Chapter 29

Qin Qingman’s face turned bright red, and Wei Ling suddenly realized his actions were inappropriate. His outstretched hand hovered awkwardly, not knowing whether to pull it back or leave it there.

Pulling it back would seem too deliberate, but leaving it there would make things awkward for both of them.

At moments like these, it was a test of who could maintain their composure, a contest of who could be more natural.

Pretending not to understand the key point, Wei Ling’s hand remained steady as he extended it toward Qin Qingman, unmoving, though the redness in his earlobes betrayed his inner unease.

Facing the piece of bear meat still held near her lips, Qin Qingman could no longer resist the temptation. She opened her mouth and gently bit into the meat.

Once the meat entered her mouth, she completely forgot about her shyness or embarrassment.

It was delicious, incredibly delicious.

The bear meat, though simply marinated with wild garlic, had an intense, bold flavor. The wild garlic’s spicy and domineering aroma had completely masked the lingering fishy smell of the meat.

The grilled bear meat was not only tender and juicy but also had a distinct and unique fragrance.

Lost in the delicious taste, Qin Qingman didn’t care about anything else. She looked at Wei Ling with bright eyes and a smile, saying, “It’s so good, Ah Ling! This bear meat is really delicious, you should try some too.”

After speaking, she naturally reached out and gently pushed against Wei Ling’s arm.

His arm was pushed back, and Wei Ling’s gaze, lingering on Qin Qingman’s face, returned to focus. He lowered his eyes slightly and smiled gently. “Then I’ll try some.”

“Ah Ling, try it quickly. I never imagined that such simply marinated bear meat could be so tasty! It’s so good that I almost don’t want to swallow this piece in my mouth.” Qin Qingman said with enthusiasm. She wasn’t concerned about manners—she spoke freely in the countryside, where it wasn’t uncommon to talk while eating.

Still chewing the meat in her mouth, she continued to enthusiastically recommend it to Wei Ling.

Seeing Qin Qingman so eager, Wei Ling didn’t hesitate and cut himself a piece of bear meat.

As Qin Qingman had described, though it wasn’t the best bear meat he had ever tasted, it was far superior to many dishes that had been more carefully prepared, especially given the simple conditions under which it had been cooked.

His eyes sparkling with excitement, Wei Ling quickly finished his piece and cut another one, offering it to Qin Qingman.

Getting used to the exchange, Qin Qingman, having accepted the first piece of meat Wei Ling offered, didn’t hesitate to take the second. The two of them continued to feed each other, not only finishing the bear meat but also polishing off the entire pot of wild vegetable porridge.

Though most of the food had ended up in Wei Ling’s stomach, Qin Qingman, having been fed by him, had eaten her fill as well.

Putting down the pot, Qin Qingman couldn’t help but rub her full stomach.

Wei Ling immediately understood what Qin Qingman’s actions meant. He wrapped the remaining grilled meat in pine needles and buried it in the ashes of the firepit, then reached out his hand to Qin Qingman. “Qingman, let’s go check on the wolf pups.”

It wasn’t completely dark yet, so he could use the excuse of checking on the pups as a reason to hold Qin Qingman’s hand for a stroll.

In the past few days, Qin Qingman and Wei Ling had grown accustomed to holding hands. So when he extended his hand, she naturally placed hers in his.

They checked the fire in the shelter, hung the bear skin in a ventilated area, and then leisurely made their way toward the wolf den.

The two of them didn’t speak, but their mutual understanding made silence more meaningful than words.

Normally, the walk would have taken about half an hour, but because the couple was so “in love.” they took nearly 40 to 50 minutes to get there.

On the way, they passed the spot where the black bear had been killed, and it was there they encountered the wolves.

Having eaten their fill, most of the wolves had not returned to their den but were guarding their prey, as hunting in winter was difficult, and they needed to protect their food.

As Wei Ling and Qin Qingman walked by, several wolves greeted them with soft, respectful growls.

This was the second time they encountered this group of wolves, and Qin Qingman had lost much of her fear. She even took a moment to look at the wolves.

Though their fur wasn’t as strikingly beautiful as Xiao Hei and Xiao Hei’s Wife, they were tall and strong, with an air of majesty about them.

“In the future, when I’m not around, don’t approach wolves on the mountain. Not all wolves are friendly.” Wei Ling warned, concerned that Qin Qingman might not fully grasp how dangerous wolves could be.

“I know.” Qin Qingman replied, not as naive as before. She understood that Xiao Hei and his pack treated her differently because of Xiao Hei’s family.

“Good.”

Wei Ling tightened his grip on Qin Qingman’s hand.

By the time they reached the wolf den, it was nearly dark. Xiao Hei had already sensed their presence and had come out ahead of time to greet them.

