Du Jianshan raised his head, looked around at the surrounding mountains and forests, and made sure no other wild animals were approaching. His voice was deep and steady: "What are you afraid of? It's trapped. Let's be careful and take it slow."
Tie Niu gritted his teeth and couldn't help but ask, "But... it could pounce if it moves even slightly, aren't you afraid?"
Du Jianshan smiled and said, "I am scared, but if we don't catch it, it will escape, and all our hard work these past few days will be for nothing."
Tie Niu took a deep breath and gripped the knife in his hand tightly: "Then... I'll cover you from the side. I'll block you when you go up."
Du Jianshan squatted to the side, his fingers gently tracing the end of the trap rope, his eyes fixed on the trap. He noticed Tie Niu's tension but didn't speak, only opening his mouth slightly.
"Tie Niu, do you remember what Old Wang said? These traps have to be left to the animals to take the bait; we can't touch them."
Tie Niu swallowed hard and asked in a low voice, "Brother Du, do you think there might really be a leopard tonight? If it doesn't come, then all our work will have been for nothing?"
Du Jianshan sighed softly: "Leopards, there's never a shortage of them in the mountains. Old Wang said they're only active after dark. As long as we wait patiently, the opportunity will come sooner or later. Don't scare yourself like that."
Tie Niu couldn't help but rub his hands together again, his voice even lower: "My heart is... pounding, I always feel like it's right under our feet."
Du Jianshan smiled and lowered his voice, "Tie Niu, you're just imagining things. Let's check the rope again." He squatted down and carefully felt the ground around the trap. The trap was well hidden, covered with dense foliage, making it almost impossible to spot.
"Brother Du, do you think if the leopard comes, it will test us first?" Tie Niu's voice trembled slightly.
"No," Du Jianshan shook his head. "They're much smarter than we think. They'll avoid danger, and might even go around this mountain. All we can do is stay calm and wait for them quietly. Remember, don't move around, or you'll ruin our chance."
Just then, a rustling sound came from afar, like the soft sound of a branch being snapped. Tie Niu suddenly looked up, nearly dropping the knife in his hand.
"Brother Du, listen... is that the voice?" he almost shouted.
Du Jianshan narrowed his eyes and reached out to press down on Tie Niu's shoulder: "Calm down, it's just the wind blowing the leaves. If you get nervous, I can't control your heartbeat and scare the leopard away."
Tie Niu nodded, took a few deep breaths, and tried to suppress the panic in his heart.
Just then, soft footsteps came from the ravine on the other side, carrying the scent of earth. Several hunters quietly arrived; they were all names commonly found in the mountains during the 1970s and 80s: Old Wang, Chen Dabao, Lin Ergou, and the young Zhao Xiaochun.
Old Wang walked over to Du Jianshan, squatted down, and carefully examined the traps: "Du Jianshan, these traps are well set, the ropes are tight, and the mechanisms are sensitive. If there are leopards tonight, Tie Niu, you'd better stay calm and not make any noise."
Tie Niu swallowed hard and muttered under his breath, "Old Wang, if it really comes, I'll be scared to death..."
Chen Dabao came over and patted him on the shoulder, laughing as he said, "Kid, you're like a little rascal. Leopards aren't gods; they might not dare to come at us. Remember the old saying: be still as a virgin, move like a rabbit."
"Brother Du, this leopard looks fierce. What if it breaks free?" Tie Niu asked in a low voice.
Du Jianshan didn't answer immediately. He first reached out and tentatively grabbed one end of the rope, gently pulling it tight. The trap's mechanism moved slightly. "Don't rush, Tie Niu. Leopards are afraid of people. The more you make a sound, the more nervous they will become. Remember, the most important thing in hunting is to keep your composure."
Tie Niu swallowed hard and nodded. "I...I understand. But I've never seen such a big leopard before, and it's giving me the creeps."
“It’s alright. You have to remember, hunting in the mountains is all about luck and skill. Watch closely, I’ll grab the gap in its claws, and then…” Du Jianshan explained in a low voice, carefully using a hemp rope to lasso the leopard’s front paws.
The leopard suddenly struggled, and the sand in the trap creaked. Tie Niu's hand, gripping the knife, trembled involuntarily.
"Stay calm, Tie Niu, don't rush! If you panic every time it moves, it will become even more ferocious." Du Jianshan's voice was deep and firm, and his hands were as steady as steel as he slowly wrapped the rope around the leopard's front paws.
"Hey, Brother Du, it's moving so fast!" Tie Niu exclaimed.
"Don't shout, it will panic if you make a loud noise. Did you learn it? In the future, setting traps won't be about strength, it'll be about patience and courage," Du Jianshan instructed as he operated the trap.
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