Chapter 58: A Sumptuous Lunch

As they entered the courtyard, the aroma of freshly cooked rice greeted them. Northeastern rice, compared to the southern variety, seemed to be far more fragrant. “Oh, I’m already hungry—the smell of this rice is so delicious, it’s awakened the hunger in my belly,” Jiaoyan said with a cheerful smile.

That morning, when they’d eaten the coarse flatbread, Jiaoyan had barely managed to swallow half, giving the rest to Wenxiu. Now, at noon, hunger gnawed at them.

It so happened that Miao Suwen came out of the house just then, and seeing the children returning with wild vegetables in their arms, she quickly told everyone to lay the greens on the ground so they could be sorted and stir-fried later. “There’s some meat left; we’ll stir-fry the greens with meat—it’ll taste better than just mixing them cold.”

Everyone set to work, and before long, the wild vegetables were picked over. Miao Suwen fetched a clay basin, washed the greens twice, then chopped them into sections on the vegetable block—a chopping board left behind by Second Uncle Gu. In the mountains, wood was plentiful, so such things were easily made. When Second Uncle Gu moved away, he hadn’t bothered to take the old board with him; now, it found use again.

Miao Suwen hadn’t even gotten the celery into the wok when Gu Chengyong returned with the others. What a sight—five people, each carrying a haul of game: wild pheasants, rabbits, and Wenqi’s shirt bulging with a clutch of pheasant eggs.

“Little sister, you should’ve seen it! Game is everywhere in these mountains. We barely had to work for it—caught so much so easily!” Wenqi boasted happily to the group. “I found this pheasant nest, and imagine—so many eggs inside! Let’s have Mother fry them up for us later.”

The village had only sixty or seventy households, but the mountains were vast and boundless. Few villagers hunted—perhaps five or six families—so there were plenty of animals to be found.

“There are treasures aplenty in these mountains; it’s just a matter of whether we can find them. When you’re older, you should venture into the mountains yourself. But practice your skills well—that’s what matters most. Wenqi, your archery still isn’t accurate enough—you missed several shots and nearly lost the prey,” Gu Chengyong said, dampening his son’s pride.

Wenqi, a bit embarrassed by his father’s rebuke, grinned sheepishly. “Father, I’ll learn properly from you in the future, all right? But please, don’t say that in front of my siblings.”

The children burst into hearty laughter at this.

Gu Chengyong let the matter drop. “Come on, help me clean these animals, and you’ll have meat to eat soon.” So Wenxiu and Wenqi helped their father gut and pluck the rabbits and pheasants, while Axi and Alu went to tidy up the yard and other areas.

Meanwhile, Shaoyuan brought the pheasant eggs Wenqi had found into the house and gave them to Miao Suwen, who was quite surprised. “Who would’ve thought there’d be so many good things in these mountains! All right, I’ll fry them for you later, you little gluttons. You must have been craving these treats lately.”

Gu Chengyong and his sons worked quickly, cleaning the rabbits and pheasants in no time. He handed the rabbits to Madam Feng to chop up for stewing. As for the pheasants, he rubbed salt inside, coated them in mud, and tossed them straight into the hearth to bake.

The children, sitting in the yard, already hungry, were nearly drooling at the mouthwatering scents wafting from the kitchen.

The meal was somewhat delayed, but by early afternoon, everything was ready. Fragrant rabbit stew, golden fried eggs, stir-fried wild greens with meat, and the pheasants, though blackened on the outside, released an intoxicating aroma when cracked open. The meal was nothing short of sumptuous.

“All right, come and eat,” Miao Suwen said with a cheerful smile.

The children had long since lost their patience and immediately picked up their chopsticks. “Mmm, nothing beats Mother’s and Master’s cooking,” Jiaoyan praised between mouthfuls. “It’s nothing like the food at Grandmother’s place—everything there is far too salty.”

“If you like it, eat more. If you want anything special, just come to Master’s house—I’ll cook for you, so you don’t have to force down food you dislike,” Miao Suwen replied, delighting in the children’s happy faces.

“Deal! I’ll just come live at Master’s place then,” Jiaoyan replied without hesitation, drawing a round of laughter.

Everyone ate their fill. Afterward, the children all rubbed their bellies in satisfaction, grinning contentedly. “Nothing like rice to fill you up,” they said. Being southerners, they really weren’t used to the coarse flatbread.

