"Just remember this lesson." Du Jianshan patted him on the shoulder. "Next time you see something, don't get carried away. Look at the footprints first."
The firelight illuminated their faces as the steaming pot of wolf meat slowly boiled, filling the air with its aroma.
Wang Tieniu scooped up a large bowl of meat, blowing on it as he ate: "Brother Shan, don't you think our lives are getting more and more proper?"
Du Jianshan grinned as he gazed at the faintly lit stars in the night: "It's still a long way from getting to the point. Once we've settled into our dugouts, sold the wolf pelts, and caught the serows, that's just the beginning."
Zhao Chenggui sat to the side, his mouth stuffed with wolf meat: "I heard that they've organized a hunting trip in Xiling too. If we don't act soon, they might steal our thunder."
"Don't worry." Du Jianshan's eyes sharpened. "The mountains are our roots. Whoever comes, we'll keep an eye on them. Tomorrow morning, I'll lead a team over the mountains and set a trap at Eagle Ridge."
"Alright!" Wang Tieniu and Zhao Chenggui responded in unison.
"Yes, yes!" Wang Tieniu quickly did as instructed, deftly tightening the black bear's thick front paws, and then grabbing a few stones to weigh down the carcass.
"Brother Shanzi, I just saw it moving behind its head. Do you think it might not be completely dead?"
Du Jianshan narrowed his eyes, raised his homemade gun, took another step closer, cocked it with a click, and fired a shot at the bear's head.
"Now I feel relieved." He blew a sigh of relief, then glanced at Wang Tieniu. "You were scared out of your wits, weren't you?"
"Oh, don't even mention it!" Wang Tieniu clutched his chest. "My heart skipped a beat! When that beast pounced on me, my vision went black, and I almost peed my pants!"
Du Jianshan grinned and patted him on the shoulder: "At least you're not scared out of your wits. It's not shameful for the two of us to team up and take down this bear."
"Hey Shanzi, shouldn't we leave a mark?" Wang Tieniu pointed at the bear carcass. "What if we can't move it? It'll be troublesome when there are a lot of people around."
Du Jianshan nodded, took out a matchbox from his pocket, struck a match, and lit a small fire on a pile of dry branches nearby.
"Let's fumigate it first to cover up the smell. You stay here, I'll go back to the shack to find a cart."
"You're all alone?" Wang Tieniu looked at him suspiciously. "Do you even have any energy left?"
"What do you think?" Du Jianshan raised an eyebrow as he brushed the dust off his clothes. "You were hiding behind me when we were fighting the bear, and now you have the nerve to ask me if I'm tired?"
"Hehe..." Wang Tieniu chuckled, "That's because I trust you."
"Stop talking nonsense and keep a close watch. If anyone comes to ask, just say you did it and we're waiting for the brothers to come and carry it out."
"Then you'd better hurry!" Wang Tieniu raised his hunting knife, made a light cut on the bear's belly, peeked out, and immediately raised an eyebrow. "This gallbladder, tsk tsk tsk, it's bulging huge!"
"Don't move!" Du Jianshan shouted, turning around. "Don't move the knife around recklessly. If you cut the wrong bear bile, it will ooze bitter juice, and the supply and marketing cooperative won't want it!"
"Alright, alright, I'll just take a look." Wang Tieniu withdrew his hand, still muttering, "How much do you think this thing is worth?"
"There must be over three hundred," Du Jianshan said decisively. "Black bears are bold and of good quality. The supply and marketing cooperative buys them according to the standards for medicinal materials, so they're very expensive."
"With the skin and meat included, it'll be close to a thousand!" Wang Tieniu's eyes almost popped out of their sockets. "My god, this is the biggest he's made in years!"
"Don't be too happy yet." Du Jianshan frowned. "The key is to bring the stuff back safely, and we can't let those old foxes in the company get away with it."
"You mean Wang Guaizi and his gang?"
"That's him! That guy isn't much of a hunter, but he's got a sharp eye. He'll come up and rub against whoever has the most kills." Du Jianshan said in a low voice, "We need to take a longer route. We shouldn't take the main road. We should take that narrow path behind the mountain. It's a longer route, but it's safer."
"Alright!" Wang Tieniu excitedly wiped his nose. "I'll keep watch right now. I'll say I can't see anything no matter who comes. I'll even fool the company commander himself!"
"Alright, wait for me." Du Jianshan turned and ran back.
He slipped and stomped several steps on the pine needles before regaining his balance. He glanced back at the dark mass of bear carcasses, a rare hint of relief flashing in his eyes.
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