Chapter 445: The situation in the mountains is becoming increasingly complex

Li Long shuttled through the mountain forest with his rifle on his back.

The afternoon sun was quite intense; it felt hot when it shone on his body, but as soon as one entered the trees or the shade of the mountains, one felt a chill. The difference between hot and cold was just a step away.

The small stream in the valley occasionally made a gurgling sound, reminding Li Long that there was water here. He carried a canteen on his back, which contained water. The act of using a ladle to drink mountain spring water directly would not happen with him.

After all, the organisms breeding in mountain spring water are far more numerous than those in a well. It's hard to say which mouthful of water might contain frog or snake eggs.

Li Long vaguely remembered his older brother, Li Jianguo, saying that when they used to go into the mountains to weave carrying poles and dig for fritillaria, they had to wrap their legs to prevent snake bites.

Li Long wouldn't do that; he associated leg wraps with the Red Army of the past, thinking the gear was quite impressive.

The target this time was the hot spring, but the process of getting there was still first southwest, then directly east; he still wanted to see if he could run into that two-headed deer.

"I'll sweep after they finish eating." Li Long said with a smile, "I'll put the feed in the back bucket in the backyard, you can feed them wherever you want. By the way, your father brought you alfalfa, do you want to mix some to eat tonight? All picked clean."

Although he was walking the same route, it was impossible for the path to be exactly the same as last time, so during the walk, Li Long discovered quite a few things.

There was more fritillaria along this path; some already had four leaves opening in pairs. They weren't large, and someone unfamiliar wouldn't be able to spot them.

There was also plenty of Codonopsis; some stalks were even as thick as a little finger. Li Long guessed that the root body underneath might weigh a kilogram!

As for other wild plants, Li Long didn't recognize many. However, he was very clear that there were many treasures in these great mountains. To put it scientifically, it required a certain amount of identification knowledge. To put it metaphysically, it was left for those with affinity.

These little guys indeed liked to poop everywhere, Li Long swept and drove them to the backyard, seeing the empty glass greenhouse room, simply drove them in. Put them here to raise for now.

Didn't care about the anxious calls of the little guys, Li Long closed the door, went to the front courtyard to get a basin of water, put it in the glass room, and left quickly after closing the door.

The calls of the little guys couldn't spread far, they would slowly adapt. At most, add some feed from time to time. Otherwise, the courtyard full of poop, even if these poop eggs were round and easy to sweep, it wouldn't work.

When Li Long returned to the front courtyard, Gu Xiaoxia had already finished the meal, Li Long carried the small dining table to the center of the courtyard, set up the dishes, and then the two started to eat.

"I circled the small deer and them to the glass room," Li Long said while eating, "I think if you want to raise them, usually circle them inside, and let them out to breathe when you come back, this is also easy to manage, avoiding too many poop eggs in the courtyard. At most put more grass feed and water in the glass room."

"Hmm, good." Gu Xiaoxia also felt this was not bad. Actually, when she was still in the team, with her thinking at that time, she could definitely think of such a method, but now working in the county, her thinking was almost the thinking of city life people, couldn't think of so much, just thinking of letting the small deer be freer, and having a living thing as a pet or as a companion.

In this year, there was no concept of pets in their brains, just feeling that having the ability to raise a living thing now was actually quite not bad.

"How is my father?" Gu Xiaoxia last went back ten days ago, she didn't go back every week, there was a courtyard here, going back once every two weeks or three weeks was very normal.

"Quite good, he was picking alfalfa in the courtyard when I went over this afternoon, and was joking with me. There is no contracting land at home, just those ten mu of land, he can plant it alone. The vegetable garden I saw is also planted, the grape trellis is also coiled up, and the complexion is also good. Next time I get wild boar or something in the mountains, I'll send a leg over, eat more meat usually, plus good mood, then it's very good."

"My father's mood should be okay now." Gu Xiaoxia was clear, she was married, father considered a worry settled, mood would definitely be good.

"Yes, can tell, feels like he's quite a lot younger." Li Long joked, "Don't say he's forty-something, even saying thirty-something someone would believe."

"How could he be so young." Gu Xiaoxia rolled her eyes at him, while eating alfalfa and asking:

"How are father and mother? Is the body okay?"

She followed Li Long to call Li Qing Xia and Du Chunfang father and mother.

"Good. Mother is working in our vegetable garden, father is catching fish, today Daqiang found over, asked about the carrying pole matter, saying he would follow father to catch fish starting tomorrow or the day after, this is also good, having someone to take care of."

"Hmm, hmm, hmm, quite good." Gu Xiaoxia asked about Li Jianguo and Liang Yuemei again, knowing they were all quite good, so she was relieved. At this time she was slowly adapting to the matter of being a Li family daughter-in-law, at this time the concept of women marrying out was indeed different from later generations, traditional concepts were still quite strong, really thinking she was a Li family person.

