Zhang Cheng's refusal was decisive and clean. Zhang Da opened his mouth, but ultimately did not persist.
He felt a mix of emotions.
It would be a lie to say I don't envy Zhang Cheng; who wouldn't be envious of that pot of fragrant roe deer meat?
But to say that Zhang Cheng killed the wolf king purely by luck... even Zhang Da Nao himself doesn't believe it.
That composure, that ruthlessness, and that incredible marksmanship and rescue skills were something the Zhang Ergou he knew could never possess.
This kid seems to have completely changed.
Perhaps, as the village elders say, we've encountered some bad luck and received "guidance" from the mountain god?
Zhang Da shook his head, no longer wanting to think about it.
He admitted that his group was indeed far inferior to Zhang Cheng's.
They were surrounded by wolves earlier. If Zhang Cheng hadn't intervened, even if a few of them had survived, the casualties would have been extremely high.
Having a large number of people has its advantages, but when faced with real danger, a capable and competent individual is far more valuable than a rabble.
His invitation today was partly a test, partly an attempt to win him over, and even a hint of hidden jealousy.
Since Zhang Cheng doesn't appreciate it, there's no point in trying to win him over.
"Er Gouzi, if you change your mind, come find me in the front yard anytime."
Zhang Da Nao left those words behind, his gaze lingering on the pot of meat for a moment, his Adam's apple bobbing.
"I'm going back now, the family is waiting to start cooking."
He turned and left, his steps heavy, pondering how to cook the wolf meat he had been allocated so that it wouldn't taste so gamey.
"Okay," Zhang Cheng replied without looking up.
After seeing Zhang Da Nao off, Zhang Cheng continued to work diligently.
After eating and drinking my fill, my strength has been restored considerably.
He found some old wooden planks that he had previously taken from the small side room and began nailing the bed together with a clattering sound.
Shi Yangyang watched from the side, her eyes still somewhat vacant, but not as completely numb as before.
Seeing Zhang Cheng's busy figure, she silently stepped forward and clumsily helped by handing him planks and nails.
She didn't seem completely insane; she was just immersed in her own world.
But inside the main house in the front yard, it's a completely different scene.
Looking at his home, now a mess after being ransacked by the Li family, Zhang An felt like crying but had no tears left.
The furniture was overturned, and broken tiles and debris were scattered on the ground.
Fortunately, Zhang Da Nao led the young members of the Zhang family in to "help," managing to salvage a considerable amount of grain and some pots and pans; otherwise, the family would have been completely destitute.
The old woman collapsed onto the cold ground, slapping her thighs with both hands, and began to wail and curse the Li family for their cruelty and Zhang Cheng for being a "troublemaker."
Old Zhang squatted in the corner, puffing away on his pipe, his face full of worry, his deeply lined face etched with frustration and resentment.
Er Ya, heavily pregnant, wandered around the room but couldn't find a stool to sit on.
She looked at her husband, Zhang An, with a wronged expression, her eyes filled with dependence and helplessness.
"What are you looking at! All you do all day is stare!"
Zhang An felt a surge of anger rising within him from her gaze, as if all his resentment had finally found an outlet.
He yelled irritably, walked to the door in frustration, plopped down on the cold threshold, and sighed while holding his head in his hands.
Only the old woman's wailing and Old Zhang's sighs remained in the house.
After a long while, Old Zhang suddenly stood up, walked to the threshold, and kicked Zhang An in the buttocks.
"Get up! Come with me to Li Houcheng's house!"
Old Zhang's voice carried a suppressed anger.
"This matter cannot be left unresolved!"
Zhang An was startled. He looked up at his father's gloomy face and immediately cowered.
He's a bully at home, good at bullying his wife, but cowardly to outsiders.
"Father..." he said with a mournful face, "There are so many people in the Li family, wouldn't we just be asking for a beating if we went? Maybe... maybe we should just give up?"
"Forget it?!" Old Zhang's eyes widened. "How can we forget it?! They've taken our bed and bedding! Are you suggesting we, the whole family, and your wife's unborn child, just freeze to death on the floor?!"
He harbored a fierce determination within him.
If he doesn't get his bedding back today, Old Zhang will throw all his pride at Li Houcheng's house and refuse to leave!
Zhang An shrank back after being yelled at by Old Zhang.
He has been afraid of this father since he was a child.
Although he was extremely unwilling, he dared not argue any further.
He slowly climbed up from the threshold, head drooping, and reluctantly followed Old Zhang out of the yard.
Seeing this, the old woman stopped crying, struggled to get up, ran to the inner room and brought out a bundle of dry straw, which she spread out in a slightly cleaner spot in the main room, preparing to make a makeshift bed on the floor.
Fortunately, the heavy tin stove was so hot that the Li family didn't move it because they thought it was too hot to handle, so the house was still a little warm.
Er Ya stood there, looking at the empty house, and touched her rumbling stomach, feeling extremely wronged.
After all this trouble and anxiety, I can't even get a hot meal.
The thought of going back to her parents' home for a free meal flashed through her mind, but she quickly dismissed it.
If she were to run back to her parents' home now, not only would she lose face for her husband's family, but Zhang An would definitely not forgive her later.
She could only purse her lips and silently endure it.
...
In the backyard, inside the mud house.
Zhang Cheng quickly nailed together a simple bed frame using wooden planks.
Although it's rough, at least there's a place to sleep off the ground.
He spread the thick cotton quilt that Zhang Da Tou Nao had brought on the wooden board, and then folded his own old but relatively clean quilt and put it aside.
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