Chapter 2: Borrowing a Gun

“Don’t rush, Mother. Take two taels of meat and try to trade it for some milk. If that’s not possible, then exchange it for some white flour to make porridge!” While they were talking, Zhang Yang was already in the kitchen, skillfully preparing the wild rabbit.

“Goodness, how could I forget! Trading meat should definitely work!” Li Huifang said without hesitation, grabbing the meat and heading out.

“Sister, you rest first! Wenwen, Feifei, come light the fire and bring the pot to a boil. Brother is going to cook some meat for you!” Zhang Yang continued to give instructions.

The children of poor families mature early.

Though Wenwen and Feifei were young, they already knew how to share household chores.

The stove fire roared brightly.

Zhang Yang had kept two rabbit legs aside and stewed the rest.

Paired with wild vegetable roots they had foraged, the aroma filled the room.

Wenwen and Feifei were already lying by the stove, their eyes fixed on the large pot, drooling at the smell alone.

Zhang Yang found it amusing and handed them two generous chunks of meat. “Have a little something to satisfy your cravings first. We’ll eat together when Mother returns! Sister, you have one too!”

Zhang Yan rolled her eyes. “I’m not a child... *sob*.”

“What’s the big deal?” Zhang Yang insisted, shoving the meat into her mouth.

“I got milk!” Li Huifang returned excitedly, holding a large ceramic bowl. “Luckily, Cuihua’s daughter-in-law is nursing after childbirth and has plenty of milk. We traded for a big bowl. If it’s not enough, we can get more over the next few days. Hurry and feed the baby!”

Ya-ya seemed ravenously hungry, eagerly gulping down the milk with tiny hands, utterly content and satisfied.

“Let’s eat on the kang (heated brick bed) too!” Zhang Yang suggested.

A large basin of wild vegetables stewed with rabbit meat was brought out.

Li Huifang was stunned, emotions rising. “Yangyang, you stewed all the rabbit meat? How will we manage later?!”

In these times of scarcity, many had starved across the country. Every household tightened their belts.

Eating meat was a luxury; even white flour was precious.

Being able to eat coarse grains and wild vegetables was considered fortunate.

Zhang Yang stewed the entire rabbit, so it was natural she felt uneasy.

“Mother, I still saved two legs!” Zhang Yang chuckled, patting his chest. “From now on, I’ll support this family. We won’t lack food and can eat to our heart’s content!”

“Especially you, sister. You’re still in confinement and need to eat plenty of meat to recover!”

Zhang Yan’s eyes reddened. “Yangyang, I feel like my brother has changed into someone else!”

“Like a man, sensible and even cooking now!”

“Yeah, how did you suddenly change so much?” Li Huifang found it strange too.

She felt like her son was a completely different person.

“A man’s growth happens in an instant. Hurry up and eat, it’s getting cold!” Zhang Yang thought to himself with a sigh.

He had dreamed of seeing his family whole again.

Heaven had granted him this chance, the family reunited.

Sadly, a few years ago, his father Zhang Hezhu broke his leg while gathering mountain herbs. Without medical care or food, he didn’t survive.

“Father, wherever you are in heaven, I vow to make sure our family lives well!” Zhang Yang silently swore.

Under the dim kerosene lamp, the family ate heartily.

Especially Wenwen and Feifei, whose little bellies were so full they could barely move.

“Mother, you get things ready, I’m going to Uncle Lao De’s place!” Zhang Yang, full and satisfied, grabbed a rabbit leg and headed out.

---

The household was already short on clothes and food. Now with his eldest sister and niece added, one rabbit meal was hardly enough.

They needed to replenish the family quickly.

This was still before the reform and opening period; earning work points barely filled stomachs.

The only option was hunting.

Wild resources were abundant in this era, with no bans on guns or hunting.

Zhang Yang trusted that, with the skills from his past life, he could bring home plenty.

After all, before rebirth, he had been a shooting champion!

Knock, knock, knock!

Zhang Yang stood before a small house at the foot of the mountain and knocked. “Uncle Lao De, it’s me!”

Uncle Lao De’s full name was Zhang Minde, the village ranger and an old hunter.

He had a hunting rifle!

“Who’s there?”

After a moment, rustling footsteps approached, and the door creaked open slightly.

“Zhang Yang? Is that you, boy?” Zhang Minde was surprised, stepping aside quickly. “Come in, it’s cold outside. Have a cup of hot water.”

Zhang Yang entered.

The house was small, about thirty square meters. In the east corner lay some cardboard mats and a faded floral mattress—worn but clean.

A simple square table leaned against the west wall, covered in dust, clearly unused for some time.

In the center was a clay stove, usable for cooking and warming water.

