Chapter 4: Wild Animals!

"Dinner!" she exclaimed, her voice bubbling with excitement. The words rang true not just for the practical hunger she'd learned to manage, but for the thrill of a hunt. Her fingers instinctively curled around a smooth pebble, its coolness grounding her racing heart. After all, despite not being a seasoned warrior, Jing Huiyuan managed to survive for a long time in the snow apocalypse.

Back then, every meal was a victory, every kill a gamble against the gnawing emptiness. She'd faced cannibals with sharpened sticks, navigated warzones where food was the ultimate prize. And even now, in this strange, vibrant world, those forgotten instincts stirred. With a flick of her wrist, the pebble sang through the air. It struck the pheasant with a satisfying thud, sending the bird tumbling to the ground. As she approached her fallen prey, a mixture of elation and grim determination settled over her. This newfound world would test her in ways she couldn't yet imagine, but one thing was certain: her adaptability, the hard-won strength forged in the fires of a harsher past, would be one of her most valuable weapons.

As she went back, she saw the two boys filled with worry in their faces. "Sister!" Jing Yufei cried, the panic in his voice replaced with joyous relief. Liu Tao, ever curious, piped up, "Sister, where did you disappear to?"

 "Just exploring a bit," Jing Huiyuan answered, a playful glint in her eyes. Their faces relaxed, the fear momentarily forgotten. But their gazes, drawn by an irresistible magnetic pull, landed on the feathered weight she carried.

"Wow!" they exclaimed in unison, eyes wide with a mix of awe and curiosity. "How did you catch it?" This area indeed had some pheasants visiting, however, they were all hard to catch. "It was injured," Jing Huiyuan explained. "It could not fly well. I just had to…" she paused, letting the tension hang in the air before throwing in, "thow a stone. And luckily, it hit its head!"

It wasn't a complete lie. The pebble had been her weapon, but the accuracy, the honed precision, wasn't just luck. It was a whisper of a skill buried deep, a flicker of survival from a harsher life, a life the boys wouldn't understand. And yet, Jing Huiyuan didn't divulge everything. She kept her secret to herself, although she would not fully hide her skills as she planned on helping her father in some way in the future. The boys, however, were lost in the wonder of the moment. A pheasant! In their hands!

The sun dipped, casting long shadows as the children made their way home. The pheasant, slung across Jing Huiyuan's shoulder, felt like a beacon, drawing curious eyes from the villagers they passed. A few villagers, who sometimes relied on the mountain's base for their meals, stopped, their faces twisting with a mix of envy and hunger.

"That's such a fat pheasant," one exclaimed, his voice rough as unpolished stone. "Where'd you manage to snag such a prize?"

Jing Huiyuan repeated her tale, the well-worn words tumbling out like smooth pebbles. "It was just a lucky shot," she said, her voice unwavering despite the calculating glint in her eyes. "It was injured, and it couldn't fly."

The villagers exchanged glances, their envy simmering beneath a thin veneer of admiration. "Lucky indeed," he muttered, his gaze lingering on the pheasant's plump form. "It would have filled our bellies for days."

A woman, her apron stained with the earth of countless harvests, stepped forward, her voice sharp as a sickle. "Spare your envy, Li. They say this expelled branch of the Jing family attracts misfortune." Another villager added, "And let's not forget Granny Zhao's temper. It is best keep our distance, unless you want to face that woman's anger."

The others mumbled their agreement, scattering like startled birds before the oncoming storm. Jing Huiyuan stood tall, her chin held high, the pheasant a silent testament to her skill and resilience. Granny Zhao's reputation, though fearsome, was also a shield, protecting her family from the harsher edges of village life. 

As they disappeared from the crowd's view, the man with whom she had initially conversed pondered whether the child he had spoken to was truly just a six-year-old. He couldn't shake the impression that the child sounded unusually mature for her age. However, attributing it to Jing Huiyuan being possibly more intelligent than the other children, he shrugged off the thought.

