In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

Yang Guangming walked to the window with a polite smile on his face: "Hello, comrade."

A guard looked up, sized him up, and asked, "What is it? Who are you looking for?"

"Comrade, I come from the mountains," Yang Guangming said, patting his basket. "I hunted a wild boar. I heard that your factory buys wild game. I wanted to ask which department I should contact?"

"A wild boar?" The guard paused for a moment, then his eyes lit up. He stood up and leaned closer to the window. "Really? How big is it?"

“It’s true, of course. A wild boar weighing over 200 pounds,” Yang Guangming said with certainty.

The two guards exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise and interest in each other's eyes.

These days, meat is scarce. Although the factory has an agricultural and sideline products office that is specifically responsible for purchasing agricultural and sideline products, large game like wild boars are still hard to come by.

"Wait a moment." The guard who had spoken earlier picked up the phone on the table, shook the handle a few times, and then said into the receiver, "Hello, is this the switchboard? Connect me to the Agricultural and Sideline Products Office."

While waiting for the call to connect, he said to Yang Guangming, "You're lucky, you managed to hunt a wild boar all by yourself?"

"It was just a coincidence, and it was also a desperate act," Yang Guangming said.

The guard clicked his tongue and didn't ask any more questions.

Just then, the call seemed to connect, and he said into the receiver, "Is this the Agricultural and Sideline Products Office? This is Xiao Wang from the gate guardhouse. A fellow villager came to the gate, saying he hunted a wild boar and wanted to ask if the factory would buy it... Yes, it's supposedly a big wild boar weighing over 200 jin... He's at the gate. Okay, okay, I'll tell him to wait."

He put down the phone and said to Yang Guangming, "The comrades from the Agricultural and Sideline Products Office will be here soon. You wait here for a while."

After saying that, he seemed to remember something, picked up the phone again, and dialed another number:
"Hello, is this Director Yu? This is Xiao Wang from Damen. I have something to report to you. A fellow villager who goes hunting came to the gate and said he has a wild boar to sell to the factory... Yes, it's supposedly a wild boar weighing over 200 jin. Someone from the Agricultural and Sideline Products Office came, so I just wanted to let you know... Okay, okay."

After hanging up the phone, the guard winked at his companion and whispered, "Director Yu will definitely be interested. Giving him a heads-up might be useful."

Yang Guangming listened quietly to the scene, understanding the situation perfectly. It seemed the head of the security department was also quite interested in his prey.

He stood outside the guardhouse, waiting patiently.

About five or six minutes later, a young man in his twenties, wearing blue overalls and looking like a clerk, walked quickly out of the factory area.

He walked to the guardhouse, greeted the guard, and then looked at Yang Guangming: "Are you the fellow villager who shot the wild boar?"

“It’s me.” Yang Guangming nodded.

"Come with me, our director wants to see you," the young man said, his attitude neither enthusiastic nor cold, but rather businesslike.

Yang Guangming followed him into the factory area.

The factory area was vast, with wide, smooth roads lined with rows of neat factory buildings and tall chimneys. A faint, indescribable smell of medicine permeated the air. Workers in overalls moved about in an orderly fashion, some on foot, others on bicycles.

The young man led him through two rows of factory buildings to a three-story office building. The building was made of red brick and looked quite new.

They went up to the second floor and came to a room with a sign that read "Agricultural and Sideline Products Office".

The young man knocked on the door.

"Come in." A deep, steady male voice came from inside.

The young man pushed open the door and went in, with Yang Guangming following behind him.

The room was quite large, with several desks. Near the window was an even larger desk, behind which sat a man who looked to be around fifty years old.

The man was short and slightly overweight, wearing a gray Zhongshan suit. His hair was neatly combed, and his face carried the composed air of someone who had long held a leadership position. He held a pen in his hand and was writing something on a document.

Hearing the noise, he looked up and gazed at Yang Guangming, scrutinizing him from head to toe.

"Director Mo, this is the villager who shot the wild boar," the young man introduced.

The man, referred to as Director Mo, nodded, put down his pen, and smiled warmly. "Fellow villager, please sit down." He gestured to the chair opposite his desk.

Yang Guangming thanked him, put down his basket, and sat down on the chair with his back very straight.

The young man poured Yang Guangming a glass of water, then stepped aside and stood there.

Director Mo glanced at the basket beside Yang Guangming's feet and asked, "I heard you hunted a wild boar? Can you be more specific? How many, how big, and where is it now?"

His tone was calm, but his eyes were sharp, clearly indicating that he was an experienced and not easily fooled person.

