After coaxing Duo Duo and Guo Guo, Luo Xiao Qing packed his hunting gear.
As he stepped out of the house, he saw Qin Huai Ru and Yi Da Ma washing clothes.
Yi Da Ma smiled and said, "Huai Ru is so lucky. Yi Da Ye said that Dong Xu has a special talent for making machine parts. He'll get a raise soon."
Qin Huai Ru smiled softly, "It's all thanks to Yi Da Ye. Otherwise, our life wouldn't be so easy."
Qin Huai Ru thought about the envious glances she received every time she visited her family, and her heart swelled with pride.
She looked up at Luo Xiao Qing, "Xiao Qing, going out to hunt?"
Luo Xiao Qing didn't even give Qin Huai Ru a glance and walked directly towards the courtyard.
Yi Da Ma sighed, "Xiao Qing is a good kid. It's a pity... he's so serious. Otherwise, just with his hunting skills, he could definitely live a good life!"
Er Da Ma, with her narrow, slanting eyes, spoke in a harsh tone, "Cut it out. What good life? Hunting skills, what's the point compared to a worker's job? Qin Huai Ru was wise not to marry him back then. Look at her now, living the good life. Dong Xu will only earn more and more, and their days will get better and better. Luo Xiao Qing, the hard times are still ahead of him!"
Qin Huai Ru pursed her lips, her eyes twinkling with amusement. She too was grateful that she met Jia Dong Xu and had the chance to break off the engagement.
Luo Xiao Qing didn't care about their gossip. People in the courtyard were like that, envious of others' happiness and mocking their misfortunes. For their own gain, they would stop at nothing. They would even plot to ruin others' lives and marriages.
Yan Bu Gui saw Luo Xiao Qing leaving with his hunting tools and his eyes flickered, "Xiao Qing, are you going hunting again?"
Luo Xiao Qing replied, "Yeah, it's almost New Year's. I'll hunt more so that my mom can relax a bit."
San Da Ma looked at Luo Xiao Qing's back with envy, "Back then, the widow Luo made the right decision taking in Luo Xiao Qing. This kid is so filial!"
Yan Bu Gui, "Cut it out. Even if he's filial, he's not her own. If he finds his real parents, he won't have any time to care for the widow Luo. Blood is thicker than water."
"You're right!"
Luo Xiao Qing first went to a street stall and bought some sesame cakes and tea eggs to take with him before heading into the mountains.
In this era where communication relied on shouting and warmth on shivering, Luo Xiao Qing couldn't help but feel helpless. Luckily, he had entered the third stage of Qi refinement, so he could walk fast and wouldn't get tired. Otherwise, reaching the mountains would exhaust anyone.
Upon reaching the mountains, Luo Xiao Qing put everything into his space and started looking for prey.
Soon, he found a wild chestnut tree. The ripe chestnuts were scattered on the ground, their shells cracked open.
After gathering the chestnuts, Luo Xiao Qing continued hunting. With his extraordinary comprehension, he quickly hunted down a nest of wild rabbits, a nest of pheasants, and over a dozen wild eggs.
In the past, when Luo Xiao Qing hunted and got this much, he would have to return to the city. He couldn't carry so much. Now, with his space, he wasn't in a rush to go back.
Luo Xiao Qing continued to move deeper into the mountains.
"Humph, humph, humph..."
Luo Xiao Qing's ears twitched, "Wild boar!"
In the past, when Luo Xiao Qing encountered a wild boar, he would run away. It was difficult for one person to subdue a wild boar. He could even risk his life. But now, he had entered the third stage of Qi refinement and his hunting skills had improved significantly thanks to his extraordinary comprehension. He didn't hesitate and charged towards the wild boar.
By the time he returned to the city, Luo Xiao Qing had hunted two wild boars, eight wild rabbits, four pheasants, a nest of wild eggs, and a nest of baby rabbits.
Luo Xiao Qing used materials from the mountains to weave a large bamboo basket. Then he put everything into his space and headed back to the courtyard.
As he neared the courtyard, Luo Xiao Qing found a secluded spot and put the chestnuts, pheasants, rabbits, and eggs into the basket. He carried one of the wild boars on his back and left the other in his space.
"Luo Xiao Qing? Is that you?"
Luo Xiao Qing turned around, carrying the wild boar, "Director Wang?"
Director Wang, "Your mom said you were better, but I didn't believe it. Now I see you're really okay. Did you hunt this wild boar?"
Luo Xiao Qing, "Yeah, good luck today. This wild boar ran into a tree and was already injured. I just picked it up."
"I told you, Xiao Qing, you're a lucky kid. What are you going to do with this wild boar? Eat it yourself or sell it?"
Luo Xiao Qing, "Of course we can't eat it all ourselves. Director Wang, if you want it, I'll keep half for you."
"No, no, I don't need that much. Our neighborhood office has been having trouble getting supplies lately. The procurement officer can't buy enough grain. We haven't had any meat in a while. I was thinking, if you decide to sell the wild boar, sell it to our office, okay?"
"Of course, Director Wang. I'll deliver it to the neighborhood office right now. Just keep a piece of pork belly for me."
"Okay."
Luo Xiao Qing carried the wild boar into the neighborhood office. Everyone saw the black and fat wild boar and their eyes lit up. "Director Wang, you're amazing! You managed to buy a wild boar!"
"Where's my credit? It's all thanks to our neighborhood's Luo Xiao Qing. This kid is a great hunter. He hunted it in the mountains. Procurement officer, go ahead and weigh the boar. Pay Xiao Qing according to market price. His family has been struggling during the winter. Don't let him get a raw deal!"
"Don't worry, Director Wang. I'll get someone to weigh it."
Soon, the wild boar was weighed.
"Xiao Qing, you're getting three catties of pork belly. The total is two hundred seventy catties, which is two hundred yuan."
Luo Xiao Qing took the money, "Thank you, Director Wang!"
Director Wang, "I'm just getting off work. Let's go back together."
When Luo Xiao Qing first fled to the capital and settled in the Luo family, he received a lot of help from Director Wang.
As they walked out of the neighborhood office, Luo Xiao Qing took out a pheasant and a rabbit and gave them to Director Wang, "Director Wang, take these pheasant and rabbit. They'll help you replenish your energy."