Elated, Chen Lei dashed over, scooped up the rabbit, and hefted it in his hand. A good seven or eight jin, he estimated. "At current prices, this should fetch at least sixty coppers!"
Instead of heading down the mountain immediately, he secured the hare with a cord, slung it over his shoulder, and continued his search. The cooing of birds still echoed nearby. Aided by his Tracking & Stalking skill, he soon pinpointed two pigeons perched on a distant treetop. Draw, nock, pull, release—his movements were a seamless flow. A blurred streak shot forth, skewering both birds in a single strike. They plummeted to the ground with a soft thud. Chen Lei collected his prize. Pigeons, considered highly nourishing, commanded a price even slightly higher than rabbit; these two would bring another thirty coppers.
He wished to continue, but daylight was waning. Gathering his spoils, he began the descent.
Selling wild game required a trip to a tavern in the county town. The path led through villages even poorer than Yanbian. Their inhabitants, gaunt and sallow, stared with a mixture of envy and raw hunger at his catch, though the sight of the bow on his back kept their darker thoughts in check.
"Treasure Hall Tavern."
After a shichen, Chen Lei stood before the imposing establishment, its signboard adorned with gilded characters. This was where his father had often sold his game, one of the premier taverns in the city, where a simple meal reputedly started at three to five taels of silver. Moments ago, he had passed streets lined with the starving; now, he witnessed a wealthy patron toss a plate heaped with fresh meat and vegetables to the ground for his dog.
"Behind vermilion gates meat and wine go to waste; Upon the road lie bones of men frozen to death."The verse echoed bitterly in his mind. Grain shortages? If all the granaries were opened, perhaps the entire city could survive the winter. The thought was a heavy one.
The steward who received him was an old acquaintance of his father's. "Rabbit, eight jinand two liang. Pigeon, half a jin. Eighty-five coppers in total." The slightly portly middle-aged man's fingers danced deftly over the abacus beads. "Does that seem fair?"
"Fair. Thank you, Uncle Liu."
Liu Hongda smiled. "Bring any good catches here in the future. I guarantee you won't be shortchanged a single coin."
Chen Lei accepted the copper coins. Nearly a tenth of a tael in a day. In ordinary times, that would suffice.But with taxes due and debts to repay, it's a drop in the bucket. I need larger game.
As he counted the coins, a lanky, sun-darkened youth approached with fish to sell. "Brother Lei?!" The boy recognized him instantly. Chen Lei's memory supplied the name: Zhang Shun, son of Auntie Li. They had played together in the mud as bare-bottomed toddlers. Over the past six months, were it not for Auntie Li finding work for Qinglian and their occasional aid, they might have starved.
"Shunzi, you're just in time." Chen Lei produced the still-warm coins. "What we owe your family—"
Shunzi cut him off. "No rush, Brother Lei. I'm not hard up right now." He hoisted his creel, displaying a bountiful catch, including a fish of seven or eight jin. "You've just recovered. You need the money more. Pay us back whenever it's convenient!"
"Alright. Thank you, Shunzi." Chen didn't press. He owed two-tenths of a tael; one-tenth wasn't enough. Better to repay the full sum with interest once he had it.
"Don't mention it! You taught me my characters when we were kids!"
Both heading to Poyang County, they walked home together. From their chat, Chen Lei learned Shunzi's family had saved over ten taels, planning to send him to a martial arts school soon.
"Martial arts..." Chen Lei knew this world held martial prowess, and those who mastered it occupied esteemed positions. For a commoner's child to enroll in a school was a mark of success; modest achievement could bring glory to one's ancestors. With his progress-grinding panel, he naturally longed to train. But that required substantial fees. Survival came first; he would save for it later.
Back in the town, Chen Lei bid Shunzi farewell. Before reaching home, he spotted a slender figure standing anxiously at the doorway, peering into the distance. Qinglian, of course. She had finished work early to prepare dinner, but as darkness fell with no sign of him, she had nearly gone to search the mountain.
"Brother Lei!" She hurried over, her voice a mix of concern and scolding. "It's pitch black! You frightened me half to death! I told you, catching anything didn't matter!"
Chen Lei said nothing, simply smiling as he produced a grey pigeon from behind his back.
"Ah! You got something!" Before she could recover, a small bag of coins was pressed into her hand, accompanied by a gentle voice: "Tonight, we eat meat."
Half an hour later, the table held not just rice and salted duck eggs, but also a fragrant pot of pigeon soup. It had been half a year since meat graced their home.
"Brother Lei, you're truly amazing." Qinglian could scarcely believe it. "I heard even Uncle Zhao in the village came back empty-handed today."
"I just had luck. Uncle Zhao and the others are veterans of the deeper mountains. When they get something, it's big game." Chen Lei gnawed on a pigeon leg, savoring the rice mixed with salty egg yolk, his stomach profoundly content. He had deliberately not sold everything, wanting to replenish both their strength. Qinglian, however, remained reluctant to eat the meat. Only after much coaxing did she finally accept a pigeon wing.
Sated, he led her to sit on the edge of the bed. She kept her head down, cheeks flushed, fingers nervously entwined. By tradition, today was the first day after their wedding.
In the flickering candlelight, Chen Lei took his first proper, careful look at Qinglian's lovely face. Her slender willow-leaf brows held a springtime charm; her almond eyes reflected the candle flame like autumn water mirroring the moon; her slightly reddened cheeks resembled peach blossoms. An undeniable allure radiated from her. Add to that her literacy and skill in embroidery, and were it not for the coarse homespun cloth she wore, she would pass for a young lady of good family.
"Qinglian." Unconsciously, he had drawn closer.
"Yes, Brother Lei?"
"You smell wonderful."
"Brother Lei, I... I'm still sore."
...
In the latter half of the night, Chen Lei leaned against the headboard, one arm still held in a firm embrace.
"Brother Lei." Qinglian's voice was troubled. "Have we offended that Qi Xiong?"
"Qi Xiong?"
"Mhm." She nodded. "A neighbor said that Qi fellow lingered outside our door for a long time today."
"..." Chen Lei noted it. So he truly won't let it go. I must be more careful.He soothed her, "Sleep, Qinglian. I'm here."
"Mhm." Exhausted, she drifted off quickly. These past two days, she had felt an inexplicable sense of security.
Propped against the headboard, Chen Lei noticed an old book left behind, unsold. He picked it up and began to read.
[Skill: Literacy (Initiated)]
[Progress: (15/300)]
[Effect: Mental Clarity, Photographic Memory]
"It really works." He had wondered earlier, when Tracking & Stalking appeared, if reading would also qualify. His hunch was correct. Not only that, it started at the Initiated stage. It seemed the original owner had accumulated quite a foundation. How did he still fail the county exam?With the panel, Chen Lei estimated he could surely pass if he took the exams now. Unfortunately, the next examination was two years away. He couldn't wait that long. Survival came first.
After reading for a while, Chen Lei, too, sank into deep sleep.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Open up!"
"Open the door, now!"
The next morning, Chen Lei was jolted awake by furious pounding.