In the state of Wei, past the grand mountains that formed its borders and beyond the rolling hillsides of its main cities, where the Taihe River flowed into dozens of smaller streams, was Anhe Village.
Founded along the banks of the southern end of the Taihe River, its people were kinder, gentler than those further north. Its fertile land provided rich bounty for those who tilled it, while the vast and untamed Cang Forest past its southern borders offered luxurious pelts and fatty game for hunt.
Within the Cang forest, one such hunt was occurring. A handsome youth currently had a hand resting on the back of a boy only a few years his junior, both crouched in the dense thicket of the wild woods.
The young boy licked his lips, his grip tightening nervously around a yew bow. The handsome youth, Shen Jintian, pointed towards a section of underbrush nearly twenty meters away before tapping his ear with a finger.
"Do you hear it?" He whispered, his voice so low that even though the young boy was right next to him, he nearly missed the words.
The boy nodded. "It sounds small." The boy whispered back, just as quietly. "Boarling, or hare."
Shen Jintian smiled approvingly, his eyes crinkling as he nodded. He then folded his hands over his head, to give him the appearance of rabbit ears. The boy's eyes twinkled with pride, and he licked his lips.
They both heard the faint rustling of underbrush again, and the boy took a steadying breath. He smoothly drew the arrow back, kissing his thumb to the corner of his mouth and letting the fletching feather tickle his nose. Shen Jintian then sucked in his lips, producing a perfect imitation of a hare's squeak.
A large set of ears immediately raised out of the brush, followed by a small head as the rabbit's ears swiveled to locate the call of its brethren it had heard. A heartbeat later, an arrow sliced through the air and skewered the hare to the earth beneath it.
The boy let out a shaky breath, then smiled as Shen Jintian ruffled his hair with a laugh.
"Nice shot, Chengcheng!" He exclaimed, and Shen Xiacheng's smile turned sheepish at the compliment.
"It is still nothing compared to you, big brother." He said, bowing his head, and Jintian chuckled as he raised his chin into the air.
"It's ten years too soon to compare yourself to me. Ahh, but you show good potential." He said, and Xiacheng rolled his eyes as he rose from his crouch and walked to where the rabbit laid.
After delicately pulling out the arrow, he stowed it away and picked up his game by the ears. Jintian took it from his hands, tying a length of twine around the paws and forming a carrying knot before handing it back to Xiacheng.
The young boy smiled happily as he took it, his chest puffing out, and Jintian ruffled his hair again. "Come on Chengcheng, let's get that and the deer back to Mother and Father for them to clean. I think you've earned yourself some rabbit stew tonight."
Xiacheng began humming to himself, skipping through the underbrush as Jintian followed behind him. "Rabbit stew~ rabbit stew~ oh how I love you, rabbit stew~."
The handsome youth shook his head as his brother sang his song the entire ten minute hike back to their horse, a broad labor beast that grazed lazily while it waited for the two of them at the edge of the forest. It flicked an ear as it heard them approach, raising its head before gently butting Jintian's shoulder with his snout.
"Yes yes, Ling'er." Jintian sighed affectionately, reaching into the saddle pouch at Ling's side to pull out a handful of berries. Patting his neck, Jintian then circled around to watch Xiacheng tie his own little rabbit to the length of rope that currently strapped the small deer Jintian had caught earlier that day to the horse.
When Xiacheng finished, he stepped aside to let Jintian inspect it. Tugging it a few times, the elder brother nodded when the knot held. After praising Xiacheng some more, the two hoisted themselves into the saddle, and began the long trot back to Anhe Village.
Eventually, the rolling plans of their surroundings began to transition into overturned earth, the sun rising high above their heads while the heat of early summer warmed their bodies. After nearly an hour of riding, when the Taihe River's sparkling water came into view, they knew they were close to home.
"… Big brother." Jintian heard his younger brother's small voice call behind him, and he realized that Xiacheng had stopped humming a while ago. Readjusting in the saddle, he turned his head to look over his shoulder.
"What is it, Chengcheng?" He asked, and he felt his brother's small hands curl into the back of his shirt.
