Reborn in the 1980s: I made my fortune hunting wild game in Changbai Mountain

Seeing that Yue Feng and Xiao Weimin remained silent and didn't respond, Li Guangkun scratched his head awkwardly, completely bewildered.

Yue Feng grinned and nodded generously: "That's true! We did get a gray spear, but we're being conservative with the official story, saying it's an XZ subspecies of rabbit-tiger!"

"Is there...something to worry about?" Even the most stubborn Li Guangkun could sense something else was going on.

Yue Feng truthfully replied, "I guess I have some reservations, but it's not something that can't be said at all!"
We came here on official business to hunt eagles for an event organized by the newly established Eagle Hunting Culture Heritage Club in the capital!
Grey gyrfalcons are relatively rare birds of prey, and their numbers are quite small! It's best not to make many things public during the preparation stage, so we've temporarily shelved this matter and haven't made a big fuss about it!

"The Eagle Hunting Club? What's that?" Li Guangkun's interest was piqued again after hearing this.

"The Falconry Club is a semi-public welfare organization that promotes traditional raptor falconry culture. To put it simply, it's a semi-official organization. It was established last year and is still in a stable development phase!"

"I understand that. So what exactly are the club's main responsibilities?" Li Guangkun became very interested in this.

"We'll focus on promoting falconry culture, experimenting with artificial breeding of birds of prey, and organizing falconry competitions for exchange purposes. These are roughly the main directions we'll take!"

"That's great! Are the clubs in the capital usually open to the public? I'd really like to go check them out if I have the chance!"

"The club operates on a membership system and is not open to the public under normal circumstances. On open days or during certain events, you can participate in activities according to the relevant requirements!"

"Oh! Then I probably don't qualify to be a member!"

Upon hearing this, Li Guangkun sounded somewhat dejected. He was just an ordinary farmer from Yingtun, and he knew his own limitations.

However, hearing his frustration, Yue Feng didn't think so.

He didn't even consult Xiao Weimin before saying, "If you want to come, I can put in a good word for you! I also have a small share over there, so bringing a friend along is definitely no problem!"

"Really?"

"Of course! We two brothers actually get along quite well. If I say it's okay, it's definitely okay! If it's not okay, I won't just agree to it!"

"I'm serious! I'll definitely go and broaden my horizons if I get the chance!"
I'm afraid you'll laugh at me, but having stayed in this little corner of Eagle Village for so long, I used to think that falconry was just something passed down from my ancestors.

We've paid attention to what we needed to pay attention to, and learned what we needed to learn, so there's not much left for further optimization and development!

But after you all came today and we talked, I realized that I'm just a frog in a well! I have absolutely no knowledge!
There's a lot more to it than meets the eye!

Yue Feng grinned and said, "Haha, it's all been developed through trial and error! Being considered a prominent figure in Yingtun already speaks volumes about your skills and abilities!"

"That's different! Although I'm just an ordinary farmer, I take eagles very seriously!"

I consider falconry my lifelong career!
I'll say something my wife doesn't like to hear: in my eyes, the eagle is more important than my wife!

If I could carry forward and promote the traditions passed down from my ancestors, I wouldn't hesitate to give up ten years of my life!

Upon hearing Li Guangkun's words, Xiao Weimin, who had been smiling just a moment ago, instantly froze on his face.

Upon hearing this, Yue Feng felt a surge of emotion welling up inside him, as if an indescribable feeling was rushing to his head.

As the saying goes, "High mountains and flowing water seek a kindred spirit." Yue Feng, a master of falconry, has seen many such people, but a pure person like Li Guangkun is very rare.

Xiao Ying Liu is one, Li Fulin is another, and today I met Li Guangkun in Yingtun, he is definitely qualified to be one as well.

In an instant, Yue Feng had the idea of ​​recruiting talented people.

Grandpa Liu and Uncle Li are both getting on in years. Although Jinlong's younger brothers can help out on a daily basis, they are all young masters and their minds are not necessarily entirely on Ying.

But Li Guangkun in front of us is different. He is absolutely capable of handling the club's daily maintenance and management work, and working with the two main people in charge will be no problem at all.

It's easy to find people who can do the work, but it's hard to find people who understand birds of prey and can also do the work.

People with good character and temperament, who love eagles dearly and are also capable of hard work, are even harder to find.

“Comrade Yue Feng? Am I exaggerating a bit? You…” Seeing that Yue Feng remained silent for a few seconds without responding, Li Guangkun hurriedly waved his hand to remind him.

