Chapter 84: Hunting Isn't Just That Simple! Brother Qing Shan's Ambition!

At the beginning of spring, the thin snow in the forest just begins to melt, a gentle breeze brushes by, and Shanwan Village is shrouded in the thin morning mist.

Lu Qingshan gets up early, sits at the foot of the kang and flips through his own illustrated materia medica, his fingertips lightly tracing the inked leaves and roots, preparing for today's "lecture".

The courtyard door goes "knock—knock" twice, and Lu Qingshan looks up.

Zhao Tiezhu's massive head peeks in first, a bundle of neatly stacked firewood slung over his shoulder.

Behind him follows the slightly shorter Liu Fugui, carrying a bleached cloth sack on his back.

"Brother Qing Shan, we're here!" Zhao Tiezhu steps into the courtyard, drops the firewood at the stove doorway, his face wearing his trademark simple smile.

Liu Fugui darts in swiftly, his sack bulging: "Lu… Lu brother, the old hens at my home finally laid some eggs, let Xiao Xue replenish her health." He hands the sack to the emerging Lin Yue'e.

Since they followed Lu Qingshan into the mountains and reaped several real benefits, the two have become regulars at the Lu household.

Every day they either bring firewood or mountain‑grown eggs, and the villagers jokingly call them Lu Qingshan's "Heng Ha Twin Generals", now closer than blood brothers.

"Come in, the pot has hot water, warm up a bit, it's just time to start the lecture."

Lu Qingshan greets them, spreading his organized charts on the kang table.

The west room has somehow become a makeshift "training hall"; on the mud‑brick wall charcoal sketches outline the general routes of the nearby woods, and several of Lu Qingshan's hand‑drawn common prey characteristic charts are posted, their bold lines capturing the essence.

"Dad's going to teach!" Xiao Xue hops from the east room, two small hands clutching a rabbit wooden carving Lu Qingshan just whittled for her last night; the carving's ear is missing a small piece, chewed off by Jin Hu.

Lin Yue'e carries hot water and several bowls of hawthorn tea scented with red dates, steaming, and says, "The sky is still cool, have a bowl of hot tea to warm yourselves."

Zhao Tiezhu and Liu Fugui take the tea bowls; the warm temperature spreads from their palms to their hearts, and they grin, "Thank you, sister‑in‑law!"

"Sit," Lu Qingshan gestures to the kang edge, "today we'll discuss serious matters." He spreads his sketch, "Spring has arrived; the energy trapped in the mountains all winter is now bursting out, all the herbs are sprouting. We must seize the time to learn, lest we miss the good season."

Zhao Tiezhu rubs his hands, puts down the tea bowl, and laughs plainly, "Lu big brother, I've been waiting for this lesson! My father taught me a few things before, but my brain can't remember many."

"Tiezhu, you're strong; future heavy tasks of gathering and digging herbs will rely on you, so today the focus is teaching you to identify herbs."

Lu Qingshan points to several herbs on the chart: "This is Ren Shen, seven leaves per stalk with a little bud hanging below; this is Dan Shen, its root is red, promotes blood circulation; this is Huang Qi, a qi‑tonic, its leaves look like tiny copper coins strung together; also Wu Wei Zi, Bei Mu, Chai Hu, Ban Lan Gen, Jie Geng, Sheng Di Huang, Bai Zhu, Jin Yin Hua, Ban Xia… you must remember their leaf shapes, habitats, and optimal harvest times."

Lu Qingshan pulls a cloth bag from the kang cabinet, opens it, revealing several dried herb samples: "These are at home; feel them, smell them, use your nose and hands to remember them; that's better than just looking."

Zhao Tiezhu carefully takes a piece of Huang Qi; his rough large hand looks especially clumsy, he brings it to his nose, sniffs, then pinches it with his finger, his eyes earnest: "Lu big brother, this Huang Qi smells of a bean‑like odor."

"Right, remember that scent." Lu Qingshan nods.

"Fugui, you're quick, agile, and sharp‑minded, suitable for observing animals and setting traps."

Lu Qingshan turns to Liu Fugui, pulls out another notebook depicting various animal tracks and habits, with activity zones marked in different colors, and says, "These are the money‑making animals common in our mountains: Spotted Deer, elk, Roe Deer, Wild Boar, and the valuable fur of water otters and sable. You must first learn to identify their tracks, droppings, and where they like to rest and drink."

Liu Fugui's eyes light up as he leans in to look at the notes, his stutter lessening: "Lu brother, I… I often wander the mountains; I think I have some idea about these! Last time I even saw a string of Spotted Deer prints near Black Tiger Ravine!"

"Just having a vague idea isn't enough; you must become an expert, able to spot seven‑or‑eight at a glance. The next look must be precise."

Lu Qingshan's tone is solemn, "And remember, our hunting isn't reckless, nor is it extermination. If you encounter a mother with offspring, keep far away; very young fawns must never be touched. This is an ancestral rule called sustainable hunting; we must leave a path for future generations. We can also select and consider bringing some back for breeding."

Zhao Tiezhu replies in a deep, resonant voice, "My mother also said we mustn't do such immoral acts that cut off descendants."

Just as the discussion heats up, the courtyard door creaks—"creak—" and Lin Yueqiang peeks in, carrying two fish threaded on a grass rope.

"Uncle!" Xiao Xue's sharp eyes spot him first, she immediately drops the wooden rabbit, hops over and clutches Lin Yueqiang's leg.

"Oh dear, Xiao Xue's gotten heavier again!"

