CH 227

Chapter 227: Fighting tigers

Lian Fang Zhou smiled and said: “Doesn’t your Brother Ah Jian have such great skill? Don’t worry! Even though Brother Ah Jian is not here, we still need to practice our writing and reading. We should write and read what we have learned twice!”

Lian Fang Qing and Lian Che agreed obediently and the three siblings wiped the table clean, took out their study tools, and continued to practice writing.

In her heart, Lian Fang Zhou thought that it was time to go to Carpenter Zhang’s house and order a set of desks and bookshelves. After Che’er when to school next year, there should be a special desk.

Just after daybreak the next morning, Lian Fang Zhou had just gotten up when Aunt Zhang came over excitedly. When she saw her, she clapped her hands and laughed. “It’s finished! My nephew came over and said that the tiger has been killed! Oh, haha, Ah Jian is really amazing, really amazing!”

After listening to Aunt Zhang explain, Lian Fang Zhou understood what had happened.

It turned out that the topography of the place where the tiger den was located was rather complicated, which made it difficult for them to hunt.

Ah Jian had asked the villagers to catch a pig for bait and set a trap and a more suitable location. Finally, in the middle of the night, he caught the big tiger. Though Ah Jian shot it, everyone said that Lian Ze had also worked hard and everyone admired him too!

What Aunt Zhang didn’t say was that many people in the village had refused to agree to using a pig as bait. No one wanted to give up a pig and were unwilling to do it together. After all, they didn’t believe in Ah Jian and were worried that the such a big fat pig would just go to waste.

Aunt Zhang’s brother couldn’t stand it anymore and expressed his willingness to give up a pig for bait and only then did they start to build the traps, delaying the time by a lot.

Listening to Aunt Zhang’s excited chatter, Lian Fang Zhou completely relaxed the tight thread in her heart. She smiled and said: “I knew that Ah Jian could do it! That’s great!” Then she asked, smiling: “Since the tiger has been killed, why haven’t they returned?”

Aunt Zhang laughed: “This is a big deal! If the people in the village let them leave like this, what would people say? He is now the hero of the village! Of course, they have to treat him to a good meal before he returns. And the leather must be stripped and brought back as well.”

Lian Fang Zhou suddenly understood: “So that’s it! Then they can just come back later!”

“They should be. Usually, they would stay in the village for at least three days and have a lively reception before returning but I think they won’t be willing, this close to the end of the year!”

Lian Fang Zhou felt that this was true. Lian Ze would miss his family and Ah Jian did not like to interact with strangers.

After sending Aunt Zhang away, Lian Fang Zhou went in and told the matter to Third Aunt.

Third Aunt was stunned for a moment and then came back to her senses with a cry of ‘oh!’ before almost falling over, clutching her chest. She glared at Lian Fang Zhou with a pale face, her lips trembling for a while before she started stuttering: “What, what are you talking about? Big, big tiger… he, they are going, going… I say, Fang Zhou, you, you are too courageous! Why are you so courageous! Those big tigers can be so vicious, they can even eat people! But you, you let them go! You let them go!”

Lian Fang Zhou rejoiced silently that she had decided to not tell her Third Aunt beforehand and was thankful she had waited until Aunt Zhang had left. Otherwise, wouldn’t Aunt Zhang have felt embarrassed, hearing this?

“Third Aunt, isn’t it alright? Ah Jian’s martial arts is very good and Ah Ze only followed to see the excitement, he wouldn’t be allowed to do anything. What’s so scary?” Lian Fang Zhou laughed but her heart was warm. Third Aunt really cared about them!”

“How can you say this kind of thing?” Third Aunt gave her an angry look, saying: “Who knows if their lucky would be good this time? What if Ah Jian was injured or something went wrong? Wouldn’t that be a pity? We need him for so many things in our family! And Ah Ze is your brother, so young! How could you agree to let him go? Huh, ‘watch the fun’? How could such things be fun?”

“…” Lian Fang Zhou was a little dumbfounded and said helplessly: “You’ve seen Ah Jian’s martial arts. Even if others don’t believe in it, can’t we believe in him? I also told them that if the situation went wrong, they needed to come back quickly. They are not stupid, they know when they can’t succeed. Besides, in this weather, what if our village also had a large tiger and other predators? It’s good for them to get some experience!”

Third Aunt retorted: “Their village is surrounded by mountains, that’s why there is such a thing in their place! There are no mountains on our side, just some sporadic small hills that can’t support such a big tiger! These things can’t be confused!”

Lian Fang Zhou naturally agreed with a smile.

Third Aunt babbled about it for a while and then asked about what Aunt Zhang had said. She couldn’t help but feel a little proud, saying with a smile: “After this incident, Ah Jian and Ah Ze have become heroes! It’s good for the family too! I didn’t expect this from Ah Ze, he’s still so young.”

“…” Lian Fang Zhou really didn’t know what to say.

At noon, Lian Ze and Ah Jian returned with Aunt Zhang’s brother and nephew.

Ah Jian had an extra thing wrapped in coarse cloth. Naturally, this was the tiger skin and the basket carried by Aunt Zhang’s family was filled with several pieces of tiger meat and three or four tiger bones.

The father and son brought Ah Jian and Lian Ze back, leaving the meat and bones. After smiling and thanking them, they went to Aunt Zhang’s house.

Ah Jian and Lian Ze sent them away politely and then the family went into the house to talk.

Although the separation was not much more than a day and a night, the whole family felt that it was too long.

Lian Ze happily called ‘Sister’ and smiled at his younger siblings and Third Aunt, eyes bright with excitement.

The house was chaotic with Third Aunt’s chatter, Lian Fang Zhou’s concern, and Lian Che and Lian Fang Qing’s questions.

Listening to Lian Ze’s story, the little brother and sister kept exclaiming in surprise and admiration from time to time while Third Aunt was stunned, chanting Buddhist scrips to herself.

Ah Jian drank his tea quietly, listening with a smile, and did not interrupt.

Lian Fang Zhou smiled at him, and turned her head towards him: “Did everything go well? Was there any danger?”

Both of them returned safely but it was difficult to guess whether there had been any trouble.

Ah Jian smiled and shook his head, looking disapproving: “It was just a tiger, I don’t think so!” He tilted his head, thinking about it, and then said: “The day we hunted the pheasants and wild sheep on Xianteng mountain had the same feeling!”

Lian Fang Zhou couldn’t help but laugh out loud and said, amused: “If someone heard your words, they would say you are bragging.”

Ah Jian also laughed: “That is why I did not tell anyone this! Do you believe me?”

Lian Fang Zhou was startled, then sighed softly: “Ah Jian, who are you in the end?” Ah Jian shrugged and sighed as well: “I want to know too!” Then he asked again: “You didn’t answer me. Do you believe me?”