Chapter 49: Bang! The Courtyard Gate Is Kicked! Lin Yue'e and Her Daughter in Dire Straits!

The mountain path was hard to walk; the snow was ankle‑deep, and each step gave off a creak creak sound that carried far in the silent dawn.

Lu Qingshan bore a sack weighing dozens of jin on his shoulder, leaving a footprint with each step, walking steadily and powerfully.

The biting cold wind stung his face, but he paid it no mind; instead, a surge of heat rose in his chest.

The county town! It meant not only higher purchase prices and scarce tickets, but also a chance to scout a path.

Hunting ultimately depends on the weather for a meal; he must quickly find a steadier livelihood to free his wife and daughter from poverty and live a worry‑free, well‑fed life.

Mountain Wild Heart ticked gently in his chest with each step, sensing the surrounding wind, birdsong, and the hidden movements beneath the snow.

After walking for over two hours, daylight brightened; he found a wind‑sheltered stone hollow and gnawed on a frozen, hard corn‑flour cake.

Suddenly, his chest tightened sharply, and Mountain Wild Heart sent a very uncomfortable throb.

It felt as if a cold, ill‑meaning gaze from somewhere at home was watching.

It wasn't a concrete image, but a feeling of being stalked by a poisonous snake, full of malice.

He furrowed his brows; the unease instantly spread through his mind.

Was it an illusion, or was something truly about to happen?

He suppressed his worry, ate the cake faster, rose immediately, and quickened his steps a few more paces. The sooner he went, the sooner he'd return!

Meanwhile, in Shanwan Village, in Lu Qingshan's courtyard.

Zhao Tiezhu sweated profusely; as his axe rose and fell, frozen meat was cleaved piece by piece.

Liu Fugui squatted in a corner, enduring the foul smell, carefully scrubbing pork intestines, his hands reddened by cold and constantly exhaling.

Lin Yue'e moved back and forth inside and outside the house, boiling water and handing out tools.

Seeing the two busy in the courtyard, her lingering worry eased a little.

Lu Qingshan had arranged everything thoroughly before leaving; these two worked earnestly.

On the heated brick bed, Jin Hu had recovered astonishingly, now able to wobble a few steps.

It curiously surveyed the outside; whenever Zhao Tiezhu or Liu Fugui approached the doorway, a low whine rose from its throat, its small body tensed in a guard‑like stance.

"Hey, sister‑in‑law, look, this little thing really recognizes its master!" Zhao Tiezhu shouted with a goofy grin.

Lin Yue'e showed a faint smile, patting Jin Hu's head: "It's shy, unfamiliar." Jin Hu immediately nuzzled her hand obediently.

The neighboring Qian Guapu's courtyard gate stood ajar; her slanted eyes flickered occasionally, full of jealousy and greed.

She even held an empty bowl and approached the fence to strike up conversation, but a low growl from Jin Hu scared her away.

By evening, the meat and offal were tidied, and Zhao Tiezhu and Liu Fugui each tucked the hard‑earned money Lu Qingshan gave them into their pockets and headed home.

"Sister‑in‑law, if anything happens just shout, we're not far!" Zhao Tiezhu urged anxiously. Liu Fugui nodded, "Yeah, my ears are sharp!"

After the two left, the courtyard fell completely silent, and the setting sun cast a gray‑cold hue over the white snow.

Lin Yue'e carried firewood into the house, carefully latched the courtyard gate and the room door.

Xiao Xue perched on the edge of the brick bed, teasing Jin Hu; Jin Hu dutifully nudged her small hand with his wet nose.

The house was warm and cozy, the earthen bed radiating heat.

However, Ma Liu at the western edge of the village chewed on a snack, his gloomy gaze already fixed on the cooking smoke rising from the Lu Family chimney.

The news that Lu Laizi had bagged a Wild Boar and become rich spread through the village, leaving him feeling extremely unbalanced.

How could such a waste of a person turn his luck around?

Not to mention Lin Yue'e's delicate, water‑like appearance; when Lu Laizi was still at home, he had some reservations.

Now that they say Lu Laizi has left, the house is left with only an orphaned widowed mother…

It's practically a chance sent by Heaven itself!

"Damn, Lu Laizi, that damn dog thing got lucky as hell!"

Ma Liu spat, his eyes flashing with feral light.

"He's not here, so today I'll 'take care of' his wife!"

He turned back into the house, calling over the idle men who usually hung out with him, Zhao Lao San and Zhao Lao Wu.

"Come, I'll take you to the Lu house to get some Wild Boar meat for drinks, and also… hehe, those little women, I'll sample them first; the job won't be complete without your perks!"

Zhao Lao San and Zhao Lao Wu exchanged a glance, flashing knowing lecherous smiles, and grabbed wooden sticks and iron spades to follow.

"Brother Ma, you're awesome!" "Those women are truly exciting, just thinking about them makes me hot!"

The night fell silently; the cold wind swirled snowflakes, whistling, masking the footsteps of three stealthy approaches.

Inside, Lin Yue'e had just fed Xiao Xue half a bowl of porridge when Jin Hu on the brick bed suddenly stood up without warning.

His ears perked alertly, a deep low whine emanated from his throat, and he paced anxiously on the bed, his nose constantly sniffing toward the doorway.

"What's wrong, Jin Hu?" Lin Yue'e's heart tightened, a foreboding feeling rising.

The words hadn't finished—

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The Lu Qingshan courtyard gate was pounded thunderously, rough and rapid, accompanied by vulgar curses.

"Open the door! Lin Yue'e! Open it for me!" shouted the brash voice of Ma Liu.

"If you don't open, I'll kick it down! Damn, stop playing dead!"

"Who, who is it?" Lin Yue'e's hand trembled, the bowl nearly fell, her voice shaking, instinctively clutching Xiao Xue tightly, her face turning as white as paper.

It was Ma Liu! He had indeed arrived! Lu Qingshan wasn't home…

"Not opening, huh? You shameless, stinky women!"

Clang—!

A huge crash rang out, accompanied by the sharp sound of wood splintering.

The courtyard gate was ripped open by their brute force!

Three towering figures blocked the doorway, shielding the faint starlight outside, like three

Ma Liu gripped a wooden stick, tilted his head, his cloudy eyes brazenly swept over Lin Yue'e's terrified face and over Xiao Xue, who trembled with fright in her arms.

「Whine—woof! Woof woof! 」

Before Ma Liu could speak, Jin Hu on the kang arched its back, fur bristling all over, and let out a fierce, rapid bark at the three people by the door.

Its small body erupted with astonishing momentum, baring its fine teeth, issuing a threatening low growl from its throat, poised to pounce and tear at any moment.

"Oh, you even keep a creature that can bark?" Ma Liu was startled by the sudden fierce bark, then snorted contemptuously, raised his wooden stick toward Jin Hu, and snarled, "You little beast, bark again and I'll stew you!"

Lin Yue'e trembled all over with fright, clutching Xiao Xue tightly behind her, her voice choked with tears but she forced herself to shout, "Ma Liu bro, what—what do you want? My man isn't home……"

"Not being home is perfect!" Ma Liu grinned wickedly, stepping closer step by step.

The stick dragged across the floor, making a screeching sound, his greedy gaze sweeping over the clutter piled in the corner of the room and over Lin Yue'e's heaving chest from fear.

"I heard you struck it rich? Killed a big wild boar? We brothers are short on cash lately, so we're 'borrowing' some meat from you."

He paused, licked his dry, cracked lips, and his lecherous gaze fell unabashedly upon Lin Yue'e.

"And then, with you little lass… hehe, we'll 'borrow' something else to warm the kang!"