Chapter 12

The wolf-hunting crew finally made it back after their brutal encounter with the wolves. A few of them were nursing minor wounds, but they were all still full of energy and fired up from the battle.

Song Dingxiang hurried over to see the scene. A young man from a neighboring village was practically frothing at the mouth, gesturing wildly as he retold their experience with the wolves. "I'm telling you, those wolves are smart as hell. In the middle of the night, when we thought we were safe, they came sneaking up on us. It was terrifying—those glowing green eyes staring out of the darkness!"

He went on, getting even more animated. "But thanks to Zhouzi’s genius, we kept watch in shifts all night. We stood our ground against those beasts. By dawn, the older guys took their bows and arrows and went after them, while us younger ones blocked the entrance to the den, ready to take on anything that charged."

"And those wolves—man, they’re fierce. Did you see that big yellow dog? It was in there, going toe-to-toe with the lead wolf, howling like crazy! What, you didn’t hear it? We must’ve gone too deep into their territory."

The village’s threshing ground was littered with nearly twenty wolf carcasses, and Song Zhiyan and Song Junshan were busy hacking at the half-frozen bodies with butcher knives, skinning and dismembering them in front of an intrigued crowd, with people from surrounding villages gathered around.

Among the crowd, Song Dingxiang spotted Zhou Yinuo, standing tall and chatting with the village chief. She couldn’t help but notice the way he held himself, confident and unbothered by the chaos around him.

A sharp-eyed villager caught sight of Song Dingxiang and called out, "Zhouzi, your wife’s looking for you!"

Zhou Yinuo turned, his face breaking into a grin when he saw her, all flushed from running. "Dingxiang."

She rushed over, her eyes scanning him for any signs of injury. "You alright?"

He shrugged, giving her a reassuring smile. "I’m fine."

One of the villagers, clearly impressed, shouted over to her, "This man, your husband, he’s a beast! I saw it myself! He might be lean, but damn, he’s strong! Every swing of that axe—those wolves were nearly decapitated!"

Song Dingxiang let out a relieved breath. "As long as you're alright." She looked at the pile of wolves on the ground, frowning. "What are we going to do with all these wolves?"

Zhou Yinuo explained, "The village chief said the pelts and meat go for less than in town. Anyone who wants them can buy them. Everyone who fought the wolves gets an extra two pounds of meat, and the pelt prices are halved."

She scanned the carcasses again, eyes narrowing. "Guess we’ll buy a few pelts for ourselves, then." She tilted her head, staring at the wolves. She had only ever seen them from behind cages at the zoo, never this close—never this real.

As the chill of winter settled in, the wolves’ coats had thickened, their fur now dense and warm, perfect for the season. The sale of their pelts and meat had been a profitable endeavor, though not without its labor. Every coin earned had been hard-won, yet it wasn’t just money in the hunters’ pockets—it also served to rid the surrounding areas of the wolf threat and bring a much-needed benefit to the nearby villages.

Wolf meat, with its wild, gamey flavor, was an acquired taste. But when prepared the right way, it could be surprisingly delicious. Not everyone could afford the pricier cuts, so wolf meat—cheaper than pork—was a popular choice, with villagers eager to buy it in bulk, carrying baskets to snatch up what they could.

But it was the pelts, the true treasure of the wolves, that were in shorter supply. A full pelt could fetch as much as two silver coins, a significant sum. Though patched pelts were more affordable, they still had their uses. People snapped them up quickly, mostly for small, practical items like hand warmers or knee pads, where a full pelt wasn’t necessary.

Song Zhiyan had his eye on five pounds of wolf meat, but with the extra two pounds from Zhou Yinuo, they ended up with seven pounds in total. Enough to cook a hearty stew that would fill their table, offering a satisfying meal for his whole family. It would be a comfort against the winter’s bite.

They also grabbed six wolf pelts—one for Song Dingxiang, to make a thick, cozy bed cover; one for each of the elderly Song couple; and the rest for the daughters-in-law. Jin Qiao’er, especially, who was pregnant and shivering through the cold, needed the warmth a wolf fur bed cover could provide.

Even the bones, scraps of the animal, weren’t wasted. The poorer villagers could make good use of them, simmering the meat still clinging to the bones to create a rich, flavorful soup. Nothing went to waste. Even the patch pelts moved quickly, as families picked out soft pieces for things like knee pads.

The entire lot of twenty wolf carcasses was sold, raking in over twenty silver coins. Each hunter took their cut, and whatever remained went toward buying sweet treats in town for the village children. A few sugar cubes here and there didn’t cost much, but they brought joy to the kids.

