Yu Niang, I'll Support You!

In Liu Yuniang's heart, her younger brother-in-law was somewhat timid and frivolous by nature, easily swayed by others.

Having him do odd jobs or take on short-term labor was fine, but asking him to put on a fierce front and compete in bravery with others was absolutely out of the question.

Even when he carried goods for others, a few intimidating words would frighten him into asking for less pay. Something as dangerous as going into the mountains to hunt was even more unthinkable.

Her younger brother-in-law and the words "hunting" simply did not belong together.

Yet now, as she watched Li Chengfeng pull a bamboo rat, two pheasants, and two wild geese from the cloth bag at his side, along with the bow on his back, she was dumbfounded, unable to understand where he had gotten them.

But the instant the question left her lips, Liu Yuniang suddenly thought of something. Her face went pale, and her eyes fixed on him without blinking.

"Yu Niang, don't misunderstand. I caught these while hunting in the mountains today."

Li Chengfeng had just taken out the game he had caught in the mountains when he saw Liu Yuniang's pale face. He froze, then realized that she must have misunderstood something. As he took the bow from his back, he explained.

"Hunting? You went hunting?"

Liu Yuniang was stunned. Some color returned to her face as she realized she had jumped to the wrong conclusion. Then she could not help looking at Li Chengfeng and cautiously asked.

"That's right. I used to be afraid of hunting, but ever since that bastard Liu Hong knocked me unconscious with a stick, I understood something. In times like these, you can't live a peaceful life by trying to live peacefully. Only by daring to fight and strive can you carve out a better life."

Li Chengfeng removed the bowstring from the bow to maintain it, then spoke to Liu Yuniang with a sigh. "There happened to be bamboo outside our home, so I made myself a bow and took it into the mountains to try it out. I didn't expect my luck to be so good—I caught all this."

"You really caught these in the mountains? You were still at home at noon, and you caught all this in a single afternoon?"

Only after hearing Li Chengfeng say so did Liu Yuniang become certain that he had truly hunted these things with a bow and arrows. Yet the astonishment in her eyes only deepened. She stared at the two bamboo rats, two pheasants, and two wild geese on the ground, looking at him in disbelief.

Was hunting this easy now?

No, that wasn't right—her younger brother-in-law had actually managed to catch so much game in the mountains!

"Heh, maybe I just got lucky and happened to catch these little fellows. Otherwise, it'd be hard for a beginner to catch this much."

Li Chengfeng grinned and pointed at the bow in his hand, raising his brows. "And I found that I'm quite talented at archery. I shoot very accurately, and that was crucial too. Otherwise, it probably would've been difficult."

"All right, Yu Niang, let's stop talking about that. We haven't seen a scrap of meat in ages. Today, we'll skin this bamboo rat and scrape off the meat for a proper taste of meat. Clean up these two pheasants and two wild geese too, and save them for tomorrow."

Li Chengfeng knew that the more he explained, the easier it would be to say something wrong. So after offering a brief explanation, he simply stopped talking about it. Pointing at the game on the ground, he smiled at Liu Yuniang. "My stomach's been rumbling. I'm nearly starving."

"Ah, all right, all right."

Only then did Liu Yuniang snap out of her shock. At the sight of all that meat on the ground, she gave a little shiver and answered repeatedly.

As she spoke, she rolled up her sleeves and went looking for the kitchen knife, preparing to cook.

Li Chengfeng hurriedly took the kitchen knife from his waistband and handed it to her. Only then did she realize that her younger brother-in-law had taken the knife too.

"Chengfeng, you're really capable."

Liu Yuniang took the knife and hefted the plump bamboo rat on the ground. As she skinned it, she watched Liu Wusheng put away his bow and come over to help. A flash of admiration could not help appearing in her eyes as she praised him.

Her eyes were full of comfort and relief.

"Ah, this is only enough to put food in our mouths. It's nothing much."

Li Chengfeng did not think much of it. As he helped Liu Yuniang skin the bamboo rat, he took the hide aside to tan it and smiled at her. "I'll tan this bamboo rat hide. Yu Niang, go make dinner."

"You are capable. These days, other men can't even get a bite of meat if they want one."

Li Chengfeng might not have thought it was much, but Liu Yuniang believed he truly was capable. She could not help saying it again, her eyes brimming with satisfaction. Then, carrying the bamboo rat in her hand and looking at the other four pieces of game beside her, she smiled happily as she went to cut the meat and cook.

