The village became lively.
Wild boars are extremely fierce, bad-tempered, generally appearing in groups, making them difficult to hunt.
Occasionally hunting one is considered lucky.
Hunting two at once is truly impressive.
By this afternoon, many fishermen had returned, gathering around to watch the excitement.
"Brother Chen is so powerful!"
"Indeed, he carried such a big wild boar back all by himself! Such a strong physique!"
"Exactly! Look at Lady Zhou's daily rosy complexion, Brother Chen's strong physique is evident!"
"Wild Dog and Er Ma were red-faced and exhausted carrying a sow, comparisons can be painful!"
"Not only that, look at the wounds on the two wild boars, except for the eyes, there are no other injuries, meaning Brother Chen hit the eyes with all four arrows spot-on, his archery is truly amazing!"
"Hundred-Step Piercing Willow is used to describe archery like Brother Chen's!"
"Lady Zhou is truly blessed!"
"Look, Lady Zhou is coming!"
Qin Hongyu hurriedly ran over, seeing Zhou Chen carrying a big wild boar, both surprised and delighted, not expecting Zhou Chen to really hunt one.
Two, no less.
Especially Zhou Chen singlehandedly carrying a big wild boar, that formidable and majestic figure like an unmoving mountain, made Qin Hongyu's legs tense, feeling a sweet affection flowing within her heart.
Women admire strength.
Who doesn't want her man to be powerful?
When a man is powerful, others don't dare to bully you!
"Brother Chen!"
Qin Hongyu hurried to Zhou Chen's side, her eyes seemingly able to drip water, admiration and infatuation evident.
"Hello, Sister-in-law!"
Wild Dog and Er Ma quickly greeted.
"Hongyu, I will first go sell these two wild boars!"
Zhou Chen, along with Wild Dog and Er Ma, carried the wild boars and vigorously headed to the grain store, which was a branch of a commercial guild.
Not only dealing in grains, but also buying and selling various other things.
The shopkeeper heard the commotion outside and came out with two assistants.
Even he felt secretly astonished seeing Zhou Chen with the big wild boar.
He wasn't surprised by the wild boar, but by Zhou Chen's strength.
"Brother Chen truly has skills!"
The shopkeeper knew Zhou Chen as Old Man Cao often brought him here to sell game and buy grains and daily necessities.
"Shopkeeper Zhao, I want to sell these two wild boars!"
Zhou Chen set down the wild boars and brought the sow Wild Dog and Er Ma were carrying too, addressing Zhao Yuan.
"Brother Chen, you're a regular customer, these two wild boars together weigh about six hundred jin, I'll give you a fair price, a flat price of ten taels of silver, what do you think?"
Zhao Yuan appraised the wild boars, seeing the wounds, Zhou Chen's archery clearly surpassed, far exceeding Old Man Cao.
Besides, Zhou Chen's strength wasn't small, perhaps having innate divine power or having practiced some cultivation techniques, making him a person of worth in the village.
He will surely bring in more game in the future.
"Alright, Shopkeeper Zhao is straightforward!"
Zhou Chen smiled without bargaining.
This price was reasonable.
Common pork is twenty cents per jin, six hundred jin of pork is about twelve taels of silver.
These two wild boars hadn't been dismembered yet.
However, wild boar meat is pricier than common pork, if the wild boars become refined, the price becomes significantly higher.
Because that's monster meat.
Like yesterday when Zhang Long killed a refined wicked tiger, if sold, it would start at least one hundred taels of silver.
Having sold the wild boars, Zhou Chen bought twenty jin of salt and other daily necessities.
Salt was inexpensive, ten cents per jin.
Along with other daily items, they spent less than one tael of silver.
Though one tael of silver is quite substantial.
Qin Hongyu, somewhat distressed yet happy, carried the purchased items home with Zhou Chen.
Wild Dog and Er Ma trailed with wild chickens and rabbits.
Back home.
Zhou Chen took out two dead piglets, two rabbits, and two chickens to give to Wild Dog and Er Ma:
"Thank you for your hard work today!"
"Brother Chen, what are you saying, this is nothing, whenever you need, just give us a shout anytime!"
Wild Dog and Er Ma patted their chests confidently.
"Alright, you guys go rest!"
Zhou Chen sent them off.
Having a keen sense, the two left cheerfully carrying the piglets, rabbits, and chickens.
Outside, they deliberately took a round through the village, stirring a wave of envy among the people.
"Satisfying!"
Under the envious eyes of the crowd, the two exhausted ones finally returned home separately to process their game.
Zhou Chen and Qin Hongyu are processing too.
He didn't touch the four living piglets, keeping them fresh for now.
"Tonight we'll have braised piglet!"
Having processed the remaining dead piglet, he handed it to Qin Hongyu for kitchen preparation, while Zhou Chen continued handling the rabbits and chickens.
