Hunting The Wild Boar (Part 2)

So it was true, he was just being cheated out of his money.

Liang Hongyu turned her head impatiently to look at the overseer, who, without waiting for instructions, covered his bruised head and climbed up, trembling as he took out another string of copper coins from his sleeve and handed it to Huo Tianzhou along with the twenty coins that had fallen on the ground.

Huo Tianzhou accepted the coins and counted them.

His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and as he bent his arms, the cuffs pulled back, revealing a small portion of previous injuries.

Liang Hongyu frowned.

When she applied the herbal medicine, the external areas were just a bit swollen and should have healed by now.

After counting the coins, Huo Tianzhou looked up to see Liang Hongyu frowning at his hand.

Instinctively, he lowered his injured hand.

Liang Hongyu casually glanced at him and then turned around to leave, saying, "Let's go."

Earlier, Huo Tianzhou had been reluctant but had compromised and was ready to sign.

If Liang Hongyu hadn't come today, he would have silently accepted the loss.

It seemed he was used to it.

Had he been living like this for the past few years?

Was this how he had saved up all the scattered money he owed?

At first, Liang Hongyu thought Huo Tianzhou would struggle to be self-reliant.

Then she realized he was resourceful and determined, making it unlikely he would starve.

Because he wanted to do odd jobs outside, Liang Hongyu never expressed any opinion and never thought of interfering.

After all, this was Huo Tianzhou's own business, and the path he would take in the future would be his own.

But now, wherever he went, it was easy for him to suffer losses...

It seemed necessary to interfere a little.

By the time Liang Hongyu and Huo Tianzhou returned home from town, it was already dark.

In the dim light, Liang Hongyu noticed someone sitting on the doorstep of her front yard before they even got close.

She pushed open the gate and went in.

The person stood up.

"Finally, you're back."

Wu Erlang walked over and said, "If you hadn't come back soon, I would have fallen asleep leaning against your door."

He had come by twice that afternoon but hadn't found anyone home, so he guessed they must have gone to town.

He remembered that Liang Hongyu had gone to town two days ago, likely with a good haul from hunting, so his mother should be relieved and stop worrying now.

The Wu family lived not far away, and Wu Erlang had come over specially to wait, afraid of missing them.

Liang Hongyu asked, "Coming over so late, is something the matter?"

Wu Erlang recalled his important news and replied, "Uncle Qian was injured by a wild boar in the mountains yesterday. We fear the boar might come down and damage the crops, so the village has set up defenses. But today, some crops at the foot of the mountain were still eaten. The village chief is organizing a group of people to hunt the wild boar in the mountains, and he wants you to join tomorrow."

If they did manage to hunt the wild boar, everyone who participated would get an equal share.

Liang Hongyu hadn't been around the village much before, so she usually wasn't included in such hunts.

But now that she was back, Wu Erlang made sure not to leave her out.

Since returning, Huo Tianzhou had been somewhat distracted.

Liang Hongyu glanced at him and asked Wu Erlang about the time for tomorrow's hunt.

In order to prevent the crop being damaged further, they would have to leave at dawn.

After hearing this, Liang Hongyu nodded her head in agreement.

Wild boars are usually more active at dusk and dawn, so the village decided to organize the hunt at the second hour of the morning.

Liang Hongyu got up early the next day.

She had casually placed her hunting tools in the woodshed when she returned the previous day.

After washing up, she went in to get them.

When she came out, she saw Huo Tianzhou already up, dressed, and walking over.

Liang Hongyu was holding an oil lamp as she walked out.

Huo Tianzhou stopped a few steps away.

In the dim light, his face was illuminated by the warm glow of the lamp.

It was still about half an hour before the second hour of the morning.

Huo Tianzhou usually got up this early only when he had to go to town.

Was he planning to go today?

"I'm just about to head out. You don't need to make breakfast for me," Liang Hongyu said as she walked past Huo Tianzhou.

Noticing that she only had a slingshot and a cloth bag at her waist and no other protective tools, Huo Tianzhou reached out and grabbed her arm.

Liang Hongyu stopped and raised an eyebrow, wondering what he wanted.

Seeing her reaction, Huo Tianzhou let go of her arm, gave her a look, and then turned back toward the house.

"Take the oil lamp with you."

Liang Hongyu handed him the oil lamp and followed him inside.

When Liang Hongyu saw Huo Tianzhou heading straight for his old room, which she now occupied, she stood outside in confusion, waiting for him.

Huo Tianzhou held the oil lamp in one hand.

As he reached the door, he paused for a moment before pushing it open.

The room was small.

Just a few steps inside brought him to the foot of the bed, which was placed against the side wall.

Despite his efforts to avoid looking at the bed, his peripheral vision caught how clean and neatly made it was, indicating that its current occupant wouldn't stay long.

Diverting his gaze, he walked to a corner where a wooden chest was stacked.

He placed the oil lamp on a nearby table, moved two smaller chests off the top, and used a key to unlock the padlock on the bottom chest.