Reborn in 72, I hunt to support my family and spoil my younger sister rotten.

When Li Xiangyang carried Wang Ying home, it was already late.

"Xiangyang's back?" Li's mother stepped forward to greet him, but paused when she saw Wang Ying. "This is...?"

Li Xiaohua also peeked out from the inner room, curiously looking at the unfamiliar little girl.

Just as Li Xiangyang was about to introduce himself, Wang Ying stepped forward and said politely, "Hello, Auntie, my name is Wang Ying, and I'm thirteen years old. My dad went to the city on business and asked Uncle Li to take care of me for a few days."

This confident and poised self-introduction impressed Li's mother.

It's rare to see a young girl who can speak so fluently.

"Alright, alright, come in quickly." Li's mother took Wang Ying's hand and said with concern, "Look how cold her little face is. Xiao Hua, quickly go and pour Xiao Ying a cup of hot water."

"Thirteen years old?" Li Xiaohua came over with a water glass, her eyes sparkling. "Then you're a year older than me, so you're the older sister!"

Wang Ying took the water glass and smiled gently, "Little Flower, thank you."

"Sister, wait a minute, this is candy my brother bought for me from the city. It's so sweet when you put it in water." Li Xiaohua proudly presented the candy.

Children of this generation know to put sugar in water and drink it slowly, so that the sweetness lasts for a long time.

"Thank you, little sister." Wang Ying took the cup, a hint of emotion flashing in her eyes.

She certainly understood how precious sugar was.

Watching the two girls being so affectionate, Li's mother couldn't help but ask, "Xiaoying, what do you call Uncle Xiangyang?"

“It was Dad who said it,” Wang Ying answered earnestly. “Dad said it’s a sign of respect for elders and trust in caregivers.”

These words made Li's mother nod repeatedly, and she felt even more that her child was sensible.

Li Xiangyang watched the two girls whispering to each other while drinking sweet soup, and a thought struck him.

Although Wang Ying was in poor health, her demeanor and speech exuded the air of someone from a scholarly family.

Letting Xiaohua spend more time with her will definitely benefit her younger sister's development.

"Xiaohua," Li Xiangyang called to his younger sister, "Xiaoying isn't feeling well, so you need to take good care of her these next few days. She's very proper in her speech and actions; you should learn from her."

Li Xiaohua nodded vigorously: "I understand, brother! Sister, don't worry, I will take good care of you!"

Wang Ying's eyes were slightly red, and she said softly, "Thank you."

"Don't be so polite. It's getting late, you should get some rest. You and Xiaohua can stay together."

……

Early in the morning, just as dawn was breaking, Li's mother got up to start a fire and cook.

When little guests arrive, we must always treat them well.

In the kitchen, a pot of porridge was steaming, and Li's mother had also specially steamed two sweet potatoes.

Although it's a coarse grain, in this day and age, being able to eat a hot sweet potato is already a good treat.

Besides, the child had just been sick, so eating too much meat wouldn't be good for him.

"Xiaoying, come and eat," Li's mother called softly.

Wang Ying and Li Xiaohua had already tidied up their bedding and were washing their faces in the yard.

In the mountains, the well water is icy cold in winter, but Xiaohua, who grew up in the mountains, is naturally not afraid of the cold.

But she also knew that the young lady had just recovered from her illness, so she specially prepared hot water for Wang Ying.

This earned the little girl a great deal of thanks.

"Auntie, let me help you carry the bowl," Wang Ying said, wiping her face.

Li's mother smiled with relief: "Sit down and eat, my child."

Li Xiangyang, carrying a hunting rifle and a bow and arrow, was about to head out.

"Brother, are you going into the mountains again?" Li Xiaohua asked.

"Well, let's take advantage of the good weather," Li Xiangyang said with a smile, "We might be able to hunt some good loot today."

"Uncle Li is amazing." Wang Ying looked at the hunting rifle on Li Xiangyang's back, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes. "I've read in books that hunters need to be very skilled to catch their prey."

"Yes, my brother is amazing!" Li Xiaohua said proudly. "He even hunted a big wild boar a few days ago!"

Wang Ying gasped in surprise, "Really? How big would it be?"

“It’s this big!” Li Xiaohua gestured with her arms outstretched.

Li Xiangyang couldn't help but smile as he watched the two little girls chattering away.

Children's admiration is direct and most sincere.

"Alright, let's eat first." Li's mother interrupted the two girls' conversation. "Xiangyang, you sit down and finish your meal before you leave."

After breakfast, Li Xiangyang went out with his hunting gear on his back.

Before leaving, he specifically told Li Xiaohua, "Take good care of your sister. I'll bring you some delicious food when I come back tonight."

"Yes!" the two girls replied in unison.

Watching Li Xiangyang's figure disappear into the morning mist, Wang Ying's eyes were filled with longing.

In her imagination, hunting must be a very impressive thing.

At this moment, this girl, who had lived in the city since childhood, had a different understanding of life in the mountains for the first time.

The weather in the mountains was colder than in the village. Li Xiangyang walked through the thick snow, each step making a "crunch, crunch" sound.

The cold wind cuts into your neck like a knife; even wrapped in thick cotton clothes, the chill still seeps into your bones.

Although he carried a hunting rifle, Li Xiangyang preferred to use a bow and arrow in this kind of weather.

And he really didn't have many bullets left.

He crouched down and carefully examined the tracks on the snow.

Suddenly, a bright spot appeared – tiny feathers dotted the snow pits, and following the trail, a black-billed grouse was foraging for food under a pine tree not far away.

This type of grouse is larger than a pheasant and has better meat quality, making it ideal for nourishing patients like Wang Ying.

Li Xiangyang gently took the bow off his back and drew an arrow from the quiver.

He crouched behind a pine tree, held his breath, and slowly drew back the bowstring.

"Whoosh——"

The arrow pierced the air and struck the grouse squarely in the abdomen.

But just as Li Xiangyang was about to step forward to collect his spoils, a dark figure darted out from the bushes beside him.

It was a pure black leopard cat, a size larger than an ordinary domestic cat, with long and powerful limbs and a thick, long tail.

Its silhouette stands out prominently against the vast expanse of white snow.

The leopard cat moves with lightning speed.

It snatched the struggling grouse in its mouth, along with Li Xiangyang's arrow, and prepared to escape.

"Good heavens!" Li Xiangyang wanted to give chase, but in the knee-deep snow, he couldn't possibly catch up with this experienced mountain man.

The leopard cat, carrying its prey, turned and glanced at Li Xiangyang.

A sly glint shone in those amber eyes, as if to say, "You flatter me."

Then, it gracefully leaped up and disappeared into the vast snow forest, leaving only a string of shallow paw prints.

Li Xiangyang was both amused and exasperated.

This was the first time he had encountered something like this in all his years of hunting.

Not only were their prey stolen, but they also lost their arrows.

However, seeing such a rare black leopard cat is definitely worth it.

People in the mountains say that seeing a pure black leopard cat in the snow is a good omen.

The book "Ming Qing Yin Yang Feng Shui Theory" also states: "The black cat is an object that wards off evil spirits. It is best placed in the south. It is suitable for all descendants. It should not be moved easily."

The "black cat" in the story refers to a black cat, suggesting that black cats can ward off evil spirits and protect the home.

This clever little guy rarely shows himself in public.

Because it was a good omen, Li Xiangyang naturally couldn't bear to harm it, nor did he bother to chase after it, hoping it would bring him good luck.