Volume One, Chapter 13: Jiang Xian Captures the Poacher Alive

Page 1/3

Jiang Xian smiled warmly at the little figure lying on the bed and softly asked, "Hey, my little Tangtang, did you sleep well?"

"Mm-hmm!" Tangtang nodded enthusiastically. She had never slept on such a warm and soft kang before.

This nap left her feeling completely refreshed and filled with happiness.

The little girl’s eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled adorably and innocently. Jiang Xian couldn’t help but gently stroke her small head; her soft, sleek black hair was neither coarse nor messy.

She picked up a wooden comb from the low cabinet nearby and tidily braided Tangtang’s hair into two buns, adorning them with two fluffy peach-pink flowers. Then she helped her put on the new clothes she had worn last night.

Tangtang lowered her head to touch the warm, beautiful garment and looked up at Jiang Xian with heartfelt gratitude, flashing a sweet smile. "Thank you, Mother, for buying these clothes for Tangtang. From now on, Tangtang will make many, many beautiful clothes for you to repay you!"

Jiang Xian laughed and reached out to lift her from the room. Tangtang seemed to have gained several pounds overnight; she felt much heavier than the day before.

The hot water was already prepared and placed on the washstand in the corner. Jiang Xian brought a small stool for Tangtang, teaching her to clean her teeth with a willow twig, then wash her face. After freshening up, Jiang Shunde and Madam Qian had already brought breakfast to the table.

The Jiang family’s breakfast usually consisted of porridge and pickles. If Jiang Shunde got up early, he would make steamed buns; if he rose late, he steamed bread rolls and boiled eggs, frying a small dish on the side.

This fare was already much better than most households, especially considering the three years of severe drought leaving people destitute.

Worried Tangtang might not be used to the food, Jiang Shunde also prepared a bowl of scallion noodles topped with two sweet boiled eggs to help her replenish her strength.

Upon seeing them, Tangtang sweetly called out, "Grandpa, Grandma!"

Jiang Shunde smiled warmly in response, "Good granddaughter, did you sleep well last night?"

"Tangtang slept so soundly and warmly. I’ve never slept on such a warm kang before in my life."

At that thought, a flicker of sadness crossed the little girl’s eyes. So children could sleep on a warm kang without being roasted like a pig?

The Chen family had lied to her!

Jiang Shunde handed Tangtang her chopsticks. "Then hurry up and eat. After breakfast, your mother will take you hunting up the mountain!"

Madam Qian glanced up at Jiang Shunde upon hearing this. She had spoken to him in the kitchen, asking him to try and dissuade Jiang Xian.

Who would bring a five-and-a-half-year-old child up the mountain in such cold weather? She couldn’t leave Tangtang alone at home.

Jiang Shunde remained unconcerned. Jiang Xian had been following him hunting since she was six. Bringing Tangtang along was no problem. Besides, Tangtang was surprisingly strong—no five men combined could match her. There was nothing to worry about.

He gave a reassuring look and then smiled warmly at his newfound lucky granddaughter. The more he looked, the more beautiful the little girl seemed, like a figure from a New Year’s painting. Yet, her face looked oddly familiar... but he couldn’t place where he had seen it before. Perhaps he was just overthinking.

After breakfast, Jiang Xian packed the hunting tools, hanging them on one side of the woven basket on her back. She placed a cotton pad inside the basket and brought a cloak, inviting Tangtang to sit inside. If it got cold, she could pull the cloak over her head.

Madam Qian and Jiang Shunde accompanied them all the way to the foot of the mountain. Seeing Tangtang’s eyes brighten as she looked around curiously, the couple finally relaxed.

As Jiang Xian carried Tangtang along the mountain path, Madam Qian hurriedly nudged Jiang Shunde to visit the village matchmaker, Lu, insisting that within half a month Jiang Xian must be married off to a suitable husband—appearance and conduct mattered more than family background now. It was essential to avoid forced marriage by the authorities or exile.

Jiang Shunde dared not delay such a matter. Limping slightly, he took the prepared piece of meat and went to find Matchmaker Lu in the village.

At Great South Mountain.

Tangtang’s mouth never stopped moving inside the basket.

"Mother, look at that huge mushroom over there!"

Jiang Xian’s eyes widened.

Damn! When did such a huge lingzhi mushroom grow in that remote corner?

She quickly picked it and placed it in the pouch at her waist.

Page 2/3

"Hey, Mother, what are those red lantern-like fruits?"

Jiang Xian was shocked again.

Damn! Wild ginseng was growing by the busy mountain path. She hurried over, grabbed it, and estimated it must be over a hundred years old!

Jackpot!

Jiang Xian stopped halfway up the mountain to rest, embracing and kissing Tangtang in the basket. "Good girl, I really wasn’t wrong about you. Bringing you up here was the right decision!"

She regretted not bringing out the herbal notes given by Doctor Chen, so Tangtang could identify medicinal herbs by their pictures—these herbs were much more valuable than game.

As mother and daughter rested, a blood-curdling scream rang out nearby, like a pig being slaughtered.

"Ahhhh!"

