Chapter 3: Night Hunt

“I’m going out tonight. I won’t be coming back!” Zhang Yang declared.

“Where are you going?”

“Yangyang, it’s late at night. You shouldn’t be reckless. Are you going into the mountains again?” Li Huifang’s face grew stern.

“Oh no, I’m just going to Dongzi’s to hang out for the night. Haven’t seen him for a while!” Zhang Yang didn’t want his family to worry, so he brushed off their concerns and, grabbing a rabbit leg as a gift, headed over to Dongzi’s place.

Zhao Dong wasn’t from Zhangjiatun.

His parents died early, and an old widower in the village took him in.

After the old man passed away, Zhao Dong was left alone.

He and Zhang Yang were about the same age and had played together since childhood.

He was generous and loyal.

Though not wealthy himself, whenever he had something, he always shared it with Zhang Yang’s family.

At this moment, Zhao Dong was curled up on the kang bed, whimpering from hunger.

Bang!

Zhang Yang kicked open the door. “Dongzi, you’re supposed to be the hunting king of Zhangjiatun, right? How come you don’t even have meat to eat and are just sitting here whining? Aren’t you ashamed?”

“Damn it, Yangzi!” Zhao Dong was startled and retorted grumpily, “Don’t make jokes at my expense. I’ve had no luck lately, haven’t even caught a feather!”

As he spoke, Zhao Dong rolled off the bed. His dark blue jacket was full of patches, and the black trousers underneath probably belonged to the old widower—too short, revealing gray-white cotton socks.

“What brings you here?” Zhao Dong sniffed, putting on his cloth shoes as he got down.

“My luck’s better—I caught a fat rabbit. Here, this is for you!” Zhang Yang tossed the rabbit leg over.

“Hell yeah, meat! Nice one, Yangzi!” Zhao Dong’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

Quickly, he built a campfire and pulled out a glass bottle from a cabinet, shaking it at Zhang Yang. “This is the wild chicken wine I got earlier. I didn’t want to drink it, but today you’re in luck!”

“Hahaha! Cheers!” Zhang Yang plopped down.

The rabbit leg had been prepared and only needed roasting.

The sizzling oil released a fragrant aroma.

Zhao Dong poured two bowls of corn stalk wine and ate heartily. “Why aren’t you eating?”

“I already did!” Zhang Yang smiled. “Here, drink up. Brothers need no words.”

“What, getting all philosophical now!” Zhao Dong scratched his head. “Yangzi, I feel something’s off about you tonight. You must be in trouble!”

“Is it because of our sister?”

“I’ve heard about it. That scoundrel Old Wang from Wulipu is bullying her…”

“Yeah, it’s true,” Zhang Yang sighed dramatically. “So, I’m planning to bring my sister back home. With her and the kid, there’ll be more mouths to feed. I have to think of a way.”

“Dongzi, I’m heading to Jiazi Valley tonight. Want to come with me?”

“What?!” Zhao Dong almost spat out his wine. “Yangzi, are you crazy? The roe deer in Jiazi Valley are notorious—fierce and stubborn. They might even bite. Our village’s crops have suffered a lot from them. You want to go hunt them?”

“And the terrain there is rough. I get you’re anxious, but you can’t risk your life!”

Back when the old widower was still alive, he often took Zhao Dong to Jiazi Valley. There were plenty of roe deer, but even more wild rabbits.

After the old man passed, Zhao Dong never went back there.

Partly because he lacked the old man’s hunting experience, and partly because Jiazi Valley was genuinely dangerous—many who went in on foot didn’t come out alive.

In these times, being sick or injured was almost a death sentence.

“No joke. I’m ready!” Zhang Yang flashed his gun.

“You know the terrain; I’ve got the firepower. If we go together, we definitely won’t come back empty-handed!”

“That... that’s Uncle Old De’s hunting rifle, right?” Zhao Dong’s eyes widened with envy. “You actually got him to lend it to you?”

He was genuinely moved.

If they could bring down a roe deer, they’d have good food for a while.

“Having a gun makes all the difference!”

