Reborn in 1982, the prodigal son returns

Lin Nuo carried his crossbow on his shoulder; he had just acquired the musket and was still hesitant to use it directly. He also had a horn-shaped powder cartridge and a small bag of iron pellets tucked into his pocket, given to him by the foreman.

These things were all prepared by the old foreman himself; it seems the old foreman had wanted to take him in for a long time.

The two walked one after the other towards the old forest. Lin Nuo had never walked this path before; he had only ever stayed on the outskirts of the forest and never dared to venture deeper into it.

The hoofprints of roe deer and wild boars began to appear on the snow, some of them quite fresh.

If we could catch a roe deer, that would be a huge windfall.

Lin Nuo thought to himself.

This stuff is in very high demand.

Zhang stopped by an unfrozen stream, squatted down, and put a finger to his lips.

Lin Nuo followed his gaze and saw five or six wild ducks on the shallow beach by the stream. Some were pecking at water plants, while others were dozing with their heads buried in their wings. Their grayish-brown feathers gleamed dimly in the sunlight, and their beaks opened and closed.

"Wild ducks. Some flew south, some stayed. There's food here, so they hibernate here for the winter."

Zhang kept his voice very low, as if afraid of disturbing something.

He removed the musket and lay prone behind a fallen log. Lin Nuo followed suit and lay down as well.

Zhang pulled a horn-shaped tube from his waist, unscrewed the copper cap, and slowly poured gunpowder into the barrel. He then took an iron pellet from his cloth bag, inserted it, took it out, pressed the trigger rod firmly, and whispered instructions:

"We have to test the gunpowder after we buy it. Some batches are powerful, some are weak. Too much will cause it to explode, too little will not shoot far."

"Iron pellets cost two cents each, iron shot costs one dollar and fifty cents a pound, and gunpowder costs one dollar and fifty cents. Use pellets to shoot large objects, and use shot to shoot small objects."

Lin Nuo held his breath and followed his movements. The old foreman gave him a horn tube with only one charge of gunpowder. The old foreman then helped him pack the gunpowder tightly before handing him the musket.

Then, the two of them aimed at the wild ducks together, and the old leader whispered:

"one two three."

"Bang!"

The two muskets fired almost simultaneously. The sound exploded in the valley, startling a flock of wild ducks. A white cloud of smoke shot out from the muzzles, and the smell was truly pungent.

Only upon closer inspection did I realize the difference in marksmanship.

The wild duck that Zhang shot in the head is now headless. Blood gushed from its neck, spreading a small dark red patch on the snow. What excellent marksmanship; hitting the head from such a distance is truly impressive.

The one Lin Nuo had hit was still flapping its wings. The iron pellet had struck its body, leaving a bloody hole in its back, staining its feathers red.

After all, Lin Nuo had never practiced marksmanship. Although crossbows and guns are similar, it would still take some time to develop marksmanship like the old leader.

Lin Nuo ran over and caught the wild duck. He held it by the neck, its feathers covered in blood, wet and sticky, and his hands were covered in blood.

"Uncle Zhang, I missed."

Zhang took the head, turned it over to look at it, and shook his head:

"Some wild animals shouldn't be shot at their bodies. If the hide is damaged, it's worthless, and if the meat is mushy, it won't taste good. You have to shoot the head, the neck, or vital organs."

"With more practice, you'll get the hang of it."

He shoved the headless wild duck into Lin Nuo's hand.

"Take it."

Lin Nuo was stunned for a moment, and tried to push him away:

"Uncle Zhang, you made this call..."

"Just take it."

Zhang had already tied the badly injured wild duck to his waist.

Lin Nuo felt a surge of warmth, recalling the old foreman's words: "I don't need anyone to support me in my old age. When I can't walk anymore, I'll just walk into the old forest and let the wild beasts tear me apart."

Now everyone keeps keeping the good things for themselves and leaving the bad things for themselves.

But a stranger he'd only known for a few days was so kind to him, like his own uncle, who had only eaten one meal with him in over twenty years.

What a stark contrast!

He clutched the wild duck tightly in his hand, a bitter feeling welling up inside him. The duck's body heat seeped through its feathers into his palm, making it feel warm. No matter how stubborn the old man was, he would still have to take care of things from now on.

Zhang squatted by the stream and gutted the two wild ducks, washing them clean with the water. He made a cut in the duck's belly, the innards slid out, and the blood flowed away with the water. His movements were swift and efficient, done in just a few strokes.

Then he led Lin Nuo around the woods, stopping every few steps to point to a clump of bushes with his stick:

"The root bark of Dictamnus dasycarpus is used in medicine to treat damp-heat."

He then squatted down next to an old pine tree, parted the withered grass, and revealed several small plants:

"Clematis chinensis, dispels wind and dampness."

There were also a few withered grasses bearing small fruits:

"Cocklebur can clear nasal passages. It's sticky, so wear gloves when harvesting it."

Lin Nuo took out his notebook and wrote down the location and characteristics of the medicinal herbs. These days, the mountains are full of treasures; if you work hard, you can make a fortune no matter what.

