Xu Feng wasn't in a hurry to go back; he still had about ten catties of venison in his bamboo basket, which was too much for him and Xiyue to eat alone.
It was perfect for trading with the villagers for grain and other daily necessities.
"Xu Feng, can I trade four catties of white flour for one catty of your venison?"
"Two catties of eggs for one catty..."
...
Although most people in this era didn't have enough to eat, there were always some families who lived more prosperously.
Xu Feng only kept two catties of the more than ten catties of venison, trading the rest for coarse and fine grains, eggs, and even a catty of wild crucian carp.
This stuff was good; he could get some tofu and stew a nourishing soup for his wife.
When they were almost done, the villagers who had traded for venison rushed home without stopping, eager to stew the fresh venison to improve their children's meals.
They also improved their own, lest they have no energy when they got into bed at night and their partners complained.
The rest were just watching the fun, hoping to perhaps snag a bowl of meat soup or something.
Shoushan saw Xu Feng finish up and came over: "Xu Feng, when we go up the mountain in a couple of days, let's go at the same time as last night.
If we manage to slaughter that pig, we can have a prosperous New Year."
"That's fine, just tell me in advance, don't do it like last night."
We were about to raise our spears and fight; it's impossible for you to make me dismount next time.
"Hahaha, it really wasn't intentional to interrupt your business.
Don't worry, there absolutely won't be a next time!"
After a few interactions, they were quite familiar, and Shoushan's tone now was like chatting with a friend.
He had to admit that even he, the village chief's son, envied this guy; not only was he tall and strong, but he also got a beautiful wife for free.
When those two sisters arrived in the village, who didn't drool at the sight of them?
But looking at their clothes and demeanor, they were probably daughters of capitalists, and in that era, ordinary people wouldn't dare to get close to them.
Plus, every family was struggling to eat, so it just happened to benefit Xu Feng.
Now that policies were relaxed, Shoushan had no place for regrets.
"Alright then..."
Xu Feng was about to say he was going back to catch up on sleep when Li Shen's eldest son, Xu Qiang, came over.
"Brother Shoushan, take me along next time too!"
Xu Qiang looked enviously at Xu Feng's full bamboo basket of supplies; if he added a little more, he could get a wife.
"Anyone can go into the forest, but I'll say this first, if you encounter Xiong Xiazi (Bear), no one will pay with their life for you."
Going up the mountain wasn't a case of the more people, the better; first, there wouldn't be enough prey to share.
Besides, Xu Qiang was not as tall as him and had no experience; what could he do on the mountain?
And then, Li Shen was a difficult person to deal with; if her son had any accident, she would definitely come looking for trouble.
"Brother Shoushan, it's not that easy to run into Xiong Xiazi (Bear), is it?"
As soon as Xu Qiang finished speaking, he thought of Wang Jun; wasn't that a cautionary tale?
He didn't run fast; if he really encountered one, he could even lose his life.
Thinking of this, Xu Qiang shivered; he hadn't even married a wife yet, he couldn't lose his life in the forest.
Xu Feng nodded to Shoushan, said nothing more, and hurried home with his things.
When he left the courtyard, those gathered around watching the excitement almost gave him a standing ovation.
They all had the thought that the village was about to lose a scoundrel.
Xu Feng didn't care what they thought; going home and showing off his harvest to his wife was the important thing.
Pushing open the bedroom door, Lin Xiyue was covered with a small blanket, catching up on sleep; she hadn't slept last night, so she wasn't woken by the sound of the door opening.
Although Xu Feng hadn't slept all night either, his mental state was now so excited due to his ability that he didn't feel sleepy at all.
Being good-looking made everything so charming; Xu Feng couldn't help but bend down and peck her little cheek.
He really didn't know if his brain was muddled before, to be so cruel to such a beautiful wife.
Shaking off the jumbled thoughts in his head, the priority was to process the meat first.
First, boil a pot of hot water to scald the chicken feathers, then clean the crucian carp he had traded for.
Although there was no tofu at home, he had just snagged a piece from the village chief.
It took him about an hour to finish the preparatory work, and just as he was about to set up the firewood to stew the meat, the small courtyard gate was violently knocked on again.
It must be something urgent, Xu Feng quickly went to open the door.
It was his sister-in-law knocking, and before Xu Feng could ask, he heard terrible news.
"He... he's almost gone!"
Lin Xixue's tone was anxious, and tears hung in the corners of her eyes.
To be honest, Wang Jun was like a familiar stranger to her; they had just lived together for a period of time.
If this person really died, Lin Xixue would be sad, but more so, she would be sad about her own tragic fate.
The knocking woke Xiyue, and after understanding the situation, she quickly rushed over with her.
Wang Jun, lying on the bed, had a pale face, almost in a state of barely breathing.
Not to mention whether the family could even scrape together a penny, given the medical conditions of that era, they were helpless.
Xu Feng, standing by the bed, felt very complicated; he knew Wang Jun didn't have many days left when they ate together last time, but he didn't expect this day to come so quickly.
Lin Xiyue, whose hand was being held, had already burst into tears; she wasn't crying for Wang Jun, but for her unfortunate sister.
Marrying a useless man was one thing, at least she could eat her fill, but now...
After a while, Wang Jun's face suddenly turned abnormally flushed.
Xu Feng knew very well this was a final burst of energy; he probably would pass away after giving his last words.
"Xu Feng, I only ask you one thing.
I'm entrusting Xixue to you; the first son she gives birth to must be named Wang, and you can decide on the name.
Dying early is an early release, actually..."
Before he could finish speaking, Wang Jun's head tilted, and he breathed his last.
"Don't worry, as long as the two sisters don't object, I promise you."
Birth, aging, sickness, and death are normal; not everyone can be reborn like Xu Feng.
As early as yesterday, Wang Jun had already told Xixue to follow Xu Feng from now on.
Although two sisters having the same husband was not morally acceptable, in this era where people couldn't even eat their fill, who cared about such things?
Lin Xiyue would have no objection either; she would only feel sorry for her sister.
...
Wang Jun was considered a solitary person; his funeral was quickly concluded, and very few people in the village even knew about it.
Even if they knew, they probably wouldn't care; in these times, which family didn't lose someone?
Wrapped in a straw mat, in the end, it was just a handful of yellow earth.
"Xixue, take your things and go live with your sister."
Lin Xixue nodded; she didn't have much to pack anyway, so Wang Jun's things would just stay there forever.
"Try to be optimistic; are you afraid I can't support you two sisters?"
Seeing the sisters silent, Xu Feng knew what they were thinking.
Returning home, he immediately led the two sisters to the rice jar.
"Look, this is what your man harvested after one night on the mountain."
Xu Feng's words were ambiguous; he wasn't Xixue's man right now.
Lin Xixue's expression was a little unnatural when she heard these unintentional words, but it was immediately replaced by shock.
"Where did this come from? Are there still grain and fish on the mountain?"
His silly wife really was silly.
"Didn't I tell you, wife, that I hunted a deer last night? You can't eat too much venison, so this was all traded with the villagers."