In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

At dawn, just as the sky was beginning to lighten, Xiangyang Village was still shrouded in a thin mist.

The crowing of roosters rose and fell, waking the sleeping village. There was already movement in the Yang family's courtyard.

The eldest brother, Yang Ximing, got up earlier than usual. He stood at the entrance of the main room and quickly washed himself with the cold water from the water vat in the yard.

The cool water splashed on his face, completely dispelling any lingering sleepiness. He wiped his face with his hand, feeling refreshed.

Debt-free is a feeling of freedom. He hadn't experienced this feeling in far too long.

He slept soundly last night, without even a dream until dawn. When he woke up this morning, he felt full of energy, as if the heavy weight that had been pressing on him for half a year had truly been lifted away.

Mother Feng Guifang came out of the kitchen, carrying a basket in her hand.

"Ximing, come here." She called to her eldest son.

Yang Ximing walked over. Feng Guifang handed him the basket and whispered:

"There's more than half a pound of cured pork and more than half a pound of sausage in here. Your eldest sister's in-laws and Shulan's family are really close relatives, and they've been helping us a lot these past six months."

It wouldn't look good to come empty-handed to return the money. Please give them these things; it's a small token of our appreciation.

Yang Ximing took the basket; it felt heavy in his hand, and he could smell a faint aroma of cured meat.

He hesitated for a moment: "Mother, isn't this... too much? We haven't even eaten much of what the Qin family gave us yesterday."

"It's not much." Feng Guifang waved her hand, the wrinkles on her face smoothing out. "Family ties are more precious than gifts. Our family is well-off now, we can't appear stingy. Giving a little something is only right."

She paused, then added, "Be careful what you say to your older sister's in-laws, be polite. It's not easy for your older sister in the middle."

Yang Ximing nodded: "Mother, I know. Don't worry."

Cheng Shulan came out of the house at this time, holding Miaomiao, who had just woken up, in her arms.

Hearing her mother-in-law's words, she quickly said, "Mom, my family doesn't need to bring anything. My parents will definitely be happy that I can pay back the money so quickly."

Feng Guifang smiled and said, "I'll take them all, everyone is treated equally. Shulan, you've been through a lot of worry and hardship these past six months, I know that."

Cheng Shulan's eyes reddened slightly, but she didn't refuse anymore. Her mother-in-law's thoughtfulness and respect in preparing a gift for her family warmed her heart.

Yang Ximing took the basket and checked the seventy yuan wrapped in a small handkerchief in his pocket—forty yuan for his elder sister's in-laws and thirty yuan for his father-in-law's family.

After confirming that everything was correct, he said to Feng Guifang, "Mother, I'm going now. The two families don't live far apart, so I'll go quickly and come back before breakfast."

"Hey, be careful on the road," Feng Guifang reminded her.

Yang Ximing, carrying a basket, strode out of the courtyard.

The country dirt road was deserted in the early morning, with only early birds hopping and chirping among the bare branches. The air was crisp and cool, carrying the scent of earth and withered grass.

Yang Ximing walked briskly, first heading towards the neighboring village where his eldest sister Yang Chunhong's husband's family lived.

The village where his eldest sister married was called Xiaoheyan, which was only a little over a kilometer away from Xiangyang Village, separated by a ditch that had mostly dried up. Yang Ximing followed the familiar path along the field ridges and arrived at the village entrance in about ten minutes.

The eldest sister's husband's surname is Zhao, and they live at the east end of the village. Yang Ximing has been here many times and knows the way well.

He walked to the outside of a mud-brick courtyard wall, the gate ajar. He knocked and called out, "Uncle Zhao, Aunt Zhao, are you home?"

Footsteps came from inside, and then the courtyard gate was pulled open. The person who opened the door was a woman in her forties or fifties, not very tall, with a kind face. She was Yang Chunhong's mother-in-law, Aunt Zhao.

Aunt Zhao was taken aback when she saw Yang Ximing, but then a smile spread across her face: "It's Ximing! So early? Come in, come in!"

Yang Ximing followed him into the courtyard. The courtyard wasn't large, but it was clean and tidy. Firewood was piled against the wall, and in the corner was a chicken coop where two hens were pecking at the ground.

"Chunhong, your brother is here!" Aunt Zhao called out into the house.

The curtain to the main room was lifted, and Yang Chunhong came out. Seeing her younger brother, a delighted smile spread across her face: "Ximing, what brings you here? Have you had breakfast?"

