After saying that, Su Jianguo looked at everyone.
"Anyone brave enough to come with me and confront that beast!"
Su Jianjun immediately stepped forward and slung his hunting rifle over his shoulder.
Count me in.
"I'm going too!"
Zhang Dazhu squeezed through, carrying a wood-chopping knife in his hand.
Hunter Zhao slowly got up, indicating that he wanted to join as well.
Finally, the final selections were Su Jianguo, Su Jianjun, Zhang Dazhu, Zhao Liehu, and two young men who had served in the military.
The old Party Secretary had someone fetch three old-fashioned hunting rifles from the warehouse. Although the rifles weren't very good, at this point, they didn't care about the quality.
...
As night fell, Sujiatun was shrouded in an unusual silence.
At this time of year, the village would usually be filled with the sounds of children playing, women chatting and laughing in their courtyards, and men discussing crops while smoking their pipes.
But tonight, the entire village was eerily quiet, as if under a spell.
The windows of every household were pitch black, and no one dared to light even a kerosene lamp.
Only the occasional sliver of light filtering through the curtains proved that someone was still awake inside.
The village road was deserted; even the guard dogs were tied up inside the houses, for fear that their barking would disturb something they shouldn't.
"Close all doors and windows, and don't leave any light on in any house!"
The old Party Secretary, leaning on his cane, patrolled the village road.
"That beast has sharp eyes; it can tell someone's there just by the light."
On the other side, on the hillside where the vegetable greenhouses were located, six figures were busy working under the moonlight.
Su Jianjun, along with two young militiamen, was conducting a final check on the trap setup.
He strung up three tripwires within a 20-meter radius around the greenhouse, each with a small bell attached, which would sound a clear alarm if touched.
Further away, they dug several deep pits, filled with sharpened wooden stakes, which were then disguised with branches and dead leaves.
"If that beast dares to come, let it taste our trap first."
Su Jianjun said with great pride.
Hunter Zhao squatted to the side, loading bullets into the magazine with practiced and steady movements.
"This wild boar king is no ordinary beast; ordinary traps probably won't be able to hold it."
The old man's voice was hoarse but firm.
"We need to prepare for the worst."
Zhang Dazhu and two other militiamen were responsible for inspecting the weapons.
In addition to three shotguns and two rifles, they also prepared several homemade spears and machetes, their blades gleaming coldly in the moonlight.
Su Jianguo stood on high ground, his gaze sweeping over his surroundings.
The mountain forest under the moonlight appeared particularly eerie, with every shadow seeming to harbor some kind of danger.
His intuition told him that tonight would not be peaceful.
"Divide into two groups and take turns resting."
Su Jianguo gave the order.
"Jianjun, Dazhu, and I will take the first shift. Uncle Zhao will take two young men to rest. Wake everyone up immediately if there's any noise."
Everyone nodded in agreement and quickly took their places as arranged.
Su Jianjun led Zhang Dazhu to patrol the perimeter of the greenhouse, walking very quietly, for fear of disturbing any wild animals that might be lurking in the shadows.
Su Jianguo stood at the highest point, motionless like a statue, only his eyes flashing with a wary light in the darkness.
Time passed second by second, and the moon slowly climbed to its zenith.
At midnight, the first shift ended, and Su Jianguo woke up Zhao the hunter and two young militiamen to relieve him.
Is there anything unusual?
Hunter Zhao rubbed his eyes and quickly went on alert.
Su Jianguo shook his head.
It's too quiet.
Hunter Zhao frowned as well.
"This isn't right. Usually, there's some noise coming from the mountains around this time."
After his shift ended, Su Jianjun couldn't fall asleep.
He lay on the makeshift straw mat, his eyes fixed on the dark ceiling.
"Brother, do you think that beast will really come?"
He asked in a low voice.
"If I shot you during the day, any wild animal would run far away."
Su Jianguo leaned against the wall, never putting down the rifle in his hand.
"It will come."
"That wild boar king isn't an ordinary beast; it holds grudges and is intelligent. Ermaitai humiliated it today, and it will surely retaliate."
"But we have so many people, so many guns..."
Su Jianjun's voice carried a hint of uncertainty.
"That's why it strikes when the opponent is at their weakest."
Su Jianguo turned to look at his younger brother.
"When we all let our guard down."
These words completely banished Su Jianjun's sleepiness.
He sat up, checked the ammunition in his hunting rifle again, and then went to the shed entrance to keep watch with Zhao and the other hunters.
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