"Ah! It's nothing, I was just a little distracted after hearing what you said!" Yue Feng grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.

"I'm not making a big fuss about it. I say this, but that's what I really think!" Li Guangkun emphasized again.

"Stop talking, Brother Li, I believe you! I'm just like you! Not only you and me, but there are two other seniors in the club who have the same mentality as you!"
Okay, let's exchange contact information. Let me know when you have some time, and I'll take you to the club for a good time!

Yue Feng had already tentatively accepted the other person in his heart, but out of rationality, he did not extend an invitation immediately, but continued to observe before making a decision.

"Okay, I'll definitely go! I need to go out and see how things have developed in the falconry tradition! Otherwise, all the things my family has passed down from our ancestors will be wasted!"

"By the way, Brother Li, I heard you say that our family has a lot of things passed down from our elders. Can you show us?"

"We've come all this way. Brother Xiao and the others also want to film some footage of the falconry culture in our Eagle Village. When it's edited into a movie, it can also increase the popularity of Eagle Village throughout the country!" Yue Feng changed the subject and shifted the focus back to the main business of today's visit.

"Alright, I've already prepared everything! Follow me!" After saying this, Li Guangkun put on his shoes and got off the kang (a heated brick bed).

Yue Feng and Xiao Weimin immediately followed, and Lao Xiao even called to the cameraman in the next room to come along as well.

The group followed Li Guangkun to a separate room on the far east side.

From the outside, there was no door on this side, so you could only get in from the other side. Yue Feng thought it was set up like a storage room.

After going inside, I discovered that there was a hidden secret inside.

This is a separate room, similar to a family shrine.

Near the north wall, there is an ancient painting that is extremely old.

The painting depicts a humanoid creature with an eagle's head and a human body, covered in feathers but with hands and feet, sitting cross-legged in the center with a dignified expression, as if enjoying an offering.

In front of the ancient painting, there is a small incense burner. Judging from the ashes inside, the rituals must have been performed continuously on a daily basis.

"This is a picture of the Eagle God Protector passed down from our Manchu people! The eagle is our spiritual totem, and the Eagle God protects our people so that they can be safe and sound and have a good harvest when they go out hunting!" Li Guangkun introduced to the group with a very solemn expression.

Yue Feng looked the painting up and down, and saw many indescribable feelings in this seemingly simple ancient painting.

Desolate, mysterious, and powerful!
Based solely on his personal sensory experience of this close contact, Yue Feng knew that this thing was definitely not just any ordinary painting; there might actually be something scientifically inexplicable inside.

"Old Li, we've come all this way, could you please offer us some incense?" Xiao Weimin asked at this moment.

Li Guangkun nodded: "There's nothing wrong with offering incense! We're all people who love eagles, so the Eagle God will surely protect us! Xiulian, bring the incense from inside the house!" Li Guangkun called out, and soon his wife, Wang Xiulian, came over with the incense.

Yue Feng and Xiao Weimin reached out to take it, but Li Guangkun waved his hand.

"No rush, there are rituals and rules for offering incense! Please wait a moment!"

After saying this, Li Guangkun squatted down and took out a wooden box painted red from under the table.

They opened the sliding doors of the box and took out an unknown object covered with a red cloth.

The unknown object was moved directly to the front of the Dharma Protector image and placed respectfully before the red cloth was removed to reveal what was inside.

Upon seeing what was under the red cloth, Yue Feng subconsciously narrowed his eyes slightly.

This is a wooden statue of the Eagle God.

Its shape is similar to that in the guardian image, but its feathers are bluish-gray.

It was obvious at a glance that it was a man-made sculpture, but Yue Feng noticed that the statue's eyes seemed to be alive, looking very spirited.

"According to the rules passed down from our ancestors, this statue of the Eagle God can only be taken down when we go up the mountain to hunt eagles or go hunting, and we can perform a set of rituals and incense offerings according to the proper procedures!" Li Guangkun said in a low and very respectful tone.

"What do we need to do next?" Yue Feng continued to ask.

Li Guangkun shook his head, lit the incense sticks on the candle, extinguished the flame, and then handed them to Yue Feng and Xiao Weimin with both hands.

Xiao Weimin was the first to insert the incense into the incense burner, and Yue Feng followed suit a beat later, respectfully bowing in prayer.