Skinning the rabbits, gutting them.
Plucking the chickens, gutting them.
Then applying salt, and drying them.
Once done, Zhou Chen then took the little fox out and petted it.
The little fox seemed well-tamed.
Lying contentedly on Zhou Chen's lap, as he fondled its furry head, he said with a smile:
"Seeing how obedient you are, I won't lock you in the cage tonight!"
Zhou Chen also wanted to see if the little guy would run away.
Even if it did, it wouldn't matter.
[Wind and Moon Points +1]
After petting the Little Fox for a while, Qin Hongyu finished cooking.
A platter of braised piglet, a big bowl of stir-fried chicken giblets.
Qin Hongyu served Zhou Chen a big bowl full of rice.
"Brother Chen, you're becoming more and more of a rice bucket!"
Qin Hongyu teased.
"If I don't eat more, how can I gain strength?"
Zhou Chen chuckled, his eyes sweeping across Qin Hongyu: "Without strength, how can I fill you up?"
Qin Hongyu blushed, picked a big piece of fatty meat and stuffed it into Zhou Chen's mouth:
"So much meat can't even shut your mouth!"
"Only yours can!"
"What are you talking about!"
The two ate to their heart's content, body and mind both joyful.
Especially Qin Hongyu, seeing Zhou Chen hunted two wild boars today, earning ten taels of silver, she was almost deliriously happy.
"After dinner, we should move around more!"
Zhou Chen picked up Qin Hongyu and strode towards the bedroom.
"Oh no, the Little Fox hasn't been caged yet!"
"Don't worry about it!"
"Turn off the lights!"
"No need, we can afford the oil money!"
"You're terrible!"
"Ah, there... don't..."
...
For ten days straight, Zhou Chen didn't leave the house.
The Little Fox was well-fed and didn't escape.
Wild Dog and Er Ma along with other hunters wanted to accompany Zhou Chen for hunting, but he didn't agree, instead staying home to fiddle around.
Now everyone figured it out.
Zhou Chen was capable but just lazy.
Every time after hunting, he'd retreat home to bother his wife, only going out to hunt once the stock at home ran out.
Another two days passed, and as Zhou Chen's appetite kept growing, the meat at home was almost finished, forcing him to go out hunting.
This time, Zhou Chen took Wild Dog, Er Ma, and two other hunters with him.
He found a herd of spotted deer, shooting down the four biggest ones, each around two hundred pounds.
He carried two himself, while the other four men carried the remaining two.
Back in the village.
Zhou Chen removed the deer antlers, shared one with the Wild Dog group of four, then sold two and the rest of the antlers, keeping one to eat.
Deer are more expensive than wild boar, especially the antlers. Zhou Chen earned another fifteen taels of silver.
Back home, Zhou Chen continued his homely endeavors.
Qin Hongyu was quite satisfied with this, though a bit overwhelmed.
She felt Zhou Chen not only grew sturdier but also other aspects were growing better.
Zhou Chen was originally eighteen but she felt he had grown to twenty-two.
"Brother Chen, haven't you secretly used Thunder Light Ruyi Hand to massage yourself?"
"Nonsense! I'm just eighteen, it's normal for a growth spurt, this is standard second development!"
Zhou Chen declared seriously, and indeed, he was telling the truth.
Though Zhou Chen hunted only once every ten days, he always returned fully loaded.
Now the family's savings exceeded twenty taels of silver.
To be precise, it's twenty-four taels.
In the village, this was considered wealthy.
Zhou Chen was waiting, waiting for his breakthrough before heading to Qinghe City.
One, only in the city can you find a good bow.
Two, he wanted to learn more about this world.
You have to go to the city.
Village folk are information-blocked, knowing little of the outside world, often not even knowing how they died when they did.
In the blink of an eye, another twenty days passed.
During this period, Zhou Chen went hunting again, once more targeting spotted deer, earning fifteen taels of silver.
The weather turned chilly, white frost layered the grass and leaves by the roadside.
In the warm room.
Zhou Chen looked at Qin Hongyu, who was holding him tightly in her sleep, her rosy face marked with a few lines of happy tears.
He didn't disturb her, quietly slipping away, eyes filled with excitement and anticipation.
[Wind and Moon Treasure Mirror]
[Owner: Zhou Chen]
[Cultivation Technique: Yi Arrow Skill]
[Level: Body Refining First Level: Skin Refining (993/1000)]
[Divine Techniques: Thunder Light Ruyi Hand]
[Skills: Archery (Master level), Tracking (Great achievement 40/160), Throwing (Great achievement 8/160), Trapping (Proficient 2/20), Fishing (Beginner 6/10)...]
[Wind and Moon Points: 14]
"It's been a month, I can finally become a true Martial Artist!"
Suppressing his excitement, Zhou Chen shouted in his heart:
"Add points!"
...