Chapter 9

As soon as she brought in the things for making the bow and arrows, Jiang Er came running over excitedly.

“Big sis, let me help you.”

Following the same method as before, Jiang Tian was taking his measurements.

Since a six-year-old boy’s arm length was different from an adult’s, it wasn’t easy for her to manage alone. Suddenly, a pair of hands covered hers.

“Let me help.”

Jiang Tian pulled her hands back, answering awkwardly with a soft “mm,” then strung the bow according to its curve.

“All done.”

Next, she started making arrows. With Xie Chen helping hold Jiang Er in the right posture, her process went much more smoothly.

Once the bow and arrows were finished, Jiang Er wanted to try them right away, but Jiang Tian stopped him:

“You can’t point arrows at people, understand?”

“I know, sis.”

When Jiang Er went off to play, she picked up a piece of black charcoal. She tied one end to a hemp rope and fixed the other end at the center of an irregular wooden board she had just found.

Then, using the charcoal, she drew a circle on the board. A simple target was made.

One by one, she shortened the rope and glued concentric circles onto the board with paste.

Finally, she smeared more charcoal in the middle for the bullseye, tied up the board at the top and bottom, and just like that—a target was ready.

Turning to Jiang Er, Jiang Tian said:

“Little Ears, from now on you’ll use this to practice. It’s called a target. You practice your aim with it. When you shoot, keep one eye open and the other closed, and aim for the black bullseye in the middle.”

Jiang Er tried it the way she said, and it felt pretty good.

Putting away the bow and arrows, he asked curiously, “Sis, how do you know how to do this?”

“Dad taught me,” Jiang Tian replied.

She had already decided—whatever she knew, she’d just say her father taught her.

As for Xie Chen, he’d probably keep her secret.

When she glanced over, she caught the teasing look in the man’s eyes and glared at him in annoyance.

“So Dad was that amazing, huh? Heh, sis, I’ll go to bed now. Tomorrow let’s go hunting early.”

“Wash up first,” Jiang Tian reminded him. “Fetch your own water, wash your face properly before getting on the kang.”

“I know.”

“With soap.”

“Oh.”

After settling Jiang Er, she told Xie Chen, who was sitting on the bench, “Go get your clothes ready and come take a bath later.”

At the mention of a bath, a flush rose on his face. “I can do it myself today.”

“I wasn’t planning on helping you undress anyway.”

Jiang Tian snorted inwardly. If he could wash himself, then she certainly wouldn’t be serving him.

Xie Chen felt an odd tangle of emotions and went inside to fetch his clothes.

Once she made sure Jiang Er had washed properly, she sent him off to bed.

“Sleep early, I’ll wake you up in the morning.”

“You too, sis.”

Maybe because he was excited about hunting tomorrow, the boy was extra obedient. After tucking him in, she left the room.

Filling the tub with hot water, she told Xie Chen, “I’m going inside now. Soak for a while, then use the soap and wash properly.”

“You and Jiang Er can use the soap.”

“Wash clean or don’t share a bed with me,” Jiang Tian said with distaste.

Xie Chen thought: Am I really that dirty?

Once he was settled, she slipped into her private space, had a good soak, and came out smelling fresh and fragrant. It left Xie Chen a little restless.

After emptying the water, they returned to their room. As soon as Jiang Tian lay down, she was pulled into the man’s embrace.

“Xie Chen, what are you doing?”

“Call me Chen-ge.”

When he heard her call him that at noon, he had already wanted to hold her like this. Now, with the girl’s faint fragrance in the bedding, he felt hot all over.

Jiang Tian froze. “Chen-ge?”

“Mm.”

“Let go of me.”

“No.”

Though he was thin, at over 185 cm with long limbs and broad hands, even one of his arms felt heavy as iron.

She patted the arm around her waist. “Your arm is crushing me. Move it.”

Xie Chen loosened his hold, and she slipped away to the far side of the kang. The quilt between them felt cold and empty.

