Reborn in 1982, the prodigal son returns

It was the twentieth day of the first lunar month, just as dawn was breaking. Lin Nuo was checking the crossbow strings in the courtyard when the gate was pushed open.

Zhao Xiuying poked her head out of the kitchen, still holding a porridge ladle in her hand. Her expression changed when she saw who it was.

The man was in his early forties, wearing a drab gray cotton-padded jacket. He was carrying a piece of meat, probably weighing two or three pounds, and was rather thin, with no visible fat.

Zhao Xiuying's brows furrowed:

"Big brother? What brings you here?"

The visitor was Zhao Xiuying's older brother, Zhao Weihong, Lin Nuo's uncle. He was from Zhao Village, more than twenty miles from Liujia Gou. He was considered a capable man in the village, having served as a squad leader in his younger years, but for some unknown reason, he had left the position.

However, in Zhao Village over the years, everyone has a clear understanding of Zhao Weihong: stingy, miserly, and always trying to make the most of every penny. No one can take advantage of him.

Including one's own father.

When Grandpa passed away, Lin Nuo was still young. She remembers that Zhao Xiuying cried until her eyes were swollen like walnuts, busy with the funeral arrangements. Zhao Weihong didn't show up much, and after the funeral, the two families' relationship faded.

It seems that Lin Nuo has only ever eaten one meal at Zhao Weihong's house in his entire life, and that was at his daughter's wedding. During holidays and festivals, Zhao Weihong never visits or invites them over.

In her past life, Zhao Weihong told people:

"That second son of the Lin family, that's all he'll ever be." When these words reached Lin Nuo's ears, he didn't take them seriously at the time. Now that he has changed for the better and is hunting to earn money, this uncle has come knocking on his door.

One doesn't visit the temple without a reason.

Lin Nuo's expression was indifferent.

Zhao Weihong stood at the door, a smile plastered on her face.

"Xiuying, look at what you're saying. I just missed you all. I was so busy during the Lunar New Year that I didn't have time to come over, so I came as soon as I had a spare moment."

He came in and stuffed the meat he was carrying into Zhao Xiuying's hands:

"Hey, the pig we slaughtered at home, I brought you a piece. It's a bit thin."

Zhao Xiuying took the meat, glanced at the lean piece, and said nothing. She knew in her heart that her elder brother never acted without a reason.

Zhao Weihong's gaze swept quickly around the courtyard, landing on the basket of medicinal herbs by the storeroom door, and his eyes lit up. He rubbed his hands together and chuckled:

"Nuozi, you've really made something of yourself! I heard you hunted a wild boar, over 300 jin? I heard it can sell for over a hundred? Oh my, your uncle is so happy for you."

Lin Nuo leaned against the wall, watching Zhao Weihong. He chuckled to himself: "It's true what they say, 'A good-for-nothing goes unnoticed for years, but one day he goes hunting and the whole village knows.'"

In his past life, when his family was down on their luck, he had never seen this uncle.

"uncle."

Lin Nuo called out, but his tone was devoid of emotion.

Zhao Weihong wasn't embarrassed. She walked over and reached out to pat Lin Nuo's shoulder. Lin Nuo neither dodged nor responded; she just stood there.

Zhao Weihong patted him on the shoulder, her face beaming with a smile:

"Nuozi, you've become capable now, and your uncle is proud of you. You're our only nephew in the Zhao family, so we'll have to help you out in the future."

Lin Weiguo came out of the main room and stood on the threshold. Zhao Weihong quickly said:

"Brother-in-law, how are you feeling?"

Lin Weiguo hummed in agreement and lowered his head to drink his porridge.

Zhao Xiuying placed the meat on the kitchen counter, came out, wiped her hands on her apron, and looked at Zhao Weihong:

"Brother, what brings you all this way?"

Zhao Weihong rubbed her hands together again.

"Xiuying, I'm getting old, and my health isn't what it used to be. Lingling married and moved to the county town, and she only comes back a few times a year. I'm all alone at home... it's so lonely."