"I… I overheard you talking with Mother and Father, the other night." He confessed hesitantly, and Jintian paused. For a few short moments of time, the only sound between them was Ling's plodding hooves against soft earth. "You're not really leaving, are you?"
Jintian turned his head to look forward, a sigh leaving him. He had wondered why Xiacheng had insisted on going hunting with him.
Not wanting to lie, he eventually nodded. "I will be. Not for another month or two, and definitely not until after the first harvest." He answered, his eyes lingering on the sparkling water of the Taihe River as they drew closer to the village. "But… I talked with Li Liuwen. His uncle is opening a store in Chenghe, and he offered to take us both on as apprentices."
Another stretch of silence lapsed between them. Finally, Jintian heard his brother sniffle, then hurriedly cover it by clearing his throat.
Smiling bitterly, he twisted his arm around and ruffled his brother's hair again. Xiacheng cried out in protest, swatting his hand away. "Silly little brother. Just because I'm moving doesn't mean I won't see you ever again. I'll still come back every year, and when you're old enough, I'll even let you come visit."
Xiacheng held the top of his head, peering up at his brother through his hair. "You promise?" He asked quietly, and Jintian nodded.
"Of course. You think any girl in Chenghe can make New Year dumplings as good as Mother can?" He retorted, and Xiacheng giggled, shaking his head. Seemingly appeased, the young boy patted the rabbit behind him, and resumed humming his rabbit stew song.
Finally, the pair plodded into the village proper, small houses built with wood and bamboo shingles arranged in two neat rows along the main road. Jintian saw the villagers going about their days with bright smiles, farming and fishing men haggling with local merchants, women walking with baskets of produce stopping to gossip amongst themselves, and white smoke curling into the air as the smell of steaming fish filled the area.
A group of giggling children paused the game they were playing to run over to Xiacheng. Jintian slowed Ling'er to a stop, and the group of kids looked up at him. "Cheng, Cheng, did you go hunting with Jin?" One of the older boys asked excitedly, staring with wide eyes at the game on the back of Ling'er.
Xiacheng's chest puffed up proudly, his chin raising into the air. "I did! And I even caught this rabbit!" He exclaimed proudly, pointing at the hare that was tied to the back of the horse. The children's mouths parted, eyes sparkling with amazement.
"Hmph." One of the boys jealously turned his nose away, crossing his arms. "My father's taking me hunting next week. I'll catch a boar, not a stupid hare."
Xiacheng sneered down at him. "It's ten years too early for you to compete with me. You won't even catch a mouse, let alone a boar."
Jintian smiled bitterly, shaking his head as his brother parroted his words. The jealous boy only rolled his eyes, before flashing a smile. "Well, we'll see. We're about to play Fox and Fowl, if you want to join. Then we can see who's really better."
Xiacheng hesitated, stealing a glance between his brother and the rabbit he'd caught. He was clearly torn between playing with his friends, and boasting to their Mother about the hare.
Jintian patted his back. "I'll tell Mother and Father all about it. But they'll still want to hear it from you. You can play with your friends." He assured, and Xiacheng flashed a grin before swinging off of Ling'er. He then slapped the back of the jealous boy.
"You're the Fox now!" He shouted, running off, and the boy yelped in shock and then began to chase after him. The rest of the kids followed behind, squealing in excitement, and Jintian smiled as he set Ling'er back into a trot.
Other members of the village smiled and nodded their greetings as Jintian passed, and he returned them all with a beaming smile of his own. He was known as a dutiful and hardworking young man, and coupled with his handsome features this led him to be viewed quite favorably among the village.
"Tian!" A voice called to his side as he passed by one of the larger houses, and he turned to see his boyhood friend, Li Liuwen, standing on the porch and waving to him. Jintian slowed his horse once again, and Li Liuwen jumped down from his porch to approach him.