In a deep voice he said, “Tian Tian, come here.”

She eyed him warily. “What for? It’s not like you can do anything.”

He thought: If I could, would you actually come?

“It’s cold over there. Come sleep here.”

“No need, I run hot,” she refused.

He said no more. An hour later, though, she drowsily rolled back toward him, curling up against his warmth like a little cat.

The man, who had only been pretending to sleep, opened clear eyes and pressed a kiss to her lips in the faint starlight.

•  

The next morning, Jiang Tian carefully slipped out of his arms, dressed, and went to wake Jiang Er.

“You’re up? Why not sleep a little longer?”

Xie Chen caught the nervousness in her eyes. “I’ll boil some water and make porridge.”

“Alright, then I’ll fetch some firewood for you.”

“I’ll go. You fill the water vat.”

She paused. “Okay.”

Opening the vat, she saw it was nearly empty. While Jiang Er was still inside, she quickly filled it, also topping up both pots.

Since Xie Chen already knew she could produce supplies, she took the chance to bring out three jin of flour, three jin of rice, a slab of cured meat, and five or six eggs.

When he came in and saw the food on the stove, he froze for a moment, then quietly reminded her: “Don’t take out too much at once.”

Jiang Tian nodded. “I’m planning to go to town after hunting.”

He was silent for a while. “Will you take Jiang Er?”

“I’ll go alone. You and Jiang Er stay home. I’ll be back quickly.”

She needed to visit the black market to trade, and while Xie Chen knew her secret, Little Ears didn’t. She needed a legitimate way to explain where things came from.

“Then be careful. Don’t go to dangerous places in the black market. If you do… be cautious.”

Jiang Tian was surprised. In these times, speculation was forbidden—she hadn’t expected him not to oppose it.

“Mm, I know. I’ll bring you back some candy.”

He rubbed her head with a smile. “Then feed me.”

She swatted his hand away. “Shameless. You’re too old to be fed.”

Just then, Jiang Er came out, and Jiang Tian quickly pulled him along outside.

On the way—

“Little Ears, come eat something.”

She had saved a bit of egg pancake from yesterday. Though a little cold now, it was still enough to fill their stomachs.

Each of them had two pancakes, eating as they walked up the mountain.

When they finished, Jiang Tian handed him a water flask. “Drink some.”

He gulped down a few mouthfuls, then handed it to her. “Sis, you drink too.”

She shook her head. “I prepared two flasks. You drink more, there’s plenty.”

He nodded, drank more, then capped it and tossed it into the basket on his back.

On this trip, the siblings found plenty of good things. By the time they came back, their loads were almost too heavy to carry.

Fortunately, they didn’t run into anyone. Once home, they unpacked their spoils.

“See? My sis caught three pheasants, two rabbits, plus dates and hazelnuts. You’d better outdo her next time, got it?”

Hearing this, Jiang Tian smacked him lightly. “Mind your manners. You have to call him brother-in-law. Be polite, or I won’t take you hunting anymore.”

Grumbling, Jiang Er muttered, “What’s so great? He’s just a few years older than me.”

“Hmm?”

Unwilling, he called out “brother-in-law” and went off to pick through the basket of dates.

Amused, Xie Chen told her, “I’ll bring back more game from now on, so you and Little Ears can have meat at every meal.”

Jiang Tian arched a brow. “Good, keep that attitude.”

Leaving the pheasants and rabbits to the two of them, she focused on making breakfast.

The porridge was ready. She made potato pancakes and stir-fried cabbage with cured meat.

After eating, she told Jiang Er about her plan to go to town.

“Sis, why not take me with you?” His eyes sparkled as he blinked up at her.

“I’ll go alone. You stay home and practice archery.”

After much pleading, he still couldn’t convince her.

“Wait for me. Tonight we’ll have a feast.”

He swallowed hard. “Sis, be careful on the road. And bring enough money.”

Jiang Tian rolled her eyes. Food really was all he cared about.