I Was Reborn into the Past and Saved My Stunning Sister-in-Law at the Beginning - Chapter 18:

Chapter 18: Xu Qiang Ruins Everything

Xu Feng had spent the previous night making do at the courtyard. Sleeping well? That was impossible.

In the morning, Lin Xixue steamed two white mantou and made some coarse grain pancakes, boiled two eggs, and prepared corn porridge.

“You’re the pillar of this family, and Xiyue, you need your nutrition too. The white mantou and eggs are for you two.”

Xixue was still thinking about the 133 yuan of debt. She believed every bit saved helped.

But Xu Feng snatched the corn pancake Xixue had already bitten into. “If you keep cooking like this, I’ll spank your butt. We’re one family, eating at the same table—we eat the same food, got it?”

He stuffed the eggs and mantou into the sisters’ hands and then munched on a corn pancake with porridge himself.

“I’m going up the mountain with Shoushan and the others tonight. When you sleep, make sure to lock the door.”

After reminding them, Xu Feng went back to his room to catch up on sleep. If he got drowsy in the forest, it could cost him his life.

As dusk approached, Xixue had already finished cooking. She had her sister wake Xu Feng up.

He quickly filled his belly, then stuffed two corn pancakes and an egg into his pocket.

“Bless your old man and let him bring home a big catch tonight so your mom can have meat soup!”

Before leaving, Xu Feng gently rubbed his wife’s round belly. It was the symbol of the love between him and Xiyue.

He then tightened the machete at his waist, carrying the concerns and well wishes of the sisters as he headed for the west end of the village.

Everyone except Xu Qiang had arrived. When Xu Feng saw the rifle on Shoushan’s back, his eyes lit up. From the look of things, they were serious about taking down a wild boar tonight.

“Brother Shoushan, let me take a look at your gun.”

Xu Feng had never seen one up close before. Curiosity got the better of him.

There weren’t any bullets loaded, and letting the kid handle it wouldn’t cause any harm. Shoushan nodded in agreement.

The first thing Xu Feng felt was the weight—he turned it over several times but couldn’t figure out how it worked.

“This is a Hanyang-made rifle. Our village only has this one, so hold it carefully!”

All the young men in the village coveted that rifle. Now that was a real gun.

Knowing it was so precious, Xu Feng stopped fiddling and returned it respectfully.

“Everyone’s here. Let’s go, Brother Shoushan.”

“Wait, not yet. Xu Qiang isn’t here.”

“He’s coming too? What’s the point?”

Jianjun was just about to say something else, but when Xu Qiang showed up, he held his tongue.

“You two don’t have experience in the mountains, so I’ll say this one more time: keep your eyes sharp. Whether we find game or not is secondary. Spotting danger ahead of time is what really matters.

If you’ve got nothing useful to say, keep your mouths shut. If something goes wrong—just run.”

After the warning, Shoushan led the group into the forest.

Thanks to all the meat he’d eaten recently, Xu Feng didn’t feel as exhausted as he did on his first trip into the mountains.

Xu Qiang, on the other hand, was already struggling—his belly had no fuel in it. By the time they reached the foot of the mountain, he was panting hard.

“Once we’re deep in the forest, we’ll be climbing up and down constantly. If you can’t handle it, better go back now.”

Shoushan looked at him, trying to think of the team’s safety as well.

“I’m fine, Brother Shoushan. I can keep going.”

He had already made it this far—there was no way he’d give up. What man would admit he couldn’t handle it?

Shoushan didn’t push further and led everyone into the forest.

They trekked for nearly two hours and, on the outskirts, managed to spot a few wild chickens and rabbits.

Jianjun handled them with his bow and arrows. Shoushan’s Hanyang rifle hadn’t even been used.

Xu Qiang grinned as he carried the chickens and rabbits—his smile stretched ear to ear.

Even if they didn’t bag a wild boar tonight, at least he’d have meat to take home.

They pressed deeper into the woods. Shoushan decided to shift direction toward the small creek, hoping for better luck.

“Eat some dry food, drink some water, and take a break. These beasts are hard to come by.”

Shoushan didn’t expect to find a wild boar that easily. Good things took patience.

Xu Qiang, already exhausted, plopped down and started gnawing on his corn pancake while drinking mountain spring water.

After a 20-minute rest, Shoushan led them further along the creek.

This time, their luck was worse—not a single living creature in sight.

“Let’s call it a night, Brother Shoushan. These chickens and rabbits are enough. Let’s go home and sleep.”

Xu Qiang didn’t rely on hunting to survive—just having a few wild chickens was already a feast in his mind.

But it wasn’t enough for the others. They couldn’t live off that.

“Hang in there a bit longer.”

They were already deep in the mountains—Shoushan wasn’t about to give up so easily.

Xu Qiang didn’t dare head down alone, so he grudgingly followed.

Above them, the full moon hung high. The forest was at its brightest.

The woods were silent—eerily so. Something didn’t feel right.

After walking a little more, Shoushan finally understood why there were no animals around.

Roughly 200 meters ahead, a bear was leisurely roaming the forest.

From its features, it was clear—this was the same one that had injured Wang Jun.

With that bear in the area, all the other animals stayed far away from the water source.

Shoushan quickly made a silent signal to retreat quietly.

As long as they moved gently, they could easily avoid it at that distance.

Xu Feng also spotted the bear and knew it was way beyond what their team could handle.

Xu Qiang, however, was already shaking from head to toe.

Remembering Wang Jun’s tragic state, he lost control and turned to run.

“Damn it!”

Shoushan knew the moment he saw Xu Qiang bolt—it was all ruined.

“RUN!”

Sure enough, the bear, alarmed by the noise, stopped dawdling and charged toward them at full speed.

The forest exploded with noise as everyone sprinted downhill, running for their lives.

Jianjun was already cursing Xu Qiang’s entire family in his head.

If that coward hadn’t panicked and run, they could’ve slipped past without a hitch.

But now, there was only one thought left—run!

Whoever was slow would be the one eaten.

Shoushan’s group had mountain experience and good stamina. They quickly outran Xu Qiang.

Xu Feng, thanks to his long legs, stayed right behind them.

Within moments, Xu Qiang was trailing in the rear.

“Help me! Help me, Brother Shoushan!”

Seeing himself falling behind, Xu Qiang screamed for his life, his voice cracking with terror.

But screaming did no good—in fact, it only made the bear charge faster.

It was nearly upon him. If Shoushan didn’t intervene, Aunt Li wouldn’t need to cook breakfast for Xu Qiang tomorrow.

With lightning speed, Shoushan loaded a bullet into the rifle and fired a shot behind him.

The moving target was too difficult to hit. Worse, it only enraged the bear further.

This was no time to panic. Shoushan swiftly reloaded all remaining bullets into the gun.

Maybe the bear got scared—or maybe something else happened—but suddenly, it gave up the chase.

Xu Qiang had barely escaped with his life.