The roe deer was not dead, only its leg tendons had been severed.
It couldn't run even if it wanted to.
Old Man Yun was utterly bewildered.
What was going on?
First, chicken, then roe deer meat.
Did they not have to spend money on meat?
"Dad, this is what Little Sweet Treasure sent us," Yun Erman said, beaming.
He had experienced dry land yielding clear springs, live fish being caught with ease, and giant purple eggplants growing everywhere.
So, he remained relatively calm.
"Grandpa, your pipe bowl!" Yun Jinhe picked up the pipe bowl.
Old Man Yun took it, wiped it on his sleeve, and tucked it into his waistband before carefully examining the roe deer before him.
"Wow, this thing is quite large!" Old Man Yun chuckled.
"Grandpa, can we roast the roe deer meat?" Yun Jinshan swallowed.
He could already picture the fragrant roe deer meat, roasted to a crisp outside and tender inside, crispy and delicious.
Old Man Yun's face was creased with joy, "Let alone roasting, stewing or stir-frying it will also be first-class!"
"Second, quickly butcher the roe deer and carry it back!"
"You got it!"
They had chickens and now roe deer. The full moon banquet would be tomorrow.
He had to hurry back to hug his daughter.
All this delicious food was brought by Little Sweet Treasure's good fortune.
Passing through the village, Old Man Yun, with his pipe bowl in one hand and the Sha Ben chicken in the other, walked with his head held high, looking very proud.
"Oh, isn't that Old Man Yun who just moved in? Where did he hunt the roe deer?"
"I don't know, he looks like he just came back from the fields!"
"How is that possible? His land is next to the ditch and lake, and the mountains behind are connected. Villagers don't dare to go in there. How did he manage to hunt wild game?"
"Perhaps the Sha Ben chicken and the roe deer were blind and ran to their deaths themselves!"
Old Man Yun was in a great mood and told everyone he met, "My daughter is having her full moon banquet tomorrow. Everyone, come for drinks!~"
"Brother Yun, are you selling your Sha Ben chicken? How much for one?" Aunt Zhang approached, carrying her basket.
She planned to buy one to chop up and mix with pickles, both delicious and appetite-stimulating.
Old Man Yun picked out a medium-sized one and handed it to Aunt Zhang, "We are neighbors, why do you need money? It's a gift for you!"
"Oh, this won't do!" Aunt Zhang quickly took out copper coins.
Old Man Yun waved his hand, "My youngest daughter is having her full moon banquet tomorrow. Sister Zhang, if you have time, come early and help my wife with some chores!"
He gave her a chicken out of gratitude for the bowl of millet porridge she had given his daughter before.
Old Man Yun was a man who repaid kindness.
"Okay, I'll be there tomorrow morning!" Aunt Zhang accepted the chicken.
The villagers loved to watch the excitement and followed Old Man Yun to the Yun family's house halfway up the mountain, but no one dared to enter.
Because the house was rumored to be haunted.
"Old Man Yun, you stayed here last night, did you see any ghosts?" a dark-skinned man asked.
His name was Fu Daqiang, the village tofu maker, and he had a six-year-old son who worked with him making tofu.
Yun Erman glanced at him, "What ghosts? I slept soundly until dawn, better than you!"
His father had told him not to spread the word about what happened last night.
Yun Erman dared not blabber outside!
Fu Daqiang scratched his head and said with ać¨ smile, "Actually, I don't believe in those unorthodox ways. It's just that I've heard so much from the villagers that it makes me uneasy."
Yun Erman felt a bit depressed after hearing this.
Just as he was about to retort, Fu Daqiang took the roe deer from his shoulder and said with a smile, "I'll help you skin it!"
Yun Daman pursed his lips, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded, "Okay!"
Zhao Guihua came out, full of joy, "Dad, Erman, Mom killed a monkey, quickly come in and take a look!"
"A monkey?" Old Man Yun was stunned.
The villagers were equally confused.
There were no monkeys in their mountains at all!
Everyone fell silent.
It was Fu Daqiang who seemed to recall something and said enlightenedly, "I seem to remember that Steward Hu kept a monkey in the house before. He bought it at a high price from the south.
After Steward Hu moved away, he probably abandoned the monkey here!"
Du Laosan nodded in agreement, "I also have some impression. My family lost a lot of radishes and cucumbers before. It must have been that thieving monkey stealing them."
"Yes, I lost several ducks too!"
"A pet monkey doesn't know how to find food in the mountains, it only steals from the common people!"
"It's good that it died, so it won't harm the villagers!"
The villagers chattered and discussed, which indeed dispelled the rumors of the house being haunted.
Zhao Guihua smiled and said, "In my opinion, the haunting of this courtyard was also caused by that monkey. If the villagers don't mind, please come in for a cup of tea!"
Fu Daqiang coughed lightly and stepped over the threshold first, carrying the roe deer inside.
Then Du Laosan and others also entered the courtyard.
The remaining villagers looked at each other, then mustered their courage and went in to help butcher the chicken, drain its blood, drink tea, and chat.
This large courtyard was the most imposing and luxurious house in Dashui Village.
They had long wanted to sit inside.
The Yun family became lively again. Gu Shi held Little Xi Tian and entertained guests, while Zhao Guihua boiled water for tea in the kitchen.
When the women saw the soft and cuddly Little Sweet Treasure, they all vied to hold her, finding her incredibly endearing.
"Oh, daughters are indeed good, they are the most lovable!
Unlike my two stinky little brats, who only eat and play all day and are useless for anything!"
Huang Xiangyun, Du Laosan's wife, hugged Little Sweet Treasure and sighed softly.
Gu Shi smiled slightly, "No matter how good a daughter is, she will eventually belong to someone else when she grows up."
Although she was reluctant to let go, some things were destined.
Even heaven couldn't change them.
Little Xi Tian pursed her lips and giggled.
She secretly thought: If I'm afraid of being lonely, I won't get married when I grow up!
Huang Xiangyun handed Little Xi Tian to Gu Shi, "Sister Yun can take in a son-in-law! If he's a live-in son-in-law, won't your daughter stay by your side!"
Gu Shi smiled helplessly at this, "It's still too early for that!"
In the courtyard.
"Dad, can this monkey meat be eaten?" Yun Erman asked curiously.
Old Man Yun had never eaten monkey meat.
But he had read in storybooks that monkey brains were a dish in the Manchu Han Imperial Feast.
Perhaps it was something that high officials and wealthy lords enjoyed eating!
"Let's take it to the county town tomorrow and see if anyone will buy it!" Old Man Yun said.
Since there was a banquet tomorrow, he needed to buy some wine.
Dashui Village had only a few dozen households in total.
After the haunting incident was explained, more and more people came to visit.
The village chief, holding a jar of sorghum wine, also came to the Yun family.
"Oh, Village Chief, you didn't have to bring anything when you came!"
Old Man Yun went out to greet him, and while doing so, he reminded him, "My youngest daughter is having her full moon banquet tomorrow. Village Chief, please come early!"
"Certainly, certainly!"
That evening, Zhao Guihua stewed two Sha Ben chickens and stir-fried two plates of roe deer meat.
Old Man Yun enthusiastically invited the village chief, Fu Daqiang, and those who helped with the work to stay for dinner.
In the main house, everyone clinked glasses, chatting and laughing merrily.
The cold courtyard finally felt warm.
However, Yun Daman's figure was nowhere to be seen.
He had gone to the county town early in the morning to buy grain and cloth. It was almost the hour of Xu (7-9 PM), and he still hadn't returned...