"Tomorrow I'm going to the agricultural machinery bureau to take the license test." Li Long said his own affairs, "After passing the license, I'll enter the mountains, this period of time I intend to hunt, see if I can collect a batch of fritillaria to earn some money first. Of course, best to get some game to improve the food. Not much meat at home, right?"

"Still some. Sister Yang doesn't put much meat when cooking every time, just eat more meat at noon. I see Han Fang is very greedy when seeing meat, but doesn't eat. Quite sensible."

"Hmm, no problem, persuade her more when you have time, I'll look at the situation when entering the mountains. Yesterday caught a mother deer with a small deer, small deer was still small, so I directly pulled it to the horse number. This time going over see if I can hit wild boar or something, get it back and eat more."

The two chatted while eating, finished and cleaned up together, it got dark, and the two entered the bedroom one after another.

Now it was still newly married, some activities were still in exploration and practice, young people, tireless, really normal.

The next day, sun high.

Of course it wasn't that late, when Li Long got up the sun just showed a head, Gu Xiaoxia had already made breakfast. The two finished eating, Li Long cleaned up, Gu Xiaoxia went to work.

After cleaning up here, Li Long rode his bicycle out, preparing for the test.

This couldn't be slow.

Basically no one checked driving a tractor without a license at this time, but to be honest, driving a tractor to the agricultural machinery bureau to take the test was really looking for death.

Li Long watched someone really drive a tractor to the door of the agricultural machinery bureau, then turned and ran into the courtyard, and then was detained by the staff.

Checked no license, driving without a license, fine, first education then fine.

A better point at this time was really taking punishment as a warning and curing the sickness to save the person, educated this big brother for more than ten minutes, finally fined five yuan.

For those who drive tractors, is five yuan much? A trip of sand was pulled back!

Just a meaning. The key was still warning education.

Li Long watched the whole process, mainly because the test hadn't started yet, waiting for people.

That big brother was also willing to accept the fine, handed over the fine, and obediently came over with the receipt strip to read the book with Li Long and them.

Li Long watched him hold the book upside down, so asked:

"This big brother, don't you recognize characters?"

"Really... is..." That big brother had a square face, thick eyebrows and big eyes, tall stature, big back head, looking full of righteousness, if it wasn't for the temperament being too peasant-like, going to act as a leader in a serious drama would be no problem. He smiled like this, a bit of silly energy came out.

"Brother, I'm Deng Chaoxian, from Unity Commune, where are you from?"

"Red Flag." Li Long raised the book in his hand, "Examining soon, what to do if you don't recognize characters?"

"What else can I do, copy. I don't really not recognize characters, the team ran a literacy class, I actually learned some characters, but many returned to the teacher, not many can recognize. Now, just count on copying, sit by my side at that time, how about it?"

This guy was quite self-familiar.

Li Long thought and said:

"If the invigilator isn't strict, it's fine. If it's strict, then no, I don't want to be implicated."

"Rest assured, rest assured, definitely not strict. Can let read book test, can be strict? I already inquired, this mainly is still practical operation, practical operation I have no problem, just afraid of this. Actually a friend of mine is in the county league committee, just embarrassed to find him."

Fine, Li Long didn't say much. Afternoon practical operation, he actually didn't worry either.

Soon, people arrived, waited for a while, time for the test, read names, checked numbers, then led into a conference room, sat down, issued papers, and started the test.

Deng Chaoxian sat by Li Long's side, got the paper, Li Long found it was really quite simple, had impression after reading the book. There were quite a few people who couldn't turn the book, and not many who didn't recognize characters, soon people started whispering. "Keep the voice down!" The invigilator's voice was loud.

Quite a few people were scared, then watched the invigilator didn't move, seeing everyone's voice was low, then lowered his head and continued to read the book.

Like this!

Then hurry up and copy!

Deng Chaoxian immediately leaned to Li Long's side, looking at the content. Li Long didn't care about him, answered the questions himself, answered one and looked at the next one. Not many people could answer freely like him, so they became fragrant buns, quite a few people gathered around.

With the invigilator's reminder, they didn't dare to make a loud sound, but they were very serious when copying, this could also be considered serious treatment.

Li Long finished the test, put the paper on the table, let those people copy. It was fine to do a convenience at this time, the teacher didn't care, then do a convenience.

After those on both sides copied almost enough, even people from far away came over, Li Long looked at the watch, an hour, so stood up, preparing to hand in the paper.

The invigilator heard the movement and raised his head, looking at Li Long and asking:

"You finished writing?"

"Finished writing."

!.