Standing on a high rock, Xiao Hei looked down at the two of them.

This was Qin Qingman’s first time seeing Xiao Hei act so arrogantly.

Truth be told, Xiao Hei looked rather impressive in that posture. His presence exuded a kind of regal, domineering aura. It was no wonder he was the leader of the wolf pack. His kingly aura seemed to permeate the entire area.

“Don’t mind him. He just likes acting that way.” Wei Ling said with an exasperated look, explaining Xiao Hei’s behavior to Qin Qingman.

“I know.” Qin Qingman laughed. She remembered how wolves were often described as proud and loyal in the future. Xiao Hei certainly embodied that pride, but it was a comically proud kind of arrogance.

Just as they were about to climb the rocks leading to the wolf den, a black foot suddenly reached out from behind Xiao Hei.

“Awoooo—”

With a painful yelp, Xiao Hei was kicked off the rock.

Then, Qin Qingman and Wei Ling saw Xiao Hei’s wife.

Xiao Hei’s wife was not as serious as Xiao Hei when it came to Qin Qingman. Facing the life-saving benefactor, the black wolf happily howled. As it howled, two trembling wolf cubs crawled out from behind it.

One black, one white.

Qin Qingman, who was bent over laughing, didn’t bother to look at Xiao Hei’s antics. With a few quick movements, she climbed up the rocks and squatted down in front of the wolf cubs.

Wei Ling, a step slower, stood a little distance away, watching over them.

He gave Qin Qingman enough personal space, but was also ready to step in and rescue her if anything unexpected happened.

The two wolf cubs, having grown through the day and night, now had smooth fur and stronger legs.

But their eyes were still closed, and their ears seemed to be folded over their heads.

Qin Qingman looked at Wei Ling in confusion.

Wei Ling understood and explained, “The wolf cubs need about two weeks to open their eyes and hear sounds.”

“What about them now?”

Qin Qingman pointed at the two wolf cubs, who were crawling in and out from under the black wolf’s belly, surprised by their agility.

“They use their sense of smell to navigate.” Wei Ling knew what Qin Qingman was wondering.

“Can I hold them?” Qin Qingman’s heart softened at the sight of the chubby little wolf cubs.

Wei Ling, unsure if he could allow this, thought for a moment before responding, “Whether you can hold them depends on the wolf mom. If the wolf mom is willing to let you, then you can hold them. If not, no one can force her.”

Understanding the reason, Qin Qingman moved a little closer to the black wolf.

She knew that the black wolf was a wild animal and couldn’t understand human language, so she didn’t speak. Instead, she just kept watching the two cubs play.

In less than a minute, she could see the difference.

The black wolf cub, born later and hindered by the umbilical cord, was naturally weaker than the other cub. Once it fell behind, it continued to fall behind.

Whether it was drinking milk or playing, the black wolf cub could never compete with the silver wolf cub.

Although she knew this was something she couldn’t intervene in, Qin Qingman still felt a pang of sympathy for the black wolf cub.

During another round of playful fighting, the black wolf cub lost again. The losing cub whimpered softly, its chubby body rolling across the ground before it finally steadied itself. This time, it was very close to Qin Qingman.

Close enough to smell the scent on her.

This scent naturally made the wolf cub feel drawn to her. It stretched out a tentative paw and wobbled toward Qin Qingman.

Qin Qingman felt nervous.

Her nervousness made her look at Wei Ling.

“If there’s danger, the wolf mom will take the cub back herself. If she doesn’t act, it means she’s giving permission.” Wei Ling said, kicking Xiao Hei, who was squatting at his feet. At this moment, Xiao Hei didn’t dare approach his wife. Instead, he sat at Wei Ling’s feet, eagerly watching his wife and the cubs.

He was growing up.

Xiao Hei didn’t care at all about Wei Ling’s disdain. His sharp eyes were focused on the wolf cub approaching Qin Qingman.

The wolf cub walked and sniffed, inhaling the scent that made it feel at ease. Gradually, its steps became lighter, and it almost looked like it was about to start hopping.

Watching this, Qin Qingman felt a mixture of curiosity and excitement.

She couldn’t help but stretch out her hand.

With a playful howl, the wolf cub took the slender finger of Qin Qingman into its mouth.

The cub hadn’t yet developed teeth, and its soft gums were bouncy, making Qin Qingman’s finger feel a little ticklish as it chewed happily. Its little tail wagged non-stop, showing how much it genuinely liked Qin Qingman and was willing to get close to her.

The wolf mom sat quietly on the ground, watching the black wolf cub and Qin Qingman play, without any intention of stopping them.

