Chapter 60

When the sky turned black, a group of seven returned safely to Shanwan Village.

Lu Qingshan came home, and Lin Yue'e and Xiao Xue were already waiting anxiously at the door.

Seeing him return safely, Lin Yue'e finally let go of her hanging heart.

"Dad!"

Xiao Xue shouted joyfully and leapt into his arms.

"You must be exhausted, right? Come inside and warm up; the meal is ready."

Lin Yue'e took the Hunting Rifle from his shoulder and said softly.

After a simple dinner, Lu Qingshan carefully cleaned and maintained the two Hunting Rifles, then inspected the bullets and gunpowder again.

Lin Yue'e silently helped him organize the dry provisions for tomorrow.

"Tomorrow... there will be many people; you must be extra careful."

She couldn't help but remind him again.

Lu Qingshan set aside his work, grasped her hand, his gaze firm: "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. When we finish this hunt, the whole village will have a truly good year."

The night passed without a word.

On the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, dawn just broke.

The whole Shanwan Village was like a waking giant; smoke rose from every chimney, and the sounds of barking dogs and voices rose and fell.

Under the big locust tree at the village entrance, a dark crowd of twenty‑seven or twenty‑eight men, the village's strong laborers, gathered.

Each wore thick cotton jackets and pants, holding various "gear": some bore ancestral Hunting Forks and Manchu bows, some carried polished fire‑axes, others bore sharpened wooden sticks, and Liu Fugui had four Homemade Grenades at his waist for signaling.

Every face bore an uncontainable excitement and a yearning for harvest.

Village head Zhao Yongnian and production team leader Zhao Dazhi stood at the front of the crowd, their expressions solemn.

Zhao Yongnian cleared his throat, his voice booming: "Men! Today is the first time in years that Shanwan Village has organized such a large‑scale hunt! Why? So that every household can have a bountiful year, so the children can have a taste of oil, and have the strength to work the fields in spring!"

"But!"

He shifted tone, his voice stern: "A word of warning first! Once we enter the mountain, everything must follow Lu Qingshan's command! Anyone who dares disobey, act recklessly, or spoil the big game, don't blame old Zhao for being unsympathetic!"

Zhao Dazhi added: "Safety is the top priority! Hunting is a life‑risking job; keep your own life tight! No matter how many game, we must have lives to enjoy them! Is everyone clear?"

"Got it!"

The crowd roared in response, their voices shaking the surroundings.

Lu Qingshan stepped out of the crowd and approached Zhao Yongnian and Zhao Dazhi.

Today he wore a new deep‑blue cotton jacket, making his figure even more upright; his gaze was calm and sharp, exuding a convincing aura.

He looked around, his voice clearly reaching every ear: "Uncle, brothers, the village head and team leader's words are my words. Once in the mountain, all actions follow command; no solo moves, no chasing game without signaling first. Our goal is to drive the game into the Dead Ditch and form an encirclement."

"Remember, we are here to hunt, not to die! Safety first, harvest second!"

"Listen to Brother Lu Qingshan!" Zhao Tiezhu shouted first.

"Right! Listen to Brother Lu Qingshan!" Liu Fugui also shouted, his voice still a bit shaky but his eyes much steadier than usual.

The other strong men all echoed, their gazes toward Lu Qingshan filled with trust and anticipation.

Lu Qingshan nodded, said no more, and raised his hand.

"Set out!"

A party of twenty‑eight people and four sturdy Hunting Dogs, pulling a Sled Plow loaded with bundles of sharpened wooden sticks, marched grandly like a long dragon, stepping in the morning light toward the snow‑covered wild mountains.

The cold wind howled, unable to extinguish the hot blood in everyone's hearts.

Lu Qingshan walked at the front of the team, followed by core members Zhao Dazhi, Zhao Tiezhu, Liu Fugui, and then the rest of the villagers.

His Mountain Wild Heart drove at full power, perceiving everything around.

That familiar forest, in Lu Qingshan's eyes, was now suffused with a strong, different scent of blood and agitation.

It seemed some big game, driven by the recent heavy snow and cold, was becoming impatient.

A slight curve lifted the corner of his mouth.

