Reborn in 1985, starting from the mountains of Northwest China

The next day, Chen Feng got up just as dawn was breaking.

He took out a roe deer hind leg from the storage room and carefully wrapped it in clean oil paper.

They also took the two intact roe deer tendons.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Feng also wrapped up a piece of rib meat with a lot of fat that he had been assigned last night.

The morning air was biting cold, and the village was quiet, with only a few early risers' chimneys emitting wisps of smoke.

Chen Feng walked quickly and soon arrived at the high-walled courtyard of Zhang Tiechui's house.

He raised his hand and knocked on the door, with a moderate amount of force.

After a while, footsteps came from inside the door, and then the latch was pulled open.

Zhang Tiechui was wearing an old cotton-padded coat and holding a small hammer; he looked like he had already gotten up to work.

Upon seeing Chen Feng and the bulging oil paper package in his hand, the old man's eyes flickered, and he stepped aside, saying, "Come in."

In one corner of the courtyard, the blacksmith's furnace was already lit, casting a reddish glow on the surrounding snow.

But Zhang Tiechui didn't go towards the stove; instead, he led Chen Feng into the main room.

It wasn't much warmer inside than outside, but at least there was no wind.

Chen Feng placed the oil paper package on the table and unwrapped it.

"Uncle Zhang, this is the roe deer meat I caught yesterday, just a little something for you. And this is the roe deer tendon."

He first pushed the best piece of hind leg meat and roe deer tendon in front of Zhang Tiechui, and then pushed the thick piece of rib meat over as well, saying, "You can keep this to render oil or stew."

Zhang Tiechui didn't look at the meat first. He picked up the two roe deer tendons, examined them carefully in the light coming through the window, and then rubbed the tendons between his fingers to feel their elasticity. He nodded and said, "The quality is good, and they've been removed cleanly."

He put the tendon down and then glanced at the two pieces of meat, especially the thick rib.

"Take so much?"

Zhang Tiechui was somewhat surprised.

"Of course."

Chen Feng said earnestly, "You gave me the gun. This trip into the mountains went smoothly, all thanks to it."

Zhang Tiechui sat down opposite Chen Feng, picked up the pipe on the table, and slowly stuffed it with tobacco.

"Where's the gun? How's it?"

Chen Feng immediately took out the spear from his pocket, unwrapped it, and handed it over with both hands.

"There's nothing seriously wrong, it's just a little awkward to use."

Zhang Tiechui took the gun, weighed it in his hand, then brought it close to his eyes, his gaze slowly sweeping from the muzzle to the butt before finally settling on the front sight.

"Is there a discrepancy?" he asked.

"Well... when I fired the shot, I felt like I aimed pretty accurately, but when the bullet went out, it seemed to land a hair's breadth away from where I expected it to land."

Chen Feng tried to describe it as accurately as possible, "It could be the glare from the snow, or maybe I was just not calm enough."

Zhang Tiechui didn't speak. He turned the gun sideways, closed one eye, and used the other eye to aim vaguely at the edge of an old basket hanging at the other end of the main room, following the barrel of the gun.

After aiming for a long time, he put down his gun, picked up a small iron hammer from the table, and used the cloth-covered end to tap a spot on the sights very lightly twice.

The sound was very soft, almost inaudible.

Then he picked up the gun again and aimed it vaguely once more.

I repeated this three or four times, making extremely fine adjustments each time with a small hammer.

Chen Feng watched from the side, holding his breath, not daring to disturb him.

Finally, Zhang Tiechui put down his gun and small hammer. "Now take another look."

Chen Feng took the gun and, imitating Zhang Tiechui, aimed it at the edge of the basket.

At first, he didn't feel anything, but when he calmed down and focused all his attention on the crosshair and the target, he vaguely felt that the indescribable, extremely slight "awkwardness" he had felt before had disappeared.

The feeling of the barrel, sights, and target being aligned in a straight line becomes purer and smoother.

"Is it...correct?"

Chen Feng was somewhat uncertain.

Zhang Tiechui took a drag of his cigarette and exhaled a wisp of smoke. "Some feelings can only be felt when you experience them firsthand. It's normal not to notice them while practicing at the shooting range."

He looked at Chen Feng and said, "When you fired yesterday, your mind wasn't completely calm, but you have a natural talent for 'gun feel.' Most people wouldn't be able to detect this slight difference even after firing ten times."

Chen Feng was startled.

It turned out that it wasn't my imagination, nor was it because I was unsteady on my feet, but rather that the gun itself had a very slight, almost imperceptible deviation.

Zhang Tiechui, relying solely on his vague description and a few taps, managed to correct it.

This skill is truly divine.

"Thank you, Uncle Zhang!" Chen Feng said solemnly.

Zhang Tiechui waved his hand, took another puff of his cigarette, and looked at Chen Feng through the swirling smoke, his eyes filled with complex emotions, as if he were considering something.

After a long while, he slowly spoke: "Chen Feng, you're not young anymore, but you learn things quickly, your hands are steady, and your mind... it seems you can gradually calm down."

He pondered for a while: "The most crucial thing is that you have a natural affinity and understanding for these iron tools and the work in the mountains."

Zhang Tiechui tapped the roe deer tendon and the piece of rib meat on the table again with his pipe.

"You brought these things because you know the rules and appreciate kindness. But I don't lack this little bit of meat. What I lack is someone who can pass on my skills in blacksmithing, repairing machinery, and handling the intricacies of the mountains."

Chen Feng was stunned, his heart pounding faster than usual.

He understood the meaning behind Zhang Tiechui's words.

Zhang Tiechui's voice was calm, yet it carried a sense of the desolation of time: "This craft, though it looks like blacksmithing and gun repair, actually involves measurements, strength, temperature control, and even more importantly, an understanding of the materials and the mountains and forests. It's not something just any young man can take on."

He looked at Chen Feng: "I think you're capable. Your eldest brother, Chen Jun, is steady, loyal, and a real man, but he's too straightforward and not quick-witted enough to learn my delicate yet adaptable work. Your second brother, Chen Lin, is skillful and patient, but he's physically weak and too calculating; he can't handle the job of blacksmithing. You…"

Uncle Zhang.

Chen Feng's throat went dry. He hadn't expected Zhang Tiechui to suddenly bring this up. "I... I'm just an ordinary mountain man. I have a wife and children to take care of at home, this..."

"I didn't make you learn blacksmithing from me right away."

Zhang Tiechui interrupted him, "I know about your family situation too."

Zhang Tiechui looked at Chen Feng: "What I mean is, if you're interested, come over whenever you have time. We'll start with identifying materials, watching the fire, and assisting with the work. Repairing guns, making bows, treating leather and tendons, even some simple medicine for self-defense... I'll teach you these skills that are useful in the mountains slowly. I won't charge you any apprenticeship gifts, nor will I be bound by any three or five years of master-disciple relationship. Just think of it as... me finding someone to talk to and someone to hand me tools."

He tapped his cigarette ash: "Of course, if you don't feel like it, or if you really can't get away from home, then just pretend I didn't say anything. I'll take the meat and tendons, and I've got the gun ready for you. We're even."

The main room fell silent, with only the faint crackling of the firelight filtering through the crack in the door.

Chen Feng's mind raced.

Learning a craft from Zhang Tiechui is undoubtedly a tremendous opportunity.

Not only can you learn how to repair guns and manufacture weapons, but those "ins and outs of the mountains" are also invaluable treasures.

But this also means that more time and effort will be required.

The land at home, the firewood in winter, Lin Xiu and the children... Can he manage all of these?