Living on a Mountain with my Husband

Chapter 15: Old Man Li

LongWei saw old man Li standing in the backyard grumbling as he tried to make the fence around the chicken pen sturdier.

"Old man Li." LongWei said as he approached.

LongWei wasn't close to many people, but old man Li was one of them. He got to know old man Li because as a hunter LongWei needed tools like bows, arrows, and a good knife. Old man Li was a blacksmith who worked for the military. When LongWei was a soldier, he often spoke to Old Man Li. After LongWei had been at the military camp for about a year, old man Li decided to retire and return home to the village he grew up in.

LongWei remembered Old Man Li when he returned and made a point to visit and they've kept close since. Although old man Li had mostly retired he still made a few things, like arrows, small knives, or pots. Nothing to large or labour intensive.

LongWei always appreciated the work he did, so he naturally went to him whenever he needed something made. In this way they were rather close, you could even say their relationship was more like father and son.

"LongWei?! Is that really you. My boy, when did you wake up? How are you feeling?" Old man Li said as he turned around and gave LongWei a good once over.

" I woke up this morning. What about you, have things been okay?"

"It's fine. Aside from this bloody badger that keeps terrorizing my chickens, everything else is good. What about you, why would you come all this way after just waking up. You didn't just come to tell your okay now, did you?" Old man Li asked while chuckling.

"Sorry, old man Li. Actually I was wondering if you could sell me that old mule of yours. Things are rough at home and I don't plan to stay day for a second more. I want to go up the mountain to recover and put some distance between myself and them, put I've gotten weaker, and need your mule to help me out." LongWei explained his situation.

"That family of yours are real special, I tell ya. When I heard about the accident I felt real bad and planned to help out, you know caring for you and stuff. But when I got to your house they said I didn't need to bother because they had arranged a wife to take care of you.
I was so mad I gave your dad a good punch. That's all I could get in though before those bloody brothers of your got involved and I had to leave. The marriage thing wouldn't happen to be why your running up the mountain so quickly, would it?"

"No and yes. When I was in a coma, I could still hear what was going on around me. And my wife Zhang Zimo is a good kid. He took care of me without complaining about it the entire time.
The problem is my family. While I was laying there unable to do anything, they hurt my wife in the worst ways. Working him hard all day and most nights, and beating him for things that weren't even his fault.
I'm awake now, and plan to take good care of him, but I've become a lot weaker now. So for the time being I want to take him up the mountain with me, recover, and give him a good life." LongWei explained as he looked off towards the house.

Seeing LongWei's gentle expression, old man Li was stunned for a moment. "Turns out the fierce cub has finally grown up and met his match." He thought.

"Neither of us can make it up the mountain. I'm weak after not moving for so long and his body is covered in bruises. Do you think we could use the old mule? I have some money I hid away for a rainy day. It isn't much, but I should be able to offer you a good price." LongWei turned towards old man Li with a determined look in his eyes.

"What money? Just take the damn old thing. It ain't got much time left in it anyway. Might just be able to handle a few trips up the mountain before it croaks." Old man Li said.

"I can't do that. Even an old mule costs a lot in town." LongWei was never someone who didn't pay back his debts, and he hated taking advantage of others.

"Boy, why are you so damn stubborn. Fine, I'll give you the mule and it's cart. What else do you need? Ummm...
If your planning on living up on the mountain for a while, you'll need some tools, food, blankets and stuff.
Did you grab all that when you left? Tch... looking at you, you probably just took a few changes of clothes and ran off.
Let's see,I'll help you prepare the things you need and we'll call it a deal for 5 silver. What do you think, deal?"

"What do you mean, deal. That stuff would be worth at least ten fifteen silver easily." LongWei retorted.

"Fine eight silver, final offer." Old man Li answered back.

"Haha, what man bargains with the buyer to pay less? You old fool." Long couldn't help but laugh at his current situation.

"Fine I'll give you eight, but when I come back down I'll be sure to bring you some meat." LongWei counter offered.

"Deal! Now where is this wife of yours. Are they inside? Let me go see this fine wife of yours that can make even a beast like you calm down." Old man Li said as he got up and walked towards the house.

...

In the house, Zimo was listening to Mrs Li talk about LongWei as he drank some warm water.

Hearing about LongWei's hunting exploits and how he once hunted a wild boar and dragged it down the mountain all by himself amazed Zimo.

"Hehe... my husband is so strong. Of course he can hunt a boar. If he has a chance I bet he could also hunt a tiger. Hehe" without his knowledge LongWei was becoming more and more amazing in Zimo's mind.

"Old lady, what are you sitting around talking about?" Old man Li asked as he entered the room, followed by LongWei.

"What do you mean, I'm simply telling XiaoMo here about the amazing things his husband has done." Mrs Li replied raising her chin, proud of LongWei as though he was her own son.

Zimo saw old man Li he couldn't help but admire him.. Despite his age he had a strong posture and stood up firmly. He skin had grown dark from working outside all day, but it looked healthy and gave him a vigorous feeling.

"You're the wife, huh. It's nice to meet you. LongWei the boy was just telling me about how well you took care of him when he was injured. Thanks for that." Old man Li said as he stood in front of Zimo.

"Ah, no. It was not difficult at all. We're married so of course I had to do it. Also LongWei has also done a lot for me, too." Zimo said nervously.

"Did a lot for you? How did he do anything for you while in a coma? Ahahaha! You're a funny little one aren't you. Well whatever. Keep up the good work, and don't mind this fierce mug of his. You can trust him. And if he ever does anything you don't like just tell me or my old lady and we'll give him a good slap for ya. Ahahaha!" Old man Li said as he patted LongWei in the back laughing.

He couldn't help but think these two kids were complete opposites. But that's fine, together they'll be able to make up for each others shortcomings.