My sister broke off her engagement to marry someone richer? My older sister married me and became in

The sky had completely darkened, and the leaden-gray clouds hung low.

The grandfather and grandson, dragging the heavy bearskin sacks, finally arrived at the entrance of Hongshitun.

The sled left a wide rut in the snow, and the small hill on top was completely covered with broken branches and dry grass, so that you couldn't see what was inside.

This is all just a disguise by Old Master Lu.

"Don't make a fuss when you go back this time."

The old man turned his head and looked at him with an exceptionally serious expression.

"Wild boars and bears, they've been making too much noise lately, it's not a good thing."

Lu Qingshan understood that the old man was afraid of attracting unwanted attention.

The wood is beautiful in the forest, and the wind will destroy it.

He nodded: "Sir, I'll do whatever you say."

The grandfather and grandson didn't say anything more. They used the ashes they had picked up from the ground to wipe the bag, absorbing all the blood and removing most of the bloody smell, before dragging him into the village.

After the disguise, the sled looked more like a pile of inconspicuous junk.

I had only taken a few steps into the village when I bumped into Aunt Zhang, who was out visiting neighbors with a bowl in her hand.

Aunt Zhang, with her sharp eyes, immediately spotted the huge slipper behind the father and son.

"Hey, Uncle Lu, Qingshan, you've come up the mountain again?" Aunt Zhang's shout immediately drew the attention of Sister Li, who was brushing snow off her clothes, and Uncle Zhao, who was squatting on the stone mill smoking a pipe.

Aunt Li tucked her hands into her sleeves and glanced at me sideways.

"Hey, Qingshan, what treasures have you been hunting in the mountains for this time? You just hunted that huge wild boar the other day, you must have made a good amount of money, right?"

Aunt Zhang's eyes darted around:

"They haven't even had a couple of days of rest, and they're already heading into the mountains again? Young people are full of energy and capable, but they shouldn't monopolize all the money-making opportunities. They should leave some opportunities for the villagers to make a living too."

Uncle Zhao exhaled a puff of white smoke, smacked his lips, and replied with a forced smile.

"That's right, Qingshan is a big shot in our village now. My nephew works in the city and only earns a few coins a month, even though he works himself to the bone. He doesn't earn as much as Qingshan does in one trip down the mountain."

As they spoke, three pairs of eyes fixed on Old Lu's back, each one revealing a hint of tension and inquiry.

Grandpa Lu shook his head: "We've used up all the wild boar as betrothal gifts, and we're almost out of money."

Aunt Zhang craned her neck but didn't answer: "Uncle Lu, what kind of good stuff is this?"

Grandpa Lu didn't even lift his eyelids, replying indifferently, "Nothing much, just chopped some firewood."

"Firewood?" Aunt Li raised her voice, looking incredulous. "Do you need to drag such a big thing to chop firewood? Qingshan, tell your aunt the truth, are you catching something strange again? Don't keep it a secret, let everyone see it."

"The snow was heavy in the mountains, so I just made a sled on the spot to save effort." Lu Qingshan's expression was as usual, and his tone was as calm as a still pond. "It's just some pine trunks, which I plan to chop up to heat the kang (a traditional heated bed) when I get back."

Uncle Zhao, not believing in superstition, took two steps forward and, pretending to be casual, used his pipe to poke at the pine branches covering the edge of the sled. What was revealed were indeed a few withered, dead wood stubble.

Upon seeing this, the three villagers, who had been tense, visibly relaxed.

The jealousy in Sister Li's eyes vanished instantly. She pursed her lips and felt a weight lifted from her heart—thankfully, she hadn't made any more money.

"Oh dear, we need to stock up on firewood today." Aunt Zhang smiled sheepishly and lowered the bowl she was holding.

"Qingshan, don't push yourself too hard."

Uncle Zhao took a drag of his cigarette, and his tone suddenly became warm and comforting. He reached out and patted Qingshan on the shoulder.

"Hunting is all about luck. You were lucky the day before yesterday, so it's normal to come back empty-handed today. Take my advice: in this freezing weather, safety comes first. Don't go deep into the mountains. Stay home and hibernate. Don't try to get rich quick."

"Yes, thank you, Uncle. Thank you, Aunt." Lu Qingshan nodded obediently, pulled the rope, and continued walking forward.

Watching the slightly "disheveled" figures of the father and son, the three villagers behind them exchanged glances, their faces showing a relaxed and satisfied smile. Holding their bowls and with their hands in their pockets, they eagerly dispersed.

Lu Qingshan and his grandfather didn't linger. They bypassed the main road in the village and deliberately chose the dark path to quietly return to their own courtyard.

With a creak, the courtyard gate was pushed open.

The curtain in the main room was suddenly thrown open, and two figures rushed out.

It was Wang Guifen and Lu Changgui.

