Mu Chen left her alone while she made her purchases at the cloth merchant and went to the jeweler.
"Ah, Hunter Mu. How can we be of service?"
Mu Chen took out a large bone and handed it to the jeweler. "This is a bone from a white tiger. I need you to make it into jewelry for my bride. Hair pins designed to look like clouds. A hair comb set with blue gems. A tiger carved pendant. Then make a carved bone box to hold them." He placed the silver on the table to pay for the work. "I need them done before the end of the day. We are holding the banquet in a few days and this is a betrothal gift."
The jeweler nodded then quickly went to the back room to get started. Mu Chen left to go meet Lin Rou. She had purchased what she needed and had waited for him at the fountain. She was watching the children play. "Rou'er, are you alright? You should have waited at the merchant for me."
Lin Rou smiled softly and accepted his arm. "I am alright. I had a kind lady help me to the fountain. The cloth merchant is going to lend us his cart to transport our things back home." Mu Chen lifted her up again and took her to the butcher. He paid for the pork and beef to be used at the banquet and enough meat to last a few weeks after. Then he took her to a farmer, he bought her chicks and ducklings to raise as well as two pigs , two goats and two sheep. He then bought a cart and two cows. "We don't have any farm animals at home, I plan to build pens for them so you can have fresh milk and eggs every day." Lin Rou didn't question him and only smiled in gratitude. "Your so good to me." Mu Chen lead the cart full of their purchases back to his home and he put her in the main room before he began to work on the pens. First he built the pen for the chickens and ducks. A small pond was in the corner of the pen for the ducks to use. He built a shed for the animals to lay their eggs when they grew. Next was the goats and sheep. Then he built a cowshed and put the cart beside it. He went back inside to help Lin Rou. She was still sitting where he placed her. Only now she was working on their wedding clothes.
"After the banquet, I will set up a plot of land for you to grow vegetables, I don't want you going up the mountain to dig for them." She looked up from her work. "Alright, I'll listen to you. I am fearful every time I look at the mountain. I'm afraid that whatever chased me is still up there." She voiced her fears so he would know that his little wife would obey his commands. Mu Chen pulled her close. "Don't be afraid Rou'er. I won't let anything hurt you."
Lin Rou let him comfort her. His strength made her feel better. They sat together in his house as she worked on their wedding clothes and he on more arrows for his bow.
For dinner they had a simple meal of egg noodles with minced pork and green onions. Then Mu Chen helped Lin Rou back to the room to sleep. Once she was resting soundly, he picked up his bow and quiver. He knew exactly where to go to find her a companion for when he leaves to hunt.
The backside of the mountain was where all the predators liked to live so he would go there to find a tiger cub and a wolf puppy for his bride. He had rescued a tiger once and she would help him sometimes with his Hunts. With this in mind, he went to the spot where he usually meets up with the tiger. Sure enough, she was waiting for him on the tree stump surrounded by three young cubs. A fourth was hiding under the stump.
"Hello my friend, I have good news for you. The girl we found will live. She is called Lin Rou and she decided to marry me. I will finally have a family like you do. Right now I need to send her gifts she will like. I had some bone jewelry made from the tiger we killed last year. Next is some friends." The tiger looked at Mu Chen and then picked up the cub that was hiding. His snow white fur stood out in the dark. She slowly placed the cub on the ground in front of him then turned to grab something behind her. A black wolf puppy was dropped beside the cub. Mu Chen grinned at his old friend. "She will love them." He then decided to hunt in order to feed the young cubs in his tiger family.
As the sun rose, Mu Chen returned home with the small pets in a basket lined with fur to keep them safe. He decided to name the black pup Yan and the white cub Yin. Two halves of the same whole. He opened the door and set the basket down before putting away his bow and quiver. "Rou'er, I'm home." She opened her door and smiled at him. "Welcome back. Did you have a good Hunt?"
"Yes, I found some pheasants and a nest of eggs. Then I found a gift for you." He picked up the basket. He had fashioned leather straps to it so they could be carried around until they were old enough to follow her.
He picked up the tiger cub. Her eyes lit up with pleasure.
"This is Yin, she won't survive on her own because of her coloring. I saved her mother when she was a cub so she gave me Yin to take care of." Mu Chen set the cub on the floor and reached for the puppy. "This is Yan. His pack was destroyed and he is the only survivor. On his own he will die. This is my gift to you." He turned and picked up a white bone box. He handed it to Lin Rou. "I had this made for you yesterday. It's my betrothal gift. The pets are from my Tiger friend."
Lin held the wall and limped to the reclining chair to sit and examine the box. Tigers and cranes were carved onto it's surface with a bamboo forest. She opened the lid and gasped. Two hairpins, one with a cloud design and blue beads to act as rain and one with a crane soaring. A hair comb with a swirling cloud design. A pendant with a tiger on one half and a wolf on the other half in a yin and yan pattern on a simple braided blue silk cord. She could tie it to her belt. Then a new set of bone bracelets and a jar of scented face cream made of bone. Intricate tigers were painted onto it's surface as well. A second jar held scented soap with cranes painted on it. Lin Rou looked up at Mu Chen and smiled. "Thank you, Ah-Chen, I love them. I adore my new little friends and the gift box is perfect." She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. Mu Chen stood stunned for a moment, then he smiled. His little wife has just kissed him because she liked the gifts. He suddenly wanted to give her the world.