Chapter 18: Human Relations
Under the dim oil lamp, a bowl of corn porridge and a plate of pickles sat on the dinner table.
This was Li Nainai's dinner.
“It's not a holiday, why are you making dumplings! Your dad's leg is injured, and things are tight at home, but every time you make something good to eat, you still think of this old woman!” Li Nainai looked kindly at Yue Feng and muttered.
“This is the flour and meat I bought back after selling wild game in the city. They just came out of the pot, please have a taste!”
“Good! Good!” The old lady took the dumplings, placed them on the pot lid, and returned the empty bowl to Yue Feng.
“Please eat, don't come out to see me off! I'll be going now!”
...
After much persuasion, Li Nainai still saw Yue Feng to the door. The old lady closed the courtyard gate before turning back inside.
It was only a few steps home, but Yue Feng thought about many things.
In his previous life, after Yue Feng got married, he went into the Forest Farm in winter to do odd jobs stacking timber. When he returned for the New Year, he heard his wife say that Li Nainai's second son had taken the old lady to the city to enjoy life. Looking at the current timeline, there should still be at least four or five years left.
The Li Family had sacrificed too much for the country. Before there was any news of her son, he should help out as much as he could! Yue Feng thought to himself.
By the time Yue Feng returned home after delivering the dumplings to Li Nainai's family, the family of three hadn't touched their chopsticks yet. Drool was practically dripping from the youngest child's mouth, but she still held back from starting.
“You guys can eat first, no need to wait for me!” Yue Feng scratched his head, feeling a little touched.
Meng Yulan smiled and said, “That won't do. These dumplings today were earned by my good son, so we must wait for you to come back before we can start eating!”
“Alright, alright, I'm back, hurry and eat! Look how much Jingjing is craving it, wipe her drool!” Yue Feng casually picked up a towel and dotingly wiped his sister's face.
As soon as she got permission, the little girl quickly picked up a dumpling and took a bite.
The dumplings had cooled for a few minutes after coming out of the pot and were no longer too hot to eat. When the little girl took a bite, her eyes narrowed into crescent shapes with satisfaction.
Yue Feng also picked up a dumpling with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. The freshness of the cabbage mixed with the aroma of pork fat exploded in his mouth; it was indeed much tastier than pickles and steamed buns.
Yue Feng had just eaten cold steamed buns on the mountain for lunch, and his stomach was already hungry. Without ceremony, the family of four devoured the entire large plate of dumplings like a storm sweeping through.
Especially the youngest, Jingjing, who was the most eager, she stuffed a full 14 dumplings into her small stomach. After finishing the meal, her little belly was round.
After finishing the dumplings, Yue Feng carried a Flying Dragon and two Sand Grouse to the home of Old Li Brother, their front neighbor. Li Wentong's family of five had just started their meal.
“Oh, Xiao Feng is here, come in quickly. Have you had dinner, want to eat with us?” Aunt Li, who opened the door, asked.
Yue Feng said with a smile, “Aunt, don't bother, I just finished eating at home before coming! Today I went up the mountain with the Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Female) to hunt a small area and caught a few chickens, so I brought a few over for Aunt and Uncle to try! Aunt, please find a bag, the Flying Dragon and Sand Grouse are still alive!”
“Caught them alive? That's quite rare! Usually, you can only catch these things after it snows each year to satisfy your craving!” Li Wentong got up, glanced at the wild game Yue Feng brought over, and said with a smile.
“The Saker Falcon I caught with a net a few days ago is quite capable. From now on, we won't be short of these small mountain chickens to eat!” Yue Feng said confidently.
Li Wentong: “That's great! I was just telling your brother yesterday that we'd go up the mountain to catch Sand Grouse to eat when it snows. Today, this counts as our wish coming true!”
Yue Feng's heart stirred when he heard Li Shu mention going up the mountain. He continued the conversation, “Uncle, my dad definitely won't be able to go up the mountain with you this year, otherwise, how about I go with you later! Let's go catch a big wild boar!”
Li Wentong shook his head, “Wild boars are not easy to catch. Neither of our families has dogs or guns. Relying on a few snares and traps is too dangerous!
You should still listen to your dad and honestly hunt small areas with the Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Female); it's safer! If you really want to go, wait until next autumn when your dad's leg is better, and he'll take you then!”
“I'll go up the mountain with you guys to hunt wild boars then too!” At this moment, Li Shu's eldest son, Li Mingtao, also chimed in.
“Go up what mountain? I think you have trouble even getting onto the kang. Stay out of the way, don't be an eyesore!!” Li Wentong glared at his eldest son. The latter shrank his neck and dared not speak.
Speaking of Li Shu's eldest son, Li Mingtao, he was also 17 this year, a tall 180cm, with thick eyebrows and large eyes. To use a more fashionable phrase, he was definitely a well-known handsome young man in the surrounding villages.
However, this guy was bold. He didn't like using his brain when doing things. In Northeast dialect, this guy was a bit 'hu' (reckless). Every time he caused trouble, he would get disciplined by his dad.
Yue Feng saw Mingtao being put in his place and smiled, “Xiao Tao will also be 18 next year and an adult. If he wants to go then, he can come along. Even if he can't do anything else, if we catch a wild boar, he can do some heavy lifting!”
“This child is not as careful and steady as you. He's been reckless since he was a child. If you don't watch him for a second, he can cause a huge mess! We'll talk about it then, see how he behaves!” Li Wentong also agreed with Yue Feng's words, not closing the door on the possibility.
“Hehe, Feng Ge's words are still the most effective!” Xiao Tao chuckled when he heard Yue Feng speaking favorably about him, and he looked at Yue Feng gratefully.
“Well then, hurry up and eat, it'll get cold soon! I'll head back now!” Yue Feng finished his business, said goodbye, and turned to leave.
“Xiao Tao, see your Second Brother out!”
“Okay! Alright!” Li Mingtao responded and casually saw Yue Feng all the way out to the courtyard gate.
When they reached the doorway, Yue Feng lowered his voice and said, “If there's a chance to hunt a large area later, I'll definitely take you! You behave well during this time, and if everything goes smoothly, we'll have a chance to go up the mountain when winter snows arrive this year!”
Li Mingtao nodded, “Okay! Call me then, I'll definitely obey orders and follow instructions!”
Yue Feng waved his hand, “I'm off!”
Returning from Li Shu's house, Yue Feng immediately went home without stopping, picked up a Flying Dragon and a Sand Grouse, tied their wings and legs with wire, and headed straight for the Village Secretary Wang Jianguo's house under the cover of night.
Yue Feng's parents were both honest and simple farmers. In his previous life, they had very little interaction with the Village Secretary's family. But now it was different. Yue Feng, having lived two lives, how could he not know the principle that to stand out in the village, one must have a good relationship with the Village Secretary!
Borrowing the bicycle this time was less about selling wild game in the city and more about finding an excuse to establish a connection.
When making friends, you trouble others with small favors they can handle a few times, and then give back appropriately. With give and take, the relationship slowly matures.
Build relationships slowly, first become familiar faces. Then, when it's time for a crucial matter you want to accomplish, promise some benefits, and it will happen with a little push and pull.