Chapter 003: Scholar Zhang's Daughter's Marriage

When Shi Hong's mother was in a difficult situation, Scholar Zhang was comfortably seated in a reclining chair, crossing his legs, holding his "expensive" purple clay teapot, which he had purchased for half a guan, and savoring the sweet and mellow new tea after the rain.

He cupped his hands in salute and said: "Uncles, brothers, it is not appropriate for us to ascend the mountain like this"

Uncle Zhang pulled him along and said, "Come with me." He then pointed to the money on the table and added, "Make sure your family takes care of this."

Let's form groups

At the beginning, Shi Hong was not able to reach such heights. During that period, this mountain became Shi Hong's method of self-discipline, as he climbed it every night to see just how high he could go

All the hunters suddenly realized and immediately understood Shi Hong's intentions. The thirty cards that Shi Hong had prepared earlier were meant for his father. He did not wait until he had gathered sixty cards before informing everyone, which made Uncle Zhang and the others very grateful

His father shook his head, jumped down from the tree, and brushed off the dust from his clothes

This wild boar king weighs at least six to seven hundred pounds. If purchased, it would be worth at least two guan. No matter what, Shi Hong's father insisted that everyone share it. Uncle Zhang and the others were unwilling to accept it, and after arguing for half a day, it was still Shi Hong's father who was stubborn. In the end, Uncle Zhang and the others had no choice but to concede. Ultimately, the pigskin belonged to Shi Hong, while the remaining pork was divided among several families.

That person stands gracefully on a large rock at the mountain's peak, with both feet floating three feet above the ground, hands clasped behind their back, gazing up at the vast sky, exuding an indescribable sense of solitude

Shi Hong looked at his father's angry face and said helplessly: "Father, my not taking everyone hunting does not mean I am not helping. Each person needs thirty animal skins; let alone whether there is enough time, how many wild beasts can there be in this mountain? It is simply not enough for us to hunt."

Shi Hong continued as usual, spending one day busy with farm work and the next day going out hunting with his father

Shi Hong's father clapped his hands and said, "What is going on here? Do you really need to act like this?" He hurried to help the villagers, saying, "Oh, Brother Song, you are older than I am... Uncle Zhao, in terms of seniority, you are my father's brother. If you kneel down to me, when I die in the future, my father will still slap me in the face..."

Such a large wild boar king could only be lifted by a group of people. Uncle Zhang and a few others chopped down a tree, tied up the wild boar king with ropes, and carried it down the mountain together

Everyone was taken aback as Shi Hong effortlessly lifted the massive wild boar king onto his back. Uncle Zhang and the others immediately recalled how he had sprinted while carrying that giant rock, realizing that this weight was nothing to him, and decided not to be polite with him any longer

Ah... Shi Hong's father, anxious and fidgeting, kept urging Shi Hong: "Ah Hong, your father has already promised everyone, you..."

Thus, the family of the bride, who came to propose marriage, not only relied on the matchmaker to extol their daughter’s virtues but also discreetly instructed the matchmaker about the amount of dowry they had prepared. This led to a wave of comparison, and ultimately, the dowry skyrocketed to 3,000 coins, a threshold that excluded many villagers.

Uncle Zhang and the others found it very strange that Shi Hong never wanted meat, only skins. Moreover, he only wanted the skins of ferocious beasts such as wolves, wild boars, and tigers. Uncle Zhang and the others felt embarrassed, so they still distributed the meat to Shi Hong's father, even though Shi Hong's father had always been the only one dragging behind in the hunting team.

Everyone looked at Shi Hong with a gaze reserved for monsters. Not to mention that he effortlessly lifted a stone the size of a person, but the fact that this kid had just knocked away a wild boar king, which was as large as a small elephant, was enough to leave these hunters in shock, their jaws dropping to the ground

A delicate hand, adorned with crimson nail polish, reached out and seized Scholar Zhang by the ear

Shi Hong gave a wry smile and thought to himself that if he were to say no at this moment, the Shi family would no longer be able to stay in the village. However, setting aside whether there were so many ferocious beasts in the surrounding mountains and forests, the very presence of such a large group of people making a commotion while heading up the mountain would scare away any wild animals.

