Gentle Little Husband of the Hunter C1

Chapter 1

Late June.

The sun, leaning westward, had lessened the heat of the day; fiery orange clouds blanketed the entrance to Qingshan Village.

There was little pastime for the country folk; once night fell, they would go to bed early. However, today the Yun hunter’s home at the foot of the mountain was lively and bustling.

Today was Yun Pei’s wedding day.

Red “double happiness” characters were pasted on the courtyard gate and windows. Amidst the clamorous firecrackers and joyful cheers, Yun Pei carried his new husband into the house and performed the formal bowing to heaven and earth.

Once the new husband entered the bridal chamber, the feast could begin in the yard. Before long, Yun Pei emerged from the room and toasted the guests outside.

“Well, I truly did not expect this,” a woman aunt, wiping oil from her mouth, remarked in wonder, eyeing Yun Pei’s tall figure dressed in festive attire among a group of young men. “To think these two would end up together.”

“Who could say otherwise? That Liu brother has had a hard fate. I heard a while ago that the black-hearted Li Yumei wanted to marry him off as a concubine to Lai San from Niutou Village. He was nearly driven to death. Such a fine brother, fortunate it didn’t come to that. Now he’s married to Yun the hunter—it’s not so bad, is it?”

“Is life guaranteed to be better married to Yun the hunter?”

“Listen to yourself! That Lai San is what kind of person? Infamous among the ten or so surrounding villages—a rogue and wastrel—who could be worse?”

“Aunt, you’re right. No one is worse than that Lai San. Yun, after all, is a proper hunter. These days, a skillful trade like his means he’ll never go hungry.”

But at that moment, a sharp and sarcastic voice cut in: “That’s not so sure.”

“Don’t forget, Yun Pei is a hunter—someone who kills and spills blood daily. Such sinister energy—how could he be a good man?”

This comment was cutting. A few turned to look, and once they saw who spoke, they understood.

It was from the Zhang family. Zhang Aunt was known for stirring trouble with her sharp tongue and harsh words, though what she said this time, though bitter, contained some truth upon closer thought.

Why did the villagers avoid getting too close to Yun Pei?

Firstly, Yun Pei was not originally from Qingshan Village. He fled here at age twelve during a great flood in another village. Not being a local, there was always a psychological distance. Secondly, it was because of his identity as a hunter.

Though hunters earned more than farming peasants, their trade involved much killing, often seen as ominous, and many believed retribution would come one day.

Look at Yun Pei’s master, the old hunter Shen Pingchang—he died before turning forty.

Seeing the silence at the table, Zhang Aunt became even more pleased, eating faster. Her sharp voice continued, “Besides, Yun Pei is so tall and strong. If he ever lost his temper and fought, could Liu brother’s thin arms and legs stand a chance?”

But as soon as she finished speaking, a loud “bang” startled everyone.

A rough ceramic bowl was slammed heavily onto the wooden table.

“I say, Wang Guilan!” Ma Aunt, who had come to help arrange Yun Pei’s wedding, set down a bowl of stir-fried rabbit meat and scolded coldly, “So much food at this feast, and you still cannot keep your foul mouth shut?”

“On such a joyful day, why spew such dirt?”

“Hmph! Ma family, huh!” Zhang Aunt wasn’t one to get along with easily and immediately rolled up her sleeves to fight back, “I wasn’t talking about you—why get so defensive?”

Wang Guilan was the woman who had spoken before. Since her married name was Zhang, people usually called her Zhang Aunt.

Wang was known for her lack of a filter. Many villagers disliked associating with her, but the Zhang family was large and influential in the village, and Wang’s fiery nature meant few dared provoke her.

However, Ma Aunt was not intimidated. She was about the same age and spirited as Wang, with a respectable husband and son, giving her confidence.

“Who’s getting so defensive?” Ma Aunt glared back with a sneer. “I say, Wang Guilan, if you’re so wary of Pei, then why were you recently seen going to the Yun hunter’s house to set up a match for your niece?”

“You!” Wang’s face turned sour, but Ma Aunt spared no mercy, “I think you came to propose but got rejected by Pei. Then, seeing he instantly spent ten taels of silver to marry Liu brother, you got jealous and picked this time to spread poison.”

Upon hearing this, many recalled seeing Wang Guilan visit Yun Pei’s house not long ago—this must be why.

