Chapter 12: Eating Meat Together in the Evening

Hu Zhaodi smiled, “Uncle, let’s talk about this when we get back. We need to get the wild boar home first; otherwise, the smell of blood might attract fierce beasts, and that would be troublesome.”

Uncle Ji felt a chill run down his back and quickly exerted himself to drag the wild boar, moving at a swift pace.

Hu Zhaodi pursed her lips and smiled, “Uncle, this wild boar is a bit small, so let’s keep it for ourselves. I’ll go into the mountains this afternoon to get some other useful herbs and meat, and we can sell it in the county the day after tomorrow for some silver.”

Uncle Ji glanced at Hu Zhaodi, whose clothes were tattered and soaked in blood, and shook his head. “No, let’s keep this wild boar for silver. We can get some fabric and have your aunt make you two new outfits. We’ll just eat that wild rabbit.”

“Uncle, just trust me! Look at how skinny I am; I need to eat more meat to recover!”

Uncle Ji paused for a moment, then replied, “Alright, alright! We’ll keep it to give you some nourishment. This afternoon, I’ll accompany you into the mountains again.”

Hu Zhaodi smiled, “Let’s talk about it at home; this wild boar also needs to be processed.”

“Alright, let’s head home.” When they reached the ox cart, the two of them worked together to lift the wild boar onto the cart, and Uncle Ji drove it back to the village.

By now, it was almost lunchtime, and many villagers who had been working in the fields were returning home.

Hu Zhaodi sat on the ox cart, covered in blood, yet her face radiated a satisfied smile.

The villagers saw the wild boar on Uncle Ji’s cart and looked at it with envy.

Though every household had some leftover grain at this time of year, it had been a long while since anyone had eaten meat.

Although the wild boar wasn’t very large, probably weighing under a hundred pounds, just thinking about the taste of meat that they hadn’t had in ages made their mouths water.

Someone couldn’t help but ask, “Uncle Ji, where did you get this wild boar?”

Uncle Ji chuckled and replied, “This wild boar was caught by Zhaodi when she went deep into the mountains. An old man like me wouldn’t have that ability.”

The villagers were all stunned upon hearing this.

“A fourteen-year-old girl dared to go into the mountains alone? And she caught such a large wild boar by herself? Does she even know how dangerous the deep mountains are?”

“Wait a minute, isn’t Zhaodi the daughter of the Hu family? Why is she with Uncle Ji? Do the Hu family know? That Yang woman isn’t easy to deal with.”

“Exactly! All these years, Zhaodi has been working like a horse for the Hu family. Sigh! It’s really pitiful.”

Uncle Ji said, “Everyone, stop gossiping. Zhaodi is currently staying at my house; she has cut ties with the Hu family and she is no longer part of them.”

The villagers were shocked once again. After being bullied and mistreated by the Hu family for so many years, Zhaodi actually dared to resist them. How could this not be shocking?

However, most villagers were happy for Hu Zhaodi’s escape from the Hu family. Anyone with a sense of justice couldn’t tolerate what the Hu family had done to her.

Even if she wasn’t their biological child, she was still born to a mother who risked her life to bring her into the world. How could they treat her so badly?

Uncle Ji’s cousin said, “It’s good that she’s cut ties! That Hu family is no different from vampires; the sooner they’re severed, the better.”

Hu Zhaodi smiled but said nothing. She remembered who had helped the original owner and planned to find a way to help them earn some silver to improve their lives as a way to repay them later.

When they returned to Uncle Ji’s house, Aunt Ji had already prepared lunch.

Lunch consisted of a few vegetable pancakes, a pot of porridge, and a plate of pickles.

Many people had seen Hu Zhaodi and Ji Grandpa bringing back the wild boar, and just as the three finished their meal, Ji Grandpa’s youngest son rushed over.

As soon as he entered, he looked worried and said, “Dad, you’re already so old; how can you go hunting in the mountains? What if something happens to you?”

Ji Grandpa glared at his youngest son, “You little rascal! If your dad had the ability to hunt, wouldn’t he be eating meat every day? This wild boar was taken down by Zhaodi.”

The youngest son turned to Hu Zhaodi and, seeing her covered in blood, asked, “Zhaodi, are you hurt?”

“I’m fine, Brother Ji Wu. The blood on me is just from the boar; it looks worse than it is.”

“Good to hear you’re fine. My dad is getting old, and you’re just a girl; you two should really avoid going into the mountains from now on. Once the work in the fields is done, I’ll take you both.”

Hu Zhaodi felt deeply moved. Such concern was something she had never experienced in the Hu family.

Ji Wu was a good person; she decided to take him along to earn some silver.

She smiled and said, “Brother Ji Wu, I went to the county town yesterday, and the apothecary taught me how to identify medicinal herbs. Why don’t you come with me to the mountains in a couple of days to dig some herbs to sell in the county town?”

“I can’t go these days; there’s too much work in the fields. How about I take you into the mountains after I’m busy for three to five days?”

“Alright!, then don’t go to the fields this afternoon. Help me process this wild boar so we can eat meat together tonight.”

Ji Wu nodded with a smile. “Sure, I’ll go get my big brother and third brother to come help.”

Although the three sons of the Ji family had separated, they still worked together well as brothers. For anything significant, the three brothers discussed it together.

Hu Zhaodi laughed, “Brother Ji Wu, bring all your brothers! The weather is hot right now, and the meat won’t keep well. Let’s eat to our heart’s content tonight, and the leftovers we can divide among ourselves and salt for preservation, so we can enjoy it for a few days.”

Ji Grandpa interjected, “That won’t do! The wild boar was hunted by you, so the leftovers tonight are all yours to help you recover.”

Hu Zhaodi shook her head. “Grandpa, we can hunt again after we finish the meat. I still have plenty of the sedative.”

“Alright, then! I’ll go dig a pit to boil water for scalding the boar and scraping its hair.”

“I’ll go get firewood.”

Ji Grandpa found a hoe and dug a pit in the yard, leaving one opening for the fire.

He set up a large pot and filled it with water.

The three sons of the Ji family brought their families into the yard to help, and Ji Wu’s wife even brought a set of clean clothes.

Ji Wu’s wife handed the clean clothes to Hu Zhaodi, saying, “Zhaodi, go change your clothes. They might be a bit big, but just bear with it.”

Hu Zhaodi took the clothes with a grateful face. “Thank you!”

“Go change quickly! You didn’t bring any clothes when you left the Hu family. After you change, I’ll wash the ones you took off.”

Aunt Ji smiled and said, “Zhaodi, since we can’t finish all this wild boar meat, let’s sell some if anyone wants to buy it. Tomorrow we can go to the county town to get some fabric, and Aunt will make you an outfit.”

Hu Zhaodi smiled and shook her head. “Aunt, no need for that. Let’s just keep this for ourselves. Once I dig up some medicinal herbs to sell and make some money, I’ll buy some ready-made clothes.”

“Ready-made clothes are expensive, and the meat won’t keep. Just listen to me; you don’t even have a change of clothes. You need to get a proper outfit made first.”

“Okay.”

Hu Zhaodi felt her eyes get a bit teary with gratitude.

Since she still had plenty of wild boar in her space, she could always find an excuse to go into the mountains again whenever she wanted to eat.