Before long, the rabbit was neatly dressed and went into the pot.
There were few spices at home, and the method was simple: they just added some old ginger and coarse salt, and stewed it clear in an earthen jar.
Fortunately, the wild rabbit was plump, fresh, and firm in meat. Along with the rising steam, an alluring meaty aroma gradually permeated the entire house.
The meat was stewed thoroughly until tender, and Mother Lu served a full, heaping bowl in a large basin, adding a plump and tender rabbit leg right along with it.
She handed the bowl to Lu Chuan and instructed,
"Chuanzi, take this bowl and deliver it to Sister Chunfang's family while it's hot. They sent us grain when we were in our darkest hour, and we cannot forget that kindness."
Lu Chuan naturally had no objections.
After taking the large basin, Lu Chuan walked toward the Zhao Family.
The Zhao Family's house was slightly neater than the Lu Family's. Lu Chuan knocked on the wooden board door.
"Who is it?" Uncle Zhao's vigilant voice came from inside.
"Uncle Zhao, it's me, Chuanzi."
The door opened a crack, and Uncle Zhao's mild face revealed itself.
"Oh, it's Chuanzi. So late, is something the matter? Is your dad's health any better..."
Before he could finish his question, his gaze landed on the fragrant bowl of rabbit meat in Lu Chuan's hands, and his voice involuntarily paused.
"Uncle Zhao, I had good luck today and hunted a rabbit. My mom asked me to bring a bowl over for Aunt and the younger siblings to try, and also to thank you for this morning's grain."
At this moment, the other members of the Zhao Family who heard the commotion also gathered at the door.
Aunt Zhao was wiping her hands on her dress, while two half-grown boys grabbed the doorframe, their eyes fixed intently on the bowl of meat.
Zhao Chunfang was among them as well. When she saw Lu Chuan, her eyes lit up, and her voice carried the relief of a weight lifted:
"Brother Chuanzi, you're back from the mountain? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, doing great." Lu Chuan nodded at Chunfang, then turned to Uncle Zhao,
"Uncle Zhao, hurry and take it. My family is waiting for me to eat back home, too."
Uncle Zhao looked at the bowl of meat. He felt somewhat embarrassed, yet deeply moved.
In the end, he still took the bowl: "Chuanzi, look at this... We only lent a few catties of coarse grain, how could it be worth your family returning such a big bowl of meat? This... this is too much. You guys should keep it for yourselves; your dad really needs to build his strength back up..."
Lu Chuan waved his hand, his tone earnest: "Uncle Zhao, please don't say that. You know what kind of times these are better than I do, and grain is precious."
He spoke the truth.
During famine years, grain prices skyrocketed, and sometimes having silver wasn't enough to immediately buy life-saving grain.
The Zhao Family had been able to spare their own rations even when they were struggling themselves; that sentiment was truly rare.
Besides, without that meal, he might not have been able to hold on up on the mountain, let alone hunt game.
Hearing this, the corners of Uncle Zhao's eyes grew warm:
"Good, good boy, your parents have blessings... Then Uncle Zhao will shamelessly accept it. Thank your parents for me."
"Alright!"
Lu Chuan gave a response, turned around, and walked back home at a brisk pace.
Returning home, the corn porridge on the stove was also done.
Lu Chuan had long been starving, his stomach pressing against his spine. He picked up his bowl of porridge and gulped it down in large mouthfuls.
The corn porridge paired with the tender rabbit meat became a rare delicacy.
The rabbit meat was stewed until tender and soft, its entrance carrying a salty fragrance. The only pity was that there was less grease; if it were a fat rabbit, they could have rendered some lard to store and use slowly in the days to come.
The meal was devoured almost like a whirlwind.
Most of the rabbit meat had actually entered Lu Chuan's stomach.
Lu Chuan knew his parents couldn't bear to eat it and wanted him to eat more.
After trying to persuade them to no avail, he let them be and filled his stomach until he was fully satisfied.
With the meat down in his belly, warmth spread from his stomach to his limbs and bones.
After the meal, Mother Lu cleared away the bowls and chopsticks, and only the crackling of firewood remained in the room.
The family of three gathered around the hearth, which still retained its residual warmth. Just when they thought they could sleep peacefully tonight,
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Rough pounding on the door sounded abruptly.
Immediately following that, a sharp and shrewish female voice stabbed into the house:
"Lu Danian! You heartless family, get out here!"
The peace inside the house instantly dissipated.
Lu Chuan snapped his head up, his gaze sharp.
This is... Xinghua's Mother's voice... What's going on?
Mother Lu and Lu Danian looked at each other in dismay, completely clueless about the scolding outside—they still didn't know about the conflict that had occurred at the village entrance during the day.
Knowing he couldn't keep it hidden, Lu Chuan said in a deep voice, "Dad, Mom, the people outside are here for me. When I came back during the day, I ran into Xinghua at the village entrance."
Concise and to the point, he quickly recounted how Xinghua had demanded the golden pheasant, proceeded to snatch it when she didn't get it, and received a slap after he blocked her.
"Going too far!" Hearing this, Lu Danian shook with anger, struggling to get out of bed again,
"Robbing my family's things, and still daring to reverse right and wrong to accuse us first! Do you really think I, Lu Danian, am dead?!"
The result was merely a fit of heart-wrenching coughs.
Mother Lu hurriedly supported him, flustered and angry: "How... how could they be like this? Clearly, they are the unreasonable ones!"
"Dad, don't get angry, your health comes first." Lu Chuan pressed his father down, "This matter started because of me, and I'll resolve it."
"What kind of talk is that?!" Lu Danian glared. "Your parents aren't dead yet! How could we let a child stand at the front?"
"Dad!" Lu Chuan raised his voice. "If you go out now, besides ruining your health, what can you do? Listen to me, leave it to me."
Seeing the steady composure in his son's eyes, both of them were stunned.
Lu Chuan said no more, turned around, and pulled open the door.
Outside the house, centered around Xinghua's family of three, quite a few villagers looking for excitement had already gathered around.
Xinghua's father, Lu San, was a stout and sturdy peasant, his face currently turning ashen.
Xinghua's Mother, Lu Qinshi, was a famously shrewish woman in the village. Right now, she was akimbo, spitting as she ranted.
As for Xinghua, she hid behind her mother, half of her cheek still bearing red swelling.
She managed to squeeze out a few drops of tears at just the right moment, putting on the appearance of having suffered a grievous wrong.
Yet in Lu Chuan's eyes, he clearly saw the other party's triumph and malice.
"Fellow villagers! Come look, come judge this fairly!"
Seeing Lu Chuan come out, Lu Qinshi immediately started making trouble.
She yanked Xinghua in front of her and pointed at that swollen cheek,
"Take a look! Open your eyes and look! This is the good deed that the Lu Family boy did!"
"Our Xinghua is an innocent young maiden, did she not agree to his courtship? He's the one who's at fault—when the courtship failed, he struck with such heavy hands! Is there still any royal law left?!"
This speech was extremely inflammatory.
The onlookers immediately clamored, whispering among themselves.
"My goodness, he really hit someone? That palm print doesn't look light..."
"I heard before that Chuanzi had some feelings for Xinghua, but I didn't expect him to be so extreme?"
"I couldn't tell. Lu Chuan usually looks so honest, but he strikes so viciously?"
The direction of public opinion was quickly led by the nose by Lu Qinshi, and various accusing gazes fell upon Lu Chuan.
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