Yang Guangming was prepared and calmly replied, "Director Mo, I went into the mountains today and was lucky enough to encounter wild boars. The big ones probably weigh over 200 pounds. They're still in the mountains now, and I can't get them out by myself."

He did not immediately reveal the specific location and details, nor did he immediately state his conditions.

Director Mo nodded, tapping his fingers lightly on the table: "A wild boar weighing over two hundred pounds... that's quite a haul. Our factory does have a need to purchase agricultural products, and the price is negotiable. The supply and marketing cooperative's purchase price is about four to five cents per pound (gross weight). Our factory can offer nine cents per pound, calculated based on gross weight. What do you think?"

Nine cents a pound.

Yang Guangming quickly calculated in his mind. Four wild boars, weighing a total of over 700 jin (approximately 350 kg), at 9 mao (0.9 yuan) each, would be over 600 yuan. This was definitely a huge sum of money.

Moreover, this price is indeed about twice as high as that of the supply and marketing cooperative, which shows the factory's sincerity.

However, money is not what he wants most right now.

“Director Mo, this price is very high, and I am very grateful for the factory’s sincerity,” Yang Guangming said slowly and sincerely. “However, before I came here, I also heard from friends in other factories that many units now offer other incentive policies besides money in order to collect more agricultural products. For example, if you can provide enough large game, some factories will reward you with a full-time employee position.”

He paused, observing Director Mo's expression, and continued, "I don't know anyone at Dongfang Pharmaceutical Factory, so I'm not sure if your factory has a similar policy. If it does... I might prefer to sell my prey to your factory."

Director Mo's smile faded slightly, and his gaze deepened. He took a closer look at the young man before him.

He was simply dressed, in his early twenties, and clearly from the countryside. But he spoke clearly and logically, neither servile nor arrogant, and even knew how to proactively propose conditions and test the factory's policy bottom line.

This doesn't seem like an ordinary hunter who only thinks about making money.

"What's your name? Which commune are you from?" Director Mo didn't answer directly, but instead asked.

“My name is Yang Guangming, from Xiangyang Village, Hongqi Commune,” Yang Guangming answered frankly.

"You must have gone to school, right?" Director Mo suddenly asked.

Yang Guangming's heart skipped a beat, and he nodded: "Yes, I just graduated from high school last year."

Director Mo gave an "Oh," seemingly lost in thought. A high school graduate is considered highly educated in the countryside; no wonder his speech and actions are somewhat different.

He hesitated for a moment, seemingly weighing his options.

The factory does have relevant policies, which are temporary incentive measures specifically formulated in the past six months to cope with the increasingly difficult supply of non-staple foods. The aim is to encourage more people to provide meat for the factory.

Awarding a permanent employee position is the highest level of incentive, with very strict conditions and careful implementation. After all, a permanent employee position is invaluable in a large factory like Dongfang Pharmaceutical.

Judging from this young man's demeanor and courage, he doesn't seem like an ordinary farmer. He's a high school graduate, educated, and if he could be recruited into the factory, he might be a promising talent.

Director Mo quickly calculated in his mind.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, and before anyone could answer, it was pushed open.

A man in his forties, burly and wearing an old-fashioned military-style jacket, walked in. He had a square face, dark skin, and a booming voice: "Old Mo, I heard some villagers hunted a wild boar? Where is it?"

The visitor was none other than Yu Dehai, the head of the security department. A former military officer, he was known for his decisive and efficient work style and was a notorious troublemaker in the factory, but he was also an upright man and highly respected by the workers.

Director Mo was clearly familiar with him, and smiled helplessly: "Old Yu, you have sharp ears. I was just talking to this Comrade Yang Guangming."

Yu Dehai then noticed Yang Guangming sitting opposite him. He glanced at Yang Guangming, then at the basket on the ground, strode over, and slapped Yang Guangming on the shoulder: "Good lad! You can catch a wild boar? You're something else!"

He slapped Yang Guangming so hard that his shoulder slumped and he almost lost his balance.

"Hello, leader." Yang Guangming quickly stood up and greeted him politely.

"Sit down, sit down, don't be shy." Yu Dehai pulled up a chair for himself, sat down with an air of authority, and looked at Director Mo. "Old Mo, how did the talks go? Did you agree on a price? Where's the wild boar? Bring it back quickly!"

Director Mo smiled wryly: "We're still discussing it. Besides asking about the price, Comrade Yang Guangming also inquired about the factory's policy on rewarding regular employees with additional positions."

