Hunting 81: Gathering Goods in the Mountains, I Spoil My Ex-Wife to the Extreme

Seeing Gao Hongmei's eager look, Li Yunshan also considered it seriously. It was about six or seven miles from their Guapigou Village to the commune, and twenty miles from the commune to the county town. Moreover, it was the coldest season now, so it was possible to try to get wild boar meat to sell in the county town.

Even if we can't sell them all, we can bring them back; they won't spoil in this cold weather anyway.

Besides, will they not sell out?

Li Yunshan didn't think so, after all, the spending power and economic activity of people in the county town were much higher than those in the village and Xiangyang Commune.

Just as he just told Gao Hongmei, there are factories and enterprises in the county town, which means there are many employees with secure jobs. In the past two years, private businesses such as individual businesses have also started to spring up like mushrooms after rain.

As people earn more money and economic policies become more relaxed, people's consumption habits have naturally changed.

Who wouldn't want to improve their meals and try something new if they had money in their pocket?

"It can be taken to the county town to sell. Even if it can't be sold out, it can be brought back to keep for ourselves, or it can be taken to other places to sell the next day. Anyway, the weather is so cold now, the meat won't spoil."

"Then it's settled."

Gao Hongmei couldn't help but beam with joy.

Soon, the two returned to the village.

Everyone was amazed to see that Li Yunshan had actually brought back two wild boars all by himself.

These two wild boars must weigh over 300 pounds each, and Li Yunshan actually managed to carry them back by himself; that's truly impressive.

But how could he have such great strength? Why did he idle away his time and do nothing productive before?

If he had found a proper job and stopped hanging out with Yu Ergou's gang, he wouldn't have ended up getting divorced after marrying a wife.

But some people are curious: Gao Hongmei and Li Yunshan have been enemies since their divorce, so why did they go hunting in the mountains together today?

Could it be that old feelings have rekindled?

Those who know the inside story say that Gao Hongmei's father, Gao Zhankui, broke his leg bone in a fall some time ago, and Li Yunshan lent Gao Hongmei money to have her father's fracture surgery.

As for whether it's a rekindling of old flames or something else, who knows?

Li Yunshan didn't seem to care much about the strange looks he received from others.

Gao Hongmei was naturally outspoken and straightforward, so she only blushed slightly.

After carrying the two wild boars home, Li Yunshan put them under the eaves.

Hearing the commotion outside, Lin Xiulan also came out.

Seeing that Li Yunshan had killed two more wild boars—no, three, in fact—and discovering there was a small wild boar among them, Lin Xiulan felt happy but also a little distressed and worried.

The reason I feel sorry for them is that these two wild boars are huge, weighing at least three or four hundred pounds. Li Yunshan must have been exhausted carrying them all back by himself.

Another issue is that Li Yunshan had previously strained his back, and the pain kept him at home for several days before he fully recovered.

His back has only been fully recovered for a short time, and he's already carrying such heavy prey. What if he strains his back again or damages it?

"Honestly, your older sister doesn't even consider that your back has just recovered and she made you carry such heavy prey back by yourself without helping you share the burden."

Lin Xiulan, quite unusually, made a few comments about Gao Hongmei.

"Hongmei doesn't have the strength to carry all the prey back for me. If each of us had to carry a wild boar, she wouldn't be able to manage. I'm stronger, so I thought I'd do it myself."

Li Yunshan offered an explanation.

"You're always showing off. What if you hurt your back again? It takes a hundred days to recover from a broken bone. Last time you strained your back, you recovered in just a few days. You were lucky."

"With such heavy prey on your shoulders, what if you hurt your back or cause some other serious injury? Let's see if you'll still dare to show off in the future."

Lin Xiulan poked Li Yunshan's forehead with her finger, complaining in a very annoyed tone.

"Hehehe, I'll find out if my back is okay tonight, why don't we try it out?"

Seeing Lin Xiulan's annoyed expression, Li Yunshan couldn't help but pinch her buttocks and said in a cheeky tone.

"Don't do anything reckless, I'm pregnant right now." Lin Xiulan slapped away Li Yunshan's groping hand in a fit of embarrassment and anger.

"Hehe, Xiulan, I was just saying it casually, don't take it seriously."

"You can't just say it casually, who knows when you'll do something reckless."

Lin Xiulan glared at him, then went into the kitchen to boil water.

"Can't I even say it casually?"

Watching Lin Xiulan's figure disappear into the kitchen, Li Yunshan glanced at the small tent that had been set up and touched his nose.

Just then, Gao Hongmei and Su Lihua walked into the courtyard from outside.

"Lihua, look, this smaller wild boar is the one I killed, and this smaller one too, I shot it down."

As soon as she entered the courtyard, Gao Hongmei pointed to the wild boar that Li Yunshan had placed under the eaves with a hint of pride.

Just now, after she and Li Yunshan parted ways in the village and returned home, Su Lihua asked if she had hunted the wild boars found in Huangnigou. She proudly said that she had hunted two wild boars, but Su Lihua refused to believe her no matter what.