“I spit on that! Jealous of him?!” Wang could not keep a straight face but stubbornly maintained, “What about my niece? What’s wrong with her? She’s plump and round—obviously a good wife! I just saw Yun Pei was old enough and still unmarried, so I wanted to match her with him. If Yun Pei didn’t choose her, that’s his misfortune! To refuse a fine girl for a little brother—he’ll regret it someday!”

Yet no one spoke up after this.

Everyone knew Wang’s niece well. Country folk worked hard in the fields and were mostly dark and thin, but Wang’s niece was dark-skinned and plump, lazy and fond of eating, with a stout waist and strong frame that could rival two men in the village.

It was probably because the girl ate so much she emptied her mother’s grain reserve. Wang thus worriedly pushed her niece forward as a match.

And Liu brother? He was someone everyone had watched grow up.

Who in the village did not praise this brother? Skilled in all the household chores and gentle in temperament, only misfortune came from his cruel stepmother, who had tormented him so horribly.

Seeing these two nearly come to blows, one aunt quickly changed the subject: “Hey, Ma Aunt, you just said Yun Pei spent ten taels of silver to marry Liu brother?”

Her words again smoothed the mood and expressed genuine surprise.

Originally, the village only knew about the black-hearted Li Yumei trying to marry Liu off to Lai San as a concubine, and then somehow it changed to Yun Pei marrying him—but no one knew Yun Pei had spent ten taels!

That was a lot of money—enough to buy a wife outright!

Someone offered a way out, and Ma Aunt dropped the subject, glancing sharply at the Zhang family.

On this joyous day, she certainly didn’t want to quarrel with the Zhangs, as the villagers already feared Yun Pei and could be easily swayed by the Zhang matriarch’s words.

Ma Aunt knew well what the village thought—that Yun Pei was a stranger, rootless and mysterious, and a hunter, who was unlucky and inauspicious.

A few older women even whispered harsher things, claiming Yun Pei brought misfortune, killing those close like the Shens.

Bah! A nest of blackhearted gossips!

Yun Pei was someone she had seen grow up herself. Her family lived next to Shen Pingchang’s house. When Shen and his wife rescued Yun from the mountain years ago, starving to the bone, she had seen him once—a pitiful boy barely skin and bones.

All these years, she had watched from afar. Yun was quiet and kept to himself, seldom mingling with villagers, but he was sincere, had helped her family many times, and was filial.

Since Shen Pingchang passed away, Ma Aunt had visited him more frequently.

She had always intended to defend Yun Pei in the village, so now seizing the opportunity, she spoke energetically.

Raising her eyebrows and speaking enthusiastically, she said, “That’s right. Li Yumei’s a terrible woman—we all know that.”

“Ten taels may sound like a lot, but it saved a life. When it’s a matter of life, no amount is too much. That shows the kindness in our Pei.”

“That’s true,” a husband nearby nodded, “Yun Pei is capable—ten taels, and he pays without hesitation.”

Ten taels! For them farmers who scratched the soil all year, weather permitting, they might save two or three taels at best!

Ma Aunt continued on the momentum: “I know what everyone’s thinking, but now that Yun Pei has married Liu brother, he’s one of us Qingshan people. We should visit more often.”

“Yes, Ma Aunt’s right!”

“And look,” Ma Aunt stirred the large bowl before her, laughing, “Look how grand this feast is. Many of these meats were hunted by Pei himself from the mountain!”

“Oh, that’s truly something!” The group, initially only giving polite responses, now genuinely warmed to the occasion.

This wedding feast was known far and wide in ten neighboring villages.

Village weddings always followed certain rules.

For luck, each table had ten dishes—how many were meat or vegetables depended on each family’s means. Wealthy households served more meat; poorer, mostly vegetables.

Today, Yun Pei’s feast had six meat dishes out of ten, all standout signature dishes!

Soy-braised rabbit, clear chicken broth, braised carp, soy-braised pork knuckle, cold marinated pig’s ears, and a plate of stir-fried kidneys.

Especially the large bowl of braised pork knuckle—over two jin (about two pounds) in weight—with plenty of oil and spices. The knuckle was tender and flavorful with red glossy skin; when pierced gently with chopsticks, the meat peeled right off the bone. A single bite, skin and meat together, left the eater’s mouth dripping with rich juices!

