"Shan...Brother Shan..."
Wang Tieniu scrambled over, his voice still trembling, "Are you...are you alright? You scared me to death..."
Du Jianshan wiped the sweat from his face and grinned, "Damn it, I almost died here!"
Wang Tieniu had recovered by now, his eyes wide open, and he circled the bear carcass twice: "Brother Shanzi! This...this is a big one! We're going to be rich!"
He squatted down and touched the bear skin; the thick fur was very prickly. "This pelt alone could fetch at least four or five hundred! And the bear gallbladder—I heard the supply and marketing cooperative buys that; it's worth a fortune!"
Du Jianshan kicked the bear's belly, his heart filled with joy.
These days, every part of a bear is valuable!
Bear skin can be used to make coats, bear bile is a valuable medicinal material, and bear paws are rare items that money can't buy!
He roughly calculated that this bear could be exchanged for at least eight or nine hundred yuan!
"Tie Niu, don't just stand there! Hurry up and lend a hand, skin it while it's still fresh!" Du Jianshan pulled out the dagger he carried with him and brandished it against the bear's neck.
Wang Tieniu slapped his thigh: "Brother Shanzi, I think you've wasted your time digging that dugout! Once we get this money, we can build a brick house right away!"
Du Jianshan laughed and shook his head: "Get lost! We're already here, it would be a waste not to stay in a dugout! Let's get to work!"
The two got busy.
Du Jianshan worked swiftly, cutting along the midline of the bear's belly and carefully peeling off the entire skin.
Wang Tieniu, who was helping out, would occasionally exclaim in amazement, "Wow! This leather is really thick! It will be so warm to lay on the kang (heated brick bed) in winter!"
After skinning the bear, Du Jianshan cut open its belly, took out the dark green bear gallbladder, wrapped it in oil paper he had prepared beforehand, and put it in his pocket.
"This is the most valuable thing, we have to keep it safe."
The remaining bear meat was divided into several large pieces, with the thick bear paws wrapped up separately.
The two men cut some branches, wove them into a simple raft, piled the bear meat and hide on it, and tied it securely with straw rope.
"Let's go! Down the mountain!" Du Jianshan called out, and he and Wang Tieniu dragged the raft back one after the other.
The raft left deep marks on the ground, but fortunately the soil in the forest was soft, so it wasn't too difficult.
Their hands were numb from the journey before they finally returned to the oxcart.
The old ox smelled blood and snorted uneasily.
"Don't be afraid, old buddy, let's go home now!" Wang Tieniu patted the cow's neck and piled the bear meat and hide onto the truck.
Du Jianshan jumped onto the carriage shaft and gave the reins a flick: "Giddy up!"
The oxcart creaked and groaned as it made its way back, its wheels crunching over the gravel road.
Wang Tieniu sat in the back of the cart, stroking the bear skin with satisfaction: "Brother Shanzi, this is truly a blessing in disguise! Who would have thought that hunting would lead to such a good thing!"
Du Jianshan turned around and laughed, "You'd better be more careful in the future. Don't bring the smell of blood with you when you hunt, or you'll attract wild beasts!"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Wang Tieniu nodded repeatedly, then suddenly remembered something: "By the way, Brother Shanzi, how about we keep some of this bear meat for ourselves? I've never tasted bear meat before!"
Du Jianshan thought for a moment and said, "Alright, keep one hind leg, and sell the rest. Keep one bear paw too, so we can have a taste!"
"Great!" Wang Tieniu rubbed his hands together with delight, already imagining the taste of bear meat.
When we got back to Baiyangbao, it was only a little past eight o'clock, and the sky was still bright.
The old ox slowly pulled the cart, the bear meat and hides piled on the bed standing out conspicuously in the setting sun.
"Hey! Look! What's that?"
Someone in the crowd leaving work shouted, and everyone's eyes immediately turned to them.
"My God! That's a bear?"
"Du Jianshan and Wang Tieniu fought? Those two are quite capable!"
"Tsk tsk tsk, this skin, this meat, how much is it worth..."
A crowd surged forward, exclaiming in amazement, their eyes fixed on the meat on the truck, many swallowing hard.
These days, who doesn't have a shortage of money?
Look at this meat, it must weigh at least several hundred pounds!
It's bear meat!
Du Jianshan jumped out of the car, dusted off his hands, glanced at everyone, and grinned: "Don't just stand there, everyone. If you want to trade for meat, bring something to exchange!"
