Chapter 31: To Think One Could Actually Eat Meat

The morning sun began to peek over the horizon, casting a faint, shimmering light onto the mountain valley where the big man lived. Wisps of morning mist lingered between the mountain spurs like soft, translucent veils, lending the tranquil landscape an air of hazy mystery.

Lin Yu rose early, preparing to head back home.

The big man wasted no time. With a sharp skinning knife in hand, he handled the two wolves with practiced efficiency. His movements were swift and dexterous, peeling the hides off in one clean motion; the pelts still held a lingering warmth and the metallic scent of blood in the morning light. He then carefully butchered and organized the meat, methodically loading the fresh cuts onto Lin Yu’s cart.

Filled with gratitude, Lin Yu thanked the man profusely before driving his cart slowly away.

When he arrived home, his mother, Wang Yufen, was busy in the courtyard, while his younger sister, Lin Yao, was playing nearby.

Seeing Lin Yu pull in with the donkey cart, they both stopped what they were doing and hurried over. "Why are you back so early today?" Wang Yufen asked, looking puzzled. It was simply impossible to make the journey from Yingkou City to their home this quickly.

"I woke up before dawn and pushed the donkey quite hard," Lin Yu replied with a faint smile, brushing the question aside. If his mother knew he had braved the darkness to return, she would surely fret and lecture him out of worry.

Just then, Lin Yao climbed onto the cart and lifted the straw covering. She froze the moment she saw the meat and hides beneath.

Lin Yao’s eyes went wide, her mouth slightly agape, her face a mask of surprise and delight—she looked as if she had discovered a priceless treasure. She gently touched the wolf pelts with her small hands and looked curiously at the meat. "Mom, it’s meat! Brother brought back meat!"

Hearing this, Wang Yufen was stunned. She hurried over to the cart to inspect it. The fish baskets were indeed full of meat—both of them. How much had he bought?

"Why did you buy so much?" Wang Yufen asked, astonished. "How much did all this cost? And we could never eat all this!"

Before she could finish, her eyes landed on the two pelts on the cart. She paused. "Wolves? Is this wolf meat?"

Wang Yufen’s eyes widened further, her expression shifting to one of deep concern. She strode toward Lin Yu and asked in a low voice, "Son, what is going on? Did you not buy this? Did you run into wolves on the road?"

Seeing the worry on his mother’s face, Lin Yu quickly spun a lie. "No, Mom, it’s not like that. I met a mountain guard on the way, and he was the one who hunted them. I saw that you and my sister hadn't had meat in a long time, so I paid him for some."

"Really?" His mother looked at him skeptically, scanning his body from head to toe to check for any injuries. Seeing none, she let out a long sigh of relief.

"Of course it's true. He also said he wanted some seafood, so I told him I’d bring some over to trade for his mountain goods. Mom, I’ve decided—I’ll take him some seafood from time to time. We can trade for meat, hides, mushrooms, and wild vegetables. Our family should have a more varied diet; our nutrition can't be so limited. Besides, we need to stock up on food for the winter."

"Mushrooms and wild vegetables are things we can pick ourselves when we have the time," Wang Yufen said. "But trading for more meat and hides is a good idea. We haven't had meat in a long time; eating it often will be good for your health. As for the hides, they’ll make great linings for coats and quilts—much warmer than cotton batting."

Lin Yu nodded with a smile. "That’s exactly what I was thinking. This is an opportunity. If we play our cards right, our family won't have to worry about going without meat in the future."

Hearing this, Lin Yao, who was still standing on the cart staring at the meat, hopped up and down like a young deer, clapping her hands. "That’s wonderful! We can have meat all the time now!"

"Look at you, so excited," Wang Yufen said, reaching out to lift the thrilled girl down from the cart. "Get down and help unload the meat so I can cook some. Your brother needs to return the cart." She turned to Lin Yu. "Xiao Yu, when you go to return the cart, bring some of this meat to your Third Uncle. They’ve been so kind to us, always letting us use their cart; it’s only right to show our appreciation. On your way back, stop by and ask your brother Dachun to come over for dinner. He didn't go out to sea today; he said he had a headache."

"I know, Mom!" Lin Yu replied with a grin.

Lin Yu parked the donkey cart steadily in the courtyard, jumped off, and got to work.

He lifted the heavy wolf meat, his arm muscles taut. Even though it was strenuous, his movements remained steady. He carefully placed the meat on the ground and then dragged the hides off the cart. The pelts, still carrying a wild, raw scent, unfurled in his hands.

Lin Yu knew that if he didn't process the freshly skinned hides immediately, they would soon rot.

