Chapter 169: The Return

Chapter 169: The Return

The "black bear" referred to the Asiatic black bear. While the average black bear typically weighs less than a wild boar, the one Zhou Ye hunted was comparable in size, tipping the scales at a hefty four to five hundred pounds. Combined with the large wild boar beneath it, these two alone accounted for nearly a thousand pounds!

Not to mention, Zhou Ye also had two wild rabbits and three pheasants tied around his waist, and his carrying basket was filled to the brim.

Such a sight was truly astonishing!

No wonder Zhou Ye’s journey was delayed. Hauling such a bounty of wild game, it would have been a miracle if he could move quickly!

But how had Zhou Ye managed to hunt so much game? With just the axe at his waist?

A wild boar was one thing, but this time he had even bagged a black bear! And he didn’t appear to have a single scratch on him—it was truly astounding.

While everyone else was captivated by the black bear, Lin Shu only spared it a glance before rushing towards him, her brow furrowed with concern. "A Ye, are you hurt anywhere?"

That was a black bear. Even with A Ye’s immense strength, it couldn’t have been an easy fight.

Zhou Ye set down his heavy load, his eyes fixed intently on her, and shook his head. "A Shu, I’m fine. What are you doing here?"

When he heard A Shu calling him earlier, he almost thought he was hallucinating.

Assured that he was truly unharmed, Lin Shu relaxed, a smile slowly spreading across her face. "I came to pick you up."

She had a premonition that A Ye would return tonight. He was a man of his word. Since he had told her father he would be away for two nights, unless something unforeseen occurred, he would definitely be back tonight.

But the road was dark at night, and she wanted to meet him—to light his way from the deep mountains back home.

"It’s too dangerous, A Ye. It’s so dark. Weren’t you afraid of slipping and tumbling down the mountain, walking alone in the dark? What if you got hurt?" Lin Shu frowned at him, her expression disapproving.

"I promised your father I’d return on time. I was afraid you’d worry. A Shu, I didn’t want you to worry." He lowered his voice for the last sentence, but Lin Shu heard it clearly, her heart softening.

"You fool. My worrying is just in my heart—it won’t harm me. But if you rush back at night and accidentally get seriously injured or crippled, what will you do in the future? What will I do…" Lin Shu’s words trailed off into a mumble.

There were others present, and many things were inconvenient to say.

But at that moment, her father and the other uncles were too engrossed in the black bear to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"A Ye, you must be exhausted carrying all this. Rest for a while. Uncle and the others will help carry it!" Lin Dashan, his worries now replaced with delight, gazed at the black bear and the wild boar.

The wild boar was one thing—though it could charge and kill people, it only charged blindly. If one could avoid its path, they would be safe. But the black bear was a formidable beast. Lin Dashan had lived half his life without ever seeing one, only hearing about them from the village elders. He knew black bears existed deep in the mountains, and encountering one almost certainly meant death. They were carnivorous creatures that would eat humans.

A Ye must have known this too. The black bear he hunted was thoroughly dead. Though it was too dark to see clearly, he could vaguely make out a long, deep gash on the bear’s neck, its head nearly severed. Lin Dashan guessed A Ye had used his axe, striking the bear’s neck with a single, fierce blow that ended its life instantly.

Not only Lin Dashan but also Zhao Laosan and the other men who had come along were utterly amazed.

"A Ye, the black bear and the wild boar together must weigh nearly a thousand pounds. You actually carried them all this way through the mountain paths?" one man exclaimed in awe.

Zhou Ye’s gaze remained fixed on Lin Shu as he replied, "I took breaks along the way, so it took some time." Then, turning to Lin Dashan, he said, "Uncle, please lend a hand with the other uncles. You can carry the black bear, and I’ll take the wild boar. That way, we can return sooner."

Lin Dashan chuckled. "No need to be so formal with your future father-in-law!"

At this, the other uncles curiously asked for details.

Lin Dashan seized the opportunity to share the auspicious date for the wedding. "Hehe, make sure to come to my house for the wedding banquet!"

The enthusiastic uncles who had come along offered their congratulations, thinking Lin Dashan had truly struck gold with Zhou Ye as a son-in-law. With wild boars and black bears, it wouldn’t be long before he became one of the wealthiest households in Tianshui Village. No, wait—he didn’t even need to wait that long. Just this black bear alone, if they found a wealthy buyer, could fetch dozens of strings of coins! Add the wild boar to that, and they’d be rolling in money! If they converted that cash into farmland, Lin Dashan’s family could add dozens of mu (approximately 16 acres) of prime paddy fields!

Envy was envy, but they also knew that in the surrounding ten li (about 3 miles) and eight villages, or even in the towns and counties beyond, few could match Zhou Ye’s accomplishment of hunting a black bear.

Such skill wasn’t something one could simply envy their way into.

Without further delay, four strong men joined forces to carry the black bear, while the remaining two held torches to light the way ahead. They took turns carrying it, as the black bear weighed four to five hundred pounds, and even four strong men would find it exhausting after a while.

In contrast, Zhou Ye seemed remarkably relaxed and at ease. Carrying a wild boar of similar weight, he moved as if it were nothing, chatting effortlessly with Lin Shu.

"A Ye, were you tired these past few days?" Lin Shu asked intermittently about his time in the mountains.

