Tian Yao fell asleep almost the instant he finished speaking. Before sleep, Tian Yao was always chattering nonstop. Tonight, there was only the sound of his heavy breathing.
Yu Nian had dozed on and off several times during the day; now he felt no trace of sleepiness. The night magnified many things—the sound of Tian Yao’s breathing, his own restless thoughts.
Tian Yao smacked his lips, rolled over, and started talking in his sleep again. “Wild Boar, five taels of silver.”
Yu Nian’s mouth twitched.
“Wheelchair, ten taels.” Tian Yao rolled over again. Perhaps because of the day’s events, he wasn’t as quiet in sleep as usual. “Mmm, didn’t see nanmu.”
Yu Nian’s smile froze at his lips. He hadn’t expected Tian Yao to go hunting in the mountains to earn money for his wheelchair.
At that moment, it felt as if Yu Nian’s heart was soaking in vinegar, aching and soft. He had always known this marriage with Tian Yao was nothing more than a temporary measure. But he hadn’t imagined Tian Yao would go to such lengths for him.
He didn’t know what he was feeling. Only, when Tian Yao rolled over once more, his hand again falling on his body, Yu Nian did not push it away.
Tian Yao slept deeply and sweetly. When he woke, it was later than usual. Yu Nian was already awake, leaning against the headboard, flipping through the booklet his Little Dad had left him.
“Morning, Yu Nian.” Tian Yao sat up. The wound on his neck hadn’t scabbed over; it was a minor miracle it hadn’t bled again given his tossing at night.
He didn’t expect Yu Nian to respond. He stretched, pulling at the injured spots, and hissed in pain.
Yu Nian put down the booklet and looked at him. “Are you hurt elsewhere too?”
Tian Yao shook his head. “I don’t know. I didn’t check.”
He smoothly took off his inner garment, exposing his back. He looked down and saw a dark bruise on his lower back, probably from getting kicked by the boar during the struggle. The rest seemed fine.
Yu Nian was caught off guard, seeing his body. Tian Yao’s skin was remarkably fair, which made the purple-black bruise on his lower back seem even more severe.
Seeing his body, Yu Nian finally connected him with the identity of a Ger. Only Gers were this pale.
“Is my back injured?” Tian Yao put his clothes back on, stepped into his shoes, and got out of bed.
He saw Yu Nian looking somewhat uncomfortable and chuckled again. “Can’t even look at my body?”
Yu Nian’s ears reddened further. Tian Yao didn’t tease him. “I have to go up the mountain again later. In the afternoon, I’ll butcher this boar. Tomorrow, I’ll take it to Town to sell.”
Yu Nian hadn’t expected him to go again today. He frowned. “You’re still going?”
“Father once told me, never let wild beasts know the path to the village. If the village suffers because of me, Father would flip his coffin lid to scold me.”
He changed his clothes. “I’ll be back quickly.”
“Help me gather a few herbs. Sanqi, nux vomica.”
In the past, his Little Dad had taught him to identify herbs. The two Yu Nian mentioned were common and in season; no trouble at all.
Back on the mountain, Tian Yao lit a torch and burned some strong-scented wild grass along the path, blocking the route from the deep mountain back to the village.
After watching the fire die out, ensuring no risk of it spreading, he also picked the herbs Yu Nian asked for. Only then did he return to the village. It was barely mid-morning.
Tian Yao was incapable of idleness. Back home, after cooking and watching Yu Nian eat, he started heating water, preparing to butcher the Wild Boar. The ancients had Pao Ding the butcher; today, Tian Yao would butcher a boar.
He had only ever watched his Father do this, never tried it himself. But he remembered the steps clearly; he just needed to put his hands to work.
Yu Nian was also moved to the courtyard to observe his grand display.
Yu Nian wasn’t idle either; he fiddled with the herbs Tian Yao brought back. For once, Yu Nian had something he wanted to do, and Tian Yao wholeheartedly supported it.
Tian Yao wielded the knife skillfully. A single Wild Boar was soon butchered into several large chunks under his hands.
He was utterly focused. Even in this season, sweat dripped down his forehead. Some beads rolled down his face, reached his neck, and hit the wound there, making him hiss in pain.
It took him almost two full hours to finish processing the boar. Yu Nian then beckoned him over.
Tian Yao felt his move of coming when beckoned was exactly like Little Gray currently circling at his feet.
“Crouch down.”
Tian Yao obeyed.
“Head.”
Tian Yao understood and tilted his chin up slightly.
The icy coolness of the medicinal juice touched the wound on his neck, neutralizing the hot, stinging pain from the sweat. Only then did he realize that Yu Nian had asked him for herbs to prepare medicine for his wounds.
His grin was so wide his two big front teeth gleamed brightly, nearly blinding Yu Nian. He even pushed his luck. “I have injuries on my body too. There’s bruise liniment at home. Rub some on my body too?”
The answer was Yu Nian’s expressionless face.
“Want to go to Town with me tomorrow to have a look?”
