Chapter 101: A Lucky Strike Earns Merit! Deputy Director Chen Brings Timely Help in the Snow!

Just as Lu Qingshan's thoughts swirled, Lin Yue'e in his arms breathed more evenly, seeming to have slipped into a dream.

The courtyard was silent, only autumn insects humming tirelessly.

Woof woof woof! Woof woof woof woof!

Suddenly, Jin Hu's rapid, fierce bark came from outside, followed by a few suppressed growls and chaotic footsteps drawing nearer, sounding especially harsh in the silent night!

Lu Qingshan snapped his eyes open, his muscles tensing instantly, a sharp aura bursting from his body.

He instinctively rolled off the kang, moving swift and silent like a night‑stalking leopard.

What's up?

Lin Yue'e was also startled awake, her sleepy eyes tinged with panic, her voice trembling.

Don't be afraid, stay inside, lock the door, watch over Xiao Xue!

Lu Qingshan's voice was low, yet exuded undeniable calm.

He quickly slipped on his outer coat, casually lifted the rifle perched on the cabinet top, and skillfully checked the ammunition.

Jin Hu's cries grew more intense, interspersed with strangers' voices deliberately lowered, making them seem even more skulking.

Damn it, this dog is really fierce!

Stay quiet, hurry, see if anyone's there!

Lu Qingshan's gaze hardened, signaling Lin Yue'e to rush back inside.

Lin Yue'e cradled the whimpering Xiao Xue, her face drained of color, limbs a bit weak, yet she gritted her teeth, nodded, quickly retreated inside, and latched the door.

Lu Qingshan inhaled deeply, pushed open the house door, and Jin Hu swooped forward with a 'whoosh', emitting a threatening whine, eyes vigilantly fixed toward the courtyard gate.

The courtyard gate was a newly made wooden door, not especially thick, yet now it stood like a barrier of life and death.

Who's outside?

Lu Qingshan barked in a deep voice, not loud but carrying penetration.

The voices outside abruptly stopped; a moment later, a man with an out‑of‑town accent spoke, his tone laced with forced enthusiasm.

Hey, inside must be Brother Lu Qingshan, right? We're buyers from the Provincial City Department Store, heard you have good mountain goods, so we came overnight to take a look!

Provincial City Department Store?

Buyers?

Lu Qingshan frowned slightly; this late‑night knock felt odd no matter how he looked at it.

He didn't lower his guard; the rifle's barrel still dipped slightly, aimed at the courtyard gate.

Mountain Wild Heart quietly activated, and Lu Qingshan could clearly sense the auras of those outside—three in total—each with a rapid heartbeat, emotions mingled with greed and a barely perceptible restlessness.

What heightened his caution was that one of them carried a faint trace of blood scent on his body, extremely subtle yet unavoidable to his perception.

It's so late; whatever it is, let's discuss it tomorrow.

Lu Qingshan's tone was flat, revealing no joy or anger.

Ah, Brother Lu, we're also rushing on a mission; we have to return early tomorrow to report.

The outsiders seemed a bit urgent: 'We heard you have fine Spotted Deer antler and Wild Boar meat, our company will take it all! Price is negotiable, will definitely satisfy you! How about you open the door, let us see the goods, and we can negotiate face‑to‑face?'

That man's tone grew more eager, as if fearing Lu Qingshan would refuse.

Lu Qingshan sneered inwardly, a wholesale deal?

Price negotiable?

These days, department store buyers may be bold, but none rush to knock at midnight like this.

Moreover, that faint blood scent reminded him of some unsavory dealings.

'The goods exist, but they're kept at a mountain farm, not in the house.'

Lu Qingshan replied neutrally, 'Please go back, come again tomorrow during the day.'

'Brother Lu, don't be so distant!'

Another voice interjected, with a hint of impatience: 'We came with Sincerity; if your antler and Wild Boar meat are of good quality, we'll take as much as we want, cash settlement! We can sign the contract immediately!'

Sign the contract immediately?

Cash settlement?

The temptation was considerable.

If it were someone else, they might have already been knocked out by a pie falling from the sky.

But Lu Qingshan, having lived two lifetimes, is not so easily fooled.

He grew more certain they were problematic. He gripped the rifle tightly, pulled the bolt to chamber in one motion, his tone chilling further.

'I've said it, we'll talk tomorrow. If the three of you don't leave, don't blame me for being impolite!'

Outside, silence lingered for a few seconds, as if weighing options.

'Hmph, you don't know how to be gracious!'

The first speaker muttered a low curse, his voice tinged with irritation.

'Go! Damn it, wasted a trip!'

Footsteps faded away, Jin Hu's howls gradually subsided, yet he remained on guard.

Lu Qingshan didn't relax immediately, still listening quietly to the outside sounds, and only after confirming those people had truly gone did he sigh lightly.

He glanced back at the tightly shut inner door, knowing his wife and daughter were surely terrified.

That night, Lu Qingshan barely slept, the rifle kept at his side.

At dawn the next day, as the sky was just lightening, Chen Zhiguo's jeep rolled into the village.

