"Tie Niu, do you remember what Old Wang said? These traps have to be left to the animals to take the bait; we can't touch them."

Tie Niu swallowed hard and said in a low voice, "I remember, but we've been keeping watch for half the night and there hasn't been a sound. I'm getting really worried. Brother Du, do you think the wild boar might have figured it out?"

"See through it?" Du Jianshan chuckled, his voice low. "Do you think it's a human? Old Wang's cloth trap has been around in the mountains for years; even a black bear has suffered from it."

Tie Niu scratched his head and chuckled, "That's true. Old Wang's skills are admired by everyone in the commune. A few years ago during the winter hunt, he caught two deer all by himself, and my dad talked about it like it was a play when he came back."

"Shh." Du Jianshan raised his hand to signal, "The wind has changed."

Both of them listened intently. A faint sound of a dry twig snapping came from deep within the woods, then quickly faded into silence.

Tie Niu's breathing quickened immediately, and he asked in a low voice, "Did you hear that? Is it here?"

"Don't rush." ​​Du Jianshan slowly tucked the hunting rifle into his clothes. "Remember, don't get up even if you hear a noise. Wild animals are very clever."

Tie Niu nodded, but his hands unconsciously clenched the hem of his clothes. He lowered his voice and said, "Brother Du, this is my first time keeping watch at night, and I'm really nervous. I wouldn't dare to come if it weren't for you."

Du Jianshan glanced at him and said calmly, "The first time I went into the mountains, I was even more timid than you. Back then, I was with your third uncle, Zhao Youfu, and my legs went weak when I heard wolves howling at night."

Tie Niu was taken aback, but couldn't help laughing: "Brother Du, you've got this side to you too? I thought you were naturally brave."

“No one is born with it,” Du Jianshan said softly. “It’s all honed in the mountains. Remember, you need to be bold, but you can’t be reckless with your hands.”

As they were talking, the leaves on the other side of the trap twitched slightly, and the rope tightened a little.

Tie Niu's eyes widened, and he almost shouted, "It moved! It moved!"

Du Jianshan grabbed his shoulder and whispered, "Don't make a sound, look carefully before you speak."

The two held their breath. In the moonlight, a dark figure peeked out from beside the trap, its nose constantly sniffing the ground.

Tie Niu said in a low voice, "It looks like a deer."

“No.” Du Jianshan squinted. “A roe deer has a thin neck, but this one has broad shoulders and walks heavily. It’s a small wild boar.”

Tie Niu gasped, "Wild boar? That's not something to mess with. Didn't Old Wang say this was mainly for roe deer?"

“Things in the mountains are never certain,” Du Jianshan replied in a low voice. “As long as you step on it firmly, it can’t escape.”

The shadowy figure took another step forward, its front hooves landing squarely in the noose.

Tie Niu's heart pounded, and his lips trembled: "I stepped on it."

The rope tightened suddenly, and the lasso flipped up. The wild boar let out a hoarse squeal and struggled desperately.

"It's done." Du Jianshan stood up. "Tie Niu, stay close to me, and remember to stand to the side or behind, not in front of me."

"Yes," Tie Niu responded, his voice trembling, but he still picked up his hunting rifle.

The wild boar thrashed about in the trap, kicking up dust. Du Jianshan held his gun steady, but did not immediately pull the trigger.

Tie Niu got anxious: "Brother Du, what are we waiting for?"

"Let it cool down a bit," Du Jianshan said. "If we rush into a fight, we risk accidentally firing the wrong weapon."

The wild boar struggled a few more times, then its movements slowed down.

Du Jianshan said in a low voice, "It's done."

Gunshots rang out in the woods. The wild boar grunted and lay motionless on the ground.

Tie Niu finally let out a long breath, looking completely exhausted. He laughed and said, "Brother Du, it's done, it really is done. My dad will definitely praise me when we get back."

Du Jianshan put away his gun, walked over to inspect it, and nodded, saying, "Good luck. This one isn't big, just right to carry back. When Old Wang sees it tomorrow morning, he'll definitely start nagging you about being clumsy."

Tie Niu chuckled and said, "Let him ramble on. I'm happy."

The forest fell silent again, save for the rustling of pine needles in the wind. The two men carried their prey down the mountain, their footsteps making a soft sound as they walked on the fallen leaves.

Tie Niu suddenly said, "Brother Du, when it's time to distribute the meat, take a bigger portion. I've learned a thing or two from you today."