Rebirth in 1972: Redemption in Changbai Mountain

"I don't have the ability to be the foreman."

"Isn't everyone perfectly fine? They even had such a big egg follicle and an old sow, how could they be incapable? Are you worried about your family? Don't worry, I visit your house every day, nothing will happen there. If you're really worried, I'll bring all the kids to live with me."

Zhao Youzhi kept urging Zhou Rui to continue hunting for the village. This was his lucky star; he had only been gone for two days and had brought back nearly a thousand catties of meat. Even if it were divided among everyone in the village, each person would get at least two catties.

Zhou Rui pressed down on Zhao Youzhi's hand, which was holding his: "Grandpa Zhao, it's not like that. I'm too young to handle things, and no one listens to what I say. This time, something happened in the mountains, and Liu Qingguo and I almost got stranded there."

"To be honest with you, with my abilities, I might not die. But if Brother Qingguo dies, I'm too weak to bear the responsibility."

These words were a bit harsh, and Zhao Youzhi was somewhat bewildered. But he still held onto Zhou Rui's hand tightly: "Isn't there some misunderstanding? I've already explained everything. If anyone dares to disobey you, just tell me, and I'll slap them across the face."

"Grandpa Zhao, I really can't be the leader. If you still need me, I can go up the mountain myself. I can only be responsible for myself." Zhou Rui said, breaking free from Zhao Youzhi's grasp.

"I'm tired, I'm going back to rest first." Zhou Rui said and left, not giving Zhao Youzhi a chance to pester him. When he reached the courtyard gate, Zhou Rui turned around.

"By the way, Brother Qingguo injured his hand. Please arrange for him to rest for a few days and have Uncle Changhai take a look at it, so that there are no lasting effects."

Zhao Youzhi watched Zhou Rui's figure disappear into the darkness, feeling genuinely worried. He had finally managed to discover the third hunting family in the village, and their first attempt had yielded such a large reward. Regardless of Rui's hunting skills, his luck was certainly exceptional.

But how could he suddenly quit after just becoming the leader? Zhao Youzhi looked at the several wild boars, and then at the three men who were slumped on the ground like dead pigs.

No, Zhou Rui only mentioned that he and Liu Qingguo were in danger, without saying what happened to the other two. And in the end, he only told Qingguo to rest and to find Changhai to treat him, without mentioning Changshan and Xueqin at all. It seems that the problem lies with those two.

"Changshan, come here, I need to talk to you."

"Sixth Uncle, let me rest a little longer, I can't get up. Uncle, is there any food at home? I'm hungry, I really have no strength left." Zhao Changshan's voice was still hoarse, and although he had drunk a lot of water, it didn't help.

Seeing his condition, Zhao Youzhi realized he was exhausted, and the other two were in similar shape. He could only flick his sleeves and say irritably, "I really owe you guys something. I'll go cook you some noodles. After you eat, you have to have a good talk with me."

After Zhou Rui left, he didn't care what happened at the village chief's house. Anyway, the village chief entrusted the person to him, and he brought the person back safe and sound, which was enough.

Zhou Rui hurried along, the pitch-black night unable to stop his yearning to go home. He hadn't even gone in to look at his house while pulling the sled past earlier, but now he couldn't wait to enter that dilapidated old house and see the person sleeping inside.

After entering the courtyard, Zhou Rui slowed his pace, gently pushed open the door, walked to the kang (a heated brick bed), and did nothing but stare blankly at the three little ones sleeping side by side. The soft breathing of the children warmed Zhou Rui's heart.

In Wild Boar Valley, Zhou Rui thought he would never return. When that bullet struck him, Zhou Rui felt a bone-chilling cold spread through his body, almost freezing his blood. This was the reason for Zhou Rui's sudden outburst. If he hadn't vented his anger then, Zhou Rui might have pulled out the pistol on his waist and shot Chen Xueqin on the spot.

Zhou Rui watched for a while, imprinting the image of An'an, Xiao Niangao, and Zhou Ping sleeping in his mind, before turning around and going to the yard to wash up.

In his sleep, Zhou Rui suddenly felt short of breath, as if he was about to drown, so he shook his head and woke up.

He opened his eyes, but it was still dark. Something warm was pressing down on his head. Zhou Rui raised his hands above his head and lifted the thing slightly. Then he saw a big smiling face, babbling and laughing at him. A strand of drool dripped from the corner of its mouth and landed on Zhou Rui's forehead.

Who put the little rice cake on his head? Zhou Rui turned his head to look to the side and only saw Zhou Ping's profile and a pair of little feet. An An was at the other end at some point, and the two of them were still fast asleep.

What's that little rice cake doing? Zhou Rui blinked. The little rice cake can crawl now. Zhou Rui straightened up, held the little rice cake in front of him, and gave it a big kiss on the cheek.

"You can crawl now! You can crawl! Hehehe..."

Zhou Rui put Xiao Niangao on the kang (a heated brick bed), and then watched as Xiao Niangao crawled towards him again. Although it was wobbly and unsteady, it was really crawling.

Zhou Rui was no longer sleepy, although his eyes were still bloodshot. He kept moving the little rice cake over and over, like a newly acquired toy that he couldn't put down.

Suddenly, Xiao Nian Gao stumbled and fell onto An An, then grabbed An An's face and started kissing her.

Zhou Rui saw that An'an's face was covered in drool and thought, "She must be hungry." Then he saw An'an open her eyes and stare wide-eyed at Xiao Niangao. Xiao Niangao opened her little mouth and smeared drool on An'an's face again.

An'an quickly grabbed Xiao Nian Gao's head with her little hands: "Xiao Nian Gao, no, don't eat Auntie!"

Just as Xiao Niangao was about to fall off An'an, Zhou Rui quickly reached out and picked her up.

An'an sat up and wiped the drool off her face with her little hands. Only then did she see Zhou Rui on the kang (a heated brick bed).

"Second Brother, you're back?" Then, realizing what she'd done, she pouted, "Second Brother, how could you let Little Rice Cake eat me? You almost ate me!"

"I didn't let Little Rice Cake eat you, she crawled there herself. Look, she can crawl now!"

Zhou Rui smiled and put Xiao Nian Gao down. Then he saw Xiao Nian Gao crawl towards An An, seemingly finding An An's face more attractive.

"Wow, it really is! It can crawl now. Little Rice Cake, come here, come to Auntie." Little Rice Cake crawled to An'an's side, climbed onto An'an's body, and nibbled on her cheeks.

"No, you little rascal, don't eat your auntie!"

"Hehe... Little Rice Cake is probably hungry. I'll go make her some milk powder. Keep an eye on her and don't let her climb off the kang (heated brick bed)."

Zhou Rui took a clean bowl from the kitchen and stirred the milk powder in it continuously, making it evenly disperse and dissolve. Then he tested the temperature with a spoon, and it was just right.

Zhou Rui brought the milk and went into the room. Zhou Ping had already woken up. The two sat on either side, while Xiao Niangao spun around in the small space in the middle.

Zhou Rui stood at the door, looking at this scene, and thought it was wonderful.