Chapter 001: Mountain Village

Pulling at her mother's sleeve, Xiao Wei twisted her body back and forth, acting coyly.

Hehe, I'm back

Good!

Dinner consisted of two types of food. Wei Gong's father and mother had a mixed grain meal of millet and black beans, while young Wei Gong had steamed yellow rice. Although it was also dry and coarse, it was proper grain, unlike the mixed grains that his parents ate

The dishes are indeed exquisite. It is now spring, and there are many wild vegetables in the mountains. Wei Gongniang has picked several varieties, stir-frying one plate with vegetable oil and pickling another. The colors are vibrant in shades of green and white, making them very refreshing.

She did not wait too long; in less than a quarter of an hour, a group of young men who had gone hunting in the mountains came down from the valley, laughing and joking. Among them was a small boy with a round face, carrying two gray wild rabbits on his back

The spring of the second year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty

In late spring, the animals have already freed themselves from the frailty of winter and early spring. The young people in the mountain village, in addition to their farming, venture into the mountains to hunt. The meat they obtain can be consumed, and the pelts can be sold, satisfying their appetites while also providing some financial support for their households

She wore a blue headscarf on her head, a sky-blue round-collared jacket on her body, and a cloth belt around her waist. Below, she had on a gray cloth skirt. Although her attire was ordinary, it exuded a fresh and refined elegance, revealing a demeanor that was distinctly different from that of the average mountain dweller

Under the starry sky, Wei Gong climbed onto the pile of grass stacked at his doorstep and comfortably lay down in a big character amidst the unique fragrance of the valley grass

Zhang's residence is located at the western edge of the village, considered to be on the outskirts. It takes traversing through most of the village to return to the small courtyard that contains three main rooms and two side rooms.

More than six years ago, Wei Gong's mother, carrying her less-than-a-month-old child, passed through this place and was drawn to Wei Gong's father, who was honest and straightforward. She accepted the proposal of this earnest man and settled down in this small mountain village. Wei Gong's father doted on little Wei Gong, and to cover up certain matters, they moved from their hometown in Zunhua to this small village. Fortunately, the villagers were kind and straightforward, and since it was a mixed-surname village without large clans, it was easier for them to settle down. The family, in a daze, has lived here for five years and has already put down roots.

It was said to be good, but after working for a while, it was not until Wei Gongniang urged them that the family of three moved the table and benches to sit in front of the courtyard to have dinner and look at pictures.

Father

Hehe, I truly commend him; this young man, Wei Gong, is sure to have a bright future ahead

The mother naturally felt pity for her son, took the rabbit, wiped her son's sweaty little face with her sleeve, and led the child towards her home.

To the west of Shanhaiguan, in the central area between the three counties of Qian'an, Yongping, and Luanzhou, there lies a small village situated less than twenty miles north of the Great Wall. The village consists of about a hundred households. Due to its distance from the main road leading to Shanhaiguan, the settlement appears somewhat remote and even carries a sense of dilapidation.

Father praises me so much, it feels as if he is an outsider.

Not having become a prince and not being born into a scholarly family, it seems unlikely for one from such a background to pursue education or engage in business. Zhang Weigong, however, did not complain about anything. Surviving against the odds and living an extra life, what more could he possibly complain about

Father, come down for dinner

Upon arriving at his doorstep, a middle-aged man was exchanging new grass for old grass on the roof. This typically occurs during the transitional period when the grass is neither fully green nor completely dry. Generally, families would harvest wheat, dry the new grass, and then come to exchange it. However, Wei Gong's roof had already leaked several times, making the exchange imperative.

The family gathered around the table, eating and engaging in casual conversation.

Moreover, although my father is a stepfather, he dotes on me greatly, and as for my mother, I need not mention her; despite possibly having some secrets, she loves me wholeheartedly as her son... With such parents, living a fulfilling life in this quaint little village with its simple folk, and in the future, cultivating some land, hunting, and marrying a capable and beautiful wife, such a life is not bad at all... With such parents, living a fulfilling life in this quaint little village with its simple folk, and in the future, cultivating some land, hunting, and marrying a capable and beautiful wife, such a life is not bad at all...

His father is named Zhang Shouda, and his mother is named Xu Su'e, both of whom have names that are among the most ordinary and common for the common people of this era. However, his name is somewhat different from the norm, not something that his dull and honest stepfather, who cannot even recognize a single character, could have come up with. Indeed, Zhang Weigong has his own memories. An unexpected incident five hundred years later caused a carefree university student to traverse to this time, becoming the son of a suspicious family in the Ming Dynasty, even more suspicious than the family itself. It is truly ironic; sometimes Zhang Weigong finds it amusing that among the three people in this family, the one who appears the most innocent and without secrets is that honest and simple father, who is always preoccupied with working harder to earn a bit more money.

Wei Gong wiped his mouth and hurried to the village head to repair bows and arrows with the half-grown boys who had just returned from hunting. Since he could draw a small bow that could shoot a pound, he regarded hunting as the most enjoyable activity under the Ming Dynasty, pouring all his enthusiasm into it

Near the small path leading from the village to the mountains, a woman is gazing into the mountains, her face showing clear signs of anxiety

Mother

It is now dusk, and wisps of smoke are rising from every household in the village. Children are laughing and playing in the courtyards, adding a touch of liveliness and warmth to the atmosphere

The boy, surnamed Zhang and named Weigong, comes from an unremarkable family in this village of diverse surnames and inhabitants. The only thing that sets them apart is his mother's extraordinary beauty, coupled with her elegant speech and demeanor

"It is still not you; no matter what, he is still your son." Wei Gongniang said with a pout, "I don't understand why you are so polite every day."

The majority of the hunters are teenagers to young adults in their teens to twenties, with only that small boy, who has a round face and a strong build, being the youngest. However, he is robust and significantly taller than ordinary children

Seeing the woman, the little boy strode up with a smile and took his mother's hand

This time entering the mountains, the harvest is evidently substantial, and everyone is wearing a smile on their faces

Such a small amount of hay, Chen Laizi charges me thirty coins, truly heartless

Along the way, the people eating in front of the houses all held their bowls, making way for the Zhang family mother and son. The mountain village is not large, and everyone takes care of and loves one another, rarely having any disputes or conflicts.

Mother, I am hungry

The meal is ready; I knew you would be hungry as soon as you returned

Why not take a look at the neighboring village? There might be some bargains there

He is naturally very open-minded... Of course, one could also say he is carefree and oblivious.

A family of three was engrossed in their meal, chatting about everyday matters. The father, in his thirties, was honest and simple-minded, speaking little. However, upon seeing his son bring back two rabbits, he genuinely praised them for quite some time.

I am afraid I won't be able to return home tonight, and it weighs on my mind, hehe

Seeing that Weigong had walked far away, Weigong's father awkwardly said: "Has Weigong noticed something?"

As night falls, no one in the mountain village has the habit of using oil lamps when it gets dark, let alone candles. After nightfall, every household shuts its door and retires early.