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A few Piglets emitted frightened squeals, successfully drawing Mother Boar back over. Yu Chunmiao wanted to hurry, but her legs felt weak with fear, rendering her unable to muster any strength. Glancing back, she saw Qi Rong was still trying to distract the wild boar, so she pressed herself against a tree, wrapping her legs around the Loquat Tree Stump for support.
Qi Rong was clever, always climbing the tree halfway through the boar's charge. Finally grasping her first branch, Yu Chunmiao managed to pull herself up to the second one. Sitting on the branch, she clung tightly to the tree and shouted, "Qi Rong, I’m up in the tree now! What should we do?"
"Just wait," Qi Rong replied. "Let’s sit here quietly and not provoke it. If it can’t break through after a while, it will leave." This was their only option; they couldn’t fight it or run fast enough, so they had to stay put.
Qi Rong underestimated a mother boar's determination. For two whole hours, the leaves of the tree where he was perched were battered down by the boar's relentless charges, and a chunk of the Loquat Tree Stump was smashed apart, yet the boar still refused to leave.
Yu Chunmiao was terrified as dusk approached. In the Qi family courtyard, darkness settled in, and Uncle and Aunt had yet to return. She felt like an ant on a hot pan, frantic with worry.
Chen Ruolan cried bitterly; both her husband and eldest son had perished in the mountains. She couldn’t bear to think about what would happen if her youngest son and daughter-in-law were lost as well. In her heart, she prayed, "A Zheng, please go check on them in the mountains and protect Yu Chunmiao and Qi Rong."
Qi Chong felt as if his heart were being squeezed; he pounded on the bed in frustration. He hated that there was nothing he could do. "Big brother, I’ll go look for them. Don’t worry; it’s just following the creek upstream. I’ll definitely bring back my sister-in-law and little brother today."
He pointed to the cabinet and said, "There’s a Hunting Knife left by Father inside; take it with you."
Qi Yuan took the knife, lit a torch, and headed up the mountain to search for them.
Chen Ruolan approached Qi Chong and suggested, "What if I go to the village and call for help? We can search together."
Qi Chong shook his head. "They’re unreliable. Father lay in bed for over two years for the villagers—who came to check on him? Each household lent him money for medicine; did anyone ever lend even a couple of silver coins? I’d rather die than rely on them again."
Chen Ruolan leaned by her son’s bedside and said softly, "It will be fine; Yu Chunmiao will be okay, and so will Qi Rong."
Tears streamed down Qi Chong’s face as he choked out, "I’m not worried about Qi Rong; he’s been running in the mountains since he was little—he climbs trees faster than monkeys. I’m worried about Yu Chunmiao; what if she encounters a snake or a wolf?"
He couldn’t bring himself to say more. The day he encountered a snake in their yard had terrified her into tears; now that night had fallen, even without danger, she must be scared out of her wits.
His heart ached painfully.
Night had completely fallen, yet the wild boar showed no signs of giving up. Yu Chunmiao cried out in distress, "Qi Rong! What if I drew the wild boar over here? If it keeps ramming your tree, will it fall?"
"Don’t worry," Qi Rong whispered back. "This tree is connected to another one that I’ve already scouted out. If this one starts shaking too much, I’ll jump over—just don’t shout."
To prevent the boar from targeting Yu Chunmiao again after her shout, Qi Rong picked up a branch and threw it at the wild boar.
All the anger surged toward him; don’t go looking for Sister-in-law.
The howling of wolves echoed again, sounding closer this time, and the wild boar abruptly stopped its charge. It grunted softly, calling its young ones to its side before moving in another direction.
Compared to the two monkeys in the tree, that wolf was far more terrifying.
After walking for a while, Qi Rong called out, “Sister-in-law, wait for me! I’m coming to get you.”
Faintly, Yu Chunmiao could see Qi Rong’s small figure approaching her, and she felt a wave of relief wash over her. She carefully climbed down the tree in the dark.
The two of them shouldered their baskets and headed back. Although it was still full moon, the moonlight barely illuminated the mountain path.
“Sister Rong!”
Qi Rong happily exclaimed, “It’s Er Ge! He’s come to find us! Er Ge, we’re over here!”
Uncle and Aunt turned toward the sound and could see a flicker of light moving through the dense forest.
They quickened their pace, and soon they met Qi Yuan.
Upon seeing them, Qi Yuan finally relaxed. “It’s great that you’re back safe! Mother and Big Brother were worried sick. Are you hurt?”
Yu Chunmiao shook her head and said, “No, let’s talk on the way back so Mother and Qi Chong don’t get anxious.”
Qi Yuan took Yu Chunmiao’s basket and held the torch as he walked ahead. Qi Rong recounted their recent experiences as the three hurried home.
Chen Ruolan was already waiting at the gate of their courtyard. Seeing the three figures from afar, she hurried inside to inform Qi Chong.