Yu Nian merely glanced at his legs. Knowing his concern, Tian Yao said: “I can borrow the Village Chief’s ox cart tomorrow. After all, such a big boar—if I carry it out in the open, jealous eyes will follow. The Chief’s cart can have a canopy mounted; I can take you out.”
Yu Nian nodded.
Tian Yao was overjoyed. He squeezed Yu Nian’s hand. “I’ll go to Aunt Shun’s place and see if the clothes she’s making for you are ready yet.”
He dashed off like a gust of wind. Yu Nian watched the items in his courtyard, all left out, untouched. Little Gray stood at the gate but couldn’t keep up with him.
It dejectedly returned, lying back down at Yu Nian’s feet.
While out, Tian Yao stopped by the Village Chief’s to arrange borrowing the ox cart, then went to Aunt Shun’s house.
Seeing his purpose, Aunt Shun teased him. “I’m not that fast! It’s only been a day.”
Tian Yao knew he was being impatient and scratched his head sheepishly. “I want to take him to Town tomorrow, want him to wear new clothes.”
“I figure another three days and they’ll be done.”
“Alright, Auntie, no rush.”
“The one in a rush is you!”
~
Early the next morning, Tian Yao got up, went to the Chief’s place, and hitched the ox cart. He fried a few flatbreads for Yu Nian to take on the road. Driving the cart himself, they swayed and bumped towards Town.
The ox cart wasn’t much faster than walking. After leaving the village, he opened the curtain canopy.
Yu Nian still wore Tian Yao’s Father’s old clothes, faded but clean.
In just two or three days, Yu Nian’s spirits were much improved. Tian Yao even felt, perhaps an illusion, that Yu Nian’s face had filled out a little.
“From the village to Town, by ox cart, about half a shichen. You doing okay? If you’re dizzy, I can go slower.”
“No need.”
Tian Yao’s lips were about to fly off his face. The journey, which used to feel so long, was over before he knew it.
He first settled Yu Nian in a tea house, ordered a pot of tea, and, a bit worried, left him some silver. “If you want something, get the waiter to buy it. I’ll be back soon.”
Yu Nian nodded.
The ox cart couldn’t enter the main street of Town. There was a designated caretaker outside Town who watched them for a fee. Tian Yao parked the cart, switched to an extra-large bamboo basket, and carried the pork towards the restaurant district.
His basket was so huge it drew eyes all along the way.
In Town, Kechanglai Restaurant was where Father Tian used to sell his game. The manager was familiar with Tian Yao, a connection his father had built.
“Yao Ge’er, long time no see! What good stuff today? That’s a huge basket.”
Tian Yao smiled. “Wild Boar. Went up the mountain day before yesterday, happened to run into one.”
The manager clicked his tongue. “No wonder you’re Hunter Tian’s son. What a guy. Such a big boar, and you, a little Ger…”
Tian Yao chuckled. “What price can you give me?”
“Save all the choice cuts for me. Been ages since we had game. The gourmets in Town are getting antsy. Perfect timing, winter’s almost here. Marinate some to tide over this lean season.”
Delighted, Tian Yao helped him carry the meat to the back kitchen. Over two hundred catties of lean meat, Kechanglai took it all. The manager, knowing a Ger had it hard, didn’t lowball him and gave twenty copper coins per catty—Wild Boar was rare.
Tian Yao nodded, taking four taels of silver and eight hundred copper coins from the manager. Honest himself, he threw in another grey rabbit as a sweetener.
Leaving Kechanglai, his basket was much lighter. Only some scraps and bones remained.
More than he and Yu Nian could eat, so he headed to the other side of the market.
The market had two parts: one for permanent stalls paying fixed rent, doing year-round business; the other for temporary stalls—two copper coins for a spot.
Tian Yao found the manager, paid, got his ticket, and set up shop.
Most townsfolk lived comfortably and were willing to spend on satisfying their appetites. So when he laid out the Wild Boar meat, a crowd gathered.
“Hey, is that Wild Boar meat?”
“Why are these all scraps?”
“Little Ger, how much is this meat?”
Tian Yao wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Twenty copper coins a catty.”
Several wives and Aunties surrounded him. “Look, this isn’t even the choice cuts, and it’s still so expensive! Cheaper, I’ll take a catty or two.”
Thinking of Yu Nian, Tian Yao didn’t want to haggle long with these women and Aunties. “Fine, fine. There’s not much left anyway. I’ll just sell it and go home.”
Soon, the remaining meat in his basket was sold, leaving only a few leg bones. Not bothering to sell those, he packed up and headed straight back to the tea house.
He hadn’t had time to count his exact earnings, but having an income was a joyful thing. Passing a meat pie stall, he unusually splurged three copper coins on a meat pie.
Then, thinking how Yu Nian was stuck at home all day, he also bought some pastries that kept well, so Yu Nian could nibble when hungry. He also added many other household items.
When he reached the tea house where he’d left Yu Nian, he saw a Ger sitting across from him, smiling as he spoke.
Tian Yao’s brows furrowed. Fuming, he marched over!
