Chapter 5: Into the Mountains for Hunting—Time to Have Some Meat

He pounded his chest in frustration, as if he had lost several billions. His small eyes greedily glanced at Lin Xuezi, and he clicked his tongue, saying, “You got a real bargain, kid! A deaf-mute, but once cleaned up, still quite a catch. Fengzi, your luck with women isn’t bad at all!”

Though Lin Xuezi kept her head lowered, Wang Erhu’s blatant gaze and filthy words made her feel like she was being pricked by needles. She gripped Xu Feng’s coat tighter, her fingertips turning pale.

Xu Feng sneered silently in his heart but showed no sign of it on his face. He gently patted Lin Xuezi’s hand clutching his coat, signaling her to stay calm. Then he turned to Wang Erhu and said, “Brother Erhu, let’s not talk about that now. I came today to borrow something from you.”

“Borrow something?” Wang Erhu eyed Xu Feng suspiciously. “What could you possibly borrow? I don’t have extra grain to lend.”

He instinctively thought Xu Feng wanted to borrow food.

“Not grain,” Xu Feng shook his head. “I want to borrow your bow and arrows. Life’s been dull and tasteless lately. I want to try my luck in the mountains, see if I can catch some game to bring some meat home.”

Wang Erhu was momentarily stunned, then burst into exaggerated laughter as if hearing the biggest joke of his life. “Hahaha! Xu Feng, are you out of your mind? You? Going hunting in the mountains?”

He looked up and down at Xu Feng’s slender frame, his eyes filled with contempt. “Have you ever carried a gun? Can you even draw a bow? Don’t end up becoming a snack for bears or wolves when you fail to catch any pheasants or rabbits!”

Several villagers nearby joined in the laughter.

To them, someone like Xu Feng—a fallen man who had returned to the village in disgrace—had nothing to do with hunting, which required strength and skill.

Xu Feng remained unbothered, his expression calm. “Brother Erhu, how will I know unless I try? I learned some archery skills when I was away for a few days. I can’t just sit and do nothing.”

Wang Erhu’s laughter gradually faded, a sinister gleam flashing in his small eyes.

He thought to himself: If Xu Feng really dies in the mountains, that fresh little woman behind him... Heh! Then an orphaned woman would be at my mercy. This deal is profitable!

With that thought, Wang Erhu’s mocking expression instantly morphed into one of feigned warmth. He patted his chest heartily and said generously, “Alright! Since you have the heart for it, as your brother, I’ll help you! Bow and arrows? No problem!”

He turned and went inside, soon returning with a polished wooden bow that gleamed with oil and a quiver full of feathers.

The bow looked aged but sturdy, made from resilient zelkova wood, smoothly polished. The bowstring was twisted from animal sinew, clearly powerful.

The quiver held a dozen or so feathered arrows, their tips glinting with a chilling light, evidently well cared for.

“This is a treasure passed down from my father,” Wang Erhu said as he handed the bow and arrows to Xu Feng, with a face that mixed reluctance and generosity. “Fengzi, you better be careful with it. If you break it, I won’t let you off!”

Xu Feng took the bow and arrows. They felt heavy in his hands; the bowstring was taut and elastic.

He tried drawing it slightly. The string hummed deeply—not fully drawn, but enough to sense the power it held.

It seemed Wang Erhu’s family truly were hunters; this bow was the real deal.

“Don’t worry, Brother Erhu. I’ll take good care of it,” Xu Feng nodded.

Wang Erhu grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, but his gaze shifted toward Lin Xuezi standing behind Xu Feng, his warmth laced with ill intent.

“Fengzi, go ahead and hunt in the mountains! As for your new wife, leave her to me! I promise to take good care of her—feed her well, not a single hair on her head will be harmed!”

As he spoke, he reached out to pat Lin Xuezi’s shoulder.

Startled, Lin Xuezi shrank back sharply, practically hiding behind Xu Feng.

Xu Feng’s eyes darkened. Calmly, he shifted his body to block Wang Erhu’s hand, his tone still even: “Thanks, Brother Erhu, but my wife is timid and shy. No need to trouble you. I’ll be back soon.”

Though polite on the surface, his words were a clear warning.

Wang Erhu chuckled awkwardly but showed no embarrassment; his greed and lechery only deepened.

To him, Xu Feng was a stubborn dead duck. Whether Xu Feng lived or died in the mountains was uncertain, but that woman would sooner or later be his.

Xu Feng saw through Wang Erhu’s filthy intentions.

He agreed so readily not only because he needed the bow and arrows but also to test how capable Lin Xuezi truly was.

If Lin Xuezi couldn’t even handle a thug like Wang Erhu, then all her previous behavior would be questionable—was she really naive, or just playing a deep act?

“Alright then, Brother Erhu. I’m heading back to get ready before going into the mountains,” Xu Feng nodded.

“Go ahead, go ahead! The sooner you leave and return, the better! If you don’t come back...” Wang Erhu deliberately dragged out his tone, leaving the end of his sentence unsaid, but his lecherous smile said it all.

Xu Feng paid him no mind and turned away, leading Lin Xuezi along.

Along the way, villagers whispered and pointed, their voices never ceasing.

“That Xu Feng sure is lucky—where did he find such a pretty wife?”

“Yeah, she may be mute, but look at her—better looking than city girls!”

“And now he wants to hunt? Hope he doesn’t lose Wang Erhu’s bow!”

“I doubt it. Most likely he’s going to die.”

Lin Xuezi kept her head down, silently following Xu Feng. Her long lashes hid the complexity in her eyes.

Wang Erhu’s unmasked lust had filled her with nausea and fear.

This village wasn’t as simple and pure as she had imagined.

And the man in front of her, though aware of Wang Erhu’s ill intentions, seemed indifferent, even pushing her into the fire.

What exactly was he planning?

Back in their two shabby earthen rooms, Xu Feng carefully leaned the bow and arrows against the wall and began to search for useful items.

A rusty fire knife, a small bag of coarse salt, and half a hard cornbread.

He sharpened the fire knife. Though still not razor-sharp, it was usable.

Then he wrapped the salt and cornbread in a tattered cloth and tied it around his waist.

Lin Xuezi stood quietly beside him, watching his preparations with eyes full of unease and confusion.

Once ready, Xu Feng picked up the bow and arrows and looked at Lin Xuezi, still standing there like a frightened little rabbit.

He approached her, his gaze steady and calm.

Lin Xuezi felt uncomfortable under his gaze, instinctively lowering her eyes and nervously twisting the corner of her clothes.

Suddenly, Xu Feng reached out and made a gesture before her.