Tangtang looked toward the source of the scream, worry flashing in her clear eyes. She turned to Jiang Xian, "Mother, it seems someone’s in trouble over there."

Jiang Xian smiled, eyes squinting. "Yes, come on, daughter, I’ll carry you over to see who the unlucky one is."

Tangtang giggled, covering her mouth with her chubby hand, laughter crinkling her eyes. "Mother said he’s unlucky, so he must be!"

When they reached the pit where the sound had come from, many local hunters had already gathered, peering into the trap and chatting noisily.

"Who is that? Haven’t seen him before. Is he a new hunter?"

"Don’t know."

"Doesn’t look like a new hunter. He didn’t even bring hunting tools."

"Maybe a poacher. I got up early this morning, and all the traps set yesterday were empty. Look at his basket—several wild chickens and rabbits. Probably stolen."

"Serves him right if he fell and died. He’s stealing our game."

"Whose trap is this? Be careful not to kill someone or cause trouble with the authorities!"

"Looks like Jiang Xian’s!"

Near Great South Mountain, seven or eight villages surround the area. Almost every village has one or two landless families who rely on hunting to survive, especially in Baihua and Shuangshui villages, where the land is poor and the location unfavorable.

In contrast, Huánxī and Taoyuan villages lie beside a river that runs through Junxi County. The river’s strong current rarely dries up, so villagers there prefer farming and fishing, selling their goods for income. Hunting families are rare, and Taoyuan only had hunters after Jiang Xian’s family moved in.

These hunters share the vast Great South Mountain, spanning hundreds of miles. To avoid disputes, years ago they established strict rules:

Each hunter could only set traps in ten designated spots, marking them with unique signs. The traps were first-come, first-served. No hunter could touch game caught in another’s traps, or risk being ostracized.

Over time, both new and veteran hunters followed these rules, living in harmony.

Even though Jiang Xian always returned with plentiful game, she never provoked jealousy or sabotage. Younger hunters often sought her advice humbly.

Jiang Xian shared all she could but kept the secrets of sensing fate and intuition to herself.

As the hunters talked, Jiang Xian strolled over slowly, carrying Tangtang in the basket behind her. The two of them, walking through the barren winter landscape, seemed like woodland spirits descended to earth.

"Jiang Xian’s here!" Zhang, a hunter from Shuangshui Village, called out, drawing everyone’s attention.

Lei Datou, a warm-hearted hunter from Baihua Village, shouted, "Xian girl, come look! There’s something rare in your trap today—a live person!"

"Why is Jiang Xian carrying a child up the mountain? Is that her daughter?"

"What daughter? Jiang Xian’s only eighteen and unmarried. Probably her younger sister."

Page 3/3

"If I weren’t so old, I’d marry Xian girl. She’s feisty, loyal, and capable—no worries about food or drink if I brought her home!"

"Lei Datou, stop dreaming. Even if you were twenty years younger, you still wouldn’t deserve Jiang Xian!"

"Hahaha..."

The hunters laughed, paying no attention to Chen San Laizi, who had fallen into the pit, hurt and unconscious.

Jiang Xian approached, addressing the elder hunters with a smile. She called to Tangtang, "Say hello to the uncles and grandpas!"

Tangtang immediately popped her head out of the basket, smiling sweetly and softly. "Hello, uncles and grandpas! I’m Tangtang!"

Her smile made the hunters feel warm all over, dispelling the coldness of the winter day.

"Hello, Tangtang!"

"Such a sweet mouth. Here, uncle still has half a dried bun for you."

"This child is so beautiful, like a chubby doll from a New Year’s painting."

The hunters praised Tangtang, who smiled with her eyes nearly closed, inviting one to reach out and stroke her shiny black hair.

Lei Datou curiously asked, "Jiang Xian, who is this child?"

Jiang Xian proudly gave a thumbs-up and pointed to herself. "My daughter. What do you think? Isn’t she beautiful?"

The hunters were stunned.

One of them spat out his hot water in surprise, nearly choking. He pointed at Jiang Xian and then at Tangtang, incredulous. "How old is she...?"

"She’s an adopted daughter," Jiang Xian said, then stepped forward to peer into the pit.

Jiang Xian’s traps always had five or six sharpened bamboo spikes to ensure any caught prey died quickly and cleanly. Anyone who fell in wouldn’t survive unscathed.

Chen San Laizi had been unlucky. One bamboo spike pierced his forearm, his thick jacket and pants were torn, and two wild chickens and a rabbit spilled from his basket into the pit.

Tangtang also leaned out to look into the pit.

"Oh, it’s Chen Ah—" Tangtang started to say but quickly covered her mouth, glancing around. Seeing no one paying attention to her, she pressed her lips tightly and stopped speaking.

Mother had told her to say goodbye to the past starting yesterday and pretend not to know the Chen family.

Tangtang was afraid calling Chen San Laizi "father" would upset her new mother.

Luckily, she hadn’t spoken out. Tangtang silently congratulated herself for stopping in time.

Jiang Xian curled her lips in a cold smile. "It’s definitely him."

The other hunters gathered around.

"Xian girl, you know him?"