Qi Chong sat upright, anxiously awaiting news. When Chen Ruolan entered, she excitedly said, “They’re back! They walked back on their own; they should be fine.”
Qi Chong let out a long sigh of relief, leaning against the headboard as his previously tense heart finally settled down.
As soon as Yu Chunmiao entered the courtyard, she set down her basket. Chen Ruolan rushed forward to examine her closely. “You’re not hurt, are you?”
Yu Chunmiao vigorously shook her head and replied, “Mother, I’m fine! It’s all thanks to Qi Rong; I need to buy him a big pork leg as a reward.”
Qi Rong looked proudly at his mother, his lips curling into a smile that could hold a pound of pork.
“Yu Chunmiao! Qi Rong!” A deep and hoarse voice called from inside the house.
Yu Chunmiao dashed into his room and saw Qi Chong sitting there with a worried expression on his face as he looked at her.
“Yu Chunmiao! You’re not hurt, are you?” Qi Chong’s concern was evident in his voice.
Faced with Qi Chong's worry, she didn’t know how to respond; the fear and distress from earlier surged back within her. Tears streamed uncontrollably down Yu Chunmiao's face as she threw herself into his arms and began to cry loudly.
“I was so scared! I thought I would never come back!”
Qi Chong held her tightly without hesitation, her cries muffled by the fabric of his shirt, as if her heart was being grasped in her hands.
The other three people in the room quietly stepped outside, with Qi Rong even covering his eyes.
Yu Chunmiao burrowed into his embrace, regardless of which version of herself she was, she had never experienced the comfort of such a hold. The daughter of a gambler, Yu Chunmiao had to swallow her grievances alone; she couldn't even cry it out. Only the image of her mother's smiling face, which replayed endlessly in her mind, allowed her to survive.
As a rider, Yu Chunmiao had fallen off horses countless times and sustained injuries. She couldn't act spoiled or complain; she could only go home after work to heal herself, and the next day, she had to be a strong woman again.
Qi Chong's rough hands rubbed her shoulders and gently patted her back. All her fears were kept at bay outside his embrace.
When she had cried enough, Qi Chong finally spoke: "It's all for me. We won't go up the mountain anymore; I can get better without the medicine."
Upon hearing Qi Chong say he wouldn't take medicine, Yu Chunmiao pushed away from his arms and said, "No way! Yu Doctor said if you don't take your medicine, your bones won't heal properly, and you'll end up limping. All that suffering would be for nothing."
Qi Chong wiped her tears and said, "But the mountains are too dangerous; I'm afraid for you."
Yu Chunmiao playfully replied, "If you hold me again, I won't be scared anymore."
Qi Chong pulled her back into his arms, wrapping around her tightly as he rubbed her shoulders and back with both hands, his chin resting on the top of her head. His heart felt soft like a ball of cotton.
In his embrace, Yu Chunmiao recounted the day's events: "Thanks to Qi Rong; he's truly a good guy."
The more Qi Chong listened, the more worried he became. He said gravely, "We absolutely cannot go back up the mountain again. With one lone wolf around, soon it will attract a pack. And wild boars will be driven all over the place; they might even run into the village. Can't we think of another way to make money?"
Yu Chunmiao replied with a pouty voice, "Before we think of another way, we still have to go up the mountain. My second brother said today that I was too greedy; I should have returned when I heard the wolves howl. I won't make that mistake again."
The two held each other tightly for a long time without wanting to part. Suddenly, a rumble came from Yu Chunmiao's stomach.
"You haven't eaten yet; go eat something," Qi Chong said in disbelief at how gentle his own voice sounded.
Yu Chunmiao shook her head and said, "No, just hold me a little longer." Being held by Qi Chong felt too intoxicating; she didn't want to let go.
Qi Chong softly urged her, "Please go eat; don’t starve yourself. I'll be right here; I won’t run away."
Yu Chunmiao stubbornly shook her head and hugged him tighter. Qi Chong had little strength left now and allowed her to hold him; he could only say, "Then should I ask Mother to bring dinner in?"
Upon hearing this, Yu Chunmiao sprang up from his embrace. She was perfectly fine; how could she let her mother-in-law serve her?
"I'll just go eat myself; you rest well," she insisted.
After eating and washing up, Yu Chunmiao was too lazy to pour herself water and collapsed into bed to sleep.
Qi Chong sat on the edge of the bed with his eyes wide open while Qi Yuan struggled to keep his eyes open due to exhaustion but still did not sleep.
Having worked all day as a carpenter and then helping their mother wash and hang Banxia after Yu Chunmiao returned home, Qi Yuan had only gotten into bed around ten o'clock after staying up late with his older brother until nearly midnight. Normally by eight o'clock he would already be snoring; now he was truly tired.
"Brother, go to sleep; Sister-in-law must be asleep too; she's been tired all day," Qi Yuan yawned as he spoke.
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