“Little cutie, you’re so adorable. Can I give you a name?” Qin Qingman, her heart melting from the cub’s playful nibbles, couldn’t help but laugh as she thought about an appropriate name for it.

In just a day, the little wolf had grown chubby, looking like a little ball.

It was irresistibly cute.

She picked up its little paws and noticed that the pads were pink. She poked them, and the cub’s five tiny toes happily stretched out straight.

At that moment, as she played with the little cub, Qin Qingman radiated both maternal affection and childlike joy.

Hearing Qin Qingman’s cheerful laughter, the silver wolf cub nearby seemed eager to join in, but ultimately, it didn’t come any closer.

Qin Qingman didn’t play with the black wolf cub for too long. After about ten minutes, she stopped. The cubs were still young, and their fur couldn’t yet protect them from the cold. In the chilly night, they needed the warmth of their mother.

As Qin Qingman and Wei Ling left, two long wolf howls echoed in the distance.

It was Xiao Hei and Xiao Hei’s wife sending them off.

Holding hands, Qin Qingman’s thoughts returned to Chuchu. The child had been home alone for two nights, and she wondered if he was scared. “Ah Ling, let’s go back first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Alright, we’ll leave at dawn.”

Wei Ling agreed with Qin Qingman’s suggestion.

He also needed to report the situation here to the master. Since the wolf pack had temporarily taken over this area, neither the soldiers nor the villagers from the mountains should come here. Wolves with cubs were especially protective of their young, and there was no need to disturb the pack that was about to leave.

“Ah Ling, I’m a little worried about Chuchu.”

Qin Qingman’s mood suddenly dropped.

“How about we head back tonight?” Wei Ling suggested, remembering the meat in the Qin family’s courtyard. He was also a bit worried about Chuchu being home alone.

Although there were two geese at home for company, a young child still needed emotional support and companionship.

Qin Qingman looked at the darkened mountains and, after a moment of thought, rejected Wei Ling’s suggestion.

“Forget it, there’s no moon tonight, and traveling in the dark would be too exhausting. We’ll leave early tomorrow morning instead.” Traveling at night was risky—if they went the wrong way, not only would it be a waste of effort, but they could also face hardships. Qin Qingman didn’t want to take that chance.

It was just one more night; nothing bad would happen at home.

Wei Ling, who had initially wanted to be helpful, didn’t say anything more.

He cherished the quiet night alone with Qin Qingman.

The past several nights had been bright with a full moon, but for some reason, tonight the moon didn’t appear, and the sky was pitch black.

“Do you think it’s going to snow?” Qin Qingman asked, feeling a little worried.

“It does look like it’s going to snow.” Wei Ling replied. Although he had only been in this area for a year, he had already picked up on a few patterns in the weather.

The thought of snow made Qin Qingman even more reluctant to leave the hot spring lake.

The place wasn’t close to Kaoshan Village, and without Wei Ling leading the way, she believed it would take her at least one or two days to reach it. The distance meant that once they left, the chances of returning would be very small.

“Qingman, I’ve been carrying the bear pelt all day, and I’ve picked up some scents. I think I’ll go soak in the hot springs and take a bath.”

Just as Qin Qingman was thinking about how to ask Wei Ling to join her in the hot springs, he spoke up first.

“Alright.” Qin Qingman responded, surprised and pleased.

It was a huge relief for her that she didn’t have to bring up the idea herself. It made everything so much easier.

“The left side of the lake is more spacious. I’ll go there to bathe.” Wei Ling said, thinking of Qin Qingman’s comfort.

“Mm.” Qin Qingman nodded firmly.

If Wei Ling was going to bathe on the left side of the lake, that meant she could return to the spot where she had bathed the day before!

Once they returned to their shelter, Wei Ling immediately lit the oil lamp outside.

As the warm orange light filled the space, it created a cozy, safe atmosphere.

After tidying up a little, Wei Ling took his personal items for bathing.

“Qingman, it’s quite dark now, and the area around us is safe, but would you like to join me in the hot springs?” Wei Ling said, having thought carefully before bringing it up.

The darkness meant increased safety concerns. In such an environment, girls were naturally more vulnerable to fear, and he didn’t feel comfortable leaving Qin Qingman alone in the dark. So he made it clear, since the lake was large and their distance from each other would make it comfortable and unawkward.

Qin Qingman, who had originally intended to sneak away to the hot springs, immediately understood the reasoning after hearing Wei Ling’s words.

“Alright.”

They were already sleeping in the same bed, so there was no need to be overly coy.

After receiving Qin Qingman’s response, Wei Ling waited with joy.

A few minutes later, the two of them reached the lake and split to the left and right, but not too far apart. The only flashlight was taken by Qin Qingman.