However, he has long been well aware of how many wild beasts there are in the mountains over the past few years, and it is impossible for their numbers to have surged dramatically in just a few days

Soon after, all the hunters followed Shi Hong into the mountains

Secondly, ever since hearing that Master Zhang intended to marry his daughter to Shi Hong, the matchmakers who had been on the verge of crossing the threshold of the Shi family have not come to visit again. Shi Hong's mother also understood that everyone feared Master Zhang, leaving her with no choice.

The hunters shook their heads, glanced at the creature once more, and then slowly gathered around the Wild Boar King. The massive Wild Boar King was already bleeding from all seven orifices, dead beyond recovery. Its two tusks had snapped, and its head was soft and limp, clearly indicating that the blow had shattered its skull, which could have even broken a large tree.

So you have agreed

Shi Hong's mother has now taken a stand: What is wrong with her own son? Why are you all being so hesitant about forming a family connection? Now that you have come to our door, we also have to be selective.

His lower body occasionally becomes blurred, only to solidify into legs again, but after a moment, it will blur once more

This person's condition is very similar to that of Shi Hong, but his soul is far less solid than Shi Hong's is now, still possessing a somewhat ethereal quality

With so many people carrying a wild boar king, their movements were inevitably inconvenient, and their speed was naturally slow. As night was approaching and the road back to the village was still long, Shi Hong grew somewhat impatient: "Uncle Zhang, let me take over."

When Shi Hong came up, it seemed that he was influenced by the faint silver glow emanating from him, as that person's legs surprisingly remained solid for several breaths without fading.

Moreover, Uncle Zhang and the others discovered that Shi Hong had an exceptional understanding of the habits of wild beasts. He mentioned many details that even this old hunter had never heard of

Shi Hong, while burying his head in his food, said, "I never intended to take everyone hunting"

Uncle Zhang gave a bitter smile and said, "Ah Hong, if it weren't for you, we might all have lost our lives. This wild boar king was killed by you, so it rightfully belongs to you."

Shi Hong ascended all the way and flew to the peak of the mountain, only to be taken aback. At the summit, where the cold wind howled, stood a person. No, it should be said that a person was floating.

His father was taken aback; after all, he was a man in his fifties. This bit of reasoning was quite simple for Shi Hong, and he quickly understood it.

Shi Hong's father quickly waved his hand: "Everyone's, everyone's..."

Until the sound of the warriors' horses' hooves faded away on the mountain path, the villagers had not yet regained their composure. The entire mountain village fell into a deep silence, as everyone understood what going to war truly meant. Of those who were conscripted, half would not return.

At this time, Zhang Ying'er had already become Shi Hong's wife under the arrangement made by Shi Hong's mother.

Hu... Hu..." Shi Hong let out a long sigh, relaxed his arms, threw the boulder aside, and turned to look at his father in the tree: "Father, are you alright? And the *book*"

Shi Hong rose from his bed and floated out of the room, the moonlight enveloping his soul, even allowing a faint silver glow to gradually merge into his body. However, Shi Hong was not in the mood today; he pondered for a long time but could not find any way to rescue the entire village from conscription.

He sat down in despair, saying, "What are we going to do about this..."

His father was taken aback; he had never considered this question before, but still insisted, "Whatever can be hunted is what counts..."

Early the next morning, Uncle Zhang arrived at the door with a cloth bag in his left hand. Shi Hong's father found it quite strange: "Brother Zhang, aren't you going hunting today..." As he spoke, he scooped a bowl of water from the jar to offer to Uncle Zhang

Drifting around, the trees and rocks swiftly passed beneath his feet, and as expected by Shi Hong, the quantity needed by the entire mountain village was far from sufficient

Uncle Zhang took the coarse porcelain bowl with one hand and took a sip, while his other hand tightly gripped the cloth bag, the opening of which was securely tied and wrapped around his arm twice. He leaned forward, peering inside and asked, "Where is Ah Hong?"

Uncle Zhang nodded and said, "Ah Hong is right; with so many of us charging together, even a tiger would be scared away"

The people in the mountains do not use flowery language; any feelings of gratitude or resentment are kept within their hearts. Their actions, though simple, are a genuine expression of their feelings. If it were not for Shi Hong, they would surely be worrying about military service just like all their neighbors. If selected for military service, there is a fifty percent chance that they may not return.

