Chapter 22: Encountering Wild Wolves While Felling Trees on the Mountain

When Gu Wennuan returned home, Zhou Siyue was asleep on a stool. She woke him up and then sat in the yard to keep watch.

"Sister-in-law, you've had a long day; let me take over," he offered.

Gu Wennuan pulled up a stool and sat down to talk with him. "Siyue, what do you think about what happened today?"

Zhou Siyue felt deeply ashamed. "I’m sorry, sister-in-law. I’m useless, and I even made you come to the police station to pick me up."

"Siyue, you’re fifteen now. In a few years, you’ll be married and starting your own family. You are the backbone of this household. You have to stand tall. I’m not asking you to go around picking fights, but you cannot be a coward. Do you understand? The more you retreat, the more they will bully you."

Back at the base, Gu Wennuan lived by the law of the jungle: if you don’t kill, you get killed. While killing is illegal here, one shouldn't let others walk all over them either.

"I understand, sister-in-law."

Zhou Siyue had expected these words to come from his older brother, but he hadn't imagined his sister-in-law would be the one to teach him that a man must stand firm, as weakness only invites further exploitation.

Hu Ailian, standing at the doorway and having overheard their conversation, turned back to her bed. Her daughter-in-law had truly changed.

The next morning, Gu Wennuan stretched, made breakfast, and prepared the corn flour to steam buns for lunch. The workers arrived at seven sharp. By noon, the foundation was set, and they would begin framing the next day.

"Siyue’s wife, you need to pick out good wood for the main beams. You should select them in the next few days."

Unsure of what to look for, Gu Wennuan asked, "Uncle, what kind of wood is sturdy and durable?"

In the mountains of Heifeng Province, there were many trees, but few suitable for structural beams.

"Look for old-growth pine. Pick a few good ones; pine is strong and lasts. Just tell the brigade leader; he can give you permission to fell a few."

Felling trees in the mountains of Heifeng Province was strictly regulated; getting caught meant jail time.

Gu Wennuan grabbed a package of pastries and two cartons of cigarettes, heading toward the brigade leader’s house. Passing by Old Woman Wang’s, the old woman glared at the goods in Gu Wennuan's hands.

"Pah! You little tramp. Who knows where you got the money? I bet Zhou Sinian is being made a cuckold."

Gu Wennuan reached Zhou Chuangen’s house and knocked on the gate. "Is Uncle Chuangen home?"

Zhou Chuangen was sitting on the kang smoking a pipe, complaining of lower back pain that morning, so he hadn't gone to the fields. "Old woman, someone’s at the door. Go see who it is."

Huang Dalian put down her work and opened the door to find Gu Wennuan. "Siyue’s wife, what brings you here? Doesn't your family have work going on?"

Gu Wennuan carried the items inside. "I came to see Uncle Chuangen and ask for his help with something."

Zhou Chuangen saw her enter and hurried his wife to pour some water.

"No need, Uncle. I came to ask for a favor. We’re building our house and need some beams. I’d like to go up the mountain to cut a few trees."

The mountains surrounding the Fengtian Brigade belonged to the public; usually, people only went up to forage for wild goods, not to fell trees. Seeing Zhou Chuangen’s hesitation, Gu Wennuan pulled out the two cartons of high-quality cigarettes.

"Uncle, I won't go during the day. I’ll just go at night to cut a few. I hope you can make an exception."

Knowing her house had collapsed, Zhou Chuangen didn't make it difficult for her. "Go ahead, just don't let anyone see you. The mountain isn't safe at night; take Siyue with you."

"Thank you, Uncle. I’ll need you to preside over the roof-beam raising ceremony later."

Zhou Chuangen still remembered her from her first year in the brigade, when she punched two teeth out of Zhou Jinsheng’s mouth over a muskmelon. Now, she was actually being tactful—having her offer him a cigarette was a rare sight.

"Siyue’s wife, it’s a very good thing you’ve turned over a new leaf. When Sinian gets back, you two should live a good life."

"Thank you, Uncle Chuangen. I’ll be going now."

As Gu Wennuan left, she felt relieved that the matter was settled. She planned to head up the mountain that night. Passing by the educated youth dormitory, she saw Shen Simin talking to a man by the window. When Shen Simin spotted Gu Wennuan, a flash of malice crossed her eyes, only to be replaced by a gentle expression seconds later.

"Jianhua, you know my leg is injured and I’m not good enough for you. If Gu Wennuan had saved me that day, my leg wouldn't be lame, and we could be together. It’s all my fault for being so headstrong and insisting on going into the mountains to find fever medicine for you. It’s all my fault."

Shen Simin played the fragile victim, stirring Wang Jianhua’s heart with pity.

"It’s not your fault. It’s all Gu Wennuan’s fault for refusing to help." Wang Jianhua’s eyes glinted with malice as he looked at the delicate Shen Simin, his hatred for Gu Wennuan deepening.

Unaware of Shen Simin’s new schemes, Gu Wennuan was busy preparing for the mountain trip. When Zhou Siyue learned she was going at night, he insisted on joining her for safety.

"You stay home and keep watch. If there isn't a man at home, what will we do if something happens?"

"But sister-in-law, it’s dangerous for you to go up the mountain alone."

"I don't need you to worry about me. Just look after your mother, your sister, and Xiaoxi."

Zhou Siyue was left behind. Hu Ailian, constantly worried about her daughter-in-law carrying an axe into the mountains alone, went to find Zhou Zuo, the eldest son of the Zhou family, to ask for help. Zhou Zuo remembered hearing wolf howls near Daqing Mountain while returning from town that day.

"I’ll go get Big Brother Zhou Jun. I heard wolves near Daqing Mountain today."

Hu Ailian collapsed on the floor. "Wolves? Go get Zhou Jun quickly! I’ll send Siyue to follow them. Why didn't Wennuan tell me there were wolves?"

"Auntie, she probably didn't know. Zhou Jun and I will follow the mountain path."

A group of people set off in a frenzy to find Gu Wennuan. Meanwhile, high on the mountain, Gu Wennuan was cutting the last of the ten trees she needed.

"Aooooooo!"

Gu Wennuan’s eyes lit up. "They’re here."

The wolf pack approached, guided by her scent. Clever predators of the natural world, they moved through the shadows with calculating intelligence. Gu Wennuan leaped into a tree, surveyed the pack, identified the alpha, and gripped her axe.

As the alpha lunged, she jumped onto its back, striking at its head. The alpha sensed the danger and darted away, snarling. Just as she prepared to strike again, she heard people calling her name. Not wanting to raise suspicion, she used her hidden space to whisk the wolves away.

Covering her tracks, she hoisted a log onto her shoulder and began walking down the mountain. Zhou Siyue spotted her silhouette and ran over. "Sister-in-law, are you alright?"

Gu Wennuan dropped the log and handed him the axe. "I’m fine. Why did you all come?"

"Brother Zhou Zuo heard wolves yesterday and was worried. He gathered everyone to find you."

Feeling their concern, Gu Wennuan smiled. "I’m fine. Since you’re here, help me carry these logs down."

Zhou Zuo and Zhou Jun hoisted a log, glancing at Gu Wennuan walking ahead of them. They couldn't help but admire her; no one in the village had as much strength as she did.

After hauling the wood, Gu Wennuan invited them to the roof-raising meal the next day and gave them each a package of sponge cakes as a thank-you. Despite their polite refusals, she insisted, and they took them home.

Seeing she was safe, Hu Ailian finally relaxed and told her to get some rest, promising that she and Siyue would keep watch. Gu Wennuan didn't stand on ceremony; exhausted from the day, she lay down and fell into a deep sleep.