After a hearty meal, embracing the idea that every part of the deer was a treasure, Wufu and the others carefully packed up the entire deer. They wrapped the meat in banana leaves and placed it in baskets, and they even saved the deer blood, storing it in the small pots they brought to take home—these were all nourishing goods for the body.
Laden with a whole deer, the load was heavy, but Wufu hardly felt it; however, Liu Jin was still small and couldn’t carry something too heavy, so they thought about descending the mountain.
On their way, they encountered another wild hare. With the experience of having killed a deer, Wufu’s aim had become much more accurate with the next shot.
"Not bad, a big haul today," Wufu said, grabbing the arrow and tossing the hare into the basket along with the rest, very satisfied.
"In a few more days, I estimate the game will be even fatter," Liu Jin said with a smile.
Wufu nodded, "In a few days, when we have some free time, let’s come up again, and go a bit deeper in next time. Make sure you practice what I taught you today when we get back."
The master and servant chatted as they made their way down the mountain, and didn’t encounter any more game. They quickened their steps and by the time they saw their own house, the sun was already leaning west.
Upon arriving home, Wufu saw Madam Lu sitting in their yard, and his face involuntarily darkened.
Hadn’t Madam Zhou gone to the Zhou family to deliver festival gifts? Then why was Madam Lu here, sitting?
It turned out that the gifts Madam Zhou brought were better than before, especially the two yards of fabric she gave to Old Lady Zhou—it was too eye-catching. Madam Lu, unable to resist greed, made up the excuse of asking for a few shoe patterns to follow Madam Zhou home, hoping to grab some advantages for herself.
She just hadn’t expected that not long after sitting down, she would run into Wufu returning home.
Seeing Wufu, Madam Lu felt somewhat nervous; after all, she had suffered at her hands before.
"Oh, Wufu’s back," said Madam Lu, squeezing out a smile and taking a couple of steps closer, craning her neck to peek into the basket, curious to see what good things were inside.
Wufu avoided her gaze and instructed Liu Jin, "Call your Sister Hongyu to come out and help sort this out."
Hongyu, hearing the voices, had already run out from the kitchen, shouting, "Miss, you’re back!"
"Mm. Help Liu Jin sort it out." She took off her basket and handed it over directly.
Hongyu took the basket, but it was so heavy that she almost dropped it to the ground.
Madam Lu saw the struggle clearly. It was so heavy—did they actually catch something?
Wufu’s gaze fleetingly swept over to Madam Lu’s probing eyes, her own eyes growing colder, as she pulled out the hare that still had the arrow in it from the basket.
Madam Lu’s eyes brightened as she exclaimed, "This hare is really fat," and licked her thick lips smeared with rouge. Autumn was indeed the best season for wild game.
Wufu let out a cold laugh, took two steps forward, grabbed the hare with one hand and the arrow with the other, and yanked the arrow out forcefully.
She was strong, and her rough handling caused the blood from the hare to spatter, with a few drops even landing on Madam Lu.
Madam Lu was taken aback, immediately shrieking, and as she looked back at Wufu, she saw her holding the hare in one hand and the arrow in the other, the bloodied arrowhead dripping blood.
Wufu flashed her a smile, one that did not reach her eyes, unconsciously causing unease.
Madam Lu, frightened, stepped back twice and fled the yard with a ghostly shriek, running off in a cloud of dust.
"Hmph!" Wufu wiped the bloody arrowhead on the hare’s body, reflecting on the cowardice.
Madam Zhou stepped out from the house, still holding a couple of shoe patterns, and paused when she saw Wufu, "You’re back." She looked around, "Where’s your Elder Maternal Aunt?"
Wufu, leisurely holding the hare, walked toward the kitchen, "Scared her off."
Madam Zhou stood still, shocked. Scared off?