Chapter 49: Black Bear

On the way back, the small lake in Pear Blossom’s heart seemed to ripple, as if stirred by the wind, spreading out in concentric circles.

Usually, when Dong Yun interacted with people, her lips were always curved in a smile, giving an approachable air. However, if one looked closely, they would notice the distance hidden in her eyes.

Even though they spent much more time together than most people, Dong Yun was still like this with her—her voice gentle, always with a smile, and she would use familiar words like “our Pear Blossom.” But nothing compared to the way she spoke tonight, with a hint of sorrow and accusation.

Pear Blossom’s mind was in a daze. Over and over, she replayed the expression and demeanor of Dong Yun when she said those words, trying to gauge Dong Yun’s emotions at the time with her not-so-sharp mind.

Of course, she would never naively think that Dong Yun would feel the same way she did.

Dong Yun had been married and had Fubao; she wouldn’t be like Pear Blossom, an oddball with secret feelings for someone of the same gender.

The autumn night carried a slight chill, with a breeze cooler than the daytime, rustling the straw along the roadside, making a “shh-shh” sound. The chirping of insects and birds mixed with the wind, filling the air with a constant hum.

Pear Blossom’s emotions fluctuated. She thought about her inner desires, about Dong Yun’s posture tonight, about her growing inability to resist her impulses. At times, she felt happy, while other moments brought melancholy. At one point, she suddenly hated the wild thoughts that had sprouted over the past few days. If it weren’t for those, she wouldn’t be facing so many troubles right now.

If only it could be like before, when she could simply treat Dong Yun well without expecting anything in return and be content.

But now, she had become greedy—not only did she want to be good to her, but she also wanted Dong Yun to respond, to react.

When delusions arise, troubles follow.

If she knew she had such filthy thoughts, would she be angry and sever all ties with herself in a fit of rage?

Thinking of her resentful gaze from tonight, Pear Blossom’s heart began to pound again, and she couldn’t help but entertain impossible thoughts.

Conflicting ideas swirled around her mind as her usually slow thoughts filled with all kinds of voices.

By the time she reached her doorstep, she realized she had unknowingly grabbed a large handful of leaves, crushing them into a mangled mess.

Mrs. Xiong glanced at her daughter, who appeared absent-minded, and asked, “What’s wrong? You seem out of it, you’ve never been like this before.”

Pear Blossom quickly suppressed her inner thoughts and replied lazily, “What could be wrong? I’m just tired, Mother. I’ll be going to the city early tomorrow.”

Tomorrow was the day she had agreed to practice archery with Zuo Qi, and with the autumn harvest nearly done, she would soon be heading to Longwei Dart Bureau to train with Murong Jin.

Her daughter had grown more decisive and capable of earning money, so Mrs. Xiong didn’t dare interfere too much and naturally agreed to whatever she said. “Then go to bed early. Should I make porridge or pies for breakfast? I’ll prepare it when I get up.”

Pear Blossom thought for a moment. Archery was no easy task, and Zuo Qi was strict. After half a day of practice, it would be more exhausting than harvesting rice.

“Pies, please. Make a few extra, I’ll eat on the way.”

“Alright,” Mrs. Xiong agreed cheerfully. “What about eggs? Should I pack those for you too?”

“Don’t worry about eggs,” Pear Blossom shook her head. “I’m not going to the Dart Bureau today. I’ll wait until I go there to ask.”

Mrs. Xiong readily agreed.The next morning, Pear Blossom woke up to the delicious smell of pies drifting from the kitchen.

Outside, her father and Daniu were working with grain, while Xinghua and Erniu had just gotten up to wash in the yard.

Pear Blossom quickly got ready, and by the time she finished, Mrs. Xiong had already packed the pies for her.

Another stove had simmered a large pot of porridge, which, paired with the pies and pickled vegetables, made for a hearty meal that would last her through the day.

Pear Blossom ate a large pie with a bowl of plain porridge before heading out the door.

She walked quickly, and in less than half an hour, she reached Pingdingshan. Zuo Qi arrived later than her, and she waited for a full hour until he showed up, just as the sun reached the peak of the mountain.

Pear Blossom didn’t lie down to wait but instead practiced horse stances to improve her endurance until Zuo Qi arrived.

When Zuo Qi saw her working hard, he felt pleased. He dismounted his horse and tossed a brownish-yellow bow to his silly apprentice.

“The government has recently adjusted its weapon control policies,” he said. “Longbows and crossbows are now strictly prohibited for private possession. But this light bow is still acceptable; the local hunters almost all use these. I had it modified for you. Though it may look ordinary, both the string and bow are made from high-quality materials and are very durable. You’ll use this for hunting and self-defense.”

Pear Blossom was overjoyed at hearing this. She quickly knelt and said, “Thank you, Master, for the bow! I will practice hard and never disappoint your expectations!”