The sun was high overhead, its rays filtering through the treetops and scattering golden light across the ground. The two began to walk out, until they reached the edge of the woods. Suddenly, Zhang stopped, turned around, looked at Lin Nuo, and said:

"From now on, don't go deep into the old forest alone. Got it?"

This serves as a warning. Even experienced hunters rarely venture into the forest alone. They usually bring several people with them. Even tigers, unless they are extremely hungry, will avoid them.

"I'll remember that, Uncle Zhang."

Zhang glanced at him, then turned and left.

Lin Nuo stared at that figure for a long while.

Then they headed towards the village.

Lin Nuo carried the wild ducks as he turned from the mountain road into the village entrance.

Aunt Liu was carrying a basin of water out of her yard and splashing it into the ditch by the roadside.

Her eyes lit up when she looked up and saw Lin Nuo.

"Hey! Nuozi's back? Back in the mountains again?" His voice was so loud it could be heard halfway down the street.

Lin Nuo nodded:

"Aunt Liu".

Aunt Liu's gaze fell on the plump wild duck in his hand, and she clicked her tongue twice:

"What a huge duck! That's amazing! Nuozi is quite capable now, she's different from before."

Her voice carried a warmth, as if she were very familiar with Lin Nuoduo.

Lin Nuo listened, her lips twitched slightly, but she didn't reply.

Aunt Wang peeked out from the neighboring yard, needle and thread in her hand, as if she were sewing shoe soles. When she saw Lin Nuo, a smile immediately spread across her face:

"Nuozi's back? Oh my, this duck is so fat! Your Wanqing is in for a treat. Nuozi must be really busy these days, hunting wild boars and ducks, tsk tsk tsk."

As she spoke, she nodded her head repeatedly, like a chicken pecking at rice.

Half a year ago, when he walked through the village, these people didn't look like this at all.

He had just come down from the card table, having lost everything, and was walking past the village entrance when Aunt Liu and Aunt Wang were whispering to each other under the old locust tree:

"That's all the second son of the Lin family will ever amount to."

"Su Wanqing was blind to marry him," "She'll run away sooner or later."

Now they've changed their attitude.

He didn't care about the fickleness of human relationships.

Lin Nuo didn't say anything after that, but nodded to them with a faint smile on her face:

"Auntie, Auntie, I'm going back now. They're waiting to cook dinner at home."

He continued walking home. Behind him, he heard Aunt Liu and Aunt Wang talking:

"Look at Nuozi, how successful she is now," "Indeed, Su Wanqing is so lucky."

"It's good that it's been fixed..."

Lin Nuo carried the wild duck into his yard.

A sound came from the kitchen.

He walked over.

Su Wanqing was squatting in front of the stove, adding firewood. She was wearing a dark blue cotton-padded jacket and a red scarf around her neck. The firelight shone on her face, making it glow red and translucent.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up and saw Lin Nuo. Her gaze lingered on his face for a moment, and remembering what happened last night, her ears turned red.

Lin Nuo looked at her, a slight smile playing on his lips, but said nothing. The two stared at each other for a fleeting moment, and it felt as if something in the air was about to ignite.

Zhao Xiuying poked her head out of the kitchen, a cleaver in her hand. Her gaze swept back and forth between the two faces, a forced smile playing on her lips. She deliberately coughed twice:

"Cough cough."

As someone with experience, she could tell that Wan Qing had gotten up so late today and blushed when she saw Nuozi. Zhao Xiuying thought to herself, "She's probably going to have a grandson soon."

He was hit by that cough.

Lin Nuo quickly handed over the wild duck:

"Mom, let's have wild duck stew with sauerkraut for dinner."

Zhao Xiuying took the wild duck, turned it over to look at it, and weighed it in her hand; it was heavy.

"Good stuff, fat. Go change your clothes, you're covered in mud."

After saying that, he glanced at Su Wanqing again.

Su Wanqing lowered her head and pretended to add firewood.

Unable to suppress the smile on her lips, Zhao Xiuying looked away and went into the kitchen.

Lin Nuo came out of the east room after changing her clothes and saw Qi Dawu peeking out of the storeroom, carrying two bundles of hemp rope in his hand.

"Oh, so the good son-in-law of Xiahe Village didn't come today?"

Lin Nuo leaned against the door frame, grinning.

Qi Dawu's face flushed red, and he scratched his head sheepishly.

"Brother Nuozi, please don't make fun of me..."

Lin Nuo chuckled twice, then stopped teasing him and went over to help him straighten the rope.

"Have you found the child who was trapped in the car?"

People who cause trouble usually look for their own children, but the Qi family is the only one in the whole village, and his brother has no children.

Qi Dawu grinned, revealing two rows of slightly crooked teeth:

"Got it! Pingzi, go! Anzi said he wanted to go too, but after they discussed it for a long time, Pingzi finally won. He said he was the man and should go. Anzi pouted on the side, but didn't argue."

Lin Nuo smiled:

"Okay, I'll give Pingzi a red envelope later."

Qi Dawu hurriedly waved his hands, waving them back and forth in front of him, his face turning even redder with anxiety:

"No need, no need, Brother Nuozi, I'll give it to you..."

"Alright, stop arguing. Save your money and use it to treat your wife's eyes later."

