Upon hearing that it was just about driving the wild boars back to the mountains and not organizing a hunting trip, the villagers immediately lost interest.
However, considering that their land had not yet been harvested and could be damaged by wild boars at any time, they were worried about the possibility of it being destroyed.
In the end, everyone agreed.
"Jianguo is right."
The old Party Secretary stepped forward.
"The township can only send people next week, and we can't wait that long. Those who want to participate should start preparing their tools this afternoon."
There was a lot of discussion among the crowd.
Some people were worried about safety, some were thinking about the work in the fields, but most were young people eager to get started.
Su Jianguo saw that Zhang Dazhu and several young men had gathered together, gesturing as if to drive away wild boars.
"I'll participate!"
Zhang Dazhu shouted loudly.
"We can't just stand by and watch the crops get ruined!"
"I'm going too!"
Count me in!
A chorus of agreement rose and fell, and even several middle-aged women expressed their willingness to participate in the logistical work.
The old Party Secretary smiled with satisfaction and made the decision.
"Okay! Those who want to participate, please register. The rest of you, continue with the harvest. We'll meet at the village office before dark tonight to finalize the plan."
After the meeting, the villagers dispersed in twos and threes.
Su Jianguo noticed that Zhao the hunter hadn't left and was talking quietly with the old Party Secretary.
He walked over and heard Hunter Zhao say.
"Prepare plenty of torches; wild boars are afraid of fire. Also, find some tin buckets; they make a loud noise when you bang on them."
"Uncle Zhao is right."
Su Jianguo joined the conversation.
"I still have some unused sheet metal in my greenhouse that I can use."
The old Party Secretary patted Su Jianguo on the shoulder.
"Jianguo, you're quick-witted. Work with Uncle Zhao to come up with a detailed plan. I'll go to the warehouse and see what tools we can prepare."
Su Jianguo nodded, then suddenly remembered Wu Ermaitai on the mountain.
"Old Party Secretary, I need to go back to the greenhouse first. I'm worried about leaving Wu Ermai alone to watch over it."
"Go."
The old Party Secretary nodded understandingly.
"Just be back before dark."
Su Jianguo hurriedly got on his bicycle. He didn't go straight up the mountain, but went to his grandfather's place first.
After turning a corner over a dirt slope, a familiar courtyard came into view.
The courtyard gate was half-open, and the sound of spatulas clattering inside could be faintly heard.
Su Jianguo leaned his bicycle against the wall, pushed open the courtyard gate, and went inside.
"Mother, I'm back!"
In the kitchen, Grandma Su was standing in front of the stove, stir-frying soybeans. The soybeans in the iron pot crackled and popped, releasing a fragrant aroma.
Upon hearing the sound, the old lady turned her head in surprise, forgetting to stir the pot with the spatula in her hand.
"Jianguo? Why are you back so soon? Didn't you just return to the city a couple of days ago?"
Su Jianguo rushed to the stove, took the spatula from his mother's hand, and skillfully began to stir-fry.
"There's something going on at the greenhouse, and I was worried about it, so I came back to check on it."
As they were talking, the curtain to the main room was lifted, and Old Master Su came out upon hearing the noise.
"I just said I heard someone come in."
The old man squinted as he looked at his son.
"What happened again?"
Su Jianguo ladled the fried soybeans into a bowl before turning to his father.
"Dad, there are wild boars roaming the mountains."
"Wild boar?"
The old man frowned.
"Did it ruin the crops?"
"you do not say."
Su Jianguo sighed and recounted in detail how the wild boars had damaged the greenhouses and crops, and also talked about how the village had organized a militia team.
After listening, the old man silently took a few puffs of his pipe, then suddenly asked a question.
"What are you planning to do?"
Su Jianguo rubbed his hands together, his eyes unconsciously glancing towards the main room.
"Dad, I was thinking about... your two guns..."
"gun?"
The old man's eyes lit up, but then his face hardened again.
"What are you up to, kid?"
"No, Father, please listen to me."
Su Jianguo took a few steps closer.
"Wild boars have thick hides and tough flesh; just banging drums and gongs probably won't scare them away. If we had real weapons to intimidate them, the effect would definitely be different."
The old man didn't say anything, but stared at his son for a long time before suddenly turning around and walking into the house.
"Come in."
Su Jianguo quickly followed, his heart pounding with anxiety.
Upon entering the main room, the old man went straight to the inner room and pulled out a camphor wood chest from under the bed.
The box was locked, and the old man took out a brass key from his waist and unlocked it with a click.
The moment the lid was opened, a faint smell of gun oil wafted out.
The old man carefully took out two long spears wrapped in oilcloth from inside.
"This is a double-barreled shotgun."
The old man unwrapped the oilcloth from the first gun, revealing its gleaming barrel.
"This gun, your father traded thirty catties of grain coupons with an old hunter back then. It has a long range and great power."
He then carefully unwrapped the second long package.
"This is a Type 56 semi-automatic rifle. Although it's old, it's very accurate and perfect for dealing with wild boar herds."
Su Jianguo held his breath. He had seen his father carefully maintain these two guns since he was a child, but he had never been allowed to touch them.
"Dad, these two guns of yours."
Su Jianguo was somewhat excited, not expecting that the old man would actually bring out all of them.
The old man glanced at him sideways.
"What? You think your weapon isn't good enough?"
"No way!"
Su Jianguo was so anxious that he kept rubbing his hands together.
"I mean, this is such a precious item, you usually wouldn't even use it yourself..."
"nonsense!"
The old man glared.
"The crops are about to be ruined, and you're still hiding it?"
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