Fang Yuan shoveled the last mouthful of rice into his mouth, chewed a few times, and swallowed.
The plate of cured meat on the table had been picked clean. Little Bean Sprout had even soaked rice in the grease and eaten every last drop.
He rose to his feet and stretched his muscles and bones, feeling his abundant strength flow through his limbs and bones.
Walking to the corner, he deftly slung a bundle of thick rope over his shoulder, then picked up the gleaming, well-sharpened axe and weighed it in his hand.
"I'm heading into the mountains," he said to Liu Wanwan.
Liu Wanwan was clearing away the dishes. At his words, she looked up, worry in her eyes—but even more trust.
"Come back early. Be careful."
"Mm." Fang Yuan nodded, pushed open the wicker gate, and strode toward Great Green Mountain behind the village, its rolling peaks now blanketed in snow.
His goal this time was clear: to see whether he could hunt a wild boar by himself.
With the nourishment of ginseng and daily meat, he felt his strength had reached a bottleneck. He needed a battle.
A fierce, wholehearted battle!
Wild boar meat was coarse, but rich in fat and filling. Its hide could also be sold for some money or tanned at home for warmth.
It was hard currency among mountain goods!
The sky was growing ever gloomier, and the cold wind sliced across his face like little knives. Fang Yuan reckoned that the day when heavy snow completely sealed off the mountains was fast approaching.
Once the mountains were sealed by snow, it would be true freezing cold.
By then, the north wind would howl, rattling the door and window with loud bangs, while the snow could bury half the doorframe.
Most villagers would