The creak of cart wheels rolling over the dirt road drew nearer, shattering the silence at the edge of the mountains.
Ning Chuan forced himself to stay upright and looked up.
His father, Ning Dazhuang, had already returned. Not only had he pushed over the old flatbed cart the family used to haul lumber, but two hurried, anxious figures followed beside it.
His mother, Liu Lan, and his younger sister, Ning Xiaohe!
Liu Lan had clearly rushed out in a panic. She had not even had time to untie her apron, her hair was disheveled, and all color had drained from her face. Her reddened eyes were filled with fear and worry.
Ning Xiaohe was tightly gripping her mother's hand, stumbling along behind her. Her little face was filled with innocent fear as well.
"Xiaochuan! Xiaochuan!" Liu Lan spotted her pale-faced son sitting beneath the shade of a tree at once. Her voice trembled with tears as she rushed over in a near run, pulled Ning Chuan into her arms, and frantically felt him over. "How are you? Where are you hurt? Huh? You scared your mother to death!"
The warm embrace carried the familiar scent of soapberry, along with the heat rising from his mother after her run. Ning Chuan's tightly strung nerves finally relaxed completely.
"Mom, I'm fine. Really, I'm just a little tired," Ning Chuan softly reassured her, letting her examine him.
"Big Brother! Wow! So... so much meat!" Ning Xiaohe's attention was drawn instead to the cart and the prey on the ground. The enormous wild boar in particular made her eyes go wide and her little mouth form an O. Beneath her fear was even greater amazement.
Ning Dazhuang set down the cart handles and wiped away his sweat. Looking at the mother and son