Seeing Liu Yuniang's reaction, Li Chengfeng sighed at how bitter their lives had been before. From now on, he had to work hard and give the wife his elder brother had left behind a good life.

The first step was to go back into the mountains and catch more game, to make hunting his trade.

"I didn't bring any container today. Tomorrow, I should bring a gourd, so the blood from these animals won't all go to waste."

As Li Chengfeng tanned the bamboo rat hide, the thought crossed his mind. He then quickened his hands, using things like plant ash to give the hide a simple tanning.

By the time he was done, Liu Yuniang had also brought over a pot of bamboo rat meat porridge, unable to suppress the delight at the corners of her lips.

"Chengfeng, dinner's ready."

Li Chengfeng was just putting away the bamboo rat hide when Liu Yuniang came to call him for dinner. A smile immediately appeared on his face. He went to wash his hands in the courtyard, answering her as he entered the house and sat down.

"Here, Chengfeng, eat."

Using her chopsticks, Liu Yuniang placed a large piece of bamboo rat meat into Li Chengfeng's chipped earthenware bowl. Smiling, she spoke to him, then casually stirred the thin porridge in her own bowl, which held only a little broth. She set down her chopsticks and contentedly took a sip of the watery porridge flavored with meat broth.

Seeing Liu Yuniang's reaction and the bowl full of meat she had given him, Li Chengfeng frowned. He said nothing, simply picked up his chopsticks and placed a piece of meat in her bowl.

"Oh, I'll drink porridge. A little meat broth is enough—I don't need meat. You're a man, and you have to go hunting. You need to eat meat."

When Liu Yuniang saw the meat Li Chengfeng had put in her bowl, she gave a cry and hurriedly spoke. Just as she was about to move it back into his bowl, Li Chengfeng pressed down her hand with his chopsticks.

"If you don't eat, then neither will I."

Li Chengfeng did not waste words. He spoke directly, his eyes carrying a firmness and seriousness Liu Yuniang had never seen in them before. She was stunned for a moment, then her gaze softened at once. Nodding repeatedly, she lowered her head and began eating the meat.

But as she ate, tears could not help slipping from the corners of her eyes. She hurriedly wiped them away with the back of her hand and continued eating in silence.

"Now that I can hunt in the mountains, you don't have to wash clothes and work for others anymore. I'll hold up this home. I'll support you."

Li Chengfeng silently placed more meat in Liu Yuniang's bowl as he watched her, his voice firm.

"No, Chengfeng. Meat alone isn't enough. We still lack grain and vegetables at home. I'll work a few more days. Once we have enough grain and vegetables, then I won't go anymore."

Liu Yuniang hurriedly shook her head at his words. But the moment she finished speaking, she saw Li Chengfeng staring seriously into her eyes, and her tone immediately softened.

"Washing clothes for other people all the time harms your body. It's not work you can do for long. Stay home and nurse yourself back to health. Don't worry about anything. Leave everything else to me."

Li Chengfeng's expression was serious. Looking at him, Liu Yuniang was so moved that tears flowed from her eyes again. She nodded hard.

"You're the man. I'll listen to you. But hunting is hard, so you must be careful too."

Liu Yuniang hurriedly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and spoke gently to Li Chengfeng. After hesitating for a moment, she hurriedly added, "Don't worry. Liu Hong didn't do anything to me today. He only stopped me at the entrance for a moment. Nothing else happened."

"I know, Yu Niang. It's all right. Eat quickly."

Li Chengfeng patiently listened until Liu Yuniang had finished, then smiled broadly and placed another chopstickful of meat in her bowl. Once he saw her relax and continue eating, he too picked up some meat. But when Liu Hong came to mind, a flash of killing intent passed through his eyes.

Liu Hong had struck him from behind and dared to harass Yu Niang. He had chosen the road to death. He had to die!

My body hasn't recovered yet. Going to kill him rashly would be somewhat risky.

Thoughts churned through Li Chengfeng's mind as he fiercely ate his meat.

With the special skills formed by the panel, as long as I can eat my fill every day and get enough nutrition, my body will definitely grow strong very quickly.

Li Chengfeng looked at Liu Yuniang, who was obediently eating before him, while turbulent currents surged in his heart.

Once his body was strong enough, he would immediately go and kill Liu Hong!