Rebirth of Bayi Fishing and Hunting in the Northwest

Before leaving, Li Long left the wolf and a yellow sheep to the company.

Otherwise, there won’t be enough space to hold all the stuff.

"Xiaolong, let me tell you, if you are free to come back after the Spring Festival, I can get you dozens of skins." Lao Chen accepted the wolf and the gazelle, and then made a promise to Li Long.

"In the future, all the hides our company has captured will be kept for Xiaolong. After all, it's only a few dozen kilometers. For others, it would take a day or two to walk, but for Xiaolong, isn't it just a matter of stepping on the accelerator?"

Wang Mingjun looked at Li Long's jeep with envy. Only the regiment leaders could ride in it, and there was only one in each regiment. Basically, except for the regiment commander and the political commissar, no one else could ride in it.

Although Li Jianguo said that the car belonged to the state cooperative, it was obvious that the car was for Li Long to use at will.

That’s okay too.

Li Long left behind the wolf and the gazelle, which were not uncommon to the company. However, Wang Mingjun accepted Li Long's favor and planned to stuff some more things into the car. Li Long took the opportunity to ask for some bullets.

"Hey, that's easy." Wang Mingjun turned around and asked the clerk to bring an iron box of bullets.

It is more convenient for the Corps to use guns at this time. The training of the militia is much stricter than that of local towns and villages, and bullets are easier to get.

Li Long and his friends got in the car and left. Wang Mingjun and Lao Chen watched the jeep go away before slowly walking back.

"The old quartermaster is still as good at drinking as ever." Old Chen sighed, "I saw that he walked with a steady step."

"That's right. I never saw him drink too much back then..."

"There was one time, right? I remember it was someone from the Shicheng Winery who came to give us instructions, and that female technician challenged him to a drinking contest, and it seemed like she got drunk?"

"That time was too much? How come I didn't know about it?" Wang Mingjun asked in confusion, "I remember that time too. It seemed like our company had just started using the stove not long ago... You have a good memory."

"Hey, how could I not remember? I thought at the time that the female technician had a crush on the quartermaster..." Old Chen's face was full of gossip, "If the quartermaster hadn't been called back by his father not long after..."

"What a pity." Wang Mingjun turned his head to take a look and suddenly asked, "How much did you make from this leather?"

"Add it all up, add a little more, two thousand." said Big Boss Chen, "The price Xiaolong gave is indeed fair, several hundred more than the middlemen who bought the leather at that time."

"Those who can drive a jeep won't care about this, right?" Wang Mingjun nodded. "There are so many yellow sheep in the sand pits to the north. We can organize militia to hunt them before the New Year. The meat will be divided among the families, and the skins can be handed over to the company."

"Okay, I think so." The company did not raise cattle or sheep, but some pigs, but not many. Most of the meat had to be found in the sand pits.

There are many things in the sand pit, gazelles, red deer, wolves, wild donkeys, hedgehogs, foxes, snakes...

Except for foxes which are more flirty and no one eats them, we didn't let the others go.

This was a small matter for the two of them, the big thing was the spring planting. However, on this boring winter day, Li Jianguo and his team came and gave the company staff many more days to talk about.

On the way back, Li Jianguo sat very steadily, his eyes were bright, and he showed no sign of vomiting.

"…At that time, the company's land was not large, and we were reclaiming new land every year. We could think of what to plant at a moment's notice. For example, in the 1950s and 1960s, when we had a good harvest of grain and enough to eat and pay taxes, we had no motivation to plant grain anymore, so we thought about planting other things."

"At that time, I had a good relationship with the Shicheng Agricultural Science Institute, so I wanted to get some seedlings of all kinds, and in the end, I planted apples and pears."

"Shochu is made by workers who know how to make wine. I think it's okay to drink it occasionally in winter. It's better than the ones you buy. The koji taste is strong when it's just brewed, but some people like to drink it, saying that this is the taste of grain wine."

"Hey, that's when I developed my drinking capacity. I also saw a woman who could drink even more. She came to our stove, looked at the wine in the wine jar, and tasted it with an enamel teacup, saying which one tasted better... Dad, do you remember that when I went back for the first time in the 1960s, the wine I brought was what the female technician said was the best wine here?"

