Wang Hongtao was deeply unsettled, pacing back and forth in place. He stared into the dense, seemingly impenetrable forest and gritted his teeth. Still unable to set his mind at ease, he rushed inside to search. Even the most experienced old hunters from the nearby villages dared not venture too deep into Qingniu Mountain at night.
Wang Hongtao searched inside for a full two or three hours, until the eastern horizon began to pale with the first light of dawn. Alone, his nose stinging and his eyes bloodshot, he returned to Shi Yi’s small wooden cabin.
Wang Zhijiao had risen early. She had discovered many small fish in the shallow stream behind the house. She remembered that when her father was alive, he loved eating these small fish with his wine. Every time the uncles and elders gathered in the main hall of their home, they would drink and sing the "Great Chu War Song"…
Chapter 18