"One pound per household, just enough for a little treat!"
He pondered this all the way before coming up with this compromise.
With so much meat, it would be conspicuous to carry it back all the way; it was impossible to keep it a secret from the educated youth and the villagers.
The main reason is that meat prices have been high in the past two years, and the commune canteen only serves meat once a month.
Nobody wanted to use their work points to buy meat.
He's carrying so much meat; who knows, he might attract some jealous people.
The Ma siblings already have enemies in Baiyangbao; it wouldn't be good to make enemies again.
Besides, if I really want to repair the house or do something else in the future, won't I need someone's help?
One jin per family. He calculated that, including the educated youth settlement and the surrounding villagers, the maximum weight would be around 70 jin, which was manageable.
Since we're going to sell them anyway, we might as well do a favor.
Sure enough, as soon as these words were spoken, everyone's eyes lit up.
"real?"
"Comrade Du, how about I exchange them for eggs?"
"I have dried vegetables at home!"
"I have two jin of wheat flour!"
The crowd erupted in chaos, rushing to their homes in a frenzy, afraid of missing out if they were too late.
Du Jianshan and Wang Tieniu unloaded the meat, placed it on a clean wooden board, and began cutting it on the spot.
Before long, people from each household returned with their belongings, lining up to exchange them for meat.
"Comrade Du, these are ten eggs that my family has saved up. Look..."
"Alright, I'll cut you this piece, a good mix of fat and lean!"
"Thank you! Thank you!"
"Brother Du, this is all the dried mushrooms I have at home..."
"It's alright, it'll do. Here, take this one!"
The atmosphere at the meat exchange was lively and enthusiastic. Many people held pieces of meat, grinning from ear to ear, muttering, "Tonight we've finally had some meat..."
After the meat had been mostly replaced, Du Jianshan deliberately kept a few good pieces, including a piece of hind leg meat with a good balance of fat and lean meat, which he wrapped separately in oil paper.
As they were packing, Aygul squeezed through the crowd with a basket on her shoulder, her cheeks slightly flushed, and whispered, "Comrade Du, I... I brought some cheese and naan bread, can I exchange them for some meat?"
Du Jianshan looked up and saw it was her. He immediately smiled and handed her the wrapped piece of hind leg meat, saying, "Here, I saved this especially for you."
Aygul was taken aback and quickly waved her hand, "This...this is too much, I..."
"Take it. Didn't you bring us food before?" Du Jianshan stuffed it into her basket without saying a word. "Besides, your father lent us his oxcart, and we haven't thanked him yet."
Aygul blushed even more, pursed her lips, and whispered, "Thank you..."
She had just taken the meat when suddenly, a sharp and sarcastic voice rang out from outside the crowd.
"Hey! What's going on here? Offering meat in front of everyone? Du Jianshan, aren't you showing favoritism to the extreme?"
"Don't just think about making money; getting back alive is the most important thing," Old Zhang advised.
"That's right, safety comes first. We also need to make sure we have all the necessary equipment: off-road boots, warm clothes, and enough dry rations," Du Jianshan added.
"Dry food is crucial; we can't go hungry on the road. Old Zhang, do you have any dry food in your bag?" Ah Hu asked.
Old Zhang patted his pocket and took out a few dry steamed buns: "I brought some, but we still need to prepare more ourselves."
"Let's go to the market first thing tomorrow morning and buy some necessary equipment and tools," Du Jianshan said, his eyes resolute.
"Okay, it's settled then." Ah Hu nodded.
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, the three of them set off. The market was already bustling with activity, the cries of vendors rising and falling. Du Jianshan led the other two from door to door, asking around and buying several sharp hunting knives, several pairs of sturdy leather gloves, and several pairs of warm cloth boots.
"These things are enough. With a sharper hunting knife, hunting will be much easier." Du Jianshan looked at the hunting knife in his hand with satisfaction.
"Yes, don't underestimate this little thing; it can save lives in a critical moment," Old Zhang agreed.
Ah Hu carried a bag of dry food, thinking about what life would hold for him.
A few days later, the three began setting traps on the mountain. Du Jianshan taught them how to cover their footprints and how to choose paths where prey frequently appeared.
"Look here, the snow is thick. We need to find some dry places to hide our traps. The traps need to be well concealed so that the prey falls in when it comes," Du Jianshan explained patiently.
"So, we need to observe the habits of animals more closely and know when they come out to look for food," Ah Hu said, somewhat understanding.