"Fine, you take the paper over." The invigilator actually knew Li Long gave convenience to quite a few people, saying, "Know the time for practical operation in the afternoon?"

"Know."

"Then you come over at that time, first on the field. Now you can go familiarize with the tractor. Know where the field is, right?"

For people with strength, even the teacher was very appreciative, would do a convenience.

"Know, thank you teacher." Li Long took the paper and went over to hand it in, the teacher looked, looked at the feeling similar to his own, smiled, waved his hand to let Li Long leave.

Practical operation field was in the back courtyard of the agricultural machinery bureau, Li Long saw the lines drawn there earlier, and the poles placed. This practical operation was commonly known as drilling poles, relatively difficult for beginners, but quite simple for Li Long.

Someone was watching the field, heard Li Long's intention, then handed the rocker to him. Rocking the tractor was also an operation, Li Long wasn't afraid of this either, he patted the hand throttle, pressed one-third oil, then pressed decompression on the rocker, first tested the strength, felt that although the tractor was half-old, the diesel engine was very smooth, should be relatively well-adjusted.

Used six or seven points of strength to rock the tractor, then operated item by item.

After all passed, parked the tractor back to the original place, that working staff member gave a thumbs up:

"Impressive, able to reverse like this, among those who came for assessment, you are the first! Guaranteed pass!"

Li Long thanked the person, put the rocker back in place, and left the agricultural machinery bureau. He didn't wait for that Deng Chaoxian to treat, people said so, he didn't take it seriously, better to go to Sister Yang's place to eat with Gu Xiaoxia.

Gu Xiaoxia hadn't finished work yet, Li Long went to the market to turn around, didn't see father and Tao Daqiang, guessed they should have already sold the fish and returned. The market was more prosperous, even selling alfalfa. Of course, whether buying or selling, basically all were Han people.

This made Li Long think of some ethnic comrades in later generations saying you Han people eat grass, but slowly, they also followed to eat.

What was said at that time eating grass included but not limited to alfalfa, shepherd's purse, dandelion and various wild vegetables in spring.

Some people said rely on the mountain eat the mountain, but actually the herdsmen in the mountains except for individual hunting, basically wouldn't move those things in the mountains, whether Codonopsis fritillaria or mushrooms, to them were all grass, just for cattle and sheep to eat.

As

"Lacking, how could I not be lacking?" Hearing Bolati immediately became interested. "Can I really exchange for wine?"

"Yes. How could one kilogram not exchange for two bottles of bulk wine?" Yushanjiang knew that currently, one kilogram of ordinary bulk wine was less than one yuan, and bottled wine was just over one yuan per bottle, with each bottle being less than half a kilogram, so exchanging was no problem.

"Really? Can you make the decision for him?"

"Yes." Yushanjiang smiled. "You can also collect fritillaria from your colleagues and friends. This thing, the more the better, right?"

"Fine. I can bring a bag of fritillaria tomorrow. Can you guarantee he'll collect it?"

"Guaranteed. When tomorrow? If you can be sure, I'll come over too."

"In the morning, before the sun rises." Hearing Bolati said immediately.

"Good, I'll be here then." Yushanjiang felt this time was also quite good, not delaying work.

Hearing Bolati raised his horsewhip, the horse beneath him neighed softly, and it trotted away.

Their daily tasks were mostly patrolling the mountains. When they ran into people digging for fritillaria, naturally they would collect it and hide it, but this thing had to be dried, otherwise it would spoil very quickly. The place where they lived was in the forestry team's residential area, and they certainly couldn't dry it where they lived themselves. The fresh fritillaria collection point wouldn't collect it; it had to be dried.

Rangers also had tasks; the forestry team also needed them to hand in the collected fritillaria, which counted as creating revenue. Some of them also needed to go dig for fritillaria themselves. They also wanted to go down the mountain to sell it; firstly, riding a horse back and forth took a lot of time, and secondly, if they were discovered, they would most likely be fired.

Some people had taken this risk and were truly fired, which was why this Hearing Bolati had thought of selling to Li Long. Not to mention the high price, the key was safety.

After Hearing Bolati left, Yushanjiang looked around, and then circled the tractor, watching it.

They were used to riding horses, but they were also quite interested in this tractor. This thing could pull more than a horse cart. If they had such a thing during the seasonal migration, it would be much more convenient. It was a pity that the tractor couldn't travel the migration route, otherwise, he would really let Li Long help with the migration.

After Li Long finished soaking in the hot spring, he put on his clothes and walked straight back. He walked straight out along Hot Spring Gully to the north, then northwest; walking in a straight line was much faster, but he picked wild vegetables as he walked. Dandelion, wild mushrooms, wild onions, and the like; he also saw wild pepper, but didn't pick it; this thing had a strange taste when mixed with cold dressing.