Yang Chunhong is two years older than Yang Ximing, twenty-five this year. She has a decent appearance and a gentle demeanor. She is wearing a faded blue cotton jacket, an apron tied around her waist, and her hands are still covered in cornmeal, so she is obviously making breakfast.

"Sister, we haven't eaten yet," Yang Ximing said with a smile. "I came here for something."

At this moment, Zhao Chunhong's father-in-law, Zhao Laoshuan, also came out of the house. He was a tall, thin old man with deep wrinkles on his face, and he was holding a pipe.

"Ximing's here, come inside and have a seat," Zhao Laoshuan greeted him.

The group entered the main room. The room was simply furnished with an eight-immortal table, several long benches, and a cabinet with peeling paint against the wall.

Yang Ximing didn't sit down. He took out the small handkerchief bag from his satchel, opened it, and revealed neatly folded banknotes inside.

He took out forty yuan and handed it to Zhao Laoshuan with both hands: "Uncle Zhao, this is the forty yuan I borrowed from you last autumn. Now that things are a bit better at home, I'm bringing it to you as soon as possible. We are very grateful for your help these past six months, and our whole family will always remember this kindness."

Zhao Laoshuan and Aunt Zhao were both stunned; they hadn't expected Yang Ximing to come and repay the money so early.

Zhao Laoshuan took the money, counted it, and it was indeed forty yuan.

He smiled, but said, "Look at you, what's the rush? If you're short on money, just use it for now. We're relatives, it's not like we'll miss out on six months or a year."

Aunt Zhao added, "That's right, Chunhong told us a long time ago about Guangming's situation... Sigh, the child was also deceived, it's not easy for him. We weren't in a hurry to get the money back."

Yang Chunhong looked at her younger brother with concern and inquiry in her eyes. She knew that her brother's return of the money today meant that his matter had been resolved, and it should be a good one.

Yang Ximing took out the small package again and handed it to Aunt Zhao: "Aunt Zhao, this is something my mother asked me to bring. It's a little bit of cured meat, please don't mind."

Aunt Zhao took the package; it felt heavy in her hands, and she could smell the cured meat even through the wrapping. She quickly declined, saying, "This won't do! You've already paid back the money, why bring anything else! These days, meat is so precious, you should keep it for yourselves!"

"Please accept this," Yang Ximing said sincerely. "Thanks to your help, this is just a small token of our family's appreciation. If you don't accept it, I won't be able to explain it to you when you go back."

Zhao Chunhong also advised, "Mother, since you've brought these things, please accept them; it's a token of your goodwill."

Aunt Zhao accepted the gift with embarrassment, thanking her repeatedly.

Old Zhao tapped his pipe on the sole of his shoe and asked, "Ximing, is your family's Guangming matter... settled? Did you really get the money back?"

Yang Ximing smiled and nodded: "It's settled, Uncle Zhao. The money is back, three hundred yuan, not a penny less."

Then, he briefly recounted how Yang Guangming reported the case, how the police investigated, how Qin Shengli confessed, and how his father repaid the money and provided additional compensation. Of course, he only mentioned the compensation amount as two hundred.

Old Zhao and Aunt Zhao nodded repeatedly, marveling at what they heard.

"Guangming is a brave boy!" Zhao Laoshuan praised. "To think of going to the police station and get things done is no small feat!"

"Yes, I never would have guessed before," Aunt Zhao said. "Now that's great, you've got the money back and received compensation. Your family has finally gotten through this difficult time. Your parents can finally breathe a sigh of relief."

Yang Chunhong listened, her eyes slightly reddening.

As the eldest sister, she loves her younger brother the most and knows how much pressure her parents have been under over the past six months. Now that things have been resolved satisfactorily, she is happier than anyone else.

"Ximing, go back and tell your parents that I'll go back to my parents' home to visit them in a few days after this busy period," Yang Chunhong said softly.

“Okay, sister.” Yang Ximing nodded. “Then I won’t stay any longer. I still need to go to Shulan’s parents’ house.”

"Eat here, breakfast will be ready soon," Aunt Zhao urged.

"No, no, maybe next time," Yang Ximing waved his hand. "My family is waiting for me."

After exchanging a few more polite words, Yang Ximing took his leave. Zhao Laoshuan and Aunt Zhao escorted him all the way to the gate of the courtyard, their attitude even more enthusiastic than when he arrived.

