“Hurry, hurry,” Song Wei urged, her voice a mixture of excitement and urgency.
As the squirrels battled ferociously, Song Wei and Hei Dan took advantage of the distraction, swiftly collecting the remaining nuts. They loaded their bag, slung it into the basket, and made their escape.
Before leaving, Song Wei placed some roasted nuts on the ground, just as she had earlier. The reddish-brown squirrel initially tried to flee from its larger rival. However, upon spotting the roasted nuts, it quickly snatched up the biggest walnut it could find and bolted, the larger squirrel chasing after it.
Though smaller in size, the red squirrel proved to be an expert at escaping, swiftly outmaneuvering its pursuer. Frustrated, the larger squirrel eventually gave up the chase, returning to its hollow to find it looted.
Anger radiated off the larger squirrel as it chirped furiously, pacing around its empty stash. However, its attention was soon drawn to the roasted nuts Song Wei had left behind.
Having spent so much time digging the wild ginseng, Song Wei and Hei Dan began their descent later than expected. The early winter sunset had already begun to darken the landscape.
Back in the village, Song Jing, worried grabbed a flashlight and headed up the mountain with Gao Le and Zhao Su to search for them.
Midway up, they called out, and Song Wei quickly responded, “Over here!”
The group soon reunited.
“Why are you so late?” Song Jing asked, his concern evident.
Song Wei casually held up the two pheasants she had caught. “Chasing these two took us farther than I planned.”
Gao Le and Zhao Su’s eyes lit up at the sight of the pheasants.
“Wow, Sister Song, you’re incredible! Catching pheasants in this weather!”
The two city boys were in awe. Though ambitious, neither of them had the skills or courage to hunt in the wild.
As they marveled at the pheasants, Song Jing suddenly stopped in his tracks. His flashlight swept across the snowy ground.
“Wait a moment.”
“What’s wrong?” Gao Le asked, following Song Jing’s gaze.
The group gathered around to inspect the area where Song Jing’s light revealed unusual indentations in the snow.
“What kind of animal’s tracks are these?” Song Wei asked, crouching down to examine the prints.
Song Jing moved a few steps ahead, finding something else. “It’s pig dung,” he announced. “These tracks are from wild boars, and it looks like there are quite a few of them.”
Hearing the words “wild boar,” Gao Le and Zhao Su both froze, their expressions turning pale.
“We need to get back to the village and report this,” Song Jing said urgently. “If they’ve come down the mountain, it’s not just the crops that are in danger. People could get hurt.”
The group quickly descended, with Gao Le and Zhao Su rushing back to the educated youth dormitory, loudly spreading the news that a wild boar had come down the mountain.
Most of the educated youth reacted with alarm. However, Xu Laidi’s first thought was far more peculiar:
“Wild boars? Does that mean we’ll get to eat wild boar meat soon?” Her eyes sparkled at the prospect.
Gao Le was incredulous. “How can you think about meat at a time like this? Wild boars are dangerous! None of us can handle even one, let alone a whole group.”
Xu Laidi rolled her eyes dismissively. “It’s not like we’ll be the ones hunting them.”
Spotting Song Jing and Song Wei leaving with Hei Dan, she wanted to approach them but stopped when Song Wei shot her a cold, warning glare. Xu Laidi hesitated, then retreated, muttering under her breath.
Song Jing headed straight to the bridge leader to report. Meanwhile, Song Wei took Hei Dan to Lin Zhen’s house.
Knowing the village would organize a hunting party, Song Wei wanted to join but couldn’t take Hei Dan along. Moreover, the wild ginseng she had dug up was too valuable to leave unattended at the youth dormitory.
As soon as they entered Lin Zhen’s yard, the two wolf pups bounded out, barking excitedly at the returning pair. Lin Zhen, waiting by the door, saw them and immediately poured them hot ginger tea.
The spicy warmth of the tea burned their throats slightly but drove away the chill, leaving them comfortably warm.
Lin Zhen then brought out a bowl of thick soup. “Eat something to warm up.”
“Where’s your brother?”
“He went to report to the bridge leader,” Song Wei replied, eagerly devouring her meal.
After finishing, she took out the wild ginseng and placed it on the table. “Here, put this somewhere safe.”
Lin Zhen opened the package and gasped. “Wild ginseng?!”
Song Wei nodded proudly. “I spent two hours digging it out.”
She added with a smile, “Hei Dan found it first, though.”
The little boy puffed out his chest in pride.
Lin Zhen examined the ginseng’s shape and size, swallowing hard. “No wonder you were so late.”
“You’re giving this to me? This must be at least a hundred years old—it’s worth a fortune!”
Song Wei shook her head, speaking through a mouthful of food. “I don’t trust leaving it at the educated youth dormitory, and I can’t carry it around all the time. Better you hold onto it.”
Lin Zhen nodded, understanding her reasoning. “Are you planning to sell it?”
“No,” Song Wei replied firmly. She glanced at the ginseng thoughtfully. “Do you know how to make ginseng wine?”
Good things like this, she believed, were best kept for herself rather than sold for money.
Lin Zhen agreed. “I don’t know how, but I know someone who does.” He told Song Wei about the old Chinese medicine doctor Ji who lived in the cowshed, “He’s an expert with herbs. I’ll take it to him quietly and have it prepared.”
Song Wei nodded but added, “I want to go with you—but it’ll have to wait until tomorrow. Tonight’s not a good time.”
“Why not?”
“There are wild boars that have come down the mountain,” Song Wei explained.
She described how her brother had discovered the boar tracks earlier.
Lin Zhen glanced at his injured leg. “Too bad I can’t go.”
Having stayed at home for so long without proper exercise, Lin Zhen, who had developed a habit of daily workouts during his time in the army, felt restless. He longed for his leg to heal so he could get out and move.
Hunting wild boars—what a great way to stretch your skills. And here I am, stuck just watching.
Song Wei thought for a moment. “How about cutting off a few ginseng roots to cook with the pheasant? It might help you recover faster.”
Lin Zhen looked at the wild ginseng and hesitated. “Better not. That would be such a waste.”
Without a second thought, Song Wei snapped off three ginseng roots and handed them to him. “I should have known not to dig so carefully.”
But when she was digging, she was only concerned about perfection and didn’t think about this.
If they were going to break anyway, might as well use them for a good purpose—like making chicken soup.
Lin Zhen let out a hiss. Holding the three roots in his hand, he smacked his lips. “Fine, I’ll cook it. This pheasant is about to become very expensive.”
“Is that enough?” Song Wei asked.
Lin Zhen nodded. “More than enough.This thing is more than a hundred years old, so the medicinal effect must be great.”
As the two ate and talked, a stir broke out in the Ping’an Brigade.
The brigade leader had rung the bell—the same one used to signal the time for work. This meant something serious had happened, and all the villagers were to gather at the threshing ground for a meeting.
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