Watching the children’s contentment, Madam Feng felt a pang in her heart. How had life come to this, where even a decent meal was a rare blessing for her children? The thought left her despondent.

Gu Chengyong, sitting beside her, noticed her sorrowful expression and sighed. “Don’t worry, we’ll endure for a while longer. Once the family splits, we’ll live on our own, and no one will interfere.” It was all he could do to comfort her.

Madam Feng merely nodded and said nothing more.

That afternoon, Gu Chengyong took the boys back into the woods to gather more firewood, which put his mind at ease. “That should do. In the future, Axi and Alu can gather more firewood when they have time. At night, make sure the doors are barred. We’re close to the woods here; there’s no telling what wild animals might be about.”

After these instructions, he told them that in the morning Qin Shaoyuan should stay home to practice with Wenxiu and the others. Then Gu Chengyong and his wife took their children home, leaving the Miaos and the four helpers to begin their new life.

Back at the Gu house, the old lady’s face was as sour as ever, especially when she saw Jiaoyan—she glared at her without pause. Jiaoyan ignored her and went straight to her room.

Old Master Gu, however, called Gu Chengyong over with a genial smile. “Chengyong, about what happened at noon—your mother was in the wrong. After you left, I spoke to her. You know her temper—she’s always been tight-fisted, a habit from years of hardship. She’s not bad at heart, just sharp-tongued. For my sake and your uncles’, don’t take it to heart.”

Gu Chengyong looked at his father, whose hair had long since turned white from years of toil. His skin was dark, his face deeply lined. He was old now. Forget it, Chengyong thought—for no other reason than to let his father enjoy his remaining years in peace, he would not quarrel with Madam Li anymore.

“Father, we brought these back from the mountains at noon—they’re cooked for supper. Everyone should have some,” Gu Chengyong said, handing over the wild pheasant and rabbit.

The old man’s face lit up with a smile. “When you’re not at home, we rarely get to eat wild game. Good, we’ll save these for dinner.” He turned and passed the game to Madam Li.

Seeing the bounty, the old lady’s mood improved at last. “No sense in letting this go to waste. Your aunt and uncle will visit tomorrow—these will make a fine addition to the table. Your aunt’s family has lived in the village for four or five years now—they’re close kin. You and your wife must treat them well.”

There was meaning behind her words. If Gu Chengyong could bring so much to Second Uncle’s house, surely he should send something to his mother’s family now that her sister and brother-in-law were coming—otherwise, wouldn’t that be an affront to her own kin?

Gu Chengyong caught the implication and felt a flicker of anger, but remembering his aged father, he relented. “Since Aunt and Uncle are coming, I’ll go back to the mountains tomorrow and see if I can bring back more.” He didn’t commit further—he’d have to discuss it with Madam Feng.

The old lady was somewhat displeased that her son didn’t promise outright, but hearing he’d go hunting again, she brightened. No one in the family had Second Brother’s skill, so wild game was a rare treat.

Living in the mountains, expenses were modest. They ate what they grew and wore what they made. Aside from oil, salt, and sauces, there was little need to spend money. Yet, each family lived to a different standard.

Second Uncle’s household was well-off. In his younger days, he worked timber rafts in spring and summer and logged in winter, earning good money. He was skilled in martial arts, too, and often hunted in his spare time. Even now that he stayed home, his three sons, having learned from him, could all hunt. Their family lived far better than most in the village.

On the other hand, in the Gu family, only Gu Chengyong knew martial arts and could hunt. During the years he was away, they rarely had meat at the table. Now that he was home, they wouldn’t lack for game—at least, that was one good thing, and the old lady finally felt somewhat content.

“All right, then go into the mountains and see what you can bring back. And why not teach the boys at home some skills? They’re your nephews, after all—you ought to train them well,” the old lady said suddenly. If her grandsons learned, life would be better, wouldn’t it? They weren’t stupid; surely they could learn.

Gu Chengyong hesitated. To be honest, his nephews weren’t cut out for martial arts. Wensheng and Wenjie were already older—not suited to begin training. Wenjing and Wen’an were spoiled and unlikely to endure hardship. Still, he didn’t say so directly. “Mother, let’s discuss it with everyone tonight. Training is tough—the children may not be able to endure it.”

“What’s so tough about it? Just teach them something simple and useful,” Madam Li replied, unconcerned, certain her grandsons could learn anything.