Leaving Xiaheyan Village, Yang Ximing felt more at ease. He had repaid the money, given the gift, and put his mind at ease. The relationship between relatives had not been damaged by the loan; on the contrary, it seemed to have become even closer.

Next, we'll go to my father-in-law's house, Chengjiazhuang.

Chengjiazhuang was in another direction, about two miles from Xiangyang Village. Yang Ximing quickened his pace and walked along the path between the fields.

In less than twenty minutes, he arrived at the entrance of Chengjiazhuang Village. Chengjiazhuang is smaller than Xiangyang Village, and the houses are more densely packed.

Cheng Shulan's family home was in the middle of the village. Yang Ximing walked to the outside of a courtyard with a low wall. The gate was open, and he could see an old man chopping firewood inside.

The old man was around fifty years old, with gray hair, a thin but vigorous build; he was Cheng Shulan's father, Old Man Cheng.

"Father!" Yang Ximing called out from the doorway.

Old Cheng looked up, saw it was his son-in-law, put down the axe in his hand, and smiled: "Ximing's here? Come in quickly!"

Yang Ximing walked into the courtyard. Old Cheng's wife, Aunt Cheng, also came out of the house, carrying a winnowing basket and picking up beans.

"Why are you up so early, Ximing? Have you eaten yet?" Aunt Cheng asked.

"Not yet, Mother," Yang Ximing said. "I've come to return the money and deliver some things."

As he spoke, he took out the thirty yuan and handed it to Old Man Cheng: "Dad, this is the thirty yuan I got from you last autumn. The family has recovered now, so I brought it to you as soon as possible."

Old Cheng took the money, didn't count it, and stuffed it directly into his pocket, laughing, "You silly child, running so fast. Is your family really doing well now? About Guangming's matter..."

Yang Ximing recounted the whole story again. Old Man Cheng and Aunt Cheng were both surprised and delighted after hearing it.

"Good, good! It's good that he's back!" Old Man Cheng said repeatedly. "Guangming has really grown up after this experience. He'll definitely amount to something in the future."

Aunt Cheng was more concerned about her daughter: "Are Shulan and Miaomiao doing well? With so much money and stuff suddenly added to the family, we need to plan carefully. We still have a long way to go."

"Everything is fine, Mother, don't worry," Yang Ximing said. "Shulan is so virtuous, she's good at everything, inside and out. Miaomiao is also doing well, she drank milk powder yesterday and was so happy."

He took out the basket containing the sausages and handed it to Aunt Cheng: "This is what my mother asked me to bring to you two. It's a little bit of preserved meat, please try it."

Aunt Cheng quickly declined, saying, "How can that be! It's enough to return the money; we can't accept the food! You can keep it for yourselves!"

"Please accept it," Yang Ximing insisted. "My mother specifically asked me to. We've been so grateful for your help these past six months, and we'll always remember it."

Old Man Cheng chimed in, "Alright, old woman, it's your mother-in-law's kind gesture, just accept it. If we need anything in the future, we'll send some to them too, so it'll be reciprocal."

Aunt Cheng then accepted the gift, repeatedly expressing her gratitude.

After chatting for a while, Yang Ximing, wanting to go home for dinner, got up to say goodbye. Old Man Cheng and his wife saw him to the door and told him to be careful on the way.

Walking back to the village, Yang Ximing felt his steps becoming lighter and lighter. Both debts were paid off, and the last bit of burden in his heart was lifted.

The sun shone on him, and although the early spring wind was still cold, his heart was warm.

When we returned to Xiangyang Village, the sun was already high in the sky, and wisps of smoke were rising from the village chimneys, indicating it was time to prepare breakfast.

Yang Ximing walked into his yard, where Feng Guifang was washing rice at the kitchen door. Seeing him return, she quickly asked, "How did it go? Did you return everything?"

"We've returned it," Yang Ximing said with a smile. "Both families are quite happy, and we've accepted the gifts. My elder sister's mother-in-law and my father-in-law both asked about Guangming's situation. When they heard that the money was returned and we received compensation, they were all happy for us."

Feng Guifang breathed a sigh of relief, a relieved smile spreading across her face: "It's good that it's returned, it's good that it's returned. The weight on my heart has finally been lifted."

At this moment, Yang Guangming and Yang Yuming also got up and were washing up in the courtyard. Yang Xiuyuan sat on the threshold of the main room, puffing on his pipe, his expression much more peaceful than usual.

Yang Qiuhong had already gone to school, and Cheng Shulan was busy tending the fire in the kitchen.