"Oh?" Yu Dehai's eyes lit up as he looked at Yang Guangming again. "You want a job?"

His gaze became more direct, filled with scrutiny and interest.

"Yes," Yang Guangming readily admitted. "I have a rural household registration, graduated from high school, and have always wanted to move to the city to find a proper job. If I can exchange prey for an opportunity, I'm willing."

"High school graduate? Not bad!" Yu Dehai became even more interested. "Who did you learn your hunting skills from? How did you manage to kill a wild boar weighing over 200 pounds all by yourself?"

"I just figured it out myself," Yang Guangming mumbled. "I risked my life, poking the wild boar in the eye with a stick, and that's how I managed to get away with it."

He rolled up his sleeves, revealing several bloody scratches on his arm from tree branches—the marks he'd made accidentally while dragging a wild boar in the mountains, which served as proof of the "fight."

Yu Dehai glanced at the wounds, nodded, and didn't ask for further details. Those who have come from the battlefield value results most.

Yu Dehai stroked the stubble on his chin and turned to look at Director Mo: "Old Mo, what was that policy of the factory again? I don't remember it very well, but it seems like it was something like that."

Director Mo nodded, his expression becoming serious: "There are indeed relevant policies. In order to encourage various channels to provide the factory with urgently needed agricultural and sideline products, especially meat, the factory's Party Committee has issued a document. If it is a large game such as wild boar, and it meets certain standards, a formal employee position can be awarded as a reward."

He looked at Yang Guangming and explained in detail: "According to the regulations, if it is a wild boar, there must be at least two, and each one must weigh no less than 200 jin (100 kg). If this condition is met, a full-time position in the workshop can be awarded as a reward."

Yang Guangming felt certain. The policy did indeed exist, and the conditions were roughly as he had anticipated. However, he didn't show much joy on his face; instead, he frowned slightly, as if deep in thought.

"Can I only be assigned to the workshop?" he asked, his tone carrying just the right amount of hesitation. "Director Mo, Director Yu, I'm not afraid of hardship, but if I had a choice, I would like to find a position where I can make a difference, or... have some room for development."

He didn't say everything explicitly, but his meaning was very clear.

Upon hearing this, Yu Dehai laughed and spoke before Director Mo could: "Going to the workshop? That's so boring! Kid, I think you're up to the task. You can hunt wild boars, you've got guts and some strength!"

It just so happens that our security department has a hunting team that is usually responsible for the security around the factory area and some special tasks. Occasionally, they go into the mountains to hunt and add some oil to the canteen.

"If you can really get your hands on wild boars that meet the policy requirements, how about joining our security department's hunting team? It's a permanent position, like a trainee security guard, equivalent to an apprentice. The first year's salary is 17.5 yuan per month, and after three years you'll be a permanent employee with a raise."

His eyes lit up, clearly showing that he really wanted someone like Yang Guangming, who had "practical experience," to join him.

The hunting team, operating under the guise of the security department, frequently ventures into the mountains, but has never had any significant success. If they could recruit a skilled hunter, the canteen's meat supply would have a more stable source of food in the future.

Director Mo glanced at Yu Dehai but did not object.

The hunting team from the security department is indeed a good option. Although it's not like going to the workshop, security guards are still considered workers, and since Yu Dehai has spoken up, he has to give him face.

More importantly, he also felt that placing Yang Guangming in the hunting team would be more beneficial to the factory in the long run. Naturally, the game he hunted would be supplied to the factory first.

"Director Yu's suggestion is good," Director Mo said slowly. "The Security Department's hunting team can not only give full play to your strengths, but also provide an opportunity to learn and improve. As for your rank and treatment, we'll follow Director Yu's suggestion: trainee security guard. Of course, this is on the premise that the prey you provide truly meets the basic requirement of two wild boars weighing over 200 pounds each."

He paused, then changed the subject, saying with an encouraging tone, "However, there are also supplementary clauses in the policy."

If the number of prey exceeds the basic standard, the reward can be increased accordingly.

For example, in addition to the two qualified wild boars, if one more wild boar weighing over 100 jin (approximately 50 kg) can be provided, then the employee's position and benefits can be considered as those of a cadre, starting as a level 12 clerk, which is equivalent to administrative level 30, with a monthly salary of 23 yuan.

Yang Guangming's heart beat slightly faster. Even the lowest-ranking clerk in a cadre position is far better than a worker position, not just because of a few dollars more in salary, but more importantly because of the difference in status and career prospects.

But he didn't respond immediately; he just listened quietly.