Jing Huiyuan and Jing Yufei, their eyes sparkling with anticipation, invited Liu Tao to join their dinner. Liu Tao's stomach rumbled in agreement, the rich aroma of roasted pheasant already dancing on his tongue. But hesitation painted itself across his face.

"No, no, I couldn't," he stammered, his voice barely a whisper. "This is your family's feast. It wouldn't be right for me to take a bite."

His refusal wasn't fueled by pride or fear of overstepping boundaries. Liu Tao understood the Jing family's struggle better than most. He knew the sting of empty bellies and the way coarse rice, seasoned only with hope, felt heavy in a hollow stomach. Though meat was a rare indulgence, they regularly consumed coarse rice paired with wild vegetables three times a day. In contrast, his friend's family, accustomed to a more limited diet, had not tasted meat in a long time and can only have two meals a day. This stark difference in their circumstances solidified his determination.

Seeing his friend's unspoken thoughts, Jing Huiyuan's smile softened. "Nonsense," she countered, her voice laced with warmth. A silent tug-of-war played out between their eyes. Liu Tao, torn between his principles and the lure of a shared meal.

As the sun continued to set, Jing Huiyuan and her brother, Jing Yufei, burst through the door, their faces flushed with excitement. In Jing Yufei's hands, a basket overflowed with vibrant greens, the spoils of their afternoon adventure. But it was the weight slung over Jing Huiyuan's shoulder that truly drew Madam Su Lan's gaze. A pheasant, its feathers still ruffled, lay nestled against her back, a testament to her unexpected skill.

A wave of worry washed over Madam Su Lan's face. "Children!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with concern. "Where did you get this from? Did you go up the mountain? You know how dangerous it is!"

Jing Huiyuan reassured her mother. "Don't worry, mother," she said. "We did not go up the mountain. I found it just behind the bushes, and it was just a lucky find. The poor thing was already injured," she said.

Jing Yufei, unable to contain his pride, beamed. "And look, mother! We found all these delicious greens too!" He proudly presented his basket, the vibrant colors contrasting with the worried lines on Madam Su Lan's face.

The sight of the wild vegetables brought a smile back to her lips. "Ah, my little foragers," she sighed, her voice softening. "You really do not have to do this. Your father and I will work harder for you," Madam Su Lan cried. Her eyes then landed on the pheasant, a flicker of concern still playing in their depths. A thought came to her mind. May be Jing Chen could bring this pheasant to town and sell it there, then she could buy more coarse rice that would last them for more days.

Before she could start saying what was on her mind, the door creaked open, and Jing Chen entered, two plump rabbits dangling from his hands. His brow furrowed in surprise at the sight of the pheasant. "I know what you're thinking but there is no need, Su Lan," he said, his voice gruff but gentle. "These little fellows will fetch a good price at the market. The children should enjoy the pheasant. They are still growing. They need the nutrients to have better health."

The sight of the rabbits dangling from Jing Chen's hands sent a jolt of disbelief through Madam Su Lan. Her eyes widened, tracing the plump bodies from furred ears to twitching noses. "Chen," she breathed, her voice barely a whisper, "Two rabbits? Where did you find such a bounty?"

A slow smile spread across his weathered face. "The base of the mountain, Su Lan. You do not need to worry, I did not go up the mountain. But it seems our luck has finally turned." Jing Chen's words couldn't hide the genuine relief in his eyes. 

Jing Chen's hand enveloped hers, his calloused fingers offering a familiar comfort against her skin. "This is just the beginning, Su Lan," he promised, his voice thick with a mixture of relief and pride. "I'll take the rabbits to town tomorrow morning." 

"I will also try selling it to the restaurants. Maybe they will fetch a better price than the usual buyers."

Madam Su Lan's eyes lit up in understanding. "I agree, father. You must sell it to the restaurants" Jing Huiyuan said. "I am sure they will appreciate the quality of these animals." She tried to reach out, her arms above her head, gently stroking the soft fur of one of the rabbits in her father's arms.

With this, Madam Su Lan started to prepare the dinner. The family also invited little Liu Tao to eat with them. After all, this day is indeed something that the family should celebrate.