Chapter 46: Warmly feeding the golden tiger, Yue'e stares dazed, Xiao Xue curious!

Lu Qingshan took the money note from Liu Fugui's hand, turned and counted it.

The money notes fluttered at his fingertips, precise as a skill honed over years of practice.

"Two hundred twenty-six kuai, thirty jin of National Grain Ticket—everything that could be given today is all here."

He announced softly, the corner of his mouth curling in a satisfied arc.

Liu Fugui rubbed his hands, leaned slightly forward, his gaze fixed on the stack of money notes, his eyes wide like bronze bells.

"Q-Qing Shan bro, we-we, did we strike it rich?"

"Not exactly rich, just getting started."

Lu Qingshan picked out the change, stuffed the remaining cash into his inner pocket, clutching the rest of the money notes in his hand, feeling the weak heartbeat of the golden tiger in his arms.

"Let's go into the Supply and Marketing Cooperative to have a look."

The three squeezed into the Supply and Marketing Cooperative; Lu Qingshan tightened his cotton jacket, protecting the puppy in his arms.

"One bag of rice, twenty jin. Plus ten jin of flour." Lu Qingshan stated the demand crisply and efficiently.

The sales clerk, Older Sister Zhang, raised her eyebrows in surprise, stopped her work, and sized up the three with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Oh my, isn't this Comrade Lu? Buying this much grain all at once!"

"Mm." Lu Qingshan merely nodded, gave no explanation, lowered his head and softly said to the golden tiger, "Be good, endure a little; when we get back there will be a warm kang."

The golden tiger weakly blinked, curling into a ball in his arms.

After settling the bill, the three found a sheltered corner at the town's edge.

Lu Qingshan looked around, then took out the money.

"Two hundred and four kuai kuai money, according to the agreement split. Tiezhu, Fugui, each sixty kuai."

He quickly counted out the money and shoved it into their hands.

Zhao Tiezhu and Liu Fugui froze, staring at the money in their hands, their breathing suddenly becoming rapid.

"Sixty kuai—more than the largest amount they've ever seen."

"Q-Qing Shan bro... this, this is too much! I-I can't take this much!" Zhao Tiezhu's sturdy big hand trembled slightly, as if he couldn't believe the money was real.

Lu Qingshan pressed down on his hand, not allowing refusal.

"Take it! This is what you deserve! Don't be fussy!"

"Rice has also been divided, ten jin each. Ten jin of flour I'll keep at home; you go back and mix in some coarse grain—there's still meat at home, enough for the New Year."

Liu Fugui's eye sockets instantly reddened, his nose twitched a few times, his voice changed tone. "Qing Shan, Qing Shan bro, I-I thank you on behalf of my younger siblings!"

"Just a few days ago, weren't you still afraid I'd beat you?" Lu Qingshan chuckled lightly.

"N-no, that was before!" Liu Fugui straightened his thin frame, patted his chest, "From now on, following Qing Shan bro, my life—Liu Fugui's life—is yours!"

Zhao Tiezhu also nodded honestly, clutching the money in his big hand. "Qing Shan bro! Me too! I'll follow you for life! Up the knife mountain, down the fire sea—I wouldn't even frown, not a real man!"

Lu Qingshan patted both their shoulders.

"Let's go, head home. Be careful on the road, don't let anyone see our stuff."

The three persons and one dog set off on the mountain path, the cold wind howling as it slapped their faces.

In Lu Qingshan's embrace, the golden tiger felt the body heat transmitted through the clothing, seeming stronger than when they came.

After walking for over three hours, they reached the fork at the village entrance.

"Rest the day after tomorrow for two days, catch our breath, also let the villagers see we're settled. Then go up the mountain the day after that."

Lu Qingshan whispered a reminder, "This harvest is big; once the news spreads, surely someone will envy us—don't show off."

The two nodded like pounding garlic, each holding a sack of rice and money, stepping away in the snow.

Lu Qingshan held the golden tiger, shouldered the flour sack, and walked toward home.

In the distance, the chimneys of the earthen houses puffed cooking smoke, appearing especially warm against the white snow.

He pushed open the courtyard gate, the wooden door creaking.

Lin Yue'e immediately poked her head out, her eyes holding the usual caution and vigilance.

When she saw clearly the puppy in Lu Qingshan's arms and the flour sack on his back, her delicate eyebrows rose slightly, her eyes widening a bit.

"You're back." She said softly, stepping aside to let him pass.

Lu Qingshan entered the warm house; a wave of heat mixed with firewood scent and faint food aroma hit him, instantly dispelling the chill on his body.

The earthen kang burned scorching hot; though the house was simple, it now had a touch of homey warmth.

"Yue'e, heat some water." He placed the golden tiger carefully on the kang edge, "This little thing is starving and frozen; it needs some rice soup."

Lin Yue'e was stunned. She had never seen her husband like this, especially toward a strange little dog.

Before, he hadn't been this meticulous and attentive even with her and Xiao Xue.

"Okay." She suppressed the surge of shock in her heart, replied softly, turned and hurried to the stove, adding firewood to the furnace and pulling the bellows.

Lu Qingshan unfastened his cotton jacket, moved his fingers a bit, dispelling the cold.

"This time we got a good price, bought ten jin of flour, and still have over a hundred left—enough to eat for a while."

