Volume One: At the Foot of Mount Zhongnan Chapter Six: The Glutton

Li Sanlang arrived at the gate of a farmhouse in the village and called out loudly, “Brother Zhou, are you at home?”

A tall, robust middle-aged man emerged from the house, grinning. “Oh, it’s Sanlang! Come in and let’s talk inside.” With that, he opened the gate and ushered Li Sanlang into the house.

Through the gaps in the bamboo basket, Li Ming saw that the furnishings were all made of raw wood; hunting bows and animal pelts hung on the walls, while hunting forks and long spears were stacked in a corner—a hunter’s home indeed. Brother Zhou was a burly man with a square face, thick beard, and bold features, but one arm was wounded, wrapped in white cloth and suspended with hemp rope across his chest.

Once inside, the two sat cross-legged on the couch. Li Sanlang asked, “Brother Zhou, is your injury much trouble?”

Brother Zhou laughed heartily. “This kind of flesh wound is nothing! On the battlefield in Liaodong, I once took a spear through my thigh as wide as a bowl—much worse than this! But look, I’m still alive and kicking.” Then he shouted toward the inner room, “Wife, Sanlang is here—hurry and warm some wine! I want to drink a few cups with him.”

“Sanlang is here,” came a young woman’s voice as she lifted the curtain, carrying an infant in her arms. Mountain folk harbored few taboos about women seeing guests; she set her child down in a small bed and said to Li Sanlang, “Please sit, I’ll warm the wine and prepare a few dishes.”

Li Sanlang quickly stood and saluted, “Sister-in-law, please wait. There’s no rush for wine. I came today to ask a favor of you both!”

Brother Zhou was surprised. “Sanlang, there’s no need for such formality. Speak your mind! We’ve long regarded you as family.”

Li Sanlang said, “I heard a man-eating bear came down from the mountain, harming livestock and killing many. You led some men to hunt it, but it escaped and injured you.”

Brother Zhou grunted. “That beast was truly fierce. We went fully armed and hunted in formation, but only managed to wound it. Afterward it became even more ferocious, hurting several of our brothers in a row. I was planning to recover and lead another hunt for revenge!”

Li Sanlang replied, “I am but a solitary traveler here, and fell ill, yet you and your brothers cared for me day and night and let me stay after my recovery. I am deeply grateful.”

“Nonsense!” Brother Zhou said. “We’re all rough soldiers from the army, fought hard battles in Liaodong and lost many good brothers. Serving as soldiers, life was cheap—if we died, at least our families could get some money. But after so many battles, the meager burial silver we earned was all stolen by corrupt officials. Some of our brothers, furious, went to argue and were beaten to death! Now the emperor wants to conscript again for Liaodong. We discussed and decided—no matter what, we can’t go back. Otherwise, all our men would die, and our families would starve. So we protected the villagers, gathered the widows and children of fallen comrades, and fled here to Mount Zhongnan to escape the war. We’re all sufferers—we speak not of taking in or not taking in.”

Brother Zhou’s tone grew somber.

Li Sanlang shook his head. “A drop of kindness must be repaid a thousandfold! When I heard of the man-bear wounding you, I thought myself strong enough and went into the mountains alone to seek revenge.”

Brother Zhou was shocked. “Sanlang, that was reckless! That beast is enormous and powerful—not so easily dealt with. Were you hurt?”

“Don’t worry, brother!” Li Sanlang smiled, then recounted in detail his battle with the man-bear. He added, “I was entrusted by a tigress—now you know. As a single man, I have no family to feed, but feeding an infant...”

“Hahaha! Truly a hero, Sanlang! You are a man of your word!” Brother Zhou laughed. “So that’s all? Where is the child? Give him to my wife to care for. You returned safely and rid the village of a scourge—let’s drink to celebrate!”

Overjoyed, Li Sanlang produced Li Ming from the basket and handed him to the woman. “Then I must trouble you, sister-in-law.”

She took one look at the adorable Li Ming and her heart warmed. “No need for such courtesy, Sanlang. We consider you one of our own. Wait a moment while I feed him.” She played with Li Ming, picked up her child, and carried them both inside to nurse.

Li Sanlang said hurriedly, “Don’t trouble yourself, sister-in-law.”

But she was already gone.

Li Sanlang then unwrapped the bearskin and said to Brother Zhou, “Here’s a pair of bear paws—just right to stew and nourish you. Also, I trouble you with another matter: this bear gall is a precious medicine. Could you arrange for someone to take it to the city of Chang’an and sell it, in exchange for two milch cows to feed the tiger cub? I cannot go myself.”

Brother Zhou nodded. “Sanlang, you’re being too polite. But since you insist, I’ll accept. The bear paws—once my wife finishes feeding the children, she can stew them for us. As for the cows, I’ll send someone to the city tomorrow.”

As they spoke, a cry came from the inner room.

Brother Zhou called out, concerned, “Wife, what’s wrong?”

His wife replied, “It’s nothing. This little one is just so hungry—he bit me hard.”

She had first nursed her own child, then Li Ming, but Li Ming, famished, latched on fiercely without restraint.