Lin Yueqiang sets the fish down, cheerfully lifts his niece and weighs her, then looks a bit sheepishly at Lu Qingshan, "Brother‑in‑law, I heard you're teaching skills; I'm just on a rotation at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, came especially to learn a couple of techniques, so I can help out later."

Since that incident at the police station, Lin Yueqiang has been completely convinced of Lu Qingshan.

The old disdain he once felt has long flown to the far heavens; now they greet each other politely.

Lu Qingshan looks at him, then at the flopping fish on the ground: "Learning is fine, but it must start from the basics. Right now, the pile of herbs you just carried down from the mountain—you're in charge of cleaning the soil off, then sorting them by size for drying."

"Got it! Brother‑in‑law, count me in!"

Lin Yueqiang says nothing, hands Xiao Xue to Lin Yue'e, rolls up his sleeves and strides to the central pile of mud‑soaked herbs in the courtyard, full of vigor.

As the lesson deepens, Zhao Tiezhu and Liu Fugui often stare blankly, especially when Lu Qingshan mentions large‑scale herb cultivation and wild animal domestication—concepts they've never heard—causing their eyes to widen.

"Lu big brother, where did you learn all these weird things?" Zhao Tiezhu scratches his head, confused, "Around here, who would even raise wild deer or wild rabbits?"

"Some came from elders' tales, some I figured out myself, and some I heard on the radio. If we can keep wild animals alive, they're worth far more than our chickens, ducks, pigs, and sheep. Shanwan Village guards this golden mountain; we can certainly give it a try."

"Then, how big is the profit?"

Lin Yueqiang pauses his herb‑root cleaning, can't help interjecting; his work at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative makes him more attuned to Market Price than ordinary villagers.

Lu Qingshan points with his finger, "Take deer, for example: antlers, velvet, blood—every one is a treasure city folk scramble for. Also water‑otter and sable pelts, even rarer, each can fetch a high price. Compared to our occasional small catches, luck aside, large‑scale breeding is the lasting strategy."

The three's eyes sparkle, as if they already see a glittering golden road to wealth before them.

"I know! Supply and Marketing Cooperatives everywhere lack these good items, especially the big‑city medicinal companies that send people year‑round to buy," Lin Yueqiang says excitedly, his face flushing, "If we can scale up, wouldn't we become prosperous? Then sales would never be a worry!"

Lu Qingshan nods, "You hit the nail on the head. But rice must be eaten bite by bite, the road walked step by step; don't dream of becoming a fat man in one gulp. Start small, build steadily."

"But… but these all need quite a bit of capital, right?" Liu Fugui asks softly, a worried look on his face, "My family's savings, I fear…"

"First learn the technique; mastering the skill is what matters. Money comes later; the path is forged by people, there will always be a way."

Lu Qingshan pats his shoulder, his tone steady, "I've already spoken with Village Chief Yongnian Uncle and Da Zhi Uncle; the wasteland at the western edge of the village and the surrounding movable land are all allocated to us. Once spring arrives and we fence the area, we'll start a small‑scale trial."

Lin Yue'e quietly mends shoe soles beside him, listening to her husband methodically arranging everything, pride and contentment filling her eyes.

She recalls just half a year ago, Lu Qingshan was the village's "Lu Lazi" everyone avoided, yet now he can confidently lead several people planning a bright future—it's as if he's a different person.

"Qing Shan," she walks over, adds hot water to everyone's tea bowls, whispers to Lu Qingshan, "Is the noon meal enough? We added Yueqiang today; should I go to the neighbor to trade for some cabbage and potatoes?"

Lu Qingshan squeezes his hand, replies softly, "Don't worry, it's enough. We still have the wild chickens we caught a few days ago, plus the fish Yueqiang brought; that'll fill their bellies."

Zhao Tiezhu's ears perk up, he hears, and quickly, embarrassed, stands, "Lu big brother, sister‑in‑law, no need to cook specially for us; after the lesson we'll go eat, no trouble for you!"

"Sit down," Lu Qingshan says unequivocally, "From now on we're all in the same boat; what's the point of dividing you and me? Fear not a meal; once we're full we have the strength to work!"

That remark warmed Zhao Tiezhu and Liu Fugui's hearts, and even Lin Yueqiang felt a hot flush on his face; before, he hadn't missed a chance to gossip about his brother‑in‑law behind his back.

"Dad," Xiao Xue, at some point, comes over again, her little finger pointing at a slightly crooked Spotted Deer on the chart, "What will this little deer look like when it grows up?"

Lu Qingshan scoops his daughter into his arms, kisses her little cheek, "When it grows, it'll sprout beautiful antlers like branches; its strength will be great, and it'll run faster than the wind."

"Can those antlers be exchanged for money?" Xiao Xue blinks her big eyes, asking earnestly.

"Yes, Xiao Xue, deer antlers can be traded for lots of tasty sweets!" Lu Qingshan teases deliberately.

"Wow! I also want to raise one! The biggest one!" Xiao Xue's eyes flashed with anticipation as she clapped her little hands.

Everyone in the house was amused into hearty laughter; even the toughest‑nerved Zhao Tiezhu was moved by the father‑daughter duo's warmth, secretly raising a hand to wipe the corner of their eye, perhaps recalling their own mother at home.

At dusk, the afterglow of the setting sun gilded the courtyard, and the few concluded today's "lesson" with lingering enthusiasm.

Lu Qingshan saw off the three, stood at the gate, and silently weighed future plans in his mind.

He knows well that an individual's power is ultimately limited; only by cultivating a trustworthy, capable team can one seize more opportunities in the forthcoming wave of reform and opening, and truly change a family's destiny.