, already restored to heavenly dawn, whose crops turn out lush weeds and sparse bean sprouts, yet he writes a poem without worry; the villagers' gaze at that time must have been complex.

In this regard, Chen Bushi is actually stronger than Tao Yuanming; he tends his crops very well.

His crops are better than those of any true farmer in the village.

"Uncle." Chen Wuji called out.

"Third Uncle." Chen Bushi emphasized.

Chen Wuji chuckled lightly, is it necessary to be so particular?

"Third Uncle, later I'll sneakily eat some Mountain God; I'll bring it over for you." Chen Wuji needed to ask first.

After all, this is the Mountain God.

Chen Bushi, however, waved his hand, saying, "No need, I'll buy it with money; leave me a leg, and send it over later."

"Okay."

Chen Wuji readily agreed, without haggling over money with Chen Bushi.

Since he mentioned buying, that money will definitely be collected.

Giving away a leg for free, he really is a bit reluctant.

Simply put, he is not only poor now, but also his poverty concerns whether he can preserve his life and Huo Sanniang's poverty.

He really can't bring himself to be generous.

Later, just give him a bit more meat and it'll be fine.

After bidding farewell to Third Uncle, Chen Wuji returned home with light steps.

Huo Sanniang was soaking hemp in the courtyard, working up a sweat all over her head.

"I, I'm back……" Chen Wuji almost stumbled over his words again, but he managed to brake in time, forcibly pulling the rear back, making it a half segment.

Huo Sanniang wiped sweat from her forehead with her wrist, her face breaking into a spring-like smile as she hurried over, "You must be exhausted today? How did you hunt so much…… this, mountain…… Mountain God?!"

"Wuji, how did you even bring back a Mountain God? This……"

Huo Sanniang was so shocked she lost coherence, making a move to kneel.

Chen Wuji quickly grabbed her, stammering, "No, no, it's a delivery, it's delivered."

"Delivered? Who could deliver a Mountain God to you?!"

"Mountain Lord!"

Huo Sanniang's big eyes were full of bewilderment, "Who is the Mountain Lord?"

"A tiger." Chen Wuji said.

He thought everyone knew that nickname for a tiger, but it seems not absolute.

Huo Sanniang stared blankly at Chen Wuji, taking a while to come to her senses.

What Chen Wuji said is truly beyond belief.

If a tiger doesn't eat people, that's already good; how could it possibly deliver something to a person?

"Wuji, you're not lying to me?" Huo Sanniang asked anxiously.

Chen Wuji lifted the muntjac's neck, showing its wound to Huo Sanniang, "Really, look."

Huo Sanniang looked, then pulled it open with her hand to examine closely, "It really looks like a bite mark from some animal, but how could a tiger possibly deliver game to you?"

Chen Wuji shook his head.

Explaining is unclear, too much trouble, let's just leave it as is.

Give Huo Sanniang some space to exercise her imagination.

"If this huge game weren't the Mountain God, that would be better." Huo Sanniang sighed softly.

"I'll go sell it." Chen Wuji said.

Huo Sanniang nodded, "We have no choice; it's merely our local Mountain God, city folks might not recognize it. Since we've already brought it back, no matter the consequences, we can't just toss it back into the mountains."

Chen Wuji breathed a sigh of relief.

He really worried that Huo Sanniang would do that.

That tender little doll-fish, she just threw it away.

After calming her emotions, Huo Sanniang then noticed the weasel in Chen Wuji's left hand, and her just-settled feelings surged up like stormy waves.

Slap!

Huo Sanniang slapped her forehead, weakly muttering, "Wuji, why is the game you hunted…… so evil? This thing isn't edible."

"Not tasty?" Chen Wuji asked.

"The meat is sour and smelly; no, this isn't a matter of taste—this thing is even more sinister than the doll-fish. There are two ways it becomes a mountain spirit: one is being enshrined by offering its mouth, the other is being killed by a person." Huo Sanniang said.

"It is said that whoever kills it, its vengeful spirit will forcibly take residence in that household as a yin spirit, requiring incense offerings; otherwise, the mild outcome is an unsettled home, the severe outcome is family ruin and death."

Chen Wuji smiled, believing those who trust such things are not the new generation of heirs raised in the spring breeze—Laborers.

"It's fine, I'm even more wicked. Sell it, the pelt is quite good."

Huo Sanniang tapped Chen Wuji's head with a finger as slender as a scallion, "What nonsense. Since we've already brought the hunt back, just do as you said—don't eat it; this thing has been eaten by someone, indeed it's not tasty, the meat is sour and smelly."

"Whether the Mountain God gets angry or this thing comes looking for you, don't worry, I'll be with you."

Chen Wuji never worried at all; if he were afraid of them, he wouldn't go into the mountains to hunt.

"Ah? You... you agreed?" He belatedly noticed Huo Sanniang's last words.

Huo Sanniang's face flushed slightly, her water-like eyes flicked to Chen Wuji, she lowered her head, her hands nervously twisting, and she said softly: "I haven't figured it out yet for now, but I probably like spending my days with you, even though you're this silly fellow, your eyes have been dishonest these past few days."

Chen Wuji couldn't hold back the corner of his mouth.

But the recoil of that sentence is much stronger than an AK.

He nodded seriously, "I, I will... let you get by, live a good life."

Huo Sanniang blushed, gave a slight nod, "I believe I've already got meat to eat."

Chen Wuji chuckled, her request is really low.

A woman with her looks, if placed in modern times, without a rich, handsome, wealthy background probably wouldn't even qualify for a meal.

"Don't touch, the skin's almost rubbed off, rest, I'll go make dinner; after eating, if you still want to touch... go ahead." Huo Sanniang gently freed her hand and quickly walked into the kitchen.

Chen Wuji foolishly grinned, quickly took out the baby fish he had cut up on the mountain.

"I, we'll eat fish."

"Already cut? Where's the fish head?" Huo Sanniang opened the grass bag, glanced, and said.

She indeed didn't recognize that this was a baby fish.

"I ate some on the mountain." Chen Wuji said.

He seems able to consider gradually toning down his foolishness.

Always talking like that all day is really uncomfortable.

Huo Sanniang looked at Chen Wuji with some heartache, chiding: "You don't eat something better, just ate a fish head, right? You, stop always thinking of me."