PCJ – Chapter 148 Different

“It’s really a big grey wolf.” Zhang Youping grabbed one of the wolf’s legs and pulled hard, extracting the stiff carcass from the snow.

Wolves look very similar to dogs, but wolves have a more wild and fierce demeanor. Even when stiff, it still exudes a terrifying aura.

“How did this wolf die here?” Liu Qiaoye was puzzled, inspecting the wolf’s body but finding no visible wounds.

“Could it have starved to death?” Ma Donghua guessed.

“Impossible. This big grey wolf, although lean, wasn’t at the point of starvation. It looks like one of the stronger wolves, probably one of the leaders brought out to scavenge for food. How could it be a weak one?” Zhang Manyin shook his head, squatting down to examine the wolf’s sharp claws.

“Then how did it die here?” Ma Donghua asked, confused. Liu Qiaoye and Zhang Youping were also puzzled. Zhang Jiaohua ignored the adults’ speculations, focusing on pulling some long hairs from the wolf’s tail.

“Jiaohua, why are you pulling the wolf’s fur?” Zhang Manyin asked when he noticed Zhang Jiaohua’s actions.

“I’m going to make a wolf hair brush,” Zhang Jiaohua replied, continuing to pull.

“Jiaohua, you might not know this, but wolf hair brushes are actually made from weasel tail hair, not wolf tail hair,” Zhang Youping said with a smile.

“How do you know?” Zhang Jiaohua asked, scratching his head.

“I saw it on TV,” Zhang Youping said, patting his son’s shoulder.

“But the brush I need is different. I need it for making talismans, so the hair needs to be very spiritual. This wolf tail hair is perfect,” Zhang Jiaohua said, recalling how his Taoist master had mentioned that his talisman brush was made from the tail hair of a lead wolf, which greatly increased the success rate of drawing talismans.

“Do you need help?” Zhang Youping asked.

“No, I’ve got it,” Zhang Jiaohua said, holding the wolf hair tightly. Ma Donghua quickly ran into the house to get an elastic band to bundle the wolf hair.

“Jiaohua, check if the house protection talisman worked last night,” Zhang Manyin urged.

Zhang Jiaohua went into the main room of the old house and found the house protection talisman under the incense burner. Sure enough, the talisman had been activated once, and its spiritual energy had diminished by two-thirds.

“How is it?” Zhang Manyin asked, following him in.

“It worked,” Zhang Jiaohua nodded. “I’ll need to replace it with a new talisman later. This one has lost much of its effectiveness.”

“Last night, seven or eight wolves entered the courtyard. When they saw us in the house, they immediately attacked the door. We were terrified. I was ready to fight them with a steel fork, but they left suddenly… I knew the house protection talisman must have worked,” Zhang Manyin said, glancing at the dead wolf outside.

“Second son, you should go check on your brother’s house to see if they’re alright. Jiaohua, come sit and take off your shoes to warm up by the fire. Your grandma will bring you some snacks,” Ma Donghua said, now worried about her eldest son’s family.

Zhang Youping and Zhang Manyin hurried to Zhang Youlian’s house, carrying a pole and a steel fork.

Ma Donghua brought out an enamel tray filled with sunflower seeds, peanuts, wrapped candies, and biscuits—children’s favorite treats.

“Mom, these are New Year’s treats. Don’t give them to the children now,” Liu Qiaoye protested, knowing that the elderly couple had saved up these treats for entertaining guests during the New Year.

“It’s fine. We can go to the market again and sell a few chickens. Thanks to Jiaohua’s house protection talisman, all the chickens, ducks, and pigs are safe. Otherwise, the consequences would have been dire,” Ma Donghua said, still shaken by the thought.

“Mom, you’ll spoil Jiaohua like this,” Liu Qiaoye said, though Zhang Jiaohua, tempted by the treats, didn’t dare to grab any without permission.

“Qiaoye, he’s my grandson. How can I not spoil him? Say something, otherwise, Jiaohua won’t dare eat,” Ma Donghua said, understanding the situation.

“Alright, alright. Jiaohua, take a little. Otherwise, your grandma will worry,” Liu Qiaoye relented.

“Qiaoye, your father has his ways. In the past, he might not have always been fair, but he loves both grandsons equally. Yuanbao was mostly raised by your father and me, so we’re closer to him. But with Jiaohua, you and your husband took care of him more, so your father didn’t get to know him as well. It might seem like he favors Yuanbao, but he loves Jiaohua just as much,” Ma Donghua explained, taking the opportunity to clear up old misunderstandings.

“Mom, it’s the New Year. Let’s not dwell on the past. I was young and didn’t understand much. Now I do. Don’t hold any grudges. We’re family, after all,” Liu Qiaoye said understandingly, ready to let go of past grievances.

“I always said Qiaoye is a reasonable daughter-in-law. Xiaoqing isn’t as understanding as you,” Ma Donghua laughed.

“Mom, please don’t say that,” Liu Qiaoye cautioned, worried her sister-in-law might overhear and cause a scene.

Zhang Jiaohua ate heartily, enjoying his favorite treats. After a long night, he was indeed hungry.

Zhang Manyin and Zhang Youping arrived at Zhang Youlian’s house, armed with a pole and a steel fork.

“Brother! Are you alright?” Zhang Youping called out by the window.

“We’re fine, we’re fine. Youping, why are you out so early? What if you ran into the wolves?” Zhang Youlian opened the door.

“Youping was worried the wolves might have harmed us, so he came with Jiaohua and Qiaoye to check on us. Now that I know you’re safe, I’m relieved,” Zhang Manyin said, feeling dissatisfied with Zhang Youlian’s lack of concern compared to his second son.

“Father, I wanted to check on you and mother too, but I was worried about the wolves hiding somewhere. What if they attacked me when I went out?” Zhang Youlian said, feeling wronged.