Volume 1, Chapter 19: Little Red

Once inside, Lin Xiao sat on a stool, and the fox curled up obediently at his feet, resting its head on his shoe. Every so often, it would gently scratch his pant leg with its paw, as if reminding Lin Xiao not to forget its presence.

Watching the fox’s fiery, dazzling red fur, which shone as brightly as a burning flame, an idea struck Lin Xiao. He smiled at his younger sister and said, "Look, sister, its fur is so brilliant, just like a mass of blazing fire. Let's call it 'Little Red' from now on."

His sister’s eyes curved into crescents as she beamed, clapping her hands in approval. "Yes, yes! 'Little Red' is such a lovely name. From now on, you shall be Little Red!"

From that day forward, "Little Red" became the fox's exclusive name in their home. Whenever Lin Xiao or his sister called out "Little Red," the fox would immediately perk up its ears and trot over joyfully, responding to the affectionate summons.

Though Lin Xiao felt a warmth in his heart as he looked at the adorable creature, he knew the time for the fox to leave was drawing near.

He Yulan watched this scene and couldn't help but smile, saying, "Son, it seems this 'Great-Grandmother of Fox Mountain' doesn't want to leave. She has truly become a member of our family."

Lin Xiao smiled back. "Mother, that’s quite alright. With her here, the house feels a bit more lively."

However, Lin Xiao knew deep down that the fox belonged to the mountains and forests. Despite the deep bond they had formed, he could not be selfish enough to keep it by his side forever.

On a sunny day, Lin Xiao brought the fox to the edge of the forest.

"Little Red, your wounds have fully healed. This is where you belong. Go on now."

Lin Xiao squatted down and gently stroked the fox’s head, his eyes filled with reluctance. The fox seemed to understand his words; it circled him a few times, let out a few low cries, and then began to walk slowly toward the woods. After a few steps, it stopped and looked back at Lin Xiao, its gaze lingering with a trace of attachment.

"Go on, take care of yourself," Lin Xiao urged, waving his hand.

Only then did the fox turn and vanish into the forest. Lin Xiao stood there for a long time, watching the direction in which it had disappeared, unable to move his feet.

Amidst the rolling, undulating mountains, life returned to its former tranquility. Logging was a dull and grueling task even for an adult, let alone a child. One day, during a break, Lin Xiao sat on a felled tree trunk, gnawing on the dry rations his mother had prepared for them.

"Big Uncle, we’ve sawed quite a bit already. Is this enough?"

"Hmm! It should be just about right once we finish today. If we’re still short, we can always cut more later," He Qingshan replied, taking a sip of water.

"Does that mean I can go back to hunting tomorrow?" Lin Xiao asked excitedly.

"You rascal, all you think about is hunting! Don't forget, you’re a forest warden now; your primary duty is to patrol the mountains!" With that, He Qingshan walked over and patted Lin Xiao on the shoulder. "Do you understand the weight of that responsibility?"

"Of course I do! I’m just thinking about catching some game to eat while we’re busy fixing the cabin!" Lin Xiao said with a cheeky grin.

"Not bad, you’ve thought it all through. Your mother and I were worried about this just the day before yesterday! But even though there’s plenty of game on this mountain, it’s not easy to catch enough to feed all the workers. After all, repairing your entire courtyard isn't a one- or two-day job." He Qingshan looked into the distance and sighed.

"Don't worry, Big Uncle! You’ve got me, don't you? Providing enough for the workers won't be difficult at all," Lin Xiao said confidently.

"Not difficult? You think you’re catching chickens? Even in my prime, I couldn't guarantee fresh game every day."

"Just leave it to me. I promise that when we start, I’ll make sure everyone gets to eat at least three types of game!" Lin Xiao vowed, patting his chest.

"Catching a few rabbits or pheasants won't be enough. With that beat-up old hunting rifle, it’s hard to bring down anything larger."

"Who says it’s hard? I have plenty of ways!" Lin Xiao continued. "Here’s what I’m thinking: first, we make more snare traps, then we cast a wide net..."

"Wait, wait! You’re going fishing?" He Qingshan interrupted before Lin Xiao could finish.

Lin Xiao looked at him and chuckled. "I said 'cast a wide net,' not 'go fishing.'"

He Qingshan sighed helplessly. "You child, isn't that just the same thing?"

"I mean I’ll set more snares in the mountains, and whatever I catch, I catch," Lin Xiao explained.

"That’s a waste of time. Snares only catch small prey; they won't hold anything larger," He Qingshan dismissed with a wave of his hand.

"Listen to me first. I’ll make some animal traps and set them where the beasts frequent. I’m sure we’ll get something!"

"Hmm, that might work. But what will you use for tools? The traps your Great-Grandfather left behind are all rusted through."

"Don't you worry about that. A wise man always has a plan!"

"You little rascal, keeping secrets from your uncle, are you?"

"Heh heh, you’ll see when the time comes." With that, the two stood up and returned to work.

After finishing a day of logging, Lin Xiao collapsed into bed the moment he got home. Under the dim light, his exhausted profile became increasingly clear; his face was layered with dust and dried sweat, and his work clothes were covered in stains.

He Yulan looked at her son, her eyes reddening. She remembered when he was a child, always nestled by her side, calling out "Mommy" in a crisp, clear voice. Now, though he was not yet a man, he had taken on the heavy burden of supporting their home. She reached out to stroke his cheek, but hesitated, fearing she might wake him. Her hand hovered in the air, filled with heartache and helplessness.

A moment later, she turned and walked into the kitchen on tiptoe. She took out the food she had kept warm for him, boiled a pot of hot water, soaked a towel, and brought it to the bedside to carefully wipe the dust from his face. She knew the pressures of life were like a giant boulder resting on her son’s young shoulders.

"My child, life has been so hard on you for the sake of this family..." He Yulan whispered, her voice choking with emotion. But she remained firm in her belief: as long as they worked together as a family, things would surely get better.

The morning sun shone through the window, appearing exceptionally warm, yet the cold wind outside remained as biting as ever. Holding his rifle and carrying the crossbow his Great-Grandfather had given him, Lin Xiao moved through the forest with light, steady steps. As he followed a familiar path, the bushes ahead suddenly rustled.

His heart tightened. He stopped, slowly crouched down, and kept his eyes fixed on the patch of grass, his right hand gripping his rifle while his index finger rested lightly on the trigger, ready to react.

A moment later, a plump wild rabbit poked its head out, looking around warily. Lin Xiao held his breath, not daring to move a muscle for fear of scaring it away. The rabbit, sensing no danger, hopped out of the bushes and began to graze on the withered grass.

Seeing his chance, Lin Xiao took his rifle off his shoulder and slung it on his back—wasting a bullet on a rabbit seemed unnecessary. He slowly raised his crossbow, aligned the sight with the rabbit’s head, and gently squeezed the trigger. With a crisp "thwip," the bolt flew through the air. The rabbit collapsed instantly, kicked a few times, and went still.

Lin Xiao let out a long breath, stood up, and walked over to pick up the rabbit by its large ears. He retrieved the bolt, tucked it back into his quiver, and continued on his way.

Hunting small animals like pheasants, rabbits, and turtledoves no longer excited him. Because the prey was small and time was short, he knew that Captain Zhao Hu could return with the permits at any moment. His top priority now was to secure at least one piece of larger game.