Liuwen was a young man with long hair that was regularly tied into a ponytail. Coupled with his slim frame and colorful robes, he oftentimes resembled a Court Scholar. Jintian in contrast was a man who was clearly bursting with vigor, with broad shoulders and short but thick hair. One's presence was as light as a breeze, while the other's was as firm and steady as rock. They were both equally handsome, but in different ways, and together the two were known among the girls of the village as the 'Earth-Air Bachelors'.
Though if either of them ever heard themselves being referred to this way, it would cause goosebumps to appear on their arms and shivers down their spines.
"What is it, Liu?" Jintian asked once Li Liuwen finally approached, and the other smiled.
"I've come across some good fortune for us. A fur trader came through the village just earlier today, and after some haggling I was able to purchase them at a discount." Liuwen explained, before pinching his thumb and forefinger together while grinning. "They will sell for double the price in Chenghe, of that I am certain!"
Jintian grinned back and gave his friend a thumbs up. "You are a fox in a den of chickens, Liuwen. When do you want to go?"
Liuwen shrugged, smoothing out the front of his robes. "I was thinking tomorrow, but if that is too sudden then anytime next week." He then looked around, before leaning in. Jintian did the same, allowing his friend to whisper into his ear. "I must be back before the Sun Dance festival, however. I am planning on buying a gift to court Yu'er!"
Jintian pulled his head away, his eyes widening. "Your courage has grown!" He exclaimed. Liuwen had had his eye on Feng Yu since they were children, but had never courted her officially. It would seem the coming apprenticeship had given him the confidence he lacked.
Jintian thought for a few moments, before nodding. "I'll discuss with my mother and father, but tomorrow should pose no problems. Our crop has sprouted, and we have no new calves."
This made Liuwen smile, and he nodded his head back to Jintian. "Well, in that case I shall see if anyone has goods they would like sold. I'll see you tomorrow at dawn!" The two parted ways, and after exiting the village proper, Jintian eventually came upon the land his father and mother owned.
He spotted his father crouched in the field, rows upon rows of green stalks sprouting upwards around him in the early summer sun. Jintian led Ling'er to the stables, unburdening him of the saddle and the game on his back and filling his trough with grain.
Slinging the deer over his shoulders and carrying the rabbit, he joined his father in the field.
"Is something wrong, Father?" He asked, and the man seemed to finally notice his presence.
Shen Anjia was a handsome man with wrinkles around his eyes and a stern crease in his brow. His hair was long and coarse, and coupled with his imposing size, made him appear like a mountain man. However, there was a twinkle of humor in his gaze, and laugh lines around his mouth that immediately put those who talked with him at ease.
Shen Anjia glanced at Jintian. "Ah, Son. I see your hunt went well." He complimented, nodding towards the game on Jintian's shoulders. The youth smiled and proudly held up the rabbit in his hands.
"It did. And your son, Xiacheng, caught this!" He exclaimed, the pride in his voice strong enough that one might think he was the one who caught it.
Anjia's eyes shined with admiration, a wide smile growing on his face.
"Ha! Well, that is good to hear. A son must take after his father, after all." He said, before turning his attention back to the crop he was inspecting previously. He gently pushed aside the green stalk, sighing. "Here, son, take a look at this and tell me what you see."
Jintian crouched down to look at the stalk, his smile dimming to a frown. At the base of the stalk, half hidden by the earth it grew from, was a small black spot. He brushed a finger against it, and though the plant didn't appear to be dying, it was still cause for alarm.
"Do any of the other crops have it?" He asked, and Anjia shook his head.
"None that I have seen." He said, and Jintian nodded thoughtfully. They both looked between each other, before Anjia grasped it by the base and pulled it out of the earth.
With a gasp, they saw that half of the roots of the crop had turned black, and were hanging lifelessly below it. The other roots had begun to grey. Obviously the crop had had no future of survival.
Sighing, Anjia rose to his feet, and Jintian did the same. "We'll need to keep a close eye on the crops this year. We can't afford sickness to spread between them." He said gravely, and Jintian nodded. Losing a harvest to sickness was a large fear of farmers.
"Myself and Liuwen were planning on leaving for Chenghe tomorrow to sell some furs, if that's alright with you Father. I'll take it to one of the herbalists I know there, and see if they're able to identify what the cause might be." He offered, and Anjia nodded his assent.
