Chapter 34: Dividing the pork

When Lu Qingshan, Zhao Tiezhu, and Liu Fugui three people, like three moving stone Buddhas, shouldered the blood‑stained, astonishingly heavy wild boar, appearing at the entrance of Shanwan Village, the whole Shanwan Village instantly exploded in an uproar.

The lingering glow of the setting sun stretched their shadows long.

Sweat soaked their worn‑out clothes.

It clung tightly to their weary yet straight spines.

Those three dead‑heavy wild boars also reeked of strong blood and wildness, striking everyone's eyes.

The first to spot them were a few half‑grown kids playing at the village entrance.

"Quick look! It's Lu Zhiqing! And Uncle Tiezhu and Uncle Fugui!"

The tender child's voice carried an incredulous exclamation.

"Mom! What on earth is that on their shoulders?!"

"Wild… wild boar! It's a wild boar!!"

A few kids who were playing hopscotch at the village entrance waiting for dinner, shouting at the top of their lungs, rushed into the village like frightened rabbits, yelling wildly.

"We got a wild boar! Lu Zhiqing and them got a wild boar! Three! What a huge wild boar!"

This earth‑shattering shout made every household unable to continue cooking dinner.

The sound of a spatula falling to the ground.

The sound of a door opening.

Urgent footsteps sounded all around.

The women busy at the stove.

The old men puffing on dry tobacco.

Everyone dropped what they were doing.

They rushed toward the village entrance in a scramble.

"What the heck? Who? Lu Laizi?"

The doubtful tone was full of contempt.

"He could catch a wild boar? The sun would have to rise in the west!"

"Come on, come on, let's go take a look!"

Someone even sneered, guessing, "Couldn't they have stolen someone's pig?"

In the blink of an eye, under the old elm tree at the village entrance, crowds packed three layers deep inside and three outside, a sea of heads swaying.

When the villagers squeezed forward.

When they saw clearly those three wild boars with exposed tusks, coarse bristles, and solid substance.

All doubt, mockery, and disbelief instantly turned into gasps of cold air.

Wave after wave of exclamations echoed through the mountain village.

"My goodness! It really is a wild boar!"

"This… even the smallest probably weighs seventy or eighty catties, right?!"

"Three! Three whole ones! How much meat is that?!"

"Lu Laizi… no, Lu Zhiqing, what kind of huge luck did he walk into?!"

"His family can't even afford a meal—when did he become so uncanny?"

The crowd completely erupted in an uproar.

Voices of discussion, exclamations, and envious red‑glared eyes almost drowned the three.

Many people watched Lu Qingshan walking in front.

He shouldered the wild boar.

His steps were steady.

Although his face was full of fatigue, sweat slid down his distinctively angled cheeks.

But his eyes were unusually bright and calm.

Carrying an aura so sharp one dare not meet his gaze.

This and the former frivolous, evasive‑eyed Lu Laizi are simply two different people.

Qian Guapu also squeezed into the crowd.

A pair of triangular eyes stared fixedly at the three plump wild boars.

Her chest felt as if something were blocking it, sore and distended.

Jealousy made her facial muscles twitch.

Yesterday, seeing Lu Qingshan buying cloth, buying cotton, and buying grain, she hated him so much her teeth itched.

Today he actually carried straight home three wild boars.

How can we go on living like this?!

"Pah! A good‑for‑nothing who walked into dog‑shit luck!"

She lowered her voice and spat viciously.

She wished she could pounce forward and tear off a piece of meat.

Lu Qingshan seemed oblivious to everything around him.

He just wanted to get home quickly.

The bones in his shoulders were about to be crushed.

He turned his head to the equally exhausted Zhao Tiezhu and Liu Fugui and said.

"Tiezhu, take your boar to my house first, then we'll swap."

"Monkey, hurry and carry your boar home so your younger brothers and sisters can be happy!"

His voice was low and deep, yet it carried an undeniable arrangement.

Rest well tonight; gather at my house at dawn; there's also a tough battle!

All right, Brother Qing Shan!

Liu Fugui grinned wide, his eyes smiling into slits.

Although tired like a dead dog, his heart was sweeter than eating honey.

He held his head high and chest out, carrying the wild boar.

Amid countless gazes of envy, jealousy, and hatred.

His steps became a bit lighter.

He walked toward his own home.

Done.

Zhao Tiezhu replied in a deep, resonant voice.

Carrying the biggest little wild boar, he closely followed behind Lu Qingshan.

The crowd instinctively made way.

They watched them off with complex gazes.

"Creak——"

He pushed open his own courtyard gate.

Lu Qingshan instantly saw Lin Yue'e and Xiao Xue waiting at the gate.

Lin Yue'e's pretty face turned deathly pale.

Xiao Xue's little face was tense.

The huge commotion outside had already startled them.

