Chapter Forty-Two: Catching the Snake (Part Two)

As the sun set in the west, the mountains were bathed in a golden glow, the forests ablaze with color—a picturesque scene of rural beauty. Le’er had cut down a small tree in the woods to use as a carrying pole, hoisting a sack made of snakeskin over his shoulder as he walked out of the mountains. His yellow dog trotted behind him, while a small snake coiled around his shoulder, and he strode toward the village.

Returning with a bounty, Le’er sang mountain songs, drawing the attention of many villagers.

“Le’er, you wild rascal, what good things did you bring back this time? You seem so happy!” called one of his aunts.

“Snakes,” Le’er replied with a grin, “I caught snakes.”

“Snakes?” Most people have a natural fear of snakes, especially women. “What are you catching snakes for? Aren’t you afraid they’ll bite you?”

“Of course I catch them to sell for money, not to play with,” Le’er answered loudly. The aunts and sisters-in-law were returning home from the fields, and children were herding cows and sheep, their bleating and the ducks’ quacking filling the air with lively noise. The older women soon went on their way, but a few sisters-in-law in their thirties lingered, some even reaching out to touch the snakeskin sack.

“Don’t touch it—if you get bitten, don’t blame me,” Le’er warned loudly, scaring them into withdrawing their hands.

“Le’er, you really have some skills, but you never treat your sisters-in-law to anything when you get rich.”

“Sister Guihua, if you want something, just tell me—I’ll buy it for you.” Le’er knew they were joking, but if they truly wanted something, he wouldn't refuse.

“Le’er, Guihua’s husband hasn’t returned home for almost a year. What do you think she wants?” Sister Taohong laughed.

“Taohong, you little devil! I’ll wring your neck,” Guihua retorted, and the group of women burst into laughter, teasing and playfully pinching each other. Their carefree laughter echoed across the fields. Le’er had grown up in such an environment and felt no embarrassment; instead, he joined in their laughter.

“Sisters-in-law, if you can’t sleep at night, just come find me. I guarantee you’ll sleep soundly,” Le’er joked.

“You rascal, you really are grown up now,” Guihua laughed.

“He’s always had big balls—even as a child, they were almost as big as an adult’s. Sister Guihua, do you want to call Le’er to sleep with you for a few nights? Maybe you won’t miss Brother Fu anymore!”

The women spoke boldly, without the slightest restraint. Village women were always free-spirited; with their husbands gone most of the year, their physical longing was inevitable, and coarse jokes were a way to ease it. Even if one found herself a wild lover, no one would criticize her—so long as her husband came home and she stopped, everyone turned a blind eye. However, young men rarely stayed in the village; any indiscretion with elders was taboo, a grave offense.

It was much like how men working elsewhere might seek out another woman or visit a brothel; women would never quarrel with their husbands over such things.

“I’d like to, but Le’er’s rich now—would he look twice at an old crab like me?” Guihua laughed heartily. Le’er dared not respond, lest he truly be devoured by these women.

“Le’er, Yinxian works for people every day and gets along so well with you. Is there something between you two?” another sister-in-law, Guiyuan, chimed in. “She’s young and pretty, and her crab’s got strength—don’t let her pinch your tender eggs and break them.”

“Haha, that’s right, Le’er. You’re definitely not a virgin anymore—don’t be shy… See, we guessed right, didn’t we?”

“Guessed your crabs… If you keep talking nonsense, I won’t recognize you as sisters-in-law,” Le’er said angrily, threatening, “Keep it up, and I’ll let the snakes out.”

“Oh, you rascal, we’re just joking! Why so angry? If you dare let the snakes out, we’ll pull down your pants, beat your ass, and hang your eggs up.”

In the face of such formidable women, Le’er’s youthful face was no match, and after a few rounds, he retreated in defeat, running off as the women laughed heartily behind him.

The last rays of sunlight slipped behind the mountains, and the village grew quiet. Le’er returned home; the carpenters had already left, and only Luo Yinxian sat by the courtyard gate, waiting for him. Seeing her, warmth surged in Le’er’s heart—this woman was like a wife, no, perhaps even better than one.

“Le’er… you’re back,” Yinxian said, tears streaming down her face.

“Why are you crying?”

“I was afraid you’d been bitten by a snake, coming home so late.”

“If I got bitten, what’s it to you?”

“Well… you’re my wild husband, aren’t you?” Yinxian cheerfully opened the gate for him. “Will you eat first or wash up? The food’s still hot.”

Le’er was quite hungry; he’d only roasted a few sweet potatoes for lunch in the mountains. But first, he needed to put the snakes in the snake garden. He set down the snakeskin sack and pulled out a bag of wild chestnuts, tossing it to Yinxian.

“What’s this?” Yinxian, scared it might be a snake, stepped back, but seeing Le’er’s expression, she cautiously picked it up and opened it. A surprised cry escaped her lips, “Ah, chestnuts—so many! Thank you, Le’er.”

She was like a little girl delighted by candy, overjoyed and not knowing what to do. Chestnuts were small things, but to her, they meant something different—they showed Le’er cared. Had she not noticed people arriving, she might have thrown herself into his arms.

Two or three people came, one of them Le’er’s eldest uncle.

“Le’er, I heard you caught some snakes. We came to see something new.”

His uncle smiled broadly. The others were distant relatives—Second Uncle Shengcai and Third Uncle Black Dog. Now that Le’er had made a name for himself, his standing in the village soared; those who once looked down on him now greeted him with smiles, hoping to curry favor. Third Uncle Black Dog was among them.

“Come in, sit. Sister-in-law Yinxian, please help me dress the rabbit and cook it. We’ll have a few drinks later.”

Before others, Le’er still called Yinxian his sister-in-law.

“Certainly,” Yinxian replied with delight. She was capable, skilled at cooking, and adept at farm work. She was even a high school graduate; had Jin Hai not broken her heart, she would have made an excellent wife.

With wine and good food, the three uncles wore broad smiles. Uncle Shengtian was his real uncle and genuinely cared for him. In the countryside, family was vital; without it, other clans would trample you, but if someone capable emerged, everyone benefited.

Le’er took a flashlight and carried two snakeskin sacks toward the snake garden.

“Le’er, you built the snake garden walls so high—it must have cost quite a bit?” Third Uncle Black Dog asked, making conversation to get closer. “All cement—how much did you use?”

“Not much, just a few thousand yuan.”

“See, see, now that you’ve got money, you talk as if a few thousand is nothing,” Black Dog commented, not without envy.

Inside the snake garden, there were many smaller enclosures. Big snakes had to be separated from the small ones, lest they eat them; venomous from non-venomous, lest they fight. Each enclosure had little snake huts, grouping snakes of the same kind together, and even small pools for them to drink and cool off.

He had caught twenty-three snakes: five cobras, seven flower snakes, and the rest were black whip snakes. Released from the sacks, they slithered about. The three uncles watched from outside, clicking their tongues in amazement.

“Let’s go, let’s drink,” Le’er said cheerfully, leading the three back to the house. The home was still unfinished, so they set the table in the courtyard. Yinxian, acting like the hostess, brought out the dishes reserved for Le’er while the rabbit simmered, poured rice wine for everyone, and the four of them drank merrily together.