Border Soldiers: My granaries are full of grain and meat, and I guard this region.

"My name is Zhong Shao from Linzhao City. May I ask your honorable name, sir?"

Zhong Shao climbed down from the tree. Although his clothes were somewhat tattered, his manners were impeccable. Every word and gesture exuded an air of nobility.

Qi Feng waved his hand and said calmly:

Qi Feng, a hunter in the mountains.

Zhong Shao nodded, and together with his three siblings, they bowed to Qi Feng.

"Brave warrior Qi, you saved us; please accept this bow!"

After saying this, Zhong Shao took the lead and bowed to Qi Feng, followed by the other three behind him.

Zhong Shao, wearing a turban and possessing a gentle demeanor, began introducing the three people behind him after performing the proper greetings.

"This is my second younger brother, Zhong Jing; my third younger brother, Zhong Hui; and my youngest younger sister, Zhong Lingxian."

The three people behind Zhong Shao bowed to Qi Feng in turn. The two brothers, Zhong Jing and Zhong Hui, looked brave and burly, while Zhong Lingxian had a refined and elegant appearance, with a beautiful temperament and a spirit in her eyes. It was clear at a glance that she was a lady from a prestigious family.

Qi Feng nodded slightly. These people seemed to be quite important. He didn't intend to have much interaction with them, but he was determined to get the wild boar.

Zhong Shao smiled broadly. He had been thinking of recruiting Qi Feng ever since he saw his archery skills, and he was eager to speak up.

"I've noticed that Brother Qi Feng possesses excellent archery skills. I am the eldest son of the Zhong family in Linzhao City, and I would like to invite Brother Qi to become my retainer. What are your thoughts, Brother Qi?"

Qi Feng waved his hand, his expression unmoved.

"Young Master Zhong, you flatter me. I am but a hunter from the mountains, how could I possibly be worthy of your attention? My meager archery skills are hardly worthy of such high regard. I will accept this wild boar."

In the original owner's memories, Qi Feng knew that the Zhong family had quite a background.

The Sui Dynasty is currently at war with its western neighbor, and their Qi Family Village is located in the border region of Shuofeng County. The Zhong family has been guarding Shuofeng County for many years and their power is immense. Although he doesn't know how he encountered the four people in these wild mountains, they are certainly not people he can afford to offend right now.

Seeing Qi Feng's refusal, Zhong Shao shook his head slightly, but didn't take it to heart.

"In that case, let it be. However, Brother Qi, we must repay your life-saving grace. How about we sell this wild boar to you? I'm willing to pay 10 taels of silver."

Qi Feng paused upon hearing this; ten taels of silver was no small sum.

At this time, one tael of silver is equivalent to one thousand copper coins, which can buy about seven or eight hundred catties of grain, enough for a family of four to eat for half a year.

This ten taels of silver was not only enough for him and Yu Yourong to completely renovate their home, but it would also cover their expenses for the next year.

Nowadays, a live domestic pig in the market costs only three taels of silver, and ten taels of silver is considered a very high price.

However, Qi Feng thought of Yu Yourong at home, glanced at the wild boar on the ground, and said:

"If Young Master Zhong is willing to buy, I am naturally willing to sell, but could you allow me to take some pork down the mountain?"

Zhong Shao laughed heartily and waved his hand.

"That's natural!"

Qi Feng did not take out the military knife he had hidden earlier, but instead took an ordinary small knife, made a few cuts on the wild boar, and cut off several pounds of meat.

To take good care of Yu Yourong, Qi Feng selected only the finest pork belly.

In this era, fatty meat is juicy and people prefer to eat fatty meat rather than lean meat.

After taking a ten-tael silver coin from Zhong Shao and bidding him farewell, Qi Feng hurriedly descended the mountain.

After Qi Feng left, Zhong Jing looked at Zhong Shao with some confusion.

"Brother, he's just a hunter, is it really necessary to treat him like this?"

Zhong Shao shook his head and said calmly:

"With a great battle imminent, my father is eager to find talented individuals. If this man were to go to the battlefield, he would at least be a superb archer. I am also eager to find talented people!"

"Besides, this wild boar looks pretty good; we'll have someone take it back and roast it later!"

......

Upon arriving at the temple, General Qi Feng carefully hid his sword again, then took the meat and descended the mountain.

"This harvest was truly unexpected. It took me a lot of effort just to get that wild boar down the mountain. Even if I took it to town to sell, I probably would only get four taels of silver."

Touching the heavy silver ingots in his arms, Qi Feng smiled with satisfaction for the first time.

With this money, he could tidy up his house properly and no longer have to squeeze onto the straw bed with Yu Yourong.

Although it may feel quite unique at times, it's ultimately not good in the long run.

After returning to Qijia Village, Qi Feng didn't see a single person on the road, which made him a little puzzled.

But he soon called out to several children running around in the village.

"Dog! Where are the villagers?"

A seven or eight-year-old child with snot running down his nose stopped and looked at Qi Feng with a bright look in his eyes.

"Brother Qi Feng! A large group of people came into the village today! They said they were going to kidnap your wife! But they didn't see her, and then somehow they found her at Aunt Lin's house! They've all gone there! You'd better go check on her!"

Upon hearing Gouzi's words, Qi Feng's expression changed, and he hurriedly headed towards Lin Sao's house without regard for anything else.

By this time, a large crowd had gathered in front of Lin's house.

Zhao Dazhuang stood next to a roguish-looking man with a fawning smile on his face.

"Young Master He! You don't trust my character, and you don't trust my judgment either!"

"I saw it yesterday, Qi Feng's wife is absolutely gorgeous! I can guarantee that little vixen will satisfy Young Master He! Young Master He, you'd better give that little vixen a taste of her power!"

He Wen slapped Zhao Dazhuang on the back of the head, his tone quite impatient.

"Stop talking nonsense! Who in the entire Hezhuangfang doesn't know how powerful I, He Wen, am? No young woman has ever gotten out of my bed standing up!"

"If this young lady says exactly what you said, I will reward her handsomely!"

Beside Zhao Dazhuang and He Wen stood six burly men, each with a fierce and menacing look. They were all hired helpers that He Wen had brought from Hezhuangfang.

Since this group of people could hold their own in a top-notch gambling den like Hezhuangfang, they naturally wouldn't be afraid of a small village like Qijiacun.

In front of Lin's house, Lin and a group of people from Qijia Village gathered together.

"Sister Lin! You don't have a man in your house now. You don't need to ruin your own family for Qi Feng's woman!"

"That's right! Hezhuangfang is not a place we can afford to mess with! Hand over the person, Aunt Lin!"

"This trouble was caused by Qi Feng. If he hadn't beaten Zhao Dazhuang yesterday, how could so many people have come here today? Aunt Lin, please step aside! Once they take the people away, everything will be fine!"

Standing in front of the door, Lin's wife was also conflicted as she listened to the conversations of her neighbors.

She had just promised Qi Feng this morning to hide Yu Yourong, but now she was handing her over. How was she going to face Qi Feng?

He Wen, however, was already impatient and ordered his men to drive away the villagers of Qijia Village, indicating that he was going to take a hard line.

"Hmph! A bunch of lowly commoners, get out of Young Master He's way at once!"

Taking advantage of the situation, Zhao Dazhuang berated the villagers of Qijia Village, not forgetting how they had tripped him up at Qi Feng's house the day before.

But at that moment, the door opened, and Yu Yourong walked out on her own.