My sister broke off her engagement to marry someone richer? My older sister married me and became in

That's a lucrative job with a government job and a guaranteed salary regardless of drought or flood!

If Lu Qingshan were to have an accident in the mountains and be crippled or die there, then who else could get the spot besides Zhao Erhu?

Zhao Erhu suppressed his inner elation and glanced at Ma Li: "So what if we go into the mountains? The mountains are blocked by heavy snow. Am I supposed to go into the mountains and fight him? If someone dies, and the police find out, I don't want to go and join my uncle."

Ma Li chuckled, a sinister glint in his eyes: "Brother Erhu, with this heavy snow blocking the mountain passes, who can say for sure what might happen if something goes wrong?"

Zhao Erhu stared at Ma Li, their gazes meeting in the dim light of the kerosene lamp.

Zhao Erhu saw through Ma Li's scheme to use someone else to do his dirty work, while Ma Li also saw the greed deep in Zhao Erhu's eyes. The two men, each with their own ulterior motives, reached a tacit understanding at that moment.

"You little rascal, you've got a black heart." Zhao Erhu grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.

"Likewise, Brother Erhu, I'm also trying to avenge your uncle, aren't I?" Ma Li smiled ingratiatingly, emphasizing the word "revenge".

"Alright! For my uncle, I'll do it!" Zhao Erhu slapped his thigh with righteous indignation, then stood up and went to rummage through the pile of junk in the corner.

A moment later, he picked up several rusty iron objects and threw them on the ground.

Those are wolf tooth snares used for hunting large wild animals.

Zhao Erhu squatted down and wiped the dust off with his sleeve, revealing the sharp edges of the clamps that he had polished to a gleaming shine.

"I'm going to bury this thing under the snow, and I'm going to put barbs on it!"

A crazed light flashed in Zhao Erhu's eyes.

"Once he steps in, he'll lose his leg. In this freezing weather, the smell of blood will attract all the hungry wolves in the mountains. Then, we won't even find the body, and who will be able to trace it back to us?"

Once my uncle has avenged himself, my spot at the forest farm in the spring will be secure. If I'm lucky, I might even be able to steal the watch while the Lu family is in a hurry...

Thinking of this, Zhao Erhu was even happier.

Ma Li shuddered at the sight of the sharp wolf-tooth sheath, then grinned excitedly, "Brother Erhu is brilliant! So when do we set off?"

"Leave before dawn, get ahead of them!"

The wind and snow outside intensified. The two evil spirits, each harboring their own thoughts, exchanged a glance and simultaneously let out a low, triumphant chuckle.

……

The next day, just as dawn was breaking.

Lu Qingshan and Old Master Lu have finished packing.

The two hunting dogs, Big Yellow and Green Tail, excitedly circled around the yard, occasionally letting out low whimpers.

Lu Qingshan checked Qingwei's injuries again to make sure they wouldn't affect his movements. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief, nod to the old man, and indicate that he was ready.

Wang Guifen and Lu Changgui stood at the door, their faces full of worry.

"The mountain is slippery, you two must be very careful."

Just as Lu Qingshan was about to reply, Lin Xiulan, carrying a cloth bag, walked over quickly with a flushed face.

She didn't say anything, but simply stuffed the cloth bag into Lu Qingshan's arms and handed him a pair of brand-new thick cotton gloves.

"I...I made this overnight. Wear it, it's cold in the mountains."

Her body heat was still on the gloves.

Lu Qingshan's heart also warmed up.

He nodded, his voice soft but clear: "Wait for me at home."

After saying that, he turned around and followed Old Master Lu, along with the two dogs, into the vast snow forest.

As soon as he entered the mountains, Old Master Lu's aura changed.

He was no longer the stubborn old man smoking a pipe on the kang (a heated brick bed), but had become the true master of this mountain forest.

"Green hills, look at your feet."

The old man pointed to a patch of snow with his pipe.

