It was about half an hour later when the four-person team, fully prepared, set off!
The child was left to be looked after by his grandmother and grandfather.
However, unlike last year's hunting trip with Teacher Yang, this time they chose a different path, heading directly into the mountains, as there was no snow.
Climbing up the rugged mountain path, Li Ya and Wu Yanyan were panting heavily, and Qin Chuan was no less tired, his face covered in sweat.
Qin Yang, of course, had the easiest time.
After climbing such a long uphill path, with a bulging hunting gear on his back and a cow-sinew bow, about 1.5 meters tall, slung over his shoulder, he hadn't even broken a sweat.
"Xiao Chuan, if you have time in the future, let's exercise together!"
Qin Yang said to Qin Chuan.
"You're not even twenty-three after the New Year. Don't let yourself be corrupted by various extravagant and high-end banquets every day. Your health is the most important thing!"
Qin Chuan, uncharacteristically, wiped the sweat from his forehead and grinned, "I wish I could, but I have so much to do every day that by the time I have some free time, I just want to sleep."
"Come on, you're just lazy at heart!"
Li Ya, without hesitation, exposed Qin Chuan's excuse, making Wu Yanyan giggle.
And so, the four of them, bantering and laughing, gradually reached their destination.
"Wow, the scenery here is so spectacular, it's like looking down on all the mountains!"
Upon reaching the mountaintop, the view suddenly became incredibly vast.
Blue sky, white clouds, fresh air, distant mountains layered upon layers, mountains connecting to mountains, stretching endlessly.
Under the sunlight, a gentle breeze blew, warm and comfortable against their skin.
Li Ya couldn't help but spread her arms, standing against the wind, closing her eyes, and savoring the moment.
Qin Chuan and Qin Yang lit cigarettes and sat on the grass, chatting.
"Husband, look! Look! There are so many pheasants there, and rabbits too!"
Suddenly, Wu Yanyan's voice rang out urgently, making Li Ya open her eyes and anxiously ask, "Where? Where?"
Qin Chuan and Qin Yang stopped smoking and followed Wu Yanyan's pointing finger, indeed seeing a flock of pheasants foraging in the nearby bushes.
Not far from the pheasant flock, there were also a few wild rabbits, peeking out, looking quite docile.
It was only in this era, when the mountain environment was so good and there were so many wild animals. In later generations, one would never see so many animals.
Qin Yang, forgetting his cigarette, nimbly grabbed the bow and arrows from the ground, ran a few steps, and as soon as he was within shooting range, he stood like a pine tree, drawing the bow until it was as round as a full moon.
Under the watchful eyes of Qin Chuan, Li Ya, and Wu Yanyan, the arrow "whooshed" through the air, striking the neck of a peeking wild rabbit, pinning it firmly.
"Wow, husband, you're amazing!!"
"Brother, you're awesome!"
"So skillful!"
Qin Chuan, Li Ya, and Wu Yanyan all applauded and cheered loudly.
Qin Yang smiled sheepishly, nocked another bamboo arrow onto the bowstring, drew the bow until it was a full moon, narrowed his eyes, and the arrowhead followed the startled wild rabbit moving in the distance.
Everyone held their breath, and after about twenty to thirty seconds, Qin Yang shot the second arrow.
In the distance, another startled wild rabbit tumbled down the hillside, an arrow firmly lodged in its belly.
"Wow, brother is truly a divine archer, hitting every shot!"
Li Ya looked at Qin Yang with wide-eyed astonishment.
In this era, there were very few people who were so skilled with a bow and arrow. She had never expected to witness such a master firsthand.
"My brother started practicing with an old hunter in the village when he was young. A few years ago, when our family's living conditions were poor, my brother always relied on hunting to supplement our income."
Qin Chuan explained with a smile.
Li Ya looked enlightened, then excitedly tugged on Qin Chuan's arm, "Let's go, let's go, let's quickly go pick up those rabbits! We're eating roasted rabbit tonight!"
From morning to noon, the footsteps of the four of them were all over the mountains, their cheerful voices echoing through the peaks.
Unconsciously, the sun had already begun to set. The four, tired from a day of fun, started their journey home with their bountiful harvest.
There were twelve rabbits, eight pheasants, and most precious of all, they had hunted a small antelope.
Qin Yang carried the antelope on his back, along with four wild rabbits.
Qin Chuan carried four wild rabbits, and the eight pheasants were held by Wu Yanyan and Li Ya respectively.
Upon returning to the village, every villager who saw them cast envious glances.
"Such a big wild antelope!"
"And so many rabbits and pheasants!!"
"Qin Yang, your skills haven't dulled at all! Such a harvest from one trip into the mountains!"
"We'll have to come to your house for dinner tonight!"
Facing the envious voices of the villagers, Qin Yang showed a humble smile.
"Everyone is welcome to visit our home tonight!"
Qin Chuan smiled and extended the invitation.
When they returned home, they found many people already there, visiting. Qin Chuan could barely recognize some of them.
Seeing the abundance of game meat brought back by Qin Chuan and Qin Yang, everyone chattered praises, complimenting Qin Yang on his skills and Wu Yanyan on finding a good man.
In the past, Qin Yang, being taciturn and kind-hearted, was the village's "fool," often bullied by children.
Now he had become the object of everyone's admiration, and by extension, Wu Yanyan was also praised. It had to be said, reality was ironic.
When you have money, everything that was previously against you gradually disappears, replaced by all sorts of cheap praise.
Qin Chuan heard a commotion coming from his second brother Qin Gang's room, where it sounded like people were playing cards. He asked his elder brother to take the game meat into the house, told Wu Yanyan to take Li Ya to wash up, and then pushed open the door and went in.
As soon as he entered, the room was filled with a haze of smoke, thick and pungent, the smell of countless cigarettes mixed with the odor of sweaty feet and bodies.
The large adobe kang was filled with people, all young men from the village.
Qin Chuan approached and realized they were playing "Zha Jinhua" (a card game), and his second brother must be there. There were about seven or eight people, with a crowd gathered around watching.
Each person had several hundred-yuan bills in front of them, suggesting they were playing for considerable stakes.
"Yo, Xiao Chuan's back!"
"Xiao Chuan, we were just waiting for you!"
"Quick, quick, our Boss Qin is here, make way for him everyone!"
On the kang, Wu Aping, with a cigarette in his mouth, excitedly shouted upon seeing Qin Chuan.
Xie Jun, Zhou Erwa, Hei Mao, and others also joined in the fun, inviting Qin Chuan to play.
Facing such enthusiastic invitations, Qin Chuan smiled slightly, found a stool, placed it by the side of the kang, and sat down, "It's Chinese New Year, let's have some fun! Come on, deal me in, I'll join for a hand!"
Upon hearing that Qin Chuan wanted to participate, everyone became extremely excited.
Especially when Qin Chuan pulled out his thick wallet, revealing a stack of crisp hundred-yuan bills, everyone's eyes gleamed with greed...