Volume One, Chapter 12: A Bountiful Hunt, Shocking Grandfather’s Family

“This medicine works well; I feel much better,” Shen Yuebai said, returning the water pouch to Shen Shuli, his eyes filled with gratitude.

“How are we going to carry all this game down the mountain? It would be such a waste to just leave it here.”

Not only Shen Yuebai was reluctant to part with the game; no one present wanted to let it go.

Even the three of them together couldn’t lift a wild boar.

After all, Shen Yuebai was seriously injured inside.

Shen Shuli was just a thirteen-year-old girl with little strength.

Shen Ziqian could lift at most a hundred pounds.

If they went down the mountain to call for help, the game left behind here would soon be scavenged by other animals.

Nothing seemed appropriate.

Although Shen Shuli had a space where she could cheat, she absolutely would not reveal her trump card.

Shen Yuebai thought for a moment and said, “Ziqian, you and Ali go down the mountain together and try to find some help. I’ll stay here and guard the game.”

Knowing his second uncle was injured, Shen Ziqian refused outright, worried about leaving him alone.

“No, you’re hurt; it’s not safe for you to be here alone. You and your cousin go back, I’ll stay here,” Shen Shuli shook her head and sighed.

“You both stay here and wait, be careful. I’m fast; I’ll go back and find help.”

Halfway along the way, Shen Shuli encountered a group of villagers coming up the mountain.

They were all relatives from the Shen family, eight or nine of them.

Among them was Shen Yuebai’s son, Shen Zitan, who had met Shen Shuli at home.

Upon recognizing her, he quickly ran over and asked, “Cousin, we finally found you! Are you alright?”

Seeing large bloodstains on her clothes, his face instantly turned pale. “You’re hurt!”

Shen Shuli hurriedly explained, “Don’t worry, I’m fine. That’s just the blood from the game we caught. You came just in time; second uncle got quite a bit of game this time. Everyone, help carry it down the mountain.”

Shen Zitan didn’t hesitate and quickly rallied the others to follow.

They moved swiftly.

Seven wild boars, a foolish mushroom, and a bunch of wild chickens and rabbits were carried down the mountain by the group.

During this year of famine, White Stone Village was no exception; every household was running low on food.

To avoid attracting the attention of villagers, the Shen family tactfully chose a secluded path. With night already falling, they silently transported the game back to the Shen household.

After finishing lunch, Shen Yuehua immediately took her eldest brother, sister-in-law, and second sister-in-law to the county town by ox cart to gather information.

Upon returning, she found Shen Shuli and Shen Ziqian still absent and grew anxious.

She quickly informed the elders, Shen Laotou and Shen Laotai, that the two might have ventured deep into the mountains looking for second uncle.

Shen Laotou smacked his forehead, calling his daughter foolish.

He immediately went to the village to call his brothers, asking them to gather all the men to search the mountain.

“They’re back! They’re back!” Shen Yuehui, the eldest son, stood at the foot of the mountain, watching intently. When he saw the group returning, he hurriedly told the family.

Then he quickly opened the courtyard gate for everyone to carry the game inside.

The Shen family was stunned to see the courtyard filled with wild boars.

They all knew how capable Shen Yuebai was.

Such a large haul could not have been brought down by him alone.

“Second brother, how come there are so many wild boars?” Shen Laotou waved over to him, curious.

The others also perked up their ears.

“Heh heh, Father, only two of these boars were hunted by me; the rest are all thanks to Ali,” Shen Yuebai said honestly and went on to recount what had happened in the mountains.

“Father, if it weren’t for my niece arriving just in time to save me, I probably would have been killed by the wild boar pack.”

The thought of that harrowing moment still sent shivers down his spine.

Everyone in the yard listened with bated breath.

Hearing that it was this niece, who had been switched at birth, who saved Shen Yuebai, all eyes turned to Shen Shuli with gratitude and curiosity.

“Ali, good child, thank you so much for saving your second uncle. Grandma truly doesn’t know how to thank you,” Shen Laotai’s eyes reddened with emotion as she clasped Shen Shuli’s hand repeatedly in gratitude.

She had only two sons and one daughter; if not for this granddaughter, she would have lost a son, how could she not be grateful?

“Grandma, it was just a coincidence. When you meet someone in need, you naturally lend a hand,” Shen Shuli said politely, then glanced at her mother.

Shen Laotai knew this was just the granddaughter’s modesty.

The mountains were vast; how could it be mere coincidence?

She must have worried about second uncle and rushed over to help!

She never expected that this granddaughter, just recognized back into the family, would save her son—this favor was immense!

Shen Yuehua caught her daughter’s pleading look and knew she disliked being surrounded by unfamiliar people, so she quickly changed the subject.

“Mother, we should figure out how to handle all this meat quickly!”

“With the weather so hot, it’ll spoil overnight. We also need to be careful the villagers don’t catch wind and develop bad intentions. How we handle it should be decided by Father and you.”

Shen Laotai’s attention immediately shifted; she looked to her husband to make the decision.

Shen Laotou thought for a moment, then turned to Shen Shuli and quietly asked, “Ali, I want to give one boar to your maternal grandfather’s family to thank them for helping search and carry the game. What do you think?”

At least five of the boars were killed by Shen Shuli; no one else had the right to decide how to distribute them.

Her grandfather’s polite inquiry without overstepping pleased her, and she nodded without hesitation.

Mainly because the boar meat tasted terrible; if it had been lamb or beef, she wouldn’t have agreed so generously.

“Whatever you decide, Grandfather,” Shen Shuli smiled and agreed.

Hearing this, Shen Laotou breathed a sigh of relief, afraid of upsetting his granddaughter. Besides, there was so much meat that it had to be dealt with quickly or it would spoil.

He planned to compensate Shen Shuli in other ways to ensure she wasn’t at a loss.

“Second brother, I’m giving one wild boar to your family as thanks for today’s help. Make sure to process it all tonight—whether eating, curing, or selling it—do it at my house. That way, carrying it back and forth won’t cause trouble if seen by others,” Shen Laotou told his brother.

Shen Huai Kang immediately waved him off, firmly refusing.

They only lent a hand; they didn’t contribute much effort. Taking a whole boar would be ungrateful.

He started calling his children to leave quickly.

Shen Laotou was quick and ran a few steps to lock the courtyard gate.

“Just do as I say. I know your family has little extra grain; once this meat is handled, it will be enough to sustain you for a while.”

Shen Huai Kang was tempted by these words.

He understood their situation; if the drought continued, they wouldn’t last long.

Seeing his brother waver, Shen Huai An quickly said, “Come with me to the main room; I have something important to discuss with you.”