Lin Yue'e's hand motion paused, a surge of incredulous joy welled up in her heart.

"Over a hundred kuai! Xiao Xue can finally eat fragrant steamed buns, no longer having to gnaw on those hard, bitter coarse grains."

"I went hunting with Tiezhu and Fugui." Lu Qingshan continued, voice calm, "We'll go often from now on, so you won't suffer anymore."

Lin Yue'e turned her back to him, her shoulders trembling slightly.

This simple promise outweighs any grandiose boast.

"Where's Xiao Xue?" he asked, looking around.

"Playing in the west room." Lin Yue'e replied softly.

Lu Qingshan nodded, crouched and gently stroked the golden tiger's fur.

The puppy was skin and bone, ribs clearly visible, yet its half-open, half-closed eyes glowed with a stubborn, unextinguishable light.

"This dog…" Lin Yue'e returned holding hot water, looking curiously.

"We met an Oroqen elder in town; his family suffered a disaster and he can't keep them alive."

Lu Qingshan took the hot water. "A pure‑bred Oroqen Hunting Dog, named Jin Hu. If this dog is raised properly, it will be of great use for hunting in the mountains."

Lin Yue'e crouched by the kang, watching the puppy up close.

She noticed that, although thin, the dog's skeleton was indeed larger than the village mutts', and its head more angular. "Will it… die?"

"No." Lu Qingshan said resolutely. "It's very hardy; it's just been starving too long. Moreover, I'm here."

Those last three words made Lin Yue'e's heart tremble.

This man has truly changed.

He's no longer the Lu Lazi who gambled, drank, and fought all day?

But rather… back to the youthful figure that once made her heart flutter?

The door curtain fluttered, and a small head poked in.

Xiao Xue's big eyes were full of curiosity.

"Xiao Xue, come here." Lu Qingshan beckoned, his voice gentle. "Dad has brought you something good."

Xiao Xue hesitated, then, encouraged by her mother's gaze, took small steps to the kang, eyes wide as she stared at the puppy.

"Is it a dog?" she asked softly, her voice as thin as a mosquito.

"Yes, Jin Hu." Lu Qingshan gently pulled her into his arms, feeling his daughter's soft little body, his heart full of tenderness. "It will protect our family and hunt with dad. Pet it, don't be afraid."

Xiao Xue carefully extended a finger and tapped Jin Hu's head.

Jin Hu weakly lifted his eyes to glance at his little owner, waved his oversized paws, and his tail twitched slightly.

Lin Yue'e brought a thin rice soup with minced meat and handed it to Lu Qingshan. "Can he drink it?"

"He can." He took the bowl, scooped a small spoonful, and brought it to Jin Hu's mouth.

Jin Hu seemed to smell the life‑saving meat aroma, strained to lift his head, extended his pink little tongue, and tentatively licked the soup at the spoon's edge.

He was far too weak; even swallowing was unusually difficult.

Lu Qingshan patiently fed him bit by bit, the warm rice soup scented with minced meat slowly sliding into the puppy's dry throat.

Gradually, Jin Hu's swallowing seemed to gain strength, and the once dull eyes appeared to rekindle a faint sparkle.

Xiao Xue watched entranced, her little face full of wonder, and couldn't help but reach out again to touch Jin Hu's warm little ears.

"Dad, look, its eyes are a bit brighter, like tiny stars in the sky."

Lu Qingshan heard this, his heart stirred, he stroked his daughter's soft hair and said warmly, "Right, when Jin Hu recovers, dad will take you up the mountain to teach you about all kinds of birds, as well as rabbits and Roe Deer, okay?"

Xiao Xue's eyes lit up instantly, as if a tiny lamp had been lit. "Really?"

"Dad keeps his word." Lu Qingshan promised solemnly, watching the pure smile spread across his daughter's face; he felt a corner of his long‑frozen heart melt from that smile.

Lin Yue'e quietly observed the father‑daughter interaction from beside them, a long‑missing sense of safety and hope welling up inside her.

This household truly seems to be changing quietly.

"Then… shall I cook some sorghum‑rice porridge for you?" she asked tentatively, her voice carrying faint hope. "You haven't eaten anything all day, have you?"

"Sure." Lu Qingshan looked up, meeting her eyes. "Thank you."

Those three simple words were like a warm current, instantly striking the softest part of Lin Yue'e's heart.

She froze there, hardly daring to believe her own ears.

How many years? Since the marriage, since he became that way, she hadn't heard those two words from his mouth again.

In her memory, there were only endless insults, accusations, and blows.

She spun around sharply, hurried to the stove, unwilling to let him see her eyes reddening instantly and the uncontrolled tears falling.

Lu Qingshan kept feeding Jin Hu, feeling the little life gradually regain vigor in his hands.

He knew that not only this puppy, but his family and his life were heading toward a path of revival.

Mountain Wild Heart in his chest beat gently and rhythmically along with Jin Hu's faint heartbeat, as if engaging in some silent communication and connection.

Outside, the wind and snow still howled. On the earthen kang, Jin Hu, having drunk half a bowl of rice soup, seemed to gain some strength, let out a tiny sneeze, then satisfiedly smacked his lips, slowly closed his eyes, curled up in the warm old cotton, his breathing becoming even and steady.

Lu Qingshan knew it had survived.

Just as this family will surely endure the coldest winter and welcome a brand‑new, hopeful tomorrow.