"That's right, most animals avoid the cold wind during the day and only become active in the evening and early morning," Lao Zhang added.
That evening, the three of them sat around the fire, and Du Jianshan took out a map to plan their hunting route for the next few days.
“There’s a canyon here, and I’ve heard that mountain rabbits often appear there. Let’s go check it out tomorrow,” he said, pointing to the map.
"Okay, we'll listen to Brother Du, we'll all follow you." Ah Hu said excitedly.
The next day, before dawn, the three of them set off with their equipment on their backs. The mountain path was rugged, but everyone was well-prepared and their steps were steady.
Reaching the edge of the canyon, Du Jianshan used binoculars to observe the distance. Suddenly, he pointed to a thicket of bushes and said, "Look, there's movement over there. It might be a mountain hare."
The three crouched down and quietly approached. Sure enough, several snow-white rabbits were foraging for food.
"There's hope this time," Du Jianshan said softly.
Ah Hu gripped his hunting rifle tightly and aimed steadily. Just as the opportunity seemed to be coming, he suddenly hesitated.
"Ah Hu, don't rush, wait for me to call," Du Jianshan gestured.
"Understood." Ah Hu took a deep breath and held it.
Just then, a mountain deer suddenly darted out from behind the bushes, moving with incredible speed, and disappeared into the distant woods.
"It's a pity the deer got away, but we caught quite a few mountain rabbits, enough to eat for several days," Du Jianshan comforted.
Old Zhang laughed and said, "Don't be discouraged, the mountain deer will reappear soon."
"Let's go, let's continue. There are still good things waiting for us in the mountains." Du Jianshan's gaze was firm as he led everyone forward.
After several days of effort, in addition to hunting a number of rabbits and some birds, they also discovered several seashells and sea cucumbers exposed on the beach.
"These sea cucumbers look good, and there's plenty of work to be done by beachcombing." Ah Hu said with delight.
“Yes, when the snow gets thicker, we’ll go down the mountain to go beachcombing. Hunting and beachcombing in winter will make our lives more stable,” Du Jianshan said confidently.
At night, by the campfire, the three planned for the future, and their friendship deepened.
"As long as we work together, there's nothing to be afraid of in the winter of the Tianshan Mountains," Du Jianshan said.
"Yes, our journey has only just begun," Ah Hu said with a smile.
Du Jianshan stood before him, his face ashen, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Though the fall was swift, the force had been too great, and his shoulder ached slightly.
“If you dare to lay a hand on me again, I’ll break your legs.” Du Jianshan’s voice was as deep as the muffled thunder in the forest at night. “We’re from the same production team, don’t think I won’t touch you.”
Zhao Youcai grimaced and looked up, one eye swollen and his face covered in dust.
"Are you fucking crazy? You're going to hit me for some wild girl?" He was panting heavily, his voice trembling. "What's so great about a female educated youth sent to the countryside? Is it worth turning against your buddy?"
“She’s an educated youth in our team, sent down by the state to support us.” Du Jianshan narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharp as a knife. “She’s not someone you, Zhao Youcai, can just make fun of.”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Youcai's eyes darted around, and he snorted as he slowly sat up: "I was just joking, but you took it seriously. Humph, you've got something to hide."
Du Jianshan didn't say anything, turned around and left. He didn't want to waste his breath on this kind of person, and he was afraid that if he got into a fight, he would be criticized.
These days, people's hearts are hard to fathom.
Zhao Youcai knelt on the ground for a while before getting up and limping away. Before leaving, he spat at Du Jianshan's retreating figure: "What are you pretending to be so serious for? Don't think you're a real hunter just because you can hunt in the mountains!"
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, a thin mist swirled around the mountains.
Du Jianshan slung his seven-year-old hunting rifle over his shoulder, and behind him was a heavy burlap sack containing animal traps, ropes, dry rations, and several kinds of herbs wrapped in coarse cloth. He gently opened the door, preparing to go into the mountains.
"Brother Du, wait for me!" A clear female voice came from the corner of the room.
Du Jianshan turned around and saw Su Qin.
This young woman, a former educated youth from the water towns of Jiangnan, was fair-skinned and refined, and spoke with a slight Jiangnan accent. She wore a pair of liberation shoes, carried a canvas bag, and her eyes were full of seriousness.
"What are you doing?" Du Jianshan frowned. "I went into the mountains to work, not to play."
