Chapter 16 Wild Game
Zhang Yingyue nodded. “Mmm–hmm.”
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She knew that the greatest challenge facing their family was not hunger. It was the approaching winter and the lack of warm clothing at home to see them through
Due to their lack of money, they couldn’t afford to buy cotton and fabric, making it impossible to endure the harshness of winter.
The only hope of making money was relying on those wild chestnuts.
Song Zhenyu gave Song Shuying’s head another gentle pat before he left the room. Soon after, the sound of him splitting bamboo could be heard.
The sounds of Song Tianqi, Song Tianheng, and Song Buying playing together echoed around. Zhang Yingyue turned to give Song Shuying a gentle look. Her gaze was soft as she whispered, “Shuying, our family will definitely get through this, right?”
Song Shuying gazed at the Zhang Yingyue, flashing a smile at the latter.
Of course, things will only get better.
The child’s innocent smile, reminiscent of the world’s sweetest nectar and the warmest morning sunlight, instantly filled Zhang Yingyue’s heart with warmth.
Outside the house, Song Zhenyu quickly split a considerable amount of bamboo. He then further stripped down the bamboo strips until they were fine threads. After that, he started to weave a base.
Song Ruying was engaged in a game of stone tossing with her two older brothers. It was raining outside. hence they couldn’t leave the house.
For the entire afternoon, Song Zhenyu spent his time weaving silk strainers. As dusk approached, the rain ceased.
Song Zhenyu glanced at the sky, noticing it hadn’t yet darkened. He then stood up and addressed Song Ruying, “Ruying.” he said, “I need to step out for a bit. Can you keep an eye on the house while I’m gone?”
Song Ruying looked up at Song Zhenyu and nodded obediently. “Mmm–hmm. Don’t worry, Daddy, I know what to do.”
Song Zhenyu addressed his two sons, “Tianheng, Tiang, stay at home and don’t wander around. Listen to your sister, okay?”
The brothers nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with anticipation, as they turned to Song Ruying. Their unspoken message was clear: They were urging her to hurry up. After all, they hadn’t had enough of their stone–throwing game yet.
With a faint smile, Song Zhenyu turned and walked out the door.
He wanted to check on those traps before nightfall, hoping to have caught something
Despite the hopes he harbored, he was pessimistic about them. Capturing anything in the mountains
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Chapter 16 Wild Game
wasn’t easy, as the animals were all shrewdl.
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As he was nearing the first trap, Song Zhenyu heard the sound of flapping wings. He paused for a moment, then, overwhelmed with joy, he sprinted toward it.
His movement startled the pheasant–with black feathers and a green tail–trapped within the snare. The bird flapped its wings even more desperately, trying to fake flight, but was held down by the rope tied around its claws.
Song Zhenyu pounced on the pheasant without hesitation, gripping it tightly.
He carefully took down the rope and used it to tie up the pheasant’s wings. With a joyful tone, Song Zhenyu murmured, “Thank the heavens.”
But what truly surprised Song Zhenyu was yet to come
Inside the second trap, there was a pigeon. The third trap was empty; the bait had been consumed and the trap itself had been tampered with. The fourth and fifty traps had yielded a pheasant and a wild rabbit.
The sixth and seventh traps were empty too. The bait had been eaten, and the traps were destroyed.
The eighth, ninth, and tenth traps yielded two wild rabbits and another pigeon.
After checking all the traps, Song Zhenyu was grinning from ear to ear over his catch, feeling as if he was walking on cloud nine..
Following each autumn harvest in the past, Song Shenglong would lead his sons into the mountains to set a few traps. It was considered a good year if they managed to catch one or two wild rabbits.
This time, not only did Song Zhenyu he didn’t come up empty in any of his traps, but all the prey were also still alive. Selling them could make him some money.
Before he even entered the house, Song Zhenyu was already calling out to Zhang Yingyue with excitement. “Yingyue, come and see this quickly.”
