Chapter 159
Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Unexpected Gains_1 Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Unexpected Gains_1 The vivid memory of Zhao Erhu being carried back covered in blood still lingered before her eyes. After drifting in and out of consciousness for days, it had been no easy feat to revive him. Had it not been for the encounter with Jiang Ziqi, the Divine Doctor, Zhao Erhu might truly have never woken up. Now, Lin Yue simply wished for her family to live peacefully, unwilling to experience any further mishaps.
Zhao Erhu knew that this time, he had genuinely frightened his young wife. However, hunting was his trade, and he couldn’t simply stop venturing into the mountains forever. His recklessness and haste had led to the accident, but he’d learned his lesson and would never make such a mistake again, nor would he put himself in danger like that.
Since Zhao Erhu’s accident, Lin Yue had been in the dark about what exactly had happened. Now she thought to ask, and Zhao Erhu recounted the whole story to her, complete with self-criticism and promises. Only then did Lin Yue feel relieved. However, she insisted on accompanying him next time. Since Zhao Erhu wasn’t planning on going deep into the forest, just hoping to hunt some small game to enrich the next day’s meal, Lin Yue took the opportunity to check the traps she had set in the woods for game and to pick some wild vegetables to bring home.
When they arrived in the forest, Lin Yue’s traps had indeed caught a lot of game, including a muntjac deer weighing about twenty pounds—an unexpected bounty compared to the usual pheasants and hares.
Zhao Erhu was intrigued by the traps Lin Yue had made and studied them carefully, wondering why he had never thought to use such a method before. After understanding how they worked, he praised Lin Yue for her cleverness and asked how she came up with the idea. Lin Yue brushed it off with a casual excuse, and Zhao Erhu didn’t press further. She breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, Erhu wasn’t one to dwell on things, sparing her the need to come up with more elaborate lies.
Upon returning from the mountain, several children informed them that Uncle San had come looking for Zhao Erhu, leaving a message for him to drop by in the morning, as there was something to discuss.
Zhao Erhu was somewhat surprised. “I wonder what Uncle San wants with me? I just saw him this afternoon at the village hall when dealing with Zhao Er Gou, and he didn’t mention anything to me.”
“Perhaps it was not the right moment with so many people around. He must have come specifically to find you. You’ll know once you go there tomorrow morning,” Lin Yue suggested, figuring it wasn’t urgent since Uncle San didn’t seem to be in a hurry.
That evening, Lin Yue prepared a feast to formally celebrate Zhao Erhu’s recovery. The most popular dish was a large plate of muntjac meat. Lin Yue cooked more than three pounds, all of which was devoured.
Lin Yue hadn’t planned on going to the market to sell food for the next few days. Unable to finish such a large muntjac themselves, she divided it into several portions; aside from what was kept for her family, she delivered a piece to each of the neighboring families they had good relations with. As for Uncle San, knowing he lived alone and rarely cooked, she fried the muntjac meat with breakfast and had Zhao Erhu take it to him.
“Brother Erhu, aren’t you going to Uncle San’s? Take this plate of fried muntjac meat I’ve cooked; it will be good for him to have with his drink,” she said.
Zhao Erhu, pondering what Uncle San might want with him, and not wanting to be delayed if it took too long, decided to wait until after Doctor Jiang’s visit before going. After discussing it with Lin Yue, who thought it unnecessary, he still insisted on staying at home.
“It’s no trouble. I’ll go later. As the host, how could I leave when Doctor Jiang arrives? I must ensure he is well-received,” Zhao Erhu stated, although he inwardly criticized himself for even thinking of leaving his easily deceived young wife—whose naivete had somehow become apparent to him—alone with Doctor Jiang. Doctor Jiang might seem reputable, but with such an attractive and gullible wife, what if Doctor Jiang was tempted to run off with her?