Chapter Forty-Four: The Whole Village in an Uproar

Chapter Forty-Four: The Whole Village in Uproar

When several of them shouldered the wild boar into the village, they immediately drew the attention of passing villagers, some of whom even trailed after them.

“Da Hua’s father, what kind of good fortune have you stumbled upon? Where did you get such a wild boar? Did it perhaps fall off a cliff by accident?”

Ever since someone in the village found a wild boar that had slipped down a cliff, whenever anyone returned with a boar, the villagers always wondered if luck had simply smiled upon them.

After all, the mountains surrounding Lotus Village offered little in the way of resources, and each time they farmed, they had to descend the mountain to do so. There was hardly any arable land up there, and though a patch did exist, the slopes teemed with birds and beasts. Anything sown would simply become their feast.

“Indeed, this wild boar must weigh close to two hundred jin! Da Hua’s father, you’ve really struck it rich this time. How many days of meat will this provide!”

“Da Hua’s father, are you planning to sell the wild boar? I can bring something from home to barter for some meat. The little ones in my family haven’t tasted meat for months.”

Many villagers hoped to trade for some meat, for it had been so long since they’d had any. They gazed at the boar, swallowing involuntarily.

But Da Hua’s father, the porter, quickly shook his head when he heard them. This wild boar was not theirs!

“It’s not ours, you’re mistaken. We didn’t hunt this boar; it was Cheng Jin’s wife who caught it. If you want meat, you can ask her.”

At this, the villagers who had been questioning them fell silent, recalling what Cheng Jin’s wife had accomplished that very morning.

Truly, people cannot be judged by appearances. Who would have thought that Cheng Jin’s wife, who looked as gentle as a little white rabbit, could do something that only a fierce tiger might dare?

“Cheng Jin’s wife, are you selling any of this wild boar meat? We can barter or pay in cash if you like.”

Eventually, someone could not resist the temptation and timidly poked their head out to ask.

Gu Xiaoyao glanced at the wild boar. It was so heavy that she was certainly planning to sell some, though she reckoned her family could finish it if they tried.

“Yes, once it’s butchered, anyone in need can come to the courtyard to buy. But if you want to barter, it’ll depend on the value of your goods.”

There was no way she would give away the meat for free. After all, catching this wild boar had not been easy, and she needed to save more money!

Money made everything easier. Without it, you couldn’t get anywhere. And if she wanted to live a better life, she had to earn more.

“All right, we’ll bring our things to your courtyard when the time comes. You can decide how much meat to sell—it’s up to you!”

Those eager to barter for meat breathed a sigh of relief at her words, already pondering what they had at home to exchange.

When the wild boar arrived at the Chu family courtyard, Da Hua’s family let out a grunt and set the animal down inside.

Chu Cheng Jin’s house was separated from Liu’s family by a simple fence, but the commotion in the yard could hardly be hidden from them.

“What are you all doing, crowding into my house like this!” Liu forced her way through the throng and, standing on tiptoe, caught sight of the wild boar on the ground. Her eyes went wide as saucers.

With a cry of astonishment, she nearly rushed into her eldest son’s yard to stroke the boar’s pelt herself, hardly believing her eyes.

“Cheng Jin’s mother, just look at the remarkable daughter-in-law you’ve married! She’s brought home a wild boar this large—you’re truly in for a blessed life,”

Several women, hoping to trade for wild boar meat, offered their sincerest compliments to Liu.