“I’m not here to play around.” Su Qin took a breath. “I’ve told you several times that I want to learn how to gather herbs and learn things from the mountains. If you won’t teach me, I’ll just follow along on my own.”
"Can your body handle it?" Du Jianshan glanced at her without saying a word. "This mountain road isn't like the alleyways of Jiangnan where you can smell the fragrance after just a few steps."
Su Qin raised her chin: "I'll give it a try."
Du Jianshan glanced at her, but ultimately said nothing more. He turned and walked towards the mountain path, muttering, "Don't cry if you fall."
Su Qin smiled and quickly followed.
The mountain path was rugged, and the mist in the forest had not yet dissipated. The dew on the trees felt cool on her skin. After walking for less than half an hour, Su Qin was already covered in sweat, her back soaked, but she did not utter a sound.
Du Jianshan would stop every now and then to cut a piece of bark off a tree trunk with his hunting knife, or pick up a broken branch from the ground.
“Look at this tree,” he suddenly said, “it’s called Chinese elm. Its bark can be dried and boiled to make a decoction to treat stomach ailments.”
Su Qin hurriedly took out her small notebook and wrote down: "Elm bark, boiled in water, treats stomach ailments."
Du Jianshan glanced at her and lowered his voice: "You're quite serious when you're being serious."
“I was serious all along.” Su Qin pursed her lips. “Did you think I came to this poor, remote place to watch you hunt?”
Du Jianshan chuckled and continued walking forward.
When he was almost at the back of the hill, he suddenly stopped and made a "shush" gesture.
Su Qin immediately stopped and held her breath.
From the depths of the forest came a faint rustling sound and a low panting. Du Jianshan slowly crouched down and took out a rope and an animal trap from his waist.
“A wild boar,” he whispered. “A small one, foraging nearby.”
He moved with lightning speed, setting up the trap in a few moments, then hid behind a large rock and whispered, "Don't make a sound, just watch."
Su Qin's eyes gleamed with excitement as she squatted beside him, secretly watching the trap.
After about half an incense stick's time, a small, glossy black wild boar appeared in front of it. It grunted and rooted at the ground, when suddenly its foot sank into the ground with a "crack," and its front hooves were trapped. It struggled and squealed in pain.
"Done." Du Jianshan rushed forward and subdued the wild boar in a few swift movements, leaving everyone speechless.
Su Qin stared at him intently for a long time before finally saying, "You're amazing."
Du Jianshan wiped his sweat and said calmly, "Anyone who isn't familiar with this kind of work in the mountains would have starved to death long ago."
"Did you used to make a living solely from this?" Su Qin asked.
Du Jianshan looked up at her, his eyes darkening: "When I was little, my grandfather was a hunter. The year he starved to death, I was the only one left in the family. To survive, I had to learn."
Su Qin lowered her head and said in a softer voice, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ask you about something that upset you."
Du Jianshan snorted and put the wild boar into the bag: "You did well today, you didn't cry or shout, and you didn't fall behind."
"Then...can I still go up the mountain with you in the future?"
"When I stop hunting and start gathering herbs next time."
Su Qin's eyes lit up: "You mean it?"
"Mountain hunters never waste words."
The two turned and walked back. Birds chirped in the mountains, and the morning light shone through the leaves, casting long, slow shadows on them as they stretched down to the village below.
At this moment, at the village entrance at the foot of the mountain, Zhao Youcai stood by the stone mill, his face swollen like a pig's head, and angrily shouted at several villagers:
"You just wait! Du Jianshan is protecting that female educated youth, he doesn't know what's good for him. I, Zhao Youcai, am not someone to be trifled with. I'll get revenge for this! We'll see if he can still live in peace then!"
A tall, thin commune member grinned: "Brother Cai, you said the day before yesterday you were going to go beachcombing to catch some yellow croakers, how come you're eyeing the mountains now?"
Zhao Youcai spat viciously: "Even yellow croaker depends on the sea conditions. Du Jianshan can't monopolize all the work of driving the mountain. Humph, he can set traps, so can I, Zhao Youcai."
After saying that, he turned and walked home, secretly wondering how he could get a hunting rifle from the commune...
The mountain road was long and the forest was deep and unknown; the bloodshed and turmoil in the mountain village had only just begun.
Du Jianshan clapped his hands and laughed, “Come on, come on, don’t just look, have a taste! We can’t go on this hunting trip without these, can we?” As he spoke, he took out several packets of pickled vegetables and a few steamed buns from the large bag next to him and spread them out on the bunk.