He, with a solemn expression, found Lu Qingshan.

'Qing Shan, did any strangers come looking for you last night?'

Chen Zhiguo got straight to the point.

Lu Qingshan felt something stir in his heart and recounted the events of last night verbatim.

Chen Zhiguo, after listening, turned ashen and slapped his thigh: "That was close! You kid is truly sharp! Those people weren't department‑store buyers at all; they're a gang of black merchants the province has been cracking down on for smuggling illegal wildlife!"

"Their methods are extremely unscrupulous; they heard you had good goods and planned to come overnight to force a purchase and sale, and might even resort to outright robbery!"

"We received a tip, set up a night‑long deployment, and at dawn on the road out of town we intercepted them, capturing both people and goods. We also seized regulated knives and hallucinogenic drugs from their vehicle! One of them still had fresh blood stains, likely from a prior clash with someone!"

Lu Qingshan felt a chill down his back; fortunately he had an extra eye and the Mountain Wild Heart warning, or the outcome would have been unimaginable.

It seems his reputation has grown, and trouble has come knocking as well.

Chen Zhiguo gave Lu Qingshan a firm pat on the shoulder: "You've earned merit again! Had you not delayed them in the town for a night, they might have succeeded or fled!"

He paused, his expression softening, and said, "By the way, the matter you asked me to handle has been settled."

Speaking, Chen Zhiguo reached into his briefcase and produced a stack of papers stamped with a bright red seal.

"These are the Introduction Letter to the Capital City, travel credentials, and some convenient passage letters you might need along the way; I've taken care of them all. I've spoken with the bureau; since you're going to search for relatives, you'll receive special treatment."

Lu Qingshan took the heavy papers, a warm surge rising in his chest, his eyes growing moist: "Brother Chen, thank you so much! This… this really helped me a great deal!"

"We're like brothers; saying that is being overly formal."

Chen Zhiguo smiled, "You kid, going alone to the Capital City, unfamiliar with everything—be careful in all matters. It's not like our mountain valley; people's hearts there are complicated."

Three days later, Lu Qingshan set out on the journey to the Capital City.

The night before his departure, Lin Yue'e silently packed his luggage.

She prepared clean change‑of‑clothes, sturdy warm cloth shoes in pairs, and some dry provisions for the road.

Under the lamp, her profile appeared especially gentle, though deep in her eyes lay a strong sense of reluctance.

Lu Qingshan watched her busy figure, his heart filled with a thousand mixed emotions.

He walked over and gently embraced her from behind: "Yue E, the household will now rely on you."

Lin Yue'e's body tensed slightly, then relaxed, and she rested her head lightly on his chest: "Take good care of yourself out there; don't be reluctant to eat and clothe yourself. If money runs short, send a telegram back."

At dawn the next day, Lu Qingshan changed into a set of clean clothes, sewn by Lin Yue'e herself with fine stitching.

He picked up the bulging canvas sack, feeling it much heavier than he had expected.

He knew his wife had surely slipped many more items inside secretly.

He said little, but gave Lin Yue'e a deep look, then bent down to kiss the pink, sleeping face of Xiao Xue.

At the village entrance, a number of villagers had already gathered.

Zhao Yongnian, Zhao Dazhi, and also Zhao Tiezhu, Liu Fugui, Zhao Er Zhuang and a few others had all arrived.

"Brother Qing Shan, go without worry! We've got things here at home! The breeding farm and medicinal herb fields will be looked after perfectly!" Zhao Tiezhu pounded his chest, his eyes reddening.

Liu Fugui stammered, "Q‑Qing Shan brother, come back early, early!"

Lu Qingshan bid each of them farewell, offering a few words of instruction.

Seeing these simple countryfolk, his heart was filled with gratitude.

The newly opened shuttle to the county town arrived—a half‑old bus with the roof piled high with luggage.

Lu Qingshan gave one last look at Shanwan Village, then at Lin Yue'e standing in the dawn, cradling Xiao Xue, her eyes rimmed red yet forcing a smile, and resolutely turned to board the vehicle.

The vehicle started, kicking up a cloud of dust, and slowly drove away from Shanwan Village.

Through the dust‑filled window, Lu Qingshan watched the silhouette of the mountain village recede, and the expanse of Guandong Mountain that had nurtured him for two generations, his heart a swirl of mixed feelings.

His deep attachment and reluctance to leave his wife and daughter, his anxiety and confusion about the unknown road ahead, and his urgent hope of finding his long‑lost parents all intertwined, making his heart suddenly heavy.

Capital City, here I come!

Father, mother, are you both well?

Wait for me!

The shuttle jolted onward toward the distance; Lu Qingshan leaned against the seatback and closed his eyes.

He instinctively brushed the inner pocket of the canvas bag, where Lin Yue'e had secretly sewn in a thick stack of "Great Unity"; he had actually noticed it last night but kept silent.

That was his wife's sentiment.

He did not know what challenges and opportunities this departure would bring.

Yet his gaze, at the moment he closed his eyes, flashed with an unshakable resolve.

No matter how hard it gets, he will find them!