“On July 7th, if you don’t pick hazelnuts, pick pears.” Every year during the “Liushu” season, all kinds of wild fruits and mountain products gradually mature and can be picked.
Before the day of the Beginning of Autumn, the brigade had a unified rule: no one was allowed to go up the mountain to pick hazelnuts or pears, so as to ensure that these fruits were fully ripe and not "preempted by others".
Now that the Beginning of Autumn has passed, in a few days, Zhang's mother's birthday on the 20th day of the seventh lunar month will also arrive. Naturally, there will be no wild products and fruits waiting for Zhang Guoqing and his friends when they return.
In good years, some families could gather two or three sacks of hazelnuts, along with a variety of other wild fruits and vegetables. Besides selling them to purchasing stations, every household would have enough food and snacks to last them through the winter.
Now, the area surrounding Daqing Mountain has been over-harvested over the past two or three years. Without a few years of rest, it's unlikely to become lush and fruitful again.
But Xizi and the others don’t think so.
After breakfast, they looked at Zhang Guoqing, the "capable man," with anticipation, eager to go deeper into the mountainside. If it weren't for the frequent howling of wolves, the boys would have gone into the mountain long ago.
Zhang Guoqing hadn't slept the previous night and really didn't want to take them up the mountain. But he thought of the densely packed hazelnuts in the mountains, the handfuls of lovely bitter girls, the wild grapes in the gully, the clumps of hazel mushrooms under the oak trees, and the black fungus on the trees.
He really couldn't bear to give up! He was also upset for another reason. He couldn't believe the dozen or so hunters in the team hadn't noticed. He probably all tacitly kept silent, planning to harvest the spring wheat before secretly heading back up the mountain.
If that's the case, then his family should take over a wave first and see if those people can hold on? They are so ungrateful after getting the advantage. Do they really think that Daqing Mountain is their hunter family's backyard?
Zhang Guoqing was silent for a moment, then said to Xizi and Ziwen, "Xizi, go find your uncle Qingshan, and Ziwen, go find your uncle Qingfeng. Be careful not to reveal your true intentions. Ask them to take a day off and tell them I have something to talk to them about. If they hesitate, tell them that it's okay to wait and there's no rush."
Xizi and Ziwen smiled at each other, "Uncle, I know what to do."
Zhang Guoqing smiled and then instructed, "For this operation, tell everyone that your aunt is taking you up the mountain to collect herbs to be delivered to the team's clinic."
"I understand!" The two cousins grinned and laughed.
"Okay, go and do your business. Don't tell your brothers and sisters yet, be careful." After Zhang Guoqing finished speaking, he waved his hand and asked them to go out first.
After watching them both leave, he walked towards the main hall and glanced at Zhou Jiao and Ping An. The young couple left their son behind and sneaked back home.
Little Ping'an was thrilled. His dad had finally taken him up the mountain! So much meat and wild fruit! Thinking of this, the little elf's big eyes curved into crescents.
As Zhou Jiao entered the house, she frowned slightly and whispered, "I slept for a long time in the car, but you are different. Can't we go up the mountain tomorrow?"
Zhang Guoqing had made up his mind and had no intention of changing it. He smiled and said, "Why don't you go inside and try to see if your man is capable?"
Zhou Jiao laughed and scolded, "Pervert!"
"You're overthinking it. Don't worry, I'll be back when I'm tired. Go change into long clothes and pants, and take your son's bow and clothes with you."
Zhou Jiao nodded and quickly ran to the living room to prepare. With so many children coming, it was essential to have some protective powder. Besides snakes and insects, the most terrifying thing about the mountains was the buzzing wasps. Especially during this season, mosquitoes were everywhere, and even a little carelessness would result in a massive ulcer. Even after applying medicine, the itching would last for days.
When she came out, Zhou Jiao had changed into old clothes, with a large black bag slung across her shoulder and a bamboo basket on her back. This image made Zhang Guoqing laugh out loud.
"If you dare to laugh, I'll give you a handful of medicine!"
Oh~ That won’t do! Zhang Guoqing immediately coaxed her: “My wife is naturally beautiful, no matter how she dresses up, she looks good. How come you are so beautiful?”
"You're lying with your eyes open!" Zhou Jiao smiled and glanced at him.
Zhang Guoqing looked around and shouted, "Who said that? There is a fatal temptation: uniform show."
Zhou Jiao saw him running off as soon as he finished speaking, and quickly chased after him. This guy is dead! His thoughts are getting more and more dirty, thinking about all kinds of messed up things all day long!
The couple entered the old courtyard, joking around, and immediately acted as if they were not the same person. When they entered the main hall, Zhang Qingshan and Zhang Qingfeng, two cousins, had been waiting there for a long time.
"Xiaowu, are we going up the mountain? Do you need us to bring anything?"
Zhang Guoqing listened to Zhang Qingshan's question and said with a smile, "There are a lot of wild fruits and vegetables not far from the outside. Let's go take a look today, and you can arrange some for us brothers tonight."
Zhang Qingshan understood what was going on. They would have to steal the fruits for a day or two before bringing the villagers over to finish the job.
He took Qingfeng back to change clothes and take the sack from home. The two left in a hurry, but Zhang Guoqing had a headache!
He looked at the young men and women in the main room. "Wow! Twenty or so people, almost thirty. Now all looking at him with silly smiles."
What else could he say? Go ahead, go ahead! He had originally planned to go back to the mountains to collect loot for another day tomorrow, but now it seems he'd better forget it. He probably wouldn't have much left after these naughty kids messed around with it.
An hour passed before the thirty or so people had made precautionary preparations and were ready to go.
If so many people were to go out, they would definitely attract attention. Especially during summer vacation, the families in the brigade that could afford to send their children to school were relatively well-off and cared for their children. These elementary school students didn't work in the fields, but occasionally earned a few work points by cutting grass for pigs or herding cattle.
If they saw so many of them going up the mountain, especially with his uncle among them, these little kids would definitely follow. Not only would they have to spend all their energy taking care of the children, but they would also have to hand over everything they picked to the government.
Without waiting for Zhang Guoqing's arrangements, Xizi, Tiedan, Ziwen and other boys aged sixteen or seventeen, who had their own ideas, asked their younger brothers and sisters to separate and gather somewhere in Daqingshan.
At this time, Zhou Jiao did not allow Ping An to follow his brothers. She tied him up with a sling and held him in her arms. She secretly stuffed a packet of sleeping pills into her son's hand and pointed to the small gourd hanging around his neck.
Ping Anyuan still felt a little shy as a man being held in someone's arms, but when he saw this, he didn't care about what he was thinking and his eyes lit up.
——He can try it at will?
Zhou Jiao whispered as she walked, "Remember the prerequisites."
Xiao Ping'an nodded cheerfully. Isn't it just about not exposing it until a crisis? He'll have to tell his dad to stay away from outsiders. This opportunity won't come often!
Zhou Jiao knew exactly what her son was thinking. She smiled and said, "What you learn from books is ultimately meaningless. First, let me introduce you to some herbs, and then your dad will teach you how to survive in the forest."
Ping An then suppressed his smile and nodded earnestly. He remembered his mother saying that hunting was secondary; wilderness survival skills were essential. This was the purpose of this trip back home!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
