Chapter 30: Catch the Thief Red-Handed

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Lin Dahai walked to the cabinet and crouched down. With the utmost care, he lifted the Mosin–Nagant from the back of it.

His movements were gentle and unhurried, as though he were holding not a rifle, but a priceless treasure.

Slowly, he unwrapped the cloth wound around the rifle, layer by layer. Every motion was solemn and deliberate.

Though it had been treasured for many years, the rifle remained as good as new under Lin Dahai’s meticulous care and maintenance.

Its cold metallic sheen glimmered in the dim light, as though silently recounting the magnificent stories of days gone by.

“Do you know how to use it?”

Lin Dahai raised his head and looked at Lin Yang with a piercing gaze, a trace of expectation in his eyes.

Lin Yang felt as though a kitten were scratching at his heart. He desperately wanted to tell his father that he not only knew how to use the rifle, but was also an exceptionally skilled marksman.

But he knew his father all too well. The old man cherished this rifle so deeply that he normally could not bear to let Lin Yang even touch it.

On the rare occasions when his father was slightly drunk, he would merely take the rifle out, quietly stroking it with his hand.

Once, when he was young and curious, Lin Yang had been unable to restrain his longing and secretly taken the rifle out.

The result was only too predictable.

When his father discovered it, he flew into a rage and beat him until his skin was torn and bruised.

From then on, Lin Yang understood completely that, in his father’s heart, the rifle occupied a sacred and inviolable place.

At the thought, Lin Yang hurriedly shook his head like a rattle drum, putting on an innocent, clueless expression.

Seeing this, Lin Dahai asked no further questions. He merely nodded slightly, then began expertly taking the Mosin–Nagant completely apart.

As he disassembled it, he patiently and meticulously explained the rifle’s structure and how to use it.

His eyes were utterly focused throughout, and his movements were smooth and practiced.

Lin Yang, meanwhile, pretended to be a complete novice. Curiosity hung on his face as he listened without blinking.

Yet the instant his hand touched the weapon, he could not help secretly licking his lips. A trace of irrepressible excitement flashed through his eyes.

In his previous life, he had also owned a weapon just like this one.

Later, however, because of weapons-control regulations, he had been forced to surrender it after less than two years, much as it pained him to do so.

Soon afterward, hunting was completely banned as well, and that passionate, blood-stirring period of hunting came to an end.

“Have you learned everything I taught you?” Lin Dahai asked after finishing his explanation, his bright eyes fixed on Lin Yang with a hint of scrutiny.

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Lin Yang nodded repeatedly, anticipation shining in his eyes.

Then he pretended it was his first time handling the weapon and deliberately began reassembling the various parts of the Mosin–Nagant with clumsy movements.

He intentionally slowed down. From time to time, he even acted as though he had encountered a difficulty, furrowing his brow and thinking for a while before continuing. His performance was remarkably convincing.

“Not bad. To be able to assemble the weapon so well on your first attempt proves you have real talent!”

“What a pity, though. If I had sent you to join the army and train back then, you might well have become an outstanding soldier by now.”

Lin Dahai shook his head slightly, whether in reminiscence or regret, and waved his hand gently.

“Go on. From now on, be extremely careful whenever you enter the mountains. There are plenty of beasts in there, and danger lurks everywhere. I cannot help you much, so this weapon is the best thing for you to carry for protection.”

As he spoke, Lin Dahai turned and took more than thirty rounds of ammunition from a nearby box, handing them to Lin Yang. He then urged him earnestly, “There are more than thirty bullets here. When you run out, go buy some yourself at the supply cooperative. But be careful and do not waste them. This is no game.”

Lin Yang accepted the rifle and ammunition solemnly with both hands, then carefully returned to his room.

He gently stroked the rifle, almost as if he could feel his father’s heroic presence on the battlefield all those years ago.

This weapon carried the marks of his father’s turbulent past. It had once been his father’s closest and most trusted companion in battle.

With this very rifle, his father had fought bravely against the enemy and earned great military honors.

Those memories of battlefields blazing beneath a sky full of fire seemed to travel through the tunnels of time and surface one after another in his mind. A proud smile appeared on his face before he even realized it.

At home, his mother was always a whirlwind, taking charge of everything and acting like the undisputed head of the household.

But when a truly important matter arose, it was still his father who had to make the final decision.

Perhaps his mother had guessed long ago that his father would hand this precious rifle over to him. That was probably why, in a fit of anger, she had refused even to cook and gone straight out.

At the thought, Lin Yang could not help feeling both amused and helpless.

Still, dinner had to be eaten.

The moment Lin Yang stepped into the kitchen, he heard his mother, Zhao Guixiang, cursing angrily outside in her familiar voice.

“You little rascal! You were running around so happily earlier, weren’t you? Why have you stopped now?”

Lin Yang gave an embarrassed smile, hurried outside, and threw his arms around his mother. Like a child, he began wheedling, “Ma, I knew you loved me most. Don’t be angry anymore!”

“Get lost! Just looking at you, you little rascal, makes me furious!” Zhao Guixiang said, though inwardly she was deeply moved.

She knew perfectly well that the father and son had planned this together long ago.

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Deep down, she did not want her son to take such risks. But she understood his temperament as well. Once he made up his mind, not even nine oxen could pull him back. There was simply no stopping him.

She had beaten him and scolded him. Since she could not prevent him from going, it was better to give him more means of protection than to let him sneak off on his own. At the very least, that would give him an extra measure of safety.

The Mosin–Nagant was the only weapon their family had. Perhaps it could protect her son in a critical moment.

When Lin Yang saw that his mother had not pushed him away, he immediately realized that there was hope. A brilliant smile spread across his face.

“Ma, you can put your mind at ease. Your son is clever. How could I possibly let myself suffer?”

“Besides, I’m not going deep into the mountains. I’ll just stay nearby and hunt a little small game.”

“You saw what I brought home before. I know what I’m doing. I certainly won’t joke around with my own life.”

“I couldn’t care less about you. If a black bear licks you, you’ll only have yourself to blame!” Zhao Guixiang lightly smacked Lin Yang on the head, pretending to be angry. “Go away. I still have to cook! You may not be hungry, but I’m starving!”

Lin Yang was overjoyed. His mother had effectively given him permission to enter the mountains.

After dinner, Lin Yang went straight back to his room to rest.

He had something important to do the next day.

He had to find the person who had stolen his six baskets. Otherwise, he would never be able to swallow his anger.

It was not yet fully light. The surroundings were utterly silent, broken only by the crowing of roosters heralding the dawn.

The moment Lin Yang heard them, he sprang out of bed. Without even having breakfast, he hurriedly grabbed two baskets and strode toward the upper reaches of the river.

He had no intention of activating the system’s scanning function today. His target was not the turtles in the river, but the thief who had stolen his baskets.

When he reached the upper stream, Lin Yang skillfully set two traps, then turned and plunged straight into the deep mountains.

He had wrapped the Mosin–Nagant tightly in cloth and slung it over his back. From the outside, it was impossible to tell what he was carrying; all anyone could see was a bulging bundle.

Lin Yang cautiously took a wide detour through the mountains, then quietly retraced his route and concealed himself in a dense thicket.

In truth, from the moment he entered the mountains, he had faintly sensed that someone seemed to be following him.

And sure enough—

On his way back, he clearly saw a familiar figure through the fine gaps between the bushes.

It was none other than Old Zhang!

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