“Come on! Let me see… Wow, if only I had a gun, I’d surely become Zhangjiatun’s hunting king!”

“When we make some money, we’ll each buy one!” Zhang Yang draped an arm over his shoulder. “But for now, I’m shooting tonight. You bring the machete to back me up.”

“You?” Zhao Dong scoffed. “You know how to use a gun?”

“Whether I do or not, you’ll see tonight. Trust me!”

“Alright, if we’re doing this, let’s leave now!”

“Don’t you have a flashlight? Bring that, and a couple of corncobs too.”

The night was vast and dark.

The cold wind cut sharply.

By the faint glow of the flashlight, Zhang Yang and Zhao Dong stepped carefully through the snowdrifts and arrived at Jiazi Valley.

Jiazi Valley lay just beneath the village—a natural crevice lined with shrubs and thorns on both sides.

Every year, when the crops sprouted, herds of roe deer would emerge from there and wreak havoc on the fields.

“Let’s hurry!”

They split tasks—one dug a pit, the other sharpened sticks.

About a meter deep, after digging, they buried pointed sticks upside down at the bottom, covered the surface with leaves, sprinkled some corncobs, then tore apart the leftover roasted rabbit leg into pieces, hanging them with vines above the trap.

Double bait—any roe deer stepping in would surely get caught.

Zhao Dong winced. “Yangzi, just some corncobs would’ve done, but using meat as bait? Such a waste!”

“If you don’t risk, you don’t gain. Haven’t you eaten most of it already?” Zhang Yang rolled his eyes. “Let’s wait up in the trees. Once we catch a roe deer, we won’t be short of meat!”

Roe deer are herbivores but will eat meat, especially during this lean winter season. The scent of meat was an irresistible lure.

“True enough.”

Zhao Dong scratched his head, and both climbed separate large trees.

These were pre-chosen vantage points.

From above, they had a clear view of the surroundings.

The cold wind howled, making them shiver.

Luckily, they had brought some wine. When feeling too cold, they took a few sips to warm up.

They waited until late into the night. Zhao Dong trembled, “Yangzi, maybe we should call it quits. I’m freezing to death!”

“Animals know to hibernate. The roe deer won’t come out either.”

“If we don’t catch anything, I’m not going home!” Zhang Yang was just as cold but firmly believed they would succeed.

In this bitter weather, it was hard for the roe deer to find food.

With the smell of meat, they had to come out.

Suddenly—

“Ahh!”

Zhao Dong was about to speak when a sharp cry echoed.

He jolted, immediately switched on his flashlight, and excitedly said, “Damn, Yangzi! Speak of the devil! At least sixty or seventy kilos… Wait, the trap’s too shallow—it won’t hold it! It’s escaping! Shoot, shoot now!”

Zhang Yang gripped the gun, aimed at the roe deer under the flashlight’s beam.

But the deer struggled violently, jumping back and forth, and he hesitated to shoot.

Zhao Dong grew impatient. “Yangzi, do you even know how to shoot or not?”

“If not, let me try!”

“That’s a big roe deer! Don’t let it get away!”

Bang!

The gunshot shattered the silence of Jiazi Valley.

The struggling roe deer fell silently, no longer moving.

Zhao Dong slid down the tree and gave a thumbs-up. “Yangzi, you’re amazing! A single shot to the forehead! When did you learn that? I never knew!”

“I practiced in my mother’s womb, believe it or not,” Zhang Yang exhaled and climbed down.

“Ha! Why don’t you say you’re a natural sharpshooter?” Zhao Dong smirked. “We’re rich! A sixty or seventy kilo wild roe deer will feed us for at least half a month…”

Zhang Yang smiled.

With this roe deer, they could at least ease the family’s food shortage for a while.

“Dongzi, be careful!”

Suddenly, the bushes rustled violently, and Zhang Yang’s expression changed abruptly.

“Ah!”

Another strong roe deer charged out, its sharp tusks like two pointed spikes, viciously lunging at Zhao Dong.

“Jesus!” Zhao Dong gasped, scared stiff. He tried to run, but his legs trembled uncontrollably.