Return to 1983 Hunting Xing'an Mountains

Chapter 720 Nanshan has no livestock, and all the harnesses are gone!

Although Pan Yan adopted a humble attitude, Wu Zhouquan and Han Fang did not look down on him. On the contrary, the elderly couple felt that Pan Yan was quite honest and dared to say in front of everyone that his family was poor, without hiding the truth for the sake of saving face.

During the communication process, Han Fang took it upon herself to prepare everything that her family should prepare, such as pots and pans, bedding, and the groom's clothes. Han Fang did not let Pan Yan prepare anything. She knew that it was not easy for the three brothers to earn money. If they were to prepare these things, it would cost at least two months' salary. Besides, there were no women in his family. Would Pan Xiao be expected to do the sewing, bedding, and clothing all by himself?
Pan Yan was very grateful to Wu Zhouquan and Han Fang. After making their decision, the elderly couple decided to go back to Wanye to find a date for their wedding, which would take place in the spring or summer of the following year.

That evening, everyone sat around in the living room, chatting freely. During the conversation, Han Fang let slip that she wanted to thank Xu Ning for playing matchmaker. Xu Ning quickly waved his hand, saying that it had nothing to do with him and that he should thank Sun Lianfang instead. Han Fang, Wu Zhouquan, and the others didn't argue and just laughed loudly.

Because Wu Zhouquan and Wu Hailong were in a hurry to go back and deliver the matchmaker's gift, they decided to leave after breakfast the next morning. Xu Laonian and Liu Lizhen and others tried to persuade them to stay for a couple more days, but it was the peak season for burning coal and they really couldn't find the time, so the Xu family didn't insist anymore.

The next day, after dinner, Xu Ning found four glass bottles. These bottles were for storing strong liquor and were about the same size as a canteen. So Xu Ning went down into the cellar and filled four bottles with tiger blood liquor. The green bottles contained bright red liquor with a slightly purplish hue.

Xu Ning instructed Wu Hailong to get two bottles for Wu Zhouliang and Wu Haiquan. Although Wu Hailong already knew what it meant without being told, making it clearer would show that he valued it more.

Wu Haitao didn't go back with them and stayed to work at the farm. Yesterday, he even showed off to Han Fang how much money he had made at the farm and stretched out his arm to show his muscles, indicating that he could endure hardship. Han Fang gently patted him twice and told him to take Pan Xiao and his three brothers-in-law home for the New Year.

After seeing off the Wu family, Guan Lei and Yang Jun led Pan Yan, Wu Haitao, and others back to Lengchang.

Everyone else had gone home to tidy up their houses, leaving only a few people in Old Xu's house, making it unusually quiet.

Xu Ning thought that since there was nothing else to do, he would go to his father-in-law's house with Meng Ziyan. Meng Yinhe can now assemble small stools, but the size is still so-so, which makes Meng the Cripple angry. He keeps cursing and saying, "Whose child is like you? You're not even as stupid as a pig!"

Fortunately, Xu Ning was there, so Meng the Cripple didn't fight with Meng Yinhe. Otherwise, he would have been beaten up again. He ate lunch at his father-in-law's house. On his way home in the afternoon, he ran into Yu Kaihe. Yu Kaihe went to the old forest to the south and got a bundle of firewood. He stood at the crossroads and chatted with Xu Ning.

"I see a lot of greyhounds in the woods. Don't you have an air rifle? Hurry up and call some people to shoot them!"

"It's getting late today. How about we go for a stroll tomorrow? Do you want to come along?"

"You guys have fun, my old arms and legs can't keep up with you. Hey, have you heard about the fact that we can't find any livestock in Nanshan?"

"Didn't see any livestock? I didn't see any livestock when I went running in the mountains a few days ago, all I saw were old tracks."

Yu Kaihe said, “I heard it from others. People from Taihe, Taian and our village who run the mountains are all saying that something strange is happening in the South Mountain. There haven’t been any live animals for a week. Some young people said that all the animals in the South Mountain have been killed, or they have run to the North Mountain.”

Xu Ning frowned: "Are there many livestock in Beishan?"

"It's nothing special... The last time we hunted livestock was the two animals that Old Zhao's brothers from Beitun hunted with Tang Hao last time. Ugh, Tang Hao and Old Zhao's brothers don't get along, but he's always hanging around them. Old Tang says a few words to him, but he won't listen..."

Xu Ning laughed and said, "Yes, I also heard before that he and the two Zhao brothers almost got into a fight over the division of shares."

"That's for sure..."

He chatted with Yu Kaihe at the road crossing for more than 10 minutes before finally staggering home. Then he took the old "工" character off the wall, disassembled it, and applied some oil.

Liu Lizhen knew he wouldn't stay idle at home, so she didn't ask where he was going to make a call. But around 4 o'clock, she saw Xu Ning lying on the kang (a heated brick bed) taking a nap, so she pouted and said to Meng Ziyan, "I can't quite accept him suddenly staying at home quietly."

"Yeah, I'm feeling a bit uneasy too, haha... Mom, do you think he'll still be able to go out all the time after he becomes a father next year?"

