"Farewell?"
Chen Guodong felt as though a bolt of lightning had struck him, leaving his outstretched hand suspended in midair. He struggled to force a smile and said in a slightly trembling voice, "Is something wrong? Why are you leaving? Do you have any issues with the way we've been distributing the prey? If there's a problem, we can discuss it, can't we?"
It was evident that he was rattled.
The woman, clutching the young boy, watched the scene unfold in sheer panic. Her mind went blank, forgetting to intervene or offer any words of encouragement.
Chen Fan, too, was taken aback.
He recalled Uncle Zhang's earlier warning about the Wei brothers, suggesting they wouldn't stay for long. Little did he know it would come to pass so swiftly.
"Brother Guodong, this isn't what you think," a man who bore a resemblance to Wei Tiangong but appeared younger stood up, though he hesitated to meet Chen Guodong's gaze. "We don't have any qualms with how the prey is divided, and you've never had any issues with us. From the beginning, you inspired us all, delving deep into the barriers and repelling the beasts."
"Yeah, that's right," the two men accompanying the Wei brothers chimed in, nodding vigorously.
"Then why are you leaving?" Chen Guodong's forehead broke into a cold sweat.
There were few adult men in the village, and with four of them departing, including the Wei brothers, the already impoverished village would be left in an even more dire state.
Chen Fan's heart was in his throat. He certainly didn't want these individuals to leave.
Wei Tianyuan exchanged a glance with his brother, who gave a subtle nod.
"Brother Guodong, please understand," Wei Tianyuan took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on Chen Guodong. "We're leaving because there's no hope here."
As he spoke, there seemed to be a shattering of sorts in the room.
"Brother Guodong, we have ample resources where we're going. There are only a little over a hundred of us, and the adult men number fewer than twenty. If we factor in the young men, the rest are elderly, frail women, and children. With this many mouths to feed and only a handful of us, it's becoming increasingly difficult."
"Yes, it's been tough," Chen Guodong responded with a strained smile. "But we've managed to hold on until now, haven't we? We can persevere."
"What about us?" Wei Tiangong interjected, his demeanor unwavering. "The Zhao brothers in Zhaojiabao, like us a few years ago, could barely handle a 100-pound hunting bow. But in the later stages of body strengthening, they can draw a 300-pound bow. With enough food, we can achieve the same."
Chen Guodong fell momentarily silent, his expression betraying a sense of guilt.
Indeed, every time the hunting party brought back prey, more than half of it was due to the Wei brothers' efforts, yet they received only a small share in return.
"Guodong," Wei Tiangong began with a sigh, his voice softening, "Take my advice. There's no hope here. Why not come with us to Zhaojiabao? There, you'll find more food, better living conditions, and, most importantly, the opportunity to acquire skills to strengthen your body. In this world, survival hinges on strength."
"Yes, Brother Guodong, please join us," Wei Tianyuan added, his eyes brimming with hope.
The two brothers had given so much to the village, and they could depart with a clear conscience.
Chen Fan watched his father, and as he suspected, Chen Guodong took a deep breath, his eyes glistening with tears as he smiled. "I understand, Tiangong. Going to Zhaojiabao is undoubtedly the wisest choice. How could I blame you? All along, if it weren't for your silent contributions, our village wouldn't have endured this long."
Hearing this, Wei Tiangong and the others breathed sighs of relief.
However, a tinge of guilt lingered in their hearts.
"Brother Guodong, won't you come with us?" Wei Tianyuan asked hastily upon realizing the implication.
"No," Chen Guodong replied, smiling faintly. He gazed toward the nearby houses and continued, "I made a promise to everyone in this village before it even existed. This village is the result of our collective efforts. Neither of us could have built it alone. Now, many have left, like Ah Quan, Da Fei, and Zhu Zi, but their families are still here. I can't abandon them."
A heavy silence hung in the air, with the men present suppressing tears.
Wei Tiangong took a deep breath, his eyes reddening. He extended his hand and patted Chen Guodong on the shoulder. "Brother Guodong, take care."
With that, he glanced at Chen Fan and the others, turned resolutely, and departed.
"Brother Guodong, I'm sorry," Wei Tianyuan murmured as he bowed and followed suit.
"Brother Guodong, we're leaving. Please take care!"
"Take care of yourself."
The other two offered reluctant looks, then turned and disappeared into the night, their footsteps growing fainter with each passing moment.
Chen Fan watched his father, who stood there, seemingly frozen, tears rolling down his cheeks.
"Alright," he inwardly sighed.
Although he couldn't fully empathize, he could sense the complex emotions his father was experiencing.
Of course, the dire state of the village was the most pressing concern.
He needed to level up his [Basic Archery] skill as soon as possible.
"Let's have dinner first, Guodong," the woman suggested with a pale face.
Chen Guodong didn't respond initially but eventually nodded after a lengthy pause.
Although the meal was considered "plentiful," the atmosphere at the dinner table was stiflingly quiet.
The woman placed several pieces of rabbit meat into Chen Fan's bowl and said with concern, "Xiao Fan, you've been practicing archery all day. Eat more."
"Yes," Chen Fan replied.
Chen Guodong, who had been mostly silent, also reacted. He picked up more pieces of meat and placed them in Chen Fan's bowl, watching the young boy beside him, who was practically drooling.
There were only two pieces of meat in his own bowl, a fact that was evident to all.
"Dad, please eat more," Chen Fan insisted, quickly returning the meat.
After all, his father was the family's pillar, and hunting would become even more challenging once the Wei brothers departed the following day.
"You should eat. I've lost my appetite," Chen Guodong responded, managing a faint smile.
Chen Fan fell silent when he heard this.
He could practically smell the delicious aroma wafting from the meat in his bowl. He couldn't resist any longer, picked up a piece, and took a bite. The flavor was incredible, with the tender meat, a hint of salt, and a burst of deliciousness that danced on his taste buds.
At that
moment, he received a sudden notification:
[Potential Points +0.1]
Chen Fan was left baffled.