Director Mo continued, "If we can get one more, making a total of four wild boars, with two meeting the standard and the other two each weighing over 100 jin, then they can be hired as level 11 clerks, which is equivalent to level 29 in administration, and receive 25.5 yuan per month."

If there were more... that would be the highest possible reward.

Two large wild boars weighing over 200 jin each, plus three medium-sized wild boars weighing over 100 jin each, can be hired as level 10 clerks, which is equivalent to administrative level 28, with a monthly salary of 27.5 yuan.

This is the highest level of reward the factory can offer under this policy.

After saying that, he looked intently at Yang Guangming: "Comrade Yang Guangming, I've told you all the policies. Now, can you also tell me the truth? How many prey do you have in your hands?"

Besides the one you mentioned that weighs over 200 pounds, are there any others? Or, as you mentioned before, what's the actual situation with your friend?

The air in the room seemed to freeze for a moment. Yu Dehai stared intently at Yang Guangming, waiting for his answer. The young clerk beside him held his breath.

Yang Guangming met Director Mo's gaze with a calm expression.

He didn't immediately answer the number of prey, but instead asked, "Director Mo, if I understand correctly, the prerequisite you just mentioned is not necessarily five wild boars, but the key is the total weight, that is, the total weight is no less than seven hundred catties."

For example... if there are four wild boars, but their total weight exceeds 700 jin (350 kg), can that also be considered as meeting the conditions for the highest reward?

A hint of surprise flashed in Director Mo's eyes.

This young man is quick-witted and very good at finding the right words.

He hesitated for a moment, then didn't rule it out: "In principle, yes. The core of the reward is to encourage the acquisition of more meat. As long as the total amount of meat reaches the corresponding standard, we can be flexible in our approach."

However, the prey must be of high quality; it must be large prey such as wild boar, not rabbits or pheasants.

"I understand." Yang Guangming nodded, seemingly having made up his mind.

He said earnestly, "Director Mo, Director Yu, since the factory is so sincere and the policy is explained clearly, then I won't hold back anymore."

He paused for a moment, then said clearly, "I did encounter more than one wild boar on this trip into the mountains. I killed a total of four wild boars."

The two big ones, I estimate each one weighs more than 200 pounds, maybe 230 or 240 pounds.

The other two were smaller, but each still weighed over 100 jin (50 kg). Together, the four weighed at least 700 jin (350 kg).

"Four?" Yu Dehai couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, his eyes wide. "Good heavens! You kid... you took down four wild boars all by yourself? And two of them weighed over 200 pounds? How did you do that? This... this is no joke!"

Even the usually composed Director Mo showed a look of shock on his face. He looked Yang Guangming up and down again, as if trying to discern the secret behind his astonishing achievements from his not-so-robust physique.

Yang Guangming gave a wry smile, a smile tinged with lingering fear and relief: "I really risked my life, but luck also played a part."

It was a family; they first took down the largest boar, and the others panicked.

I hid behind a tree and used a sharpened hardwood stick to poke at people's eyes... I also got hit several times, and it still hurts.

He rubbed his calf at the opportune moment, a pained expression on his face.

While this explanation still sounds incredibly risky, it's far more plausible than killing four wild boars silently.

Yu Dehai had fought in wars and knew that sometimes luck and sheer grit could create miracles on the battlefield. He patted Yang Guangming heavily on the shoulder: "Good lad! You're a real man! You didn't disgrace us soldiers... uh, I mean, you didn't disgrace us hunters!"

After the initial shock, Director Mo was overjoyed.

Four wild boars, more than 700 jin of meat!

We haven't seen meat in the cafeteria for a long time. This much meat can solve a big problem!
Moreover, the fact that this young man could catch so many prey all by himself shows that he is indeed capable. Recruiting him into the hunting team is definitely worthwhile!
He suppressed his excitement and tried to keep his voice steady: "Four wild boars, weighing more than 700 jin in total... According to what we just discussed, this does indeed exceed the total meat quantity standard for the highest reward."

He looked at Yu Dehai and asked, "Director Yu, what do you think?"

Yu Dehai waved his hand and said, "What else is there to say? He's definitely qualified!"
Old Mo, go for the highest tier! Level 10 clerk, Level 28 administrative officer, 27.5 yuan per month!
"I'm definitely getting this kid. I'll get the paperwork done right away and get him into our security department's hunting team!" Director Mo frowned slightly, not immediately agreeing.

