Uncle Li

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Li Shu (李叔)
Alias(es)	Uncle Li
Gender	Male
Affiliation	His village; Qinling Mountains wildlife-protection base
Occupation/Role	Villager; wildlife-protection team member
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 49

Background / History

Uncle Li is a longtime villager who knew Lin Xuan while he was growing up. He and Aunt Li treat Lin Xuan with familial warmth, regularly inviting him to meals and looking after him. He keeps cordyceps-infused wine and recalls drinking with Lin Xuan's father and grandfather in earlier years 50 51.

He prefers rural life and shares Lin Xuan's attachment to the mountain and village. When gunfire indicates poachers have entered the area, he immediately takes his hunting rifle and insists on accompanying Lin Xuan rather than allowing him to enter the mountain alone. His familiarity with local paths allows the pair to take a shortcut through the forest 56.

During the confrontation with the poachers, Uncle Li coordinates with Lin Xuan, fires first to draw attention away from the injured tiger, and wounds a poacher in the thigh. Lin Xuan then uses the opening to strike another poacher with an arrow; together, they delay the group until the police arrive and apprehend all five men 57 59.

When authorities attempt to reward him for helping capture the poachers, Uncle Li refuses, maintaining that protecting the mountain is simply his duty. He also refuses Lin Xuan's attempt to give him his own bonus money, believing that accepting it would damage their familial bond 71 72.

After heavy rain damages local roads, Uncle Li raises the issue of road construction with Lin Xuan. He supports a plan for households to contribute toward a larger and more durable road for the village's future 163.

Lin Xuan later secures Uncle Li a place on the proposed wildlife-protection team, recognizing both his mountain experience and his need for an additional source of income. Uncle Li accepts the offer, and later agrees to patrol the protection base after its official launch 268 309 310.

Personality

Uncle Li is protective, direct, and deeply attached to his home village. His first concern when police arrive at his house is whether Lin Xuan has gotten into trouble; likewise, he refuses to let Lin Xuan confront armed outsiders by himself 56 70.

He has a strong sense of duty and personal pride. Although he helps defend the mountain against poachers, he does not consider himself entitled to a reward and initially suggests that the money should go to people in greater need 71.

His care for Lin Xuan is paternal. He hosts him warmly, urges him to find a partner, and regards the relationship between their families as closer than ordinary neighbors 51 52 72.

Abilities & Skills

Mountain Navigation and Field Experience

Uncle Li spent significant time in the mountains in his youth and knows routes that Lin Xuan does not.

• Led Lin Xuan through a shortcut while tracking armed poachers 56.
• Moves quickly and confidently through dense forest despite his age 56.
• Understands the local conditions in which wolves prefer to live 49.

Marksmanship

Uncle Li owns and uses a hunting rifle.

• Fired the opening shot during the poacher confrontation, striking a poacher's thigh 57.
• Used limited ammunition with Lin Xuan to delay the poachers until the authorities arrived 59.
• Prioritizes capture and legal judgment over killing criminals 56.

Relationships

• Lin Xuan — A longtime family friend whom Uncle Li treats like a son; he protects, hosts, advises, and later joins the wildlife-protection work arranged by Lin Xuan 50 56 72 268.
• Aunt Li — His wife; together they welcome Lin Xuan into their home. Aunt Li ultimately accepts the official reward that Uncle Li refuses 50 51 71.
• Li Xiaotong — His daughter, who knew Lin Xuan as a child and returns to the village after several years away 72 365.
• Chen Ming — Police captain who recognizes Uncle Li's role in the poacher capture and attempts to present him with an official reward 60 70 71.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Poacher Incident

• Joins Lin Xuan after hearing gunfire in the mountains and identifying the threat as possible poaching 56.
• Helps ambush and stall five armed poachers targeting an injured tiger and its cubs 57 59.
• Is publicly recognized for the operation but refuses the reward as a matter of duty 70 71.

Village Development

• Brings the village's road-construction problem to Lin Xuan after rainfall worsens the local roads 163.
• Supports infrastructure improvements intended to benefit future generations 163.

Wildlife Protection Base

• Accepts Lin Xuan's invitation to join the planned wildlife-protection team, appreciating the additional income and Lin Xuan's consideration 268.
• Agrees to patrol the officially established protection base in the nearby mountains 309 310.

Trivia

• Uncle Li owns cordyceps-infused wine that he had steeped for several years before sharing it with Lin Xuan 51.
• He once offered to introduce Lin Xuan to a potential girlfriend 52.
• He attended Lin Xuan's home to visit Lin Xuan and An Ke'er's children, Da Bao and Er Bao 332.