Liu Lizhen said softly, "That's just how he is. A leopard can't change its spots. You don't even need to think about it; he'll definitely go out and run away again..."

"Ah, then maybe every now and then."

Liu Lizhen said, "He has never liked staying at home since he was a child, and it's good enough that he can stay at home all the time now."

It has to be said, a mother knows her son best.

Meng Ziyan was young and inexperienced, and her mind was full of Xu Ning, so she naturally didn't want Xu Ning to go out all the time.

However, she and Xu Ning had discussed this matter before. If men stay at home all day and don't earn money, how will they earn money? What will their wives and children spend on?
Therefore, Meng Ziyan didn't dislike him going out; rather, she was afraid he would run into the mountains...

After all, she's pregnant with twins, so it's normal for her to have all sorts of wild thoughts.

In the evening, the Xu family reheated the leftovers, and Liu Lizhen harvested all the chives grown in the second room on the west side, chopped them up, mixed them with eggs to make filling, and baked a basin and a half of chive pancakes.

Because there were so many people, after all the chive dumplings were gone, the leftover food was also finished, and only a little soup was poured into the dog's food bowl.

Since the dog food already contained vegetable broth, there was no need to add salt separately. Xu Ning watched the dogs wolfing it down and squatted down beside them, chuckling to himself.

"Hey bro, let's go hunt some greyhounds in the old forest tomorrow, how about we stop by Shuangfeng Ridge to walk some snares on the way?"

"Go ahead..."

Li Feng walked in with his hands in his sleeves, and laughed, "Feeding the dog?"

"Ah, Brother Feng, just finished feeding him. You're back early today."

"Yeah, I just went to Qingli and bought two roe deer. I didn't go anywhere else. I don't know what's wrong with the villages near our house. They haven't been able to get any goods for several days in a row."

Xu Ning nodded: "I overheard Uncle Yu mention it today, does Shengfeng have any stock?"

“There are quite a few in Shengfeng. They are close to Laomuzhulin and they all go to the foot of Zhuzha Mountain to hunt livestock.”

"So, we don't have any livestock in Nanshan?"

"Yeah, that's weird... My brother Jun didn't come back today?"

"They haven't come back. We checked the yard today; they're back on the mountain. Let's go inside first..."

Li Feng had only been sitting down for a few minutes when Lao Jiang brought Zhou Hui over for a visit, followed by Lao Wei arriving late.

Actually, nothing much happened. I just came over to chat and talk about whatever came to mind.

Old Jiang said, "If all else fails, we can go for a stroll in the mountains tomorrow or the day after. These days, everyone I've met says there are no livestock in Nanshan, which almost caused me to run out of supplies. Fortunately, Li Feng went to Qingli today and bought two roe deer."

"My brother didn't get any either?"

Li Feng said, "He went for a stroll in Nanshan yesterday and strained his thigh when he came back. He's lying at home today."

"That explains why you didn't come. I'm going to the old forest to hunt greyhounds tomorrow, are you guys coming?"

Old Jiang shook his head: "Sell the roe deer first tomorrow, then go the day after tomorrow."

"That's okay..."

They chatted until after 9 o'clock, then everyone went home.

In the stillness of the night, the moonlight gradually dimmed, the sky was covered by dark clouds, and then snowflakes began to fall.

Early in the morning, Xu Ning had just woken up when he heard Liu Lizhen muttering in the north kitchen: "My youngest son was thinking of going to the old forest to hunt greyhounds, how can he go in this weather?"

Xu Laonian pursed his lips and said, "He's always fighting this or that; the whole mountain isn't enough for him to fight."

"What do you mean? Don't make me angry so early in the morning!"

"Hey, look at you, I didn't say anything. I'm not going to argue with you anymore, I still have to go shovel snow."

Xu Ning got up, put on his clothes, and peeked into the yard through the curtains. He immediately frowned and muttered, "Man proposes, God disposes, huh? Snowing at this time... damn it!"

The snow in the yard was just above ankle-deep, but snowflakes were still falling from the sky. The snowflakes were smaller than millet grains and melted quickly on the skin. A gust of wind blew the snow off the eaves and rooftops, sending it flying into the sky. It was hard to tell whether the snow had fallen from the sky or been blown up from the ground.

Xu Ning walked into the north kitchen, and Liu Lizhen said with a smile, "With such heavy snow, you can't go for a stroll in the old forest anymore, can you?"

"Why go anywhere? Just stay home and relax," Old Xu said, stamping his feet twice as he walked into the house.

"Why are you so nosy? You've only been out for a short while. Have you finished shoveling the snow?"

Xu Laonian said dejectedly, "Oh dear, you expect me to sweep this big yard myself? I'm just waiting for that little brat."

"Dad, what did you say to me last time?"

Of course, Xu Laonian knew what Xu Ning was talking about. It was just that Xu Ning had contracted the snow-shoveling task to Xu Laonian for 5 yuan last time. He quickly winked and said, "Oh dear, how could I forget? I was just thinking of going inside to pick you up and take you to the outhouse."