"Not tired. It was easier than working in the fields," Zhou Ye replied cheerfully, indeed showing no signs of fatigue.

"A Ye, have you encountered black bears before? Why did you run into one this time?" Lin Shu asked curiously.

"I’ve seen them before, but only from afar. I steered clear of them when possible and never thought about hunting one."

Zhou Ye could fight wild beasts and kill them easily, but they were still wild animals. It was best to avoid confrontation if possible. This time, however, he had actively sought out the black bear. Everyone knew black bears were valuable, especially their gallbladders, paws, and fur—luxuries that nobles were willing to spend fortunes on!

Lin Shu understood the unspoken meaning behind Zhou Ye’s words, and her heart felt as sweet as if it were steeped in honey.

"A Ye, this is already enough. Your safety comes first. Don’t do this again in the future, understand?"

Zhou Ye grunted in agreement. "A Shu, just this once."

Taking advantage of the thick night, Lin Shu secretly reached out and took A Ye’s hand.

The two lagged behind as they walked. A Ye also held a torch, so there was no worry about not seeing the path clearly.

Zhou Ye grasped her hand the moment she offered it, holding it as they walked. When the path got tricky, he would warn her.

By the time the group returned to the village, most villagers had already gone to bed. But somehow, a villager who was still awake spotted them and soon let out an excited shout, "Zhou Ye hunted a black bear in the mountains—!"

At this shout, whether asleep or awake, villagers hurried out of their houses to see what the fuss was about.

What? A black bear!

Zhou Ye actually hunted a black bear in the mountains!

It was said to weigh four to five hundred pounds—a huge one!

What? There was also a wild boar? He actually hunted another wild boar this time!

Even after Zhou Ye and the others returned to the courtyard, curious villagers lingered, reluctant to leave.

Wow, it really was a black bear! A black bear! That Zhou Ye was truly remarkable!

Lin Dashan called out, inviting the villagers to come back early the next morning. Only then did the onlookers gradually disperse.

In the courtyard, Lin Xiaopu had been unable to stay awake and had gone to sleep earlier. Only He Guixiang waited anxiously for news. She never expected such wonderful news! She was so shocked she couldn’t speak for a long time. That dark shape on the ground looked terrifying—was this the black bear the older generation had mentioned? This was what it looked like?

Lin Xiaopu was also awakened by the commotion outside. She stumbled out drowsily, only to be jolted fully awake by the sight of the black bear and the large wild boar in the courtyard.

Was she dreaming? A Ye bringing back a wild boar was one thing, but a black bear too??!!

"A Ye, you must be hungry after carrying these heavy things for so long. I’ll make you some hand-pulled noodles!" Lin Shu was the first to speak.

He Guixiang finally snapped out of her daze. "Right, right, quickly make something for A Ye to eat. A Shu, I’ll knead the dough. You go pour A Ye a bowl of water."

Lin Shu smiled. "Mom, let me do it. I napped this afternoon and I’m not very sleepy yet. You and Dad have worked hard all day—you should rest early."

Lin Dashan was about to say he wasn’t tired, but He Guixiang pinched him. "Alright, A Shu. You and A Ye get settled and rest early too. If you need anything from Mom and Dad, just call out anytime."

"I know, Mom."

He Guixiang pulled Lin Dashan into the inner room to rest, not forgetting to shoot a look at Lin Xiaopu, who had been startled awake from her drowsiness. Taking the hint, Lin Xiaopu tactfully slipped into the inner room as well.

Hehe, she understood—sister hadn’t seen A Ye for several days and missed him terribly. They must have a lot to say to each other alone, so it was best not to disturb them.

Lin Shu first poured Zhou Ye a bowl of cool mountain spring water, then swiftly scooped flour and began kneading the dough. Knowing A Ye had a big appetite, she prepared a big batch. Before she could start rolling out the noodles, Zhou Ye had already skillfully lit the stove fire and boiled water in the iron pot. After quickly washing his face and neck, he walked over and took over the task from her. "A Shu, I’ll handle this. You go rest."

Lin Shu pouted. "But A Ye, I wanted to make this meal for you myself tonight."

Zhou Ye smiled. "You guide me, and I’ll follow your instructions. It’ll be like you made it yourself."

Lin Shu couldn’t help but smile, though she still muttered, "What’s to explain about rolling noodles? Just divide the dough into smaller portions, roll each one thin—or if you’re impatient, a bit thicker is fine too. After rolling, fold it a few times and cut it into strips. The width is up to your preference..."

One giving directions and the other doing the work, the two quickly prepared a large pot of hand-rolled noodles. The household had Termitomyces sauce, so there was no need to add anything else. A few spoonfuls of the sauce were mixed in, and Zhou Ye sat on a bench in the main room, holding the bowl with one hand and using chopsticks to twirl the noodles into his mouth with the other, slurping them down with great relish.

"Silly, didn’t you roast a wild rabbit or pheasant to eat before coming back?"

Zhou Ye took a moment to explain, "I didn’t aim right—the black bear was killed with a single axe blow from me. To skin a black bear properly, it’s best to do it within an hour of killing it, by cutting its throat to drain the blood and waiting until the blood is fully drained. But in the forest, blood draws other wild beasts. Without the right conditions, I had to hurry back as soon as possible and didn’t have time for anything else."

Lin Shu let out an "oh," resting her chin in her hands as she watched him, her eyes brimming with a smile.