Chapter 251 The Pigs
Since both the mother and cub bears were killed, there was no need to look at the bear enclosure anymore.
So the group, with their dogs and meat on their backs, headed straight out of the woods.
When Erlang Shen passed by the hillside where he had seen the wild boar tracks in the morning, he suddenly became energetic and roared at the hillside.
"You have a good memory. I told you I'd come back to visit, and you actually wanted to go."
Seeing this, Sheng Xiping felt quite helpless. His dogs were practically geniuses; trying to fool them? No way.
Actually, dogs don't like to move around much after they've eaten their fill; they get lazy, just like people who think about silly things after they've eaten and drunk their fill.
However, Erlang Shen was clearly in high spirits at the moment. As soon as he heard Sheng Xiping say to go and take a look, he immediately took off running.
"Jianshe, you and your dog slowly walk out. I'll go with Erlang Shen to mark the trail. We'll come out and chase you away in a bit."
Sheng Xiping waved to Wang Jianshe and the others, telling them to take the dogs and leave first, and not all of them to follow.
With so many people and dogs, there will be a lot of noise and disturbance, which might end up alerting the wild boar herd.
"Erlang Shen, we agreed that you can only look and not call out."
Sheng Xiping gave a brief instruction, then hurriedly followed Erlang Shen, not forgetting to give him some more advice.
It's unclear whether the dog understood Sheng Xiping's words, but Erlang Shen didn't utter a single word.
The man and his dog followed the wild boar hoofprints on the hillside westward for about ten miles until they reached a patch of untouched mixed coniferous and broadleaf forest.
Tall red pines, oaks, walnuts, lindens, and other trees are mixed together, especially oaks.
The fruit of the oak tree is called acorn, which is very similar to the acorns that grow on southern oak trees. This fruit is rich in starch and oil.
In the past, during famine years, people would pick them up and take them home to eat, but eating too much would cause constipation.
The seeds of the citron are a good feed for pigs. The agricultural team couldn't bear to feed the pigs too much grain, so they fed them citron instead.
Last autumn, the school assigned us the task of collecting wild berries, which were used to feed the pigs.
Pigs fed with citron have yellowish fat that tastes especially delicious, much better than pigs fed only grass.
There are many oak trees here, as well as walnut and red pine.
Now, the snow on the sunny slopes has mostly melted, revealing the nuts that were covered by snow in early winter, which are a favorite of wild boars.
Therefore, Sheng Xiping estimated that the group of wild boars was in this forest, and that they wouldn't be able to leave anytime soon.
There might not be so much food elsewhere, and they won't leave until they've explored every inch of this place.
To confirm his suspicions, Sheng Xiping led Erlang Shen around the area, and sure enough, they didn't see any wild boar hoof prints anywhere else.
Sheng Xiping understood the situation and didn't go into the woods. Instead, he led Erlang Shen back along the wild boar's hoofprints.
This time, they walked an extra twenty or thirty miles on the patrol route. They thought Wang Jianshe and the others had already returned to the forest farm.
When they came out, they saw several people with dogs, who had found a place to rest. They were worried about Sheng Xiping and had waited for him there.
"Let's go back. I need to talk to the people at Dajianchang right away. Let's try to go up the mountain for a spring hunt tomorrow."
Those pigs are in that woods about ten miles to the west. If it gets any later, I'm afraid the herd will break up.
That mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forest was quite large, and there was plenty of food, but even with so much food, it couldn't withstand such a large group of wild boars rooting around it.
Sheng Xiping estimated that in three to five days at most, those pigs would be moved elsewhere.
As the weather gets warmer from here on out, the pig herds will break up, and it will be very difficult to find such a large group of pigs again.
Upon hearing this, Wang Jianshe and the others perked up. "Let's go, let's hurry home."
And so, the group hurriedly left the forest and returned to the forest farm, where each family received a share of bear meat.
As for bear bile, it was all left with Sheng Xiping, waiting to be dipped in boiling water and dried in the shade before being sold.
These two bear gallbladders, one large and one small, are of exceptionally good quality; they are copper gallbladders, and I estimate they can fetch a good price.
Everyone was quite happy to see another source of income.
After settling things at home, Sheng Xiping immediately took Daqing and Erqing back to the Liu family and told them that the forest farm had agreed to the joint spring hunt.
The Liu family was delighted to hear this and quickly discussed the timing.
Liu Yujiang was the production team leader before. Before the Lunar New Year, the original brigade secretary stepped down, and Liu Yujiang was elected as the new brigade secretary.
The Liu brothers are the brigade secretary and the militia platoon leader, respectively. In addition, Sheng Xiping is the captain of this spring hunting team. When to hunt is up to them, isn't it?
"Brother, if you ask me, we should give them the notice tonight and they can go up the mountain tomorrow."
"If we keep delaying, our forest farm will need to start planting in a few days, and we won't have time," Sheng Xiping suggested.
Not only is the forest farm busy, but the agricultural team is even busier.
After thinking it over, the Liu brothers realized that it was indeed better to do it sooner rather than later, so they decided to do it tomorrow.
"Okay, that's settled then. I'll go to the village office later and announce it through the loudspeaker."
Our brigade is arranging forty people to go hunting this spring. Second brother, give me the list in a bit.
There are a total of 140 to 150 households in Dajianchang. They selected 40 young, strong men with good marksmanship, which was just right.
Any more, and we won't have enough guns.
Forty people from the forest farm also participated in the spring hunt. With the same number of people on both sides, they could hold both group and individual competitions, which would add some fun and competitiveness.
"Then it's settled. We'll meet at eight o'clock tomorrow morning in that open space west of the forest farm."
Let's skip all that fancy stuff, just take the men into the mountains and get to work.
The two Liu brothers were full of enthusiasm and ready to show their skills and make a name for themselves.
"Alright then, Master and Mistress, Big Brother, I'll head back to the forest farm now."
The forest farm also needed to issue a last-minute notice, so Sheng Xiping had to go back and make preparations as soon as possible.
Sheng Xiping hurriedly left the Liu family and went straight to the farm headquarters. Once there, he found Wang Jiachuan and reported to him about the spring hunt to be held the next day.
"Uncle Wang, the main thing is that I went for a walk in the mountains today and saw a large group of wild boars."
If we don't take down these pigs, I'm afraid they'll come back this autumn and wreak havoc on our crops.
I was thinking, why not take some men into the mountains tomorrow, cordon them off, and give them a good beating?
Wang Jiachuan had already stated that Sheng Xiping would be in charge of all matters related to the spring hunt.
And with such a great opportunity, what are you waiting for?
"Okay, you can arrange and decide on this. If you need anything, whether it's manpower or weapons, just let us know, and the team will give you full support."
Sheng Xiping didn't bother going home again. He found paper and pen in Wang Jiachuan's office, wrote down the list of participants in the spring hunt, and then started shouting it out through the farm's loudspeaker.
"Attention all staff of Qianchuan Forest Farm! Attention! This year, the forest farm's militia training has been changed to spring hunting."
Now I will read out the list of participants in the spring hunt. Those whose names are called, please assemble at the headquarters at 7:30 tomorrow morning.
Sheng Xiping held the list in his hand and called it out three or four times through the loudspeaker.
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