The Siheyuan of the Young Educated Youth

It is already the twelfth lunar month, and a light snow is falling. The weather is very cold.

The window glass was covered with frost.

The team leader sat on the kang and drank boiling hot sauerkraut bone soup.

It is sprinkled with dried chilies roasted in the stove pit, and the aroma of the paste fills the house.

The little grandson next to him was wearing open-crotch cotton trousers and a small blue cotton jacket. He was kneeling there, holding his grandfather's knees with one hand and the kang table with the other.

"Grandpa, drink, drink."

The team leader skimmed the chili powder on the sauerkraut soup, scooped half a spoonful of the soup and fed it to his grandson.

The child made a "sizzling" sound while drinking, and his lips felt numb when he licked them, and he made a "sha, sha" sound after finishing drinking.

Then he opened his mouth and waited for grandpa to feed him.

The captain's wife and Dahong and his wife had not yet sat down to eat.

Someone came to the house.

Zheng Xiaoquan and Zheng Dazhui walked in one after the other.

After a while, a few more young men came.

The captain ate his meal slowly, occasionally feeding his grandson.

The people sitting on the ground had fiery eyes and seemed to be hesitant to speak.

Zheng Dazhui, in particular, was just like the day he got married, feeling happy, anxious, and nervous.

The two hands are holding each other.

Try your best to suppress your emotions.

Don't be afraid that your heart and words will burst out at the same time.

Just when he was eager to try.

Dazhu's wife wrapped the child in a small quilt and ran into the yard.

The captain's wife went out to greet him when she saw him.

"Dazhu's wife, what are you doing? You are in such a hurry that the child is freezing."

Dazhu's wife was a little anxious and a little embarrassed.

"Well, Auntie, I have something to talk to Dazhu about. I have some important work to do at home!

In the blink of an eye, the person disappeared.”

The captain's wife looked around the house.

"Dazhu, your wife is looking for you, go back with her right away."

Dazhu's excitement obviously subsided a lot.

He looked at the captain reluctantly and walked out with his head hung.

He walked in front, and Dazhu's wife followed behind, holding the child.

"You are really amazing. When I went out, you didn't even look after the child and just ran away.

What do you think?

We have enough food and clothes now, so do we have to go up the mountain with them?

If anything happens to you, what will you do with me and the kids?"

Dazhu muttered, "That's fine. Qi Feifei runs in the mountains every day, so it's okay."

Dazhu's wife raised her voice.

"How can you compare with her? She is alone, she doesn't have to take care of her family, if anything happens, it's just a big deal.

Are you capable? Who will you leave your wife and children to?

I'm pregnant with another child. If something happens to you, do you want me to remarry or find someone to help you?"

Zheng Dazhu's neck stiffened and he stopped. "No way! You can only be my wife. Even after you die, you have to sleep in the same coffin with me."

Dazhu's wife pushed him with her hand, chuckled, and softened her tone.

"No, you still want to run to the mountains? If you get licked by a blind bear, where can I find such a good man?

I can't bear to do that.

Are you still going?"

Dazhu had been holding his breath, but now he relaxed when he saw the affection in his wife's eyes.

Although I have always wanted to go hunting, it is not my main occupation after all. I can still live my life without that little extra income.

You should never abandon your wife and children.

Zheng Dazhui took the child from his wife's hands and wrapped him tightly.

"I won't go up the mountain with my second uncle, but if we find something, I will go with him and carry it back."

Dazhu's wife said, "There were many people there, and the prey had been killed. Just work hard, and I won't stop you. Just be careful about your own safety."

The couple hurried home to avoid letting the child catch a cold.

The captain's home.

The team leader had finished his meal, but a few people were still there and no one was saying anything.

The team leader put on an old sheepskin coat, a dog-skin hat, big hand guards, and a scarf.

The captain's wife also prepared steamed buns, pickled cabbage and water for him, and put them in a cloth bag.

The captain dressed neatly, took his gun and was ready to leave.

Zheng Xiaoquan finally couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Second brother, after you kill the prey, you need someone to help you carry it back. Why don't you bring a few more people?"

The captain said in a serious tone, "You all stay at home. If I catch any prey, I will come back to find you."

There is no need for everyone to go up the mountain and freeze and risk their lives.

Zheng Xiaoquan, "Can I go with you? I can come back quickly to deliver the letter."

Captain, "What? Do you think I'm walking too slowly?"

Zheng Xiaoquan felt a little bitter, he didn't mean that.

He wanted to go too. What man didn't like to go hunting in the mountains and fishing in the rivers?

His shooting skills are also pretty good.

"Brother, I'll go with you. I can at least help you, so you can be more agile.

It’s often inconvenient for just you and Qi Feifei.”

The captain's eyes widened.

His own wife doesn't feel any inconvenience, what nonsense is he talking about?

"You can't mention smallpox. You just want to get the prey back, enjoy the glory, and make some extra money.

But do you know how many people died while hunting in the mountains in the early years? Were there few injured or disabled people that year?

Look at that hunter, he became rich and lived a long life?

You are the pillars of your families. If you get injured or disabled, how will your entire family survive?

I don’t let you go because it’s for your own good.”

The captain glanced at a few people and said to Zheng Xiaoquan,

"Just stay at home these few days and don't go. Lead everyone to work hard.

I'll talk to Qi Feifei later and ask Doubao to come back to find you, and you can bring a few more people into the mountains to pick us up."

Zheng Xiaoquan was at a loss, and the others behind him didn't dare to say a word.

Although he was not convinced, he did not dare to argue with the captain.

If they are not given guns, it is useless for them to go into the mountains, as they cannot catch people with their bare hands.

If we could have caught him, we would have gone into the mountains long ago, and wouldn't have waited until today.

Several people watched as the captain left the yard and met Qi Feifei at the door. The two of them walked towards the mountain one after the other.

The two men walked not far from the village.

A man came running behind, panting and shouting,

"Uncle Zheng, Uncle Zheng."

Qi Feifei and the captain stopped and looked back.

Then Gao Aiguo came running over.

He was wearing a half-coat, suede shoes, a dogskin hat and a cotton scarf.

When he got closer, he pushed his hat.

The exposed eyelashes are covered with frost.

The young man's eyes are clear and bright.

"Uncle Zheng, my father asked me to go into the mountains with you to help."

Qi Feifei: Just dress like this when you go into the mountains. In case you can’t come back at night, you don’t have to worry about freezing to death.

Team leader: Secretary Gao, what are you doing?

He doesn’t even take care of his own son, and you want him to take care of this greenhorn?

"Do me a favor. Go to the village and find Zheng Xiaoquan. Ask him to prepare the ropes, sleds, and poles. Then you can go into the mountains with him."

Gao Aiguo was quite happy. "Okay, I'll go now. I promise to get it done."

He glanced at Qi Feifei, then turned around and ran back to the village.

The captain led Qi Feifei away quickly.

These two people all think that going into the mountains to hunt is a good thing!