Zuo Qi knew her nature well and waved his hand for her to rise.

“This bow comes with only twelve arrows,”

he continued. “The arrowheads are iron-tipped, extremely powerful. Remember to retrieve your arrows after firing. You can also craft your own regular arrows for use.”

Pear Blossom nodded eagerly and silently decided to study how to make arrows when she returned.

With that, training began. Pear Blossom quickly got into the rhythm, repeating the motions of drawing and releasing the bow under Zuo Qi’s guidance. Each movement was broken down into hundreds of repetitions lifting, lowering, tightening, releasing… In Zuo Qi’s view, only when muscle memory was achieved could the bow be drawn and fired at any time, with accuracy and without hesitation. Any talk of techniques beyond this was nonsense.

Even Pear Blossom, who never complained of fatigue, was nearly exhausted by noon, her body almost collapsing to the ground. But since her master didn’t stop, she gritted her teeth and persevered.

Zuo Qi’s face remained expressionless, but in his heart, he grew more and more satisfied with his silly apprentice. There was one word for it steadiness.Though she might seem slow and not yet meeting his standards in terms of reaction, her mindset was exceptionally steady. A steady heart means steady hands, undisturbed by external distractions, focusing on the target.

Once her skills were refined, she could strike a heart even from a hundred paces, making her a formidable threat in any military setting.

When it seemed she had practiced enough, Zuo Qi finally let her rest.At that moment, Pear Blossom told Zuo Qi about her upcoming training at Longwei Dart Bureau with Murong Jin.

Zuo Qi was surprised. He hadn’t expected his silly apprentice to catch the eye of Murong Jiutian.

He knew of Murong Jiutian, a man of great loyalty and generosity, highly respected in both the underworld and the military. His skills were formidable, and for Pear Blossom to become his daughter’s sparring partner was an extraordinary opportunity. Murong Jiutian was always willing to share his knowledge, and if Pear Blossom worked hard, she could learn much from him—something Zuo Qi himself couldn’t teach her in close combat.

After giving her some advice, Zuo Qi said, “Today, we’ll practice in the forest. Use your arrows for hunting. I’ll follow you, but remember, unless it’s absolutely necessary, I won’t intervene.”

Pear Blossom, excited at the prospect of actual combat, eagerly agreed. For her, the thrill of real battle far surpassed the monotony of training!

There weren’t many animals to hunt around Pingdingshan, so Zuo Qi led her deeper into the forest. As they went further in, the sounds of wild beasts grew clearer, far more terrifying than those from Wuyin Mountain. The excitement Pear Blossom had initially felt soon turned into nervous anxiety.

This sense of fear and unease lasted well into the night.

As it grew dark, Pear Blossom, covered in wounds and limping, descended the mountain with a large black bear strapped to a wooden frame. Zuo Qi did not help her; he only guided her in making the stretcher and then followed her at a distance until she dragged the frame into the boundary of Daliushu Village.

Though Mrs. Xiong was a little uneasy that her daughter hadn’t returned by dark, she wasn’t as anxious as usual. It wasn’t until the family returned from the village’s main house that they suddenly saw a dark figure dragging a large frame, walking unevenly, with a strong, pungent scent of blood swept in by the autumn wind. The smell was overwhelming.

Mrs. Xiong was frightened, her hair standing on end, and she clutched her husband’s arm tightly. The children huddled together, not daring to breathe.

Unexpectedly, the dark figure turned around, grinned, and called out, “Mother.”The couple, tense with worry, finally relaxed and rushed forward.

Only then did they see their daughter, looking disheveled, dragging a wooden frame with something large tied to it.

Dagen took a careful look and nearly had a heart attack. Stammering, he asked, “Daughter… is this… is this the black bear?”

Pear Blossom, exhausted, collapsed onto the ground as soon as the frame was set down. Panting, she said, “Father, you really have sharp eyes.”

When Mrs. Xiong heard that a black bear was tied to the frame, her legs almost gave way in shock. But seeing that her daughter could barely stand, she steeled herself and shakily approached to help. “You foolish girl, are you trying to get yourself killed? Why would you provoke that beast?”

Pear Blossom leaned against the frame, weakly smiling. “Mother… it’s dead, completely dead.”

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Xiong’s body finally relaxed. Dagen and the other children came closer, asking if Pear Blossom was hurt.

Pear Blossom shook her head. “Just some superficial wounds, nothing serious. I’m just too tired to move, with no strength left. Father can carry me back.”

Relieved that it wasn’t serious, the family breathed a sigh of relief. Mrs. Xiong quickly volunteered, “I’ll carry you. Dagen, you and Daniu take the bear back. Erniu, Xinghua, help with the rest.”

The bear was valuable, and if it was left out there, someone else could take it. Mrs. Xiong could not allow that.

