ABPUBALC - Chapter 2

 Chapter 2: Heading to the Mountains to Hunt

After an eerie silence filled the courtyard, with only the sound of Lin Xing washing clothes, Gu Qiming stood with arms folded, pondering over what he could do. Earlier, while tidying up in the west room, he had discovered two bows hanging on the wall. Given the deep and dense woodland to the east, hunting in the mountains may very well be a viable way to make a living.

Apart from his strength, Gu Qiming didn't have many other skills to speak of. His marksmanship had been quite accurate during his time in the army, and he had never faltered in live target exercises in the wilderness. The only thing was, he had never hunted before—after all, in a modern legal society, if he went hunting today, he’d likely end up in prison tomorrow.

Scratching his head, Gu Qiming took the initiative to break the silence. “Earlier, I saw two bows in the west room. May I use them?”

“Ah,” Lin Xing pondered, recalling the two idle bows that hung in the west room. “Yes, you can. Though I don't know if they are still serviceable, given that they haven’t been used for quite a long time.”

“No problem, I've hunted before. As long as they're not broken, they'll do.”

Lin Xing was surprised to learn of this skill. Indeed, hunting seemed a better job than being a porter. “There are a few finished bows in the storehouse,” Lin Xing added. “Take a look later and see which one you can use. As for arrow shafts, let me whittle a few from bamboo rods for you. It won’t be much trouble and will be ready in no time.”

"Alright, I'll give it a try and head up the mountain today. Who knows, I might come back with something good." Gu Qiming said to Lin Xing with a smile, hoping to catch some game so they could have a feast tonight.

From what Gu Qiming just observed, the situation at home doesn't seem too good. Initially, it was only Lin Xing living there, and now there's an addition of someone who has an even greater appetite, which probably means things are going to be even more difficult.

Lin Xing smiled knowingly, "Then I wish you a victorious start, may you hunt something great on your very first trek up the mountain."

He knew that hunting wasn't as simple as it seemed. The village had its share of hunters in previous years, but whether one could actually catch any game depended not only on skill but also on luck. If luck was not on their side, it was common for hunters to return empty-handed after ten days or even half a month.

Lin Xing took out a carving knife and chisel from the attic, intending to start making arrow shafts. After some consideration, he brought out a few pieces of clothing from the house. 

"These are my father's old clothes, they might be a bit small, but you can try wearing them for now."

Gu Qiming felt a warmth in his heart, not expecting Lin Xing to have thought of even this. He was right; his current attire was indeed inconvenient. Looking at him closely, Gu Qiming said with gratitude, "Thank you for your consideration. If you don't mind, you can call me 'brother.' I'm in my twenties this year and should be older than you."

"Okay, Gu... Brother Gu."

Lin Xing felt his face grow warm. Gu Qiming was almost a full head taller than him and strikingly handsome. At least, Lin Xing had never seen a more attractive man in the village. And now, this handsome man was about to become his brother.

"Take a look at these bows first and see if they can be used," Lin Xing himself tried to draw one back, "though, I've tried before and they weren't easy to pull."

"Not being able to pull it open might just mean you're not doing it right. If you want to learn, I could teach you later."

These bows are all excellently crafted, significantly heavier than any he has used before, dense and solid in his hands. However, with his considerable strength, drawing them remains relatively effortless.

"Really?" Lin Xing exclaimed with excitement, indeed yearning to learn archery. However, his enthusiasm quickly faded, "But I might not have any talent for it." Otherwise, he would have already grabbed a bow and headed to the mountains by himself.

"Practice a few more times, and you'll get the hang of it."

Gu Qiming couldn't help but feel a softness in his heart as he watched the child's dejected appearance. This was his first time interacting with a child of this age, and he surprisingly found himself experiencing a taste of what it's like to be a parent.

The clothing style of the farming household was simple, and Gu Qiming swiftly changed into it. He then quickly organized the wardrobe in the room, taking out his phone—which he hadn't been able to turn on since his arrival—from his backpack, placing it at the bottom of the closet.

*Sigh.*

Gu Qiming felt somewhat helpless; it's not like he could cheat in this world using his cellphone. He also had no clue what the heavens were fretting over, as his phone went completely dark the moment he sensed something was amiss. No matter how much Gu Qiming pressed on it, there was no response whatsoever.

