212 Hunting in the Mountain
Lu Jiao smiled and patted their heads, “How tired can I get from making noodles? Alright, I’ll go cook while you eat the pork buns.”
“Ok, Ok.”
The four little ones nodded happily. Once Lu Jiao left to cook, the four little ones ran back to the east bedroom with their buns.
The First Born stared at Xie Yunjin, “Daddy, how come you don’t know how to compliment someone? Should I teach you?”
The Second, Third, and Fourth Born circled Xie Yunjin, “Daddy, we can teach you.”
The Second Born blurted out, “You can start off with, ‘Ah, Jiaojiao…'”
Xie Yunjin gawked at him in shock. Who taught him that? How was he able to talk like that so easily?
Xie Yunjin’s head hurt and interrupted, “I’m tired. I’m going to rest.”
He then went to sleep without any desire to hear more from the children.
The four little ones were disappointed but had no choice but to let their dad rest. Oh well, they’ll teach him another time.
After lunch, Lu Jiao bathed the four little ones and napped with them. Before the nap, she even told them a story.
The four little ones were exceptionally happy. With their mother, they chatted chirpily.
Since it was rather late, Lu Jiao hustled the children to sleep, “You have to study later. After you’re done studying, I’ll take you into the mountains to set traps and catch prey.”
The four little ones happily cheered, “Okay! Then we sleep now.”
The children fell asleep quickly. Lu Jiao patted each of them for a bit.
There is still a year until Xie Yunjin goes to the Capital City for his exam. She still had a year with them. By the time they move to the Capital City, the children’s personalities should pretty much be fully formed. They shouldn’t still end up as villains.
Lu Jiao closed her eyes and slept a little as well. Once awake, Xie Yunjin started to teach the four little ones how to read.
The four little ones were intelligent with good memorization skills. They were able to learn much faster than the children from the village. Therefore, they finished studying the Hundred Family Surnames and started the Thousand Characters. The village children were still on the Hundred Family Surnames.
While the children studied, Lu Jiao organized the kitchen and cleaned everything. She then got some bamboo tubes and filled them with cold boiled water.
Once she was done, the children were finished with their studies. Then ran to her excitedly, “Mommy, we are done studying. Daddy said we can go into the mountains early to hunt.”
The reality was that the four little ones told Xie Yunjin about Lu Jiao’s plan to take them into the mountains to set animal traps. Since the four little ones went through a major emotional roller coaster yesterday, Xie Yunjin let them off easy so they could go play with Lu Jiao.
The four little ones were extraordinarily happy today and they beamed so big their mouths looked like pistachios.
“Mommy, let’s go right now!”
“Sure, put your baskets on. Inside are snacks and water I prepared for you, as well as your bows and arrows.”
The four little ones happily put on their baskets. Lu Jiao put on her old one as well. The five of them went on their way to get themselves some prey.
Behind them, Xie Xiaobao and the other children who were still studying cried silently. They were all studying, yet why did those four get to end early to go play? Why did the rest of them have to stay? This was unfair!
Xie Yunjin continued to teach the children. When he lifted his head, he caught sight of Lu Jiao and the four children leaving with their baskets.
Xie Yunjin’s heart felt stuffy and his expression became sullen. The children around him didn’t even dare to breathe heavily after they saw his face.
Lu Jiao didn’t know about all that and took the children into the mountains.
Today, she brought with her a shovel. The natural hole she found and used as a trap got filled by a giant boulder that slipped off the mountain. Today, she had to dig a new hole.
Since she decided to take the children with her to set traps and get prey, she might as well dig herself so the children get to experience the fun of trap setting.
The five of them climbed up the mountain, ate some food, drank some water, then started to dig.
While Lu Jiao dug with the shovel, the four little ones enthusiastically pulled at the mud as a way to indicate that they were helping.
Lu Jiao let them be. The mother and her sons finished digging a hole, then stuck sharp bamboo parts inside.
The four little ones excitedly stared at the trap, “Mommy, we can get prey after this?”
The trap Lu Jiao made today included layering the top with fresh grass. A trap that looked like this made it easy for animals to fall for it.
“I’m sure we’ll catch something.”
She had meat soaked in spiritual stream water as bait. Once the animals smell that, they’ll for sure come.
After everything was done, Lu Jiao took the children to a nearby hill and waited.
