bayedsolid Chapter 16 Hunting in the Deep Mountains
Chapter 16 Hunting in the Deep Mountains
That evening, Wen Yuxia told her grandfather about her plans and, in front of his family, demonstrated a set of boxing techniques and even broke a stone with her bare hands.
After careful consideration, Grandpa decided to accept Wen Yuxia's help and let the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth sons go hunting in the deep mountains with Wen Yuxia early the next morning.
My granddaughter is skilled in martial arts, so my sons can go into the deep mountains with her. It's safe and secure. Most importantly, there are plenty of prey in the deep mountains. If they catch a big one, they can cover the dowry for several of my sons' weddings.
Wang Dazhu, along with his sons Erzhu, Sanzhu, and Sizhu, also expressed their desire to go to the deep mountains together. Wang Ping then decided that all eight sons could go.
Wen Yunhong also wanted to go with them, but Wang Wushi firmly disagreed. They would stay in the deep mountains for several days. Wang Wushi was not happy about Wen Yuxia going, let alone 5-year-old Wen Yunhong.
The next morning, before dawn, Wang Wu and Du got up to prepare food for Wen Yuxia and the others. After a hearty meal, Wen Yuxia said, "Uncles, grab your weapons and let's go."
The group quickly walked down the mountain. Wen Yuxia knew that her uncles often liked to go up the mountain, but she still shared her own accumulated experience:
“Uncle, once you’re up the mountain, you need to be very observant and attentive to your surroundings. Pay close attention to the environment and the footprints of wild animals on the ground… Wolves are the most cunning, and they live in packs. Before launching an attack, the alpha wolf will send out a sentry to scout out the enemy situation…”
After saying this, Wang Dazhu looked around nervously, his legs trembling slightly. He was terrified, fearing that something might have happened to his seven younger brothers and eldest niece, and he wouldn't be able to explain himself when he returned home.
“Da Ya, Er Zhu, if things don’t look right, climb the tree quickly. Don’t be reckless, understand? Especially Ba Zhu, you must stay calm in the face of trouble. Don’t rush up in a moment of impulsiveness,” Wang Da Zhu said patiently three times until Wen Yu Xia, Wang Er Zhu, and the others nodded in agreement, and then he stopped talking.
Seeing her eight uncles looking uneasy, Wen Yuxia said crisply, "I'm a tough woman who can knock down a goat with one punch. With me here, you'll be fine. However, you mustn't go deep into the mountains without me."
"Hehe, I'll listen to Da Ya," Wang Bazhu said with a simple smile.
"I'll listen to Daya too,"
……
The villagers often come to this mountain at the end of the village to dig for wild vegetables and collect firewood. The path up the mountain is very easy to walk. Wang Bazhu and his gang usually dig traps and set snares on the outer edge of the deep mountain.
Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, Wen Yuxia took out strips of cloth and instructed them to tie their sleeves and trouser legs tightly to prevent poisonous insects from getting into their clothes. Wang Bazhu led the way.
"Uncle, whose aim is the best among you?" Wen Yuxia knew they couldn't shoot arrows because she noticed none of their weapons were bows and arrows when they went up the mountain.
“Me,” Wang Bazhu patted his chest, pulled a slingshot from his pocket, and turned around to say, “Da Ya, look, I made this slingshot myself.”
Wen Yuxia nodded, then looked at her other uncles.
Wang Wuzhu said, "My aim isn't as good as Lao Ba's, but it's a bit better than my older brothers'," and then he waved the hoe he was holding.
Not to be outdone, Wang Qizhu raised his pitchfork and said, "Da Ya, my aim isn't bad either."
"Me too, me too," Wang Liuzhu gripped the wooden stick in his hand tightly. The stick was a weapon he had made himself, sharpened at one end, and looked very sharp.
Wang Dazhu said with a faint smile, "Old Wu and the others often go up the mountain, and their aim is indeed better than ours. The four of us only have brute strength."
