Reborn in the 1980s: I made my fortune hunting wild game in Changbai Mountain

"You feel something's wrong? Is there some unexpected personal matter that's kept you from getting there? My uncle is a man of the martial world, with many friends and acquaintances!" Yue Feng scratched his head and comforted his master.

Zhao Dashan shook his head with absolute certainty: "That shouldn't be the case! After your uncle heard the policy news you brought back from the capital last time, he has already made up his mind to change the development direction of the ginseng industry!"

In winter, he doesn't have much to do to begin with. Since he doesn't plan to push the gang to develop any further, there are even fewer things that could affect his original plans!

When he left last time, he told me about his plans for the time being. Even if something else came up and he was delayed, he would definitely have called the village office to let them know! I arranged to go trapping deer on the back mountain after it snows; I've prepared everything!!

Hearing his master say that, Yue Feng nodded: "Okay, don't worry, I'll call him when I get back to the village office and ask about the situation! I contacted him a few days ago when I was in Beijing. Ye Xiaojun and Jinlong asked me to help them ask Grandpa Wu about something, and I spoke to him twice on the phone!"

"Asking about something? What is it?"

"It seems that old man Zhang is not doing so well in business matters. He needs a two-hundred-year-old ginseng to keep him alive, Uncle Wu..."

When Yue Feng spoke the first few sentences, he was quite calm. After all, he had reached an agreement with the old man and had given his due. However, when he got to the end, Yue Feng's expression changed slightly and he hesitated.

Wu Keji and Yue Feng privately replied that this thing was difficult to handle and that they should get involved less, but they didn't say that it was definitely impossible to handle. There is a subtle difference in the context here.

Could it be that the old man went to find some kind of ginseng for some reason?
"Has Old Wu gone into the mountains?" Zhao Dashan immediately realized what was going on when he saw his apprentice's expression and the information in the first half of the sentence.

"I can't say for sure, I'll go down the mountain and call to ask right now, don't worry!" Yue Feng gave his master a reassuring look.

Zhao Dashan's mood collapsed instantly, and he muttered indignantly like an old child, "This fool, he's been shrewd his whole life, how come he still can't see things clearly in his old age!"

Upon hearing this, Yue Feng was taken aback; his master's mood was off.

Yue Feng and Zhao Dashan had been as close as father and son for so many years, and Yue Feng knew the old man's temperament and character very well. Based on Yue Feng's understanding, even if Zhao Dashan knew that Wu Keji had indeed gone to help find ginseng, he shouldn't have said such a thing.

Thinking back to the details of what Master said earlier, such as Wu Keji's agreed-upon return date, everything seemed a bit awkward, somewhat incongruous with the temperaments and work styles of the two old brothers that Yue Feng knew.

Yue Feng scratched his head, staring intently into Zhao Dashan's eyes, and asked, "Master, are you and Uncle Wu hiding something from me?"

After saying this, Yue Feng stared intently at Zhao Dashan's expression.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dashan sighed, did not reply, but instead picked up a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag.

With just this one action, Yue Feng knew he must have guessed correctly: Zhao Dashan and Wu Keji had something they hadn't told him.

Zhao Dashan exhaled a puff of smoke before saying in a deep voice, "Your Uncle Wu has something growing on his lung, and he already had an old gunshot wound, so his health has deteriorated quite a bit!"

I was going to tell you, but he wouldn't let me. He'd seen a doctor, and based on the current situation, it should take another six months to a year!

I just said I was going with him to catch a roe deer so I could get fresh musk to make his medicine. Everything was planned; there shouldn't be no news yet!

Upon hearing this, Yue Feng felt his head buzz instantly, and his thoughts froze.

The old man was such a clear-headed person that he must have a good understanding of his condition. If something growing on the lung is difficult to treat, it is most likely a tumor or something similar.

At present, the medical conditions in China are still relatively primitive in the treatment of this disease. Even in the top hospitals in the capital, the treatment is mostly conservative, and it is quite difficult to cure.

Yue Feng gave his master a reassuring look: "Okay, master, you can stay here and do your job. I'll go verify and handle it! I'll make a call as soon as I get down the mountain. If I can't reach him, I'll ride my bike to Tiecheng!"

"Go ahead! Your grandpa doesn't want to trouble you, but I can't leave, so you go for me!"

"Okay, I'll head down the mountain now. Wait for my message!"

"it is good!"

……

After a brief conversation with his master, Yue Feng immediately got up, left the house, turned the motorcycle around, and sped down the mountain.

