Volume One, Chapter 8: Walking with a Limp

“Li, eldest son of the Li family, where are you and your wife off to?”

Liu Jincui, the wife of the village head Xu Jiang, spotted Li Chen and his wife and couldn’t help but ask with a smile.

The wild grouse from yesterday smelled so delicious!

Beside Liu Jincui stood a girl about the same age as Yu Qingwan, her clear, sharp black-and-white eyes fixed on the couple, especially on Li Chen.

The girl was remarkably tall, standing only half a head shorter than Li Chen.

Her features were broad and open, embodying the majestic beauty unique to the northern border folk.

Her figure, despite the chaos and famine of these troubled times, was still striking—full-chested, curvaceous hips, and a slender waist. Any man passing by would surely swallow his saliva at the sight.

Given time and proper nourishment, she would surely blossom into a captivating beauty swaying with allure.

Compared to Yu Qingwan, one was delicate and graceful like the gentle rain of Jiangnan, the other rugged and fiery from the northern lands—both equally matched in their own way.

This girl was none other than Xu Xiu’er, the village head’s daughter.

“We’re going into town to sell wild game,” Li Chen replied with a smile, his gaze briefly passing over Xu Xiu’er but not lingering on her proudly displayed figure even for a second.

That fleeting glance caused Xu Xiu’er to bite her lip, a vague and indescribable resentment welling up in her eyes.

“What’s the big deal? When the men return from the mountains, the whole village will be eating and selling meat,” said Wang Caifeng, a village woman nearby, eyeing the two rabbits slung over Li Chen’s shoulder, swallowing hard with a mix of jealousy and reluctance.

Li Chen paid no mind, greeted Liu Jincui briefly, and turned to leave.

Yu Qingwan lowered her head, clutching his garment with one small hand, taking quick, hesitant steps behind him.

“Hey, why does that young lady walk so awkwardly?”

“Yeah, what’s with the swaying? Is she acting all fancy just because she ate some meat?”

Two women nearby chattered away.

“Quiet, she did eat meat, but it was human meat—almost choked to death on it. You don’t know how fierce that Li eldest son is…”

Ma Lian recalled the scene from the previous night, her eyes burning with intensity. Then she went on animatedly.

“Oh my, so does that mean Li eldest son is some kind of beast?”

“Look at that fragile little wife, surely she can’t withstand him?”

“Poor little wife. Third Sister, why don’t you help her out? Take some of it for her?”

“Don’t drag me into this, I think you just want to experience heaven yourself.”

The farmers’ wives laughed and joked, turning to look at Li Chen with a fiery jealousy burning inside.

Seeing the little wife’s swaying walk, their eyes brimmed with envy and resentment.

Whoever had such a capable hunter for a husband would surely have a blissful life.

“Aunt Liu, what are you talking about? What beast?”

Xu Xiu’er, listening nearby, was confused.

At eighteen and still unmarried, she only half understood.

“You’re not married yet, don’t ask so much.”

Liu Jincui blushed, pulling Xu Xiu’er aside and glaring at her, “What shameless women, spreading such rumors! Li eldest son is just a nineteen-year-old boy.”

“Maybe young in age, but not in other matters, Sister-in-law,” Ma Lian laughed boldly.

“Say that again and I’ll tear your mouth apart,” Liu Jincui snapped.

The chatter of the women carried on the wind and reached Li Chen and Yu Qingwan’s ears.

Li Chen didn’t mind, but Yu Qingwan’s face flushed crimson with embarrassment.

Yet, thinking of her husband’s vigor from last night, she bit her lip, a dull ache blossoming.

Just then, two boys about seventeen or eighteen, carrying hunting forks and woodcutting knives, were walking up the mountain path.

Glancing back, one of the sturdy youths called out happily, “Brother Chen!”

Li Chen turned to see them.

They had been his childhood playmates, two years younger than him. The taller one was Zhao Dashi, the leaner one was Hou Xiaobai.

“Brother Chen, you’re amazing! You caught so much wild game! Even from far away last night, we could smell the aroma of your stew.”

The two boys ran up beside Li Chen, Hou Xiaobai speaking with admiration.

Li Chen had long been the village’s acknowledged leader among the children, leaving a deep impression on them.

Though the adults warned them not to associate with Li Chen, calling him a bad influence, in their hearts, he was still their leader and greatly admired.

“It’s nothing special. You can do it too,” Li Chen smiled. Suddenly recalling the pit with wild boars trapped under pine trees he had seen the day before, he kindly warned the two brothers, “Be careful going up the mountain. There are armored wild boars that can be deadly.”

But the group of women eavesdropping nearby were not pleased. Their fond farewell to the men turned into scornful mockery of Li Chen.

“Oh, Li eldest son, that’s not right. If there are wild boars, why do you still dare to go up the mountain?”

“Exactly! Who are you trying to scare? Afraid someone else will hunt and steal your glory?”

“Dashi, Xiaobai, don’t listen to him. Hurry up and go hunt with the uncles. The earlier you go, the earlier you come back.”

The women chattered noisily.

Zhao Dashi and Hou Xiaobai, burdened with their hunting forks, reluctantly said goodbye to Li Chen under the elders’ urging and went up the mountain.

Li Chen watched their backs, furrowing his brow but saying nothing as he turned and headed down the mountain.

“They’re so unfair,” Yu Qingwan bit her lip, her delicate face flushed red as she whispered resentfully.

“That’s life. Excess and injustice are the norm. True peace of mind is rare. Just seek your own tranquility,” Li Chen said calmly.

Yu Qingwan pondered his words, momentarily lost in thought, then stumbled, crying out in surprise as she nearly fell forward.

But she did not hit the hard ground; instead, she fell into a warm, strong embrace.

“Careful!” Li Chen helped her to her feet.

The young wife half reclined in his arms, her heart pounding—not from fear, but from unfamiliarity.

At that moment, she distinctly felt Li Chen’s muscles tense. Raising her eyes, she saw him staring intently at a narrow village path to their right.

There, a man in his thirties was strolling leisurely, hands tucked into his sleeves, approaching them.