Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 184 - 182: Before the Hunt

Chapter 184: Chapter 182: Before the Hunt

"Mother, I’m going to invite grandma and aunt over today, so you won’t feel lonely," Xiao’er said with a smile.

Hunting is not a child’s game. A small oversight could cost life. Reminiscent of the previous encounter with the pack of wolves, wouldn’t one fear the darkness after coming across a ghost? Mrs. Liu still shook her head in disagreement.

"Mother, I will take care of myself for sure. I will dig some thousand-year-old ginseng for you to strengthen your body. Please let me go. Father, you know my abilities, please persuade mother," Xiao’er winked at Shen Chengyao.

Seeing Xiao’er’s gesture, Shen Chengyao was reminded of her uncanny ability to enter fairyland anytime and anywhere, which had become somewhat of a conditioned response. He then looked at his three sons, wondering whether they would ever have the chance to hunt on Five Gods Mountain in the future.

"Ahem, children’s mother, perhaps we could take all four of them with us but avoid venturing too deep into the mountain. We hunt fewer animals, mainly as a form of participation, so that the danger will be mitigated," Shen Chengyao negotiated with Mrs. Liu.

Mrs. Liu looked at Shen Chengyao incredulously. Had he gone mad? He even agreed to this matter! She noticed that her husband had become increasingly indulgent with their children, uttering only one word to their every one.

"Mother, we strive only to participate and will not run towards danger!"

Feeling uncomfortable under Mrs. Liu’s gaze, Shen Chengyao turned his attention to the village chief and said, "In the future, our family will definitely move to the Imperial Capital. Therefore, I’m unsure if Rui’er and others will have the chance to participate in the village’s hunting event again. After all, it is a tradition passed down from our ancestors; every man in the village has participated. So, I thought of bringing them along to gain some experience."

"What is Xiao’er doing there as a girl?" Mrs. Liu hesitated a bit after hearing this.

"When have I ever offended you, mother, that you hold onto me so tightly this time?" Xiao’er’s face spelled distress.

Mrs Liu: "What nonsense are you talking about, child? Your mother is merely worried about you. Only men participate in this, you’re a girl..."

"Mother, please don’t be sexist. I am going with dad, which as a girl I am not afraid of. Moreover, I’m an excellent hunter, please let me go."

"Yes, I will take good care of Xiao’er," Shen Chengyao assisted.

"Mother, my sister alone is equivalent to ten times dad, no, even ten times me. You should let her go," Jinghao sensed Shen Chengyao’s glance and promptly corrected himself; he felt that things would become more interesting if Xiao’er were to join.

Shen Chengyao gave Jinghao a stern glare. Was he that inadequate? Xiao’er alone equivalent to ten times dad, his grand image as a father was almost gone.

"Yes, it would be good to let her come along and see the world. After getting married, a girl won’t have much freedom," the village chief also came to their aid when he saw Shen Chengyao’s help signal.

"Indulging the children this way, they are going out of control, wanting to do everything!" Mrs. Liu glared at Shen Chengyao and feigned anger.

The agreement made, the fathers and sons exchanged jovial glances.

Then Shen Chengyao and the village chief began reminiscing about the interesting incidents from the previous hunting trips, creating a cheerful atmosphere.

——

While it was still dark, the area beneath the village’s banyan tree teemed with people ready to hunt.

Everyone shook their heads when they saw Shen Chengyao bringing his four children to the hunt, and many friendly villagers advised him to send the children back home. They asserted it wasn’t a game and warned sternly not to involve the children.

The commentary from a dozen or so villagers who had not continued with their contracts was considerably harsher.

"Is this a children’s play? Bringing kids, aren’t you trying to get everyone killed?"

"Yes, in case of a wild boar attack, no one will have time to look after your children. Don’t blame us if the wild boar mauls them!"

"This is just dragging everyone down, won’t the village chief do something?"

...

"Such small children might end up as tiger food, leaving nothing behind but bones!"

"Taking girls to hunt, aren’t you afraid of ruining family traditions!"

The verbal abuse came from all directions.

"Everyone, rest assured, I will take good care of my children," Shen Chengyao replied calmly without arguing, saying just this sentence.

"You said it yourself. Don’t blame us if something goes wrong!"

"Nothing will go wrong," he assured them, confident in his children’s abilities.

Everyone else ignored him after that. Many made it clear that they did not wish to be grouped with Shen Chengyao’s family during the division of teams.

The village’s custom was to split into groups of ten to twelve persons for hunting every year. The game caught by each group was shared amongst its members; it was an unwritten rule.

If they were heading with children, how could they hunt dangerous yet valuable prey like wild boars? Everyone could understand why people did not want to be grouped with Shen Chengyao’s family.

However, not everyone was selfish.

Upon seeing this, the village chief suggested, "Let’s accompany Chengyao’s group too, Young Master Lai, Zhijie, any objections?"

Lai Zhewei and Ming Zhijie had learned about the village hunting event from Shen Zixuan and quickly followed. Hunting, after all, was something that most young and vigorous boys loved.

"With utmost pleasure!" Zhang Zhijie nodded and said with a smile.

"There’s nothing more I could ask for!" Lai Zhewei walked right up to Shen Chengyao and Liu Minhong. He was eager to show off in front of his future father-in-law.

Shen Zixuan and Ming Zhijie followed him.

"I’ll be in Yao’ little brother’s group too," Shen Cheng’an walked over to Jingrui. He was Shen Renfu’s son, Shen Chengyao’s cousin.

"We’ll join Brother Chengyao’s group too," Youfu, Youcai, Dazhu, and Dashi, a few villagers, also walked over.

There was no need to mention Shen Chengzu; he had always been standing by Shen Chengyao’s side.

Two or three others wanted to join, but the group was already full, so they gave up.

Now, Shen Chengyao’s group consisted of twelve people, including children.

Seven groups altogether entered the mountain, agreeing to set up camp and sleep at the same spot in the evening for safety.

As for how much game they could hunt, it would depend on their skills and luck.

Xiao’er’s group had five iron carts and five portable folding luggage carts. Xiao’er had prepared these; her shop sold them, and they were in high demand.

Upon seeing this, Youfu and Dashi felt it unnecessary.

"One or two should be enough, right?" Where would they get so much game to fill the carts?

"It doesn’t matter. It’s much less trouble to put luggage and dry food on the carts since the trip will last several days." Shen Chengyao knew what they were thinking, but he also trusted his daughter. This arrangement must have been according to her plan.

"If I get tired, I’ll just sit on this cart. Dad, uncles, you’ll have to push me." Jinghao joked mischievously.

"Alright!" Everyone agreed with laughter.

With this, the villagers remained silent. The cart was of small size; over generations, many paths had been trodden, so it wasn’t too hard to push. If some large game was caught, it would be convenient to transport it down the mountain. Moreover, the children could rest on the cart when they got tired.

They didn’t think that having to push the children was falling short; rather, they thought that Shen Chengyao had thoughtfully made the arrangements.

Compared with the previous villagers, this is the difference in human nature. This is the reason why, in the future, they will follow Shen Chengyao’s family to increasing wealth.