"Hahaha, let's go!"

Under Liu Lizhen's questioning gaze, Xu Ning strode forward. As soon as he stepped out of the plastic shed, Xu Laonian pointed to the platform where the snow had been swept clean and said, "I was afraid you would get snow on your feet, so I cleared this wheel first. How about that? Dad has some sense, right?"

"Great! Keep it up, and come find me to pay when you're done scanning."

"Alright, just watch how hard I try and you'll be done!"

After Xu Ning went to the outhouse, Xu Laonian picked up a broom and a snow shovel.

Liu Lizhen stood inside the house, peering out and watching her two daughters-in-law smirk. She muttered to herself, "What are those two up to..."

This morning, Li Fuqiang, Wang Erli, and others didn't come over. The Xu family ate braised noodles, porridge, and pickled vegetables.

After Xu Laonian and Wang Erli went to work, Li Fuqiang and Yang Shuhua entered the house.

"This is hopeless, what are we supposed to do at home?"

Xu Ning laughed and said, "Playing cards? Who's playing?"

Sun Lianfang immediately raised her hand: "I'll play! Sister-in-law, Hua? Let's play together, it's more fun with more people."

"Come on, Mom, Second Aunt, do you want to play?"

Liu Lizhen pouted: "I'm not playing with you. You'll take all the money I have in my pocket."

"Hahaha……"

The snow didn't stop until after 9 o'clock. Xu Ning and the others took a break to sweep the snow in the yard and went back inside to continue playing.

Two days later, the snow had been set by the sun and was no longer a source of smoke or fire, even if a strong wind came, it would only rise to the surface.

Xu Ning, Li Fuqiang, Wang Hu, Lao Jiang, Li Feng, and Da Laba led their dogs into the old forest to the south.

Besides each carrying a hunting rifle, Xu Ning and Lao Jiang also had two old gong-shaped sniper rifles in their hands.

The dogs walked in a large group ahead of the crowd, occasionally rolling around and chasing each other in the snow.

"How can we fight the greyhound? These dogs barked twice and scared the greyhound into hiding in its hole."

"Let's just treat it as a stroll. Or how about we split into two groups? Guoxing and Qiangzi can take the dogs to Shuangfengling to walk the traps, while Erning and I can search for Greyhound in the woods."

"Okay, let's go to the roadside then."

Li Fuqiang and the others called out to the dog gang and went to the roadside. At first, Qinglang and Heilang were unwilling, but Xu Ning shouted twice, and then they followed Li Fuqiang.

Only Xu Ning and Lao Jiang remained in the old forest, wandering aimlessly with the old "工" character in their hands. About 20 minutes later, they spotted a line of gray dogs.

"They were so hungry they had no other choice but to come to the granary."

Old Jiang nodded: "Yeah...hey, look, there are still traces of weasels here."

"It is indeed a weasel. I've heard of anyone's chickens being killed by weasels these past few days."

"No, there's no. There's a greyhound up in this tree. Look up."

Xu Ning looked up slightly and saw a little gray dog ​​holding a hazelnut and munching on it with both paws. "Go ahead and hit it, Uncle Jiang."

"You go ahead and prepare them. Three or four should be enough."

Without any formalities, Xu Ning raised his gun and pulled the trigger. The greyhound that was standing on the tree branch fell into the snow. He didn't rush to pick it up, but first pried open the barrel to load the bullet. Then he laughed and said, "This air rifle is specially designed to shoot small animals. Tiger and I shot more than 20 of them on Dongshan Mountain a few days ago this spring."

"Yeah, it really works."

They wandered around the old forest for almost two hours, shot two with an old gong, and then Lao Jiang climbed a tree, split open a hole in the tree with an axe, and grabbed three more. One of them was carrying a baby, so Lao Jiang released it.

"Four should be enough for us. Shall we still go to Shuangfengling?"

"Let's go, it's only 10:30 now."

Just as the two were running through the old forest, they ran into a pack of dogs, including a blue wolf and a black wolf.

"Holy crap, what's going on?"

The wolf howled twice, and Xu Ning frowned and said, "It seems something has happened."

Old Jiang said in a deep voice, "Then let's hurry up and go back."

Xu Ning waved and called to the blue wolves, telling them to lead the way. He then ran along the back of the dogs to Xiaofeng Mountain at the foot of Shuangfeng Ridge.

As soon as his feet stepped into the narrow path, Wang Hu stood on the slope and shouted, "Second Brother! It's right here!"

Xu Ning and Lao Jiang exchanged a glance, then rushed over and asked, "What happened?"

"The pheasants and jumping cats in our trap have all been eaten by weasels!"

Xu Ning was taken aback: "Is that all?"

"More than half of our snares and clips were stolen, and now we only have about twenty left."

"What the heck? The clips are all gone too?"

"Yeah! Not a single one left, they're all gone! That thief is really ruthless. You could have taken the pheasant or something, but why did you take all the snares and traps?"

Old Jiang frowned and asked, "Have you spotted any trace of them?"

"Once a snow falls, it disappears without a trace..."

(End of this chapter)