"Don't worry, even if I don't invite anyone else, I'll make sure to invite Auntie San first," Jin Feng said with a smile.
No sooner had he finished speaking than Second Sister-in-law arrived with her husband. Then came Liu Tie and his wife, the hunter and his family, and even the hunter's concubine… By the end, nearly the entire village had shown up.
With so many hands on deck, Jin Feng didn't need to lift a finger. The hunter and Liu Tie led the men to chop down trees, while the women stayed behind to tidy up the yard and twist hemp rope. The place buzzed with activity.
Jin Feng wasn't stingy with those who came to help. He had Guan Xiaorou cook a large pot of rice, and the remaining rabbit was stewed until it was tender and fragrant. The rich aroma of meat wafted through the air, drawing a group of children who had been playing in the yard to gather around the kitchen door, their mouths watering.
With many hands making light work, the men returned before noon, dragging a dozen small trees as thick as bowls on a cart. At lunchtime, Jin Feng had the children fetch bowls from home. Each child received a bowl of rice topped with a ladle of meat broth. For children who had never tasted such delicacies, it was a feast they devoured with gusto, savoring every bite.
After the lively lunch, the men got back to work. They built a fire in the yard and began roasting the logs over it. Charring the wood not only made it resistant to insects but also more durable. Meanwhile, the women returned home to drop off their dishes and came back with armfuls of thatch grass.
Building a thatched shed wasn't complicated. They buried the charred logs as pillars, tied crossbeams with ropes, and covered the structure with thatch. Finally, they plastered the exterior with mud. By dusk, a shed three zhang long and one zhang wide stood completed.
With not enough rice left for another meal, Jin Feng had Guan Xiaorou cook a pot of plain porridge and fry two large baskets of oil cakes. The rabbit had been eaten at lunch, and with no other vegetables available in the village, Jin Feng had no choice but to buy two baskets of wild greens from Xiaoyu.
If prepared carefully, these wild greens could be quite delicious—in fact, in modern times, they could sell for a hefty price in restaurants. But in this era, most households couldn't even afford enough oil for their lamps, let alone for cooking. A few grains of coarse salt were considered a luxury, and neighbors would envy anyone who used them. Most families simply blanched the greens in water and served them as they were, resulting in a bitter, astringent dish that was hard to swallow.
Jin Feng, however, seasoned the greens generously with salt, oil, and spices he had bought from the county seat. The result was a dish that glistened with oil and retained none of the usual bitterness. The two large bowls of greens were devoured by the children in no time.
"The oil cakes are amazing! Brother Feng, you're spoiling our appetites. What will we do when we can't eat like this every day?"
"The greens are delicious too!"
"Brother Feng, I've eaten wild greens all my life, but never like this. What's your secret? Tell me!"
"Second Sister-in-law, I'll tell you: if you're willing to use plenty of oil and spices, your greens will taste just as good."
"Well, forget it then. My family can't afford to cook like this."
"Brother Feng, when are you building another shed? I want to eat rice like this again!"
The villagers, young and old, left with satisfied smiles and full stomachs.
Zhang Mancang stayed behind to help Jin Feng process two jujube trees. This type of wood was the most suitable Jin Feng could find for making crossbows.
"Mancang, why don't you skip chopping firewood for a few days and come help me with the blacksmithing?" Jin Feng asked as he sorted through the branches on the ground.
Zhang Mancang's face lit up, but then he shook his head. "Brother Feng, this is your family's craft…"
In this era, craftsmen rarely passed their skills to outsiders, fearing competition. Most only taught their own children.
"I'm a scholar. I'm not going to spend my life blacksmithing," Jin Feng said dismissively. "In a year or two, I'll probably leave Xihewan. It's better to pass the skill on to you than let it die with me."
"But…"
"But what? Do you want to learn or not? If not, I'll ask someone else."
"I'll learn! I'll learn!" Zhang Mancang quickly nodded, setting down his axe and bowing deeply to Jin Feng.
Learning a craft meant gaining a livelihood, one that could be passed down to future generations. From that moment on, Zhang Mancang's attitude toward Jin Feng shifted from gratitude to reverence. He worked even harder.
Xiao'e, still shaken from the previous night, clung to Guan Xiaorou, unwilling to let go. Guan Xiaorou had no choice but to coax her to sleep. Tang Dongdong and Runiang carried the spinning wheel into the new shed, placing it beside a large bed that had been made that day. From tonight onward, Tang Dongdong and Runiang would sleep here.
Tang Dongdong sat on a small stool, adjusting the spinning wheel, while Runiang stood awkwardly for a moment before picking up a broom and starting to sweep the floor. Having experienced having nothing, she cherished even the smallest tasks. The floor was already spotless, but with the dishes washed and no way to help Jin Feng and Mancang, she felt compelled to keep busy, afraid of being seen as lazy.
"Runiang, stop sweeping. You're going to wear out the broom," Tang Dongdong said, noticing her unease. She patted Runiang's shoulder. "If you're worried about being idle, go to sleep. I'll wake you up later to take over."
"Alright…" Runiang smiled, relieved to have something to do. "Dongdong, why don't you sleep first? I'll take the first shift."
"No spinning tonight. Everyone should get some rest," Jin Feng said, stepping out of the workshop with some tools. He had overheard their conversation and frowned. "You'll work faster if you're well-rested. One night won't make a difference."
From the moment Xie Guang had attacked last night until now, no one in the household—except for Xiao'e—had slept. If it weren't for waiting for Zhang Liang to return, Jin Feng would have gone to bed long ago.
"Brother Feng, I'm not tired…" Runiang said softly.
"Go to sleep anyway!" Jin Feng's tone sharpened. He had noticed that Runiang, like Guan Xiaorou, was the type to endure silently, so he spoke more firmly.
Sure enough, Runiang, thinking Jin Feng was angry, quickly obeyed and sat on the bed.
"How's your hand?" Tang Dongdong followed Jin Feng outside, her face flushed.
"Old Tan's herbs worked wonders. It doesn't hurt anymore," Jin Feng said, raising his left hand to reassure her. But as he did, he noticed that the wound had reopened while he and Mancang were moving the logs, and blood was seeping through.
"You call this fine? It's bleeding!" Tang Dongdong's eyes welled up. Without worrying about propriety, she gently took Jin Feng's hand and began unwrapping the bandage.