When he saw Lu Qingshan and Zhao Tiezhu carrying two blood-drenched, ferocious-looking wild boars inside.

Lin Yue'e instantly covered her mouth.

Her eyes widened to round.

Her body uncontrollably trembled slightly.

That was surprise.

Also fear.

Xiao Xue hid behind her mother's legs.

Only revealing a pair of big eyes like black grapes.

She stared curiously and fearfully at that huge creature.

Her childish voice trembled.

"Dad…… that, that…… is it a big, big dog?"

"Thud!"

Lu Qingshan heavily set down the wild boar on his shoulder.

It shook the ground a bit.

He quickly walked to Lin Yue'e's side.

Seeing her bloodless face and the fear deep in her eyes.

His heart ached.

He softened his voice.

"Yue'e, don't be afraid, this is a wild boar, dead through and through, it's our hunted game."

He also said to Zhao Tiezhu.

"Tiezhu, just put this down, take this one home."

"Rest up, don't forget tomorrow morning!"

"Hey! All right, Brother Qing Shan!"

Zhao Tiezhu set down the wild boar, wiped his brow.

He gave Lin Yue'e a simple, honest smile.

He picked up the other, turned, and walked away.

In the courtyard.

Only the Lu Qingshan family of three remained.

And the two beasts on the ground giving off a strong bloody smell.

Lu Qingshan watched Lin Yue'e's still-tense body.

He tentatively reached out his hand.

He gently grasped her cold fingers.

"Scared you?"

Lin Yue'e shuddered all over.

Feeling the scorching warmth and strength from his palm.

Only then did she seemingly regain her voice.

She shook her head firmly, then nodded.

Her complex gaze shifted from the wild boar on the ground to her husband's face stained with blood and sweat.

Her lips moved.

Countless words ultimately condensed into a single urgent question choked with emotion.

You… you went into the mountains, you… you weren't hurt, were you?

Compared to this astonishing harvest.

She was more afraid that something would happen to him.

This sentence was like a warm current.

In an instant, it soothed Lu Qingshan's weary heart.

He turned his hand and tightly gripped hers.

He spoke decisively.

Don't worry! Not a single hair is missing! Everything's great!

He pointed to the wild boar on the ground.

On his weary face blossomed a smile full of strength.

This is just an appetizer!

In the mountains, there are three more that are bigger than these two combined!

I'll get people to bring them back tomorrow!

Yue'e, from now on we'll have meat at every meal!

I'll never let you and Xiao Xue go hungry or cold again!

Lin Yue'e stared blankly at her husband.

She looked at the confidence shining in his eyes, something she had never seen before.

She felt his hand gripping hers tightly, trembling slightly yet extraordinarily resolute.

She then looked at the wild boar on the ground, symbolizing food, wealth, and the future.

The hope sprouting silently yesterday.

After the immense fright and worry.

Finally, it broke through the ice in her heart.

Facing the sky full of evening clouds.

Growing vigorously.

Her eye sockets instantly turned red.

Filled with tears.

But no longer fear and despair.

But excitement.

But steadiness.

But an indescribable joy.

She nodded firmly.

Tears slid down.

Her voice choked yet clear.

Mm!

Xiao Xue isn't as afraid anymore.

She mustered her courage and walked a small circle around the wild boar.

Her little nose sniffed hard at the strong smell.

Then she ran to Lu Qingshan's leg.

She lifted her rosy little face.

Her eyes sparkled.

Full of longing.

Daddy! Can this be eaten? Does it smell good?

Hahaha!

Lu Qingshan burst out laughing.

He bent over and swept his precious daughter into his arms.

He planted a firm kiss on her soft little face.

His voice boomed.

Of course it can be eaten!

Daddy will make braised pork for Xiao Xue tomorrow!

Stewed until it's falling apart!

I guarantee it'll be so fragrant you'll swallow your tongue!

Great! Let's eat meat! Let's eat fragrant meat!

Xiao Xue's little face turned red with excitement.

She wrapped her arms around Daddy's neck.

She happily clapped her little hands.

Her clear, childish laughter rang in the small courtyard at dusk.

Like the most beautiful music.

The last glint of gold from the setting sun.

Gently enveloping this family of three that has endured hardship.

It also fell upon the two heavy 'wealth'.

A layer of warm, hopeful golden light was plated onto this dilapidated little courtyard.

Lu Qingshan held his fragrant, soft daughter.

Gazing at his wife's smile—like pear blossoms after rain, streaked with tears yet utterly moving.

His heart brimmed with an unprecedented sense of steadiness and contentment.

This moment.

He truly felt the meaning of rebirth.

He felt the warmth of home.

He felt that everything still had a chance to be made right.

【1 right.

He knew.

The road ahead is still long.

There are still many challenges.

But as long as they are with him.

He could then conquer the myriad mountains and rivers of Guandong Mountain.

Give them a splendid future.