1940s: I supported my wife and sister-in-law by hunting.

Ma Wanzhong smacked his lips.

"These wild berries are really delicious. There are plenty of wild fruits in the mountains these days. If we're lucky, we might even find some wild grapes, which would be even better. We could make some wine from them."

As he spoke, he turned to look at the two newly arrived teenagers.

"Tongsuo, Wuyang, this is your first time going hunting in the mountains with a group, right? Today, your uncle will show you around and let you see what it's like."

Li Wuyang held a rifle. He was a steady person who never stood out in trouble and always answered honestly.

"Uncle Wanzhong, I know absolutely nothing about the roads in the mountains. I'll do whatever you tell me to do."

Ma Wanzhong turned his head and glanced at the long-haired second son of the family, who was walking with his head down.

"Copper Lock, you've been silent the whole way. Why didn't you say a word? Were you scared by the dense forest and afraid of wild boars?"

"What am I afraid of? A wild boar is just a beast with two big tusks. If I run into it head-on, I'll just shoot it down. What's there to be afraid of?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Kouzi burst out laughing and immediately exposed his secrets.

"Don't brag, Copper Lock. You even killed a wild boar with one shot. Last autumn, when it rained, you went up the mountain alone to pick mushrooms and saw a string of big black bear footprints on the ground. You were so scared that you dropped your basket."

Wang Tongsuo's face turned red to the roots of his neck, and he stammered an explanation.

"How can that be the same? That time I didn't bring any weapons and ran into a black bear empty-handed. Who wouldn't panic?"

"Today is different. We have guns and so many people with us. If my older brother can do it, so can I. There are no cowards in the Wang family. I promise I won't let you down."

Chen Gaoshan walked at the front, and when he heard the boy being stubborn, he turned around and smiled faintly.

Ma Wanzhong raised his hand and patted Wang Tongsuo on the shoulder.

"Good job, kid, you've got your dad's spirit."

"But when you go hunting in the mountains, everyone starts out knowing nothing. You don't need to rush forward or stick your head out. Just stay obediently at the back of the group, keep your eyes open and your ears perked up. If there's any noise, Uncle and your brother Gaoshan will call you immediately. Don't panic."

Wang Tongsuo knew that Uncle Wan Zhong was giving him pointers and protecting him.

He knew what was good for him, nodded, and stopped arguing.

The group completely gave up their playful nature.

Holding the gun in his hand, he followed the mountain path deeper into the mountains.

When it comes to playing with dogs, no one in the whole village can compare to Ma Wanzhong.

Only an hour into the mountains, the pack of dogs ahead started to make noise.

Ten hunting dogs took off running into the grass, barking and howling, darting back and forth around a patch of grass.

Before long, a large gray wild rabbit was chased so frantically by the dog that it couldn't think straight. It hadn't even hopped two steps before the dog pounced on it, pinned it down, and after kicking its legs a couple of times, it became docile.

The dog, carrying a wild rabbit in its mouth, came running back, tossed it down at Ma Wanzhong's feet, and then circled around him wagging its tail.

Ma Wanzhong bent down, picked up the rabbit, and weighed it in his hand.

"Lunch is sorted out, ready-made roasted rabbit."

"By the way, Kouzi, I have something important to ask you. What's going on between you and that girl from the Fang family, Huilan? Yesterday at the meeting at the Zhu family compound, that girl's eyes were practically glued to you; she was staring at you like a hawk."

"To be honest, Fang the blacksmith is one of a kind in our surrounding villages. No one can compare to his blacksmithing skills. His family is also well-off. Otherwise, how could Fang Huilan grow up to be so tall and strong? She must have never lacked food since she was a child. If you can really marry this woman, you won't have to worry about food and drink."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Kouzi's head suddenly felt huge, buzzing with excitement.

He was truly speechless; how did they manage to pair him up with Fang Huilan whenever they had the chance?

"Uncle Wan Zhong, please stop trying to matchmake us. I've already made things clear with Fang Huilan."

"What good is it if her family's blacksmith is skilled and she eats well? It's not like I'm starving. I follow Brother Shanzi around the mountains, and my family's life is definitely not bad in the village."

"Besides, I don't care for those big, burly women. They look so weak and have no strength at all. I can't handle them."

After saying that, he rolled his eyes and patted Wang Tongsuo on the shoulder.

"Uncle, don't just talk about me. I think Huilan and Tongsuo are a good match. They make a perfect couple."

