On Friday, when Xu Damao was taking his wife to work, he was stopped by Tong Shuai as they passed the security office. Seeing that there was something to discuss, Wang Minzhi went to the office herself.

"Da Mao, are you free tomorrow? I'll take you to a great place," Tong Shuai said excitedly.

"Where are you? Look how excited you are." Xu Damao looked at the other man's lewd appearance and his first thought was of a big sword. But now, a large cleaver would be more appropriate.

“Let’s go hunting. Tomorrow, a few of my comrades and I are going hunting in the mountains of Miyun. Lu Xiangyang is going too. Several of them are leaders in their units. Knowing more people will be good for you,” Tong Shuai said.

"My comrade, would it be appropriate for me to go?" What man wouldn't be tempted by the idea of ​​hunting? Especially Xu Damao, who had never handled a gun before and was itching to go.

“It’s okay, there are a few other people too, we’re all friends. Lu Xiangyang even specifically suggested bringing you along, saying he’d drink with you, because he thinks you’re a straightforward person, and he definitely wants to take you to try it this time,” Tong Shuai said.

It turned out that Xu Damao had secured a spot for Tong Shuai without hesitation a few days ago, which made him very happy, and he was thinking about how to repay the favor. After thinking it over, he decided that bringing Xu Damao into his circle of comrades would be the best solution.

It's called a "comrades-in-arms circle," but it's really just a circle of friends formed around comrades-in-arms, mostly young and middle-aged key personnel from various industries. They usually look after and help each other.

"Brother Tong, there's one more thing. I don't know how to shoot." Xu Damao suddenly realized that he didn't know how to shoot. It was like having a stunningly beautiful woman standing in front of him, but he suddenly felt weak and helpless.

"Oops, how could I forget about that? I kept thinking we're both veterans, I didn't consider you." Tong Shuai was also at a loss.

“Okay, let’s go to the shooting range now and practice. I’ll give you some temporary coaching. As for how well you can achieve it, that depends on your talent,” Tong Shuai said.

Then, Tong Shuai made a last-minute request for a small-scale shooting training session, taking Xu Damao and several other officers to a shooting range in the suburbs.

After a day of intensive training and unlimited ammunition, coupled with his excellent physical condition, Xu Damao's shooting skills improved significantly; he was at least able to hit the target most of the time. As for tomorrow, that would depend on luck.

"How much further is it? If I don't get off soon, my ass is going to be a mess. This isn't a car ride, it's more bumpy than riding a horse!" a fat man yelled in the car on the way to the mountains of Miyun.

"Don't worry, we'll be there soon. See that mountain? We'll just drive to the foot of it," Lu Xiangyang said with a smile.

"You've said that three times already, I'd be a fool to believe you," the fat man protested.

"Haha, Lao Qiang, you can't even handle a few bumps? How can your wife let you into bed tonight? Is she also exhausted after a few movements?" Tong Shuai teased.

Perhaps because they were in the wilderness, and the car was full of men, most of whom were acquaintances, they spoke very casually.

Besides Tong Shuai, Lu Xiangyang, and Xu Damao, the only other person in the car was this fat guy, Qiangda. Qiangda has a good name and comes from a well-off family, so he became fat in an era where thin people are the norm.

Qiangda may be overweight now, but he was a soldier before, though he served in the mess hall. After being discharged, his family arranged for him to work at the supply and marketing cooperative, and now at 35, he is the deputy head of the district supply and marketing cooperative.

Behind them was another car carrying three people: Gao Dashui, deputy head of the security department of the Third Textile Factory of the city; Han Daxi, director of the office of the district building materials factory; and Zhu Guangrong from the district government. Gao Dashui was a veteran, and the others, like Xu Damao, had hunting experience.

"Da Mao, it's not that I look down on you, but you're probably the worst off this group. Think about it, the rest of us are veterans, and those two have fought several times before, but you're the newbie."

Fatty Qiangda, seeing that Xu Damao was a newcomer, started a conversation. Since Lu Xiangyang and the others had brought this young man along, it meant he was capable and that they generally got along well with him.

"Brother Qiang, I'm not bragging, but with my physical condition, I could take on a tiger even without a gun, let alone with the weapons I brought."

Yesterday, Brother Tong already gave me intensive training, and I do have some talent. So, sorry, Brother Qiang, this time I can't be your last-place finisher; you'll probably have to keep wearing that "perennial last place" hat.

It's not illegal to brag, so Xu Damao bragged as much as he could.

"Which of you two leaked the news that I was at the bottom?" Qiangda blushed with embarrassment upon hearing that he had been ranked last for a thousand years.

He used to be in the mess hall, so his skills weren't great. Now, he's always the last one up the mountain or in a chase. So, what he actually likes most is fishing, and what he hates most is hunting.

"Haha, Fatty, I told you not to come, not to come, but you insisted. Every time you're the last one standing, who is?" Lu Xiangyang laughed heartily.

"I won't lose face, even if I lose. Besides, every time I come in last place, it motivates me to lose weight." If ordinary people heard Qiangda's words, they'd be furious. Other people are starving and skinny, but he's trying to lose weight.

After a leisurely stroll, we finally arrived at our destination. This was considered one of the smaller mountains in Miyun. Looking up, we were surrounded by rolling mountains and tall trees, with the distant sounds of birdsong.

The group unloaded their guns and equipment from the vehicle and began to split into groups according to their vehicles. They agreed to meet at the same location three hours later and then proceeded in two separate groups, one on the left and one on the right.

"Okay, let's split up the four of us to ensure shooting safety, but remember the route. Whoever can't walk anymore should rest. I'm talking to you, Fatty, don't look at Da Mao." Tong Shuai, as a former squad leader, began to give instructions.

"Haha, Fatty, you're going to stand up for yourself today, no matter what." Seeing the unwillingness in Qiangda's small eyes, Xu Damao and Lu Xiangyang also laughed.

After the four separated, Xu Damao walked deeper into the forest for a while, and he clearly sensed something different. The trees were taller, there was a lot more weeds under the trees, and many wild grasses and flowers that he had never seen before appeared.

Suddenly, several pheasants flew out from the bushes not far away, clucking loudly. But by the time Xu Damao raised his gun to shoot, the pheasants had already disappeared.

Although he didn't hit anything, it served as a warning to Xu Damao that there was prey in the area. He raised his gun and began to slowly advance.

"Bang, bang!" In the distance, someone fired several shots, indicating that they had already made a kill.

Just then, Xu Damao saw a rabbit, perhaps startled, run out and almost crash into a tree.

"There really is such a thing as waiting for a rabbit to run into a tree stump," Xu Damao chuckled.

The rabbit didn't die from the collision, but it wasn't far from Xu Damao. He raised his gun, fired, "bang," but didn't hit a single hair.