He tapped the table lightly with his fingers again, looked at Yang Guangming, and said in a much more serious tone than before: "Comrade Yang Guangming, the information you provided is indeed amazing and very valuable."

However, according to the factory's regulations, the level of reward, especially the cadre establishment and specific job rank, needs to be considered comprehensively.

In your current situation, you have four wild boars, which meets the total meat requirement, but strictly speaking, it's four boars, not five.

Applying the highest level directly might be a bit... forced.

He didn't say anything definitive, but his meaning was clear: although there was enough meat, he wanted to hold off a little longer, or see if Yang Guangming could offer more "bargaining chips".

Yang Guangming fell silent. He understood the unspoken meaning in Director Mo's words.

The other party wasn't ignoring his contributions, but rather engaging in a tacit negotiation, attempting to close the deal at a slightly lower price. Or perhaps they were trying to pressure him to see if they could extract more targets.

After all, even in a large factory like Dongfang Pharmaceutical Factory, a cadre position at the 28th administrative level is not something that can be given out casually.

He didn't argue or show any dissatisfaction; he simply lowered his head, looking at his rough hands, as if weighing his options or hesitating.

At this point, Yu Dehai became somewhat impatient.

He's a straightforward person and felt that Yang Guangming's performance was already impressive enough, so the factory should reward him generously to encourage more people.

He interjected, "Old Mo, what you're saying is a bit dogmatic! Policies are rigid, but people are flexible! What we need is meat, something tangible that can actually solve the problem of our employees lacking oil and fat!"
Comrade Xiao Yang risked his life to bring back more than 700 catties of wild boar meat. Isn't that a great achievement?

I think we should go for the highest tier, no problem! If anyone goesssips, I, Lao Yu, will go and have a word with them!

As he spoke, he looked at Yang Guangming and said in a hearty tone, "Xiao Yang, don't worry! Uncle Yu will vouch for you! We'll handle it like a level 10 clerk! As long as the wild boar is brought back and weighed without any problems, I'll personally handle all the paperwork for you!"

Director Mo smiled helplessly after being interrupted by Yu Dehai.

He knew Yu Dehai's temperament and understood why he was so proactive.

The hunting team of the Security Department had not made much progress, and Yu Dehai was under a lot of pressure. Now that he had finally found a "talented person", he naturally wanted to get his hands on him as soon as possible.

Moreover, Yu Dehai is a senior employee with extensive connections in the factory, and if he insists, many things will indeed be easier to handle.

More importantly, Director Mo himself knew how rare four wild boars were in those days.

If Yang Guangming were really pushed too far, he would turn around and look for other factories, such as the BR County Machinery Factory and the Textile Factory. The leaders of those factories would probably be eager to hire him, and the conditions they offered might not be worse than those offered by the pharmaceutical factory.

Thinking of this, Director Mo's mind had already tipped.

A smile returned to his face as he nodded to Yu Dehai: "Old Yu, look how anxious you are. I didn't say I wouldn't do it."

He turned to Yang Guangming, his tone becoming more cheerful: "Comrade Yang Guangming, Director Yu's eagerness to recognize talent is commendable. Your contribution this time is indeed outstanding."

Okay, let's do as Director Yu said. As long as the four wild boars you provide are inspected and their weight and quality meet your requirements, our factory will make an exception and award them the highest reward.

"You'll start as a level 10 clerk, administrative level 28, with a monthly salary of 27.5 yuan. Your official position is with the hunting team in the security department. What do you think?"

Finally, the promise he wanted arrived, and Yang Guangming felt a weight lifted from his heart.

He appropriately showed gratitude and excitement on his face, stood up, and bowed slightly to Director Mo and Director Yu Dehai: "Thank you, Director Mo! Thank you, Director Yu! The factory values ​​me so much and has given me such a good opportunity. I... I will definitely work hard and never let the leaders down!"

"Good! That's right!" Yu Dehai stood up happily and patted Yang Guangming on the back. "A real man, that's straightforward! Lao Mo, then it's settled! We shouldn't delay, things can get complicated if we wait. We can't leave the wild boar outside any longer, we need to go and bring it back right away!"

Director Mo also stood up, resuming his leadership demeanor: "Yes, hurry up. Xiao Zhao."

He told the young clerk, "Go and arrange a truck immediately, and set off right away."

"Yes, Director Mo!" the young clerk, Xiao Zhao, replied loudly and ran out quickly.

"Old Yu, since you're here, why don't you send a few strong young men from your security department to come along and hunt wild boars? You can arrange the manpower. Be careful, the situation in the mountains is complicated," Director Mo instructed.

