Jian Yiling adjusted the hand-woven rope on her shoulder, her steps firm as she headed for the village gate. Behind her, the thick pine forest loomed dark and uninviting, its chilly winds sending shivers through the valley. This was no easy task, even for a woman who had mastered survival in her first life. Wild animals, treacherous paths, and the weight of an unfamiliar body made every step feel like walking a tightrope. But survival left no room for hesitation.
Back at their shabby, mud-walled home, Little Zhi and Yun'er sat cross-legged by the doorway. Their hands were covered in soot from helping mash sweet potato peels into paste—a task Jian Yiling had left them to ensure they stayed occupied. The smoky room smelled of damp firewood and weak gruel, but the children's focus was elsewhere.
"She's been gone so long…" Little Zhi muttered, glancing at the sun dipping lower in the sky. "What if a tiger eats her?"
"Don't say that!" Yun'er snapped, her lower lip quivering. "Mama will come back. She always does!"
But as the shadows lengthened, their confidence waned. Little Zhi clenched his tiny fists. "If she's not back soon, I'm going to look for her. What if something happened?"
"But Mama said not to leave! She'll be angry if we don't listen!" Yun'er's voice broke into sobs, her grubby hands smearing tears across her face.
Little Zhi's face twisted, torn between fear and resolve. "Mama said not to leave because the forest is dangerous… but I can't just stay here!" He climbed to his feet, dusting off his tattered pants. "Stay here, Yun'er. I'll find her—"
Suddenly, the sound of heavy footfalls on dirt reached their ears. At first faint, it grew louder, until a familiar voice cut through the dusk. "Zhi'er! Yun'er!"
"Mama!"
They bolted from the house, their small figures racing toward her. There she stood, a faint silhouette in the dimming light, her slender frame almost disappearing under the weight of the wild boar slung across her back. Its legs dangled limply, and streaks of blood marked the path she'd taken.
Jian Yiling huffed out a breath, her hair sticking to her face. The corners of her mouth curved into a grin despite the ache in her muscles. "What's with the long faces? I'm here, aren't I?"
Little Zhi and Yun'er stopped short, their shock quickly melting into excitement and relief. "Mama, you're so amazing! You really caught a pig?"
"No, it's a boar," Jian Yiling corrected gently, patting Little Zhi's head. "Bigger than a pig, and a lot harder to catch."
She heaved the animal onto a makeshift work table near their shed. Though her limbs screamed in protest, her satisfaction outweighed her exhaustion. "You both were about to disobey me, weren't you?" Her tone was light but teasing, and the children froze.
Little Zhi scratched his head, avoiding her gaze. "We just got worried…"
"Exactly. So next time, trust Mama, alright?" Jian Yiling said softly, crouching to pull them into a hug. Her voice, though tired, was filled with warmth. "Now, let's prepare. This meat will last us a month if we smoke it right. Tomorrow, we'll trade the hide and tusks for what we need."
Yun'er looked up at her with awe. "Mama, you're like a hero."
Jian Yiling chuckled and ruffled her hair. "Mama's no hero, Yun'er. Just someone who refuses to let her little ones go hungry."
Processing the Boar
The early morning mist still clung to the ground when Jian Yiling woke, her muscles sore but her mind sharp. The boar lay on the wooden table under the shed, a reminder of yesterday's victory—and the work ahead.
With a practiced hand, she started cleaning and butchering the animal. She heated a pot of water over the clay stove and called Little Zhi to bring clean rags. "We have a lot to do, so pay attention," she said as he rubbed sleep from his eyes.
Little Zhi watched intently as she shaved the coarse bristles from the boar's skin, explaining each step. "The meat close to the bones will be for soup," she said, her knife gliding with precision. "The ribs will go in the smoker. We'll cure the rest so it doesn't spoil."
"Can we eat some today?" Yun'er asked, peeking around the doorframe with wide, eager eyes.
"Of course." Jian Yiling gave her a soft smile. "I'll stew the belly meat with wild herbs. It'll make you strong."
As they worked together, Jian Yiling handed Zhi a handful of entrails. "We'll bury these—never leave waste out. It draws predators." Zhi scrunched his nose but nodded, running off to fetch a spade. Meanwhile, Yun'er helped braid thin strips of rattan for hanging the meat in the smoker.
The air was soon filled with the smoky aroma of curing pork. The children's eyes sparkled when the pot on the stove began to bubble with a fragrant stew. When lunchtime came, they tore into their bowls eagerly. For the first time in months, they had real meat to eat.
"Is this what the rich people eat all the time?" Yun'er mumbled, her mouth full.
Jian Yiling laughed. "If we're smart, this won't be the last time for us, either."