The Well-Behaved and Gentle Little Husband of the Hunter

Gu Liu was the Gu family village’s brother whom everyone praised. Gifted in household work and gentle in disposition, he was nonetheless forced by his black-hearted stepmother, who for a bit of silver intended to marry him off as a concubine to a ruffian wastrel from a neighboring village.

All his resistance was in vain. Despairing, Gu Liu, his mind empty of all hope, sought out a length of white cloth to end his life in the mountains—only to be saved by a hunter.

That hunter was tall and stalwart, his great frame marked by hideous scars that filled Gu Liu with fear at first glance. Who would have thought that, after hearing his plight, the hunter was even willing to spend money to marry him?

Gu Liu, wiping away his tears with a reddened face, looked toward that towering hunter: he is so good, I must treat him well for the rest of my life!

——

Yun Pei was by birth a hunter who lived in the mountains. On one occasion, while hunting, he happened to rescue a young brother who had sought death by his own hand.

Saving a life should be done to the end. Staring at the little brother with eyes red from crying, Yun Pei gave a faint sigh: “Do not weep. Tell me what bride-price is needed, and I shall marry you.”

Yun Pei had not expected much from this marriage. He only thought that he had reached the age for forming a family, and whomever he married was no great matter. But to his surprise, this seemingly soft and gentle little husband also had remarkable skill in cookery.

In spring, tender shepherd’s purse gathered from the fields, made into fragrant buns; in the sweltering heat of summer, chilled drinks of smoked plum and mulberry that refreshed the body; in autumn, wild chestnuts gathered from the mountain forest made into golden broth with old hens; in winter, rows of glistening cured meats hanging before the hearth, steamed together with rice to fill the house with savory fragrance…

So it was that amidst the smoke and fire of life, through four seasons bright with joy, the two of them together passed the years hand in hand.

——

Little Theater:

The newly wedded husband was soft and delicate, easily teased into shyness. Yun Pei gradually began to find certain delights in this. Pitying his youth, he could not bear to harm him.

Who would have imagined that one day, returning from the hunt, Yun Pei would enter to see his little husband seated upon the bed, garments half undone, a pair of eyes brimming with timidity and shyness as he softly called him: “Husband…”

Yun Pei: …
Yun Pei: How is this to be endured any longer!

A tall hunter as the gong * A gentle little brother as the shou

Alternate title: “Years of Four Seasons”