The four little ones excitedly sprawled on the grass and watched the trap.
The four little ones whispered to Lu Jiao, “Mommy, can we really catch wild rabbits and chickens?”
“Mommy, how much can we catch?”
“What if we catch too many and can’t eat it all?”
The Fourth Born snapped her head at Lu Jiao, “Mommy, didn’t you say we are going to visit grandma? If we catch too many, let’s give some to grandma!”
The mention of grandma made all four children look toward Lu Jiao.
Growing up, the four of them had never visited their mother’s side of the family. They were very interested to do that soon.
Since the children were so eager, Lu Jiao agreed, “Sure, tomorrow, I’ll bring you to visit grandma.”
The children cheered, “Great, tomorrow we get to visit our relatives!”
“Yay! We’re going to grandma’s house! Yay!”
“I’m sure grandma and uncle miss us!”
“We will bring grandma chicken, rabbit, eggs, and vegetables. Mommy, what do you think?”
The Fourth Born was very excited, which made Lu Jiao smile and pat his head, “Of course.”
Just then, ahead of them, a 40 to 50 pound wild baby boar popped its head out.
Lu Jiao shushed the children, “Look, a wild boar.”
The children focused ahead and really did see the boar. Delighted, they were fixated on the boar and watched as the boar sniff its way toward Lu Jiao’s trap.
Quickly, the boar fell into the trap and shrieked in pain.
The children were nervous and agitated, “Mommy, I can’t believe we caught a boar!”
Lu Jiao was very happy as well. She’s been wanting to make toothbrushes for the children and capturing a baby boar was perfect for that. Fully grown boars’ fur was too hard. Baby boars’ fur was perfect.
Lu Jiao was about to bring the children to the trap to get the boar when two wild rabbits jumped over and also fell into the trap.
Too excited, the children didn’t wait for Lu Jiao and ran over.
Worried they might fall into the trap, Lu Jiao shouted for them to slow down.
“Don’t fall in! The bamboo inside is very sharp. You’d get hurt.”
She chose moso bamboo for the trap as the bamboo is known to be sturdy. She even specifically chose to use older bamboo tubes, which made their tips sharp and hard.
212 Hunting in the Mountain
Lu Jiao smiled and patted their heads, “How tired can I get from making noodles? Alright, I’ll go cook while you eat the pork buns.”
“Ok, Ok.”
The four little ones nodded happily. Once Lu Jiao left to cook, the four little ones ran back to the east bedroom with their buns.
The First Born stared at Xie Yunjin, “Daddy, how come you don’t know how to compliment someone? Should I teach you?”
The Second, Third, and Fourth Born circled Xie Yunjin, “Daddy, we can teach you.”
The Second Born blurted out, “You can start off with, ‘Ah, Jiaojiao…'”
Xie Yunjin gawked at him in shock. Who taught him that? How was he able to talk like that so easily?
Xie Yunjin’s head hurt and interrupted, “I’m tired. I’m going to rest.”
He then went to sleep without any desire to hear more from the children.
The four little ones were disappointed but had no choice but to let their dad rest. Oh well, they’ll teach him another time.
After lunch, Lu Jiao bathed the four little ones and napped with them. Before the nap, she even told them a story.
The four little ones were exceptionally happy. With their mother, they chatted chirpily.
Since it was rather late, Lu Jiao hustled the children to sleep, “You have to study later. After you’re done studying, I’ll take you into the mountains to set traps and catch prey.”
The four little ones happily cheered, “Okay! Then we sleep now.”
The children fell asleep quickly. Lu Jiao patted each of them for a bit.
There is still a year until Xie Yunjin goes to the Capital City for his exam. She still had a year with them. By the time they move to the Capital City, the children’s personalities should pretty much be fully formed. They shouldn’t still end up as villains.
Lu Jiao closed her eyes and slept a little as well. Once awake, Xie Yunjin started to teach the four little ones how to read.
The four little ones were intelligent with good memorization skills. They were able to learn much faster than the children from the village. Therefore, they finished studying the Hundred Family Surnames and started the Thousand Characters. The village children were still on the Hundred Family Surnames.
While the children studied, Lu Jiao organized the kitchen and cleaned everything. She then got some bamboo tubes and filled them with cold boiled water.
