Chapter 34: Time to Build a House-Renascido no Ano da Fome Antiga: Começando a se Esconder nas Montanhas Profundas para Caçar(O fantasma da montanha não sabe ler.)

At the foot of the mountain, Grandpa Cai arranged his incense, candles, paper money, and other curious items. The duck that Su Yanwen had given him was not left at home but placed upon the altar. After a series of chants and rhythmic movements, Grandpa Cai suddenly cast a turtle shell and several copper coins into the air. He studied them closely, and a look of joy immediately spread across his face.

As he packed his things, he nodded to the group. "I have conveyed our request to the Mountain God. He has granted us permission to enter the mountain and build a house."

When venturing into the mountains, one must ask for permission for each task. Since they had requested to build a house, the Mountain God’s consent applied specifically to that. The site Su Yanwen had selected lay between the mountainside and the foot of the mountain; it was dense with pine trees but surprisingly flat.

Hearing the commotion, Zhao Yue’e and Cao’er were startled, acting like birds frightened by the mere twang of a bowstring. Only upon looking closer did they realize it was Su Yanwen leading the group.

"Papa is back!" Cao’er shouted. Like a joyful rabbit, she sprinted forward on her short legs, charging toward Su Yanwen. Seeing his sweet daughter running toward him, Su Yanwen ignored whatever might have been in his pockets and immediately opened his arms. He kissed, hugged, and lifted her high, feeling utterly blissful. Cao’er had grown accustomed to this affection, and her laughter rang out continuously.

"Huh?" Dalang looked on, puzzled. He had not expected that Cao’er, once so timid and submissive, would one day be so attached to Su Yanwen.

The others cared little for such things. Their eyes were fixed entirely on the two tree trunks in front of the makeshift tent, where cured ducks and fish hung.

*Gulp.*

The sound of swallowing saliva echoed one after another. No one could tear their eyes away. Those strings of meat were the ultimate reassurance for everyone present.

Only Grandpa Cai frowned, his face etched with worry. "Living in such a shelter is far too dangerous. Never mind wild animals; if it snows tonight, your entire family could freeze to death."

As he spoke, his gaze swept over the clothes worn by Zhao Yue’e and Cao’er. They were also wearing padded jackets, but why did their cotton seem so much fluffier and warmer?

"Everyone, don't just stand there. Let’s get to work and build a simple wooden cabin before dark," Grandpa Cai commanded.

When it came to craftsmanship and mortise-and-tenon joints, that was Dalang’s specialty. He did not hesitate, surveying the terrain before immediately beginning to design the frame.

Zhao Yue’e remained standing there, stunned, whispering to herself, "How is this possible? Can someone really be helping us? They actually came into the mountains." Her grateful gaze never left Grandpa Cai. She kept saying, "I never expected the last old hunter in the village to be willing to lead the team himself."

While Zhao Yue’e was lost in her emotions, Su Yanwen began issuing instructions. "Thank you all for your hard work today. Let’s start a fire and cook so that everyone can have a hot meal before nightfall. Of course, I have also prepared the portion you are to take home."

In front of everyone, Su Yanwen divided a piece of cured fish into ten portions and wrapped them up. As for Grandpa Cai and Dalang—the former being a skilled practitioner and the latter the foreman—they were treated differently. Without hesitation, he cut off half a duck and bundled it with a fish weighing about five pounds for each of them.

The men who had come to work, initially pale with fear at the sight of the deep mountains, now wore genuine smiles as they saw their wages neatly laid out.

"Start the fire! Cook!" Su Yanwen called out.

Zhao Yue’e looked at the twelve men plus their family of three—fifteen people in total. She did not hesitate, taking down a five-pound fish to start a stew.

"That's not enough!" Su Yanwen shook his head, whispering, "We need more than just today."

At most, they could only build a shed-like cabin today, which would be incredibly cramped for a family of three. To put it bluntly, if they laid down to sleep in a row, the entire floor would be covered.

As he spoke, the sound of trees being felled echoed around them. Su Yanwen added another fish to the pot and set the last two to roast over the fire. The aroma of the fish filled the air, making everyone’s stomachs growl. They were used to eating wheat bran and wild vegetables, which had left their faces a sallow, greenish hue. But this was the scent of meat—a fragrance that existed only in their memories.

The men were invigorated and worked even harder. Grandpa Cai sat to the side, smoking his dry tobacco, his tools never leaving his side, his eyes scanning the surroundings like a hawk. Theoretically, with so many people, wild animals would not dare to approach easily. But one could never account for large predators, driven to madness by hunger, lying in wait to ambush them.

Dalang was the busiest, not only directing the work but also handling the intricate details himself. A small wooden cabin was much faster to build than a structure of steel and concrete. Some men cut trees while others drove wooden stakes into the flat ground. Once the foundation piles were firm, they constructed the frame and joined the logs one by one. Though the space was small, it was sturdy enough that no animal smaller than a grizzly bear would be able to easily break through the door.

To move in sooner, Su Yanwen joined in to help. Cao’er helped add firewood, her cheeks flushed red from the heat of the flames, watching the cabin take shape with excitement. "My Papa is amazing! He’s really building a house! Mommy, Mommy, we’re going to have a home!"

Zhao Yue’e felt a warmth blooming in her heart. Even if this man was her husband and yet not, they could truly have a home of their own. He had been doing everything to protect them. At this thought, a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. However, seeing that the pole, which had been full, now held only a single duck, she couldn't help but sigh.

When it was just the three of them, the game Su Yanwen hunted was more than enough. But now, with fifteen people to feed, what would they do tomorrow? Looking at the meat, Zhao Yue’e felt troubled. Meat broth was a luxury, but to truly fill fifteen stomachs, ten pounds of meat wouldn't be enough. They would need to supplement it with something more filling.

Su Yanwen, having helped carry several logs, reflected that one should leave professional work to the professionals. In the modern world, he could suggest building temporary shelters, but when it came to the actual technical construction of a house, he was truly clueless. Noticing Grandpa Cai’s vigilance, he walked over and asked, "Grandpa Cai, what are you looking at?"

Grandpa Cai narrowed his eyes. His cloudy gaze seemed to pierce through the dense forest. Suddenly, he asked, "Are you sure you want to stay in these mountains? I advise you to go back to the village!"

"Why?" Su Yanwen asked with a smile. "Look at this place—nestled by the mountains and water, it’s quite nice. Once the house is finished, it will be a lovely spot."

"Nice?" Grandpa Cai withdrew his gaze and fixed it on Su Yanwen. "Looking at the terrain alone, yes, it is indeed nice. But, Su, haven't you felt a sense of unease lately? Haven't you realized that you are already being watched by something? I tell you, if you insist on staying in these mountains, you will live for fifteen more days at most."