Caught off guard by being called out, Wang Tongsuo was stunned and turned his head.

"Brother Kouzi, please spare me. How old am I? Sister Huilan is four years older than me."

"Four years old is nothing. There's an old saying that a girl who's three years older will bring you good fortune, and a girl who's four years older will bring you blessings and longevity."

"Older women are more caring. After you get married, your sister Huilan will take good care of you, Tongsuo. You're so lucky."

Wang Tongsuo was so embarrassed that he felt extremely awkward. He stood there, not knowing what to do with his hands and feet, and waved his hands anxiously, his face turning completely red.

Chen Gaoshan walked at the front of the group, listening to the joking and banter of the group of young men behind him, and couldn't help but smile.

The group of young men kept talking the whole way.

They walked and talked for more than five miles.

The ten hunting dogs that had gone ahead to scout the way in the mountains suddenly started rioting.

It charged forward with its four long legs spread wide.

Chen Gaoshan, who was walking at the front, raised his hand and pressed down.

"Stop! Shut your mouths, everyone! The big shipment is here!"

Everyone immediately followed the dog and ran forward.

After running about a hundred steps, a large patch of wild boar hoof prints was imprinted on the soil.

They even split into two different directions, so it was clear that there was more than one wild boar; it was a small herd.

Wang Tongsuo ran two steps quickly.

"Captain, which way of footprints should we follow?"

"Nonsense, just follow the dog. Do you think your nose is any better than a hunting dog's?"

"Remember, wild boars and roe deer are two different things. Roe deer are simple-minded and curious, which can lead to their capture. But wild animals are incredibly cunning. If they hear the slightest noise, they'll run away in a flash."

"They'll only stop eating when they're starving. If you want to catch them, you have to sneak up on them. Stop dawdling and chattering, hurry up and follow them."

The sounds of dogs barking and howling from the woods ahead.

The most ferocious dog Ma Wanzhong kept was the leader of the pack, which led the rest of the dogs straight into the tree.

They chased after them.

A half-grown wild boar cub, completely disoriented and bewildered from being chased by hunting dogs, was seen charging headlong towards the crowd.

That beast must be going at least 30 miles per hour.

Only Chen Gaoshan reacted quickly enough.

Just as the wild boar cub was about to crash into him, he slid to the side to avoid the collision, steadied himself, raised his rifle, and fired several shots at the boar's hind legs.

With so many bullets fired, some were bound to hit; one bullet struck the wild boar directly in the hind leg.

The half-grown wild boar had its leg bone completely broken, its center of gravity collapsed, and it crashed into the mud. After thrashing around a couple of times, it couldn't get up at all and could only grunt and struggle on the ground.

Seeing that their captain was alright, the men behind him grabbed their guns and rushed forward, joining the hunting dogs to surround him.

A fully grown female wild boar, frighteningly large, with sharp tusks, braced her feet on the ground, protecting her piglets behind her.

Its fangs were visible as soon as it opened its mouth; it was currently chained up by Big Yellow, Second Yellow, and three hunting dogs.

Big Yellow and Little Yellow, one on each side, bit the mother wild boar's two big ears tightly, pulling so hard that she couldn't lift her head.

The other two hunting dogs were even more cunning; one was biting the pig's nose, and the other was holding onto the hindquarters and refusing to let go.

The female wild boar screamed wildly and struggled violently.

Seeing this, Ma Wanzhong immediately seized the opportunity, picked up his Type 38 rifle, aimed at the softest spot on the wild boar's hindquarters, and snapped his fingers.

"Bang!"

One shot pierced the flesh, directly piercing the anus and causing the tank to burst.

The female wild boar, who had been thrashing and howling just moments before, suddenly stiffened, her limbs went limp, and she collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

After recovering from the tension, Wang Tongsuo, holding his gun, charged forward, intending to fire another shot.

Ma Wanzhong immediately reached out and stopped him.

"Stop wasting your bullets, no need to replenish them."

"A single shot to that spot would rip through his internal organs and intestines, killing him instantly."

"How about it, kid? Your marksmanship isn't bad, is it? Better than your dad's, right?"

Wang Tongsuo stared wide-eyed.

"Uncle Wan Zhong, awesome! You hit Butt Swallow right with one shot."

"My father has been hunting for half his life and has never been this accurate before. Uncle, you have to teach me."

"There's no trick to this, it's all about the bullets! The more you shoot, the more accurate your aim will become."