Chapter 58: Abundant Harvest, Joy Across the Family

"You're back! Grandpa's back!" Before Du Yun and the others even reached their own yard, the children had already rushed out to greet them, skipping and hopping around the group. They circled noisily, their eyes wide with curiosity and a hint of fear as they gazed at the roe deer slung over Grandpa Du Yun and Du Huai’s shoulders.

"So that’s a roe deer? It’s so big!" Du Yin stared at the animal with wide, blinking eyes, her voice full of awe.

"Yes, that’s a roe deer. Grandpa and Second Brother caught it—they’re amazing, aren’t they?" Du Yun smiled warmly, gently ruffling Du Yin’s hair. The little girl had been doing well lately, her cheeks rosy and plump.

"When I grow up, I’m going to hunt in the mountains too! I’ll bring back an even bigger roe deer!" Du Bai gazed longingly at the bow and arrows at Du Yun’s waist, imagining himself shooting up tall like Du Huai and heading into the mountains to hunt.

"Alright, once you’re as tall as Second Brother, you can go up the mountain," Du Yun said, patting Du Bai’s back with a laugh.

"Let me carry that for you, Sister!" Du Bai noticed how heavy Du Yun’s basket looked and hurried to help.

"Sure, lend your sister a hand!" Du Yun giggled, not turning him down, but she didn’t let the boy, who was only up to her chest, carry the heavy basket. Instead, she unhooked a pheasant hanging from the side and let him carry that.

"I want to help too! Me too!" Once Du Bai started, all the children clamored to join in. Even though they hadn’t gone hunting themselves, carrying the game made them feel that they’d contributed, and they were thrilled.

"Alright, alright!" Du Yun handed another pheasant to Du Bai, and a rabbit to Du Yin. As for Du Fang and Du Qin, who had come out later, they were older girls and a bit afraid of the animal carcasses; with hands over their noses, they kept their distance, so Du Yun didn’t ask them to help.

"It’s so big—are we saving all the meat to eat?" The children walked home happily, chattering away. Du Tong’s thoughts were simple: meat meant happiness; no meat, no happiness.

"Enough talking now, let’s go home quickly!" Grandma Du Yun saw the roe deer being carried in, but her grandchildren were still laughing outside. She stepped out to call them in.

"Come on, let’s go home! I’ve got something fun to show you!" Du Yun called, herding the children inside.

"What is it? What is it?" The children pestered her with questions, while Du Fang and Du Qin glanced over with faces full of curiosity and anticipation.

"You’ll see when we get home!" Du Yun replied mysteriously. Once inside, she had the children put the pheasants and rabbit in the kitchen for Grandma to sort out, then led them to squat under the shade of a tree in the yard, placing the basket in the center.

She gently removed the leaves covering the basket, revealing a nest of fluffy, snow-white baby rabbits to the children’s delight.

"Wow! Baby rabbits!" The children’s excitement bubbled over. There was a large, snowy white rabbit and a nest of tiny, fist-sized baby bunnies huddled together, wriggling adorably in the basket.

"They’re so cute, the little rabbits!" Whether boys or girls, all the Du children were utterly charmed by the nest of soft, fluffy bunnies, crowding around the basket, none of them wanting to move, all eager to touch and cuddle them.

"You lot, these baby rabbits need to be raised, so none of you are allowed to touch them! If one dies, that’s several meals of meat lost!" Grandma Du Yun, having sorted the game in the house, came out to find the children fussing around the basket and scolded them sternly.

"We won’t hurt the baby rabbits! I’ll gather grass for them to eat!" Du Yin promised in a small voice, her eyes shining with joy.

"Me too! I’ll help gather grass—and I can catch bugs for them to eat!" Du Tong chimed in enthusiastically.

"Shoo, rabbits eat grass, not bugs! Now, tidy yourselves up—there’s pheasant simmering in the pot. If you’re late to the table, see if you don’t end up crying for missing out on meat!" Grandma Du Yun couldn’t help but laugh at the children’s obedient faces. With a roe deer, two pheasants, and two rabbits brought home, today’s haul was nothing short of abundant.

"Hurry up and wash up! After being in the mountains all day, you must be tired. Have some water and rest a bit before dinner," she called as the children rushed inside, eager for their meal. Watching Du Yun crouched on the ground feeding the rabbits with leaves, Grandma Du Yun’s voice softened with affection.

Earlier, when they were sorting the game, Grandpa Du Yun had told Grandma Du Yun that the rabbits and pheasants had all been caught by Du Yun, and even the roe deer was only captured because Du Yun’s arrow struck first.

Looking at her beautiful granddaughter, Grandma Du Yun was amazed—who would have thought this girl could not only earn money but also, on her first hunting trip, prove so skillful? She truly was the family’s lucky star. Thinking of this, Grandma Du Yun felt her decision not to hastily marry Du Yun off to Dong Yuejin had been absolutely right.

"Alright! I’ll settle the baby rabbits in," Du Yun replied happily. She picked up the basket and followed her grandmother into the little storeroom, where they settled the nest of bunnies in an old, battered earth basket.

By the time Du Yun had washed up and come out, the tempting aroma of stewed pheasant had already filled the courtyard. The children, laughing and bouncing, crowded at the kitchen door, poking their heads in now and then to breathe in the delicious scent, happy beyond measure.

Before long, the chicken was done. Although only one pheasant had been stewed, with plenty of potatoes and mushrooms added, the pot was filled to the brim.

As dusk fell, the whole Du family gathered in the house, old and young alike, eating chicken and drinking soup, hearts brimming with contentment.

What was a good life? Having food to eat, clothes to wear, a roof over your head and money in your pocket—that was a good life. Now that the family ate well and looked forward to the days ahead, smiles blossomed on every face.

The state of a family is best seen in its women. Where once Grandma Du Yun had always been cross, now she had grown kindly. Where Du Yun’s mother and second aunt had worn constant sorrow, now their faces carried smiles. Even the third aunt, once sharp-tongued and full of complaints, had no mood for bitter words, focusing instead on gnawing her chicken with satisfaction.

Du Yun ate her meat and soup, her heart filled with contentment. Using her own strength to bring a better life to her family—there was nothing happier in the world than this.