Brother Zhou and Li Sanlang chatted for a long while, but when the woman still hadn’t returned, they called, “Is everything all right?”

After a while, she came out with Li Ming, her face a bit strained. “This little one eats so much! I’ve nothing left, and he’s still hungry.”

They looked at Li Ming, whose little mouth was still opening and closing, clearly unsatisfied.

Brother Zhou knew his wife’s strong constitution and abundant milk—usually their own child couldn’t drink it all, and she’d have to express the excess, enough to fill a large bowl. Yet this tiny infant could empty her?

Li Sanlang, embarrassed, apologized. “I truly had no idea...”

Brother Zhou laughed. “It’s nothing. Milk is like that—once you’re full and rest, more will come. But right now, there’s nothing to be done.”

His wife shot him a reproachful look and said to Li Sanlang, “Don’t worry, Sanlang. The Zhang family just had a big boy last month—I’ll take this little one there to nurse.” Then to Brother Zhou, “There’s food on the stove—warm the wine yourselves. I’ll be back soon.”

As she reached the courtyard, she remembered something. “Husband, the Huang family’s spotted dog gave birth to a litter yesterday—you should borrow it to feed the tiger cub.”

Li Sanlang, hearing this, realized women were indeed more thoughtful. He and Brother Zhou had been so busy talking, they’d forgotten the tiger cub was hungry too. He quickly said, “No need to trouble you, brother. I’ll take the cub to the Huang family myself.” With that, he picked up the little tiger and left.

Brother Zhou, seeing Li Ming with the black-furred cub, was curious but didn’t press. He went to the kitchen to warm wine and sliced some cooked venison liver, waiting for Li Sanlang’s return.

Soon, Li Sanlang was back. “Sorry to keep you waiting, brother—the little one has quite an appetite! The Huang family’s dog didn’t have enough milk for it, but they also have a cow—after much effort, I managed to feed it full.”

Brother Zhou, seeing the tiger cub now fast asleep, asked curiously, “I’ve traveled far and wide, but I’ve never heard of a tiger with all black fur!”

Li Sanlang set the cub down and laughed. “You’re right, brother. This black tiger is a prehistoric beast, a true king of beasts. Let me tell you the whole story.”

As they drank and talked, Brother Zhou marveled, “For such a rare beast to revere even that infant—when the child grows up, he’ll surely be extraordinary!”

Having had a few cups of warm wine, Li Sanlang was a little tipsy. “Indeed, all great men are marked by unusual signs from birth. This child is clever and precocious, already able to understand speech—one day he’ll accomplish great things! But he must be well guided, lest he stray.”

Brother Zhou nodded. “Yes, a true man must stand tall and upright. Never go down the wrong path and bring harm to the country and shame to the ancestors. Here, have another cup!” He filled Li Sanlang’s bowl. “Sanlang, from your bearing I can tell you come from a noble family. I won’t pry into why you’re here in these remote mountains—everyone has their own troubles in these unsettled times. But since we’re on the subject, I have a request.”

Li Sanlang replied at once, “Speak freely, brother. There’s no need for formality among us.”

Brother Zhou sighed. “I’m just a rough soldier. Even after becoming a petty officer and being favored by a patron, I only managed to learn a little, and now I’m getting old. After my patron died and I deserted, this is all my life amounts to. Our village is full of rough folk, few can even read their own names. The women, children, and elders know even less. I wanted to send the children to the city to study, but we have no connections—and city folk look down on mountain villagers like us. Since we’re talking about it today, I want to ask you: in the future, when you teach your own child, could you also teach the village children? I’d be forever grateful!” With that, he moved to kneel.

In ancient times, literacy was rare; only the great families controlled education so they could rule over the people. Ordinary folk revered scholars, but had no way to learn. Thus, Brother Zhou’s gesture was natural.

Li Sanlang quickly stopped him. “Please, no need for that! I was already planning to do so. In a few days, I’ll prepare some books and start teaching them to read and write.”

Brother Zhou was deeply grateful. They drank together for a long time before Zhou’s wife returned with the now full and sleeping Li Ming.

As she entered, she said, “This child eats so much! I don’t know where he fits it all. First I went to the Zhang family—the wife agreed, but even after her milk was exhausted, he wasn’t full. Then I took him to her sister-in-law, who’d just given birth—still not enough. Finally, I found the Wang family’s daughter-in-law. It took the milk of all four of us just to fill him! Now that he’s asleep, I can finally rest.”

Brother Zhou, now in high spirits with worries resolved, scolded her playfully, “What do you know, woman! Go warm more wine! Tonight we must celebrate properly—Sanlang has agreed to teach our children to read. In future, our son Dan Niu and this little one must grow close!”

His wife was overjoyed. “Then we’ll rely on you, Sanlang! These two will be like brothers, sharing my milk as they grow.” She settled Li Ming and went to warm the wine.

The two men drank deep into the night. Only when the moon was high did Li Sanlang, sated with food and drink, carry the sleeping Li Ming and the tiger cub home under the silver moonlight.