Chapter 21: Returning to Her Maiden Home (Part 3)

Wen Lan changed back into Lin Furong’s clothes, took the two bundles of meat hanging in the kitchen, and led Iron General back to the village alone.

Yushou Village was familiar in Lin Furong’s memory, but for Wen Lan, who was experiencing the ancient era for the first time, seeing this village with her own eyes made her a little excited.

Under the night sky, the barking of village dogs was loud and clear.
The air was filled with the delightful scent of ripening rice and rising mist.
Beneath her feet, the path still held the lingering warmth of the sun—it felt so solid and grounding.

Wen Lan stood at the entrance of the village, craning her neck to gaze at the nearby stars in the sky, feeling a deep sense of awe.
“The air here really is good—no car exhaust, no industrial waste. It’s the perfect place for health and wellness.”

Maybe tomorrow, she should cook a pot of vegetable porridge for that hunter!

With that pleasant thought, Wen Lan picked up her pace, stepping more lightly on her way home.

In the countryside, there wasn’t much entertainment at night, so families usually went to bed quite early.

When Wen Lan knocked on Lin Furong’s family door, it was obvious that Father Lin had already gone to bed. He came to open the door wearing a patched-up outer coat, holding up an oil lamp and looking at the daughter who had suddenly returned.

“Xiao Rong, why are you back?” he asked, pulling Wen Lan inside as he spoke, then holding up the oil lamp to inspect her up and down.

Inside the room, Mother Lin had heard Father Lin calling for Xiao Rong and immediately scrambled out of bed.

“Is Xiao Rong back?” She rushed out the door without even putting on an overcoat. When she saw Wen Lan, she immediately asked, “What happened? Did that hunter return you?”

Huh?

That question caught Wen Lan completely off guard.

Before she could answer, Mother Lin continued, “Did that hunter find out about your past?”

What in the world?

“No, I just came back to get some vegetables. There’s no vegetable garden in the mountains,” Wen Lan replied, brushing off Mother Lin’s tight grip on her as she questioned her. Wen Lan was a bit displeased.

Lin Furong had literally gone off to die before. Yet instead of showing concern for her daughter’s well-being, Mother Lin seemed more invested in her marriage.

“Oh, just back to get some vegetables.” Mother Lin finally breathed a sigh of relief. “I thought that hunter didn’t want you anymore, and we’d have to return the bride price before we even had time to warm it in our hands.”

“Come in, come in,” she said with a noticeably lukewarm tone, gesturing for Wen Lan to enter.

Only then did Father Lin close the door. He led Wen Lan into the main hall and asked, “Xiao Rong, why did you come back this late at night to get vegetables? Did you come alone?”

“No, the hunter’s dog came back with me,” Wen Lan said, pointing toward the front gate. Earlier, she had told Iron General to wait outside.

Then, she placed the two bundles of meat she had brought back from the hunter’s house onto the square table in the main room.

When Mother Lin saw the meat, her eyes went wide. She asked Wen Lan excitedly, “Did the hunter send you back with this?”

“Of course. What, you think I stole it?”
Well, technically… she did steal it.

“Oh my!” Mother Lin picked up the meat, completely unable to put it down. “Mutou’s been craving meat the past few days, always asking your father to buy some soup bones at the market. Now we’ve got real meat to eat.”

As she spoke, Hehua and Mutou, having heard the commotion, ran out of their room.

When Hehua saw Wen Lan, her eyes instantly reddened. She cried out, “Sister!” and flung herself into her arms. Meanwhile, Mutou made a beeline for the two bundles of meat on the table.

“Wow! So much meat! Big Sis brought this back?”

“Yes, I brought it back for you to eat.” Wen Lan hugged her little sister with one arm and patted her little brother’s head with the other.

She knew Lin Furong had loved her younger siblings deeply—whenever there was anything tasty, she would always save it for them.

“Big Sis, did the hunter catch this meat?” Mutou asked.

“Yes.”

“Does he eat meat every day?” Mutou asked again.

Wen Lan thought about it. That hunter had no vegetable garden, no farmland, and although his identity was mysterious, there wasn’t anyone serving him. Most likely, he just ate whatever prey he hunted each day.

“Yes,” she answered.

Mutou was filled with envy—he was practically drooling.

Mother Lin, standing nearby, chimed in, “Well, that’s great. Now that your sister’s married to a hunter, our family won’t have to worry about not having meat to eat anymore.” Then she turned to Wen Lan and added, “The Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon—when you go back, tell your husband to catch two wild chickens so we can stew up some soup.”

Already issuing commands, huh?