The four vegetable dishes were braised winter melon, stewed eggplant, mixed sprouts, and stir-fried melon shoots. The staple was white steamed buns, and even the light-looking cabbage and tofu soup had an egg cracked into it.

Though life in Qingshan Village was decent, with occasional meat on the table, it was never so lavish.

Just days ago, they had finished harvesting the wheat; now they could feast without worry, and none could complain.

Everyone, young and old, ate with their heads down, utterly satisfied.

Of course, people were savvy—when eating, they spoke sweetly to match.

Seeing no one would respond to the Zhang family anymore, Ma Aunt’s tone relaxed. She chatted a bit more before returning to the kitchen.

Later, even when Wang Guilan muttered a sour remark or two, no one paid her any mind.

Wang, furious, spat onto the ground.

Bah! A cursed star, fatherless and motherless—she’d like to see how they fare going forward!

——

Yun Pei caught a glimpse but did not respond. Today, he was naturally the center of attention. Though he had drunk much, he remained clear-headed.

Due to his distant relationship with the villagers and his tall, strong hunter’s build—one punch from him might fell a wolf—many came to toast him, but none dared to force him to drink.

He swallowed another cup when Ma Aunt’s youngest grandson, Shi Tou, not yet six, put down his bowl, rubbed his belly, and burped.

Yun Pei beckoned him over: “Shi Tou, come here.”

“Uncle Pei!” Shi Tou adored this young and handsome uncle who, though usually quiet, would take him hunting for rabbits and birds when free—a real skillful hunter!

At Yun Pei’s call, Shi Tou scampered over eagerly. “What is it, Uncle Pei?”

“Shi Tou, please help me with something…”

Yun Pei bent down and whispered.

“Okay, got it! I’m going now.” Shi Tou nodded and dashed off to find his grandmother in the kitchen.

——

Bridal Chamber.

Gu Liu sat upright on the bed, his head covered with a red veil.

He did not know he had become the village’s topic of conversation. Even if he knew, he would not care.

According to custom, he only had to wait in the bridal chamber for Yun Pei to make offerings to the guests, then come to lift his veil—that would seal the marriage.

Now, the aunts who had helped with the wedding had gone to the feast, leaving him alone in the room.

Gu Liu finally exhaled slowly, his back tense all day loosening somewhat.

All day long, his heart had been heavy, fearing a scandal on the road that would shame Yun Pei, or that his stepmother might plant trouble at the last moment. Now safely settled here, his heart could rest.

The cloth beside him had been clenched all day until wrinkled; he carefully smoothed its folds.

From today on, he was Yun Pei’s husband.

Recalling the scene of leaving the Gu family, though his heart had long since died, his eyes still held a trace of sorrow.

When other village children married, their parents helped arrange everything. But in the Gu family, the ten taels that served as bride-price felt more like the payment for his selling.

His father had always ignored him; his stepmother even more so. After taking the silver, she hurried to find a matchmaker to arrange a proposal for his younger brother Gu Liang in town, ignoring him completely.

On his wedding day, the family did not even hang a single “double happiness” character. When he and the dowry left, the door slammed shut with a bang as if shooing away disaster. The so-called dowry was just a thin half-box of old clothes he had worn at the Gu home.

Originally, even those clothes were missing—but his second uncle’s family, unable to tolerate it, forced the stepmother to gather some of his usual garments and bring them over.

Enough—Gu Liu rubbed his eyes.

Now that he was married here, he only needed to live well with his husband.

Voices rose outside in the yard; it would be some time before they finished.

The new husband’s veil was to be lifted by the groom, so Gu Liu dared not break tradition. He took a careful look around from beneath the veiled edge.

Yun Pei’s house was the old hunter’s original—a place never repaired, with a roof of thatch and yellow mud plaster, far less grand or spacious than Gu Liu’s brick and tile home, yet much larger than his usual cramped room.

The bridal chamber was festively decorated.

A kang bedrun—a heated brick bed—was placed next to the window, broad and flat. The kang cloth had been changed to red for the wedding, scattered with red dates, peanuts, and other fruits. On the kang table rested a basket of similarly plump nuts, all firm and full.

At the foot of the bed, several newly made quilts were neatly piled.

In addition, in the corner by the wall stood a wardrobe with a freshly pasted “double happiness” character on the door. At the center of the room was a brand-new table.

Seeing all this, Gu Liu’s once anxious heart finally found some calm.

From now on, this was his home.