"Don't worry! I'll lead the team myself!" Yu Dehai patted his chest, full of confidence. "Xiao Yang, let's go, lead the way! We're setting off now to bring back your four precious wild boars!"

Yang Guangming quickly said, "Director Yu, the wild boar is hiding in a rather far place, deep in the Western Mountains. The road is not easy to travel, and the truck may not be able to reach it."

"We'll drive as far as we can, and we'll carry the rest of the way out!" Yu Dehai said nonchalantly. "If it really comes down to it, we'll call a few more people and have them take turns carrying it out! It's over 700 pounds of meat, and with that much motivation, what's there to worry about?"

With the matter settled, the subsequent actions were swift and decisive.

Yu Dehai directly used the phone in Director Mo's office to call the security department's duty room, and called eight of the young men he usually considered the most capable and reliable, asking them to immediately assemble in front of the office building and bring the necessary tools.

Yang Guangming also got up, without taking the basket. He couldn't worry about the rabbits inside the basket for the time being; he put them in the corner of Director Mo's office.

Less than twenty minutes later, a military green truck came to a stop in the open space in front of the office building, panting heavily.

Eight young men, all strong and fit, were already waiting by the car, curiously observing Yang Guangming walking out behind Yu Dehai.

They were ordered to go into the mountains to hunt wild boars, but they didn't know the specifics, only that it was related to this unfamiliar young man.

Yu Dehai walked to the car, glanced at his men, and nodded in satisfaction: "Is everyone here? Did you bring all the equipment?"

"Reporting to the director, everyone's here! Ropes, sacks, poles, machetes, everything's with us!" A man who looked to be in his early thirties stepped forward to answer. His name was Li Daguo, and he was the captain of the hunting team.

"Alright! Get in!" Yu Dehai waved his hand, opened the passenger door and got in first, then called out to Yang Guangming, "Xiao Yang, get in, sit here and give directions!"

Yang Guangming responded, nodded to Director Mo, and climbed into the passenger seat.

The truck cab was cramped, with two tall, burly men crammed in, plus the driver, making it feel rather crowded, but no one cared at the moment.

Li Daguo and seven other young men nimbly climbed onto the truck bed.

"Let's go! To Xishan!" Yu Dehai ordered the driver.

The truck roared out of the gate of Dongfang Pharmaceutical Factory, passed through the streets of the county town, and headed towards the mountains to the west.

In the car, Yu Dehai was in high spirits, constantly asking Yang Guangming about the details of the hunting trip.

Yang Guangming answered cautiously, trying to describe the process as thrilling yet reasonable, highlighting the elements of luck and risking his life, while vaguely mentioning how he precisely "dealt with" the wild boar.

Yu Dehai listened with great interest, occasionally offering a comment. The driver, a silent middle-aged man, focused intently on the road, his lips twitching only occasionally, seemingly also captivated by the story.

Inside the truck bed, Li Daguo and several young men were also discussing in hushed tones.

"Captain Li, who is this young man? He really killed four wild boars all by himself? You must be bragging!" a young man named Xiao Hu asked in a low voice.

Li Daguo looked at the rear window of the driver's cab ahead and shook his head: "With the section chief leading the team personally, how could it be fake? He must be really capable. If our hunting team could get a tough guy like that, we might actually be able to get something decent in the future, and everyone could get a share of the profits."

"That's true... We eat radishes and cabbage every day, it's getting so bland." Another young man smacked his lips, looking longingly at the food. "Wild boar meat... I wonder if we can share some this time."

"Dream on! That's for the whole factory canteen. We'll be lucky to get a sip of soup." Li Daguo laughed and scolded, but there was also anticipation in his eyes.

The truck quickly left the county town and onto the dirt road leading to Xishan. The road surface was bumpy and uneven, and the truck bounced violently, causing the people inside to sway with the cargo bed.

Yang Guangming carefully examined the road, occasionally pointing out directions to the driver. After leaving the main road, the road became narrower and more rugged, until finally only a dirt road, eroded by rainwater, remained, barely wide enough for trucks to pass through.

"This is it, the car can't go any further." Yang Guangming pointed to a relatively flat slope. "It'll take another half hour to walk up from here."

Yu Dehai surveyed the terrain and nodded: "Alright, stop the car! Everyone get out!"

The truck screeched to a stop.

Yu Dehai, Yang Guangming, and the driver got out of the truck. The young men in the truck bed also jumped out, stretching their numb hands and feet.