Wang Tieniu chewed on some meat, his eyes shining as he looked at Du Jianshan: "Brother Du, your cooking skills are truly exceptional. This braised rabbit leg has a strangely delicious aroma."
Du Jianshan laughed and patted him on the shoulder: "Hehe, I'm glad you like it. Speaking of which, I learned this skill from my old man. When we're hunting in the mountains, we really can't get enough to eat without some good stuff."
A tall, thin young man next to him smiled and came over: "Brother Du, how did you make this braised meat? It looks so shiny and translucent."
Du Jianshan said smugly, "It's a secret recipe, a secret recipe. You wouldn't believe me even if I told you. You'd have to go hunting in the mountains yourself and taste it to know how it tastes."
Wang Tieniu licked his lips and sighed, "If I could learn this skill in the future and make it for my family, it would surely make everyone happy."
On the other side, several veteran comrades sat on the edge of their bunks, chatting and eating. Hearing the newcomers praising them, a smile of satisfaction appeared on their faces.
Old Li sighed, "These past few days of going to the beach and climbing mountains has been no joke. Everyone is exhausted. It's good to have some hot food to eat."
Wang Tieniu nodded: "Old Li is right. It's only when we have this kind of human touch in the mountains that we feel warm inside."
At this moment, Du Jianshan stood up and clapped his hands: "Brothers, we've almost finished eating. We still have to hurry to those mountains this afternoon. The hunting grounds there are quite interesting. Yesterday, Old Tie Tou said that there were traces of large wild boars there."
A young man hurriedly asked, "Brother Du, is that wild boar dangerous? We newbies probably won't be able to hit it, right?"
Du Jianshan shook his head and laughed, "What's there to be afraid of? When we're out hiking, it's all about teamwork and cooperation. Everyone, take a look around and familiarize yourselves with the terrain. I'll lead the team. Don't run around or cause any trouble. Just stay close and don't be afraid."
Wang Tieniu nodded to himself, his eyes filled with determination.
Old Li chuckled and patted Wang Tieniu on the shoulder: "Kid, you've got good ambition. Don't just focus on eating, learn something. We old buddies are counting on you guys to step up."
Du Jianshan added, "By the way, if anyone has a clue, don't keep it to yourself, speak up right away. Our team succeeds because everyone works together."
Wang Tieniu said loudly, "Don't worry, Brother Du, I'm all in this together, and I won't let you down."
The new guy chimed in, "Yeah, we have to stick together and share good news with everyone!"
The atmosphere in the bunk gradually became lively. Everyone chatted about hunting experiences and shared trivial matters of life, and the fatigue in their hearts seemed to be relieved a lot.
Du Jianshan walked to a corner, took out a pipe, lit a cigarette, and slowly smoked it, a thoughtful look in his eyes.
Old Li walked over, leaned closer and whispered, "Brother Du, what are you thinking about? Our team has only just been integrated, we need to give them more confidence."
Du Jianshan sighed: "Old Li, you're right, I understand that too, but things change quickly in the mountains, we need to prepare in advance, otherwise how can we have a successful hunt?"
Old Li patted him on the shoulder: "Don't overthink it. We're a group of guys who rely on brotherhood. If we're united, we can get through anything."
Du Jianshan smiled and said, "Yes, that's well said. We'll meet at five o'clock tomorrow morning and head up the mountain early to the area where wild boars often appear. Everyone, get some rest and don't stay up late."
Upon hearing this, Wang Tieniu immediately chimed in, "Brother Du, shall we practice shooting again tonight? I feel like I haven't quite gotten the hang of it these past few days."
Du Jianshan patted him on the back: "Good lad, good attitude. You'll definitely be practicing. You'll start training before dawn tomorrow morning. You need to keep up with the pace."
On the other side, a few young people were whispering among themselves. One of them asked, "Old Li, I heard that hunting in the mountains not only requires courage, but also knowledge of various traps and techniques. Is that true?"
Old Li nodded: "That's right. Just knowing how to aim isn't enough; you have to know how to read the wind direction and the terrain to successfully lure the prey out. And then there are the traps. Our generation of older folks made a living doing these things."
Wang Tieniu interjected, "I heard from Brother Du that they discovered the remains of some old hunters a few days ago, along with some strange markings. Should we be careful?"
Du Jianshan walked over and leaned in to whisper, "That's right, those are clues left by an old hunter, reminding us where there might be danger or good prey. Everyone should remember them and not ignore them."