It's quite a mysterious thing to say. During the process of offering incense and worship, in the dimly lit environment, and in front of the statue of the deity, Yue Feng had a kind of indescribable experience.

It's as if one's innermost thoughts have been affirmed by an invisible force, making one's heart incredibly firm.

The power of suggestion is strong; Yue Feng didn't know if it was the statue manifesting its power or just a psychological effect.

Anyway, this experience was amazing; it was the first time I'd ever felt this way.

After offering incense, Li Guangkun pulled out an old book made of kraft paper from the bottom of the box.

“You are qualified to offer incense and worship to the Eagle God statue, and you are also qualified to see our Li family’s 'Secret Book of Eagle Scripture'. However, this book cannot be filmed on camera!” After saying this, Li Guangkun solemnly handed his family’s ancient book to Yue Feng.

Upon seeing that there was indeed a family heirloom, the Eagle Manual, Yue Feng accepted it with both hands.

The vertical layout and handwritten ink characters give it an unmistakably old appearance; the paper inside is yellowed with age.

Li's Eagle Plot

Li's Eagle Catching Chapter

Gong Ying's Family Register
Falcon's Difficult Diseases Miscellaneous Articles

After reading the table of contents, Yue Feng felt an immense curiosity about its contents.

This family heirloom mainly discusses how to judge eagles, how to catch eagles, the standards for a good eagle, the traditions of tribute eagles, and finally, the treatment and recovery of birds of prey with various diseases.

Yue Feng started reading from the beginning, patiently checking each detail. The information in the book corroborated his own knowledge of birds of prey, and many things that were previously ambiguous became clear after reading the book.

Especially in the section on difficult and complicated diseases, there are many things that even Yue Feng didn't know.

For example, what to do when an eagle gets stuck in its claws. And what are some folk remedies that provide immediate relief from an eagle's rolling claws? Much of this information is far more sophisticated than anything Yue Feng knows.

Yue Feng carefully flipped through the contents, and even read the parts he felt were useful several times over, filling in all the gaps in his knowledge and memorizing them firmly.

When Yue Feng looked up again, there was no one else in the east room. He had been focused on reading in front of the Eagle God statue for an hour or two.

Yue Feng respectfully placed the book back on the altar, then pushed open the door.

Outside on the kang (heated brick bed), Xiao Weimin had been drinking tea with Li Guangkun and the others for over an hour.

"Have you finished reading it, Xiaofeng?" Xiao Weimin asked with concern.

Yue Feng nodded and asked, "Brother Xiao, Brother Li, when did you leave? I didn't even notice!"

Xiao Weimin curled his lip: "When you see the secret manual passed down in Old Li's family, your attention is completely drawn in, and you don't care about us at all!"

When Lao Li and I went out, I greeted you, but you didn't even look up!

"Huh?" Yue Feng scratched his head a little embarrassed when he heard this.

Li Guangkun grinned: "Haha, only those who truly love eagles would be so focused on those contents!"

Although my falconry skills are not as good as Xiaofeng's, the skills passed down from my ancestors must have their unique aspects!

"Indeed, I had never heard of many of the experiential things, or the folk remedies for treating bird-of-prey problems, before! I have benefited greatly!" Yue Feng said modestly.

"Come on up on the kang (heated brick bed), have some tea! Old Li's tea is quite good!"

Li Guangkun didn't mince words and said frankly, "The tea should be alright. Director Wang brought it over last night! It's government tea, specially made to entertain distinguished guests like you!"

I slaughtered the goose early this morning; we'll have stewed goose for lunch! Can we drink? When you meet a close friend, we should have a drink at lunchtime!

Xiao Weimin nodded: "I can drink! Xiaofeng..."

Yue Feng chimed in, "I can drink too! My rib injury is almost healed! A thousand cups are not enough when drinking with a bosom friend, I'll definitely have a good drink with Brother Li today!"

In an instant, the atmosphere at the small kang table reached a new height, becoming much more lively than when they first arrived.

During the brief conversation, Xiao Weimin referred to the draft he had prepared in his notebook and began to arrange for the staff to add footage.

Although Li Guangkun may seem timid at other times, when he is at home and talking about eagles, his performance on camera quickly becomes stable, and he speaks fluently and confidently, showing a remarkable sense of camera presence.

Yue Feng was deeply moved as he watched the eagle's eyes light up as it spoke of its eagle.

This person truly loves eagles to the core; I just don't know if they'll agree to work at the club. (End of Chapter)