Yu Dehai glanced at the group and gave a brief order: "Li Daguo, make arrangements. Four people per group, bring ropes and poles. Xiao Yang, you lead the way. Let's hurry and try to get the stuff down the mountain as soon as possible!"

"Yes!" Li Daguo replied, quickly dividing the eight people into two groups. He led one group himself, while the other group was led by an experienced team member named Wang Tiezhu.

The sunlight clearly indicated the direction, leading the way into the depths of the mountains and forests.

Yu Dehai followed closely beside him, Li Daguo led the first group of people to follow closely behind, and Wang Tiezhu's second group lagged slightly behind, responsible for guarding and providing support.

Entering the mountains again, Yang Guangming quickened his pace. With his excellent memory and sense of direction, coupled with his reconnaissance abilities, he walked almost in a straight line.

Yu Dehai and the other young men who occasionally ventured into the mountains could keep up at first, but the further they went, the more difficult the mountain path became, while Yang Guangming walked as if on flat ground, which secretly surprised them.

"Xiao Yang, do you often come to the mountains? You know this road well." Yu Dehai asked, panting. Although he was strong, he was getting on in years and was a leader, so he didn't exercise much and it was a bit strenuous for him to walk on this kind of mountain road.

"I used to venture into the mountains a lot to find food for my family." Yang Guangming turned around and smiled, slowing his pace a bit. "Walk this way, watch out for the vines under your feet."

After walking for another twenty minutes or so, we were already deep enough to reach the area where the wild boars had been placed before dawn. The surrounding trees were taller and denser, the light was dim, and the atmosphere was somewhat eerie.

"Are we almost there?" Li Daguo asked, wiping his sweat. Although they were young and strong, walking such a long mountain road was not easy for them.

"It's just behind that hillside up ahead." Yang Guangming pointed to a slope covered with oak trees and shrubs.

Everyone perked up and quickened their pace.

After rounding the slope, a small clearing in the woods came into view. At the edge of the clearing, beneath the vine-covered cliff, a cave entrance could be vaguely seen, hidden by rocks and branches.

“It’s in that cave,” Yang Guangming said, walking over first and removing the camouflage at the cave entrance.

Yu Dehai and the others quickly followed.

When Yang Ming moved the last stone aside, revealing the scene inside the cave, even though Yu Dehai was mentally prepared, he couldn't help but gasp.

Li Daguo, Wang Tiezhu, and several young men who squeezed in to watch from behind let out suppressed gasps of surprise.

The cave wasn't deep, but the four enormous wild boars lying side by side inside were a truly striking sight.

Especially the outermost boar, even lying down, you could still see its enormous body and ferocious tusks when it was alive. The four wild boars almost filled most of the cave, like four dark little hills.

"My goodness... there really are four!" a young man stammered, his eyes wide open.

“This big one… must weigh at least 240 or 250 pounds, right?” Li Daguo squatted down, touched the boar’s coarse bristles, looked at the obvious wound on its eye, and turned to Yu Dehai, saying, “Chief, look at this wound, it was really stabbed with something sharp, it’s quite deep. This kid… is really fierce!”

Yu Dehai remained silent. He carefully examined the four wild boars, focusing on the fatal wounds near each one's eyes. The wounds were indeed consistent with those caused by sharp wooden sticks, and were located in very vital areas. He then tried to push the largest boar, but it didn't budge; it was frighteningly heavy.

He straightened up, looked at Yang Guangming, and his eyes showed not only admiration but also a greater sense of seriousness and inquiry.

One man, using a wooden stick, killed four wild boars, two of which were enormous… This can no longer be fully explained by simple “good luck” and “daring.” This guy probably has some unknown special skill.

But now is not the time to delve into it.

Yu Dehai suppressed his doubts and waved his hand, "Don't just stand there! Li Daguo, Wang Tiezhu, hurry up, tie the ropes, get on the pole! Get the two largest ends out first! Be careful, the meat is precious!"

"Yes!" Li Daguo and Wang Tiezhu snapped out of their daze and quickly ordered their young men to get to work.

The rope was looped around the wild boar's limbs and body. Two thick wooden poles were threaded through the loop, and two people lifted one end, shouting in unison, and slowly moved the heavy wild boar out of the cave.

When the four wild boars were brought out of the cave and laid side by side on the open ground, everyone was panting heavily, but looking at the four large mounds of meat on the ground, their faces were filled with excitement and a sense of accomplishment.

"Over 700 jin... no less!" Yu Dehai rubbed his hands together, his face beaming with joy. "This time I've done a great service to the factory! Old Mo absolutely has to treat me to a drink!"

