This years luck is good, the well-trained hunting dogs surrounded a group of wild boars on the first day, which was in a mountain valley thirty miles away from the Wild Man Village, with three big ones leading a group of small ones. The hunting dogs were very smart, they gave up chasing those big pigs that were good at running, and attacked the small pigs instead. The big pigs, who were anxious to protect their young, turned back just in time to fall into the hunters encirclement.

  The level of the hunters is very strict, and as the leader of the hunters, Miao Dajie has the right to decide which pig to shoot. The mountain people here strictly follow the teachings of their ancestors, pregnant female wild animals cannot be shot, only large ones can be shot, not small ones, and a whole group cannot be killed at once, leaving some for breeding. So Miao Dajie chose two from among them, one male and one female, but the one with piglets on its belly was not within the range of choice because it needed to breastfeed.

  Their ancestors believed that the wild beasts in the mountains were natural gifts, as long as they had enough to eat, they couldnt ask for more, and they had to know when to take what was needed to ensure the continuation of species here.

  Good marksmen were selected, and after two shots, the two wild boars fell to the ground with precise shots to the heart. There is a technique for shooting wild boars, you cant shoot at their heads or bodies. The skull of a wild boar is extremely hard, not to mention a shotgun, even a rifle may not be able to penetrate it. Moreover, they often rub against pine trees to relieve itching, and a thick layer of pine resin accumulates on their skin, which is equivalent to wearing a layer of armor.

  Once the boar is wounded and not killed, it will charge at people. Its tusks are curved like a dagger on both sides, if you get hit once, even if you dont die, youll have to break several ribs. The only weak point of the wild boar is in front of its chest, which is below the left legs abdomen, where the skin and flesh are the softest. Bullets shot from here can directly penetrate the heart, only extremely skilled and experienced old hunters can guarantee a one-shot kill.

  Shi Baizi watched them shoot guns, naturally feeling itchy, but before he had a chance to volunteer and go to the front line, our task was already arranged. We dragged these few pigs back to the village and handed them over to the butcher for processing. Although unwilling, this trip still yielded gains. One small pig was probably scared by the gunfire and stood in place, shivering and refusing to move. Miao Lao said that such a piglet would likely not survive in the wild, so we should bring it back and find a place to raise it. If we could keep it alive, this pig would be our extra welfare.

  The two pigs weighed nearly four hundred catties, and the two of us along with another two young men were responsible for pulling them back to the village. We cut down a small pine tree on the spot to make a pole, tied the pigs legs together with rope, then used the pole to lift it from the middle, one person per pig.

  On the way, we heard two other people say that the pig that was sent back had its belly opened and would be processed on the same day. The person carrying the pig could have the opportunity to get an extra pair of pork intestines. Shi Baozi saw a good deal and didnt mind anymore, winking at me with great excitement. I knew that eating bran and cornbread every day for so long had almost suffocated him, and it was just right to go back and have a good meal.

  That afternoon, we set up a pigpen on the empty land outside the warehouse and put that small one in. At night, we called Miao Lan over again. Yuan Xiao Bai really had no way to start, and also brought half a catty of Miao Laos tuhuo wine.

  Fatso said hes going to get drunk tonight and not return until hes had his fill, saying its to celebrate us getting through the probation period smoothly. No one stopped him, anyway, it was just him drinking alone, just looking for an excuse.

  That nights dishes were sumptuous, Miao Lan cooked a big pot with pigs trotters and wild mushrooms, and also put in the chili peppers brought by Shi Baozi. In that season which was about to enter winter, everyone ate until they were sweating profusely, it was the most enjoyable meal we had when we went to Tunzi.

  We were supposed to rest after dinner, but Shi Guangzong was quick-witted and suggested that we could go hunting on our own tomorrow.

  Miao Lan shook her head repeatedly and said, "No way, you are all educated youth who have inserted into the queue, and you are also city people. The terrain of Yeren Village is complex, let alone the hunting dogs and guns were taken away, even if you really had that heart, there was no condition."

  "Sister, Brother Pang grew up in the military compound of the Wild Battle Army, he could understand military maps at the age of four and hit the target with a gun at the age of five without missing. Dont underestimate me, we wont go far, just wander around outside."

  "That wont work either, even if you can understand the terrain, theres no gun."

  "Hey, arent you still holding onto that rifle? Lend it to me tomorrow and Ill try it out. Whatever we hit, well split it 50/50!"

  "No way, no way, my gun is too old, it was used by my dad when he was young, it can barely shoot mountain chickens and the like, but against something big like what you saw today, its useless. Besides, a homemade shotgun isnt a hunting rifle, its not that easy to use."

  "You underestimate me, let alone the others, dont you know that five or six of them are aware?" Shi Baozi got excited as soon as he mentioned this, and he boasted about all those guys he had seen in the department since he was a kid, leaving Miao Lan stunned, but in the end, Ni Zi still insisted on her own principles, no matter what.

  Fatso, seeing that he couldnt get his way by being stubborn, changed his tactics and said: "Alright, how about this? Ill write a letter to my family later and ask them to send some military cotton-padded jackets. How about I give you one then?"

  At that time, the rural areas were indeed lacking in materials. Who could make a new set of clothes every year? They all had to patch and mend for years on end. Shi Baozis words struck a chord with Miao Lan. She wanted a new cotton-padded jacket to wear over winter, as her own was worn out and no longer warm. Wearing it made little difference from wearing a single layer of clothing. The wind in the village during winter was biting and unbearable for everyone.

