The reunion was more passionate than any previous separation. Gu Xingdong took his wife multiple times that night, only stopping when Chen Lishu pleaded for mercy. He then got out of bed to fetch water to help her clean up, and they finally fell asleep, content in each other's arms.
The next day, Chen Lishu woke up to find the sun already high in the sky. The room was quiet, and when she looked over, the space beside her was empty.
As she finished dressing and stood up, Gu Xingdong entered, pushing the door open from outside.
Seeing she was awake, the corners of his mouth curled into a handsome smile. "Breakfast is warm in the pot. You're awake now, so get up and eat."
Chen Lishu nodded, got out of bed, and put on her shoes to wash up. Gu Xingdong went to serve her breakfast.
"I noticed we're running low on firewood at home. I'm going to the mountain to chop some later. Do you want to come along?" Gu Xingdong suggested after they finished eating.
"It just rained recently, so I can go pick mushrooms." She thought about how much Gu Xingdong liked mushroom sauce and decided to make some more before he left.
After agreeing, they took their tools and headed towards the mountain together.
While Gu Xingdong chopped wood, Chen Lishu gathered wild vegetables and picked mushrooms nearby.
It was the season of late spring and early summer, when wild vegetables were at their most abundant and tender. Chen Lishu unknowingly gathered more than half a basket, and found several clusters of mushrooms.
Seeing that today's harvest was bountiful, Chen Lishu was about to get up and head back when she suddenly heard rustling sounds not far ahead. She crouched down, quietly pushed aside the bushes in front of her, and cautiously peered forward. When she saw a dark, colossal figure standing less than twenty meters away, she almost fell straight onto the ground.
Suppressing her fear, Chen Lishu silently withdrew her hands and slowly shuffled her feet. Once she was sure she was far enough away, she suddenly stood up straight and bolted towards Gu Xingdong.
Gu Xingdong had already chopped two large bundles of firewood by this time. He was tying them with a rope when he looked up and saw her running towards him with a panicked expression. His expression changed, and he quickly walked to meet her.
"Xingdong, run quickly! There's a wild boar!" Chen Lishu gasped, her voice trembling.
As soon as she spoke, a massive wild boar, weighing two to three hundred pounds, burst out from behind a large tree behind her. With its long hair and tusks, it was clear it wasn't to be trifled with. Chen Lishu looked back and realized she had accidentally led it over, nearly bursting into tears on the spot.
How could they encounter a wild boar halfway up the mountain? When people are unlucky, even drinking cold water can get stuck in their throats.
The moment Gu Xingdong saw the wild boar, he tightened his grip on his woodcutter's axe and tensed his entire body, entering a state of alert.
His eyes fixed on the direction of the wild boar, he pulled Chen Lishu behind him and said calmly, "Don't be afraid."
The wild boar opposite them likely sensed that the person in front of them was not to be underestimated. It didn't attack immediately, but instead kept pawing the ground and grunting in a low growl.
When it remained still, Gu Xingdong didn't rush to act. The moment it moved, Gu Xingdong forcefully pushed off the ground and lunged swiftly towards the wild boar.
"Xingdong, be careful!" Chen Lishu was terribly frightened and only managed to call out. Gu Xingdong's axe was already embedded in the wild boar's carotid artery with a swift, precise strike. The moment the blade penetrated the flesh, blood splattered everywhere, and the wild boar let out a pained howl.
Stimulated by the pain, its tusked head thrashed wildly. Gu Xingdong nimbly shifted his body to avoid the wild boar's sharp tusks. Simultaneously, his arm muscles bulged as he tightly gripped the handle of his axe and forcefully pulled downwards, creating a large gash in the wild boar's neck.
As more blood flowed, the wild boar gradually lost its strength. Finally, with a low grunt, it crashed to the ground with a thud, kicking up a significant amount of dust with its heavy body.
"Xingdong, are you alright? Are you injured?"
The moment the wild boar fell, Chen Lishu rushed towards Gu Xingdong. After checking him from head to toe and confirming he was unharmed, her heart finally settled back into her chest.
"You were too reckless! How could you charge at such a huge creature without any regard?"
Gu Xingdong smiled reassuringly at her, "I'm really fine. Didn't you forget we had wilderness survival training? Killing large animals was also a mandatory course."
Chen Lishu nodded, her gaze falling on the wild boar on the ground. "What do we do with it?"
"How do you want to handle it?"
Chen Lishu thought for a moment and looked up, "Why don't we hand it over to the village? Everyone can get some meat to improve their meals."
Gu Xingdong nodded, bent down, and hoisted the wild boar onto his shoulder. He then descended the mountain with Chen Lishu.
At this time, most villagers were working in the fields. Only the Party Branch Secretary, Zhang Changhe, was at the village office. When he saw Gu Xingdong carrying a large animal, his eyes widened.
"Nephew, this is..."
"Uncle, we encountered it on the mountain. Lishu said to bring it over for everyone to share."
He had been away from home for a long time, and his wife needed the villagers' care. Therefore, he attributed all the credit to Chen Lishu.
Upon hearing that it was sent by Chen Lishu, Zhang Changhe's gaze towards her began to change subtly.
Because of Gu Xingye's relationship, he had heard some whispers about her discreet actions. As the saying goes, where there's no accusation, there's no prosecution, so he had always turned a blind eye.
Now, seeing that she was willing to give up such a large wild boar, he knew that she was still a good child in terms of righteousness. He couldn't help but nod in approval. If the Gu family's daughter-in-law could do this, it seemed his own daughter wouldn't be at a disadvantage marrying into such a family.
"Don't worry, Uncle will remember this. Although you're not working now, after this wild boar is weighed, Uncle will convert it into work points for you."
Chen Lishu hadn't expected such a benefit and thanked Zhang Changhe with a smile.
Then, thinking of something, Chen Lishu added, "Uncle, can I get a bit more pork when the meat is distributed?"
Zhang Changhe chuckled, "Sure, your man hunted the pig, so there's no reason why you can't get more pork."
The villagers soon learned that the Gu family had hunted a wild boar and handed it over to the village. They were told that pork would be distributed that evening, and they became extremely excited. Their focus on work vanished.
What time was this? Even during the New Year, they couldn't afford two catties of meat, and some families didn't see any meat for the entire year. How could they not be excited?
"Sister-in-law, we really owe it to your Xingdong. I heard it was a big fellow weighing over two hundred pounds. If it were someone else, their legs would have turned to jelly from fear. Your Xingdong is amazing, to be able to kill a wild boar."
A woman working in the fields couldn't help but say to Li Xiulan.
"This child has such abilities because the country and the army have taught him well," Li Xiulan replied with a smile. In reality, her heart was still pounding. Her third son had always been bold since he was young, and this was a wild boar! She wondered if he had been injured.