Pear Blossom laughed. “Mother, I’ve gained some weight recently. Don’t tell me you can’t carry me.”

Though Mrs. Xiong was angry that Pear Blossom had gotten herself hurt by provoking the beast, she also felt a mix of love and frustration at the prize her daughter had brought home. She pinched her arm lightly and then bent down to carry her.

When Pear Blossom’s heavy body rested on her back, Mrs. Xiong nearly stumbled but couldn’t help but feel pleased. “A few months ago, when you went up to Wuyin Mountain to divert the wolves, when you ran down the mountain, I carried you like you were a paper doll. And now… in such a short time, you’ve become a little piglet.”

Pear Blossom, resting on her mother’s back, chuckled.

Dagen and his sons, struggling with the frame, each pulling one side, found it unbearably heavy. They couldn’t imagine how Pear Blossom had managed to carry it back.

“Daughter, this bear weighs over four hundred pounds. How did you get it?”

Pear Blossom, holding onto her mother’s neck, replied, “Father, I didn’t hunt it. I ran into an acquaintance. He shot it by mistake, had to leave in a hurry, and the bear ended up being mine.”

Dagen raised an eyebrow. “An acquaintance? Who would be capable of hunting a bear?”

“The person who took me to find you in the army camp,”

Pear Blossom replied.“Ah, him,” Dagen said, surprised. But if it really was Zuo Qi, then he had no more questions. He laughed. “He really is our benefactor. If it weren’t for him taking you to find people, I wouldn’t have made it back. Now he sends us this big gift… I really don’t know how to thank him.”Hearing that it was an acquaintance who hunted the black bear, Mrs. Xiong finally felt at ease.

When they arrived home, Xinghua fetched water to clean Pear Blossom. Dagen and his sons lit all the oil lamps in the house, gathered around the black bear, and marveled at the find.

Erniu, sharp-eyed, noticed a curved bow tied under the frame. Excited, he said, “Sister, there’s a bow too!”

Pear Blossom nodded. “It’s from that benefactor. He said next time I could use this bow for hunting.”

Erniu was envious. “That benefactor is really kind. Sister, can you use the bow?”

“Of course. It’s just a matter of pulling and releasing,” Pear Blossom replied.

Dagen picked up the bow, examining it carefully. It seemed ordinary but had a weighty feel, clearly made from high-quality materials.

Thinking back to the dagger Zuo Qi had sent Pear Blossom last time and now this bow, he didn’t say anything aloud but couldn’t help wondering about the benefactor’s intentions.

Pear Blossom said, “Don’t talk about the benefactor outside. As for the bear, you can make up a story, but it’s best if no one else knows. When I came back, I wrapped up the bear’s wounds to prevent blood from attracting other predators.”

Dagen immediately agreed. “Don’t worry, Father knows. No one in our family will say a word.”

Mrs. Xiong urged Dagen, “While it’s still warm, we need to process it. It’s full of valuable parts. We can’t let it go to waste.”

Dagen thought for a moment. “The bear’s gall and skin are the most valuable. The meat is just ordinary. We’ll sell the gall and skin, and keep the rest for ourselves or give it to others.”

“Then what are you waiting for?” Mrs. Xiong glared at him.

Dagen hurriedly explained, “This kind of valuable thing, I don’t know where to sell it for a good price if I go by myself. I’ll need to ask my brother-in-law to guide me.”

Xiong Lao Han had been sick for many years, and Xiong Laoda (Boss Xiong) had spent these years accompanying his father to seek medical treatment, often traveling in the city. He had more experience than them.

When Mrs. Xiong heard this, she felt it made sense. Dagen continued, “I’ll skin it at night, then get the other two items and head to my father-in-law’s house. After picking up my brother-in-law, we’ll go to the city. By the time we get there, it will be nearly morning. You can stay home and handle the rest of the meat—pickling it or sending it out so it doesn’t spoil in the heat.”

Mrs. Xiong quickly nodded, “That sounds good. But it’s too late for you to go alone, so let Daniu go with you—Daniu, go take a rest first, and when your father finishes skinning it, I’ll wake you up.”Daniu, always obedient, returned to his room.

Pear Blossom asked, “What should I do?” Mrs. Xiong, hearing her question, grumbled, “Are you still not satisfied with the injuries you have? Quickly clean yourself up and let Xinghua apply medicine. Rest well.”

Pear Blossom, feeling exhausted from a day of training and the fight with the bear blind from morning till night, was almost too drained to lift a finger. Hearing her mother, she responded lazily, “Fine, I won’t help out tonight.”

She lazily lifted her chin toward Xinghua, “Come here, little girl. Help me wash up, apply medicine, and let me sleep.”…Skinning was not an easy task. The intact hide could be sold for quite a bit, but if there was a hole in it, it would be ruined.