  "Whats wrong?"

  The fat guy drew a circle on himself and said: "Military style, female version, with waist drawstring, very good-looking."

  Miao Lans eyes lit up: "Really?"

  "He patted his chest and said: I guarantee Chairman Mao that it is absolutely true!"

  "Alright, lets just keep this between us. Only a few of us know about this, and no one can tell my dad, or Ill be in big trouble."

  "Haha." Shi Baozi, seeing that his plan had succeeded, was overjoyed and stood up, dancing with excitement, saying: "Xiao Yi and Wen Bin are our brothers, how could they say such things? Xiao Bai is my own sister, its even more impossible for her to say anything."

  Yuan Xiaobai glared at Shi Baozi and said, "Hey, hey, hey, Baozi, watch your mouth, whos your sister!" After staying with us for a while, Yuan Xiaobai also started to get used to this tone of speaking and gradually became one of us.

  I also joked: "Right? You dont even look at your own figure. I think the one in the pigpen outside is more like your brother, isnt it Wenbin?"

  Cha Wenbin just smiled, he has been here for so many days and still speaks very little, I always see him staring blankly alone, but when working, he is full of energy, not inferior to those adult laborers, the people in the village have a good impression of him.

  "Alright, alright, Im telling you, Im not doing this for everyones benefit, am I? Miaozi, let me ask you, whats the most valuable thing among these wild beasts in the mountain?" Miaozi was Miao Lans nickname, given by Pangzi. He said calling her Lanlan sounded too ambiguous and people might misunderstand, so he just called her Miaozi.

  Miao Lan smiled and said: "Tigers are the most valuable, dare you hit?"

  "Is it really worth the money?"

  Miao Lan stuffed a mouthful of food and said, "Tiger skin, tiger bones, and even tiger whip are all in high demand, the Chinese medicine cooperative outside is scrambling to get them, its just that no one can get their hands on them. I heard that one tiger can exchange for two years worth of food for a whole family." She saw that Fatty seemed to really have that idea and immediately interrupted, "Hey, hey, dont think about it, my shotgun is not capable of hunting tigers, you wont even be able to get a single tiger hair, instead youll end up losing your own life."

  "Then dont worry about it, Ill naturally have a way to deal with it. But are there really tigers in this mountain?"

  "There are, how can there not be? There are Northeast Tigers here. In the past, livestock in Tunli was often stolen."

  "Where is it?" asked the fat man.

  Miao Lan seemed to have thought of something and said, "The west mountain head over there, ah right, youd better not think about it. That place is where no one from our village would normally go, and you shouldnt go either, or something will happen."

  "Whats up?"

  Miao Lan asked Pangzi: "Whats our village called?"

  "Savage village!"

  "Thats right, then its settled. The Savage Village, no one can call this place by that name!" Miao Lan glanced out the window and said: "Its said that on the west mountain side there are savages who specialize in eating human hearts, livers, and lungs. They come and go without a shadow, and before people even understand whats happening theyre caught and eaten."

  "Cut the crap, are you a savage or what? Do you want an army coat?"

  "Think!" Miao Lan continued, "If you want to go to Xishan to fight tigers, Id rather not have your military coat. There really are wild people over there, and something happened before Liberation. One year, the snow came very early, in late September, and most of the village was covered in snow, except for a mountain on the west side that hadnt been snowed on yet. People were starving and had to find a way out. At the time, someone like you didnt believe it and went to Xishan, but never came back. Half a month later, they found him at the foot of the mountain, his belly cut open, with no heart, liver, or lungs inside!" When Miaozi said this, she suddenly spread her hands apart and raised her voice, scaring us all into attention.

  "Alright, alright, I wont go over there, I promise you."

  After dinner, Miao Lan handed over the gun, along with a few corners of black gunpowder and bullets, and repeatedly instructed him not to go too far away, only allowing Fatty to search around for small animals like pheasants or rabbits.

  Shi Baozi finally sent Miao Lan away after agreeing to a hundred things, then closed the door and said to me and Cha Wenbin: "You guys go to bed early tonight, well go tiger hunting in Xishan tomorrow morning."

  I said: "Didnt I say were not going to Xishan?"

  Fatso glared at me and said, "If youre not going to fight a tiger, whats the point of getting her a military coat?"

  "Cant your family just send it to you?"

  "Alas." The fatty sighed and said: "If it were last year, a big coat would be no big deal. Now, hey, I dont even know where my family members are being held, let alone have a military coat. Im so desperate that I dont even know who to send letters to. Never mind, when youre on the outside, you can only rely on yourself. Which of us has winter clothes? Ive seen all your gifts, you, Wenbin, and Xiaobai - we four are all wearing single-layer clothing. Were southerners, but this is Northeast China, where itll be minus tens of degrees soon. Its a place where you can pee and itll freeze into ice. What do you plan to do? Do you really think Im stupid enough to go play with tigers? This isnt something we can fix, just us three men might be able to tough it out, but what about Xiaobai? Shes a girl, have you guys thought this through?"

  "That......" I think Shi Baozi made sense, but Miao Lan also told us very clearly, her words didnt seem to be fake, so I cast my gaze towards Cha Wenbin.

  Unexpectedly, he who had always been silent uttered just one word: "Do it!"