“Little sister, you go to the mountain first. Qiuye and I will go home, drop off our things, and then we will meet you,” Xu Shengcai called out, already pulling Xu Qiuye back toward their house.
Back at the Xu home, Xu Shengcai burst in. “Mom, Qiuye is here!” he announced.
Mother Xu, who had been leisurely munching on melon seeds in the yard, sprang to her feet. Her face lit up when she saw Xu Qiuye. “Qiuye, my dear! Why are you here now? And why are you bringing a gift?” she exclaimed, her voice brimming with delight. “Come, sit down and rest. Auntie will get you some fruit.”
Mother . Xu held a special fondness for Xu Qiuye. The girl had practically grown up in their village, a childhood friend of her son, often visiting their home. She had watched Qiuye blossom into a diligent, kind, and beautiful young woman—the very best, in her opinion, in their entire village. The thought that such a remarkable girl might one day marry her son filled her with quiet satisfaction.
“Mom, we don’t want to eat. We have to go to the mountains to find my little sister,” Xu Shengcai interjected, already tugging Xu Qiuye by the hand, eager to leave.
Mother Xu playfully scowled at her son’s impatient demeanor. “Alright, just make sure you take good care of Qiuye on the mountain.”
“Mom, I know!” Xu Shengcai replied, already half-running with Xu Qiuye in tow, heading towards the looming mountain.
To Xu Shengcai’s surprise, they encountered Huo Chen and Wu Qingsong on their way up . Seeing Huo Chen, a flicker of irritation crossed Xu Shengcai’s face. This man, the notorious “wolf cub,” with a reputation for being formidable, might actually become his future brother-in-law. A surge of anger washed over him. If it had been anyone else, Xu Shengcai would have gladly thrown a punch or two, but Huo Chen was not someone to be provoked lightly.
Yet, the thought of Huo Chen so easily taking his little sister’s attention gnawed at him. Xu Shengcai glared, his expression sour. “You and I are going hunting in the mountains,” he declared abruptly.
Huo Chen paused, a hint of confusion in his eyes.
“I’m talking to you, hurry up!” Xu Shengcai pressed, his voice sharp.
Wu Qingsong, witnessing Xu Shengcai’s abrasive tone towards his “Brother Chen,” bristled instantly, his temper flaring. “What do you mean, calling Brother Chen to go hunting like you own him?” he demanded, clenching his fist.
Huo Chen, with a calm gesture, halted Wu Qingsong. “Yingying is his sister,” he whispered.
Wu Qingsong’s raised fist dropped as if scorched. His aggressive stance melted away, replaced by an astonishingly contrite expression as he turned to Xu Shengcai. “Hey, hey, just kidding, let’s go now,” he mumbled.
Xu Shengcai, who had been bracing himself for a brawl with Wu Qingsong, was utterly bewildered by the sudden shift. But with Huo Chen present, he knew at least that a good meal was guaranteed today.
When the four people finally reached the mountain, Xu Ying and Xu Sange had already managed to catch a hare. Xu Ying had also cleverly “smuggled” a few duck eggs from her personal space.
Despite the chill of winter, the day was surprisingly mild, with the sun shining brightly, preventing the river ice from becoming too thick. Xu Sange, wielding a large shovel, struck the frozen surface with all his might. After several forceful blows, he managed to create a few holes in the river’s icy crust.
“Wu Qingsong!” Gu Fuying exclaimed, her face lighting up with surprise as she spotted him.
Wu Qingsong, however, did not share her enthusiasm. A look of profound distaste crossed his face. “Why are you here too!” he grumbled, seeing her as nothing but an annoying presence. She was always causing a racket, and he invariably got a headache just looking at her.
Xu Ying, too, looked up and smiled when she saw Huo Chen. “Why are you here? Third brother, let Huo Chen come. He’s very strong.” She then took Huo Chen by the hand and led him towards the ice.
Xu Sange, witnessing Huo Chen’s arrival, felt a pang of despair. His efforts had been for naught.