"I'm thinking of coming to live in Liujiagou. You have plenty of rooms here, so I can stay in the west room or the east room, I'm not picky. We siblings can stay close together and look after each other. I can also help you with some chores."

Zhao Xiuying's expression changed. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. She turned to look at Lin Nuo.

Lin Nuo's expression changed, but he quickly recovered. He sneered inwardly: Now that I can make money, I think I can retire here? Dream on.

"uncle,"

Lin Nuo spoke:

"If you come to stay, we have no room. The west room is Wanqing's study, we live in the east room ourselves, and the room next to the kitchen is used for storing miscellaneous items. Where would you like to stay?"

Zhao Weihong was stunned for a moment, and the smile on her face couldn't be maintained, but she still shamelessly said:

"Then... then why don't you tidy up the storage room? I'm not picky, as long as there's a place to shelter from the wind and rain."

Lin Nuo shook his head, his tone unhurried:

"Uncle, there are many young people in Zhao Village. You've lived there for decades and know all your neighbors. Coming here, you're a complete stranger, with no one to talk to. You should stay in Zhao Village; it'll be more convenient for you."

Zhao Weihong's face darkened completely. He hadn't expected his nephew to be so disrespectful.

I took a deep breath and changed my strategy.

"Nuozi, your uncle only has one daughter. Once she's married, everything in the house... won't it all be yours? You'll be taking care of me in my old age, so who else would I leave all this to if not you?"

He looked up at Lin Nuo.

Lin Nuo looked at him but didn't reply. She smiled inwardly.

They've started making empty promises.

"uncle,"

Lin Nuo stood up:

"Keep your things for yourself. We're busy here and don't have time to take care of you. If you really want someone to take care of you in your old age, why don't you go to the county town and find your daughter, and have her arrange things for you?"

Zhao Weihong's face flushed red instantly; she was completely humiliated.

"Lin Nuo, what do you mean by this? I came here out of kindness, and you won't even give me a way out? I'm your own uncle! If your grandfather were alive, would he let you treat me like this?"

Lin Nuo looked at him:

"Uncle, you didn't take care of Grandpa much when he was alive."

Zhao Weihong couldn't say a word.

Zhao Xiuying stood to the side, her eyes red, but she didn't say anything.

Zhao Weihong took a deep breath, turned around and left. Reaching the kitchen door, she glanced at the piece of meat, a pang of heartache in her eyes.

Lin Nuo walked over, picked up the piece of meat from the kitchen counter, and stuffed it back into Zhao Weihong's hand:

"Uncle, please take the meat back. You can come anytime in the future, no need to bring anything. We'll come to visit you when we have time."

Zhao Weihong clutched the piece of meat, her face turning a deep purplish-red. Her lips trembled, as if she wanted to say something harsh, but looking at Lin Nuo, Lin Weiguo, and Zhao Xiuying, whose expressions were all rather unpleasant.

"Fine, your Lin family is fine."

"So you've become rich and don't recognize your relatives anymore? Fine, I'll remember you."

He turned and left without looking back. The courtyard gate slammed shut with a bang.

Lin Nuo stood in the courtyard, looking at the closed door.

Lin Weiguo placed the bowl of porridge on the doorframe and glanced at Lin Nuo:

"You went too far with your words."

Lin Nuo didn't turn around, and his voice wasn't loud:

"Father, some things are better left unsaid, or they'll cause more trouble later."

Lin Weiguo remained silent for a moment, put down the bowl, turned and went into the main room:

"...You did the right thing."

Lin Nuo turned around and walked to Zhao Xiuying's side.

"Mother." Lin Nuo squatted down.

Zhao Xiuying didn't look up, her voice muffled:

"Your uncle... wasn't like this before. When your maternal grandfather was alive, he was... alright."

Before she could finish speaking, her eyes welled up with tears again.

Lin Nuo reached out and gently patted Zhao Xiuying's arm, just like she used to comfort him when they were little:

"Mom, I know. You're not feeling sorry for him, you're just thinking about Grandpa."