The pelts, once sold, still needed to be worked. That was where Song Zhiyan came in—his skill in tanning was unmatched. People paid top silver for his expertise because his pelts were soft, warm, and of the highest quality.

On top of the wolves, Zhou Yinuo had brought in three rabbits, two pheasants, and even a half-grown deer. Song Zhiyan and Fang shi decided to sell these right away, giving the money to Song Dingxiang so she could buy something special for Zhou Yinuo.

The other daughters-in-law couldn’t help but watch with envy. It wasn’t often they had a few coins to call their own—usually, any money they earned went straight into the hands of the elders who ran the finances. But Song Dingxiang, without hesitation, took the silver and tucked it into her pouch, grateful for the gesture. She then carefully placed the wolf pelts in Zhou Yinuo’s basket and left with Fang shi, her heart light, ready to head home with a smile.

"People used to love gossiping about Song Dingxiang and her so-called 'poor marriage.' Well, take a good look at her now. Is this what a bad marriage really looks like?" The onlookers couldn’t help themselves as they watched the Song family walk away, practically salivating over their juicy gossip.

"With no one older keeping an eye on her, just a relative from her side of the family, of course, that relative's going to side with their own girl. Song Dingxiang was spoiled rotten growing up, probably thinking she’d land a scholar's household and live like royalty. Who would've thought..."

"Yeah, well, who’s ever gone to the Xu family and not ended up the lady of the house? But the Song fourth family... now they’re living the dream, aren't they? They’re the best off in the entire Song clan."

"I don't know. I think the fifth and sixth families are doing just fine, and the second family has a few hawkers. It’s hard work, but the money's coming in, isn't it?"

"True. But looking at the third Song family, you can tell they're struggling. They’ve gotten some help, but can’t really speak up about their side hustle. They can’t even handle butchering pigs—what kind of family’s that? I guess they’ve had to stick to farming."

"What's the deal with the third Song family anyway? Taohong, though, she managed to marry into a scholar's house, right? Once her Scholar Xu gets an official position, their status will probably shoot through the roof."

Meanwhile, Song Dingxiang, oblivious to the gossip swirling around her, was busy making plans with Fang shi about their trip to the county fair in a few days. They were also planning to pick up her younger uncle on the way back and start preparing for the upcoming Chinese New Year.

"I was thinking of getting some tough fabric, so I can make a couple of strong outfits for Zhou Ge. Maybe grab a few more pairs of shoes, and I’m definitely thinking of buying another axe."

Fang shi raised an eyebrow. "Now that you're the head of the household, don't expect me to hold your hand forever. You need to manage things yourself."

Song Dingxiang let out a soft sigh. "I know, Mom. I was also thinking about getting some fabric to make handkerchiefs for you, though... You know, as a little gift."

Fang shi chuckled, shaking her head. "Do I really need handkerchiefs from you? You can keep those to yourself. But if you’re serious, I’ll give you two pieces of fabric to embroider for your grandmother and your older uncle’s wife. They’ve been so good to you."

Song Dingxiang laughed, nodding. "Of course, that's the least I can do. But I’m worried my older uncle’s wife won’t like my embroidery skills. Jin Qiao is so good at it; mine’s going to look like a mess."

Fang shi sighed, the weight of family matters clear in her voice. "Your sister-in-law Jin Qiao’s too busy to even think about embroidery these days. She handles everything around here, inside and out. If only you and your sister were as diligent as she is, I wouldn't have to worry so much."

The mother and daughter strolled into their courtyard, laughing and chatting away. Song Zhiyan, carrying wolf meat and pelts, greeted the elders in the family before hastily rushing off with her son. They had set out earlier that day to slaughter pigs in a nearby village but had only managed to kill two before news of their son-in-law’s return reached them. Hurrying back home, they arrived just in time to see the pigs lined up, waiting to be slaughtered.

Aunt Zhang peeked from the hall, her voice cutting through the bustle. “Is everyone back? Hurry up and wash your hands, come inside for the meal.”

Song Dingxiang flashed a smile. “Aunt, I’ll get Zhou ge to change into clean clothes first. These are all soaked in blood—don’t let the elders see him like this.”

Aunt Zhang chuckled lightly. “Go on then, but be quick. I made a huge batch of egg pancakes today, and if you’re too slow, there won’t be any left!”

Once inside, Zhou Yinuo immediately started the stove to heat the room, ensuring it would be warm when they returned from the meal.

“You’re so considerate,” Song Dingxiang teased. “What will I do when you go off to the army? All alone here, looking after the house?”

She busied herself, setting out the clothes for him to change into. “You’ve spoiled me rotten. Now I’m left wondering what I’ll do without you.”

