Chapter 5: Hunting the Wild Boar

Ye Meizi looked at Qin Nian:

“These past few years of drought, your Uncle Geng and Geng Feng have been going up the mountain hunting almost every day.

Sometimes when they catch more prey, they sell some in town to get small amounts of silver to buy grain, so life isn’t too bad.

Though these are hard years, two coarse cornmeal pancakes aren’t much. Xiao Nian, just take these as a little thank you from me.

You accept them, and it will make me feel better.”

Hearing Ye Meizi say this, Qin Nian stopped refusing and took the two pancakes. “Thank you, Auntie.”

Ye Meizi’s thin face broke into a smile. “That’s better.”

Ye Meizi then left.

Granny Li sighed. “Your Auntie Geng must have guessed we’re out of food, and worried you wouldn’t make it up the mountain, so she sent these pancakes.

She probably didn’t want to hurt our pride by telling us directly. She’s really considerate.”

Granny Li gave Qin Nian one and a half pancakes and ate half of one herself, saying she was old and could get full easily.

Qin Nian wouldn’t hear of it—after going hungry so long, even an old person wouldn’t be full with half a pancake. She could have eaten both.

The two of them ate the corn pancakes with hot water for a simple breakfast.

After breakfast, Geng Feng arrived.

The young man was tall and upright, wearing rough blue cloth clothes. He slung a curved bow over his shoulder, with hemp rope, a quiver, and water bag, holding a three-pronged iron fork in his hand — handsome and full of vigor.

“How good it is to be young,” Granny Li sighed, looking at Geng Feng. “So hungry all this time, but you haven’t gotten any shorter.”

Granny Li always had a way with words. Qin Nian laughed until she bent over.

“Grandma, people can get skinny from hunger, but they don’t get shorter.”

Granny Li glared at Qin Nian. “If someone’s hungry long enough, they do get shorter. You’ve only eaten salty food a few years — what do you know?”

She then looked at Geng Feng. “Boy, is it true people get shorter if they’re hungry a long time?”

Geng Feng held back a laugh. “Grandma Li, you’ve eaten salty food longer than me, so what you say must be right.

Xiao Nian, let’s go.”

Qin Nian nodded. “Alright, let’s go.”

She picked up the small basket from yesterday, which held a short wooden-handled digging knife.

Walking out the gate, she saw a small cart by Geng Feng’s leg.

Qin Nian understood that carrying a wild boar down from the mountain wouldn’t be easy, so the cart would save a lot of effort.

She placed her basket on the cart and followed beside him as they headed toward the east side of the village.

Outside the village was the East Mountain.

It was early May, and the morning air was just slightly cool — not cold at all.

At the foot of the mountain, some people were already there, all searching for wild vegetables.

The bad harvest meant that most people depended on wild vegetables to survive. But after three years without rain, wild vegetables were very scarce.

Geng Feng led Qin Nian to the mountain foot. He found a small forested spot and hid the cart in a small ditch on the edge, covering it with branches and grass.

The two began to climb, heading deeper into the mountain.

After passing halfway up, the slope became steep and nearly pathless — very difficult to walk.

Many places, Qin Nian couldn’t climb up and needed Geng Feng to help pull her.

Since few came up here, Qin Nian found some mushrooms, dug some dandelions, and a few other wild vegetables.

When they reached the spot where the wild boar had attacked yesterday, Geng Feng’s expression turned serious.

He looked at Qin Nian and said, “Xiao Nian, stay close to me. Don’t stray too far.”

Qin Nian knew this was dangerous. Even if Geng Feng hadn’t said anything, she wouldn’t have left his side — she didn’t even dare pick wild vegetables anymore.

Yesterday’s wild boar suddenly charged out, attacking Uncle Geng Zhenhai from behind, slashing open his calf with sharp tusks.

At that time, Geng Feng was ahead. When he realized, his father was already seriously injured and had fallen.

He held a wooden stick and turned to strike the wild boar’s head several times.