Song Ruying and her siblings, Song Tianqi and Song Tianheng, had already rushed out at the sound, their eyes wide with surprise at the sight of the pheasants and rabbits that Song Zhenyu was carrying. “Wow, Daddy, there’s so many of them!” they exclaimed.
Zhang Yingyue had already sat up, and before she could even get out of bed, Song Zhenyu had already entered the room with a delighted expression. “Look, Yingyue,” he said, “I just checked the traps, and each one had something. We caught three wild rabbits, two pheasants, and two pigeons. All of them are still alive. I’ll drown these two pigeons later to make you some soup.”
Zhang Yingyue was both startled and delighted. She quickly collected herself and said, “You don’t have to. You should sell them instead.”
There were some chestnuts at home, and with the addition of the wild game, they could certainly be sold for money, which could be used to buy cotton and fabric. Thinking of this, Zhang Yingyue felt the worries she was harboring dissipate.
Song Zhenyu knew what was troubling Zhang Yingyue He looked at her tenderly and said, “We can always make more money. The two pigeons don’t have much meat on them, so they’re not worth much. I’ll make a nourishing soup for you and let Ruying and the others have some too. Tomorrow, I’ll go to town and see
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Chapter 16 Wild Game
who needs firewood. Yingyue, say no more. Let me halle this. Today, we are dining on game, and the bait for the trap was the insect caught by Ruying. We should reward her for her efforts
Song Zhenyu gently stroked Song Ruying, who was standing next to him after they entered the room.
From the moment Song Tianqi and Song Tianheng stepped into the room, their eyes were immediately drawn to the pheasant and rabbit. They licked their lips and swallowed in anticipation.
Gulping, Song Ruying lifted her head and spoke softly Daddy, I’m not eating. I don’t have a craving for
meat.”
As he looked at his well–behaved daughter, a wave of bierness washed over Song Zhenyu’s heart.
In a poor household, everyone craves for meat.
A twinge of heartache flashed in Zhang Yingyue’s eyes as she thought back to the days before they had to move out. During meal times, even when there was meat, it never made its way to their plates. In Wei Zhilan’s, Song Ruying was nothing but a burden. According to her, the latter should have been drowned at birth. Her mere existence was an eyesore to Wei Zhilan, who even begrudged giving the little girl a decent meal, let alone meat.
Every time Song Ruying dared to glance at the meat, she would get scolded.
As she pondered over these events, a sense of heartache washed over Zhang Yingyue. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she looked at Song Zhenyu and said, “Zhenyu, you’re right. We should have pigeon tonight to celebrate Ruying’s diligence.”
Song Zhenyu ruffled Song Ruying’s hair and said, “Ruying, go start the fire. Tianheng and Tianqi are coming with me to help him lock up the rabbits and pheasants.”
Song Tianqi and Song Tianheng clapped their hands in approval, happily following Song Zhenyu’s lead.
With that, Song Ruying went to the stove to make a fire and boil some water.
After dealing with the wild rabbits and pheasants with his two sons, Song Zhenyu proceeded to drown the Two pigeons in water. He briefly scalded them in hot water, then began to pluck their feathers.
Song Ruying, efficient as usual, had already started cooking rice.
Song Zhenyu, appreciating the rarity of having game for dinner, couldn’t bear to waste even the bird’s intestines. He meticulously cleaned them, chopped them into large pieces, and cooked them all in a single
pot.
Before long, the rich aroma of meat wafted into everyone’s nostrils.
Song Shuying had also caught the scent, and it filled her with joy. The bugs, imbued with spiritual energy. were loved by the birds. This meant that there was a good chance that the traps made by Song Zhenyu’s traps would be effective going forward.
The caught game could then be sold for money, which would make their life easier.
When dinner was ready, Song Zhenyu brought a bowl of meat soup to Zhang Yingyue. Seeing the generous amount of meat in it, she couldn’t bear to consume it. She said, “I don’t need to eat this much. Save it for the children.”
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Chapter 16 Wild Game
Then, she called out to Song Ruying, “Ruying, come inde.”