He quickly found a well-ventilated, sunny spot in the yard, gathered some wooden poles of appropriate length from the corner, and lashed them together with hemp rope to create a simple drying rack. He then lifted the wolf pelts; they were still warm and smelled of blood, their fur gleaming brightly in the sunlight.

After a short break, Lin Yu went into the house and grabbed a smaller fish basket. He placed it on the ground, opened the lid, and began filling it with wolf meat, selecting a few choice cuts that were a good mix of fat and lean.

For the rest of the meat, which they couldn't consume immediately, Wang Yufen told Lin Yu to buy plenty of salt the next time he went to town so they could cure it. That way, it would stay fresh and wouldn't spoil, even if it lasted them until the following year.

Once the basket was packed, he tied it shut, tossed it onto the donkey cart, and set off for the village head’s house.

As soon as he arrived, he heard the voice of Li Sumei, the village head’s wife, grumbling from inside the house. Her voice rose and fell, complaining about the trivial frustrations of life. Lin Yu paused for a moment before raising his voice. "Grandpa Village Head! I’ve come to return the cart, and I brought some meat!"

The word "meat" acted like magic. The relentless stream of complaints inside stopped instantly.

A moment later, the village head, Luo Quan, and his wife, Li Sumei, rushed out of the house almost simultaneously. Li Sumei’s eyes went wide, locked onto the basket of meat in Lin Yu’s hand. Her eyes lit up, and her face, previously dimmed by her grumbling, was instantly replaced by joyful surprise. The corners of her mouth curled up, and she completely forgot to hide her lack of composure.

Though Village Head Luo Quan remained more composed, his eyes lingered on the meat for a long time, filled with surprise and curiosity. He cleared his throat and asked, "Xiao Yu, where did you get all this meat?"

"On my way back, I met a mountain guard and bought it from him," Lin Yu replied with a smile. "It’s not much, but I brought some for you to try. Please, don't refuse—you have to accept it, or I'll be too embarrassed to borrow the cart again."

He handed the basket to Li Sumei. She took the brimming basket, her face beaming. "This is wonderful, just wonderful! Now my daughter-in-law will have something to help boost her nutrition."

She had been complaining just moments ago about Lin Yu borrowing their donkey for no reason, but now, all complaints were gone. If Lin Yu could bring meat like this often, he was welcome to use the donkey whenever he liked.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with Luo Quan, Lin Yu took his leave and hurried back along the winding path.

Before he even stepped through his front door, he could smell the rich, savory aroma of meat.

He pushed the door open to find the room filled with steam. His mother stood by the stove, focused on stirring the pot of wolf meat. The chunks of meat bobbed in the boiling water, emitting a rhythmic "gurgling" sound.

Lin Yao followed her mother like a little shadow, her eyes fixed on the pot, her cheeks flushed pink from the heat, filled with excitement and anticipation.

Hearing him enter, his mother looked up with a gentle smile. "Don't be impatient," she said to Lin Yao. "Your brother got a lot of meat this time; it’ll last us a while. You should thank him—otherwise, how would we ever get to eat meat?"

Lin Yao nodded obediently, her voice crisp and clear. "Mhm, Brother is the best."

The family sat around the table, the basin of steaming wolf meat spreading an enticing fragrance. Seeing the satisfied expressions of his mother and sister, Lin Yu felt a deep sense of contentment.

His mother’s eyes grew slightly misty. She picked up a piece of meat and placed it gently in Lin Yao’s bowl. "Eat up, but be careful not to choke," she said, her voice slightly choked with emotion.

Lin Yao nodded vigorously, her mouth stuffed full, her cheeks moving as she chewed like a cute little squirrel. Lin Yu also picked up a piece of meat and put it in his mouth. The rich, savory flavor bloomed across his taste buds, and he couldn't help but reflect on how long it had been since they had enjoyed such a heartwarming moment.

"Why hasn't Brother Dachun arrived yet? Did you go call him?" Wang Yufen asked, looking puzzled after a while.

"I did," Lin Yu replied. "He was home fixing the heated brick bed; he said it wasn't getting warm enough, so he was redoing it before winter sets in. I'm sure he'll be here any minute."

Just then, there was a loud "bang" as the front door was kicked open, giving the family a fright.

They looked up, but it wasn't Dachun. It was Yang Shulin.

They hadn't expected him to actually show up.

Yang Shulin walked in, his eyes immediately landing on the meat on the table. He swallowed hard, his face filled with disbelief. "Well, well! You folks are living quite well, aren't you? Even eating meat."