The children were up around this time as well.
After breakfast and a short break, Adam and Ben went out for their usual two laps around the village—rain or shine.
Chad and Deb, being only five years old, weren't encouraged by Clara to train physically yet. She didn't want to risk damaging their young bodies.
So she had them stay home in the morning to practice reading the Tang poems she had written on wooden planks.
Only through repetition and reinforcement could they truly commit them to memory.
Adam took his running seriously and never slacked off.
Ben, on the other hand, would get tired and plop down on the roadside to pluck grass and play, chanting multiplication tables under his breath. Compared to sweating through physical training, he much preferred learning arithmetic and reading.
But he also really wanted to learn Clara's martial arts, and the requirement for that was completing the physical basics—which made things hard for him.
Adam was fully committed to learning from Clara. He knew he wasn't as quick-witted as Ben, so he focused on doing one thing well.
He knew Clara was heading into the forest to hunt today, so before leaving, he asked her to wait for him after his training. He ran especially fast that morning.
Adam finished his two laps while Ben was still sitting on a field ridge, torn between continuing his training or giving it up altogether.
Adam looked at his little brother, shook his head helplessly, and headed back home.
Lester had already taken the sickle and gone to join Old Walter Liew and the others.
Clara was preparing her hunting gear. Seeing Adam return, she reminded Chad and Deb not to wander to the river alone, and then she and Adam set off together.
They weren't planning on a deep forest hunt—just enough meat for dinner—so they stayed near the edge of the woods.
Spring was a time of revival. The ground was lush with green grass, and small animals were active in the woods.
Villagers and local teens often set up simple traps around this area. With luck, they could catch rabbits or field mice—just enough for a family meal.
But because of the frequent human activity, the animals here were very skittish. At the slightest sound, they'd bolt, making them hard to catch.
At least, for someone like Adam, it seemed nearly impossible to catch these fast and nimble creatures.
But for Clara? Child's play.
Before Adam could even finish saying "There's a bird over there—" he heard a sharp "chirp!" followed by the thud of a bird falling from the tree.
"Huh?" Adam was stunned.
"Go fetch it," Clara reminded him when he stood frozen.
"And pick up my steel pellet while you're at it. Should be nearby—silver-colored. If you bend down and look toward the sun, the reflection should help you spot it," she instructed.
She took the opportunity to explain how light and reflection worked, tossing in a few practical optics tips—it was basically an impromptu outdoor science lesson.
Adam listened intently, realizing how much more groundwork he needed before he could start actual martial arts training.
Clara had said clearly: no martial arts until he mastered the basics.
So he silently committed everything she said to memory, waiting for his chance to test it all out.
He came back with both the sparrow and the steel pellet. Clara tossed the bird into the small bamboo basket slung across his body, and the two of them continued looking for targets.
Adam had brought the basket to collect wild fruits, which meant the area had a lot of fruit trees.
And birds loved fruit—so they flocked here, making them perfect targets.
In this kind of environment, there was no need for a bow. Clara's slingshot was more than enough.
Any bird that came into her line of sight—if it was even slightly large—stood no chance against her steel pellets.
Adam found himself running left and right constantly. When he finally looked down, he realized his basket was filled with birds, not fruit—nearly 10 kilograms worth.
Seeing Clara still scouting, Adam gently reminded, "Auntie, I think we have enough."
"Really?" Clara came over, slingshot still in hand—she was just getting warmed up.
Adam nodded earnestly and lifted the heavy basket to show her—it was full.
"Alright, then let's head back. On the way, we'll stop by the river to catch some fish. We'll have fish soup tonight."
Adam lit up at the idea.
As they walked back, he couldn't help sneaking glances at the slingshot on Clara's belt. He couldn't stop wishing he had one of his own.
"You want to try it?" Clara asked with a smile, catching onto his thoughts.
Caught off guard, Adam awkwardly waved his hands. "No, it's fine. What if I break it?"
Clara didn't push. Her slingshot really wasn't suited for kids—it was too powerful.
"I'll make you a wooden one when I have time," she said. They still had some tendon for strings, and a child-safe version wouldn't be hard.
Adam's eyes lit up instantly. He jogged forward to her side and looked up at her. "Really? You'll make one for me?"
Clara nodded. "Start collecting smooth pebbles for ammo. But remember—never use it to harm someone weaker than you."
"I'm teaching you to protect yourself, not to bully others," she said firmly.
Adam nodded hard. "I know. I won't."
Then he smiled wide, showing off his sharp little tiger teeth—so goofy and sweet.
"Auntie, when do you think you'll have time?" he asked, unable to hide his excitement.
By now, they'd reached the river. Clara gestured for him to wait on the bank while she found a branch to use as a fish spear. "In a day or two," she said, rolling up her pants and stepping into the water.
The river surged around her calves, but she stood firm—completely unfazed by the current, as if she were part of the river itself.
Adam squatted by the bank with the basket, not worried in the least that she might come up empty-handed. He glanced at the sky, the grass, then the full basket of birds—and chuckled. Soon, he'd have his own slingshot. Ben was going to be so jealous he might cry.
Then came a splash, and a fish landed right in front of him.
Its tail flapped wildly. It was as wide as his palm and still alive, though bleeding from a hole in its side.
Adam quickly pinned it down, threaded a piece of grass through its gills, and strung it up.
No sooner had he done that than another fish came flying.
The thrill of the catch was overwhelming. He couldn't help but laugh out loud, his excitement echoing along the riverbank.
One, two, three, four, five—Clara caught five fish in total, all strung together on one stalk of grass. They were so heavy Adam could barely lift them.
He shouted, "That's enough! That's enough!"
Clara tossed her stick aside and leapt out of the river, rolling down her pants. The mother and son each carried a load—one with the fish, one with the basket—and headed home with a full haul.
On the way back, they passed a ditch full of water celery and gathered a huge bundle to bring home.
(End of Chapter)
Enjoying the story? Get early access to new chapters on my Patreon: patreon.com/c/TinaWriterXD
Thank you for your support! 💛