This hunt might be a few degrees more thrilling than expected.

The team wound through the snow‑covered forest, the biting wind unable to disperse the fire in everyone's hearts.

Everyone moved swiftly, and after more than an hour, they finally reached the mouth of the Dead Ditch that Lu Qingshan had chosen.

The name 'Dead Ditch' sounds grim, but it is actually a natural pocket formed by two mountains, with a narrow entrance that widens inward.

Once the game is driven inside, it is like catching a turtle in a jar.

Lu Qingshan stood on a slightly protruding rock at the mouth, his gaze sweeping the surrounding terrain like a hawk.

Mountain Wild Heart's perception spread like invisible tendrils, encompassing all wind and grass movements within hundreds of meters.

He turned steadily, facing faces that were both excited and slightly nervous; his voice was low yet clear to every ear: "Listen up, here's the plan from now on."

"Liu Fugui!"

"Hey! Brother Lu Qingshan, I'm here!" Liu Fugui startled, replied quickly.

"Take sixteen people, split into four squads, and from the east, south, west, and north drive the game toward the Dead Ditch in a fan shape."

"Remember, make big movements and noises, but people must stay close, not be alone, keep coordination, and watch the trap markers underfoot."

"If a large herd is spotted, whistle immediately as warning; in emergencies, set off firecrackers or Homemade Grenades!"

"The main goal is to herd the living creatures toward our pocket entrance, understand?"

Liu Fugui nodded forcefully, his face flushing: "Understood! We'll drive them to the mouth!"

He pondered, the job was exciting, but he wasn't sure whether his voice and firecrackers could scare the mountain's big game.

Lu Qingshan turned to Zhao Dazhi and Zhao Tiezhu: "Uncle Dazhi, Tiezhu, the two strong ones, select five more experienced, bold hunting brothers, eight in total, and ambush the hidden spots on both sides of the mouth."

"When Liu Fugui's group drives the game over, your task is to seize the moment, strike suddenly, and blast the panicked beasts straight into the Dead Ditch!"

"Then, immediately use the extra wooden stakes and Rope Net we prepared yesterday to seal the mouth! We must not let the captured game escape."

Zhao Dazhi looked at Lu Qingshan's clear and orderly arrangement, a flicker of approval in his eyes, and he slapped his chest hard: "Qing Shan, rest assured! Leave this job to us, we'll get it done properly."

Zhao Tiezhu was even more excited, rubbing his hands, his thick elm-wood stick already itching to be used.

Finally, Lu Qingshan pointed at himself, then indicated Zhao Fei, Zhao Qiang, and Zhao Lei: "The four of us will handle long range. Me, Uncle Dazhi, and Fugui—our three guns are the main force."

"Zhao Fei, Zhao Qiang, Zhao Lei, your archery must not be careless either. We'll take position on the slopes above both sides of the ditch mouth, where the view is good; once the game enters the ditch, it becomes our target."

"Remember, no one may fire a gun or loose an arrow without my order, lest we startle game in other directions or hurt our own people."

"Everyone just wait patiently; as long as they don't run, sooner or later they'll be ours."

The three replied in unison: "Yes, Brother Qing Shan!"

They were all talented young archers from the village; now being able to fight side by side with Lu Qingshan made them feel both nervous and proud.

Zhao Yongnian stood aside listening, nodding repeatedly, very pleased with Lu Qingshan's arrangements.

"Good! Let's do that! Everyone follow Qing Shan's orders, take your positions, get ready!"

At the command, over twenty people sprang into action.

Liu Fugui led his men, who scattered with a rustle, heading deep into the forests in the four directions, and soon vanished into the vast snowy expanse.

Zhao Dazhi then led Zhao Tiezhu and other sturdy men to find the best concealed spots on the woods flanking the ditch mouth, quietly setting up the sharpened stakes and rope net.

Lu Qingshan then led the three archers up the steep slopes on either side of the ditch mouth, each taking up a firing position.

From their high vantage, the entire entrance of the Dead Ditch lay fully visible.

With everything ready, the mountain forest fell temporarily silent, save for the mournful whistle of the cold wind through the treetops.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the signal.