Li Daguo slumped to the ground, gulped down a few mouthfuls of water, and looked at Yang Guangming, saying, "Brother, you're amazing! I, Li Daguo, am impressed! From now on, I'll follow you in the hunting team!"

The other young men also cast admiring glances their way. Capable people are respected everywhere, especially in places like theirs where they earn their living through their skills.

Yang Guangming smiled modestly: "Hunting can't be done by one person alone; it requires everyone's help."

"Alright, enough with the mutual flattery," Yu Dehai laughed. "Hurry up, let's get them down the mountain in one go!"

The next task was even more challenging. How to get four heavy wild boars to where the truck was parked?

They could only be carried by manpower. Fortunately, there were many people and all the necessary tools. They tied the wild boars securely with ropes, threaded them onto poles, and worked in pairs, taking turns carrying one boar. For the heaviest boar, they took turns lifting it.

The mountain path was rugged and the forest dense; carrying a heavy load of one or two hundred pounds through it was incredibly difficult. Every step required extra caution to avoid slipping or tripping over branches. Work chants echoed through the forest, and sweat dripped onto the withered leaves.

Yang Guangming also joined the carrying team. Although his physical strength wasn't top-notch, his coordination and stamina were excellent, and his familiarity with the terrain made him an indispensable member of the team.

Yu Dehai was older and was mainly responsible for taking care of things from the front and back, directing and coordinating, and occasionally encouraging everyone loudly.

"Keep pushing! We're almost there!"

"Watch out, there's a pit on your right!"

"Substitution! Substitution! Take a breather!"

They walked and stopped countless times, taking breaks along the way. When they finally saw the trucks parked on the hillside in the distance, everyone's faces lit up with relieved smiles.

"I see the car! Last stretch, charge!" Yu Dehai shouted hoarsely.

On this last relatively flat stretch of road, the group mustered their remaining strength, quickened their pace, and finally managed to carry the four wild boars to the truck.

"Quickly! Everyone, get to work and load the truck!" Yu Dehai commanded, not even bothering to rest.

With everyone working together, pushing and pulling, and going through many difficulties, they finally managed to roll the four wild boars onto the truck bed one by one.

When the last wild boar was loaded onto the truck, everyone was so exhausted that they collapsed on the ground, either leaning against the wheels or sitting directly on the muddy ground, panting heavily, almost too weak to even speak.

But everyone had a smile on their face, a smile of exhilaration and satisfaction after completing a difficult task.

Yang Guangming also sat down against a tree, his chest heaving. He was indeed tired; this kind of physically demanding work was a considerable burden for him now. But he felt very at ease and fulfilled.

Yu Dehai plopped down next to Yang Guangming, unscrewed the kettle, gulped down several mouthfuls of water, then let out a long sigh, wiped the sweat and mud from his face, and grinned:
"It's done! Xiao Yang, you handled this matter beautifully today! I'll get the paperwork done for you when we get back! From now on, you'll be part of the hunting team of the security department at Dongfang Pharmaceutical Factory!"

Yang Guangming smiled, a clean and bright smile: "Thank you, Director Yu. I will definitely work hard from now on."

"Don't call me 'section chief,' call me Uncle Yu!" Yu Dehai slapped him hard. "Come on, get in the car! Let's go back! Today, let the cafeteria chef prepare a good meal, and we'll taste what wild boar meat is like! Haha!"

Sunlight shone on the mountains and trucks, bathing the exhausted crowd in a warm golden glow.

The truck roared to life again, carrying four heavy wild boars, as well as the bright new hope and future of Yang Guangming, and bumped along towards Pingyang County.

Inside the truck bed, the young men, though tired, excitedly whispered among themselves, wondering if the canteen would add extra food tonight and how the wild boar meat would be prepared.

In the driver's cab, Yu Dehai lit a cigarette, took a satisfying drag, and said to Yang Guangming, "Xiao Yang, once these prey are stored away, I'll take you through the formalities this afternoon and arrange your dormitory. From now on, our Dongfang Pharmaceutical Factory will be your second home."

Yang Guangming gazed out the window at the rapidly receding, vast mountain shadows and the gradually clearer outline of the county town, and softly hummed in agreement.

In this unfamiliar era, in this small county town, he finally gained a foothold through his own abilities and choices, and had a brand new starting point to look forward to.

The truck drove through the city gate and merged into the sparse traffic of the county town. In the distance, the tall chimneys of the Dongfang Pharmaceutical Factory were already in sight. (End of Chapter)