Huo Chen, feigning ignorance of Xu Sange’s silent lament, picked up a kitchen knife. With a powerful swing, he struck the very spot where Xu Sange had labored repeatedly. With a resounding “click,” several cracks spiderwebbed across the ice, expanding rapidly. Then, with a loud “pop,” the ice shattered, plunging into the river below.
Gu Fuying and the others stared in stunned silence. The man’s strength was truly astonishing. Xu Sange’s mouth twitched, feeling as though his morning’s hard work had been utterly pointless.
“There’s a fish!” Gu Fuzhu cried out, her eyes wide with delight as she watched a fish leap from the water. Unaccustomed to the countryside, especially such wild places, she found everything here captivating.
At Gu Fuzhu’s excited shout, Xu Sange lunged, snatching the flopping fish with one hand. The fish thrashed its tail, splashing water everywhere. “This fish is a bit small. We’ll bake it later.”
“I have a fishing net here, can we catch more?” Xu Ying asked, peering into the icy hole.
Huo Chen took the net and cast it into the murky water. After a moment, he felt a distinct tugging sensation. “Did you catch a fish?” Gu Fuzhu asked, her face alight with curiosity.
With a strong pull, Huo Chen hauled the net ashore. It was brimming with fish.
Xu Ying’s face lit up. “There are big fish too! Let’s make a stew with the big ones and throw the small ones back. We can come back next year for them.”
Gu Fuzhu’s joy was palpable. “Okay, Fuying and I will come to see you next year also !” she chirped , then turned to find her cousin, only to see Gu Fuying staring blankly at a man.
Gu Fuzhu tugged on Xu Ying’s arm. “Does Fuying like him?” she whispered.
Xu Ying followed her gaze. There were her second brother and Sister Qiuye, openly displaying their affection. Wu Qingsong was busy building a stove, and Gu Fuying was indeed staring at him with a vacant expression. Alas, Xu Ying thought, relationships have always been the most difficult thing to navigate.
“What do you think?” Xu Ying asked Gu Fuzhu.
Gu Fuzhu nodded. “I think so.”
“That’s right,” Xu Ying sighed, “the peach blossoms haven’t even bloomed this year, but everyone’s already pining for spring!”
“Third brother, you guys keep catching fish here. I’m going to find Sister Qiuye,” Xu Ying said, getting up and heading towards Gu Fuying.
Gu Fuzhu, finding the fishing fascinating, squatted down to watch intently. Xu Sange glanced at her, recognizing her as likely from a privileged family, unaccustomed to such activities. He smiled warmly at her, waving her over. “Do you want to come and try?”
Gu Fuzhu looked up, meeting his eyes. The corners of his mouth were turned up in a genuine, warm smile that radiated like a ray of sunshine. A blush crept onto her cheeks, and she walked towards him. “How do I do this?” she asked.
Xu Sange, patiently and carefully, began to instruct Gu Fuzhu on the art of netting and picking fish. Gu Fuzhu’s eyes sparkled with newfound interest.
Seeing the two of them getting along so well, Huo Chen discreetly retreated. If he wanted to spend time with Xu Ying, he realized, he needed to keep the others occupied.
Meanwhile, Wu Qingsong had successfully set up the stove. As he turned, his eyes met Gu Fuying’s. A flicker of panic crossed his face, and he instinctively touched his cheek. “What are you looking at me for? Do I have dirt on my face?”
Gu Fuying, visibly annoyed, retorted, “No, you just look handsome.”
Wu Qingsong paused, then a triumphant smile spread across his face, revealing his front teeth. “Of course! I’m only a little worse than Brother Chen, but I’m much more handsome than the others. You’re very discerning; I’ll grill you more fish later.”
Gu Fuying, a mix of anger and exasperation, couldn’t believe his shamelessness. She had actually worried he’d be heartbroken after their previous encounters, but it seemed she’d completely misjudged him. The man was utterly heartless.
“Hey, why are you still angry?” Wu Qingsong called out, standing up quickly as she turned to leave.