Chapter Forty-Eight: You May Choose Not to Eat

How many cuts had been made, front and back, by now? Watching the wild boar’s flesh grow thinner and thinner, Madam Liu’s heart ached as though her whole body was in pain.

“We absolutely can’t cut any more, you wretched woman! Do you really think you’re the mistress of the Chu family?” she cried.

Chu Qingbai dared not act recklessly, but in his heart, he still rooted for his mother, wishing she could summon the authority of a mother-in-law and suppress this brazen girl.

“Mother-in-law, you’d best be careful. This knife doesn’t have eyes. If you rush at me again, and it stabs into your belly, then I’ll have no choice but to bury you right here,” Gu Xiaoyao warned as she caught the older woman’s hand, her tone carrying a clear threat.

“If you keep making trouble here, I’ll have to invite you inside for a proper rest,” she added.

Madam Liu could not miss the menace in these words. Seeing the tip of the knife pressed against her own belly, every scream and curse was swallowed by fear. She wanted nothing more than to collapse to the ground and throw a tantrum. But she knew it was useless. In that moment, she bitterly regretted ever bringing this shrew into the family.

“Fine, fine, I understand. I’ll go inside, right now,” she muttered.

Out of sight, out of mind. Madam Liu retreated into the house, glancing back with every step, slamming the door behind her with a resounding bang.

After bartering with the villagers, Gu Xiaoyao set aside a large portion of pork for Dahua’s family.

“We can’t accept this, truly we can’t. Dahua didn’t contribute much, and if you hadn’t taken her with you, who knows what trouble she might have gotten into in the mountains!” Dahua’s father knew his daughter was strong, but not skilled at hunting in the forest. He was simply grateful the two girls had returned safely. Any mishap would have been disastrous.

“Dahua and I worked together to capture this wild boar. She deserves this meat as much as anyone. There’s no need for you to worry,” Gu Xiaoyao replied. To her, anyone willing to help and not cause trouble was welcome. Besides, Dahua had led the way into the mountains.

After some persuasion, Dahua’s father finally accepted the meat, cradling it in his arms while the whole family thanked Gu Xiaoyao.

When the villagers had all dispersed, Gu Xiaoyao gazed at the slab of pork hanging before her, already imagining how she would prepare it.

“Xiaoshu, let’s make braised pig’s trotters, steamed pork ribs, and meatballs today. How does that sound?” In truth, Gu Xiaoyao longed to simply roast all the meat at once and eat her fill.

But she remembered they would need food in the days to come. There was no longer any need to desperately hoard food in their bellies.

“Sis, shouldn’t we store some of this meat? If we eat so much at once, it’ll be gone in no time,” Gu Xiaoshu said, swallowing his drool at the mention of those dishes, but forcing his hunger back down.

He thought it best to cure the meat so it would last, ready to be enjoyed whenever they wanted.

“No need. I’ve still got wild rabbits and wild duck eggs in my basket, and some wild vegetables too. Let’s wash everything and use what we have today,” Gu Xiaoyao replied. “When there’s good food, we should eat it. Our health comes first—our bodies are too weak. From now on, I’ll make sure you eat plenty of delicious things.”

She wished she could simply eat herself into strength; her body was already exhausted just from using her abilities. The only reason she’d managed to finish butchering the wild boar was the promise of a good meal afterward.