By the time Dagen finished, it was already deep into the night.

He carefully wrapped up the items and placed them in the basket, then cut off fifty to sixty pounds of meat to give to his father-in-law’s family. These things were divided into two parts—Daniu carried some, and the rest Dagen himself carried.

After finishing everything, he changed clothes, woke up his son, and the father and son set off with torches from the small path in the back mountain.

Mrs. Xiong, after napping for over an hour, heard the rooster crowing and got up to handle the remaining tasks.

The bear blind weighed over 500 pounds, which was a huge amount for humans but still considered small among its kind. After Dagen took his share and the innards, along with the bones and meat, there were still around 200 pounds left.

After removing the bones, the remaining meat weighed about 120-130 pounds.

By noon, Dagen and his son returned, their load heavy. They bought some salt and took the long way back to East Mountain’s foot.

When Mrs. Xiong saw them return and noticed the salt, she sighed in relief. “You forgot to mention it when you left, but luckily you remembered to buy salt. Otherwise, I don’t know how we would have preserved the meat,”

Mrs. Xiong said, then anxiously asked, “So, did everything sell?”Dagen nodded, his expression showing obvious happiness. He reached into the basket, took out a cloth bag, and gestured for Mrs. Xiong to follow him into the house. “This time, we were really lucky with my brother-in-law’s help. He led us through the city and found a wealthy family. When the old master saw our goods, his eyes lit up, and he gave us 150 taels of silver right away. If it was sold elsewhere, we’d be lucky to get 100 taels,” Dagen said, speaking animatedly.

Mrs. Xiong, hearing this, couldn’t hide her joy and interrupted, “Since it was your big brother who helped, you must have given him something, right?”

Dagen opened the cloth bag to reveal the shiny silver ingots inside, smiling, “What do you think? I already gave my brother-in-law five ingots of silver, both as a token of respect for our father’s medicine and as thanks for his help.”

Mrs. Xiong, hearing that he gave away 50 taels, was so happy she almost shed tears.

No woman married outside her family who didn’t care about her parents. Over the years, she had felt guilty for not being able to properly honor her parents. Now, at last, she had done her duty, and it felt like the heavy burden on her heart had been lifted.

Wiping her tears, she said, “With this, I don’t need to worry about my parents anymore. I can focus entirely on our family. All thanks to Pear Blossom. I really think the heavens saw how hard we’ve had it and sent us this girl to help us.”

Dagen wholeheartedly agreed, and the couple exchanged some warm words before discussing how to use the remaining silver.

Dagen said, “This silver is all thanks to Pear Blossom’s connections with the nobleman. This girl dragged several hundred pounds of goods so far in the dead of night. As her father, I feel uneasy spending this money.”

Mrs. Xiong, who loved money because she had been poor for so long, now felt that since her family’s matters were settled, and they had their own house, a bountiful harvest of rice drying in the yard, and over a hundred pounds of meat in the kitchen, her worries about daily survival were gone. Seeing the silver, she no longer felt as attached to it as she once had.

Soon, Pear Blossom was called into the room. As soon as she entered, she saw the several shiny silver ingots on the table and couldn’t help but smile. “I didn’t expect that blind bear to be so valuable.”

Looking at her daughter, who had recovered from her rest with only faint traces of wounds on her face, Mrs. Xiong felt relieved. “This morning, your father sold those things for a total of 150 taels of silver. Since your uncle helped, and your father felt bad about Grandpa’s illness, he gave 50 taels without consulting you… You can keep the rest. Spend it however you like, but maybe think about whether to send something to the nobleman…”

Pear Blossom pouted and said, “What are you talking about, Mother? Isn’t the silver we earned meant for the family? If I need money, I’ll ask you, but are you starting to treat me like an outsider?”

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Xiong immediately gave her a glare and pretended to be angry, saying, “What nonsense are you talking about? There’s no outsider in this house!”

“Well, that’s good then!” Pear Blossom laughed and said, “Since we’re all family, there’s no need to be so particular. Otherwise, if you’re saying that, does that mean I can’t spend the silver my father earned?”

Dagen hurriedly added, “Of course you can spend it, the silver your father earned is for you to spend.”

Pear Blossom chuckled twice, her eyes twinkling as she said, “But since there’s so much at home, I might as well take a little, just in case it’s useful in the future.” Saying this, she casually picked up a silver ingot nearby, weighed it in her hand, and nodded in satisfaction, “At last, I can indulge a little.”

The rouge she saw last time, she could buy it the next time she went to town and give it to Sister Dong.With that, she stopped paying attention to Dagen and his wife, turned, and walked out the door.

Mrs. Xiong watched her retreating figure, unable to help but laugh and shake her head, saying, “This girl… fine, I’ll put it away for now. If she needs it later, I’ll give it to her, no rush.”