Zhou Yinuo didn’t respond immediately. After washing up, he walked in, his hand reaching out to gently touch Song Dingxiang’s cheek. “I don’t want to leave either, Dingxiang… but if I don’t come back in a few years, promise me you’ll marry someone else.”

Song Dingxiang flinched, a sharp frown appearing on her face. “What nonsense is that?” she snapped, not wanting to hear it.

But deep down, despite her tough exterior, she couldn’t shake the worry. She didn’t want someone so precious to be lost in the world.

“I’m not talking nonsense,” Zhou Yinuo murmured, his voice quieter as if weighing the words.

Song Dingxiang pushed his hand away, irritation flashing across her face as she grabbed the clean clothes she had prepared. “Stop that thinking. You’ve got the name I gave you for a reason. Now, change quickly. The whole family’s waiting for us to eat.”

Zhou Yinuo changed into the fresh clothes and followed her to the Song family’s courtyard.

Upon hearing of Zhou Yinuo’s return, Li Shi had ordered her eldest daughter-in-law to steam some eggs for her beloved grandson-in-law. However, noticing there were still mouths to feed at home, the eldest aunt, taking matters into her own hands, cracked a few extra eggs, creating a large pot of egg cake.

Exhausted from the day’s work, Zhou Yinuo dug in, ravenously devouring his meal. A hearty bowl of sorghum rice, piled high with egg cake, went down first, followed by two thick cornmeal cakes. To top it off, he sipped down a steaming bowl of cabbage soup, its warmth spreading through him as it chased away the chill of the day.

After the meal, Zhou Yinuo, feeling comfortably full, leaned back and casually chatted with his grandfather, uncle, and two other uncles. “Looks like we won’t be seeing any wolves from the mountains for a while,” he said, voice easy but laced with a quiet confidence. “Uncle Li thinks this is the only wolf pack around. If we’re waiting for more to show up, it’s gonna take years. By then, I’ll probably be long gone anyway.”

Song Xingyi, Zhou Yinuo’s grandfather, chuckled softly, his eyes crinkling at the edges. “You’re a responsible young man,” he said, his tone warm but tinged with a hint of finality. “There’s not much more I can teach you now. Just remember to take care of yourself and keep your family in mind while you're out there.”

“Of course, Grandpa,” Zhou Yinuo responded, his voice steady and assured.

“Good,” Song Xingyi said, nodding thoughtfully. “Now, let’s not linger on that for too long. We’re not leaving yet. I’ll take a moment to relax and start marinating the wolf meat. Here’s a little tip for the marinade, my dear daughter-in-law: soak some dried kelp in it. When we stew the meat later, the kelp will help cut through the dryness and bring a richer flavor.”

Zhang Shi responded with a soft yet firm tone, “Don’t worry, Father. I’ve got it covered.”

*

After lunch, Fang Shi made sure to give the young couple some privacy. The moment Zhou Yinuo and his wife, Dingxiang, stepped into their room, his excitement practically buzzed in the air. "I’ve got it all down, every word we studied yesterday! Ready to dive into the next lesson?" he eagerly declared.

Dingxiang, with a gentle smile, guided him through a few lines from the Three Character Classic and the Thousand Character Classic. Then, she ordered him to soak in a relaxing bath, followed by a restful nap on the kang. The air was filled with the warmth and ease of their home, the kind of peace only true comfort can bring. But while the couple enjoyed this tranquility, Song Taohong's world was anything but calm.

She had married young, her pregnancy only adding to her already fragile state. Since then, her health had deteriorated. The constant nausea gnawed at her, and her skin, once fair and radiant, now had an unhealthy sallow tint.

Her husband, Xu Qiang, had left for the town academy to study. He had returned briefly for three days but had quickly left again, this time to prepare for the imperial examinations. Missing the exam meant waiting three more years for another shot at the chance.

Taohong, lying on the bed in the inner room, listened intently to the gossip flowing from the outer room where her mother-in-law and sister-in-law were chatting. The conversation was like a dull hum in the background, but it didn’t escape her notice.

"The fourth Song family’s rich, I saw it myself! They bought a ton of wolf pelts—each one for a silver coin! Who else would be willing to buy so many? And those wolves were all captured by Zhou Tiezhu. Tsk, tsk…" Her voice rang out, sharp and full of judgment.

Xu Shi, her mother-in-law, lowered her voice, murmuring something barely audible, with words that hinted at bad luck or some sort of misfortune.

A sinking feeling hit Taohong’s stomach. She could feel the unspoken words about her, the bitterness in the air. Her mind spun with frustration and resentment, and she couldn’t help but bristle. The tension between the words lingered, leaving her fuming in silence.