The Chen Family's house was situated right at the center of Hongshan Village.
Compared to the ramshackle mud and straw huts of the surrounding villagers, the Chen Family's house, primarily built of blue bricks, stood out conspicuously, mismatched with its surroundings.
Chen Yuan, who had rushed back from Shen Qing's house, pushed open the door and went inside.
In the courtyard, the snow had already been swept clean.
The second and third Chen brothers, Chen Tai and Chen An, were lifting stone locks, exerting their strength.
"Big brother," Chen Tai, putting down the stone lock, asked, "Did everything go smoothly? Did Shen Fang agree?"
"I almost persuaded her, but then Shen Qing came back and stirred things up," Chen Yuan said regretfully as he walked back to his room.
The youngest brother, Chen An, interjected, "In my opinion, there's no need for such trouble. Just tie her up and send her over."
"The Song and Dong Family is short of girls for their brothel and is willing to pay a high price of thirty taels to collect beautiful women. If we miss this opportunity, there won't be another like it."
"Shen Fang is pretty good-looking; she should be worth that amount. Once we get the money, maybe all three of us could join a Martial Arts Hall and become martial masters, move to the county city, and not have to huddle in this mountain hole."
Chen Yuan glanced at his brother and said, "It's a good fifty or sixty li from Hongshan Village to the county city, and with the heavy snow and fierce winds, the roads are not easy to travel. Who's going to carry her, you or me?"
"Once the snow stops and if the Shen siblings still haven't agreed, then we can make our move. By that time, traders from the city will be here, and we can conveniently rent a mule cart or horse cart to go to the city."
"Before that, I'll see if I can persuade them. If they both act foolish, we'll save ourselves a lot of trouble."
"As long as you have a plan, big brother," Chen An suddenly remembered something and asked, "Big brother, do you still have the 'Nine Skills of Martial Arts' father gave you?"
"Still with me; what about it?" Chen Yuan replied.
Chen An said, "I've had some insights in the past few days and want to ponder over them again. If you're not using it, can you lend it to me for a couple of days?"
"Sure, I'll find it for you later. Lately, you've all started strength training, and our consumption of meat has increased. If there's nothing else tomorrow, remember to go hunting in the mountains to supplement your diet. The key to Martial Arts lies in physical training."
Chen An agreed, "Big brother, both I and the second brother know, we were planning to hunt in the mountains tomorrow."
Chen Yuan looked around and, noticing only their brothers were at home, asked curiously, "Where's father?"
Chen Tai, who had started lifting the stone lock again, replied, "He said he had to make a trip out this morning to meet a friend. He probably won't be back until tomorrow."
"Oh."
...
Shen Fang finished preparing the pheasant, picking up each feather carefully.
Holding a potful of meat, she hesitated, "I don't eat much and can't finish it all. Should I save half to air-dry for later?"
"Just half for the two of us, how could we possibly get full?" Shen Qing, sitting below the stove making fire, said, "We eat bran cakes every day and can't even poop properly; we need some meat and broth to lubricate our intestines."
At these words, Shen Fang's complexion turned awkward, as if recalling unpleasant memories.
"Don't worry, I'll go up the mountain again tomorrow and won't come back empty-handed."
In the end, Shen Fang couldn't overrule Shen Qing.
The siblings took care of the whole pheasant.
Shen Fang gently placed a bowl of steaming chicken soup on the table.
The golden-yellow chicken soup emitted a light meat fragrance, with a few slices of bright green onion floating on the surface.
Even though it only contained some salt and no other seasonings, the innate deliciousness of the ingredients was enough to leave a memorable taste.
The pheasant, stewed for a long time, was tender and juicy.
With a gentle pull, one could feel the texture of the meat, and the aroma was overwhelming.
Much better than the daily bran cakes they ate.
Shen Qing took a bowl of chicken soup and drank it down, feeling warm all over, as though soaking in a hot spring, utterly comfortable.
"Finally have a chance to treat these organs to a feast," he said.
In the midst of winter, with meat and hot soup to eat,
After more than a month in this world, Shen Qing felt like he was truly human again.
He set down his bowl and refilled it with another serving of hot soup, asking, "Big sister, what did Chen Yuan say to you today?"
Shen Fang took a sip of the chicken soup, cradling the bowl in her hands to warm them, and recalled, "The same things as before, asking if I would be willing to be sold to a well-off family in the city to work as a maid."
"What do you think about it?"
"I want to try. If I go, I could exchange it for some money, and it would be easier for you, little brother."
Shen Qing knew that such thoughts were very common in Da'an County.
Many impoverished families would squeeze into the homes of the rich and powerful in the city, willingly becoming slaves just for a bite to eat.
For people like them at the bottom of society, serving wealthy households seemed like a decent way out.
If, by chance, they gained the favor of their master and received rewards, they could even stand out from among their peers.
At the very least, they wouldn't die of starvation.
Shen Qing pondered for a moment before saying, "Sister, do you want to listen to me?"
"You are the only male in the family; your sister will definitely listen to whatever you say."
"If it were up to me, I'd say don't go, not even to be a concubine."
In present-day Great Zhou Country, people were divided into rankings.
Emperor, nobles, officials, doctors, martial artists, farmers, craftsmen, merchants, slaves.
The so-called 'maids' essentially signed a contract of servitude, becoming part of the slave class.
Being hunters living by the mountains and obtaining what they needed for life through hunting, their status was a bit higher than that of wandering beggars but lower than farmers who owned land.
After all, they were officially registered as part of the agricultural class.
As for the slave class, they were the lowest in Zhou Country, only slightly better off than disreputable prostitutes.
Once they entered the slave class, it meant they became the personal property of the master, who could beat or kill them at will.
Their descendants would also be slaves for generations, with no hope of turning their fates around.
Being a maid for a wealthy family might seem glamorous, but in reality, their futures were never guaranteed.
Of course, there was an even more important point that Shen Qing had not told Shen Fang.
What Chen Yuan wanted was probably not as simple as having her become a maid.
And to sell his own sister for money.
Shen Qing asked himself, and knew he could not do such a thing that weighed on his conscience.
Even holding that money would burn his hands.
"Alright, I'll listen to you. If Chen Yuan comes again, I'll reject him," Shen Fang said, seemingly touched by Shen Qing's concern, though she showed little expression on her face, her heart was very delighted.
"Drink your soup quickly, or it'll get cold."
They finished the entire pot of chicken soup.
Their starving bodies were like parched land receiving rain, nourished and revived.
Their complexions both turned much rosier.
After a brief cleanup, Shen Qing did not delay, grabbing his bow and arrows and heading into the bamboo forest behind the house, intending to practice his Bow Technique while it was still light out.
Time waits for no one, and he wasn't willing to waste too much of it.
Perhaps it was the effect of the chicken soup, but standing in the snow, Shen Qing didn't feel as cold as before.
Just as Shen Qing was drawing his bow, a startled cry came from the village.
"Murder! The Chen Family Brothers have killed someone!"
The shout instantly spread throughout the whole village.
Shen Qing saw many people coming out of their homes, heading toward the direction of the Chen Family's house.