The whole family was gathered and ready to have breakfast.

Breakfast was eaten in the main room. Six people sat around an old square table.

Miaomiao was held in Cheng Shulan's arms, her little hand clutching a piece of milk candy, which she was licking with relish—this was something Feng Guifang had specially given to her granddaughter that morning. The child had drunk milk powder yesterday, and now she had candy, making her so happy that she danced with joy.

The breakfast on the table was noticeably different from usual.

At this time of year, breakfast at home usually consisted of a large pot of wild vegetable porridge. Crushed rice husks were mixed with dried wild vegetables or dried vegetables and simmered into a thick porridge. It was filling, but the taste was bitter and rough on the throat.

Today, corn porridge is cooking in the pot.

Although the porridge was still quite thin, enough to reflect a person's image, it was made with pure cornmeal, without any chaff or wild vegetables. The golden porridge simmered in the pot, emitting the unique, subtle aroma of grains.

Besides the porridge, there was also a small dish of homemade pickled vegetables, shredded and drizzled with vinegar.

Such a breakfast would not be much in normal years, but in early March, when food was scarce, and for the Yang family who had just experienced six months of hardship, it was considered quite a feast.

Feng Guifang served everyone a large bowl of corn porridge. The porridge was very hot, steaming.

"Eat it while it's hot," Feng Guifang said as she sat down. "There are no wild vegetables in the porridge today, so try it."

Yang Yuming couldn't wait any longer. He picked up the bowl and slurped a mouthful along the rim. The warm porridge slid into his mouth, and the sweet aroma of corn melted on his tongue. Although it was light, it was a world of difference compared to the bitter wild vegetable porridge he used to eat.

"Delicious!" Yang Yuming mumbled a praise, then picked up another piece of pickled vegetable strip with his chopsticks and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing it with great relish.

Yang Ximing slowly sipped his porridge, savoring the purest flavor of the grain. For the past six months, his family had been saving every grain they could to pay off debts, and they hadn't had such a simple corn porridge in a long time.

Yang Guangming ate his porridge quietly. The porridge tasted ordinary, but he could feel a long-lost peace and tranquility in it.

This kind of life, where the family sits together, eating simple food, free from debt and gossip, is exactly what he wants right now.

Yang Xiuyuan drank a few mouthfuls of porridge, put down the bowl, and looked at Yang Guangming: "Guangming, what are your plans for today?"

Yang Guangming swallowed the porridge in his mouth and said, "Dad, I need to get to the city before 3 p.m. this afternoon to meet with Qin Shengli's father and collect the remaining 300 yuan in compensation. I won't go to work this morning."

Feng Guifang asked with concern, "Since you're going to get to the city before 3 p.m., why not have lunch before you leave? You should have enough time."

"Okay, let's go eat lunch." Yang Guangming nodded. "I plan to go into the mountains this morning and see if I can catch a rabbit."

He paused for a moment and explained, "In the past six months, I've been going to the city and I've troubled Jianjun quite a bit—that is, He Jianjun, the classmate of mine who works as a waiter at the guesthouse. I've relied on him to help me with my accommodations."

I left in a hurry yesterday and didn't have a chance to properly thank him. If I could catch a wild rabbit and bring it to him, that would be a small token of my appreciation.

Upon hearing this, Feng Guifang nodded and said, "We should thank them. They helped us, so we can't be rude."

She added, "Be careful going into the mountains, don't go too deep. These past two years, everyone has been going into the mountains to find food, and the rabbits have become clever and hard to catch. It would be great if you could catch one, but don't force it if you can't. There's still some braised beef at home, I'll take it all with you, it'll be the same."

“I know, Mother,” Yang Guangming replied. “I’ll just wander around the perimeter; I won’t go in.”

When Yang Yuming heard that his second brother was going into the mountains to catch rabbits, his eyes lit up: "Second brother, shall I go with you? I have good eyesight and I'm strong, maybe I can help!"

Yang Guangming shook his head: "No need, you have to go to work this morning. I'll just wander around by myself and try my luck."

Yang Yuming was somewhat disappointed, but he didn't insist any further. He was a strong laborer who needed to earn full work points every day, so he couldn't just take leave casually.

Breakfast was eaten in a quiet and satisfying atmosphere. The corn porridge warmed my stomach and gave me energy.

After finishing their meal, Yang Xiuyuan, Yang Ximing, and Yang Yuming tidied up and prepared to go to work at the team. Feng Guifang and Cheng Shulan were also going to participate in the women's team's work.

