Fishing and Hunting 82, Starting with Three Sisters Who Overprotect Their Brothers

Chapter 145 Going down the mountain

"What?"

"Saline soil." Zhang Wenshan rubbed his fingers together, shaking off the dirt. "Deer like saline soil. When it gets hot, they sweat more and their bodies lack salt, so they come here to replenish it immediately."

Upon hearing this, Lang Qiuping's eyes lit up instantly, and he stammered, "Brother Shanzi, do you mean there will be more deer coming?"

"Not just deer, but many small animals will come to replenish their salt reserves this year due to the drought." Zhang Wenshan turned to look at the puddle, liking it more and more as he looked at it.

No wonder the system predicted this route.

It's practically a natural hunting ground.

The only headache is, with so many prey, where to sell them?

The purchasing power in small towns is limited.

Upon hearing that there would be more prey, Lang Qiuping finally breathed a sigh of relief and stopped worrying about bringing the whole deer back. Instead, he looked at Zhang Wenshan and said sincerely.

"Brother Shanzi, you know so much. From now on, whatever you ask me to do, I'll do it without hesitation."

"Why are you saying that again?" Zhang Wenshan leaned back slightly, his head full of question marks.

This kid is too emotional; he's always professing his loyalty.

Little did he know.

In this day and age, what does it mean to not only reveal good hunting spots but also to impart knowledge about saline-alkali lands?

For those who have experienced communal living and periods of hunger and hardship, this is an immense act of kindness.

They ate dry rations.

Zhang Wenshan immediately took action.

He used a knife to cut the entire deer open, picking out the most precious parts: the deer penis, tail, tendons, and heart.

Then, the tenderest part of the pork tenderloin was removed.

Finally, they cut off the two hind legs, one for each person, totaling more than 120 jin (60 kg).

"Brother Shanzi, why don't you cut off a few more?" Lang Qiuping took the deer leg with one hand and weighed it in his hand. "I'm strong, I can carry another thirty or forty pounds without a problem, it's too wasteful to leave it here."

"No way." Zhang Wenshan tied up the venison and said firmly, "There are other animals in the mountains. They might come smelling the blood. We have to go back as soon as possible."

The excitement on Lang Qiuping's face vanished instantly. Thinking of the ferocious beasts in the deep mountains, a cold sweat broke out on his back, and he quickly nodded and shut up.

The two walked on in silence.

Carrying 60 pounds of stuff on your back, you can't go fast.

What used to be a three-hour journey has now taken four hours and we still haven't finished.

As darkness fell, the edge of the forest was still nowhere in sight.

Zhang Wenshan decisively stopped in his tracks.

"Can't walk anymore, Brother Shanzi?" Lang Qiuping, equally drenched in sweat, still said, "Give me the deer leg—"

"No, no need," Zhang Wenshan shook his head and said, "Take the deer antlers and other valuables and leave first. Call someone to come and pick me up."

"No way." Lang Qiuping immediately shook his head, shaking it like a rattle-drum. "You go back, I'll stay."

If he stays, he definitely won't be able to escape if something happens.

Zhang Wenshan knows Lang Qiuping too well; he definitely won't give up on the venison until the very last moment.

Having wilderness survival experience increases the chances of surviving dangerous situations.

He said firmly, "You're in good shape; if you keep talking nonsense, it'll be dark soon."

"Okay, then don't wander off. If you can't get around, just run."

Seeing that Zhang Wenshan was angry, Lang Qiuping dared not say anything more, grabbed his things, and rushed down the mountain.

"Still lacking in training!"

Zhang Wenshan shook his head, rubbed his sore shoulders, walked to a big tree, took the water bottle from his waist, and took two big gulps.

To be fair...

After this period of intense labor, my physical strength is much better than when I first arrived. However, compared with Lang Qiuping, who has been working all the time, it is still a world of difference.

Want a bite?

Repair?

He touched the bottle in his arms, then shook his head and stood up again.

They cut a sturdy stick to make a carrying pole, tied the deer legs tightly to the left and right sides with nylon rope, and then put the tenderloin into the basket.

"One, two, three, go!"

Zhang Wenshan gritted his teeth and struggled to his feet. A deer leg weighed forty pounds, and the tenderloin weighed more than thirty pounds.

He felt as if a mountain was pressing down on him, and his shoulders were burning with pain.

"I need to rest for two days after I finish this."

Zhang Wenshan spat and took a step forward slowly.

As darkness fell, the road became increasingly difficult to traverse, and strange noises began to emanate from the surroundings.

It was very dull and intermittent.

"A jinx; good things come true, bad things don't."

Zhang Wenshan's heart jumped into his throat, and the hairs on his body stood on end. He stood cautiously in place, looking around.

Based on experience.

The sound could be from a large animal.

He had no intention of showing off; he abandoned the venison and planned to run away.

Prey can be hunted again, money can be earned back, but if you lose your life, it's all over. And if you survive but are left crippled...

Just thinking about it sends chills down my spine.

"Brother Shanzi!"

Just then, Lang Qiuping's voice rang out, followed by his father's call.

"Fourth brother! Fourth brother! Did you hear me?"

"Holy crap, why are they here now?"

Zhang Wenshan hurriedly grabbed an axe and rhythmically struck the tree trunk while shouting, "Here, here—"

A moment later, three figures rushed over; it was Lang Qiuping, his father, and his brother-in-law.

"Hurry up!"

Zhang Wenshan didn't have time to explain; he continued banging on the meat while urging them to hurry up and carry it away.

At this moment, the three of them also realized that something was wrong.

The faint sounds that came through were chilling.

The group exerted all their strength and finally made it out of the mountains and back to the village just before dark.

"Brother Shanzi, what was that thing just now?" Lang Qiuping wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his voice trembling slightly.

The old man also cast a curious glance his way.

"Who knows, maybe there's nothing at all." Zhang Wenshan shook his head.

No one can be sure of something like this unless they see it with their own eyes.

"Let's not go up the mountain anymore." Zhang Jianshe glanced at the venison, then quickly looked away. "Just focus on fishing."

"We'll see!" Zhang Wenshan shook his head, offering no answer.

No one can predict the future.

He wanted to live a peaceful life, but the problems left by the original owner were too big, and he had to make full preparations before the storm started.

You can't rely on willow roots or gagazi (a type of herb).

Besides, with our current assets, it's impossible for us to live a life of ease in the future.

That risk still needs to be taken.

Zhang Jianshe frowned, instinctively wanting to reprimand his son, but seeing his son covered in sweat and mud, he shut his mouth.

Guilt and disappointment were evident in the corners of his eyes and brows.

All I know is farming; I can't help with anything else.

"Brother Shanzi, what should we do with the venison? Uncle Ergui and your family are all people; it wouldn't be good to take it back, would it?" Lang Qiuping said. "Didn't you say you were going to give it away?"

Zhang Jianshe also came to his senses and nodded, saying, "You're quite famous now, everyone wants to meet the hero who fixed the well."

What kind of thing is this?

Zhang Wenshan said with a wry smile, "Let's just go to the team and borrow a car. Qiu Ping, you can sneak around here. I'll take the stuff and go around to the other side."

"Why the rush?" Zhang Jianshe asked instinctively. "Can it stay in the well water overnight?"

"The meat of a dead deer will completely spoil if left at home for just one day. We need to send it to the state-run restaurant first, otherwise all our efforts will be in vain."

Zhang Wenshan sighed.

It's so inconvenient not having a refrigerator at home.

Seeing his son exhausted like a dead dog, yet still managing to stay awake, Zhang Jianshe couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

He said it in a stiff tone.

"Then I'll go with you, along with the eldest son's wife."