Qi Dawu opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing Lin Nuo's uncompromising expression, he finally sighed, scratched his head, and laughed. As he laughed, a hint of worry appeared on Qi Dawu's face:

"Brother Nuozi, I... I've been feeling uneasy these past few days."

Lin Nuo glanced at him:

"What's wrong?"

"My brother... The more I think about what he said that day, the more scared I get. What if he really comes to cause trouble..."

"With me here, he won't cause any trouble."

Lin Nuo patted him on the shoulder:

"You just focus on being a groom. Leave the rest to me."

Qi Dawu raised his head: "...Sigh."

On the day of Qi Dawu's wedding, they invited the village chief and other elders to see if the guy dared to cause trouble.

Just as he was thinking about this, the courtyard gate was pushed open, and Lin Jiang arrived.

"Brother, we're having sauerkraut stew with wild duck tonight. Why don't you call Pingzi and Anzi over too?"

Lin Nuo went to meet him.

Lin Jiang said "Hey" and put the basket against the wall.

"What's wrong, bro?"

Lin Jiang squatted down, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke:

"Yesterday... my eldest uncle came to my house."

Lin Nuo frowned. That old guy slammed the door and left, then went to his older brother's house? He squatted down opposite Lin Jiang, waiting for his older brother to continue.

He said... he was short of money and borrowed a few dollars.

"How much did you borrow?"

Five pieces.

Lin Nuo took a deep breath. He wouldn't even part with the meat on the cutting board, yet he had the nerve to ask his older brother for money. Five yuan—this old guy would be at a loss if he didn't get a bargain.

My brother is too kind-hearted. As soon as that old guy started playing the victim, my brother felt sorry for him.

"Brother, next time he comes, just ignore him. Tell him to come find me."

Lin Jiang lowered his head:

"Second brother...this is not appropriate."

"What's inappropriate about it?"

Lin Nuo spoke, but afraid Zhao Xiuying would hear, he whispered:

"When we borrowed money, he said he didn't have any. When Grandpa passed away, he didn't care about anything either. Now that we're in trouble, he comes knocking on our door. What kind of jerk is he?"

"……Why."

Lin Jiang remained silent for a moment before nodding.

Lin Nuo had a very bad impression of his uncle. He had cursed him countless times in his past life. Seeing that he couldn't get any advantage from him, he started taking advantage of his older brother.

The older brother might not be unable to see it, he just couldn't bring himself to admit it.

Shameless old man.

Lin Nuo cursed inwardly.

In the evening, the family sat around the table in the main room. A large pot of sauerkraut stewed with wild duck was served, with oil floating on top of the soup, the sourness of the sauerkraut and the freshness of the wild duck blending together.

Pingzi and Anzi sat on the bench, their four eyes fixed on the duck legs in the basin, their gazes unwavering.

Lin Weiguo placed a duck leg in Pingzi's bowl, and then placed another one in Anzi's bowl.

"Eat."

Pingzi lowered his head and gnawed on a duck leg, his face glistening with oil. Anzi ate more politely, but his hands moved with surprising speed.

Lin Nuo placed a piece of duck meat into Su Wanqing's bowl. The duck meat was stewed until very tender, almost falling off the bone, and coated with a layer of oil. Su Wanqing looked down at the meat in her bowl.

Zhao Xiuying watched this scene with a slight smile on her lips, but remained silent.

A family meal together is true happiness, but my sister-in-law didn't come today. My older brother said she went to town to take Grandma Pingzi for a check-up.

I was too exhausted to come.

The older brother doesn't lie; his expression is normal, so it seems it's not because he's embarrassed.

After the meal, Lin Nuo helped clear the dishes.

When he returned to the east room, Su Wanqing was already in bed. The calligraphy copybook was closed and placed beside her pillow, and the kerosene lamp was still lit.

He took off his cotton-padded coat and sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) for a while, but didn't lie down.

"What's wrong?"

Su Wanqing's voice came from under the blanket.

"My eldest uncle went to my eldest brother's house to plead his case and borrowed five yuan."

"It hasn't been easy for my older brother."

"yes."

Lin Nuo lay down, facing her direction:

"We can't let anyone else harm our elder brother anymore."

Su Wanqing didn't say anything, but she tightened her grip on his hand a little and gently rubbed her fingers against his palm.

It's like supporting his actions.

Lin Nuo blew out the kerosene lamp. The flame on the wick shrank to a ball of blue light, flickered twice, and then went out. A wisp of smoke rose from the lamp opening, carrying the smell of kerosene.

"Teacher Su."

"Yeah, you don't have class tomorrow either, right?"

Lin Nuo's hands had already started to wander.

Su Wanqing's face flushed crimson, as if her blood had boiled. She suppressed her shyness and spoke softly:

"Um……"

No sleep for one night.

The next morning, Lin Nuo got up early and looked at the new scratches on his shoulders, one on each side, which was symmetrical.

Su Wanqing was still fast asleep in bed; she was exhausted from last night.

Wanqing was quiet and introverted, and didn't know how to refuse others; he was also at an age where he was prone to pleasure.

Once you start messing around, you lose track of time.