Yang Guangming went back inside to change into older clothes, found some sturdy hemp ropes, and picked up the rattan basket he had bought yesterday, which was just the right amount of material to carry any potential harvest.

Once he was ready, he walked out of the courtyard, said goodbye to his family who were going to work, and then headed towards the western hills behind the village.

To the west of Xiangyang Village lies a range of rolling hills, which locals collectively refer to as Xishan (West Mountain). The mountains are not high, but they are densely covered with vegetation, and in the past, small animals such as wild rabbits and pheasants often roamed there.

The past two years have been plagued by famine, and the villagers, driven by hunger, often ventured into the mountains in groups to dig for wild vegetables and roots, hoping to catch some wild game for a treat. As more people went, the number of animals outside the mountains dwindled, and they became increasingly wary. Yang Ming walked slowly along the mountain path. In early March, the mountains and forests were still a desolate, withered landscape. The deciduous trees were bare, with only a few pines and cypresses retaining a touch of green. A thick layer of withered grass covered the ground, rustling underfoot.

He walked slowly, seemingly looking around casually, but in reality, his consciousness had sunk into his mind, quietly releasing an invisible detection range with a radius of four meters.

This is a new ability he gained from the refrigerator space after transmigrating through four lifetimes. Within a spherical area with a four-meter radius centered on himself, all scenes are clearly projected into his mind, ignoring obstacles such as trees and rocks.

It was a strange feeling. All I could see was a winding path and withered grass and trees ahead.

What consciousness "sees" is a three-dimensional scene with no blind spots: an ant nest at the base of an old pine tree three meters away on the left, a beetle under a rock two and a half meters away on the right, and a small pit covered with dead leaves on the ground behind...

He was like a moving precision scanner, slowly advancing forward.

After walking for about half an hour, we had entered a relatively deep part of the forest. Fewer people usually come here, and the vegetation is much denser.

Yang Guangming walked lightly, carefully sensing his surroundings.

Suddenly, he stopped.

Within his detection range, about three and a half meters to the left, beneath a thick clump of withered grass, lay a hidden entrance. The entrance was small, concealed by grass roots and fallen leaves, making it difficult to spot with the naked eye.

But Yang Guangming's consciousness "saw" it very clearly. The entrance to the cave extended downwards, leading to a small burrow. Inside the burrow, two grayish-brown rabbits, one large and one small, were curled up quietly.

found it.

Yang Guangming's heart stirred, but his face remained impassive. He slowly approached the clump of withered grass and stopped about two meters from the cave entrance.

Rabbits are very alert and will run away at the slightest noise. Especially those that hide in burrows, once startled, will dart out through other exits, making them very difficult to catch.

Yang Guangming did not act rashly. He stood quietly, his focus locked on the two rabbits in the burrow, while simultaneously expanding his search area to look for other possible exits.

Soon, he discovered another, more concealed cave entrance about a meter behind the cave, which was also covered by withered grass.

A typical rabbit hole has two exits, one in the front and one in the back.

After a moment's thought, Yang Guangming had an idea. He didn't need to set a trap or ambush them like most people would. With a slight thought, he focused his attention on a rabbit inside the burrow.

The refrigerator's storage space isn't limited to inanimate objects; it also accommodates small living creatures. As long as the refrigerator has enough space, it can store them. Rabbits are small enough to be easily stored.

He first targeted the larger rabbit, and then gently "grabbed" it with his mind.

Inside the cave, the large rabbit that was dozing suddenly vanished into thin air!
Almost at the same time, in the refrigerator space in Yang Guangming's mind, an empty space in the refrigerated section appeared, with a gray-brown wild rabbit.

The refrigerator space was just a transit point; the rabbit inside was then transferred to the basket.

The rabbit scurried around in a panic in the basket, but Yang Guangming ignored it for the time being.

He did the same thing again, locking his attention onto the little rabbit and "collecting" it once more.

The little rabbit also disappeared from the burrow and eventually appeared in his basket.

The entire process was completely silent, without disturbing any other animals. The two entrances to the cave remained quiet, as if nothing had happened.

Yang Guangming's lips curled into a slight smile. This hunting method was practically cheating. He was glad he had this cheat code; this ability was already part of him, and he was simply using it appropriately.

He took out a rope and tied the two rabbits together. Live rabbits could be kept for a longer period of time, but if they were killed now, they would not last long.

Keep going.

