The water celery and water amaranth were washed thoroughly, and the spring mugwort tips were rubbed clean with his fingers. The four types of vegetables, along with the basket, were dripping wet, so he couldn’t carry it on his back and had to hold it by the straps.
They had finished the meat they brought up a couple of days ago, so Lu Gu decided to make a few vegetarian dishes today. He soaked the bamboo shoots in a wooden basin and started preparing the meal.
He boiled water and quickly steamed the water amaranth after blanching it. After adding firewood to the stove, he didn’t need to tend to it further. He took eight bamboo shoots from the basin and chopped them into thin strips, then dug up a fresh garlic bulb from the yard.
By the time the water amaranth was steamed, the sun had moved westward. Lu Gu had already chopped all the vegetables: a plate of stir-fried bamboo shoot strips, a plate of water celery stir-fried with lard and garlic slices, and a spring mugwort soup. These could be cooked later, as Shen Xuanqing hadn’t returned yet.
When he lifted the lid of the pot, the aroma of the dishes was irresistible. Unable to resist, he scooped half a bowl to taste while it was still hot and even shared a couple of bites with Guaizi, who was whining eagerly.
In the yard, a bamboo tray on the wooden rack was drying some medicinal herbs. He flipped them over to ensure they dried evenly.
The bamboo trays and baskets they had woven themselves were quite rough, neither as finely split nor as skillfully crafted as those made by professional bamboo weavers. But they were good enough for household use and saved them the expense of buying new ones.
The vegetable garden in the front and back yards had been watered the day before. Some plants had dried up during their long absence and had already been pulled out.
The water vat was running low. Lu Gu wasn’t sure if Shen Xuanqing would want to bathe when he returned. With the recent heat, a trip through the mountains left one drenched in sweat, so frequent washing was necessary.
Lu Gu picked up a wooden bucket and went out to fetch water, with Guaizi trotting alongside him. Life went on as usual, not too busy, but never idle.
Just half a bucket more, and the vat would be full. As he approached the gate, he instinctively glanced toward the eastern woods, where Shen Xuanqing usually returned from.
The dense shadows of the trees and the lush greenery suddenly became the backdrop for Guaizi’s frantic barking. The dog’s demeanor turned alert and aggressive.
“Woof! Woof!”
Lu Gu had never seen Guaizi like this before. His heart skipped a beat. He was only about ten steps from the gate, and his first thought was to rush back inside. But before he could move, his eyes met those of a thick-furred, long-snouted wild boar with tusks protruding from its mouth.
The male wild boar had an ugly, elongated face and a massive body. Its thick hide and fierce temperament made it a formidable creature. When hungry, it wouldn’t hesitate to hunt fawns, let alone humans, it was far from a herbivore.
As the boar charged toward him, Lu Gu’s face drained of color, and his lips turned pale with terror.
The wooden bucket clattered to the ground, water splashing onto his pants. His legs felt weak, but he knew he couldn’t collapse. Wild boars could kill people!
Guaizi barked madly, baring his teeth, clearly anxious and agitated.
The gate was right in front of him, but who could have expected a several-hundred-catty boar to move so fast? The ground seemed to tremble under its weight. Its small, beady eyes, set deep in its long face, radiated pure aggression, there was no other emotion, just sheer brutality.
The boar’s snout and tusks could easily dig into the ground, and those tusks were long enough to pierce a hole through a person.
Lu Gu was so panicked that he scrambled and stumbled, managing to dash into the yard just before the boar reached him.
“Guaizi!” he called out, his voice trembling and shrill with fear, trying to get the dog to come inside.
But before he could close the gate, the boar charged forward carrying a foul stench. Guaizi, who had been about to enter, was forced to retreat.
The boar was too large, and it was impossible for Guaizi to handle alone.
Seeing the wild boar attack Guaizi, tears immediately streamed down Lu Gu’s face. He shouted desperately, “Guaizi! Come back! Come back!”
If he could just get the dog inside, he could secure the gate with a long wooden beam, and they would be safe.
His shouts caught the attention of the wild boar, which turned and charged toward him like a black mountain. Lu Gu had never faced such a massive, terrifying beast before. His heart felt like it was being torn apart by fear, but his survival instincts kicked in. Gritting his teeth, he slammed the gate shut and quickly slid the wooden bolt into place.
With a loud boom, the gate shook violently as the boar rammed into it. Dust fell from the seams where the gate met the mud wall.
The boar weighed at least three hundred catties, and its impact was tremendous. When it charged a second time, Lu Gu, who was desperately trying to hold the long wooden beam in place, heard a crack, the wooden bolt had snapped.
The gate was tall and sturdy, but without the beam to reinforce it, it wouldn’t withstand a third blow.
Lu Gu could almost imagine the horrific scene of the boar breaking through the gate. But then, Guaizi’s barking grew even fiercer outside. After a brief pause, the boar seemed to turn away from the gate. Seizing the moment, Lu Gu, with strength he didn’t know he had, dragged and lifted the long wooden beam, something even Shen Xuanqing would struggle to carry, and propped it firmly against the gate.
The gate stopped shaking. Lu Gu’s arms trembled as he slid down the beam, collapsing to the ground.
The sound of Guaizi’s barking grew distant. As soon as his bottom hit the ground, Lu Gu scrambled to his feet, wiping his tears and shouting toward the gate, “Guaizi!”
He didn’t want to leave the dog outside, but he couldn’t open the gate now. Looking around frantically, he spotted a ladder leaning against the wall. Without even bothering to wipe his tears, he moved the ladder over and climbed up in a few quick steps, peering over the wall.
Guaizi was taunting the boar, darting in to try and bite it while leading it farther away. Compared to the boar’s massive body, Guaizi looked much smaller than usual. If it wasn't for the dog’s quick reflexes, it would have already been injured.
Lu Gu choked back sobs, feeling utterly helpless. All he could do was watch as Guaizi led the boar farther and farther away, until even the sound of the barking grew faint.
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