Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Black Cat

When Li Xiangyang returned home carrying Wang Ying on his back, it was already late.

"Back already, Xiangyang?" Mother Li greeted them. She paused when she saw Wang Ying. "This is..."

Li Xiaohua peeked out from the inner room, curiously sizing up the unfamiliar young girl.

Before Li Xiangyang could introduce her, Wang Ying stepped forward and said politely, "Hello, Auntie. My name is Wang Ying, and I am thirteen years old. My father had to go to the city on business and asked Uncle Li to look after me for a few days."

This poised and articulate self-introduction brightened Mother Li’s eyes. It was rare to see a young girl who could speak so clearly.

"Good, good, good. Come on in." Mother Li took Wang Ying’s hand, saying with concern, "Look at how frozen your little face is. Xiaohua, hurry and pour Xiao Ying a cup of hot water."

"Thirteen?" Li Xiaohua asked as she brought over a cup of water, her eyes sparkling. "Then you are a year older than me, you’re my big sister!"

Wang Ying took the cup and smiled warmly. "Thank you, Little Sister Xiaohua."

"Big Sister, wait for me. This is the candy my brother bought for me in the city; it gets really sweet when you put it in water." Li Xiaohua brought over the candy as if it were a precious treasure.

Children in this era knew how to put candy in water and sip it slowly so it would last a long time.

"Thank you, sister." Wang Ying took the cup, a flicker of emotion in her eyes. She understood perfectly well how precious sugar was.

Watching the two girls get along, Mother Li asked, "Xiao Ying, why do you call Xiangyang 'Uncle'?"

"It’s what my father told me to do," Wang Ying replied earnestly. "Father said it is a sign of respect for one's elders and a gesture of trust toward one's guardian."

Mother Li nodded repeatedly at this, feeling even more that the child was sensible.

Watching the two girls whispering to each other while sipping their sugar water, Li Xiangyang felt moved. Although Wang Ying was physically frail, her manners and speech carried the refinement of an educated family. He thought that having Xiaohua spend more time with her would surely be good for his sister's growth.

"Xiaohua," Li Xiangyang called out to his sister, "Sister Xiao Ying is not in the best of health, so you must take good care of her these next few days. She is very well-behaved and disciplined; you should learn from her."

Li Xiaohua nodded vigorously. "I understand, Brother! Big Sister, don't worry, I will definitely take good care of you!"

Wang Ying’s eyes reddened slightly as she whispered, "Thank you both."

"Don't mention it. It’s getting late, get some rest. You and Xiaohua can sleep together."

...

At dawn, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, Mother Li rose to light the stove and cook. With a young guest in the house, she wanted to be a good hostess. In the kitchen, a pot of porridge was steaming, and Mother Li had specifically steamed two sweet potatoes. Although they were coarse grains, having hot sweet potatoes was considered a luxury in those days.

Moreover, the girl had just recovered from an illness, so too much meat wouldn't be good for her.

"Xiao Ying, come and eat," Mother Li called out softly.

Wang Ying and Li Xiaohua had already folded their bedding and were washing their faces in the courtyard. The well water in the mountain winter was bone-chillingly cold. Xiaohua had grown up in the mountains and was naturally accustomed to the cold, but she knew her new friend had just recovered and had specifically prepared warm water for her. This earned her another round of gratitude from the young girl.

"Auntie, let me help you carry the bowls," Wang Ying said after drying her face.

Mother Li smiled with satisfaction. "Just sit down and eat, you child."

Li Xiangyang, carrying his hunting rifle and a bow and arrows, was preparing to leave.

"Brother, are you going into the mountains again?" Li Xiaohua asked.

"Yes, while the weather is good," Li Xiangyang said with a smile. "Maybe I’ll catch something good today."

"Uncle Li is truly amazing." Wang Ying watched the rifle on his back, a hint of admiration in her eyes. "I’ve read in books that a hunter needs great skill to catch game."

"That’s right, my brother is incredible!" Li Xiaohua said proudly. "He even caught a big wild boar a few days ago!"

Wang Ying’s mouth hung open in surprise. "Really? How big was it?"

"It was this big!" Li Xiaohua spread her arms wide to show her.

Li Xiangyang couldn't help but chuckle as he watched the two girls chattering away. A child’s admiration was direct and the most sincere of all.

"Alright, eat first," Mother Li interrupted the girls. "Xiangyang, you sit down and eat before you go."

After breakfast, Li Xiangyang set off with his hunting gear. Before leaving, he specifically instructed Li Xiaohua, "Take good care of your big sister. I’ll bring you something good to eat when I get back tonight."

"Okay!" the two girls replied in unison.

Watching Li Xiangyang’s back disappear into the morning mist, Wang Ying’s eyes were filled with longing. In her imagination, hunting must be a magnificent endeavor. At that moment, the girl who had grown up in the city gained a new perspective on life in the mountains.

The weather in the mountains was colder than in the village. Li Xiangyang stepped through the thick snow, each step producing a rhythmic crunching sound. The cold wind bit like a knife at his neck; even wrapped in a thick cotton coat, the chill seeped into his bones. Although he carried his rifle, he preferred using his bow and arrows in this kind of weather. Besides, he didn't have many bullets left.

He crouched down, carefully observing the tracks in the snow. Suddenly, his eyes lit up—among the snow pits were small feathers. Following the trail, he saw a spruce grouse foraging under a pine tree not far away. This type of grouse was larger than a pheasant and had better meat, making it perfect for nourishing someone like Wang Ying.

Li Xiangyang quietly unslung his bow and pulled an arrow from his quiver. Crouching behind a pine tree, he held his breath and slowly drew the bowstring.

*Whoosh.*

The arrow streaked through the air, striking the grouse square in the abdomen.

But just as Li Xiangyang prepared to step forward to claim his prize, a black shadow darted out from the nearby brush. It was a jet-black leopard cat, a size larger than an ordinary house cat, with long, powerful limbs and a thick, long tail. Against the vast expanse of white snow, its form was striking.

The leopard cat’s movements were as fast as lightning. It snatched the struggling grouse in its jaws, taking Li Xiangyang’s arrow with it, and prepared to bolt.

"You rascal!" Li Xiangyang wanted to give chase, but in the knee-deep snow, there was no way he could outrun this seasoned mountain predator.

The leopard cat, holding its prey, turned its head to look at Li Xiangyang. Its amber eyes flashed with a cunning light, as if to say, "I’ll take this, if you please." Then, with an elegant leap, it vanished into the snowy forest, leaving behind only a trail of shallow paw prints.

Li Xiangyang was left between laughter and tears. In all his years of hunting, this was the first time such a thing had happened. Not only had his prey been stolen, but he had lost an arrow as well. Still, seeing such a rare black leopard cat made it worth it.

Mountain folk say that seeing a pure black leopard cat in the snow is a good omen. The book *Ming-Qing Yin-Yang Feng Shui Theory* mentions: "The Mysterious Cat is a ward against evil. Place it in the south. It benefits descendants. Do not disturb." The "Mysterious Cat" refers to the black cat, noting its ability to ward off evil and protect the home. Such clever little creatures rarely revealed themselves to humans.

Because it was a good omen, Li Xiangyang naturally couldn't bear to harm it, nor did he bother to chase it, hoping instead that it would bring him good luck.