Over the next hour, Yang Guangming discovered three more rabbit holes in the forest.

Two of the burrows were empty, indicating the rabbits had likely gone out to forage. In the other burrow, there was a rabbit, which he also collected directly with his mind and placed in his basket.

Now, there are three rabbits in the basket, two big and one small.

Around noon, the sunlight shifted to a sunny hillside. There were some low shrubs and thick layers of withered grass.

When his search swept over the roots of a bush, he discovered something unusual again.

It was a relatively large burrow, and there was more than one rabbit inside. Upon closer inspection, there were actually three adult rabbits and two baby rabbits! The baby rabbits were only the size of a palm, fluffy, and nestled close to their mother.

A litter of rabbits, and they look like a family.

Yang Guangming was delighted. He didn't approach, but stood within a four-meter radius, his consciousness scanning the five rabbits in turn.

Thoughts moved slightly.

An adult rabbit disappeared.

Another adult rabbit has disappeared.

The third adult rabbit disappeared.

The two little rabbits disappeared one after the other.

In just a few breaths, all five rabbits in the burrow were put into the basket. The burrow was suddenly empty, with only some dry grass and rabbit fur left.

There are now eight rabbits in the basket: five big ones and three small ones, all of which he has tied up separately.

A very good haul. Eight rabbits, enough to give away, and enough for our own enjoyment.

Yang Guangming glanced at the sky; it was already noon. He stopped searching and turned to descend the mountain along the path he had come from.

As soon as I entered the village, I encountered several old men squatting against the wall, basking in the sun. Among them was the third uncle I had greeted yesterday.

When the old man saw Guangming returning with a heavy-looking basket on his back, he asked curiously, "Guangming, you're back from the mountains? What are you carrying? It's so heavy."

Yang Guangming stopped and laughed, "Third Uncle, I went into the mountains for a stroll and got lucky, I caught a few rabbits."

Xiangyang Village is located at the foot of the mountain. Villagers often go into the mountains to hunt small animals. The catch can be kept by the villagers themselves, and the village committee does not impose restrictions or require them to hand it over to the public.

However, some village officials are quite dogmatic; any game caught in the mountains must be handed over to the authorities, and private hiding is not allowed.

It was precisely because of the village's lax management that Yang Guangming dared to openly tell everyone that he had caught a wild rabbit and that he didn't have to worry about having to hand it over to the authorities.

"A rabbit?" The third old man's eyes lit up, and the other old men also gathered around.

Yang Guangming put down the basket and lifted a corner of the lid. The grayish-brown rabbits huddled together inside were revealed, still moving.

"Wow! Rabbits! Quite a few!" an old man exclaimed. "Five big ones and three small ones, eight in total! Guangming, you've got some good luck!"

"The rabbits have become very clever these past two years, and they're quite difficult to catch. You've caught six this morning, that's quite an achievement!" another old man said.

The old man looked closely and clicked his tongue: "This big one is probably pregnant. Guangming, did you raid a rabbit's burrow?"

Yang Guangming smiled and said, "It was a coincidence that we found a nest on a hillside."

Several old men surrounded the basket on his back, discussing it animatedly, their eyes filled with envy. These days, meat was a rare commodity, and wild rabbits were even rarer. Eight rabbits could be exchanged for a good amount of grain, or enough for their own consumption, or at least a satisfying treat.

Yang Guangming chatted with a few old men for a few minutes, then picked up his basket again and headed home.

Along the way, they encountered several more villagers. Seeing the rabbit in his basket, they all asked questions in surprise. Yang Guangming answered them simply and naturally.

The news spread like wildfire throughout the village: Yang Ming, the second son of the Yang family, not only got back the money he was cheated out of in the city and received compensation, but also caught eight wild rabbits this morning when he went into the mountains!
Those who used to call him a "fool" or a "good-for-nothing" behind his back have now fallen silent. Instead, they feel envy, surprise, and even a touch of awe because Yang Guangming dared to report him to the authorities.

This young man, who used to seem like he was wasting his time, seems to have really changed.

When Yang Guangming returned home, Feng Guifang was hanging clothes to dry in the yard. Seeing him return with a heavy basket on his back, she quickly came to greet him.

"You're back? You must be tired. Put this down and rest." Feng Guifang said, looking at the basket on her back. "Did you catch it?"

Yang Guangming put down his basket and opened the lid: "Got them, eight in total, five big and three small."

When Feng Guifang saw the rabbits huddled together, she was both surprised and delighted: "So many! You're such a lucky child!"

