Chapter 29: He Shouldn’t Have Done That
Upon further reflection, Chen Fan realized he’d overthought things.
First, their group had just left the village empty-handed. Even if the people ahead were truly from Li Family Village, there was little to fear—especially since this group was clearly returning with a full haul.
Second, the numbers didn’t match.
There were nearly thirty people here, while Li Family Village only had around thirteen or fourteen.
Most importantly, he spotted the Wei brothers in the crowd.
This hunting team was unmistakably from Zhao Family Fort.
“They’re from Zhao Family Fort,” someone murmured.
“Look—Tian Gong and Tian Yuan are over there!”
“Seems like they had a good hunt.”
“No surprise. Zhao Family Fort has over a thousand people. Small villages can’t compare.”
The group whispered among themselves.
“Let them pass first,” Chen Guodong said softly, his eyes betraying grief.
The bald man patted his shoulder and sighed.
The Zhao Family Fort group noticed Chen Guodong’s party a hundred meters away. They exchanged hushed words too faint to hear, with the Wei brothers among them.
Suddenly, Wei Tianyuan jogged to the front of the Zhao group, spoke briefly, then sprinted toward Chen Guodong’s party—carrying a 20-30 pound wasteland rabbit.
Chen Fan stared, mind racing. Could he be…?
In seconds, Wei Tianyuan reached them. “Brother Guodong, this is for you,” he said, placing the rabbit in Chen Guodong’s hands with a smile.
Chen Guodong reflexively accepted it, then shoved it back as if burned. “Tianyuan! Take this back. We can’t accept it.”
“Are you mad?” Liu Yong—usually cheerful—snapped. “What’ll they think if they see this?”
The Zhao group watched from afar.
“Relax,” Wei Tianyuan waved dismissively. “I cleared it with Brother Zhao. Take it quickly—I don’t have time.”
His gaze fell on Chen Fan clutching a bow and quiver. His heart clenched, tears pricking his eyes.
This child isn’t even grown, yet he’s already hunting. If something happens…
He cut off the thought.
“Tianyuan—” Chen Guodong began.
“Enough. I need to go.” Wei Tianyuan turned abruptly. “Take care, everyone.”
He dashed back, pausing first to thank a burly man at the Zhao group’s front.
“Why thank me?” The man sneered. “This’ll come out of your family’s share.”
“I know.” Wei Tianyuan smiled warmly before retreating to the group’s rear.
“Pathetic,” the burly man scoffed.
Others watched with smirks, eye-rolls, or pitying shakes of heads.
How could Zhao San refuse such a public request without looking petty? their expressions said. “Pity” is a joke—haven’t we all suffered? Why coddle the Chens? Newcomers should know their place.
“Brother,” Wei Tianyuan grinned at Wei Tian Gong.
The elder Wei sighed inwardly. His brother’s impulsiveness would cost them. Yet seeing Chen Fan among the hunters twisted his heart too.
If we’d stayed…
He shook his head. What mattered now was damage control.
As the Zhao group vanished into the distance, Chen Guodong’s party stood stunned.
“Tianyuan still cares,” someone choked out.
“He thinks we’re starving,” another murmured.
“This kindness may curse him,” Chen Guodong said heavily.
The group fell silent.
However welcome the gift, Wei Tianyuan had broken unspoken rules. Even generous leaders would resent such charity.
Chen Fan frowned. This’ll breed distrust. The stronger the Weis grow, the more they’ll be watched. Uncle Tianyuan shouldn’t have risked it.
“My fault,” Chen Guodong muttered, staring at the rabbit. “I should’ve refused.”
“Too late,” the bald man said. “The moment he ran over, the damage was done.”
“Wait!” Someone turned to Chen Fan. “We should’ve told them our village has food now! Maybe they’d return—”
He trailed off.
Zhao Family Fort wasn’t some inn. Leaving wasn’t an option.
“Enough,” Chen Guodong said. “What’s done is done. If they ever wish to return, my arms are open.”
“Mine too.”
“And mine.”
The hopeful mood dissolved into tense quiet.
Worse followed. Whether due to Zhao’s earlier sweep or bad luck, an hour’s trek yielded nothing—not even in traps. Sweat-drenched and thirsty, they pressed on until the bald man halted them.
Ahead, the grassland thickened into dense brush and scattered trees. Shadows circled overhead.
“We’ve gone ten miles,” he said. “Beyond here’s the danger zone.”