On his way home, Yue Feng considered several possible scenarios.

The best-case scenario is that something minor caused the delay, or it was just a misunderstanding.

In the worst-case scenario, even if the old man makes a clear statement, he might still be persuaded by certain people to "come out of retirement," which would complicate matters considerably.

With a heavy heart, Yue Feng rode his motorcycle directly to his father-in-law's house and strode into the village office.

He dialed all the phone numbers he remembered one by one, but couldn't reach Grandpa Wu. Only the last one, from a staff member at the post office, gave Yue Feng some useful information.

A few days ago, Grandpa Wu summoned a few of his men, who then set off with horses and supplies, but no one knows where they went.

When Yue Feng asked for the specific time, the other party replied that it had happened six days ago.

After hanging up the phone, Yue Feng immediately gathered Xiao Tao and the three brothers, Xiao Wen and Xiao Wu.

As soon as Xiao Tao met Yue Feng, his first thought was, "Brother, why are you coming to see me at this hour? Are you planning to go hunting in the mountains again tomorrow?"

Yue Feng shook his head: "Something happened to Grandpa Wu. I have to go to Tiecheng. You guys stay home and prepare for what's to come!"

"What happened?"

Yue Feng said with a solemn expression, "It's not clear yet, I'll find out when I go there! Grandpa Wu will definitely leave someone to watch over the house!"

I suspect this is directly related to the fact that Old Master Zhang was searching everywhere for ginseng a few days ago!

"Be prepared for the worst. If everything goes smoothly, great. But if anything unexpected happens, we need to lend a hand. We can't let Grandpa Wu fight this battle alone!"

Xiao Tao nodded: "Okay, then let's take stock of all the supplies we have beforehand! Or, I can go to Iron City with you? Xiaowen and Xiaowu can prepare at home!"

"Okay, you can come with me! Change into warm clothes, let's set off now!"

"it is good!"

……

When it comes to serious matters, as long as Yue Feng, the eldest brother, gives the order, the hunting team will absolutely follow his instructions without uttering a single word of nonsense.

After the meeting, Yue Feng got on his motorcycle, took Xiao Tao and his brother out of the village, and headed straight for Tiecheng. By the time Yue Feng arrived in Tiecheng city, it was almost noon, and his first destination was Grandpa Wu's tile-roofed house.

The door to the tiled house was locked. Yue Feng called for five minutes but received no response. He then went to a house where the ginseng gang held meetings and other gatherings.

Here, Yue Feng finally found someone to look after the house.

Xiao Wu and Jun Tian were not home. Yue Feng saw Tian Ming, whose hamstring had been severed and then reattached, but who had become disabled.

When Yue Feng led a team to catch ginseng goats in the mountains, Xiao Wu also led some skilled members of the ginseng gang into the mountains. However, they were ambushed by Russian poachers. Da Lin was the last to hold the line and sacrificed his life. Tian Ming was captured and his hamstring was injured.

Although he received medical treatment later, his recovery was not ideal. He walks with a limp and is no longer able to do work such as going into the mountains.

"Tianming, do you still recognize me?" Yue Feng asked Tianming by name as soon as he saw him.

After recognizing Yue Feng's face, Tianming was somewhat surprised and said very warmly, "Of course I know you! You saved my life last time! If I hadn't met you guys, I would have perished on the mountain!! Is there something you need?"

"Yes, I came to Tiecheng specifically to see my Uncle Wu! Where did he go? Let me know!"

"This..." Tianming hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping himself when he heard Yue Feng inquiring about his master.

Seeing this, Yue Feng looked into Tianming's eyes and said, "You know what kind of relationship I have with Uncle Wu! There's no need to hide anything from me! I already know that he organized a group of people with supplies to go into the mountains, but I need to know more!"

Tianming knew this. Yuefeng and Yuefeng's master were sworn brothers with his own master. Since the other party knew about his master's trip into the mountains, it seemed there was nothing he couldn't say.

Tianming hesitated for two seconds before answering, "My master, Brother Xiaowu, and Juntian have indeed been in the mountains for five or six days!"

"Is Grandpa Wu going into the mountains to help someone find ginseng?" Yue Feng continued to ask.

"Yes! A week ago, my master suddenly received a phone call from outside. I don't know what conditions the other party offered him, but my master agreed to their request! Then he organized some skilled members of the ginseng gang and brought supplies into the mountains!" Tianming said truthfully.