Wen Yuxia said, "When you get up the mountain, take care of each other. Uncle, second uncle, third uncle, fourth uncle, your weapons are machetes and sickles, which are suitable for close combat, but they are not very useful to you. You might as well make a wooden stick with a pointed end like the one that sixth uncle has."
"When we encounter a large prey, Eighth Uncle has a good aim and tries to shoot stones into the prey's eyes. Sixth and Seventh Uncles will pry open the prey's hind and hind legs. Fifth Uncle will smash the prey's head with a hoe. As for Eldest Uncle, you all need to protect yourselves and be ready to follow my orders at any time."
"If you encounter a pack of wolves, form a group of four, back to back, and use weapons to spear the wolves' heads and bellies. The prey's belly is the most vulnerable spot, so a single blow will kill it, and the wolf's belly is no exception."
Wen Yuxia recounted all the ancient hunting techniques she had learned from time-travel novels in her previous life, hoping that the eight pillars could put them to good use.
As they spoke, they had already crossed the small hill at the end of the village and were heading towards the second mountain. Along the way, they saw pheasants thrashing about in the woods and rabbits frolicking in the grass.
Wen Yuxia stopped them from hunting, saying there were plenty of prey in the deep mountains, and they could hunt the pheasants and rabbits when they returned.
At noon, they crossed the second mountain and arrived at the outskirts of the deep mountains. Wang Bazhu and Wang Qizhu went to inspect the traps they had set, while the others rested and ate their dry rations.
"Hehe, I'm in luck today," Wang Bazhu said with a grin as he returned, carrying two pheasants. Wang Qizhu followed behind him, carrying three rabbits.
Wen Yuxia laughed and said, "There's meat to eat! Eldest Uncle, hurry up and start a fire. Second Uncle, you take some men to clean the rabbit. Eighth Uncle, give me the pheasant, I'll take care of it."
"What? You ate them all?" Wang Dazhu was a little embarrassed. Two pheasants and three rabbits could sell for at least 4 copper coins in town. He couldn't bear to eat them all in one meal.
Wang Bazhu readily agreed, "Brother, don't be stingy. Are we going to carry this into the deep mountains if we don't eat? Our goal in going into the mountains this time is to hunt big game. Besides, it's not often that Daya comes to visit us, so we should treat her well."
Wang Dazhu was heartbroken that he couldn't bear to spend the money on these few prey. He knew this perfectly well, but his niece had already said she wanted to eat them all, so he had to cooperate!
As soon as Wang Bazhu reminded him, Wang Dazhu realized that it wasn't his brothers who wanted to eat pheasant, but his niece, Wen Yuxia. His niece's request had to be granted.
Wang Dazhu quickly said, "Second brother, third brother, fourth brother, you go clean the rabbits. Fifth brother and sixth brother, go gather firewood. Daya, let your seventh uncle and the others deal with the pheasants, don't worry about it."
Wen Yuxia laughed and said, "Seventh Uncle, can you get me some yellow mud? The pheasant doesn't need to be cleaned. Just wrap it in yellow mud, dig a hole, and bury it in the ground. Eldest Uncle can light a fire on top and roast a rabbit. After we eat the roasted rabbit, the mud-covered pheasant will be cooked."
Wen Yuxia had only ever seen the "stingy beggar's chicken" in books, never having made it herself before. Today, she finally had the chance to try it out.
Wang Dazhu and Wang Qizhu exchanged an awkward glance. With the feathers still intact and the internal organs unremoved, and chicken droppings still inside, how could they possibly eat a chicken roasted wrapped in mud? Their eyes conveyed the exact same meaning.
Finally, Wang Dazhu spoke up: "Seventh Brother, go find some yellow mud. Eighth Brother, dig a hole here first. Daya, you decide how big to dig."
Oh well, I'll spoil my own niece. Whether she wants chicken that tastes like mud or chicken droppings, it's up to her.