When he came back with a bag of wild vegetables, the sun hadn't set yet, and he saw Yushanjiang.

After the two greeted each other, Yushanjiang stated his purpose.

"You mean, there are wild boars in that gully, and roe deer have appeared on the mountain top?" Li Long looked at the map Yushanjiang drew, thought for a moment, and knew where it was.

"Yes." Yushanjiang drew that map again, pointing emphatically at the location he mentioned. "It's right here. But if you want to go, it's best to go in the morning or when the sun is about to set. We herd cattle and sheep, so we'll be in that vicinity, and these things will go over after we leave."

Li Long nodded and said:

"I'll go over tomorrow morning."

"Tomorrow morning won't work." Yushanjiang shook his head. "When I came just now, I ran into the ranger here. He said he would bring some fritillaria to sell to you tomorrow morning—I remember you said you collect fritillaria, so I promised for you."

"Good." Li Long smiled. Being able to have fritillaria now was also impressive. After all, the real digging for fritillaria is usually from late April to early May; at this time, the fritillaria hasn't grown up yet.

"Three yuan per kilogram. I'll come over tomorrow morning too. He said he would come before the sun rises, so remember to get up then. By the way, he said he could exchange for wine. If you don't have wine here, give him money first. I think you can bring some wine over later, as well as other supplies; they would definitely be willing to exchange. I'm leaving first; I still have to pack things up when I get back, and we'll migrate in a few days."

Li Long watched Yushanjiang leave, and then began to set up a fire to cook dinner.

He really didn't have wine here; this time he definitely couldn't exchange for wine. Bring wine next time; these people actually don't really like drinking bottled wine; bulk wine is cheap and strong enough.

In "My Altay," those herdsmen drink bottled wine, and there are various bottled wines in the small shop. Li Long guessed that it was most likely because the shopkeeper found it difficult to carry bulk wine. He remembered that these herdsmen here, including those in the forestry team and animal husbandry team, all bought bulk wine with cups when they went to the small shop to drink, one cup for one dime (a small teacup, not a wine glass), no dishes needed, drink a cup and leave, or several people together, buy a few more cups, and drink in turns.

Even in the 2020s of the later generations, in some parks in the Ili region, one could still see several people sitting around, drinking and chatting in broad daylight. They weren't any good wine, and there were no dishes to go with the wine, maybe just a bag or two of pickled mustard and peanuts, and then they could drink for half a day. They didn't cause trouble when they drank too much; they would just lie on the grass and sleep, or lie on the park bench.

The stove was set up, water was boiled, the wild vegetables were picked and washed at the spring eye, blanched in boiling water, then chopped, salted, splashed with chili oil, added vinegar, mixed, and the steamed buns were roasted under the stove. After they were charred, he took them out, felt it wasn't enough, and roasted another one. There was no harvest today, so just make do with this for now. See if there's a harvest tomorrow; there must be one tomorrow, otherwise just gnawing on steamed buns like this won't work.

The cold dish naturally had some flavor, and it was not bad to eat, but Li Long was not satisfied.

After eating, thinking about buying fritillaria tomorrow morning, he packed things up, drew two more buckets of water, and wiped the tractor. The tractor had put in a lot of effort since it was bought, so he couldn't treat it badly.

After the tractor was wiped, the sun had also set. Li Long tidied up the room, poured out the leftover cold dish—this thing used to be eaten overnight often, but now there was plenty of food and no worries, and he knew that green leafy vegetables would be unhealthy if left overnight, so he shouldn't torture his body.

After pressing the fire in the stove, Li Long went into the room and locked the door. Once it got dark, it got cold outside, and he didn't know whether those who entered the mountains to find money had dug dugouts or drilled into rock crevices.

Entering the mountains at this time was truly suffering. When he brought people over to weave carrying poles later, he would still have to let them get the dugouts ready, otherwise, getting sick would cause big trouble.

In the middle of the night, a light rain began to fall outside. The temperature in the room was fine, the stove hadn't gone out. Li Long just listened to the sound of the rain, turned over, and fell asleep again.

In a daze, someone knocked on the door, and Li Long woke up.

Looking at the window, it wasn't dawn outside yet. Li Long climbed up, put on his clothes, and asked vigilantly while asking:

"Who is it?"

At this time, it definitely wouldn't be Yushanjiang, Hearing Bolati, and the others.

"Fellow villager, fellow villager, can you open the door? My brother has a fever, do you have any medicine... if there's no medicine, can you get a bowl of hot water to drink!" The voice outside was very urgent.

A drifter digging for fritillaria? Not the one he ran into during the day; the voice was different.

Li Long grasped the Type 56 semi-automatic rifle. (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 446 =====