"Yeah, I remember, I remember..." Li Qingxia listened and nodded. He was not drunk, but he was still worried at the moment.

"...What a pity..." Li Jianguo suddenly said with emotion, but then changed the subject:

"The workers at that time really loved to eat. I learned how to make steamed buns at that time. Where could we get white flour to make steamed buns in our hometown? The little white flour we had was used to make noodles during the Chinese New Year. The wheat yield of our company was not high at that time, but we had a lot of land!
Steaming buns requires kneading more, and I also developed my strength at that time. The old company commander said that I was gentle and polite, which was fine for a clerk, but not for a quartermaster. To be a quartermaster, you need to be strong and be able to control those old-timers in the kitchen, so I practiced...

It takes a lot of effort to steam buns. The dough needs to be kneaded a lot, and the dough is big. After it rises, it needs to be kneaded many times, and then it needs to be allowed to rest. Only in this way can the steamed buns be big, white, fragrant and delicious..."

"I never thought that they still remembered me. My stay here is not in vain..."

Li Long turned his head and glanced at Li Jianguo. He felt that his elder brother was still in high spirits, so he asked:
"Brother, Captain Wang said you guys fought together, what's that?"

"Hey, wasn't it at that time that the border residents rebelled? At that time, so many people ran westward, and I heard the nonsense from the people over there, saying that they ate bread and butter every day... What's so good about that butter? What's so good about that bread? It's not even as good as steamed buns!
At that time, our Corps sent people to clean up the mess. You don’t know that when those people left, they were all crazy. They didn’t want anything. They left with their families. The mountains were full of tents, cattle and sheep. We just collected them.”

"That doesn't count as fighting, does it?"

"Hey, at that time, I was afraid of spies. They all carried guns. I couldn't sleep well because I was afraid something might happen. At that time, they were just comrades-in-arms. Although I have never been a soldier, at that time, I felt like a soldier..."

Li Long had also heard about the Yita border incident in the 1960s. There were more interpretations in later generations, and a few days later, living conditions improved here due to reform and opening up, while prices soared there due to the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Many people who went there for the "good life" at that time would think about returning and say that they were originally Chinese.

Of course, the country has not opened this loophole. You can go out, and it allows you to go out, but if you want to come in, it is no longer up to you.

This time, Li Long felt that the greatest gain was not the gazelles or the skins, but the experiences his elder brother told him along the way.

If I hadn't come here, if I hadn't drunk too much today, I'm afraid my brother would never have said these things.

In Li Long's opinion, his elder brother is always so calm. Unless there is something urgent happening to his close relatives, he will always think twice before acting.

At heart, I am a traditional scholar - not a cynic, but the kind of person who can really reason with you, and who also knows a little bit of martial arts when you are unreasonable.

But basically everyone is willing to listen to his reasoning. There are not many educated people in the fourth team, and even fewer educated people with brains.

Li Jianguo is one, Gu Boyuan is another. But Gu Boyuan is the kind of person who, even if you ask me for help, I will have to see whether I am in a good mood or not. Most of the time, I will not help unless it is a relative or friend.

Li Jianguo is different. As a village elder, one of his principles is to make the village a better place. So unless he has made an enemy like Gu Ermao's family, no matter who comes to him for help, he will at least help with some ideas.

Li Long even thought that his "hot-tempered secretary" personality was actually a "sublimation" of his elder brother Li Jianguo's nature.

Rexijie is the abbreviation of enthusiastic secretary. These days, the team leader is in charge of work, and the secretary is in charge of political work. In fact, the main manifestation is to help everyone solve difficulties and resolve ideological knots.

So Secretary Re refers to those people who are very enthusiastic about helping others solve their problems.

Along the way, Li Qingxia was worried that his boss might vomit. After all, the road was not very smooth, and there were so many leathers piled in the car that it smelled bad.

Unexpectedly, we drove all the way to the Li family yard of the Fourth Team. Li Jianguo was sober and did not need anyone's help when getting out of the car. He walked steadily.

When Liang Yuemei and others heard the sound of the jeep, they all came out of the house, including Du Chunfang, who was standing at the door watching with concern.