"Are you sure that Grandpa Wu went into the mountains voluntarily, without being coerced or manipulated?" Upon hearing the affirmative information, Yue Feng's heart skipped a beat; after all, his guess had come true.

If Yue Feng hadn't heard from his master Zhao Dashan about Wu Keji's deteriorating health, he could have already turned back home after verifying the information.

But now that Yue Feng knows that Grandpa Wu's health is not good, he has to think more about this.

Yue Feng had experienced firsthand the methods those powerful figures in Yanjing used to manipulate people. For them to get an ailing old man to agree to go into the mountains, they must have offered conditions that Grandpa Wu couldn't refuse.

For someone like Wu Keji, who has spent his entire life wandering the world, simple things like money, beautiful women, and material possessions are no longer enough to sway him. Based on this analysis, this condition could easily become distorted.

Tianming shook his head when Yue Feng asked, "My master shouldn't have been threatened or anything. He remained calm throughout, personally handling everything from arranging manpower to organizing supplies!"

"Where did my uncle go? Do you know the specific place?" Yue Feng asked again.

Tianming shook his head: "I really don't know! Master prepared six horses and set off with Brother Xiaowu, Brother Juntian, and a friend named Lao Mu! Judging from the amount of supplies, I estimate that they are going to some remote deep mountain forest. They brought enough food for half a month, as well as a lot of tents, sleeping bags, and other supplies!"

Hearing this, Yue Feng nodded. Six horses and half a month's worth of rations—it was indeed a very far place. When they went to find the Moon Frog, the per capita supplies weren't even this extravagant.

"Okay, I got it! Here's my contact information. If Grandpa Wu comes back, or if anything unexpected happens, call me back! I won't be going anywhere for the time being, I'll be waiting for your news!" Yue Feng handed Tianming a piece of paper with his phone number on it and instructed him.

"Okay! I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything! Have you eaten? I'll get you something hot to eat," Tianming asked, putting the note away in his pocket.

Yue Feng shook his head: "No need to trouble you, my master is still waiting at home, we have to go back immediately!"

"Alright!"

……

After getting the general information, Yue Feng rode his bicycle with Xiao Tao on the back and left the ginseng gang's house.

They hadn't eaten lunch yet, and had ridden their bikes all the way here. Even though they were dressed warmly, they were still freezing in the cold wind.

Xiao Tao's face was pale, and he was shivering uncontrollably while wrapped in a cotton-padded coat.

Yue Feng didn't get much stronger. When the car pulled up next to a mutton soup restaurant on the main street, Yue Feng stopped.

"Are you freezing? Go have a bowl of mutton soup to warm up before you head back!"

Xiao Tao said, trembling, "I can still hold on, Grandpa is still waiting for news on the mountain!"

"It's no big deal. Let's not drink, have some food, and then head back!"

"also!"

The two brothers quickly went inside and each ordered a pound of mutton, plus a large flatbread.

After eating and drinking their fill and warming up, the two brothers quickly rode their bikes home without taking a long rest.

Once they reached the mountain, Yue Feng explained the situation to Zhao Dashan, who was then somewhat relieved.

"This Wu Keji is really asking for trouble! Did someone promise him some huge benefits?" Zhao Dashan complained, his face grim and his temper flaring.

"Master, Grandpa Wu is well prepared for his departure. He's spent his whole life in the old forest, so he must have made preparations! Don't worry! By the way, I heard from Tianming that he set off with four people, prepared six horses to carry supplies, and brought about 15 days' worth of rations!"

"Would you like to use this information to roughly analyze where he might have gone? If everything goes well, great; but if anything unexpected happens, we'll at least be prepared!"

After several years of honing his skills, Yue Feng has developed the habit of being prepared and thinking ahead. Now that his master is upset, it's a good opportunity to divert the old man's attention.

Zhao Dashan felt that this made sense, so he got up and went into his bedroom, taking down a map of Northeast China from the wall.

Zhao Dashan spread the map out on the table, frowned, and said, "We've got nothing better to do, let's take a look! Based on your Uncle Wu's experience, I seriously suspect that these fifteen days' worth of food and supplies are a one-way trip! The place he's going to is probably much farther than we thought!"

Yue Feng had experience with this as well. When he went into the mountains with Wu Keji to find toads, Wu Keji could take care of his food while traveling as long as he had a gun. It was not possible to prepare enough supplies for the entire fifteen-day trip.

To put it dramatically, most of the food they carried might have been intended for the horses.

With these thoughts in mind, Yue Feng and his apprentice began studying the map. (End of Chapter)