"Qingshan! Father!" Wang Guifen's voice was choked with sobs as she rushed to Lu Qingshan's side. She didn't even bother to see what they had brought before reaching out to touch his face and arms.

"Are you alright? Huh? Let Mom see if there's anything broken."

Lu Changgui followed, but he didn't say anything. He just walked around the old man twice, his gaze fixed on the old man's rheumatoid arthritis leg, his eyes full of worry.

"Dad, is your leg... alright?" He hesitated for a long time before finally asking.

They weren't concerned with prey, but with people.

Lu Qingshan felt a warmth in his heart and grasped his mother's cold hand.

"Mom, I'm fine, I'm perfectly alright."

He then looked at his father, "My grandfather is doing well too; his trip into the mountains went smoothly."

"It's alright, it's alright..." Wang Guifen kept repeating, but tears involuntarily streamed down her face. "Come inside, there's hot water in the pot for you, quickly wash up and warm up!"

The father and son entered the house, and a wave of heat hit them.

Wang Guifen and Lu Changgui busied themselves, one pouring hot water and the other getting towels, neither of them mentioning the prey.

Lu Qingshan drank a bowl of hot water, and the chill in his body dissipated considerably.

He put down his bowl and stood up: "Mother, Father, come out for a moment."

After saying that, he turned and walked back into the courtyard.

Wang Guifen and Lu Changgui exchanged a glance and then followed him out.

Lu Qingshan walked to the sled in the middle of the yard and lifted it up.

The dry grass and broken branches covering it were instantly torn away.

A massive black creature, the size of a small mountain, appeared out of nowhere in the dimly lit courtyard.

Its enormous head, thick limbs, and glossy black fur all testify to its former power and majesty.

"Oh my god!"

Wang Guifen cried out in surprise, dropping the towel in her hand to the ground, and instinctively covered her mouth.

Lu Changgui also gasped and took a half step back.

"This...this is...a bear?" His voice was trembling.

This isn't amazement, it's lingering fear.

How did the son and father survive being eaten by such a huge beast?

Wang Guifen snapped out of her daze, rushed over and grabbed Lu Qingshan's arm, her tears flowing even more fiercely.

"You child! Are you out of your mind! Are you trying to scare your mother to death over a few coins?!"

Lu Qingshan let his mother pat him, but his heart was filled with tenderness.

He didn't explain, but turned around and carefully unwrapped the cloth from his bosom, layer by layer.

When the club-shaped plant, resembling a human figure with complete tendrils, appeared before everyone, the courtyard became eerily quiet.

A unique, refreshing fragrance instantly filled the air.

Lu Changgui and his wife were both dumbfounded.

They didn't recognize what "six-grade leaves" meant, but just by looking at the quality of this ginseng, they knew it was a treasure that could provide them with enough grain for a lifetime.

"Old...Old Mountain God..." Lu Changgui's lips trembled, and this honest and simple man knelt down in front of the ginseng with a "thump".

Just then, the courtyard gate was gently pushed open a crack.

Lin Xiulan, carrying a basket, quietly peeked in.

As soon as she entered, she saw the bear carcass in the yard and Lu Changgui kneeling on the ground, and she froze.

"Xiulan is here." Wang Guifen wiped away her tears, and when she saw her, a smile appeared on her face. "This child, she's come to see you every day since you left, asking if you've come back yet."

Lin Xiulan's face flushed red instantly. She lowered her head and nervously fiddled with the edge of the basket.

She didn't look at the terrifying black bear, nor at the priceless ginseng.

In her eyes, there was only the man standing in the wind and snow.

She strode forward, took a still-warm towel from the basket, and gently wiped the weathered face and congealed bloodstains from Lu Qingshan's face while standing on tiptoe.

"Are you alright?" Her voice was very soft, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor.

Lu Qingshan looked at her worried eyes and shook his head.

The lines on his face softened, and the coldness he had shown when facing wild beasts vanished completely.

"without."

This single word seemed to have exhausted all tenderness.

He reached out and grasped her slightly cold fingertips.

In the courtyard, the parents were there, as was the enormous bear carcass.

But at this moment, their world consisted only of each other.

After a long while, Wang Guifen broke the silence.

"Alright, alright, stop standing outside, let's go inside and talk."

The family went inside.

Bear bile, bear paws, and wolf skin were taken out.

But everyone's gaze eventually fell on the old ginseng that was solemnly placed in the center of the table.

The room was warm and cozy, with a heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed) inside.

Grandpa Lu took a puff of his cigarette, looked at the ginseng, then at his grandson and future granddaughter-in-law, and grinned.

Lu Changgui rubbed his hands together and circled the table twice, still unsure of what to say.

Finally, he looked at Lu Qingshan and asked solemnly:

"Qingshan, this...this treasure...what do we do?"