On the snow-covered ground, two figures walked one after another.
Occasionally, the figure in front would crouch down to carefully examine the footprints in the snow.
"Qin Chuan, what are you doing?" Yang Zimo, who was following behind, asked curiously.
"I'm observing these mountain rabbit footprints!" Qin Chuan replied, then acted as a teacher and patiently explained, "Animals, like people, are creatures of habit. They often choose a familiar path to return home."
"What I need to do now is to find this path and then set up a snare. This will greatly increase the chances of catching them!"
Yang Zimo listened in amazement. This kind of knowledge could never be learned from books.
Soon, Qin Chuan found a suitable spot. Many rabbit tracks were imprinted there. He squatted down, took out a snare from his bag, and began to set it up.
A snare is a crudely made steel cogwheel used by rural people, equipped with a powerful spring. Once an animal steps on it, the trap will snap shut quickly.
These snares, made by villagers themselves, are very powerful and can break a child's bone.
As Qin Chuan set up the snare, he told Yang Zimo about its formidable power. Yang Zimo listened with a hint of fear on her small face and couldn't help but retreat further away.
A few minutes later, Qin Chuan finished setting up the snare and made a small mark nearby for future reference.
Next, Qin Chuan, with Yang Zimo following his lead, continued to set up snares in various strategic locations.
"Alright, all the snares I brought are now set!" Qin Chuan clapped the snow off his hands. "Now I'll take you to play an interesting game!"
"What game?" Yang Zimo asked, her face full of curiosity. Then she immediately added, "What about these traps?"
"Leave them be. We'll come back to check tomorrow!" Qin Chuan said casually. "This kind of hunting often depends on luck!"
Yang Zimo nodded, a little confused, and followed Qin Chuan.
"Second Brother, give me your big cage and thin rope. I'm taking Teacher Yang to catch pheasants!" Qin Chuan called out to Qin Gang, who was also setting traps in the distance.
From afar, Qin Gang, who was digging a hole in the ground, looked up and said irritably, "Then come over and get it yourself! Can't you see I'm busy?"
The traps he was setting were for larger animals, such as roe deer, wild boars, and other big creatures. This was a significant undertaking and very strenuous work, which explained Qin Gang's displeasure.
Of the three Qin brothers, the eldest, Qin Yang, was the most skilled with his bow and arrow, shooting any animal he saw with incredible precision.
The third brother, Qin Chuan, was accompanied by the beautiful and charming Teacher Yang, running around the riverbed, seemingly enjoying a life of luxury.
Yet, it was he who got the most arduous and tiring job of digging holes. It was no wonder Qin Gang felt resentful.
Without a second thought, Qin Chuan ran over, grabbed the big cage and thin rope, and turned to leave. Soon after, they arrived at the edge of a reed bush.
Qin Chuan began to set up the trap.
First, he picked up a wooden stick about a foot long from the ground, tied the thin rope to it, and then used the stick to prop up one corner of the big cage.
Then, he took out some grains, rice stalks, and other miscellaneous grains he had prepared in his bag and sprinkled them evenly on the ground below and around the edges of the cage.
"I know!" Yang Zimo suddenly jumped up, clapping her hands and exclaiming excitedly, "I've played this game before when I was little! I went with my dad to visit relatives in the Northeast, and some kids there played like this!"
"But they were trapping sparrows, and the cage wasn't this big!"
Qin Chuan nodded. "Yes, it's the same game, but this one is for catching pheasants, which are hundreds of times larger than sparrows!"
As he spoke, the big cage was completely set up. Qin Chuan, holding the thin rope, led Yang Zimo back, and they finally hid behind a large rock.
"Here, you hold the rope. As soon as you see a pheasant enter the cage, pull it quickly!" Qin Chuan handed the thin rope to Yang Zimo.
"Me? I can't. I'm afraid I'll let them escape..." Yang Zimo immediately shook her hands nervously.
"It's okay. If we fail, we'll try again. These pheasants are quite stupid and will fall for it again!" Qin Chuan gently took Yang Zimo's small hand, placed the thin rope in her palm without further ado, and looked directly into her eyes, his voice becoming deep and magnetic.
"Teacher Yang, I brought you here not just to follow along, but to truly participate. Only then will you experience real joy!"
"You..." Looking into his sincere, bright eyes, Yang Zimo suddenly felt her heart race. This was a feeling she had never experienced before. In a flurry, she quickly lowered her head, daring not to meet his gaze again, and hastily pulled her hand away from his rough one.
Qin Chuan sensed all of this and a slight smile played on his lips. He knew when to stop. As an experienced player, he understood the principle of not overdoing things. Courting a girl required more than just thick skin; it involved many aspects, such as being bold yet careful. It was like boiling a frog in warm water, requiring sufficient patience. By the time the girl realized it, it would be too late; someone would have already deeply imprinted themselves on her heart.
In his previous life, Qin Chuan had no opportunity to interact with the goddess he admired, which became one of his greatest regrets. Even after achieving fame and fortune, he could never find a trace of her. Now that he had been reborn, he was determined not to miss this chance again. With the skills and experience of decades as a seasoned player, Qin Chuan was confident he could win Yang Zimo over.
Time passed quietly. Qin Chuan and Yang Zimo chatted softly behind the large rock. After an unknown amount of time, Yang Zimo suddenly exclaimed, "A pheasant is coming!"
Qin Chuan peeked and indeed saw two plump pheasants waddling out of the reeds, pecking at the grains on the ground as they walked.
"Don't be nervous, relax!" Qin Chuan whispered into Yang Zimo's ear. "Wait until these two foolish birds are halfway into the cage, then pull the rope quickly!"
Due to their close proximity, the warm breath he exhaled tickled her ear. Yang Zimo's delicate body trembled slightly, and a blush spread across her fair neck, making it alluringly red. However, at this moment, she dared not move, fearing she might startle the two pheasants that had finally appeared. She had to endure it.
Yang Zimo didn't know what kind of feelings she was experiencing now. It was a mix of novelty, fear, and an underlying, unacknowledged emotion. Gradually, she even began to wander in her thoughts, until two large hands suddenly appeared on her wrist, and a low command came from beside her ear: "Pull now!"
She snapped back to reality and quickly pulled the rope!
*Cluck cluck!!*
*Cluck!!*
The large cage in the distance quickly fell, trapping the two plump pheasants perfectly. They flapped their wings and squawked, darting about.
"Ah, it's caught!" Yang Zimo excitedly stood up from behind the rock and ran towards the cage.
Qin Chuan followed behind, a smile on his face. However, at that moment, his gaze inadvertently swept across the opposite side. His forward momentum halted abruptly, his eyes widened, and his pupils constricted sharply.
"Yang... Teacher Yang!"
"Stop! Stop!!"
Ahead, Yang Zimo, who was almost at the cage, heard his voice and turned around in confusion, her face etched with surprise. "Qin Chuan, what's wrong?"
Qin Chuan tried his best to remain calm and said softly, "Come back quickly! Don't look back, just pretend nothing happened!"
"What is it? Why can't I look back?" Yang Zimo, completely unaware of what was happening, turned around out of curiosity. The moment she looked, her face turned pale with fright, and she quickly covered her mouth...