Once she was done, the children were finished with their studies. Then ran to her excitedly, “Mommy, we are done studying. Daddy said we can go into the mountains early to hunt.”
The reality was that the four little ones told Xie Yunjin about Lu Jiao’s plan to take them into the mountains to set animal traps. Since the four little ones went through a major emotional roller coaster yesterday, Xie Yunjin let them off easy so they could go play with Lu Jiao.
The four little ones were extraordinarily happy today and they beamed so big their mouths looked like pistachios.
“Mommy, let’s go right now!”
“Sure, put your baskets on. Inside are snacks and water I prepared for you, as well as your bows and arrows.”
The four little ones happily put on their baskets. Lu Jiao put on her old one as well. The five of them went on their way to get themselves some prey.
Behind them, Xie Xiaobao and the other children who were still studying cried silently. They were all studying, yet why did those four get to end early to go play? Why did the rest of them have to stay? This was unfair!
Xie Yunjin continued to teach the children. When he lifted his head, he caught sight of Lu Jiao and the four children leaving with their baskets.
Xie Yunjin’s heart felt stuffy and his expression became sullen. The children around him didn’t even dare to breathe heavily after they saw his face.
Lu Jiao didn’t know about all that and took the children into the mountains.
Today, she brought with her a shovel. The natural hole she found and used as a trap got filled by a giant boulder that slipped off the mountain. Today, she had to dig a new hole.
Since she decided to take the children with her to set traps and get prey, she might as well dig herself so the children get to experience the fun of trap setting.
The five of them climbed up the mountain, ate some food, drank some water, then started to dig.
While Lu Jiao dug with the shovel, the four little ones enthusiastically pulled at the mud as a way to indicate that they were helping.
Lu Jiao let them be. The mother and her sons finished digging a hole, then stuck sharp bamboo parts inside.
The four little ones excitedly stared at the trap, “Mommy, we can get prey after this?”
The trap Lu Jiao made today included layering the top with fresh grass. A trap that looked like this made it easy for animals to fall for it.
“I’m sure we’ll catch something.”
She had meat soaked in spiritual stream water as bait. Once the animals smell that, they’ll for sure come.
After everything was done, Lu Jiao took the children to a nearby hill and waited.
The four little ones excitedly sprawled on the grass and watched the trap.
The four little ones whispered to Lu Jiao, “Mommy, can we really catch wild rabbits and chickens?”
“Mommy, how much can we catch?”
“What if we catch too many and can’t eat it all?”
The Fourth Born snapped her head at Lu Jiao, “Mommy, didn’t you say we are going to visit grandma? If we catch too many, let’s give some to grandma!”
The mention of grandma made all four children look toward Lu Jiao.
Growing up, the four of them had never visited their mother’s side of the family. They were very interested to do that soon.
Since the children were so eager, Lu Jiao agreed, “Sure, tomorrow, I’ll bring you to visit grandma.”
The children cheered, “Great, tomorrow we get to visit our relatives!”
“Yay! We’re going to grandma’s house! Yay!”
“I’m sure grandma and uncle miss us!”
“We will bring grandma chicken, rabbit, eggs, and vegetables. Mommy, what do you think?”
The Fourth Born was very excited, which made Lu Jiao smile and pat his head, “Of course.”
Just then, ahead of them, a 40 to 50 pound wild baby boar popped its head out.
Lu Jiao shushed the children, “Look, a wild boar.”
The children focused ahead and really did see the boar. Delighted, they were fixated on the boar and watched as the boar sniff its way toward Lu Jiao’s trap.
Quickly, the boar fell into the trap and shrieked in pain.
The children were nervous and agitated, “Mommy, I can’t believe we caught a boar!”
Lu Jiao was very happy as well. She’s been wanting to make toothbrushes for the children and capturing a baby boar was perfect for that. Fully grown boars’ fur was too hard. Baby boars’ fur was perfect.
Lu Jiao was about to bring the children to the trap to get the boar when two wild rabbits jumped over and also fell into the trap.
Too excited, the children didn’t wait for Lu Jiao and ran over.
Worried they might fall into the trap, Lu Jiao shouted for them to slow down.
“Don’t fall in! The bamboo inside is very sharp. You’d get hurt.”
She chose moso bamboo for the trap as the bamboo is known to be sturdy. She even specifically chose to use older bamboo tubes, which made their tips sharp and hard.
