Ancient people were quite superstitious and usually held a deep belief in things like dream omens, hence the interpretation of dreams. Mu Caiwei saw through this aspect and dared to make up stories to her mother.
"Mom, if this is real and we don't go, wouldn't it be disrespectful to the gods? Would we be punished by the deities?"
Her serious words made Lady Du also take it seriously. After thinking for a while, she said, "How about this? Let's go to Old Zhou's home and plead with Jiujin and his father to take us into the mountain. If there is a wild boar, everyone's happy. If not, we will at least resolve our doubts."
After the mother and daughter made their decision, they went together to Jiujin's house. Once there, Caiwei described her dream again.
Zhou Jiujin was eager to have an opportunity to spend time with Caiwei, and before she had finished talking, he had already patted his chest and agreed. Jiujin's father, Zhou Laowu, didn't believe in the theory of dream prophecies, but to please his son, he happily agreed as well.
It was not a lonely journey up the mountain. Along the way, Zhou Laowu continually praised his son, speaking highly of him and particularly emphasizing how capable and sensible Jiujin was. He also explicitly expressed that they didn't have a daughter, and whoever's girl entered their home in the future, they would definitely cherish her like their own daughter...
Mu Caiwei felt quite helpless towards Zhou Laowu's subtle hints. As a woman in her thirties and well past traditional marriageable age, she could hardly develop any feelings for a boy just coming of age.
Luckily, the journey was not far. By the time Zhou Laowu had finished his chatter, they had already arrived.
"Look, over there!"
Keen-eyed Caiwei had immediately spotted something black lying in the haystack.
"Oh my! I can't believe there really is such a thing!"
Zhou Laowu was so shocked that his eyeballs almost fell out of their sockets. Lady Du was astounded too, left speechless. Only Caiwei remained calm. She instructed Jiujin to take out a rope, tie up the boar's four hooves, then run a stick through the middle of the rope, and finally called Uncle Zhou over to help lift the pig.
"Hey, this pig must weigh over 300 jin," Zhou Laowu declared as soon as they lifted the pig.
"Sister Wei'er, you're truly capable!" Jiujin turned his head, flushed, and praised Caiwei.
Lady Du had finally snapped out of her initial shock. Excitedly wiping away tears, she gazed at the fat wild boar. It was as if she was looking at a bag of bulging grain, a pile of warm cotton-padded clothes, a bunch of full, round bellies, and smooth, round faces...
With this wild boar, life at home suddenly seemed hopeful!
The pig carried down the mountain by Zhou family father-son duo caused a huge commotion as soon as they entered the village.
"Scholar Mu's family has found a wild boar."
Everyone hurried around spreading the news, either with admiration, envy, or both. In no time at all, the house was crowded with villagers who came to see the wild boar.
"Wow, such a huge wild boar! It's highly unusual to see one this size!"
"Madam Scholar, your family has made a fortune. I've heard this wild boar meat is even more expensive than domestic pig meat!"
"Absolutely correct, domestic pig meat sells for 30 wen per catty, and wild boar meat for 50 wen per catty. Looking at it, this boar must weigh more than 300 jin. If you take out the skin and bones, oh my, oh gosh, this pig could be sold for at least thirteen or fourteen taels of silver!"
As the neighbors discussed eagerly, Lady Du radiated happiness. She poured water and made seats for everyone with an unusual burst of energy.
"Brother second's family, I heard early this morning that you've found a wild boar. Is it true?" A voice from outside the house, sounding like it couldn't wait to know more, resonated followed by hurried footsteps.
Mu Caiwei's heart tightened, and her delicate eyebrows furrowed.
The owner of the voice was Mu Zhongli, the eldest son of Mu family and the older brother of Mu Zhongqing. Greedy and deceitful by nature, he was always smooth-talking but harboring ill-intentions. Each time he visited Caiwei home, he either asked for money or valuables and never for anything good. He lived with Mu Liankui and Lady Mu Bai, and compared to Mu Zhongqing, they liked this obedient and thoughtful son better. The family's good fortune always passed onto him.
"Big brother, you're here. Please sit down." Lady Du fetched a stool, politely asking Mu Zhongli to be seated.
Mu Zhongli waved his hand saying: "No need to sit, mom asked me to come by as soon as I heard about the wild boar you found. She wanted me to tell you to butcher the pig and bring half to father and mother."