Chapter 36

Feng-ge spoke with a composed tone, and the surrounding onlookers started discussing as well.

When they were hunting the wild boar, many people saw Yong-ge rushing to save Cheng Duo… Although there were reasons behind it, were these two getting too close?

Li Wang, of course, also heard about it and angrily retorted, "What Yong-ge wants to do is his business. Yong-ge is going to marry with proper ceremonies!"

Feng-ge's face turned pale in an instant. He knew he shouldn't have spoken ill of Yong-ge in public, but he couldn't control himself.

Every time he thought about losing his reputation and dowry, while Yong-ge became increasingly good-looking and even captivated that cold-hearted hunter, who even gave him meat… Feng-ge couldn't control the growing madness within him, like a venomous snake.

He was extremely jealous!

He envied Yong-ge, whom he used to look down upon. How could he become so good-looking? Could someone who is this good-looking still get married without a dowry? His reputation wasn't tarnished either, so he was always better than Feng-ge…

Feng-ge couldn't contain the malice in his heart. He thought his Second Uncle would swallow his pride as before, but he didn't expect his Second Uncle to completely sever ties with him this time.

Li Wang's words were like reopening Feng-ge's wounds and reminded him of that embarrassing scene…

Feng-ge gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, filled with hatred. He despised Yong-ge and Li Wang, even more than the "Young Master Yan" who deceived him of his dowry and Cheng Duo, who mercilessly rejected him.

In the end, Feng-ge was someone who bullied the weak and feared the strong. The "Young Master Yan" and his group disappeared without a trace, and Cheng Duo was too formidable and fierce. He could only hate Yong-ge, who became more attractive than him, and Li Wang, who refused to stand up and work like an ox for their family.

Wu Guihua persisted, "What do you mean, Second Brother? What do you mean by saying that Yong-ge can do whatever he wants? Explain it clearly!"

Li Wang ignored her and took Yong-ge home.

Back at home, he couldn't help but question Yong-ge, "Why did you go with Cheng Duo again?"

Yong-ge felt guilty and thought for a moment before telling the truth, "Cheng Duo's friend, Wei Ling, is serving in the Xiling army. He might have news about Eldest Brother and Second Brother, so I went to listen."

"What? News about Li Da and Li Er?" Li Wang became excited. After all, they were his own sons, and it would be fake if he said he wasn't worried.

"It's not exactly news. Wei Ling said…" Yong-ge explained in detail the news that Wei Ling brought.

After listening, Li Wang became invigorated. Early the next morning, he carried a bamboo basket and left the house.

Yong-ge guessed that his father might want to find someone, so he found the clothes from his Eldest Brother and Second Brother's room, intending to wash and dry them to bring along.

Carrying a wooden basin, Yong-ge came out and happened to run into Wei Ling, who had a bruised face, wandering around the village. He was startled, "Wei Ling, what happened to your face?"

Wei Ling touched his face somewhat awkwardly, "It's nothing. I'm not used to sleeping in a small bed at night, fell off the bed and bumped into something."

"Did you get hurt so badly?" Yong-ge believed him. Because he knew that Cheng Duo's house didn't have a second bed, and besides the main room, there was only one bedroom.

He thought it was because the two grown men were sleeping too close together, causing Wei Ling to accidentally fall off.

"Yeah." Wei Ling's eyes flickered. He couldn't help Yong-ge teach Cheng Duo a lesson, but instead, he gained the problem of falling off the bed for no reason. He felt extremely unjust!

You should know that soldiers, when exhausted, can sleep on the ground fully clothed. Sleeping on a stool at Cheng Duo's house is nothing. Cheng Duo at least laid out a bedding for him.

"Oh, by the way, Yong-ge, I… I accidentally overheard your conversation with Cheng Duo yesterday. Can I borrow a look at that tiger bone whistle of yours?" Wei Ling cautiously asked.

Yong-ge was startled. He heard their conversation, but how much did he hear? Actually, he shouldn't be surprised. After all, he saw Wei Ling standing outside when he opened the door… Even if he didn't hear their conversation, he saw his own sorry state.

Yong-ge lowered his head and uncomfortably rubbed his foot on the ground. "Why?"

Wei Ling also felt embarrassed. If possible, he never wanted to mention this embarrassing matter to Yong-ge. But he had a reason he had to do it. "I heard you say that the whistle can imitate a tiger's roar. If it can be replicated, it might come in handy in the future."

Yong-ge looked up and carefully examined Wei Ling. He could feel that Wei Ling had no ill intentions towards him, and besides, he was a pure Da Xia person. His past with the Wuhu tribe shouldn't concern him, right?

Moreover, the age difference was significant…

Yong-ge pondered for a moment. "May I ask, Wei Ling, how old are you this year?"

Wei Ling didn't understand why he was asking about his age, but he honestly replied, "I was born in June. I'll be twenty-two next month."

Four years older than himself, he was just a six or seven-year-old child back then…

"I just want to take a look, and I won't take it for free. How about I teach you archery as an exchange?" Wei Ling suggested when he saw Yong-ge hesitating.

"For real?" Yong-ge's eyes brightened. He witnessed Wei Ling's archery skills yesterday and felt both envy and admiration. If he had a special skill, he wouldn't have to worry about making a living in the future.

"Can I deceive you?" Wei Ling chuckled. Seeing Yong-ge's eyes shining with admiration as he looked at him, he really wanted to pat his head.

