Chapter 26: Old Men Are Wily, Old Horses Are Sly

Under Lin Yang’s meticulous preparation, the two squirrels weighed less than a pound in total. After being roasted with his skillful technique, the meat reached a mouth-watering state, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. With one bite of squirrel meat and one bite of corn cake, the food, seasoned simply with salt and prickly ash powder, tasted like the finest delicacy in the world. Every mouthful brought him immense satisfaction.

Occasionally, he would scoop up a handful of snow, press it into a firm snowball, and pop it into his mouth, savoring the way it slowly melted on his tongue. That pure, cool sensation trickled down his throat, as refreshing as drinking the sweetest mountain spring water. After all, in this era untouched by industrial pollution, the mountain snow was as clean as flawless white jade, radiating natural purity.

Once satiated, the warm, gentle sunlight filtered through the gaps in the branches, draping over him like a soft veil. He leaned back against a sturdy tree trunk, relishing this moment of peace and comfort. However, the exhaustion of hunting eventually caught up with him; his eyelids grew heavy, and sleepiness washed over him like a tide.

Hunting was never an easy task. In winter, the biting cold wind cut like a blade, stinging the ears until they felt as if they might detach; in summer, the stifling air made it hard to breathe, and the relentless swarms of insects provided constant, miserable torment. Yet, the most challenging part of all was tracking prey. It was as difficult as finding a needle in a haystack.

Fortunately, thanks to the miraculous assistance of his system, Lin Yang’s hunting trips had become much smoother. This free-spirited life, accompanied by the mountains and forests, brought him deep contentment. He couldn't help but drift into pleasant daydreams: how wonderful it would be if life could always remain this way! To stay in this peaceful little village, to be by his parents' side, and to spend his life protecting Li Xiaowan, who was as pure and beautiful as moonlight in his heart.

After resting for a while, Lin Yang gathered his energy, brushed the dust off his clothes, and headed in a different direction. He had never intended to return home at noon when he entered the mountains today. His traps had been carefully set; if the lynx didn’t take the bait, at least the grey rabbit would be a decent catch. Moreover, he remained keenly aware of the dangers hidden in the mountains, avoiding the deep forest and sticking to the outer periphery to explore with caution.

Time slipped away unnoticed. Over three hours had passed, but his harvest was meager. He had only bagged two turtle doves and hadn't even caught a glimpse of a wild pheasant egg. However, he had been lucky enough to dig up a few stalks of bupleurum root. Although it was a good herb for reducing internal heat, its taste was bitter enough to make anyone wince.

In his past life, he had once discovered a twenty-year-old wild ginseng root deep in these mountains. The terrain there was treacherous and fraught with danger; even now, he shuddered at the memory and dared not return. Right now, the black bears were busy fattening up for winter and had retreated deep into the mountain gullies. If he were to wander in blindly, he might well become their next meal.

There were still several years before that wild ginseng would be discovered, so he was in no rush to take such risks. Seeing the sky turning, it was roughly four in the afternoon. Lin Yang headed toward his trap with high expectations, but upon arrival, a wave of disappointment washed over him.

"That lynx should be active right around here. Why didn't it take the bait?" Lin Yang muttered to himself, squatting down to examine the surroundings. He soon spotted the plum-blossom-shaped tracks, and his brow furrowed tightly. It was likely an old lynx. As the saying went, "Old men are shrewd, and old horses are wily"; it was no surprise it hadn't fallen for his trap. But no matter how clever the prey, it would eventually fall into the hunter's hands! He had plenty of time, patience, and ways to outmaneuver it. Thinking this, he curled his lips into a confident smile.

The system's search function had been active, but it hadn't issued any alerts. With a sigh of resignation, he removed the rabbit from the trap, tossed it into his basket, and prepared to head down the mountain. Lin Yang was completely unaware that, in a hidden patch of grass over a hundred meters away, a brownish-grey lynx was quietly observing his every move. Its eyes were deep and mysterious, filled with an ancient intelligence as it silently assessed the human who had intruded into its territory.

Just as he returned to the village, he heard a shrill, clamorous voice. "So I'm badmouthing Lin Yang, what of it? And I’m not wrong; the money he earns is blood money."