One hit struck right in the boar’s eye socket.

Geng Feng had been hunting for years and was very strong.

The boar’s eye bulged out from the blow.

In intense pain, it fled into the brush instead of fighting.

Geng Feng tore off his clothes to tie his father’s leg wound, then carried him down the mountain as fast as he could.

At the foot, he took out the hidden cart and pushed Uncle Geng home.

Because of the exhausting trip, once they arrived, he couldn’t carry his father any further alone.

He first told his mother not to cry and helped carry his father into the house.

Geng Feng remembered where the wild boar had escaped and carefully searched the ground for bloodstains with his iron fork, keeping his head low.

At the same time, he stayed alert to any sounds from the west side of the mountain, occasionally glancing at Qin Nian.

Qin Nian was cautious; she shook her head slightly, signaling to Geng Feng not to worry about her—she would be careful.

Soon, Geng Feng found the blood trail and followed the scattered spots along a long, winding mountain path.

Then, they saw the wild boar lying beneath a cliff — it was still alive!

The boar saw them and charged forward. Around its blinded eye was smeared blood, making it look terrifying.

Geng Feng hurriedly pushed Qin Nian behind him. “Xiao Nian, step back—don’t get too close!”

With that, he shook his three-pronged iron fork and jabbed at the boar’s one-eyed side.

The boar nimbly dodged, baring its tusks as it charged Geng Feng.

Geng Feng didn’t hesitate or lose courage; shaking his fork, he charged and quickly swung at the boar’s belly.

Still, he missed.

Watching from a distance, Qin Nian silently regretted not bringing the wooden board she had used yesterday to hit Qin Rongsheng.

That sturdy oak board — one hit to the boar’s ear and it would be deaf.

Once blind and deaf, the beast would be much easier to subdue.

Regret aside, Qin Nian scanned around and spotted a wooden stick.

She bent down, picked it up, and approached.

Cleverly, she moved slowly to the boar’s blinded eye side. The boar was busy fighting Geng Feng and didn’t notice her.

Qin Nian swung the stick and hit the boar’s head.

The boar let out a painful roar.

Seizing the opportunity, Geng Feng thrust his iron fork into the boar’s belly.

He didn’t hesitate — quickly pulling out and stabbing in again.

The boar was pierced six times in the stomach, howling, finally losing the will to fight.

It collapsed, its hind leg twitching, clearly near death.

Geng Feng praised Qin Nian: “Xiao Nian, you’re brave and decisive.”

Thinking of how Qin Nian helped stitch his father’s wound last night, Geng Feng held his tongue.

After a while, the boar stopped twitching.

Geng Feng slowly approached and poked its wound with his fork.

The boar didn’t make a sound.

He carefully touched the blood-covered eye socket — still no movement.

Geng Feng finally breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at Qin Nian. “It’s dead for good.”

Qin Nian looked at the boar, guessing it weighed over 300 jin (~150 kg). She smiled and said, “Didn’t expect it to be this big.

Carrying it down to the foot of the mountain will take at least two hours.”

Geng Feng smiled back, “No problem, I’m here.”

He glanced at Qin Nian and said, “We’ve been walking so long and fighting the boar. You must be tired. Let’s drink some water and rest before heading down.”

They sat on a rock in front of the boar.

Geng Feng took off his water bag and handed it to Qin Nian.

She took it, pulled out the stopper, tilted it gently, letting a thin stream of water flow into her mouth.

She drank elegantly, her lips never touching the water bag’s opening.

After a few sips, she passed it back to Geng Feng, who drank in the same manner.

Two well-mannered people, drinking without touching the water bag’s mouth.

After finishing the water, Geng Feng stood up and dragged the boar a few meters behind the rocks.

“The weather’s getting warmer. Let’s put it somewhere shady first.”

After resting for about half an hour, Geng Feng stood, tied the boar with hemp rope, and prepared to drag it down the mountain.