At the same time, he also felt regret. He brought a large iron bow with him, which might be too difficult for Yong-ge to handle. Otherwise, he could find an excuse to give it to him.

However, he had a precious piece of wood in his tent that was originally intended to make a handle for a powerful bow. He could modify it to a size suitable for a ger to use and use the remaining wood to create arrowheads.

Yong-ge readily agreed, "Alright, I promise."

So, at noon that day, when Cheng Duo returned home, he found Wei Ling holding charcoal and sketching on a piece of fabric. Although he quickly put it away, Cheng Duo had already seen the familiar yellow-white bone enamel pattern.

He had only seen that tiger bone whistle yesterday and had hurt Yong-ge badly for it…

Cheng Duo didn't ask anything. In the afternoon, when Wei Ling left the house, Cheng Duo discreetly followed him from a distance.

He watched as Wei Ling went to the front of the cave, saw Yong-ge join him, and then the two stood closely together. It seemed that Wei Ling was teaching Yong-ge how to shoot arrows.

Cheng Duo understood. Wei Ling used archery as an exchange and obtained Yong-ge's tiger bone whistle. If it were him, he would do the same. On the one hand, he would acquire a treasure, and on the other hand, he could get closer to the beloved during the teaching process.

Moreover, Yong-ge was still a child. If he couldn't bear to part with him, in the future, if he brought him back, it would be like returning the item to its original owner. Wei Ling wouldn't lose out.

Unexpectedly, this young general who appeared proper and disciplined had many hidden intentions…

It was not surprising that Yong-ge agreed to Cheng Duo. Compared to the tiger bone whistle, which could only intimidate wild beasts, having a special skill was clearly more in line with Yong-ge's needs. Why did Yong-ge work so hard? Wasn't it to support his family?

Cheng Duo seemed to be masochistic, sitting on a tree branch, observing for the entire afternoon. In the meantime, he coughed up blood again, taking a moment to recover.

As the sun began to set, Wei Ling bid farewell to Yong-ge. He left first, ensuring he arrived home before Wei Ling returned.

When Wei Ling saw Cheng Duo, he hesitated for a moment before saying, "Why don't I cook dinner tonight?"

Yong-ge's cooking was finished last night. Cheng Duo took care of breakfast and lunch today. Wei Ling endured and endured, not wanting to witness Cheng Duo's culinary disaster again.

"Fine," Cheng Duo was happy to pass the responsibility. Unlike ancient times, where guests were treated with respect, that concept didn't exist here. Otherwise, he wouldn't have let Wei Ling sleep on a stool.

After this afternoon of spying, Cheng Duo wanted nothing more than to kick Wei Ling out of the tent and enjoy the northwest wind! This guy was flirting with Yong-ge right in front of him. If he were more ruthless, he would have tied a sack around him while he slept at night. Let him complain all he wants!

Now in May, the weather was hot and humid. Wei Ling was sweating profusely in the kitchen. Cheng Duo not only didn't help but sat at the entrance, watching the spectacle.

"Your culinary skills don't seem to be that great," Cheng Duo remarked as Wei Ling clumsily dropped the vegetables on the floor. It seemed like Cheng Duo was better at cooking than him!

Wei Ling glanced back at Cheng Duo and thought to himself that at least he could cook things thoroughly and not burn the food or leave it raw!

The most unspeakable thing was the wild boar meat that Cheng Duo cooked… Wild boar meat had a strong gamey flavor. Wei Ling had a hard time finishing the stir-fried cabbage and meat dish at lunch. Even the communal dishes in the military camp weren't this bad!

Of course, in the military camp, it was rare to find a piece of meat in the communal dishes, so they wouldn't waste it. But when he could make something tastier himself, Wei Ling preferred to do it.

Thinking of Yong-ge's dispute with Cheng Duo at lunch yesterday, Wei Ling began to appreciate him. Yong-ge surely didn't want him to suffer under Cheng Duo's culinary "torture," which was why he insisted on helping with the cooking.

During the meal, Cheng Duo lazily took a bite of the dish, chewed slowly, and had to admit defeat—this guy, despite being a noble, was indeed better at cooking than him.

Wasn't it said that ancient people believed gentlemen should stay far away from the kitchen?

"How long have you been a soldier?"

"I followed my uncle to Xiling army at the age of thirteen. It's been nine years now."

"Twenty-two and still not married?" Cheng Duo nitpicked. He didn't stop to think that he was already twenty-seven and still single, while Wei Ling was much younger.

"A real man and great husband should first achieve merit and establish a career. It's not too late to get married afterward."

"Aren't your family members urging you?"

Wei Ling suddenly smiled. "My parents have passed away, and I only have my grandfather, grandmother, and uncle in my family. My grandparents are far away in the capital city, and if I don't go back, they can't do anything to me. As for my uncle…"

His uncle had it worse. He was over forty and still a bachelor.

"What about your uncle?"

"He doesn't mind what I do."

"I mean, would they agree if you wanted to marry a village ger from a humble background?"

Wei Ling realized what Cheng Duo was trying to probe. Could it be that Cheng Duo still hadn't given up?

Wei Ling thought for a moment. "My grandparents are actually very open-minded. Rather than being concerned about a humble background, they fear that I will end up like my uncle and remain unmarried for a lifetime. So, a humble background is not a problem, and neither is a ger."