"This snow looks flat, but its color is dark, which means there's something hollow underneath. It could be a snow pit, or it could be fallen trees covered by snow. Go around it."

"There's also wind."

He stopped and closed his eyes.

"There are messages in the wind. Listen carefully, the wind whistling through the pine treetops makes a 'whooshing' sound, and the wind rustling through the birch forest makes a 'whooshing' sound. If something big is moving nearby, there will be extraneous noises in the wind."

Old Master Lu meticulously taught Lu Qingshan his most treasured skills, breaking them down into their most closely guarded secrets.

Lu Qingshan listened very attentively.

He spent over a decade figuring out these experiences on his own in his previous life, paying a heavy price.

Now, listening to Grandpa tell the story, many vague details suddenly become clear.

He can even make more accurate judgments based on this.

After walking for a while, Lu Qingshan suddenly stopped and gently sniffed the air.

"Sir, stop."

Old Master Lu was taken aback: "What's wrong?"

"There's a faint, fishy smell in the wind." Lu Qingshan pointed to a patch of bushes bent low by the weight of snow to his left. "It's very faint, but it's always there. There should be a snow hare nesting over there."

Grandpa Lu looked over with some skepticism and sent Da Huang to investigate.

A moment later, Big Yellow returned wagging its tail, carrying a plump snow rabbit that was still kicking its legs in its mouth.

Grandpa Lu was completely stunned.

He looked at his grandson as if he were meeting him for the first time.

The ability to pinpoint locations by listening to the wind is a skill that veteran hunters hone their entire lives.

The ability to identify objects by their scent is a natural talent.

My grandson... how come he seems to have suddenly become enlightened?

"Good lad!" Old Master Lu slapped Lu Qingshan's shoulder hard, his wrinkled face beaming with undisguised pride.

Just as the grandfather and grandson were rejoicing over this unexpected gain...

A few miles ahead, on a narrow hunting trail flanked by mountain walls on both sides.

Zhao Erhu was using his feet to tamp down the last bit of soil and snow that had been turned over.

Beneath the snow, a massive wolf-tooth sheath opened its gleaming iron maw, silently awaiting its prey.

"Damn it!" He spat a mouthful of phlegm on the ground and said to Ma Li, whose face was equally contorted with rage, "All done! Flawless!"

"Lu Qingshan, you and your old, immortal grandfather, just wait to become the wolves' dinner!"

The two packed up their tools and stealthily disappeared into the nearby dense forest, leaving behind only the seemingly flawless snowfield.

The grandfather and grandson continued on their way, Lu Qingshan's mind was entirely on the "Blind Man's Gully" in his memory.

While pondering how to lead the old man over, she couldn't help but be a little distracted.

He was completely unaware of the impending death.

They were about to reach the narrow "skyline" hunting trail that was the only way through.

Bluetail, the hunting dog that had been running excitedly at the front, suddenly stopped.

It smelled human scent, and immediately, its fur stood on end slightly, and it emitted a very faint, suppressed "woofing" sound from its throat.

Qingwei's nose was pressed against the snow, twitching constantly, showing a restless look as it stared at the calm snowfield ahead.

Old Master Lu's expression changed, and he immediately lowered his body and grabbed Lu Qingshan's arm.

Something's not right!

He lowered his voice and scanned the area ahead with sharp eyes.

"There's something there!"

The old man slowly raised the hunting rifle on his shoulder, pointing the muzzle forward.

In his decades of experience, the signs of large, ferocious beasts appearing in these deep mountains are more pronounced.

But Lu Qingshan's brows furrowed.

wrong.

There was no foul smell of wild animals in the wind.

Aoki's reaction wasn't one of fierce anticipation of an impending fight, but rather more of a... doubt about the unknown.

He looked at the snow-covered ground, dazzlingly white in the sunlight, his gaze sweeping over it inch by inch.

It was so peaceful there.

It was as calm as a deliberately drawn tomb.