He shook his head, packing the water bottle and bow into the backpack basket, readying himself to set out. The basket had been a recent gift from Lin Xing, who said it would be handy for carrying back any game he hunted. Indeed, having such an item proved to be convenient.

"Alright, I've sharpened five arrowheads; that should be enough, right?"

Dressed in the coarse clothes of Lin's father, Gu Qiming subtly revealed the firm muscles of his forearms, radiating a virile vitality. No wonder his two adopted brothers couldn’t even muster the strength to fight back against him. Lin Xing couldn't help but think that this man looked good in anything he wore. Indeed, a good physique makes any outfit look appealing.

"Enough, sharp enough to be used," Gu Qiming said as he took the arrow from Lin Xing.

Lin Xingxiao was indeed fast; by the time Gu Qiming had tidied up and come out, he had almost finished everything.

"Let's go then, it's getting late."

"I'll go to the kitchen to grab some things," Lin Xing thought as he organized the parcel, considering that neither of them would return by noon. He couldn't let Gu Qiming go hungry on the mountain, after all.

Gu Qiming carefully stored away the few wooden arrows, waiting for him in the courtyard.

Lin Xing emerged from the kitchen, holding two steamed buns wrapped in greased paper: "These are the two buns left over from this morning. Take them with you and have them for lunch if you get hungry. I won't be back until the hour of the Pig (9-11 pm)."

"If we encounter anyone from the village later and they try to talk to you, just keep walking. There's no need to engage in a conversation with them. We'll split up – I'll take the southern path, and you should take the same road we used to come down the mountain today."

"Can't we walk together?"

Lin Xing shook his head, "The villagers don't recognize you, so there might inevitably be idle gossip. It's better if we go separately."

"Alright then, just be sure to take care of yourself."

Lin Xing was taken aback. Since his parents passed away, it had been a long time since anyone cared about him. A warmth blossomed in his heart; perhaps they could truly become a family.

"Alright, take care as well."

Lin Xing waved his hand, indicating that time was pressing. It was almost noon by the time he would reach the town, so he needed to hurry.

After they parted ways, Gu Qiming headed towards the mountain to the east. By this time, quite a few people from the village were already outside.

During the sweltering summer days, the farmers were reluctant to stay cooped up at home. Instead, they gathered in small groups under the shade of trees scattered throughout the village, where one could occasionally spot someone laboring in the fields, their back bent over their work.

Gu Qiming walked along the road, indifferent to the glances and whispers of passersby. Although June's heat was intense, occasionally a gentle breeze would sweep over the countryside lanes, carrying with it the unique fragrance of the fields, which could unwarily soothe one's mind.

After entering the mountain, he didn't immediately start searching for prey. He knew very well that simply carrying a bow and arrows did not make one a hunter; he had to familiarize himself with the terrain before making any further plans.

This mountain was far larger than he had imagined. He dared not venture too deep, for even the outskirts were thick with vegetation. So, he wandered around the perimeter, walking while keeping an eye and an ear out for any signs of movement. He was in no rush, content to wait patiently for his prey to appear.

By the time Gu Qiming had familiarized himself with the surrounding area, it was already late morning. He found a rock to sit on and began to nibble at the steamed buns Lin Xing had given him. There were only two buns left, both with him, and he wondered if Lin Xing had made it to town yet. Despite having known each other for less than a day, Lin Xing treated him with genuine kindness, an approach he found surprising given his own air of mystery. He couldn't help but wonder if all people from the past were as sincere and simple-hearted.

After filling his stomach, Gu Qiming continued on his quest for prey.

Suddenly,

A sparse rustling came from the left side. Gu Qiming carefully set up his bow and arrow, quietly waiting in place. It wasn't until the prey emerged from the bushes that he rapidly loosened his grip, releasing the arrow. A brownish-yellow wild rabbit, speckled with star-like spots, was pierced through the belly and firmly pinned to the ground.

"Wow, is the food on this mountain really that good? Even the rabbits are eating so well they're getting plump."

Gu Qiming picked up the wild rabbit and weighed it, finding it to be a good five or six pounds.

The rabbit was smeared with quite a bit of blood. Gu Qiming casually grabbed a handful of weeds and wiped the fur before placing the rabbit into the backpack, to avoid staining the inside with dirty blood.

Between the trees, the sky was high and the clouds sparse, with sunlight spilling onto the ground, making the assorted weeds and shrubs appear so green they seemed as if they might drip with moisture.