His father's thinking is straightforward; he leads a small group of hunters and also a large group of villagers

It was also impossible not to spread the news. Uncle Zhang gathered a few hunters to discuss; if it weren't for Shi Hong, it was truly possible that everyone could have died in the mountains this time. What made them even more ashamed was that at the beginning, they were still worried about taking care of Shi Hong, which delayed their hunting.

Under the guidance of Shi Hong, Uncle Zhang and his companions found a group of deer.

On the day when Shi Hong was busy working in the fields, they simply rested at home. On the day when Shi Hong went hunting, they quickly packed their tools and followed him into the mountains. Although the hunting time was reduced by half, with Shi Hong around, their monthly income actually increased by 30%!

Shi Hong's mother was not motivated by greed for the bride price from Zhang Yuanwai's family. The reasons for her choice of Zhang Ying'er were twofold. Firstly, Zhang Yuanwai's family was the wealthiest in the village, and she was renting land from them, making it difficult to offend them. Secondly, she had seen Zhang Ying'er, who, at a young age, had already blossomed into a beauty, making her a suitable match for her son Ah Hong.

Shi Hong and the others returned from the mountains in high spirits. Today, everyone worked very hard and, with a single push, hunted down eight fierce beasts, finally gathering all the animal skins for everyone.

Although his wife was stingy, she also possessed a woman's shrewdness. After a moment of confusion, she quickly understood and suddenly called out: "Ying'er, Ying'er, come out quickly, let mother give you a proper dressing up..."

As the curtain was lifted, a delicate little girl emerged, perfectly inheriting the virtues of her parents, and looking exceptionally adorable. Upon coming out, she called out in a sweet, childish voice: "Mother"

This hide is certainly not an ordinary hide; it is the hide of a fierce beast that can be made into leather armor

Shi Hong and his father returned home. His father finally understood one thing: "Ah Hong, you let them form groups. How can you manage so many groups of picture books by yourself?"

This is Zhang Xiucai's only daughter, Zhang Ying'er

Zhang Xiucai ultimately is an unaccomplished scholar, his horizons broader than those of the villagers, yet still limited, merely revolving within the confines of local officials.

In the eyes of the villagers, the seemingly "frail" Shi Hong has surprisingly become a key figure in hunting for the village. Coupled with the gratitude of Uncle Zhang and others, Shi Hong's abilities have grown even more legendary. The villagers have also come to understand: Shi Hong's father has been idle for years, spending his days hunting in the mountains with others, yet their crops have always thrived. After much consideration, it seems that Shi Hong is the only reason for this.

His father suddenly became anxious, pushed the bowl away, and stood up: "What did you say? Your father has promised everyone, and they are all from the same village. How can you not help your fellow villagers?"

They originally intended to "bring" Shi Hong along to repay the life-saving grace. However, when Shi Hong followed them into the mountains for the second time and saw them return empty-handed once again, he could no longer hold back and offered his advice.

Shi Hong's mother pondered for a moment. If it didn't work out, she would discuss with Master Zhang's family about marrying his daughter over to live together. However, she was somewhat worried that Madam Zhang, being protective of her daughter, would be reluctant to send her daughter to their home so early to endure hardships. After much contemplation, she still had no clear idea and could only wait for Shi Hong's father to return to discuss it further.

... ...

Shi Hong's mother began to calm down after a moment, as her anger dissipated. After all, they were all from the same village, and people from the mountains do not hold grudges. She had already started to pick and choose, looking for a fortune teller to see which family's daughter would be compatible with her son's birth date. Although she had already formed some ideas in her mind, she did not expect that Zhang Yuanwai would intervene, which made her situation more difficult.

Shi Hong's father still looks like someone who can't accomplish anything, simply stating: "I told you, nothing will happen."

The news spread throughout the entire village the next day

Those who were originally approached by the matchmaker from the Shi family but did not promise their daughters to Shi Hong are now filled with regret and have immediately reversed their decision, asking the matchmaker to go to the Shi family to propose marriage.

