The snow leopard mother returned.
She held a blue sheep in her mouth.
Her hunting skills were as impressive as ever.
Walking gracefully to Song Wei’s side, the snow leopard mother dropped her prey and glanced at her sideways, as if asking why she had come.
The three cubs, having drunk the goat’s milk Song Wei brought, did not immediately run to their mother.
The snow leopard mother didn’t mind either, content to lie down and eat peacefully.
She was growing a bit tired of her three noisy cubs.
Song Wei sat beside her, chattering away.
“Snow leopard mother, I’m leaving. I don’t know when I’ll be back next time, and I’m not sure if your three cubs will have grown up by then. They’re so small now—even if we meet again, they might not recognize me. But it’s okay, I’ll make sure they remember me. Of course, that’s only if I can find them again…”
The snow leopard mother gnawed on her meat, her ears twitching occasionally as she listened.
A mischievous cub ran over and pounced on her tail to play. She nudged the cub toward Song Wei with her paw and shot her a look.
It was as if she was saying, “Keep an eye on this little rascal for me!”
Song Wei stroked the cub’s soft belly. “You really don’t treat me like a stranger, do you?”
The snow leopard mother indeed didn’t see Song Wei as an outsider. After finishing her meal, she left two legs of the blue sheep for her.
She pushed the blood-stained legs toward Song Wei with her paw, her meaning clear.
Song Wei accepted them without hesitation.
“Thanks. I should get going now.”
Returning the cub to its mother, Song Wei stood up and stretched.
After the snow leopard mother licked the blood off her mouth, Song Wei suddenly bent down, hugged her furry head, and nuzzled against it.
For a moment, the snow leopard mother’s eyes widened in surprise, but she was no match for Song Wei’s strength and could only endure the affectionate rubbing.
“Hehe, I’m off!”
This time, she truly left, carrying two blue sheep legs with her.
The snow leopard mother sat upright on the high mountain, her three playful cubs tumbling around her. Her eyes followed Song Wei’s retreating figure until she disappeared into the distance.
After leaving the snow leopard’s territory, Song Wei took the big black horse and rejoined the herd.
They galloped across the grassland, and Song Wei captured many scenic moments: square-faced Tibetan foxes, emerald-green lakes, snow lotuses blooming on high mountains, and wild donkeys and camels deep in the grassland.
On her way back from the mountains, she even found an egg—white and smaller than a chicken’s egg.
The only birds living here were mountain eagles, so it was likely an eagle egg, though she wasn’t sure what kind.
“I wonder if it’ll hatch. I’ll take it with me.”
As night fell, Song Wei rode the big black horse and led the herd back to the camp.
Then, she bid farewell to the big black horse.
After unloading everything from the horse’s back, Song Wei fed it some bean cakes.
“Take the herd back. If I get the chance, I’ll return.”
She patted the big black horse’s back. It seemed to understand, nudging her with its head and giving her a deep look before turning back to the herd.
With a loud neigh, the big black horse galloped into the night.
The herd followed, soon disappearing into the darkness.
Lin Zhen and Feng Tingxuan walked over, both looking at her with concern.
Song Wei smiled. “I’m not as fragile or as sad as you think.”
She had long grown accustomed to goodbyes.
In her previous life, whether it was people she knew or strangers, a single trip to gather supplies could mean a permanent farewell.
Though their time together was short, this month had been meaningful to Song Wei.
The people of Nankang Brigade drove the herds back.
Every cow, sheep, and horse had been fed until plump, and some had even given birth to young.
Of course, there had been some losses too.
However, the number of new births outweighed the losses.
Among the herds tended by Feng Tingxuan, including the newly arrived pregnant ewe, a total of five lambs were born.
The new ewe even gave birth to twins.
There was also a new calf.
After returning to the Nankang Brigade, Song Wei and Lin Zhen received the most attention.
Because of the wolves, the fact that she had hunted a yak on the grassland could no longer be hidden.
After all, everyone had eaten it at the time.
The people of the Nankang Brigade came to see Song Wei not to demand she hand over the yak or anything, but purely out of curiosity about who had the skill to take down a yak.
Seeing Song Wei’s physique, they simply couldn’t believe it!
Song Wei didn’t care whether they believed her or not; she was busy packing her things.
However, everyone was even more interested in the wolf pup she had brought back.
“Comrade Song, that wolf pup won’t ever be tamed.”
“Yeah, and there’s no place to raise it here. You’ll just get attached, and it’ll break your heart when it doesn’t bond with you.”
Song Wei: “It’s fine. If it doesn’t behave, a few good beatings will teach it who’s boss.”
Yu Wei shooed away the curious crowd: “Shoo, shoo, what are you all worrying about? My niece’s family already keeps two wolves at home—they don’t need your advice.”
Hearing this, everyone’s eyes widened: “Really?!”
“Old Yu, you’re just boasting.”
Yu Wei immediately retorted: “Why would I boast? You just don’t know how capable my nephew and niece are. They’re incredibly skilled.”
After a lively day, Lin Zhen and Yu Wei went to town the next day, then took a bus to the city.
The city still had powdered milk for sale, but it was extremely expensive and required ration coupons.
Lin Zhen needed to develop photos, so he bought a can of powdered milk, along with some sugar, canned goods, cigarettes, alcohol, and other items.
The city was very far from the Nankang Brigade.
Lin Zhen and Yu Wei left at six in the morning and didn’t return until almost ten at night.
Fortunately, they managed to get everything they wanted.
Apart from the powdered milk, the other items were gifts for Yu Wei’s family.
Only a few photos of everyone herding were developed due to the time constraints; more couldn’t be processed.
But even those few photos caused a sensation in the Nankang Brigade.
Everyone gathered at Yu Wei’s house to see them, marveling at the rare sight.
“So beautiful! These are our herds. They’re taken so well.”
“Comrade Song, are we going to be in the newspaper too?”
Song Wei, holding the wolf pup, replied: “Not necessarily. The newspaper agency selects articles—it’s not something I can decide.”
“That’s true. If it were that easy, all the educated youths in our brigade would be writing articles.”
They felt both hopeful and skeptical about making it into the newspaper.
But they still loved the photos.
In the end, apart from Yu Wei keeping a few photos, the brigade leader also took some.
Song Wei also gave a few to Hasanmu.
Hasanmu was overjoyed, grinning like a fool and brimming with pride.
“Thank you, Song Wei, and Lin Zhen too. You are both my best friends!”
That evening, Song Wei brought a photo to her uncle’s place.
It wasn’t safe to talk with so many people around, fearing eavesdroppers.
Song Wei simply handed him the photo and an envelope.
“Uncle, we’re leaving tomorrow. Take good care of yourself. From now on, take Little boss with you when you herd.”
Feng Tingxuan’s eyes reddened as he agreed.
“You take care too. And… I probably won’t be able to attend your wedding.”
He took out a pocket watch—something he had hidden away.
“Take this as my wedding gift to you. It’s all I have left. I wish you both a happy marriage.”
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