Volume One, Chapter Eight: Gratitude and the Intricacies of Human Affairs

“Knock, knock, knock—”

“Who is it?”

A voice questioned from the courtyard.

“Auntie, it’s me, Zhou Wu.”

At this hour, Niu Er should have already gone to the fields to work. Only his mother, Niu Zhang, and his younger sister remained at home, so it was natural for the two women to be cautious.

“Oh, it’s little Wu. Come in quickly and have a seat.”

Upon hearing it was Zhou Wu, Niu Zhang relaxed and opened the door, warmly inviting him inside.

“Auntie, has Niu Er gone to the fields?”

“Yes, he got up before dawn. It’s too hot during the day, so it’s cooler in the morning.”

“In that case, I won’t come in. I hunted a deer in the mountains this morning and brought some for you.”

With that, Zhou Wu revealed the leg of a deer. Seeing such a large piece of meat, Niu Zhang hurriedly declined.

“No, no, your family is struggling too. I can’t accept this.”

“Auntie, please take it. If it weren’t for you and Niu Er, I don’t know if I’d still be alive. Refusing would be like slapping my own face.”

Indeed, since Zhou Wu’s father passed away, he had only ever studied and knew nothing of practical skills. If it weren’t for the help from Niu Er’s family, he likely wouldn’t have survived.

“Wu Ge, you’re here! Wow, a deer leg!”

Hearing the lively conversation outside, Niu Er’s younger sister, Niu Xiuniu, quickly came out. She hadn’t seen Wu Ge for months, and the sight of the deer leg, especially given the lack of meat in recent times, was irresistibly tempting.

“You naughty child,” Niu Xiuniu said, her eyes fixed on the deer leg, causing Niu Zhang’s face to flush with embarrassment.

“Well then, Auntie, I’ll be going.”

Seizing the moment while Niu Xiuniu was distracted, Zhou Wu hurriedly pressed the deer leg into Niu Zhang’s hands and took his leave.

***

Next, Zhou Wu went to the village chief’s house.

Although it was already midday, no smoke rose from chimneys in the village, including the village chief’s home.

“Knock, knock, knock.”

“Oh, Scholar Zhou, what brings you here?”

The village chief, also surnamed Niu, was a man in his fifties. In Zhou Wu’s time, fifty was considered quite old, as the average lifespan barely reached forty. Thus, a man in his fifties was regarded as elderly.

“Village Chief.”

“Scholar Zhou, is there something you need?”

Zhou Wu’s family was an outsider in Niu Family Village. However, unlike typical stories where locals bully newcomers, they had been treated kindly, even after Zhou Wu’s father’s death, often receiving help. Yet, the village chief’s life was not easy.

The village had barely over a hundred residents, mostly elderly, women, and children. The able-bodied men had mostly perished in wars. The village’s plight was evident.

“This morning I hunted a deer. I wanted to thank you for your constant help.”

Zhou Wu then presented the deer leg.

“Your family isn’t well off either; I can’t accept this. Just cook a meal for me sometime,” the village chief said.

“Treating you to a meal is the least I can do, but please do accept the deer leg,” Zhou Wu insisted.

The village chief’s wife, unable to stand by, feared her husband would refuse such a generous gift.

“You old fellow, Scholar Zhou is offering out of kindness, and your family is struggling too. Why act so stubborn?” she chided. Then, turning to Zhou Wu with a warm smile, she took the deer leg.

The village chief’s wife was a well-known figure in the region, quite the opposite of her husband in temperament. Sharp-tongued and eager to seize any advantage, the couple had quarrelled their whole lives.

“Scholar, please come in and sit.”

After taking the deer leg, she ushered Zhou Wu inside. He had business to discuss and readily followed.

“Drink some water,” she said.

Her manner was such that whoever gained her favor was met with a warm smile, but anyone who crossed her would instantly face a torrent of scolding.

“Thank you, Auntie.”

“You scholars are always so polite. You two carry on,” she said, quickly taking the deer leg into the inner room as if afraid Zhou Wu might change his mind.

“Village Chief, I have a small matter to ask for your help.”

“Heh, I was wondering why you came to see me. Speak up.”

The village chief’s straightforwardness made Zhou Wu feel a little embarrassed.

“I want to clear some land.”

“You want to open new fields?”

The Dà Lóng Dynasty, with its vast lands and sparse population, had relaxed rules on land development. Villagers only needed to register with the village chief to legalize new fields. However, this applied only to official citizens; stateless wanderers could not clear land and were relegated to tenant farmers or punished severely if they did.

Many wealthy landlords exploited these rules, turning ordinary people into stateless tenants to increase their own wealth.

“Yes, there are more mouths at home now, and we’re idle most days.”

The rumor of Zhou Wu’s wife arriving had spread, but villagers were too preoccupied with survival to care much beyond mild curiosity.

“I’ve heard about your wife. Since she arrived, I’ve noticed a change in you—that’s good. I’ll come by tomorrow to measure the land and make sure your application is processed.”

Villagers opening new fields was good news for the village chief; no one wished to see their village starve.

“Thank you, Village Chief. I won’t keep you any longer.”

After delivering the gift and settling the matter, Zhou Wu left promptly—no point in staying for a meal.

“Oh, Scholar, you’re leaving so soon? Why not eat something before you go?”

Hearing Zhou Wu’s departure, the village chief’s wife came out to invite him, but if he dared stay, he might witness her sudden change in demeanor.

“No trouble, Auntie. Someone’s waiting for me at home.”

“Ah, yes, Scholar, you’re a married man now,” she teased.

Zhou Wu didn’t respond to the ribbing; in the countryside, the more you explain, the more teasing you invite.

With some time left, Zhou Wu went back up the mountain to check his remaining traps. He caught a rabbit, two wild chickens, and a monkey.

Quickly freeing the monkey from the trap, Zhou Wu noticed it baring its teeth at him. Since monkeys are primates, he felt uneasy and released it.

“Now Bai Wei won’t complain about having nothing to do.”

Packing his game into his basket, Zhou Wu hurried home. Just as he descended the mountain, he encountered someone in the village whom everyone avoided.