The kang (heated brick bed) for left-behind women

When Lin Dachun returned home, Li Ruoxue seemed a little unhappy.

"I heard you used to date He Xiulan?" Li Ruoxue had just heard this gossip from her neighbor.

"No. Don't listen to their nonsense," Lin Dachun replied.

"I'm going hunting tomorrow. It's winter now, and it's not good to farm. I can't stay idle. Hunting is a good opportunity. I used to enjoy going hunting in the cold winter," Lin Dachun said.

"Hunting? Then I'll go with you." Li Ruoxue was also thinking of going.

"Nonsense, hunting is a very dangerous thing. You just wait for me at home. If we're lucky, we'll get some meat." Lin Dachun said, and went to the warehouse to find his hunting rifle.

This is a shotgun that can only fire one shot at a time.

Then you need to reload.

"I get bored at home alone. Come on, you don't need to take care of me. I can even help you keep watch or herd the game." Li Ruoxue's tone had a hint of coquetry.

"It's snowing heavily, and it's cold and dangerous on the mountain," Lin Dachun said.

"I don't want to be home alone. What if that old black dog comes to harass me, or something, and I get bullied?" Li Ruoxue's eyes were red.

Li Ruoxue can be quite clingy at times, like a kitten.

Lately, that old black dog knows that the widows are all staying at home during the winter and people aren't visiting each other, which is a perfect opportunity for him to harass them in all sorts of ways.

"Alright then. Come with me tomorrow, but you have to listen to me on the mountain." Lin Dachun was worried that something might happen to her.

"Okay. Let's go to bed early tonight. I'll cook more food tomorrow morning," Li Ruoxue said happily.

Lin Dachun still had some supplies at home. He was a diligent person, and before the winter, he stocked up on a large amount of food, firewood, and other necessities.

Upon hearing that they would go to bed together early, Lin Dachun patted her head sheepishly.

Li Ruoxue's face turned red.

The next day was a sunny day, and the snow had frozen into a hard crust that crunched when you walked on it, making it a good time to go into the mountains.

Animals, having gone hungry all winter, are more likely to come out and forage, leaving behind clear tracks.

Lin Dachun carefully wiped his old hunting rifle in the cave dwelling.

The gun was shiny, but it hadn't been loaded with real gunpowder and iron shot in a long time.

Now, in order to bring some real income to the family and to add some meat to the dinner table, this old morsel has been brought out again.

He carefully poured the dried gunpowder into the gun barrel, compacted it, then added a small handful of iron shot and stuffed it tightly with a wad of paper.

The movements were slow and focused, each step carrying a long-lost solemnity.

Lin Dachun slung his hunting rifle over his shoulder and then checked the sharp hunting knife tucked into his waistband and the hemp rope used to bind the game.

Li Ruoxue, on the other hand, was more focused on preparing water, dry food, and other necessities.

The two of them, one after the other, stepped into the snowy wilderness behind the mountain once again.

Lin Dachun walked ahead, his sharp eyes scanning the snow-covered ground.

The snow on the mountain was still very thick; when you stepped on it, you couldn't tell if it was hollow or solid.

The two of them braved the cold wind and walked a very, very long way.

It took a very, very long time.

But no trace of prey was found.

"You must be tired, but hunting is all about patience, both our patience and the patience of our prey." Lin Dachun is a skilled hunter.

"It's okay, I can keep up."

"There's a cave over there, let's go rest there for a bit." Lin Dachun was also worried that Li Ruoxue would get tired.

The two entered the cave, which was free of snow and contained wheat straw.

People often rest here.

Li Ruoxue had just sat down when she seemed startled by something being moved.

"ah!!"

Li Ruoxue screamed and looked down to see a black snake at her feet.

Lin Dachun reacted quickly, smashing the gun with the butt of his rifle.

It hit the snake's body directly.

The snake was so frightened that it slithered away quickly.

"Strange, it's winter, how come there are snakes?"

Lin Dachun was surprised. It was also possible that the snake was hibernating under the wheat stalks and Li Ruoxue happened to sit on it.

"Ruoxue, are you alright? Did it bite you? That snake's color is abnormal; it looks like a poisonous snake," Lin Dachun asked fearfully.

In places like this, if you get bitten by a venomous snake, there's nowhere to get treatment.

"Huh? I, I don't know. It seems like I did, but it also seems like I didn't." Li Ruoxue couldn't quite put her finger on it either. At that moment, she felt a sharp pain as if her foot had touched something.

"I think I did, I felt a prick in my foot." Li Ruoxue became frightened.

"Oh no, don't panic. Let me check you quickly to see if you were bitten. If you were, we need to get to the town hospital immediately. These venomous snakes can kill people." Lin Dachun immediately became nervous.

Hearing this, Li Ruoxue was terrified. She couldn't die such a pathetic death.

"Oh no! Quickly check me to see if I have any wounds. I'm scared." Li Ruoxue burst into tears.

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, let me check if I've been bitten first." Lin Dachun's heart was racing, and he was terrified.