Chapter 6: Going to Catch Wild Boars

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Tang Jiancheng vaguely remembered that in his previous life, around this time, heavy snow had sealed off the mountains. Everyone stayed home by the fire, reluctant to venture outside. Yet, one person, returning late from visiting relatives, unexpectedly encountered a wild boar trapped in a snow pit along the road.

Under normal circumstances, no one would dare provoke a wild boar alone, but on that snowy day, the boar was stuck in a snow pit. It seemed to have fallen in while foraging, breaking its front leg and unable to climb out.

That person hurried back to the village, gathered his brothers, and together they carried the wild boar out of the pit.

The incident caused a sensation throughout the village.

Everyone marveled at that person’s incredible luck, while regretting their own decision to stay home by the fire. Had they gone to the mountains, perhaps the wild boar would have been theirs.

Tang Jiancheng had never witnessed the event firsthand, but villagers told him the man returned to the village near dusk to gather help and carried the boar back late into the night.

Glancing at the sky, Tang Jiancheng estimated there were still over three hours before dark and decided then and there to beat that lucky soul from his past life—he would retrieve the wild boar early.

He knew he couldn’t do it alone, so he went to his parents’ home.

“Mom, Dad, Jianbing, are you still eating?” Tang Jiancheng asked as he entered. His parents and sixth younger brother were still at the dinner table.

“Have you eaten? If not, sit down and have some,” Tang Genshui moved over to make room.

Yuan Yue Zhu brought over bowls and chopsticks, while Tang Jianbing fetched a chair.

Though Tang Jiancheng had already eaten, the large family meant there wasn’t enough food for everyone. Seeing only a plate of wild greens, a plate of cabbage, and some pickled vegetables—all without a trace of oil or meat—and rice made half with sweet potatoes, his appetite waned.

He quickly waved off their offer. “Don’t trouble yourselves, I’ve eaten. I need to talk to Jianbing about something.”

“Fourth Brother, what’s up?” Tang Jianbing looked up from his meal.

There were eight siblings in total—two sisters and six brothers.

Tang Jianbing was the youngest, just turned eighteen this year. After the new year, he planned to find a wife, but the family had no extra rooms, so he had been working with their father at a brick factory to earn money, hoping to build a new house by next year.

“Finish your meal first. After you’re done, come with me,” Tang Jiancheng said.

“Where to?” Tang Jianbing asked.

“Don’t ask so many questions. You’ll see when we get there.”

“Oh.” Tang Jianbing was obedient and not curious, which was a good thing.

Tang Genshui was curious but, seeing Tang Jiancheng’s recent behavior, suspected he was going out to fool around again. He warned, “Fourth Brother, where are you going? There’s still a month-old baby girl at home. Even if it’s a daughter, she’s still your blood. You should pay attention...”

“Pay attention to what!”

Yuan Yue Zhu, overhearing this, frowned. “Does Jiancheng not pay attention? Every time she’s had a child, hasn’t he taken care of her? But she’s just so unlucky—every child a loss. Who can stand that?”

“If this were any other family, they’d have divorced her long ago, wouldn’t let her keep having children and making a fool of themselves.”

“Watch your words,” Tang Genshui said. “Having children, boy or girl, isn’t just her responsibility.”

Yuan Yue Zhu glared. “Tang Genshui, whose side are you on? She’s had nine daughters in a row. Are you proud of that? The villagers gossip and point fingers—do you think that feels good?”

“Don’t twist my words. I’m saying having children is the responsibility of both parents...”

Seeing their parents argue, Tang Jiancheng quickly gave Tang Jianbing a look. Understanding, Tang Jianbing hurriedly shoveled down the last bites of rice and said vaguely, “Mom, Dad, Fourth Brother and I are leaving.”

They stepped outside.

They didn’t get involved in their parents’ quarrel, nor did they try to stop it. They knew their parents had argued for decades; no matter how much they fought, it would never escalate into anything serious. Intervening might only make things worse.

Once outside, Tang Jianbing asked, “Fourth Brother, where are we going?”

Tang Jiancheng quickened his pace toward the edge of the village. “When I came back at noon, I saw a wild boar trapped near Qingshi Hollow. It looks injured. Let’s go get it.”

“Pick up a wild boar?!” Tang Jianbing’s eyes lit up. “How big is it? Should we bring tools, or can we just go empty-handed?”

“No tools needed. We’ll just carry it out.”

The two hurried toward Qingshi Hollow.

Qingshi Hollow was a place name in Daping Village, about five miles from the village, named for its many greenish stones.

The landscape was blanketed in snow, with no one in sight—only a vast expanse of white between earth and sky.

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At Qingshi Hollow, Tang Jiancheng instructed, “Jianbing, wait here. I’ll go in and check. See if the boar is still alive. Even if trapped, it’s dangerous.”

Knowing how fierce wild boars could be, Tang Jianbing nodded. “Fourth Brother, be careful.”

“Will do.”

Tang Jiancheng cautiously entered Qingshi Hollow.

The area was scattered with many stones, all covered in snow. A misstep could lead to falling into a crevice and being buried alive under the snow.

Moreover, Tang Jiancheng only knew the boar was somewhere in Qingshi Hollow but not the exact location.

After searching for over ten minutes, he finally found the wild boar lying behind a stone crevice.

This spot wasn’t remote—it was right by the roadside, but the path was rugged and blocked by rocks, so only those who deliberately took this route would notice.

No wonder the lucky man from his previous life insisted he hadn’t been lucky—it was a gift from heaven.

Indeed, the boar was right by the road. Anyone not blind would see it.

“Jianbing!”

Tang Jiancheng called out, and Tang Jianbing responded before running over.

Seeing the boar on the ground, Tang Jianbing shouted excitedly, “Its legs! There really is a wild boar to pick up?”

Tang Jiancheng touched the boar. Its body was still warm, its belly faintly rising and falling—clearly not dead yet but close.

Its front legs were twisted unnaturally, likely broken, and there was a dried pool of blood beneath it.

“Fourth Brother, this boar is too skinny. It must have been starving, which is why it came out in the heavy snow to forage. It stepped wrong, broke both legs, and now lies here waiting to freeze to death,” Tang Jianbing explained.

“You’re right. Let’s carry it back,” Tang Jiancheng said.

The boar was indeed thin, probably only eighty to ninety pounds, but it was still meat. Who would want to throw it away?

Whether frozen or sick to death, nobody in this day and age would waste such a resource.

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