At this moment, Yang Xiuyuan, Yang Ximing, and Yang Yuming also returned from work.

The family gathered around the basket and were overjoyed to see the rabbit inside.

Yang Yuming was the most excited. He squatted down beside the basket, reached out and touched the fur of a large rabbit, and exclaimed in amazement, "Second Brother, you're amazing! Rabbits are so hard to catch these days, and you've brought back eight this morning! How did you catch them? Tell me quickly!"

Yang Guangming laughed and said, "It's just good luck. When luck comes, you can catch a rabbit just by walking around."

He spoke casually, but his family knew that catching rabbits was no easy feat. In the past two years, some villagers had gone into the mountains to try their luck, but nine times out of ten they returned empty-handed.

Yang Ximing patted his second brother on the shoulder: "Guangming, you've had a lucky streak lately, everything you do is going well."

Yang Xiuyuan looked at the rabbits in the basket on his back and a rare smile appeared on his face: "Not bad. Slaughter the big ones slowly, and raise the small ones for as long as possible."

Feng Guifang had already started making plans: "We'll send two of the larger ones to Jianjun, and keep the remaining three for ourselves. We'll raise the smaller ones first and see if they can survive."

She looked at Yang Guangming: "Guangming, aren't you going to town this afternoon? Take two big ones with you and give them to Jianjun. He's helped us so much, we should thank him properly."

“That’s what I think too.” Yang Guangming nodded. “We’ll listen to Mother and take the two big ones.”

Cheng Shulan chimed in, "Rabbits are easy to raise; just give them some grass. Once they're grown up, they can eat more meat."

Miao Miao, led by her mother, looked curiously at the rabbit moving in the basket and reached out her little hand to touch it, but Cheng Shulan gently pulled her back: "Miao Miao, be good, rabbits bite."

The family chatted happily around the rabbit for a while before Feng Guifang remembered it was time for lunch.

"Stop crowding around, wash your hands and eat," Feng Guifang called out. "Guangming is going into the city this afternoon, so eat early."

It's not yet the busy farming season, so lunch is the same as breakfast, with corn porridge as the main dish, but it's a bit thicker.

The family sat around the table for dinner, and the conversation naturally revolved around rabbits. Yang Yuming pressed for details about catching rabbits, and Yang Yuming told him only what he could, making Yang Yuming eager to go into the mountains with his second brother that afternoon.

At the dinner table, Yang Guangming explained his plans for the afternoon.

"Dad, Mom, I have to go into town after I finish eating. I've arranged to meet Qin Shengli's father at the guesthouse at three o'clock this afternoon. The case still needs to be finalized. I might have to stay in town for another two days."

Feng Guifang was a little worried: "You still want to stay? Wasn't everything resolved? We've already received the money..."

“Mom, we’ve taken the money, but the case procedures aren’t finished yet.” Yang Guangming explained patiently, “We went today to help him complete the procedures for withdrawing the case. Once they’re done, this matter will be completely resolved, and we’ll have no further involvement. It should only take two or three days.”

Yang Xiuyuan hummed in agreement and said to his wife, "It's good to let the children handle it smoothly."

Although the case could be closed this afternoon, Yang Guangming used this as an excuse to buy himself two more days of free time.

After finishing his meal, Yang Guangming rested for a while before preparing to enter the city.

Feng Guifang picked out the two largest rabbits from her basket, then lined the bottom with some dry grass before putting the rabbits inside. The two rabbits weighed a total of eight or nine pounds, and they squeezed together in the basket, occasionally shifting their position.

Besides the rabbit, Feng Guifang also wanted Yang Guangming to bring some braised beef, but Yang Guangming stopped her.

"Mom, two rabbits are enough. Let's keep the beef at home," Yang Guangming said. "Jianjun works at the guesthouse, so he's not short of food. Rabbits are wild game, so they're more precious."

Feng Guifang thought about it and agreed, so she didn't insist anymore. She slipped Yang Guangming another five yuan: "Buy whatever you need, don't be stingy. Come back early after you've finished your business with Qin Shengli's father."

"Okay, Mother." Yang Guangming took the money and put it in his pocket.

He carried a basket with two rabbits on his back, said goodbye to his family, and went out.

The afternoon sun was shining brightly, its warmth comforting him. Yang Guangming walked steadily along the dirt road towards the county town.

