Chapter 4: The Gaze of Possession

The family of three ate in a harmonious atmosphere, the rich, savory aroma of meat filling the entire room.

Wu Xiulan ate as she spoke, "Son, don't go hunting in the mountains anymore. It's dangerous up there. You were lucky this time, but if you're unlucky enough to encounter a wild beast next time, you won't make it back alive."

"Don't worry, Mother, I'll be fine," Lin Xing replied with a smile. "I'm quick-witted. If I encounter a beast, I'll just run. Besides, there are very few predators out this time of year; it's unlikely I'll run into one."

"It's better to be safe than sorry. If something happens to you, I really wouldn't know how to go on living. You absolutely cannot go!" Wu Xiulan insisted firmly.

"If I don't go to the mountains, how are the three of us going to make ends meet?" Lin Xing asked in return.

"I can go find work at the commune to earn grain coupons. We'll manage to fill our stomachs somehow," Wu Xiulan said.

"Your health is poor, your body is covered in injuries, and even walking is a struggle. The work at the commune is manual labor—do you think you could handle that?" Lin Xing asked with a smile.

Wu Xiulan was suddenly left speechless.

In the past, her health had been quite good. Her husband, the father of the original body, was lazy and gluttonous, doing nothing but drinking, sleeping, and beating her. Wu Xiulan had been the one to handle all the housework while also working outside to support the entire family. However, the excessive labor had shattered her health. Coupled with the daily beatings that followed, she had been left with lasting injuries, making her current physical condition far worse than before—she could barely manage basic chores, let alone take on labor at the commune.

Lin Xing continued, "Given our situation, there is truly no other way but to hunt. Mother, you can't just watch the three of us fail to survive this winter, can you?"

"But..." Wu Xiulan was at a loss for words.

"If you're really worried, I'll go learn hunting techniques from Uncle Chen. With him teaching me, that should put your mind at ease, right?"

Uncle Chen, whose full name was Chen Jianye, was in his fifties and was the former village mountain warden. The role of a mountain warden was a unique profession. Because of the well-preserved environment, the mountains were teeming with various predators, and there were frequent, vicious incidents of beasts entering the village to attack people. To protect the villagers and their livestock, the position of the mountain warden was established. A warden had to head into the mountains regularly to drive away nearby predators. Because they spent most of their time in the wild, they naturally developed formidable hunting skills.

Chen Jianye was the previous warden of Bianxi Village. During his tenure, the village had not been attacked by a single beast for over a decade.

After a moment of hesitation, Wu Xiulan said worriedly, "Uncle Chen is very skilled, but he has years of experience. Even if you learn from him, you won't master his craft in a short time. Going into the mountains will still be dangerous."

"Oh, Mother, stop worrying so much. I'm grown up now; I should take on the responsibility of providing for the family. It's decided, so please don't try to talk me out of it!" Lin Xing said with firm resolve.

Seeing how determined he was, Wu Xiulan had nothing more to say. The truth was, aside from hunting, the family really had no other way to survive. If she forbade him from going, they would likely freeze or starve to death before the winter was over.

Wu Xiulan said with a touch of self-reproach, "I'm sorry, son. I've let you suffer."

"There's no need to talk about suffering. We're a family; don't speak like strangers," Lin Xing smiled. "Haven't you suffered enough for us siblings? Now that we've left that house, I believe that with our own hands, we will surely live a good life from here on out."

"Yes! We will definitely live a good life!" Lin Yiyi chimed in, her mouth glistening with grease.

Wu Xiulan couldn't help but smile. For the first time in many years, she felt a sense of warmth, and for the first time, she felt a glimmer of hope for their future.

The three of them chatted as they ate, and the large basin of rabbit meat was quickly finished. It was the most satisfying and comfortable meal they had eaten in years. Of course, this was not the end of it. While this meal was settled, they had to consider the next one. Lin Xing knew he had to prepare. Catching one rabbit at a time was fine for a single meal, but it was troublesome to have to head into the mountains every single time they needed to eat. Besides, if a heavy snowstorm hit and he couldn't go out, the whole family would go hungry.

Lin Xing planned to hunt larger game to stockpile meat at home for emergencies and to acquire pelts for warm clothing. Hunting large animals required a rifle, as traps wouldn't suffice. Although they were in a relatively early era, the control of firearms was quite strict.

In all of Bianxi Village, only the old mountain warden, Chen Jianye, possessed a hunting rifle. Lin Xing intended to borrow it from him.

Lin Xing said to Wu Xiulan, "Mother, I'm going to see Uncle Chen now to ask him about hunting."

"Alright, it's getting late, so go and come back quickly," she urged.

"Don't worry, Uncle Chen lives right in the village; it'll be fine," Lin Xing said with a smile.

After leaving the house, Lin Xing headed toward Chen Jianye’s home. Their house was at the east end of the village, while Chen Jianye lived at the west end, exactly in the opposite direction. Bianxi Village was not very large, and after walking for about half an hour, Lin Xing arrived.

Chen Jianye’s home was somewhat dilapidated—a small earthen house surrounded by a fence that formed a simple courtyard. Although the mountain warden often had meat to eat, his living conditions were poor because the warden was not supported by the commune. In other words, the warden received no grain or cloth coupons. They had to procure their own food and clothing; the commune provided no assistance. Because of this, after Chen Jianye retired, no one had been willing to take over the position. After all, working in the commune provided food and clothing without the danger. Who would go to the mountains to risk their lives just to have a bit of meat? It wasn't worth it.

Lin Xing knocked on the door and called out, "Uncle Chen? Are you home? Uncle Chen?"

After a few calls, the door opened, and an old man stepped out. He was slightly hunched, his frame stooped, but he possessed a vigorous spirit and an intense, sharp gaze—the kind of look only someone who had dealt with wild beasts for years could possess. This was Chen Jianye.