Chapter 39: Preparing for the Hunt at Huang Family Village

"Haha, third brother is stewing some mutton for you. Take a sniff, doesn't it smell delicious?"

Su Yu teased the little girl on purpose, making sure to lift the lid of the pot so she could get a good whiff. He knew well that in this era, nine out of ten children were gluttons. Take, for instance, a staple comfort food for kids in the sixties and seventies: lard mixed with rice. In the twenty-first century, that would be considered greasy and unhealthy, but back then, it was a delicacy.

In the twenty-first century, pork ribs and lean meat were highly coveted, but in this time, only fat was truly precious. Ribs? Lean meat? Those had to be sold cheap. There was no other reason than the fact that they couldn't be rendered into lard. Without lard, you couldn't stretch your meals; when people talked about eating meat, they truly just meant getting a taste of it. Even a bowl of cabbage soup made with a dollop of lard was considered heavenly.

"Ah... Third brother, I'm hungry."

The little girl struggled in his arms, insisting that Su Yu fish out a piece for her to taste. She only dared to act this spoiled because their mother wasn't around. Every creature has its match—she dared to act like this with Su Yu, but never with Su Jin, simply because she was closest to her third brother.

"No, it's not cooked yet. Wait until it's ready, or you'll get a tummy ache and end up with diarrhea."

"Then I'll tend the fire for you, third brother!"

She started shoving firewood into the stove with all her might. Su Yu hurriedly stopped her; the girl thought that more firewood meant it would cook faster, but she had nearly choked the stove completely.

"Alright, alright, stop making a mess. Quickly, go out and meet Mother, Big Brother, and your fourth brother. Once Father finishes work, we can eat."

The little girl pouted in disappointment and went outside to play with Heizi. She had gone wild playing with the dog lately, never staying home and only returning when it was time to eat.

Before long, Mother Su returned from work. Su Jin was so exhausted he went straight to lie on the bed, while their eldest brother fared a bit better, being fully grown.

"Third son, what delicious thing are you cooking again?"

Comrade Liu Yuzhi smelled the aroma the moment she returned. Seeing the little girl had already met her halfway, she guessed it must be her third son whipping up something good again.

"Oh, nothing much. I stewed a wild goat neck and made some broth for everyone. We'll add a little pepper, eat it with some flatbreads, and it'll be delightful."

Liu Yuzhi rolled her eyes at him. She opened the pot, glared, and gave him a sharp slap on the back.

"You wasteful brat! Why are all these flatbreads made of pure cornmeal? Can't you be a bit more thrifty? Would it kill you to add some wild greens or some bran?"

Su Yu gave a sheepish smile, not daring to argue. When Mother took charge, he knew better than to stir up trouble.

"Third brother, is it time to eat?"

The fourth brother, Su Jin, came over to join the fray. Su Yu immediately found a target for his frustration and his tone shifted instantly. "Eat, eat, eat! All you know is eating! Get over there and set the table and benches. You act like a pampered guest the moment you walk through the door—is there no work to be done? Do you think you're the new son-in-law?"

Su Jin shrank his neck, muttering under his breath as he went to move the table and arrange the seats. There was no helping it; he didn't fear his eldest brother, who was much older and didn't bother with him, but his third brother was only four years his senior. He had really beaten him as a child, and the beatings had only gotten worse as they grew up.

"I just got back and I can already hear you two brothers bickering. What’s the matter? Afraid the neighbors don't know we're eating?"

Father Su had arrived. Su Yu went quiet. The family moved to the main room in the north wing. Su Yu ladled the meat broth into a large basin, added pepper, and served everyone a bowl with a few small pieces of meat, though he gave his little sister a big bowl full of meat. There was no other way; the wild goat neck was small and didn't have much meat. If he didn't prioritize his little sister, the others wouldn't be full anyway, so they were better off drinking the broth.

Everyone got a single piece of meat—just enough for the flavor—while the focus remained on the broth.

"Third son, you didn't go to the fields today. What did you do?"

When his father asked, Su Yu didn't dare be slow to respond and quickly explained about selling the turtle in the county town.

"How much did you get for it?"

It was the eldest brother who asked. Their father rarely did, as his control over money was limited to his own salary, while the money earned from work points was managed by their mother. As for his father's salary, with the grandmother in the picture and the need to provide living expenses, their mother never counted on it, and their father, knowing the family had grievances about him giving all his money to his own parents, was too ashamed to ask for the children's earnings.

"Well, it's almost enough to buy a Mauser rifle. Once I save enough, I'll buy one. In my spare time, I can go into the mountains to hunt game. It’ll help provide for the family and improve our diet."

Su Sheng was stunned. Almost enough for a Mauser? That meant at least two hundred yuan? He was shocked. Their father, having handled guns himself, knew their value and was equally disbelieving.

"You didn't do anything illegal, did you?"

Their father asked this directly. Although he wouldn't easily confiscate Su Yu's earnings, this was a major matter, and he had to inquire.

Su Yu explained the value of an eight-pound, ten-year-old turtle. He only mentioned the market price. The family had seen the turtle he brought back, so they knew its size, and they understood that the market price of one hundred and fifty was fair. Combined with his previous earnings, claiming two hundred yuan wasn't an exaggeration—it was the truth.

"Oh, right. Tomorrow I’m going to Huang Family Village. If it's too late, I might not make it back, so I’m letting you know."

"Hmm? Huang Family Village? Are you going to see Huang Su'e?"

His mother asked, looking quite intrigued.

Su Yu was speechless but explained patiently, "No, I want to go hunting in the mountains with the Huang brothers. Their village is organizing the militia and local hunters for a mountain drive. They knew I was interested and came to ask if I wanted to join. The whole village is going, and with the militia leading, it’s not dangerous. I’ll be in a team with the Huang brothers and their uncle, who is an experienced hunter. I’m just going to see."

To ease his family's concerns, Su Yu decided to hide the part about his specific plans. If he told them, they might forbid him from going, and his entire plan would fall through. A mountain drive was different; it was more like a community activity, like celebrating the Laba Festival. For those living by the mountains, it was something they organized at least once a year—partly to drive fierce beasts away from the village, and partly to divide the catch among the villagers to provide meat for the winter or the New Year.

Although it was a bit strange to have a hunt in early spring, his parents didn't say much. There was no fixed date for these things; it was just a communal activity organized by the village chief and the commune.

"Fine. If you want to join, go and broaden your horizons. It's good that there's an experienced hunter with you—it’s safer. Remember, don't go deep into the mountains, and don't rush to the front. Be careful in everything you do, keep your wits about you, and don't be so naive."

"I know, I know."

Su Yu finished his bowl of soup and a piece of flatbread, then got up and went to his room, cutting the conversation short to avoid saying something he shouldn't.

"Stinking brat! Your mother gives you a few words of advice and you don't even want to listen? You aren't even finishing your meal?"

Su Yu didn't look back. He was full, and he knew his mother was just being temperamental; she wouldn't actually be hurt.