Zhao Xiuying's shoulders trembled slightly:

"Noko..."

"mother,"

Lin Nuo's voice was not loud:

"You've done more than enough for Grandpa. As for Zhao Weihong, we don't owe him anything. Don't be sad, Dad and I are here for you."

Zhao Xiuying wiped her face with the back of her hand, sniffed, and nodded:

"When did you learn to talk like that?"

Lin Nuo didn't answer. He stood up and pulled her up from the ground.

"Mom, the porridge is cold, I'll go heat it up."

He turned and went into the kitchen, where the sounds of pots and pans filled the air.

That night, Lin Nuo lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) and told Su Wanqing what had happened. From her uncle entering the house, to his words, to his rejection, to Zhao Xiuying crying.

Su Wanqing listened without saying a word. She reached her hand out from under the blanket and took his hand in hers.

"Will your uncle... come again?" she asked.

"I don't know. It's fine whether he comes or not. If he's genuinely interested, we can treat each other like family. But if he's just trying to take advantage of us, then he shouldn't come."

Su Wanqing didn't reply, but simply tightened her grip on his hand a little.

"When I was a nobody, nobody respected me. Now that I can earn money, relatives are coming to my door."

His voice was very soft, as if he were talking to himself.

You are doing well now.

She said it softly.

Lin Nuo looked at Su Wanqing's delicate face, the corners of his mouth curled up, he squeezed her hand a little tighter, gently rubbed his thumb on the back of her hand, and then leaned close to her ear.

His lips were almost touching her earlobe, his breath hot and ticklish against her ear.

His voice was low and a little hoarse:

"Wanqing... Tomorrow is Saturday."

The meaning is crystal clear.

Su Wanqing's ears turned red instantly.

So cute.

Lin Nuo didn't urge her, just waited. His breath brushed against her ear, like a deliberate teasing.

Su Wanqing blushed, closed her eyes, just like on her wedding night.

I'm starting to feel resigned to my fate.

Lin Nuo's heart skipped a beat. He reached out and gently brushed the stray hairs from her face.

Silent all night.

Lin Nuo woke up just as dawn was breaking.

Su Wanqing was still asleep, probably exhausted from last night.

Lin Nuo turned his head to look at her and chuckled, "My wife is really beautiful."

He slowly sat up, his cotton-padded coat draped over the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed). He reached out to touch it, and the movement pulled on his shoulder, causing a slight stinging pain. He looked down and saw several shallow scratches on his shoulder.

A smile crept onto his face. "Last night, hehe."

They got what they wanted, and the two of them were truly united in body and soul.

Lin Nuo quietly put on her clothes, turning up the collar of her cotton-padded jacket to cover the marks on her shoulders.

He walked to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), looked down at Su Wanqing, who was still asleep, breathing very lightly and slowly, her face buried in the pillow, only half of her face showing, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned with a slight curve.

Lin Nuo gently kissed her forehead and walked out of the house.

He didn't notice that after Lin Nuo left, Su Wanqing opened her eyes, her face flushed, as if she had thought of something, and buried her face in the quilt.

In the courtyard, it was already broad daylight.

Lin Nuo stood in the middle of the yard and stretched. The scratches on his shoulder still hurt a little. He moved his shoulder and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

I felt refreshed and went to the storeroom to get my crossbow and pickaxe. I had already arranged to meet the old foreman today.

He pushed open the courtyard gate and walked briskly towards Song Village.

When they arrived at Zhang's house, the gate was open. Zhang was squatting in the yard sharpening his knife. Hearing footsteps, he looked up and saw Lin Nuo with a crossbow on his shoulder and a pickaxe in his hand. He then shook his head.

Lin Nuo was taken aback. He didn't understand why the old foreman was shaking his head.

Zhang didn't speak. He tucked the sharpened knife into the leather sheath at his waist, stood up, brushed the dirt off his knees, and glanced at him.

"Walk."

"Uncle Zhang, where are we going?"

