Chapter 30: The Bustling Old River Gully and the Soviet Jeep

"Everything I have... is yours."

These words were like a pebble cast into an ancient well, sending ripple after ripple across the lake of Xu Feng's heart. He looked at the woman before him, her face flushed crimson yet her eyes filled with unwavering resolve, and for a moment, he was utterly dazed. In those beautiful eyes, there was not a hint of calculation or pretense, only a purity that bordered on desperation.

Xu Feng’s Adam’s apple bobbed. The witty remark he had intended to make caught in his throat, impossible to utter. He realized he had consistently underestimated this woman's courage. Whether it was the decisiveness with which she wielded her blade against the mad boar or the raw honesty with which she bared her heart just now, both carried a power that was truly disarming.

In the courtyard, the cheers and laughter of the villagers rose and fell, providing a lively, if somewhat incongruous, soundtrack to this sudden confession. Xu Feng coughed twice to mask his momentary lapse, reached out, and gave her head a gentle rub. His tone carried a touch of helplessness, along with a hint of doting affection he himself hadn't noticed: "Alright, I get it. Hurry up and get back to work, Boss Lin. Otherwise, what are we going to use to treat the village elders tonight?"

The title "Boss Lin" made Lin Xue blush even deeper, but her heart felt as if it had been filled with honey—sweet and overflowing. She lowered her head, murmured a soft "Mhm," and turned back to process the meat, her movements now imbued with an inexplicable sense of joy and high spirits.

Xu Feng's decision soon spread throughout Old River Gully Village. In these times of turmoil and war, every household was short on food, and their bellies were devoid of any fat. The moment they heard there was free pork to be had—and a full-pig feast at that—the entire village erupted in excitement.

The first to arrive and offer help was Old Man Zhang. The old man leaned on his cane, followed by his two broad-shouldered, sturdy sons. "Feng, you’ve done a fine, generous thing!" As soon as Old Man Zhang stepped into the yard, he gave Xu Feng a thumbs-up. "Don’t you worry, I’ll take charge of the feast tonight!" With that, he began directing his sons—one to borrow large pots from the village, the other to chop wood and fetch water—with a level of dedication that surpassed even his own family’s celebrations.

Soon after, the village women arrived in twos and threes. While they politely demurred, saying, "Feng, you’re too kind," their hands were nimble and quick. Some washed vegetables, others sliced meat, and those skilled in cooking were already debating the best way to prepare the pig offal for the evening.

Xu Feng’s dilapidated courtyard had never been so lively. The glances of suspicion, wary observation, and even hostility that had once been cast his way were now replaced by warm, radiant smiles. They called out "Feng" and "Feng’s wife" with such intimacy that it felt as if they were long-lost family.

Lin Xue was initially uncomfortable, but she was quickly swept up in the bustling atmosphere. Seeing an elderly woman struggling to chop through a pig bone, she stepped forward, took the heavy cleaver, and with a clean, swift motion, split the femur in two, revealing the marrow within. This display of strength left the surrounding women stunned.

"Oh, my heavens! Feng’s wife, you’ve got quite the strength..."
"She looks so quiet and refined, I never expected her to have such precision!"

Lin Xue smiled bashfully, offering no explanation. She simply went back to work, using her actions to integrate herself into this collective that was, to her, entirely foreign.

Xu Feng stood to the side, watching all of this, the smile at the corners of his mouth deepening. He knew he had made the right gamble. A single pig had bought him the hearts of the people. In these chaotic times, human hearts were often more useful than guns and cannons.

He walked to the center of the yard, picked out the finest, most tender piece of tenderloin from the mountain of meat, and carved off two strips of pork belly, wrapping them carefully in clean lotus leaves.

"Aunt Zhang," he said, walking over to an elderly woman who commanded great respect in the village. "Take this meat home for your children. Don't forget to come over for a drink tonight."

Aunt Zhang was startled, then tried to decline: "How can I do that? Won't we all be eating together tonight?"

"That’s different," Xu Feng insisted, firmly pressing the meat into her hands. "This is just a small gesture from Xue and me. We’ll be relying on you to look out for us in the village from here on out."

The words were both respectful and intimate. Aunt Zhang felt a warmth spread through her, and the wrinkles on her face blossomed into a flower of a smile: "Alright! Feng, you’re a sensible lad! If you need anything in the future, just say the word!"

Xu Feng followed the same routine, gifting "private shares" to several other respected elders and the men who had stood up for him the day before. It wasn't much, but this "special treatment" made the recipients feel uniquely respected. Their gaze toward Xu Feng shifted from mere curiosity to genuine acceptance and closeness. Even before the feast began, Xu Feng had quietly established his initial foothold in the village.