The rabbit on his back twitched occasionally, a reminder of the purpose of his trip. Besides retrieving the remaining compensation, the most important thing was to maintain his precious friendship with He Jianjun. In this day and age, true friendship is more valuable than gold.

The journey of over twenty li (approximately 10 kilometers) took less than two hours. Around 2:30 PM, Yang Guangming returned to the Pingyang County Guesthouse.

The lobby of the guesthouse remained quiet. He Jianjun was organizing the registration book behind the counter when he heard footsteps and looked up.

Upon seeing Yang Guangming, He Jianjun immediately smiled and exclaimed, "Guangming! What brings you here?"

Yang Guangming walked to the front of the stage, put down his basket, and said with a smile, "I had an appointment to meet someone this afternoon, so I thought I'd drop by to see you."

He Jianjun came out from behind the table and asked with concern, "Any progress in the case? You said yesterday that you got the money back, what's the follow-up? That bastard Qin Shengli..."

His words came to an abrupt halt as he saw the basket beside Yang Guangming's feet, and the two grayish-brown rabbits wriggling inside.

“This…this is…” He Jianjun’s eyes widened.

Yang Guangming pushed the basket forward: "Jianjun, I've troubled you a lot these past six months, you've even helped me with accommodations. I've been wanting to thank you, but I don't have anything special to offer. This morning I went into the mountains and got lucky, I caught two rabbits. I brought them to you, so you can have a taste."

He Jianjun quickly waved his hand: "How can that be! Rabbits are so precious, you should keep them for your own family! We're classmates, it's only right to help each other out, no need for thanks!"

His refusal was sincere. In those days, meat was a rare commodity, and wild rabbits were even rarer. Two large rabbits could be exchanged for a considerable amount of food stamps.

Yang Guangming insisted, "Jianjun, please accept it. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't even have a place to stay in the city. I'll always remember this kindness. Two rabbits are nothing, just a small token of my appreciation. If you don't accept them, you're disrespecting your old classmate."

He spoke sincerely, and He Jianjun felt embarrassed to refuse again. He looked at the plump rabbit in the basket, swallowed, and finally nodded.

"Well... then I'll shamelessly accept it." He Jianjun smiled somewhat embarrassedly. "To be honest, I haven't had any meat for almost half a year. This rabbit... is really fat."

Yang Guangming smiled and said, "Just accept it. There's no need to be polite between us."

He Jianjun carried the basket behind the counter, carefully placed it down, and covered it with a cloth. Then he poured Yang Guangming a cup of hot water, and the two chatted quietly by the counter.

“Guangming, after you left yesterday, I thought about it again and I still think that your method of reporting the case to the police was absolutely right,” He Jianjun said with emotion. “In the past, when we encountered problems, we always thought of resolving them privately, afraid of going to the authorities. I never expected that the police station would be so effective.”

Yang Guangming took a sip of water and said, "Actually, it's nothing. We haven't done anything wrong, so it's the right thing to go to the government when we encounter illegal activities. The police officers are just doing their job according to the law."

"That's right, that's right." He Jianjun nodded. "But speaking of which, did Qin Shengli's father cause you any more trouble afterward? I heard that his cousin, who drives for the county government, seems to have some connections..."

Yang Guangming smiled faintly: "I did look for him. Yesterday afternoon, Qin Dewang and his cousin Liu Zhiguo caught up with me, wanting me to change my statement or drop the case."

"Huh?" He Jianjun tensed up. "Then you..."

“I did not agree to change my statement,” Yang Guangming said calmly. “But I agree to drop the case, provided they show sufficient sincerity.”

He briefly explained that Qin Dewang was willing to pay an extra 500 yuan in compensation—there was no need to keep this from He Jianjun, since he wouldn't be in contact with the villagers.

They also said they came this afternoon to collect the remaining compensation and then go to the police station to settle the case.

He Jianjun was stunned. He hadn't expected things to have such a turn of events.

“Five hundred yuan in compensation…” he murmured. “The Qin family has really suffered a huge loss this time. But they deserve it, who told their son to do such a despicable thing.”

He looked at Yang Guangming with admiration in his eyes: "Guangming, you really are... different from before. You handle things with reason and evidence, with both soft and hard approaches. If I were Qin Dewang, I would have to admit defeat."

Yang Guangming smiled modestly: "I was forced into it. My family was in debt, and my parents couldn't hold their heads up high. I had to stand up for myself."

The two chatted for a while longer. He Jianjun recounted some interesting stories from the guesthouse, and Yang Guangming shared some information about the village. (End of Chapter)