Chapter 113: This Time It's Secure

Li Long now knew the other party wanted the yellow antelope horns; he felt a bit reluctant to part with the pair of large yellow antelope horns in his hand, so he said:

"I also know of a place where yellow antelopes appear, but I cannot guarantee we will definitely find them."

"Good, good, good!" Li Xiangqian, hearing there was another place, immediately spoke excitedly, "Let's go, let's go!"

"Let's process this yellow antelope first?" Li Long pointed to the dead female yellow antelope.

"Open it up, bleed it, and throw it in the trunk," Director Qian thought for a moment and said to Xiao Jiang, "Xiao Jiang, you handle it, then follow our footprints. Can you keep up?"

Xiao Jiang nodded without speaking.

"The place is quite far; let's drive for a stretch first," Li Long suggested. "When we reach the pass, we'll walk once we enter the mountains."

"Fine. You are the guide; you decide," Director Qian readily agreed.

Xiao Jiang carried the yellow antelope, Li Long carried the sand gun, and Li Xiangqian was given the submachine gun. They cut diagonally toward the jeep.

Arriving at the Hongshanzui Pass, Xiao Jiang threw the yellow antelope into the trunk, started the engine, and Li Long got in. After the others in the back were seated, Li Long pointed the way, instructing Xiao Jiang to drive toward the pass he often visited.

Upon reaching the pass, Li Long did not let them drive further inside. He led them out of the car and along the mountain ridge toward the other place where yellow antelopes appeared, as indicated by Yu Shanjiang.

This time, Xiao Jiang stayed behind to process the yellow antelope and would catch up later, while Li Xiangqian continued to carry the submachine gun.

Since it was unclear whether they could find the yellow antelopes or even hit them, the three walked forward in relative silence, with only Li Xiangqian's heavy panting from his efforts to keep up audible.

Director Qian's face had become solemn at some point; obviously, these yellow antelope horns were very important to him.

Li Long walked ahead, taking deep and shallow steps. His heart was also uneasy, wondering if there would truly be yellow antelopes once they arrived.

But thinking about it, it wasn't a big deal. If there really weren't any, he could just hand over a pair of yellow antelope horns from home and hunt for more himself when he had time.

Thinking this, he felt at ease. However, he did not say this aloud; everything depended on whether there were yellow antelopes in the area ahead.

To Li Long's surprise, before they even reached the destination, Xiao Jiang had already caught up with swift strides, taking the submachine gun from Li Xiangqian. Li Long could even hear Li Xiangqian exhale a long, relieved breath.

This section chief must have been soaked in sweat.

Guessing this, Li Long continued forward. They had been walking along the south side of the ridge. Seeing they were nearly there, Li Long stopped and said to the other three:

"We're almost there. Let's keep our steps light. When we climb over the ridge in a moment, I suggest we chamber a round and be ready to shoot."

He did not know where the yellow antelopes would appear, so being prepared was necessary.

"Good, I'll listen to you," Director Qian said, checking his double-barreled shotgun, loading a round, and holding the gun as he followed Li Long.

The three formed a line, with Li Xiangqian, who had no gun, at the rear. The four of them slowly walked toward the ridge line.

Li Long walked very slowly. Having accompanied Yu Shanjiang in the mountains several times, he had gained some experience. Walking and listening, he suddenly felt that the other side of the mountain had gone quiet. Li Long silently thought, "Not good," and immediately whispered:

"Quick, there must be something. They are running!"

He darted out first, reaching the ridge in two strides, and then saw a herd of over a dozen yellow antelopes looking up at him from the slope below, only thirty or forty meters away!

The instant they saw him, those yellow antelopes scattered like a large stone thrown into a pond, fleeing in all directions!

As these yellow antelopes fled, they did not stay in a group but scattered!

Without thinking, Li Long immediately focused on the male antelope closest to him, rested the gun on his shoulder, and pulled the trigger!

"Bang!"

"Bang, bang!"

Less than two seconds after he fired, the sound of burst fire came from behind him, followed by the "boom" of the shotgun.

Li Long ignored it, staring fixedly at his target. In less than a dozen seconds, he fired two more shots to finish it off. The yellow antelope had only leaped three or five meters before falling into the snow. Only then did Li Long lower his gun and look at other positions.

Two yellow antelopes lay by the red willows a bit further away; both were males.

The one with the largest horns was actually the one Li Long had shot down. As for the other yellow antelopes, they had already leaped into the red willow thicket, over a person's height, and vanished from sight.

"Director Qian, what excellent marksmanship!" Li Xiangqian, who had just climbed up panting, praised while looking at the three yellow antelopes lying in the snow in the distance.

"I didn't hit anything," Director Qian shook his head and said, "Comrade Li Xiao shot the largest one, and Xiao Jiang hit two with burst fire. I missed."

Li Xiangqian felt a bit awkward.

"The mission is complete. Three male antelopes, and the horns are all good," Li Long said with a smile. "That should be enough, right?"

He glanced at Li Xiangqian, then looked toward Director Qian.

Li Xiangqian understood the meaning behind Li Long's glance and cursed inwardly: "This rascal. It seems I must give up this small-caliber rifle after all."

"Enough, more than enough," Director Qian said with a smile, not as unhappy as imagined:

!.

"Comrade Li Xiao, it seems you are very familiar with this area, and your marksmanship is excellent. Do you hunt often?"

"Mm, I occasionally go into the mountains to hunt recently," Li Long said vaguely. "My family's conditions are poor, so I thought about finding a way in the mountains."

"Not bad," Director Qian nodded. "You have ideas. Young people should take risks. It's been said now: Reform and Opening Up. It's different from before; policies have changed. Young people have caught a good time."

By this time, Xiao Jiang had already gone down the mountain to gather the three yellow antelopes together.

"The one shot by Comrade Li Xiao goes to him," Director Qian said generously, though his gaze lingered for a moment on the head of the largest yellow antelope.

"I don't want it. The gun isn't mine, and you urgently need these yellow antelope horns," Li Long refused before Li Xiangqian could speak. With the small-caliber rifle, asking for the yellow antelope as well would be too greedy.

Li Xiangqian was very satisfied.

"In that case..." Director Qian turned to look at Li Xiangqian.

"Director Qian, you take all the yellow antelopes. I have already arranged something for Comrade Li Xiao," Li Xiangqian said with an understanding smile.

"Very well, then... then Xiangqian," Director Qian said, "take one male yellow antelope back. I will keep the antelope head. Don't decline; we are not strangers..."

With those words, Li Xiangqian felt everything was worth it.

Carrying three antelopes was difficult. Li Long carried one, Xiao Jiang carried one, and Li Xiangqian originally intended to carry one as well, but he couldn't lift it, so he had to drag it along.

Li Long had not brought a plastic sheet this time, so he suggested Li Xiangqian cut three or five thin, dense red willow branches, place the yellow antelope on them, and drag the branches, using them as a makeshift sled.

Li Xiangqian did as told and found it much easier. His impression of Li Long improved considerably; this young man was not just greedy.

"Xiangqian, you must thank Comrade Li Xiao properly. If we need to enter the mountains again in the future, we will have to trouble him," Director Qian said while walking and carrying the shotgun. "In the future, when our Supply and Marketing Cooperative needs mountain specialties, we can also find him."

"Understood, understood, Director, I understand," Li Xiangqian said. At this moment, he felt that giving Li Xiao a small-caliber rifle was not such a bad thing. Having caught Director Qian's eye, and with Director Qian liking hunting, there might be similar opportunities later.

Acting as the intermediary adds a layer of favor; wouldn't they think of me first whenever something comes up?

(End of this chapter)