Li Long got out of the car and saw that his father and elder brother were fine, so he moved things inside.

"Where did these come from? Did you buy them?" Liang Yuemei asked puzzledly, looking at the fruits and other things.

"It was given to me when I passed by the company where my elder brother used to work." Li Long explained, "My elder brother's old colleague was still there, and we had a drink there."

"I smell it. Your elder brother is drunk again." Liang Yuemei shook her head. "He will be uncomfortable for another two or three days."

Vomiting alcohol hurts the stomach, not vomiting alcohol hurts the liver.

"Don't keep all the fruits in the house." Liang Yuemei put two baskets of fruits in the kitchen and began to divide them. "Take one basket back, and there's also this wine..."

"I don't want any wine." Li Long waved his hand hastily, "I don't need these."

"Then it's honey. Take a whole basket of honey back." Liang Yuemei planned to split it equally.

Li Long pulled another yellow sheep out of the car and said, "Freeze this first and wait until my brother wakes up before we clean it up. I'll go back after I'm done." "Do you want to take a rest before you go back? We've been driving for almost a day..."

"No, no, it'll only take half an hour to get back." Li Long waved his hand, "I won't stay any longer, I'm going back."

When he came back, he brought Han Fang with him. Han Fang was eating an apple in her hand, which was given to her by Liang Yuemei.

"Uncle, this apple is so sweet!" Han Fang said with a smile while eating.

"Well, eat it. There's more left after you finish it." Li Long said with a smile, "I brought back more than ten kilograms this time."

When the jeep drove back to the yard, the sun was about to set.

The days gradually became longer, and it was not yet completely dark when Gu Xiaoxia got off work. When she came back at noon and found that Li Long was not back, she knew that she must have gone out to do something again.

When she came back, she saw Li Long sorting the leather in the wing room. Gu Xiaoxia asked as she put her bicycle away:
"You collected a lot of skins today? Where did they go?"

"I followed my eldest brother to the company where he used to be. My father originally planned to go to the north to hunt yellow sheep, but we just happened to pass by there. We had a drink there and collected some hides."

"Uncle also brought back apples and pears," Han Fang added at the door, "and honey. The apples are so sweet!"

"Not bad, not bad." Gu Xiaoxia was also quite curious about where Li Jianguo used to stay. "Is it the Corps Company? What did Big Brother do there?"

Gu Xiaoxia used to call him Uncle Li. At first, she was not used to calling him Big Brother, but now she is getting used to it.

"Chief Steward. His former head cook is now the chief steward, so enthusiastic." Li Long clapped his hands, closed the door of the compartment, and said as he went to wash his hands, "It's only because I'm driving, otherwise I would get drunk too."

"Brother is drunk?"

"I drank too much. It will probably take two or three days to recover." Li Long smiled, "But I felt very happy after drinking."

Going to the company in the north was a small episode in life. Next, every household in Ma County was preparing for the New Year. The sound of firecrackers had been heard sporadically in the county town and the countryside. The sound of electric cannons and small whips was different, and the power of thunder was greater.

There are not many things prepared for the New Year in the county compound, so Gu Xiaoxia can have a holiday on New Year's Eve. She plans to go to the team's compound at that time and come back after the three-day holiday.

"Sister Yang, come with us. The team will have a great time celebrating the New Year, and Xiaofang will have someone to play with." During dinner, Gu Xiaoxia discussed with Sister Yang, "Have a good rest when you get there. His father and I will take care of the child."

"No, Xiaofang and I are in the county." Sister Yang shook her head, her attitude quite firm, "We won't join in the fun. We can also go to the south yard to take a look, it can't be left empty forever."

"What's so good about that?" Gu Xiaoxia actually wanted Sister Yang to go to the team to celebrate the New Year together. She really wanted Sister Yang to have a rest. She could rest in the county, but it was a bit deserted.

"Anyway, my mother and I have lived there for some time." Sister Yang smiled.

Since Sister Yang had already made the decision, Gu Xiaoxia didn't say much. Sister Yang used her time to prepare some food for the New Year. Gu Xiaoxia and the others didn't need to bring it, so let Sister Yang and the others eat it here.

