Chapter 26: Come Over and Try It

The snow was too hard-packed, and the rabbit disappeared in a flash. They could only follow its tracks to keep searching.

“That was a miss, but next time—I will get it!” Meng Shiqiao said sheepishly, realizing he’d been too confident and lacked experience.

The two of them followed the tracks for more than two li (about a kilometer), and finally spotted signs of the rabbit near the edge of a bush.

“I’ll circle around and scare it your way. You hide behind that tree—chances are, it’ll run straight to you,” Meng Ling instructed before making her way to the far side of the grassy area.

When she was still about five or six zhang (around 15–20 meters) away, the rabbit spotted her and darted off—right toward Meng Shiqiao.

Whoosh!

Meng Shiqiao released an arrow. It flew like a fish through the air, curving beautifully.

Thud!

The arrow pierced the fleeing rabbit. It rolled a few times and collapsed into the snow.

“Squeaaak…”

After a few cries, the rabbit went silent.

“Got it!”

“Jie! I got it!” Meng Shiqiao shouted with excitement and ran toward the downed rabbit.

He lifted it above his head and spun it in circles proudly, showing off his prize.

To Meng Ling, though, he looked like a show-off. Seeing the bright red blood staining the snow, she quickly shouted, “Okay, okay, I see it! Put it down before you splatter blood all over yourself!”

Startled, Meng Shiqiao lowered it right away.

Meng Ling walked over to check the rabbit. It weighed around three jin (about 1.5 kg)—not bad at all.

“Nice! You got one on your second shot. A couple more years and you’ll be splitting arrows mid-air.”

Meng Shiqiao grinned. “Of course!”

After resting a bit, they went on looking for more rabbits.

“Hurry—there!” Meng Ling pointed.

Meng Shiqiao looked and saw another rabbit running uphill toward them.

Whoosh!

Another clean hit. The rabbit tumbled and lay still.

“Heh, delivered right to my doorstep,” Meng Shiqiao laughed as he jogged down the slope to collect it.

Just as he was about to leave, a man stepped out from the bushes.

It was Zhang Sanmazi, younger brother of the hunter Zhang Ermazi.

“So it’s you, kid. Hand over the rabbit.”

He walked up and demanded the one in Meng Shiqiao’s hand.

Meng Shiqiao didn’t back down, sneering, “Hmph, why should I give it to you? Was this rabbit raised by your family? Whoever shoots it owns it.”

Zhang Sanmazi glared, “I chased this rabbit here! I saw it first—it’s mine! Hand it over, you little brat!”

His attitude angered Meng Ling. “That’s ridiculous. Just seeing it makes it yours? Why not say the whole village belongs to you too?”

“You little brat, when did it become your turn to speak?” he snapped at her.

Then he charged at Meng Shiqiao, clearly trying to snatch the rabbit by force.

Seeing he was being unreasonable, Meng Shiqiao quickly raised his bow and aimed at him.

“Come any closer and try me!” he shouted.

Zhang Sanmazi laughed mockingly, “You dare point a bow at me?”

He kept charging forward—now only about thirty meters away.

Meng Shiqiao’s breathing grew tense. “I said stop! One more step and I don’t care who you are—I’ll shoot!”

Zhang Sanmazi noticed the fear but also the tension in his voice.

Damn kid’s not bluffing—he might really shoot. One mistake and he’s done for.

“You try me!” Zhang Sanmazi growled, reaching toward his own arrows.

“Don’t move! I’ll shoot!” Meng Shiqiao yelled again. “If I can hit a rabbit, I can shoot through your skull!”

Zhang Sanmazi froze. Damn brat—he’s vicious! All this over a rabbit?

Even Meng Ling held her breath, afraid something terrible would happen if anyone moved.

Then she called out, “Uncle Zhang, it’s not worth it over a rabbit. If you really want it, we’ll give it to you. No need to bully the younger ones—it won’t sound good if word gets out.”

Zhang Sanmazi’s face turned from red to pale, then back again. “Hmph, get out of my sight!”

He wasn’t about to risk his life over a rabbit. That kid definitely looked ready to shoot.

Once he was far enough away, Meng Ling finally exhaled. She turned and smacked her brother’s head.

Smack! It echoed through the snow.

“Feeling proud, huh? Think you were brave and cool just now?”

“That was stupid! He was more than ten zhang away—you think aiming at him did anything?”

“Can you even shoot that far?”

Meng Shiqiao’s range barely reached seven zhang.

“If he really came at you, do you think he’d let you keep the rabbit?”

“Use your brain!”

She scolded fiercely—he was a reckless fool, a clueless calf that feared no tiger.

Rubbing his head, he muttered, “Next time I’ll wait till he gets closer…”

“Bull. Next time you wait till he grabs it and then shoot his hand!” she snapped, slapping him again.

“No wonder you’re my sister!” he grinned.

After that scare, neither had the mood to hunt. They headed straight down the mountain.

Halfway down, Meng Shiqiao pointed. “Jie, looks like Zhang Fa’s house collapsed—see all those people?”

“Yeah, it’s true. Was still standing this morning… must’ve been the snow pressing too long.”

They dropped off their stuff at home and went over to check it out.

Half of Zhang Fa’s house had collapsed. The whole family stood blankly in the yard, still stunned.

“Your place is lucky,” someone said. “Zhang Daniu’s house totally caved in the day after the snow. Both father and son broke legs. If not for a cabinet that blocked the debris, they’d be dead.”

“My kitchen collapsed too. Smashed my pot.”

“Lots of homes went down. Some walls crushed the old couple inside. Took till morning to dig them out.”

Voices chimed in one after another.

Houses in the village were scattered and not tightly packed, so no one heard the sounds when they fell.

Meng Ling now realized the damage was more widespread than she thought. Good thing she’d reinforced their house early.

Just then, Wang Laosan spoke up, “Meng Liang, I heard your house was reinforced before the snow. It’s like you knew something in advance. Why didn’t you say anything to the rest of us?”

“Exactly. If you’d told us, we could’ve prepared too.”

“Poor old couple,” someone added.

Sensing the blame building, Meng Ling quickly stepped up.

“My dad? He didn’t know anything! He was still at my uncle’s place before the snow. He almost froze coming home.”

“I saw our roof nearly falling apart from the wind. Figured if even a little snow hit, it’d collapse, so I reinforced it. Who knew the snow would be this bad? Even our kitchen still collapsed—the pot’s ruined!”

“Right, Auntie Zhang?” she added.

Auntie Zhang caught on. “Exactly! Our roofs are so flimsy. We couldn’t stay inside without fixing them first!”

She was secretly glad she’d copied them. Otherwise, her house might’ve looked like this too.

Zhang Fa’s family had also seen them reinforce—but hadn’t acted. Whose fault was that?

Meng Liang had been worrying how to explain himself. His daughter solved it all—and even pulled someone else to vouch. Brilliant.

“Yeah, he’s no fortune-teller. And they weren’t the only ones to reinforce—plenty of families did.”

“Right—like Wang Xinfang and Wang Youping.”

Someone finally spoke up fairly.

The village head stepped in. “Alright, enough gawking. Lend a hand!”

Soon, everyone helped move the collapsed household’s belongings into another room.

Afterwards, the village head reminded them all, “Clear the snow from your roofs. Don’t let this happen again.”

“Everyone head back!”

Meanwhile, Liu Yu stood nearby, eyes glazed, staring into space like she’d lost her soul.