Usually, Shi Hong enjoys sitting alone at the peak of the mountain, gazing at the endless range of towering mountains below. At the same time, he cannot quite explain why, when he immerses himself in that tranquil state of mind, the movements of beasts, birds, and insects in the darkness of the surrounding seven or eight peaks are vividly reflected in his mind.

The villagers agreed together and began to form groups in the fields of Shi Hong's family, creating quite a commotion. As Shi Hong had anticipated, they argued from morning until sunset without reaching any conclusion.

His wife was momentarily taken aback by his shout, looking at him with a hint of confusion. Zhang Xiucai snorted and then expressed his thoughts in detail. Finally, he tapped the table, enunciating each word: "A man of both literary and martial talents, a man of both literary and martial talents! Hmph, a woman should not conspire with him..." After saying this, he proudly carried his purple clay teapot and walked away with an air of satisfaction.

Alas! Scholar Zhang let out a cry of pain. His wife was arranged for him by his father while he was still alive. Scholar Zhang's late father had managed his life for him, and even before his death, he was still worried, so he arranged for a formidable wife to take care of Scholar Zhang.

Shi Hong wanders around the hills in this area every night, and he is well aware of where the wild beasts are. After three full years, he is certainly very familiar with the habits of these animals

Shi Hong finished the last few bites of his meal: "Let me think of a way; my delaying tactic should be able to get me through tomorrow"

... ...

The person seemed to sense something, suddenly turned around, and when he saw Shi Hong, his surprise was no less than that of Shi Hong upon seeing him

Scholar Zhang indulged himself tirelessly on her mountainous peaks and hills, not particularly concerned about his wife's daily management of various matters

The villagers initially regarded Shi Hong's somewhat frail physique as a sign of his inability to work, even hesitating to betroth their daughters to him. Unexpectedly, he managed to single-handedly kill a wild boar king!

Uncle Zhang helplessly said: "Everyone wants to invite Ah Hong to take us up the mountain for hunting, and this money is contributed by everyone." Uncle Zhang felt quite troubled, but still said: "Old Shun, I know this puts you in a difficult position, but we are all from the same village, so you, you should just talk to Ah Hong..."

Before Shi Hong's father could return, the afternoon brought the imperial edict for conscription.

Uncle Zhang set down the bowl, pondered for a moment, then loosened his grip to untie the cloth bag, carefully taking out three strings of coins and placing them on the table

The only inappropriate aspect is that Zhang Ying'er is only six years old this year. In two years, Shi Shan will be getting married, and by then, the elder brother will still be unmarried while the younger sister is to be wed. This is considered against the customs in the village

In the end, everyone had no choice but to disperse for the time being and discuss it again tomorrow

Shi Hong stepped forward and discussed with the leading hunter, "Uncle Zhang, we only need the skins, is that acceptable?"

... ...

The hunters gathered around, and the one with an injury on his leg tore his clothing to bind his thigh tightly, limping as he approached.

He has gone to the ground

Shi Hong's father was stunned on the spot and grabbed Uncle Zhang, saying: "Brother Zhang, what happened?"

Several vigorous steeds charged into the village, and the village head, Zhang Yuanwai, hurried to greet them. The armored warriors did not waste words; after a brief exchange, they affixed a proclamation bearing a blood-red seal to the old tree at the village entrance, mounted their horses, and departed for the next village

Zhang Xiucai displayed his talents, "wealthy and imposing," causing all competitors to withdraw.

Everyone let out a sigh of relief and looked gratefully at Shi Hong, gently nodding their heads

A few days later, the hunters began to regard Shi Hong with newfound respect. Previously, they only knew that Shi Hong possessed immense strength, capable of killing the wild boar king. However, after these few days, they realized that Shi Hong was actually more skilled in hunting than they, the seasoned hunters of several decades.

His mother also advised Shi Hong: "Indeed, Ah Hong, those uncles have watched you grow up; one must not act against their conscience."

"I have agreed, I have agreed, please get up quickly. I beg you, can I kneel down for you?"