It’s only three or four days anyway, which is enough.

The closer it got to New Year's Eve, the louder the sound of firecrackers became. On the morning of New Year's Eve, Li Long first posted couplets and blessing characters on the compound. After breakfast, he started the jeep, and together with Gu Xiaoxia, he carried Mingming and Haohao, who were wrapped tightly, into the car, said goodbye to Sister Yang and Han Fang, and drove to the fourth team.

"Xiaofang, let's go to the courtyard." After cleaning up the kitchen, Sister Yang picked up a bag, said something to Han Fang, and the two of them went out.

"Are you unhappy that you didn't go to Team 4?" Sister Yang asked Han Fang as they walked.

"A little bit." Han Fang now dared to tell her mother the truth, "I still want to play with Sister Juan."

"There will be opportunities later. We have important things to do today."

The two men walked to a small courtyard south of Wuyi Road. The gate was locked and there was a thick layer of snow at the entrance.

Sister Yang asked Han Fang to wait on the side of the road. She stepped on the deep snow to unlock the door, pushed open the gate with difficulty, took out the tools leaning against the wall, and cleared a path first.

Han Fang didn't wait there. She went to the yard to get tools and cleared the snow with her mother.

The neighbor heard the noise, looked out into the yard, looked around curiously, and then stepped back.

They originally thought that the mother and daughter would never come back, but they didn't expect to see them again now.

Our relationship was average, so I didn't say hello.

Sister Yang was clearing snow while chatting with Han Fang, talking about the customs and rules of celebrating the New Year in her hometown. She was supposed to come over to clear the snow around the 20th day of the lunar year, but she was not free at that time.

Fortunately, now we just need to push the snow in the yard into the vegetable field, which is not a very heavy job for two people.

It was already February 19th, and the snow was actually not as thick as before. Some of it had melted into thin ice, and some had settled. So it took more than an hour to basically clear the snow in the yard.

Sister Yang took a big broom and swept the snow off the brick floor, while Han Fang took the key from her mother, opened the door, and started setting up the stove.

Although Sister Yang didn't say it, Han Fang already felt that her mother was cleaning this place as if it were her own home.

Although it was comfortable to live in the big yard, they both knew that it was not home, at least not their home.

That's why Sister Yang didn't go to Team 4 to clean up the place on New Year's Eve.

Even if you don't live here, at least it has to be clean, tidy, and have a Chinese New Year atmosphere.

The yard was cleaned, and then the house was cleaned. After the house was cleaned, the altar was set.

Because Han Fang's father passed away less than three years ago, there are no couplets posted here.

On the altar was a portrait of Han Fang's father, and three dishes, namely pork head, steamed fish and braised chicken.

The incense burner was bought by Sister Yang from someone else's stall when the free market was not yet built. It is made of copper and looks quite simple and antique, so she uses it here.

Light the incense and let Han Fang kowtow, and the task is completed.

As noon approaches, the sound of firecrackers in the sky above the county town becomes more and more frequent. Some families also eat dumplings and set off firecrackers at noon on New Year's Eve. Folk customs from all over the country are gathered here, and even customs that are different from those of various provinces in the country are formed.

Some people just come however they like.

Sister Yang asked Han Fang to go out and play. She cleaned up the kitchen and lit a fire. They planned to have lunch here.

If you want to stay up all night, you have to go back to the big yard.

It's just a ceremony.

Maybe I'll be here forever next year.

Han Fang asked Sister Yang for the key to the main house. She didn't play there, but went to clean it.

The child was precocious and knew that his mother was in a bad mood today, so he did not disturb her and went to do what he was supposed to do.

According to Li Long, this yard will belong to Sister Yang's family in the future, and Sister Yang thinks that she will pay the money when the time comes.

After all, Li Long has been paid generously for taking care of the children and cooking, so this can be considered a clear settlement.

As for how much they will be given at that time, let’s talk about it later. At least for now, they can’t do without them.

Listening to the sound of firecrackers outside and looking at the deserted yet familiar kitchen, Sister Yang inexplicably felt a lot more at ease. (End of this chapter)