Wei Ling had told her that if anything happened, she could signal him with the flashlight, and he would rush to her as quickly as possible.

In this wilderness, Qin Qingman couldn’t guarantee complete safety.

In the natural rock bath, there was a small platform where she could place her clothes and the flashlight.

Qin Qingman didn’t turn on the flashlight. Instead, she undressed in the dark and stepped into the water.

With plenty of time, she planned to enjoy a long soak in the rare hot spring.

The warm water enveloped her body, and she stretched out, savoring this rare natural gift.

In the distance, Wei Ling also entered the water.

As he soaked, just the thought that he was sharing the hot spring with Qin Qingman made his heart beat faster.

The sweet feeling filled him completely.

Back at Kaoshan Village, at the Qin family’s home, Chuchu woke up and climbed down from the bed. He squinted with half-open eyes, feeling around for his chamber pot.

It was cold, and the house had a chamber pot ready for use.

However, after searching for a while, Chuchu couldn’t find it. Instead, he became a little more awake from the prolonged exposure to the cold air.

He wiped his face and opened his eyes completely, then remembered.

Today, he had forgotten to return the cleaned chamber pot to its place. This meant that to relieve himself, he had to go outside to the toilet.

Despite the discomfort in his bladder, Chuchu tried to ignore the pressure in his stomach and attempted to climb back into bed.

But halfway up the bed, he decided against it. Instead, he obediently got out of bed, put on his cotton clothes, bundled himself up tightly, and grabbed the oil lamp before opening the door.

As soon as the door opened, a rush of cold air immediately jolted him awake.

The night sky had no moon, and it was very dark around him. Chuchu had no choice but to hold the oil lamp carefully to avoid tripping over the ground.

His family’s toilet was a bit far from the main house. As he walked, Chuchu noticed something odd.

He saw several lines of footprints on the ground.

It hadn’t snowed recently, so there were indeed many footprints left behind on the ground, but most of them were from his family members. The footprints in front of him, however, were much larger—definitely men’s footprints.

Men’s footprints!

Chuchu immediately felt a surge of anxiety.

He realized the only possibility: someone had broken into his house.

Thinking of the meat left outside in the snow, he rushed forward, worried that it might have been stolen.

A few seconds later, Chuchu arrived at the well and was stunned by what he saw.

Beside the well, against the courtyard wall, someone had dug a pit over two meters deep at some point. Now, three people were huddled in the pit, shivering as they tried to climb out.

When they saw the light from the oil lamp, Qin Jianming and the others froze.

They had been cursing the person who dug the pit countless times in their minds, for ever since they fell into this strange hole, no matter how much they tried to climb, they couldn’t get out.

They had been stuck there for over two hours and were nearly frozen stiff.

Just then, they saw Chuchu, holding the oil lamp.

Qin Jianming’s heart skipped a beat, and he had a bad feeling.

“Shh, Chuchu, don’t shout, it’s…” Qin Jianming tried to pull off his face mask, but his fingers were frozen stiff, and no matter how many times he tried, it wouldn’t come off.

“There are thieves! Thieves who’ve stolen my family’s meat!” Chuchu cried out in panic.

At that moment, Chuchu’s loud voice echoed through the night sky.

Along with his shout, lights from all around the village began to flicker on, one by one.

“Where? Where are the thieves?” The closest people, Qin Shu, Qin Shi, and Jiang Linshan, were the first to rush over with sticks in hand. Soon, more villagers followed, including the village committee secretary, Zheng Anguo, and the security officer, all bundled up in cotton clothes.

“Chuchu, where are the thieves?”

Jiang Linshan, quick on his feet, was the first to climb over the Qin family’s fence, rushing toward the courtyard gate with his stick raised.

Ever since he learned that Qin Qingman had sent meat to his family and forgiven his wife for her past mistakes, Jiang Linshan had taken a keen interest in Qin Qingman’s family. Upon hearing Chuchu’s cry, he immediately threw on his cotton jacket and ran over.

Qin Shu and Qin Shi shared the same thoughts as him.

The three of them soon arrived at the pit, where they found Qin Jianming and his companions.

They had all known each other for more than ten years—so familiar that even with their faces covered, they could recognize each other in an instant.

Narrowing his eyes, Jiang Linshan looked at Liu Sangunzi and said, “Liu Jun!” with absolute certainty.

The three men in the pit immediately collapsed back down.

They hadn’t stolen the meat, but now they were stuck in the pit, frozen nearly to death, and Chuchu’s shout had alerted the entire village. It wouldn’t be long before the village secretary and others arrived.

“Hang them up!”

Zheng Anguo, who had rushed over in a hurry, recognized the three men in the pit and immediately erupted in anger.