Chapter 29: I Really Wish You Wouldn't Be So Superstitious

As Li Xiangyang stepped into the courtyard, the gate slammed shut with a clang, blown by the wind. A black panther cat leaped gracefully over the fence, landing lightly on the snow and leaving a trail of tiny paw prints.

"Big brother is home!" Li Xiaohua’s voice drifted from the house. She and Wang Ying had been helping Mother Li prep vegetables, but they ran out as soon as they heard the commotion. Both girls’ eyes lit up when they saw the game on Li Xiangyang’s back, but they were rendered speechless with wonder when they noticed the black panther cat by his side.

"What is that..." Wang Ying hid behind Li Xiaohua, peeking out timidly.

"Don't be afraid," Li Xiangyang said with a smile. "This is a helper I met in the mountains."

The black panther cat seemed to understand it was the center of attention. It strolled over to the two girls, sat down, and looked up at them with gentle, bright amber eyes.

"Is that you, Xiangyang?" Mother Li’s voice called out. She wiped her hands as she emerged, but the moment she saw the game her son had brought, her gaze was instantly drawn to the cat.

"Heavens!" Mother Li dropped to her knees in the snow, pointing a trembling finger at the cat. "A mystical black cat! It's an omen!"

"Mom, what are you doing? Get up!" Li Xiangyang hurriedly helped his mother to her feet.

Mother Li spoke with grave seriousness: "You child, you don't understand. A mystical black cat is a spirit of heaven and earth. It wards off evil and brings peace. As the old saying goes, 'When a mystical black cat enters the home, prosperity follows.'" She continued, growing more animated, "Your grandfather used to say that in his generation, a black cat appeared in the village only once, and for the next three years, the weather was perfect for the harvest. Not only that, but they are said to be attuned to the balance of yin and yang and can foresee fortune and misfortune. Look at its coat—pure black without a single stray hair—and its eyes like glazed gems. This is a true mystical cat!"

Li Xiangyang couldn't help but chuckle. "Mom, I know what a black cat is; it’s just a cat with black fur. If they were truly supernatural, and if this one were a female, it would have three or four litters a year. At that rate, gods would be worth nothing."

The black panther cat’s amber eyes narrowed immediately, and its tail flicked with annoyance.

"You child, how ignorant you are!" Mother Li scolded. "It is a grave offense to show disrespect to a mystical cat. Be careful, or you'll anger it."

"Well, I’m going to see if it’s a male or a female," Li Xiangyang said, reaching for the cat. Seeing he was serious, the cat instantly sprang onto the fence. When he couldn't catch it, he didn't get angry; he just crouched down to get a better look.

This behavior made the cat bristle. Li Xiangyang had just confirmed it was a female when, before he could say a word, the cat swiped at him hard. *Smack!* The blow was swift and accurate, and Li’s face burned instantly. Fortunately, the cat kept its claws retracted, or he would have been left with deep scratches.

"Serves you right!" Mother Li laughed until she doubled over. "Now you know the power of the mystical cat!"

The cat let out a cold snort, held its head high, and sat down beside Mother Li, looking exactly like a young lady of noble birth who had been deeply insulted.

"Hahaha!" Li Xiaohua and Wang Ying were doubled over with laughter. "Brother, you deserved that! She's a girl! Weren't you acting like a hooligan?"

Li Xiangyang rubbed his stinging face and muttered sheepishly, "Fine, fine, I was wrong, okay?" Privately, he thought that if it were truly that supernatural, he would certainly look for a male one next time he went into the mountains. If it worked, even if they only had one litter a year, wouldn't that mean attracting the blessings of the gods?

The new family member was welcomed with great enthusiasm. The two girls began playing with the cat, while Mother Li went inside to find meat for it, muttering, "No wonder I dreamed of a gold ingot falling from the sky this morning; it was a sign that the mystical cat was coming to our home..."

She soon returned with a bowl of salted raw pork—the finest tenderloin she had been saving for the New Year. "Here, little one, have some meat." She placed the bowl on the ground with great care, but the cat merely glanced at it and turned away in indifference.

"So picky!" Li Xiangyang couldn't help but remark. "It won't even eat salted pork?"

"Hush!" Mother Li glared at him. "Do you think a mystical cat is fed on common scraps?"

Li Xiangyang shook his head and lowered the deer from his back. "Fine, whatever you say. I, for one, am starving. Mom, I'm going to process the game. Keep the girls inside, don't let them out."

"I'm not afraid of blood, I want to see!" Li Xiaohua insisted. "I watched Uncle butcher a pig last time, and I was fine. Even if I have a nightmare, it's just experience."

Wang Ying stood by, her eyes shining with curiosity. She tugged at Li Xiaohua’s sleeve and whispered, "I... I want to see too. Even if I'm a bit scared, my father says knowledge must be learned firsthand."

Hearing this, Li Xiangyang felt a renewed respect for her scholarly upbringing. He patted his sister's head and said softly, "Be good and look after Ying. You can watch when you're older."

"But..." Wang Ying started, but Li Xiaohua took her hand. "Alright," Xiaohua said with an air of maturity, "I'll just tell you what it's like. Honestly, the first time you see it, you really might have nightmares."

Wang Ying pursed her lips and nodded, though she couldn't help but glance toward the courtyard, her eyes filled with longing and regret.

In the corner of the yard stood a stump used for processing game. Li Xiangyang took out a honed boning knife his father had left behind; the edge was so sharp it had never dulled despite years of use. He hung the deer on the stump and went to work, his movements practiced and efficient. He peeled the hide off in one perfect, unbroken piece—a high-quality pelt. He carefully removed the organs, setting aside the edible liver, heart, and lungs, which were rare luxuries in these lean times.

The black panther cat appeared and squatted nearby, watching intently.

"What's this? You want some now?" Li Xiangyang smiled and sliced off a piece of the fresh heart. "Want a taste?"

This time, the cat didn't stand on ceremony, snatching it up in one bite.

"That's more like it," Li Xiangyang said as he continued to butcher the meat. "Stop putting on airs."

Inside the kitchen, Mother Li was chopping cabbage. In this season, having cabbage was a true blessing, along with the pickled vegetables.

"Mom," Li Xiangyang said as he walked in after finishing his work, "let's have the deer meat stewed with cabbage tonight, and maybe slice up some small cucumbers."

"Alright," Mother Li replied, then asked, "Did the mystical cat eat its fill?"

"It did," Li Xiangyang laughed. "I'm telling you, don't be so superstitious. It's just a wild cat; it'll eat anything when it's hungry."

Mother Li's expression soured.

"Alright, fine, I won't say it. You'll get used to it after it's been around for a while."

The fire in the stove roared, and the deer meat bubbled in the large pot. The savory aroma slowly filled the house.