Chapter 112: Young Man, Your Marksmanship Is Excellent!

"Young man, have you ever ridden in a car?" the person in the back seat asked.

Only then did Li Long turn his head to look at the people behind him.

This man appeared to be in his mid-thirties, with his hair parted four-six, a slightly long face, small but piercing eyes, and neatly trimmed sideburns, looking every bit like a cadre. He wore a gray woolen overcoat, with cotton-padded leather gloves placed beside him, and he hadn't even taken off the leather gloves on his hands, looking quite spirited.

"I have," Li Long replied, knowing his details had been spotted; he continued, "I stayed at the Wucheng Sugar Factory for three months and rode in one there. At the time, the factory dispatched a vehicle for us to run errands, and I rode with our leader."

The middle-aged man and Li Xiang Qian exchanged a glance; there was nothing wrong with that statement. However, why Li Long had stopped working at the sugar factory was something both of them were likely curious about. But since Li Long didn't say, they felt it inappropriate to ask.

Li Xiang Qian said:

"Then lead the way; let's strive to hunt down the gazelle today, as our time is rather tight."

"Safety first, though," the man beside him interjected, then asked Li Long, "Young comrade, do you know how to shoot?"

"I do," Li Long merely nodded, concise and to the point.

"That's good; we have several guns in the vehicle, so you can try your hand later," the man said in a very kind tone, making Li Long feel he was better than Li Xiang Qian—approachable; a leader should be like this.

He directed the driver, leading them to Hongshan Mouth.

"Get off here; from now on, we must proceed on foot," Li Long explained, turning around from the passenger seat. "This off-road vehicle could drive further, but it would alert the gazelles."

"You even know this is an off-road vehicle?" Li Xiang Qian felt that today he truly needed to get to know Li Long all over again.

Li Long smiled without speaking, opened the door, and jumped down. Riding in a jeep was more enjoyable than riding a bicycle, but without air conditioning, it was still a bit chilly.

The others also disembarked, and the driver retrieved the guns from the rear.

There was a Type 56 submachine gun, a Type 56 semi-automatic rifle, and a double-barreled shotgun—it looked like a famous brand, different from the ordinary version sold in the Zhang Xin Hua Bookstore.

"Little Li, are you going to shoot?" the middle-aged man asked Li Xiang Qian, holding the hunting rifle, loading a cartridge, and slinging it over his back.

Li Long nearly thought he was being asked and was about to speak when Li Xiang Qian shook his head and said:

"I'll pass; with my marksmanship, I'd rather not lose face in front of you, Director." He looked toward Li Long.

Li Xiang Qian actually wanted to take the gun and shoot—Li Long could tell. He estimated that today's matter was indeed quite important, which was why he had refused.

Li Long took the Type 56 semi-automatic rifle, while the driver held the submachine gun. Only then did Li Long realize the driver was a young man in his early twenties, likely a former soldier; he remained mostly silent, but possessed an aura that ordinary people could not fake.

"Let's go, this way," Li Long took the lead, guiding the others as they waded through the snow. The middle-aged man followed right behind Li Long; wearing tall boots and light clothing, he didn't seem tired at all.

Li Xiang Qian struggled to walk abreast with the Director, but soon his panting gave him away—his stamina couldn't keep up; although he hurried his steps, he frequently fell behind.

The young driver carried the gun at the rear, looking left and right with high vigilance.

"Little Li, you clearly lack exercise," the middle-aged man said to Li Xiang Qian. "Focusing solely on work won't do; the body is the capital of revolution. You must strengthen your physique to better serve the revolutionary cause in the future."

Li Long, listening from the front, was deeply impressed; listen to that, a leader is a leader; their way of speaking is truly different.

"Yes, yes, yes, Director Qian is right; upon returning, I will definitely strengthen my exercise!" Li Xiang Qian agreed readily.

"Young comrade, let's slow down our pace," Director Qian said again. "Section Chief Li isn't accustomed to this kind of wilderness trek; as long as we can hunt a gazelle today, there's no need to rush particularly hard."

Li Long slowed his pace, allowing Li Xiang Qian to barely catch up.

After reaching a spot close to where they had hunted last time, Li Long took the rifle off his back, turned to the three others, and said:

"We're almost there; keep our voices down in a moment. Gazelles are highly alert and very fast; they will bolt immediately upon hearing any sound. So..." "Just rest assured, Li Long," Li Xiang Qian interrupted him. "Director Qian is an old hunter; no matter how cunning the prey, it cannot escape his bullets! Comrade Xiao Xiao Jiang was a scout; his marksmanship is divine..."

"Alright then," Li Long spoke no more, leading the three to the previous hunting spot; he pointed to the shrubbery below without speaking, observing intently.

The other three also realized the gazelle must be roaming in this area and began observing carefully as well.

Soon, Li Long spotted an animal grazing with its head down near a patch of red willow, further away than where they had hunted before.

Because the movement was slight, one had to look closely to see it. From there to his position was about one hundred meters.

Because the movement was slight, one had to look carefully to spot it. From there to his position was about one hundred meters.

"Found it."

Just as he spoke, the driver named Xiao Xiao Jiang also said:

"There's a gazelle!"

The two exchanged a glance, then looked at the target—it was likely the same gazelle.

The two exchanged a glance, then turned their eyes toward the target—likely the same yellow goat.

"Both of you have sharp eyes!" Director Qian stared for a while, finally spotting the gazelle as well, and praised, "Let me take a look!"

Saying this, he raised his double-barreled hunting rifle.

"A hunting rifle might not hit it," Xiao Xiao Jiang whispered.

"Comrade Little Li, give me the Type 56 semi-automatic!" Director Qian put down the double-barreled hunting rifle and said to Li Long.

Li Long handed him the rifle and took the double-barreled shotgun in return; this thing felt nice to hold, but he somehow felt it lacked the power of the Type 56 semi-automatic.

Director Qian stood there, aiming the gun, while Xiao Xiao Jiang held the Type 56 submachine gun ready; Li Long guessed he was preparing to fire a follow-up shot in case Director Qian missed.

"Bang!" Half a minute later, the gun fired; Li Long watched the gazelle leap up, then fall down motionless.

"Hit! One shot, one kill; Director Qian has excellent marksmanship!" Li Xiang Qian shouted first.

"Let's go check it out!" Director Qian was also very happy; smiling, he shouldered the gun and ran quickly down the hill.

The four of them hurried to the base of the red willow; Li Long saw it was a female gazelle, likely solitary and not very large. Director Qian's shot had pierced its chest, probably hitting the heart; by now, the gazelle had no breath left.

"Sigh," Director Qian's excitement turned into a sigh. "It's a female; no horns."

"You need gazelle horns?" Li Long asked upon hearing this, somewhat surprised. "You want a male gazelle?"

"Yes, Director Qian needs antelope horns, but since gazelles and antelopes are of the same category, gazelle horns will also work."

Li Long thought to himself, "Damn it, why didn't you say so clearly earlier? I have some right there."

However, upon second thought, he didn't say this aloud; he intended to keep his own pair of gazelle horns as a reserve anyway.

Director Qian looked at Li Long:

"Young brother, what do you think..."

(End of Chapter)

(End of Chapter)