I was busy all morning, but it felt like I didn't accomplish anything, and time just flew by.
After having a quick lunch, Wang Jianshe and a few others came over. Sheng Xiping had also packed up, carrying a gun and various tools for setting traps, and set off up the mountain.
As he left, Sheng Xiping made a point of glancing at Erlang Shen and the others.
Yesterday's fierce battle was very taxing, and the dogs are all lazily lying in their beds today.
Even when it saw Sheng Xiping fully armed, the dog didn't seem to get anxious.
Sheng Xiping smiled and shook his head, saying nothing, and led Wang Jianshe and the others directly out the door.
We didn't leave until noon, so we couldn't go too far. So the group headed towards the second branch line, which was a logging area from a few years ago, and is now mostly second-crop forest.
Nowadays, forest resources are abundant, and there is plenty of firewood. No one would go into the mountains to dig up tree roots to collect firewood.
After those big trees were felled, the tree stumps, or roots, remained in place untouched, and some of them sprouted new branches the following year.
These newly sprouted branches are quite tender and have large leaves, making them a favorite of roe deer and deer.
In winter, heavy snow covers the ground, and moss and lichen cannot be eaten under the snow, so roe deer and deer can only come to the second forest to graze on tender branches.
Sheng Xiping originally wanted to find a suitable forest, set some traps, and catch a few deer or roe deer to keep for the New Year.
As soon as he entered a patch of second-growth forest, Sheng Xiping discovered fresh roe deer tracks on the snow.
Six or seven roe deer must have passed through here not long ago.
"Let's go this way and follow the footprints to see what's behind them."
Sheng Xiping looked up at the surrounding mountains and landforms, and made a general judgment in his mind. So he led Wang Jianshe and the others to follow the footprints.
"Be careful, don't make too much noise, roe deer have excellent hearing."
Roe deer are naturally alert and have excellent hearing; they are easily startled by the slightest disturbance.
The group followed the roe deer's tracks carefully.
Along the way, we saw traces of roe deer stopping to nibble on tender branches, presumably after they had eaten their fill, they continued on their way.
Everyone was very patient, and they followed the footprints all the way until they left the second-crop forest.
Ahead lies a large natural forest of mother red pine trees, which was deliberately left behind when the trees were first logged.
The mother trees are untouched and the forest is lush with vegetation, making it a perfect place for animals to rest and relax.
"I reckon those roe deer are in this forest. They've eaten their fill and will definitely be looking for a place to lie down and rest," Sheng Xiping said, pointing to the large grove of red pine mother trees in front of them.
"This forest is quite large, and there are two mountain passes at the top."
Jianshe, you and Haining, go up this side and guard the eastern pass. Weiguo, you and Zhijun, go to the other side and hold it.
"No matter which way the roe deer runs, shoot it as soon as you see it." Sheng Xiping glanced at the surrounding terrain and immediately made the division of labor.
Fortunately, they outnumbered us, allowing us to divide the spoils more easily. If they had been fewer, the siege would have been much more difficult today.
"Check your watch. I estimate you'll be at the top of the mountain in about forty minutes. I'll then follow you up from here."
Sheng Xiping, Wang Jianshe, and Chen Weiguo all raised their wrists, checked their watches to confirm that the times were the same, and then led the two groups of people separately to walk up the mountain.
Sheng Xiping, along with Pan Fusheng and Sheng Xi'an, rested for a while before slowing down and following the roe deer's tracks into the mother forest.
After walking for about ten minutes, Sheng Xiping stopped, looked at his watch, and realized that the time was about right; the other two groups should have reached the designated location by now.
Just as Sheng Xiping was about to speak, some unusual sounds came from ahead, somewhat like something eating something, making crunching noises.
Although the sound was very faint, Sheng Xiping had excellent hearing and immediately became cautious, looking ahead in the direction the sound came from.
About thirty meters to the left front of Sheng Xiping and his group, several branches of a very dense thicket were shaking violently.
Sheng Xiping immediately knew there was something behind the bushes, so he pulled the bolt back on his gun and glanced back at Sheng Xi'an and Pan Fusheng, telling them not to make a sound.
Sheng Xi'an and Pan Fusheng had followed Sheng Xiping into the mountains many times before, and they had a good understanding of each other.
Upon seeing this, he knew something was amiss, so he silently nodded to Sheng Xiping.
Sheng Xiping turned around, staring intently at the bushes, while trying to slow his breathing.
This forest had never been logged or cleared; the vegetation was lush, and Sheng Xiping couldn't see what was behind the bushes.
So he picked up the gun, rested the butt on his shoulder, and kept his eyes fixed on the bushes.
Just as Sheng Xiping had taken five or six steps forward, a gray head emerged from the bushes.
That guy had a round head and two tufts of long black hair above his ears, like antennas.
The fur on this guy's chest was red, stained with blood, and even his nose was stained with some blood.
A pair of round, yellow eyes were gleaming with a fierce light as they looked at Sheng Xiping.
A mountain raccoon, a mountain raccoon eating.
This guy didn't know that the person disturbing its meal was a hunter; he probably thought it was some kind of animal.
So the moment it stuck its head out, it opened its mouth wide and hissed at Sheng Xiping and the others, full of intimidation.
However, when it realized that what was coming from the opposite direction was not other animals, but hunters with guns, almost instantly, the creature arched its back and tried to run away.
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