The newcomer exclaimed excitedly, "That sounds really exciting! We're sure to have a great time learning from you veteran hunters!"
Du Jianshan patted his head: "That's right. Going to the mountains and the sea is no joke. We need everyone to work together to have a good life."
As night deepened, the fire in the bunk flickered with a warm light, and everyone crawled into their blankets to rest. Wang Tieniu lay on his straw mat, thinking about tomorrow's hunting grounds, a smile involuntarily creeping onto his lips.
"These mountains, this sea, and these brothers, we'll definitely make a name for ourselves in the future," he murmured to himself, his eyes slowly closing.
At five o'clock in the morning, just as dawn was breaking, footsteps and soft greetings came from the bunk.
Du Jianshan stood at the door, his face glistening with morning dew, and shouted in a booming voice, "Brothers, get up! It's light now, let's hurry up the mountain before the wild boars get away!"
Wang Tieniu rubbed his sleepy eyes, quickly put on his clothes, and caught up with the group.
The group, fully prepared, walked along the winding path deeper into the mountains and forests. Birds chirped, the wind rustled the leaves, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of earth and grass.
As Du Jianshan walked, he said, "The place we're going to this time is called 'Black Tiger Ridge.' I heard there are quite a few wild boars there, but the mountain road is treacherous, so everyone must be careful."
Wang Tieniu stared ahead: "Brother Du, is this road really that difficult to travel?"
Du Jianshan laughed and said, "Whether it's difficult or not depends on how you get there. When we're out here navigating mountains and seas, being able to endure hardship is the only true measure of success."
The new young man quickly followed up with, "What if we encounter a wild boar? How do we fight it?"
Du Jianshan patted him on the shoulder: "Don't panic, stay calm. First, scare it with your voice, then aim near its neck and kill it with one blow. Remember, wild boars are fierce, so never fight them head-on."
Wang Tieniu listened attentively, gripping his hunting rifle tightly in his hand, his eyes carefully observing his surroundings.
Old Li walked up to him and whispered a reminder: "Watch your step, don't step on the thorns. This mountain path is slippery, it would be troublesome if you fell."
Everyone proceeded cautiously, gradually venturing deeper into Black Tiger Ridge, occasionally hearing animal sounds from the bushes.
Suddenly, a low growl broke the silence, followed by a rustling in the bushes in the distance, revealing a huge wild boar.
Du Jianshan lowered his voice: "I see it. Everyone, don't rush. Proceed according to plan."
Wang Tieniu held his breath, focused, and aimed his gun.
The wild boar suddenly accelerated and charged forward, startling the new young man so much that he almost backed away.
Du Jianshan shouted, "Stop! Don't move!"
Several bullets were fired simultaneously, and the wild boar fell to the ground.
Old Li, standing beside him, patted his chest and said with a smile, "These little rabbits may be small, but they're tender and delicious. We've got our food sorted this time."
Du Jianshan nodded: "That's right, Old Li. Look, the kids can have a good meal after this hunting trip, and I feel at ease."
Amin, who was standing nearby, was carrying several rabbits and asked excitedly, "Brother Du, are these rabbits enough for us to eat for a few days? Can we hunt a few more?"
Du Jianshan glanced at the sky and said with a smile, "We can still catch a few more, but we need to leave some. There are plenty of wild animals in the mountains, so we can't kill them all at once. We need to let them reproduce."
Amin nodded, appearing somewhat sensible: "Brother Du is right. We shouldn't waste these wild game; we should know how to be moderate."
Old Li turned his head and said in a calm tone, "There are not as many prey animals on the mountain as before. The villagers are busy going to the beach and farming. There are fewer hunters, so there are naturally more wild game."
Du Jianshan continued, "The harvest by the sea has been good these past few years. We hunt in the mountains and gather seafood at the same time to ensure that our whole family has food to eat."
Amin raised an eyebrow: "Brother Du, which do you think is harder, mountain hustling or beachcombing?"
Du Jianshan smiled and wiped his sweat: "Everyone has their own difficulties. When hunting in the mountains, you have to be fast and have sharp eyes. When going to the beach, you have to take advantage of the tide and keep an eye on the wind direction and water level. None of these are easy."
Old Li nodded in agreement: "That's right. Beachcombing requires the right time and place, and people need to be patient. Beachcombing in the mountains is even more strenuous, requiring physical strength and knowledge of animal behavior."
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