"With the country in turmoil, if Big Brother and San Man get into trouble, wouldn't Father and Mother worry themselves to death..." Du Tieshan clutched her chest, her face clouded with worry.
Yun Erman put down the watering can and sat beside Du Tieshan. "You, always worrying about things that are unlikely to happen. What does border warfare have to do with selling fur? Besides, Big Brother and San Man are both smart. If they encounter danger, won't they know to hide?"
Du Tieshan glared at him. "You're so carefree all day. Big Brother knows how to go out and earn money, but you stay home, eat, sleep, and eat again. How many copper coins can you save in a year? Even Sweet Baby knows how to make money selling milk. Do you, a grown man, have any shame?"
Yun Erman: "..."
She was looking down on him now?
"Isn't it like this in the countryside? We farm in the summer and are idle in the winter. I've also quit my job at the county office. If I don't stay home, should I go out for a run?" Yun Erman said, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
Du Tieshan pinched him. "You're not serious. Go get the bow and arrows. We'll go up the mountain later and hunt some game to go with Father's wine..."
Du Tieshan had the best archery skills in the Yun family, but she was usually too busy with housework to go out and shoot.
"Alright!" Yun Erman responded and ran out eagerly.
Before the heavy snow, animals would burrow into the mountains to hide, and most would hibernate...
However, many animals would also come out to find food, such as roe deer, sika deer, wild boars, or sand grouse and pheasants, and so on.
Seeing that her second brother and sister-in-law were going up the mountain, Xiao Xitian rummaged through her space.
There was nothing much going on at home now, and Father was always preoccupied with food. So, Xiao Xitian decided to give some 'benefits'.
"I'm going too!" Xiao Xitian declared, standing at the main entrance with her hands on her hips.
Yun Erman couldn't help but chuckle. "Sister, you stay home honestly. Second Brother will hunt pheasants for you later..."
When they went up the mountain in the summer, their sister was swept away by the flood, and their parents were almost scared to death.
If any accident happened again this time, their parents wouldn't be able to bear it.
Therefore, Yun Erman dared not take that risk...
Xiao Xitian pouted. "I'm not asking for your opinion, Second Brother!"
She had to go today!
Hearing the commotion, Madam Gu came out and said, "Let Sweet Baby go with you. Remember, don't go too far, and be back before dinner!"
The days were getting shorter, and the sun didn't stay in the sky for long, setting in the western mountains after a short period of activity...
"Understood, Mother!"
So, Yun Erman and Du Tieshan took Xiao Xitian up the mountain.
The sky was overcast, shrouded in a mass of dark clouds.
As the three of them passed through a patch of woods, scattered snowflakes began to fall.
"Wow, it's snowing!" Xiao Xitian exclaimed excitedly.
This was the first snow of the year.
Du Tieshan smiled and said, "If the snow holds, I'll build you a big snowman when we get back..."
This sister-in-law was so endearing.
She really wished she could have a daughter. In the Yun family, boys were a dime a dozen, but daughters were the most cherished.
"Sister-in-law Shan Shan is so kind!" Xiao Xitian's eyes curved, and she ran ahead.
In a clearing in the woods, Xiao Xitian closed her eyes and began to secretly cause trouble.
A moment later, a rustling sound came from the grass, causing the bushes to sway back and forth...
Yun Erman's eyes widened. "There's something! Shan Shan, quickly give me the bow and arrows!"
He knew that bringing his sister up the mountain would never be uneventful.
Du Tieshan said with a helpless expression, "With your archery skills, you'd let all the game escape. I'll do it!"
Saying that, Du Tieshan drew the bowstring taut, aimed forward, and shot an arrow fiercely...
A brown animal darted out. It had thick fur, a pale white waist, two horns on its head, and it ran with a 'thump-thump' sound. It was quite large, almost as big as a calf.
"My heavens, what is this thing?" Yun Erman asked in astonishment.
It didn't look like a sika deer or a roe deer. Its eyes were bright and shiny, and it was exhaling hot air from its nostrils...
Du Tieshan had also never seen such an animal before, and she found it rather novel.
Xiao Xitian couldn't help but laugh. This was actually a Mongolian gazelle, also known as a Mongolian gazelle, and she had quite a few of them in her space.
The family hadn't eaten gazelle meat before, so Xiao Xitian planned to treat everyone to it.
The village of Dashui was nestled against the mountains. Although it was at a high latitude, it was not a desert area, so it was normal not to have seen Mongolian gazelles...
"Sister-in-law Shan Shan, if you don't shoot again, that thing will escape!" Xiao Xitian reminded her with a smile.
Du Tieshan finally reacted and shot an arrow at the gazelle.
After a scream, the gazelle ran a few more steps before collapsing in the bushes.
Yun Erman came over and took a look. "Good heavens, it's so big, must be over a hundred catties. I wonder if this thing's meat is edible..."
"It's edible!" Xiao Xitian smiled slightly. "Roasted, stewed, or stir-fried, it's incredibly delicious!"
Come to think of it, she hadn't eaten gazelle meat for a long time.
Yun Erman was extremely excited. He bent down and picked up Xiao Xitian, nuzzling her cheek. "Haha, Shan Shan, do you see? My sister is a little lucky charm. You didn't believe me before, haha..."
Du Tieshan was equally happy. She took off her scarf and tied it around Xiao Xitian's neck. "Why wouldn't I believe it? Sweet Baby is full of blessings. Whoever marries her in the future will be blessed!"
Would the family really be willing to marry off such a good sister-in-law?
It would be great if they could find a live-in son-in-law.
Xiao Jinheng, sitting in a carriage on his way to the capital, sneezed.
He felt like someone was thinking about him...
Xiao Xitian smiled without saying anything, jumped down from Yun Erman's arms, and pointed at the gazelle. "Carry it back!"
They could have lamb soup tonight.
The gazelle was too heavy. After Yun Erman carried it for a short distance, he was panting and his legs were trembling.
So, Du Tieshan helped him carry it back, with Xiao Xitian following behind.
She took out more ingredients for cooking from her space, such as Sichuan peppercorns, chili peppers, and cinnamon, etc. With these seasonings, stewed meat would taste delicious...
The snow was not heavy, but the sky was very gloomy.
In the blink of an eye, the woods became dark, and the light gradually dimmed.
A cold wind whistled through the dry branches, making a strange sound.
Just as the three of them were about to leave the woods, a 'rumbling' sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from behind them...
Yun Erman's face changed in surprise, and he looked back. "There are people in the woods!"