At the village entrance, a large crowd gathered under the old tree. As soon as Shi Hong's father arrived, the entire group suddenly knelt down, creating a dark mass of people

At last, he reached the highest point. It was at the summit of this mountain that he comprehended the method of absorbing moonlight and enriching himself

"Whose is the hunted animal skin? Those who received their share will be happy, while those who did not will hold a grudge against us, Father!" Shi Hong said, tapping the table with his chopsticks.

Uncle Zhang appeared somewhat troubled, with a look of hesitation on his face. Shi Hong's father, displeased, gave him a slap and said, "Is there something you cannot say?"

Uncle Zhang and the others sang mountain songs loudly, while a group of people, laughing and joking, carried their game down from the mountain. As soon as they entered the village, everyone sensed that something was amiss. Upon seeing the conscription notice on the old tree at the village entrance, even those who could not read understood what was happening.

Before he could finish speaking, with a loud rumble, everyone knelt down together again

Life in the mountain village is austere. Apart from Scholar Zhang and a few hunters' families, the other villagers can only afford to eat meat during the New Year. This wild boar, weighing five to six hundred jin, yielded over four hundred jin of meat after the bones were removed. Each household received several jin, allowing everyone to enjoy a hearty meal.

Shihong's father, however, refused to leave: "If you don't explain clearly, I won't go with you." Uncle Zhang waved his hand: "Once you arrive, you'll understand." Shihong's father grabbed the money on the table and was pulled out by Uncle Zhang.

However, this wife is also a beauty, with sparkling eyes, a delicate nose, thin lips, a bosom that is ample, a waist that can be grasped with one hand, and long, slender legs, truly a beauty in every sense.

When Shi Hong saw the vast crowd, he understood what was happening. He sighed, thinking that what was meant to come had ultimately arrived.

His wife rushed in from outside, exasperated, and scolded him: "Have you lost your mind? The child is only six years old, and you want to give her away? How could you be so heartless! Even if you were to give her away, couldn't you find a family with a better background? Our Zhang family is considered a prominent family in the village, yet you are so eager to seek out the old Shi family, and you are offering so much in betrothal gifts. Tell me, are you actually interested in that girl from the Shi family, planning to marry her young!"

He wants to make one last effort, to wander around the nearby mountains and forests again, hoping that the number of wild animals has increased recently

Shi Hong's father was taken aback: "Brother Zhang, what do you mean by this?"

Only his sister Shi Shan tugged at his mother's hem: "Mother, let me finish what I have to say."

Scholar Zhang is certainly more perceptive than anyone in the village when it comes to recognizing the value of Shi Hong—it's not merely about having great strength and being able to carry heavy loads

Until the second month of their collective hunting, Shi Hong had managed to gather exactly thirty animal skins, at which point he informed everyone that the reason he needed the skins was due to a provision in the Great Xia Law, which states that those who donate thirty animal skins are exempt from military service

He arrived at the foot of a mountain peak, feeling disappointed. This peak was far from the village, steep and isolated, standing alone as the highest mountain in the vicinity.

Shi Hong smiled wryly: "It's not that I am unwilling to agree, but with so many of us together, any wild beasts would be scared away. What I mean is, let's divide into groups and see who pairs well with whom. Once you have formed your groups, I will arrange for everyone to head up the mountain. How does that sound?"

The people in the mountains are still simple and honest. After much discussion, they all felt that having received a life-saving grace from others, it was truly difficult to take their things. In the end, Aunt Zhang came up with an idea: simply cook all the wild boar meat they had divided and send a portion to every household in the village, saying it was a treat from the old Shi family

"Ahong," his father called out, taking the hoe from his hands. "I will do the work; you take everyone up the mountain to hunt."

Zhang Xiucai's daughter is only six years old this year. She has entrusted someone to speak to Shi Hong's mother, expressing her willingness to offer 10 guan of money and 5 mu of good farmland as a dowry to establish this marriage with the Lao Shi family

... ...

Unexpectedly, today Scholar Zhang suddenly erupted, forcefully opening his wife's hand and pointing at her nose, he angrily rebuked: "A woman's perspective, a woman's perspective! What do you understand? That child is certainly not an ordinary one. Today, with merely ten guan of copper coins and five mu of good land, we can establish a connection with him as in-laws. If, in three to five years, he soars to great heights, even if you are a local official, I fear he may not even look at your daughter!"