"Your mother is in the house with Senior Kang Shanxi. He's ensuring the health of Shen Xiyun, but he should be finished by now." Anjia said, and Jintian smiled as the duo both began to make their way inside.
The Shen household was well respected among Anhe village, and they owned quite a bit more land than most of the other farmers. As such, their house was considerably large, two stories and made of a finer wood and bamboo than the ones in the village proper. As father and son entered, they immediately saw an old man with a head full of white hair and liver spots on his cheeks chatting with a beautiful woman, mature and motherly.
Held in her arms was a small bundle of cloth, and one could see a small baby's hand waving in the air as it cooed for attention.
When the two inside noticed the arrival of the men, they both turned to greet them with smiles. Shen Jintian bowed his head respectfully to Kang Shanxi, before immediately rushing over and wagging his finger in front of his sister's face.
"Yunyun, your two elder brothers are truly dragons and tigers among men. Look at what we brought!" He immediately boastfully whispered, and the baby in his mother's arms cooed excitedly as she grasped his wagging finger with her small hand. Smiling as she watched them, Shen Chunhua then noticed the game slung across her eldest son's shoulders, and gave him an affectionate scowl.
"Jintian, take those carcasses to the butcher shed and out of the house." She scolded, and he chuckled sheepishly.
"I will, Mother, I will. Ah, but look! Your son Xiacheng caught this!" He said proudly, once again displaying the rabbit. She looked at it, before snorting.
"Well of course he would. He is yours and your father's blood, after all." She said, her nose raising into the air even as her eyes crinkled deeply. Anjia approached her and kissed her cheek, taking Xiyun and lifting her up into the air. "Perhaps though, he can be spoiled a bit. It has been a few weeks since we've had rabbit stew."
Smiling broadly as his brother's good fortune was confirmed, he then bowed again toward Elder Kang Shanxi. The man had been watching the family affair with a bemused expression, rubbing his long beard thoughtfully.
"And excuse my lack of greetings, Elder. Was Shen Xiyun's health well?" Jintian asked, and Kang Shanxi waved a hand.
"It is nothing deserving of an excuse. Rest assured, young Jin, your sister is growing healthily." He said, and Jintian's smile grew. Kang Shanxi observed him for a few more moments. "You are… eighteen this year, am I right young Jin?"
Jintian nodded. "I will turn eighteen come the end of this summer, yes Elder."
Kang Shanxi hummed for a few moments. "And you have felt neither the spiritual energy of heaven or earth?" He asked, and Jintian laughed.
"And how would I feel that, Elder? If I did, I would be like the Immortals you so love in the fairytales you used to tell me." He said, his smile wide. However, unknown to him, just behind his back his father and mother's eyes flashed as they looked at Kang Shanxi, something unreadable passing between them as they shook their heads.
Kang Shanxi chuckled, shaking his head and waving a hand. "You are right. Consider it an old man's jest." He said lightly, before nodding to them all. "I must take my leave now. When young Xiacheng turns eleven, bring him to my home and I will check his health too."
With that, he flicked the sleeve of his robe and departed, humming a small song to himself as he walked to the door. Shen Chunhua lightly tapped her husband's back, and he passed their daughter back into her arms before clearing his throat.
"Ah, allow me to walk you down the path." Anjia said, and together they exited the house. Jintian noticed that his father began discussing something with Kang Shanxi in a low voice. The youth watched after them for a time, before he yelped as he felt his mother's foot connect with his bottom.
"Jintian! I said take those things out of the house!" She scolded, and he ran out of the door, fearing further reprisal. Chunhua shook her head, before sighing lightly and looking up. A certain sadness crossed her features, before a small whisper left her lips. "What you feared has not come to pass, Jinbiao. Heaven has forgotten our son, and lets him live peacefully."
Xiyun burbled in her arms, and she closed her eyes before smiling and looking down at her daughter. "Yunyun~ Your mother's going to go all out tonight for the stew!" She said, bouncing the bundle in her arms as she turned to head further into the house.