Although Su Lihua was very reluctant to go to Li Yunshan's house, Gao Hongmei used all her strength to drag and pull her there in order to prove herself.

However, when Su Lihua saw the wild boar that Gao Hongmei was pointing at, she still didn't believe it: "Hongmei, did you really kill this wild boar?"

"You still don't believe me? Ask Li Yunshan whether I killed this wild boar or not."

Gao Hongmei was immediately annoyed. "I even took you to Li Yunshan's house and you saw the wild boar. You still don't believe me?"

"Hongmei did indeed shoot and kill this wild boar herself."

Li Yunshan offered an explanation on behalf of Gao Hongmei.

He glanced at Su Lihua, who had a cold and aloof personality. Since the divorce, she had basically never come to his house again.

Later, he married Lin Xiulan. At that time, he acted recklessly and always bullied Lin Xiulan. Only at this time would Su Lihua and Gao Hongmei come to his house together to support Lin Xiulan and stand up for her.

Apart from that, Su Lihua generally doesn't come to his house.

Li Yunshan could tell that she had been dragged here by Gao Hongmei.

Upon hearing Li Yunshan's agreement, a hint of surprise slowly appeared on Su Lihua's usually aloof and icy face.

However, this look of surprise only lasted for a moment before disappearing.

"Look, even Li Yunshan said I hunted this wild boar," Gao Hongmei said with a smug smile.

"It was you who hit me, so it was you who hit me. If there's nothing else, I'll head back now."

After speaking, Su Lihua turned around to leave.

"Hey, you've come all this way, why are you leaving so soon? I was just about to ask you for help."

When Gao Hongmei saw that Su Lihua was about to leave, she quickly grabbed her.

"How can I help?"

"You can help us pour boiling water on the wild boar to scald its hair, or help us shave the bristles off its body, it's up to you."

Gao Hongmei said in a very casual manner.

Upon hearing this, Su Lihua subconsciously glanced at the two wild boars under the eaves.

She was a sent-down youth who came to Guapigou Village from the city. She had done a lot of farm work, but this was the first time she had ever poured boiling water on wild boars to scald their hair or scrape off their hair.

Moreover, seeing the gruesome appearance of the two wild boars after they were gutted made her feel a little scared.

Me? A female educated youth sent to the countryside, going to pour boiling water on wild boars, scald their hair, and scrape off their hair?

Can I do it?

Su Lihua couldn't help but ask herself this question.

"Forget it, I can't do this job."

After thinking for a few seconds, Su Lihua waved her hand.

"Come on, what are you afraid of? Scalding the pig hair with boiling water is quite simple. Just take the boiling water and pour it over the wild boar. Scraping the pig hair is more complicated and requires strength."

When Gao Hongmei saw her waving her hand, she quickly pulled her back.

"Well... okay, I'll give it a try."

Seeing that Gao Hongmei had said so, Su Lihua hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement.

"The water is boiled."

Just then, Lin Xiulan called out from the kitchen.

"Okay, I understand," Li Yunshan and Gao Hongmei replied, then went into the kitchen to fetch hot water.

Before long, Li Yunshan and Gao Hongmei each came out carrying a bucket of boiling water.

Li Yunshan moved a wild boar onto a bluestone cutting board, picked up a ladle, scooped up boiling water, and rhythmically poured it over the boar.

As boiling water was poured over it, a cloud of steam rose from the wild boar's body, and the distinctive pungent smell of wild boar emanated from it.

Su Lihua frowned upon smelling it and instinctively covered her mouth and nose.

On the contrary, Gao Hongmei remained calm, took a knife, and began to scrape the parts of the wild boar that Li Yunshan had poured boiling water on.

Soon, after pouring the two buckets of boiling water, Li Yunshan picked up a knife and began scraping the bristles off the wild boar with Gao Hongmei.

A "crackling" sound rang out in the courtyard.

As Li Yunshan and Gao Hongmei swiftly swung their knives, the wild boar's bristles were scraped clean, revealing its white skin.

After scraping one side clean, Li Yunshan turned the wild boar over, went to the kitchen and brought out two more buckets of boiling water to continue scalding the boar's hair.

Su Lihua watched Li Yunshan and Gao Hongmei working hard, while she stood by and watched, feeling somewhat lost.

Just then, Lin Xiulan came out of the kitchen and asked, "By the way, Yunshan, what are we having for dinner tonight?"

"Just steam a pot of rice, stir-fry some shredded potatoes with vinegar, and braise some cabbage. Later, I'll cut two pounds of wild boar meat and make some braised pork."

Li Yunshan said this while pouring boiling water over the wild boar.

"Ugh, ugh!"

Just then, the pungent smell of wild boar wafted by, and Lin Xiulan couldn't help but bend over, clutch her lower abdomen, and gag.

Upon hearing Lin Xiulan make a gagging sound, Gao Hongmei and Su Lihua couldn't help but look over.

However, when they saw that Lin Xiulan was still clutching her lower abdomen, they couldn't help but exchange glances.

Finally, Gao Hongmei asked, "Xiulan, are you pregnant again?"