“Uncle Lao De, why don’t you go home? It’s freezing; no wildfires or anything,” Zhang Yang said casually, pulling up a wooden stool to sit by the stove.

Zhang Minde ran his fingers through his messy hair and tightened his patched cotton jacket.

As he sat, he sighed deeply and shook his head. “How can I? My son broke his leg and can’t get out of bed. The kids at home are waiting to be fed. I have to stay in the mountains and see if I can find something.”

“Hey! Good luck today!” Zhang Yang grinned, pulling a rabbit leg from his pocket. “I was lucky on the mountain and caught a rabbit. Thought I’d bring it by to show my respect.”

“A rabbit?!” Zhang Minde’s eyes lit up with joy. He weighed the leg carefully, growing even more envious. “Boy, this rabbit must weigh at least five or six jin. I haven’t caught one this fat in months!”

In this bitter cold, the snowy forest was covered deep in white, and larger game hid away for winter. Occasionally, a wild rabbit or pheasant appeared, but they were usually too skinny to even bite.

Zhang Yang rubbed his hands and smiled. “Hey, Uncle Lao De, can I talk to you about something? I want to borrow your gun for a while.”

“Borrow my gun? No way!” Zhang Minde’s heart tightened and his voice rose.

This rifle was his lifeline!

If this were before, he’d have handed the rabbit leg back and kicked Zhang Yang out with his catch.

But not this time.

His son and wife had been surviving on tree bark and the last wild vegetable cakes for half a month, all given to the kids.

If he didn’t bring home some meat, even if his son’s leg healed, he might be left with lasting complications.

With that in mind, Zhang Minde’s tone softened. “Zhang Yang, it’s not that I’m stingy, but if something happens to you, how could I explain it to your mother?”

“Uncle Lao De, I have no choice either!” Zhang Yang tried a roundabout approach. “You know my father died years ago, and it’s just my mother managing things. With two younger sisters, we barely have enough to eat or wear. I’m a man—I must support the family. How could I face my late father otherwise?”

“I want to hunt in the mountains!”

Zhang Minde frowned, silent, then quietly took out a pipe, packed a pinch of tobacco, lit it, and inhaled deeply, exhaling thick gray smoke.

Zhang Yang knew the uncle was still hesitant.

---

“Uncle Lao De, how about this? You rent me the gun. Two rabbit legs per two days of rent. When I catch something, I’ll bring it to you and keep renting. How’s that?”

“Rent the gun?”

Seeing him pick up the offer, Zhang Yang knew the deal was done.

“Yes, rent the gun!”

Zhang Yang grinned, eyes bright and resolute. “I work, you provide the gun! That way, both our families have meat!”

“Your father went mountain hunting with me a few times. You’re just like him—a real man!”

“But the mountains are dangerous. You’re young and reckless! Do you even know how to use a gun?” Zhang Minde finally loosened up, worried Zhang Yang might get hurt.

“Uncle Lao De, don’t underestimate me!” Zhang Yang challenged. “Dare me to shoot once?”

“Oh, bold, huh?” Zhang Minde raised his eyebrows, pointing outside to a crooked poplar tree. “There’s a lowest branch on the left side. If you can hit it, I’ll not only lend you the gun but also ten bullets.”

Zhang Yang laughed.

He was a shooting champion.

This was nothing.

Without hesitation, he shouldered the rifle, chambered a round, and pulled the trigger.

Bang!

A muffled shot.

The branch shattered and fell.

Zhang Minde was dumbfounded.

He only required a hit.

Zhang Yang went further, precisely hitting and breaking the branch.

Even he couldn’t do better.

“Where did you learn to shoot like that?”

“That’s none of your business, Uncle Lao De. Deal’s a deal!” Zhang Yang smiled.

“Hmph, I’m a man of my word. I won’t cheat you!” Zhang Minde immediately counted out ten bullets from his pocket. Though tough on the outside, his face betrayed a hint of pain.

In these times, bullets were rare.

Once used, they were gone.

“Boy, keep this safe! This gun has been with me for over ten years. If you lose it, I won’t forgive you!” Though he said it sternly, his eyes shone with hidden joy.

No need to go to the mountain for meat—what a wonderful life! Now he could finally visit his grandchild.

“Don’t worry, Uncle Lao De. As long as the gun’s here, I’m here! When I catch something, I’ll bring you some!” Zhang Yang promised, taking the gun and heading home.

Li Huifang and Zhang Yan were chatting, while Wenwen and Feifei nestled by the kang, playing with Ya-ya.

“Mom, you take Wenwen and Feifei to bed tonight. Sister, you sleep with Ya-ya by my kang. No need to cram together!”

“If I sleep on your kang, where will you sleep?” Zhang Yan asked.