Zhang didn't answer, turned around and left the courtyard. Lin Nuo had no choice but to follow, her heart filled with doubt, but she didn't dare to ask any more questions.

The two walked one after the other, not along the path into the mountains, but towards the town. Lin Nuo followed behind, watching Zhang Batou's thin back, wondering: Where are they taking him? What are they going to buy in town?

Upon reaching the town, Zhang, the foreman, went straight into a blacksmith shop. The shop was small, with a dark facade and piles of scrap iron and charcoal slag at the entrance. The clanging sounds of hammering metal could be heard from inside.

The blacksmith's surname was Li, and his name was Li Tietou. He was a big, burly man with arms thicker than Lin Nuo's thighs, and his apron was covered with holes burned by sparks.

When he saw Zhang, the foreman, come in, his eyes lit up. He put down the hammer in his hand, wiped his hands on his apron, and grinned.

"Oh, Mr. Zhang, you're quite punctual."

His voice was loud and clear, buzzing throughout the shop:

"Your old musket is repaired. Take a look."

He turned and took a musket from the shelf, handing it to me with both hands. The stock was made of wood, darkened and shiny from the sweat of his hands, and the barrel was polished to a gleaming shine.

Zhang took the musket and examined it from all angles. He tested it by resting the butt against his shoulder, then leveled it and aimed, before touching the connection between the barrel and the shaft.

"good."

He said.

Li Tietou chuckled twice and rubbed his hands together.

"I'm glad you're satisfied, I'm glad you're satisfied."

He then noticed Lin Nuo, looked her up and down, his gaze sweeping over Lin Nuo before he grinned:

"My skill in making muskets is nowhere near as good as yours, sir. Is this your apprentice? I never knew you had an apprentice, Master Zhang."

Lin Nuo glanced at Zhang Ba Tou. Zhang Ba Tou didn't speak, neither nodding nor shaking his head, his face expressionless.

Lin Nuo's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly nodded, giving a simple, honest smile. He didn't explain, but instead seized the opportunity to press the matter further.

Li Tietou laughed heartily:

"Young man, learn from Master Zhang. His skills are enough to support you for a lifetime."

Zhang turned the musket over, checked the barrel and chamber again, then turned around and handed the musket to Lin Nuo.

Lin Nuo hesitated for a moment, then didn't dare to answer.

"Take it."

Zhang, the foreman, spoke softly, but his words left no room for refusal.

Lin Nuo took it with both hands. The musket was heavy, heavier than he had imagined.

"Crossbows are good for shooting rabbits, but for larger targets, you need a musket."

Zhang looked at him calmly.

"Use this from now on."

Lin Nuo felt a sudden pang of sadness, his eyes welling up with tears. He lowered his head, his fingers slowly tracing the stock of the gun.

He never imagined that the musket would end up in his hands like this.

These days, most homemade muskets are made by old hunters themselves; blacksmiths don't make them for ordinary people, so he never thought about making a musket in the first place.

"Uncle Zhang, I..."

Zhang waved his head and hand, stopping him from continuing.

Li Tietou stood to the side, watching this scene, and shook his head with a smile:

"Uncle Zhang, you're getting on in years, and you finally have someone to take care of you in your old age. This young man seems honest and reliable; you'll be enjoying a comfortable life from now on."

Lin Nuo raised his head and nodded solemnly. The old foreman had been good to him, and he was willing to take care of him in his old age.

Unexpectedly, Zhang shook his head.

His face was expressionless.

"I don't need anyone to support me in my old age. When I'm too old to walk, I'll just go into the old forest and let those things tear me apart and eat me. It'll be a case of one debt being repaid with another."

Li Tietou's smile froze on his face. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but looking at Zhang Batou's chiseled face, he swallowed his words back.

Lin Nuo gripped the musket tightly, his knuckles turning white. He looked at Zhang, the foreman, who had already turned around, his back straight, and walked towards the shop entrance.

"Let's go."

Zhang the foreman's voice came from the doorway:

"Go into the mountains."