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Seeing the change in Zhang Ling’s attitude, Jiang Xia mustered the courage to ask, “Sister-in-law, why did your family decide to live on the mountain? There’s less food there, and it’s inconvenient to go to the city. Why not live in the village?”

Zhang Ling said with a hint of pride, “That’s not the case. The mountains are teeming with wild animals. The food there is far superior to what’s in the village. The wild rabbits and roe deer you all catch are considered minor catches. Deeper in the mountains, you can find wild boars and even bears!”

Jiang Xia was amazed. They considered the roe deer small, even though they had traded it for dozens of kilograms of grain? But hearing about wild boars and bears, the roe deer did seem less significant.

It appeared that Zhang Ling’s family lived quite well on the mountain.

Jiang Gu, having never seen a bear, was curious. “Sister-in-law, how big is a bear?”

Zhang Ling responded proudly, “A large bear can stand as tall as a person. Its claws are razor-sharp, able to shatter a massive rock with just one swipe. Its fur is thick and ideal for making coats that shield against the harsh winter winds and snow.”

Jiang Gu’s eyes widened with envy. In winter, she could only wrap herself in several worn-out, thin cotton jackets. She often had to jump around just to keep warm. A warm coat was something she deeply desired.

Zhang Ling added casually, “Jiang Gu, when winter comes, I’ll ask my eldest brother to send you a coat. That way, you won’t have to shiver every day.”

Zhou Lan asked curiously, “Is your eldest brother Jiang Qing’s husband?”

“Yes.”

“He can kill bears?” Zhou Lan exclaimed, visibly impressed. Bears are formidable creatures, even more so than tigers. They’re also quite intelligent. Without proper weapons, defeating one would be a tremendous challenge. And yet, Zhang Ling’s brother had done it.

Counting on her fingers, Zhang Ling elaborated, “My brother hasn’t just killed bears. He’s also hunted tigers and wild boars. In fact, we have chairs draped with tiger skins at home.”

Zhou Lan, ever so interested in matters concerning her son-in-law, listened intently. To ensure Zhang Ling was comfortable, she offered her a cup of sugar water. After she had taken a sip, Zhou Lan cautiously asked, “How is the relationship between your brother and Xiao Qing?”

Zhang Ling was well-versed on this subject.

Despite being married into the old Jiang family for two years and having limited contact with her own family, her younger brother visited her in secret roughly once every month or two.

Each visit, Zhang Ling would discreetly meet him at the village entrance, ensuring the old Jiang family remained unaware. During these meetings, her brother would bring her gifts – sometimes meat, other times money. The two would also discuss their family’s current circumstances.

The last visit was precisely two months ago. Her brother hadn’t mentioned any illness concerning their father. This led Zhang Ling to believe that her father’s death was sudden and unexpected, though she hadn’t had the opportunity to delve deeper into the matter.

From their discussions, Zhang Ling knew that the eldest brother and his wife shared a loving bond. Jiang Qing was both thrifty and diligent in handling household affairs. Besides her beauty, she possessed a talent for sewing and crafts. It was her hands that transformed the tiger and bear pelts into clothing, boots, and cushions.

After joining the Zhang family, Jiang Qing cultivated a vegetable garden in the mountains behind their home. Sadly, a prolonged drought caused the vegetables to wither, and the garden was eventually abandoned.

Jiang Qing was also devoted to her parents-in-law, though her father seemed indifferent to everyone, making him an outlier in their family.

Zhang Ling revealed that her eldest brother had even considered relocating to the village for the sake of his wife. However, for reasons Zhang Ling wasn’t privy to, that move never materialized.

Seeing Zhou Lan’s warmth and feeling a budding affection for her younger sisters, Zhang Ling began to harbor a fondness for this family.

She answered Zhou Lan’s inquiry about her eldest brother’s marital relationship truthfully. Zhou Lan seemed slightly relieved after hearing Zhang Ling’s account.

Feeling it was time to depart, Zhang Ling didn’t linger. Having shared her stories, quenched her thirst, and sated her hunger, she was anxious about the old madam waking up and potentially berating her for her absence. Thus, she promptly excused herself and left..