As night fell, bonfires were lit in the courtyard, the flames leaping high and painting half the sky red. Several large iron pots borrowed from the villagers were lined up, the pork inside stewing and emitting a rich, savory aroma that drifted for miles, causing the village dogs to circle outside the gates and bark excitedly.

The villagers arrived with their own bowls and chopsticks, surrounding the yard in layer after layer. The men gathered around the fires, laughing and talking loudly, while the women huddled together, watching the pots and sharing gossip. Children darted through the crowd, playing and chasing each other. The entire Old River Gully Village felt as festive as the Lunar New Year.

Xu Feng had changed into clean clothes and moved through the crowd, carrying a bowl of wine. "Uncle Zhang! Thanks for yesterday! Let me toast you!" "Brother Li! Come on, let's have a drink! We'll go hunting together next time!" He was bold, well-spoken, and lacked any air of superiority, quickly becoming one of the men. Those who had previously thought him "faking disability and full of schemes" were now won over by the warm atmosphere and the tangible meat in their bowls, clapping each other on the shoulders like brothers.

Lin Xue had also changed. She wore an old, oversized cotton-padded jacket, but it was washed spotlessly clean. She didn't join the men, instead staying with the women to tend the fire and serve the meat. She spoke little, listening with a smile; if an older woman asked her something, she would gesture with her hands or write in her palm. Her intelligence and those clear, untainted eyes quickly won over the women.

"Feng’s wife is truly something else—pretty and hardworking. It’s just a pity she can’t speak."
"Isn't that the truth! Feng really hit the jackpot!"

Hearing these comments, a blush crept up Lin Xue’s cheeks, but her heart felt sweet. She stole a glance at the man in the firelight as he toasted with the others. His profile was sharp and distinct, and those eyes—usually so mocking and piercing—were now filled with warmth. At that moment, she felt that this smoky, noisy, crowded little courtyard was the "home" she had always longed for—a place where she could finally feel safe and warm.

After three rounds of drinks and the feast well underway, Xu Feng walked to the center of the courtyard with his wine bowl. He cleared his throat, and the boisterous yard fell silent instantly. Every eye was fixed on him.

"Uncles, aunts, brothers, and sisters!" Xu Feng’s voice was resonant and powerful. "I, Xu Feng, have drifted outside for so many years, surviving death time and again. It is thanks to the heavens that I could return to my hometown in one piece!"

"When I came back, I had nothing. It was you, my fellow villagers, who didn't shun me, sharing whatever food you had. That kindness, I, Xu Feng, have etched into my heart!"

"Yesterday, there was some unpleasantness regarding my wife. It was thanks to your sense of justice that you stood up for us—for us as a young couple! That grace, I have also remembered!"

He paused, pulled Lin Xue from the edge of the crowd to his side, and held her hand tightly. "Today, with this wild boar, I’m hosting a simple feast. First, to thank you all for your kindness! Second, to consider this the wedding banquet that Xue and I are formally offering you!"

"From this day forward, we are people of Old River Gully Village! I hope you will all continue to look after us!"

With that, he downed the wine in his bowl in one gulp and held the empty vessel high.

"Hear, hear!"

A thunderous roar of applause and cheers erupted from the crowd. The villagers were deeply moved by his words. Whatever thoughts of "the cripple" or "the schemer" vanished into thin air. They only knew that the man before them understood gratitude and human decency—he was a friend worth having.

Standing there as he held her hand in front of the entire village, listening to his solemn declaration, Lin Xue felt her cheeks burn and her heart race. She looked at him, then at the sea of kind, smiling faces around her, and her eyes welled up with tears of emotion.

Just as the atmosphere in the courtyard reached its peak, a sudden, encroaching roar of an engine shattered the revelry.

*Vroom... Vroom...*

It was the sound of a car!

The cacophony of the courtyard was instantly stifled by the approaching engine noise. To the villagers of Old River Gully, this sound was both alien and deeply ominous. It was the sound of "iron monsters," something only government officials and foreign soldiers possessed.

The lively courtyard felt as if a basin of cold water had been dumped over it; the bonfires still burned, but the laughter stopped abruptly. Everyone set down their bowls and chopsticks, turning toward the village entrance with faces full of shock and unease.

Xu Feng’s brow knitted into a knot. The string in his heart tightened the moment he heard the engine. He gripped Lin Xue’s hand, feeling the cold sweat erupting on her palm.

Two blinding white beams of light pierced the night, like two sharp swords thrusting into the heart of the village. A green military jeep screeched to a halt under the old locust tree at the village entrance, its brakes shrieking into the night.