Gu Qiming made marks around himself and continued forward. Unfortunately, he was still on the periphery where traces of human activity were too abundant, scaring away any wild creatures. He himself did not dare to venture too deep on his own, hoping in the next few days to see if Lin Xing could take him on a journey deeper into the area.

Gu Qiming spent the better part of the day in the mountains, not ceasing his endeavors until the moon rose above the willow tips. However, aside from rabbits, all he managed to secure on the edge of the forest amidst the bushes was a chestnut-colored wild chicken, weighing nearly two pounds.

"Alas, being a hunter is really not that easy."

It's just that around here, you can only catch these small creatures. The larger wild beasts have all hidden themselves deep away. If you want to hunt those, you would have to venture deep into the forest. Along the way, Gu Qiming made quite a few marks, leaving himself a trick so that next time, he could follow the path directly.

"Lin Xing? You're already back?"

As Gu Qiming returned, the front door of the house was wide open, and Lin Xing was found seated in the courtyard, diligently washing taro roots.

"Brother Gu!"

When Lin Xing saw him return, a pair of round, cat-like eyes lit up with joy.

He stood up, wiped his hands, and helped Gu Qiming take off his carrying basket, saying, "I originally planned to catch some work in town today, but seeing that no customers showed up, and considering it's the right time to dig up the taro from the fields, I thought it best to come back early."

"It's safer to return early. Did you dig up those taro in the courtyard all by yourself?"Gu Qiming noticed the plentiful taro in the pot and added, "Next time, don't do it alone. Call me to join you."

"No, that's not it," Lin Xing waved his hand, "Auntie Zhang's family also grows early-maturing taro. I heard her mention it yesterday. Today, Auntie Zhang and her son are both helping out."

Gu Qiming stroked Lin Xing's head: "That's good to hear. I caught some rabbits and wild chickens today; we can have an extra dish tonight."

Feeling the touch on his head, Lin Xing's ears grew a bit warm. He awkwardly tilted his head away, saying, "That's perfect, then. I washed some taro today, we can stir-fry it with chicken for dinner."

I didn't expect Brother Gu to be so amazing. He hasn't even been on the mountain for a day and has already hunted two prey, including a big and fat rabbit.

Gu Qiming rolled up his sleeves, moved a block of wood to sit next to the tub, and helped wash the taro. Concerned about the heat spoiling the rabbit meat quickly, Lin Xing decided to hang the rabbit under the eaves near a ventilation spot, while planning to process the pheasant as soon as the water was boiled and ready.

Gu Qiming felt that hunting was a way out for him, as he had no skills to speak of beyond physical strength. Doing business was unlikely; he disliked interacting with people and was not one to meddle in affairs when it came to his work at the company. Even this trip to meet a client was only undertaken under duress, as there was simply no one else available.

It's hard to say how anxious his colleagues must have been upon realizing something had happened to him.

He gathered his thoughts, focusing on scrubbing the taro in his hands. Turning his head towards Lin Xing, he said, "Let's sell the rabbits in town tomorrow and stop by the blacksmith's shop. I'm thinking of venturing deep into the mountains, so having a few good arrows would make things easier."

Lin Xing didn't understand these matters but simply said, "That's fine. The mountains are indeed not safe after all. It's better to make a few more self-defense weapons."

He was mentally calculating whether the money at home was enough to pay for two iron arrows for Gu Qiming.

Gu Qiming was so skilled that he could hunt fat rabbits and pheasants with wooden arrows. Lin Xing had seen hunters in the village catch deer before, and just one of those could be sold for enough money to support a family for a year or two. Being a hunter was certainly a much more lucrative job than their lives as peasants toiling in the mud.

"Let's go up the mountain together the day after tomorrow. I'm not familiar with the mountainous area, and it would be troublesome if we end up getting stuck there and can't find our way out."

By the time the two of them had finished washing the remaining taro, the sky had completely darkened. The heat hadn't fully dissipated yet, and a bright moon hung high in the sky, with a few sparse stars scattered around.

Gu Qiming looked up to see this round of bright moon, wondering how long it had been since he last saw such a beautiful moon, or perhaps, how long it had been since he last felt this relaxed.

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Small Theatre:

Gu Qiming: Father in Law's clothes are really tight...

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