"None of the other hunters in the village would go into the mountains at a time like this, but he keeps diving in headfirst. If he gets mauled by a bear, he’ll only have himself to blame. Am I wrong?" The voice belonged to Zhang Xiumei, sharp and piercing like a whistle, echoing through the village.

Zhao Guixiang’s face turned bright red with fury. Her eyes widened like an enraged lioness, and she rolled up her sleeves, ready to charge at Zhang Xiumei. "Mother!" Lin Yang shouted from a distance. He knew his mother’s temper all too well; he was the apple of her eye, and she wouldn't tolerate a single word of slander against him. He guessed that because he hadn't returned all day, she was frantic with worry, and Zhang Xiumei’s reckless, vicious words had finally pushed her over the edge.

Hearing Lin Yang’s voice, Zhao Guixiang temporarily forgot about the argument and turned to see him running toward them with his basket. Her relief was immediate, followed quickly by a surge of anger. The sun had already dipped below the horizon, the last rays of light fading away, and thin wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys of every household. Many villagers had gathered to watch the commotion, speculating whether Lin Yang had met with some misfortune in the mountains.

As soon as Lin Yang reached them, before he could even catch his breath, he wasn't met with his mother's concerned inquiries, but with a sharp kick to his leg. "You little brat, I’ll show you today!" Zhao Guixiang shouted in a rage, looking around. Someone quickly handed her a firewood stick that was still smoldering, clearly pulled straight from the stove.

Seeing this, Lin Yang knew he was in trouble. He turned and bolted, shouting, "Mother! I didn't go deep into the mountains, I just poked around the back hills! Don't listen to that gossiping woman Zhang Xiumei!"

"Lin Yang! You damned little brat, I’ll break your legs today! You can run, but you can't hide; if you have the guts, don't come home!" Unable to keep up with the young and agile Lin Yang, Zhao Guixiang could only shout breathlessly, venting her frustration.

As he ran, Lin Yang scrambled to take off his basket and threw the grey rabbit out. Sure enough, his mother stopped to pick it up, though her anger hadn't lessened in the slightest; she continued to glare at him. Next, Lin Yang tossed out two squirrel pelts. "Mother, those pelts are worth one yuan and eighty cents each, don't let anyone steal them!"

Hearing this, Zhao Guixiang instinctively rushed to pick them up. By the time she stood back up, Lin Yang had already vanished, leaving her stomping her feet in frustration and cursing, "You little brat, just wait until you come home, see how I deal with you!"

The surrounding villagers watched the scene with envy. In a village where supplies were relatively scarce, Lin Yang’s haul was quite substantial. Zhang Xiumei couldn't help but mutter under her breath, "That wretched brat, why didn't a bear just finish him off?"

Though her voice was low, it was heard by Zhao Guixiang in the quiet air. Zhao Guixiang pointed the still-smoldering stick at Zhang Xiumei like a sword and cursed, "You black-hearted, vicious shrew, say that again if you dare! I’ll beat you until your face is a mess and tear that mouth of yours open! Let’s see how you like the consequences of your loose tongue!"

Zhao Guixiang’s ferocity was well-known throughout the village; behind her back, some even called her a "she-devil." Terrified, Zhang Xiumei turned pale and shrunk behind the crowd like a frightened mouse. The villagers couldn't help but roar with laughter.

The old village head looked at the rabbit and squirrel pelts in Zhao Guixiang’s hand with a complex expression, as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately just sighed. He wasn't sure if his agreement with Lin Yang was a blessing or a curse. Having lived so long, he had learned to read people’s hearts and clearly saw Lin Yang’s true intentions. He was certain that the boy would keep going into the mountains; even if he didn't appoint him as a forest ranger, Lin Yang would find a way to go anyway. If that were the case, he might as well give him the opportunity. However, he still needed to discuss this with Lin Dahai; after all, it concerned Lin Yang’s safety.

Lin Yang certainly didn't dare go home, or he would surely face a "mixed doubles" beating from his parents. His father was usually quiet, but if he found out about his risky mountain trips, he would be furious. With some nuts still in his basket, Lin Yang scrambled through the alleys of the village, took a sharp turn, and ducked into Li Jianhua’s house.