The Entire Mountain Is My Hunting Ground

When Zhao Youcai returned home with Han Shang, Wang Meilan had just put lard in the wok. She was about to stir-fry some pickled cabbage with bear leg meat for Zhao Jun and Li Baoyu.

Seeing Han Shang follow Zhao Youcai into the house, Wang Meilan quickly put down her spatula. She smiled and greeted Han Shang, "Han, it’s so late. Sorry to trouble you with a trip over here."

"Oh, come on, Second Aunt, what are you saying? We’re all neighbors in the same village. No need to be so formal."

Inside, Li Baoyu heard this and couldn’t help but shoot a wry look at Zhao Jun.

But Zhao Jun was sitting on the edge of the kang, leaning against the kang cabinet, and seemed to be in a daze.

When Zhao Youcai and Han Shang entered the room, Li Baoyu stood up and said, "Uncle, Brother Han."

Zhao Youcai’s gaze fell on Zhao Jun. He saw him leaning back on the kang, staring blankly into space. Zhao Youcai walked over, lightly tapped his son’s face, and whispered, "What are you doing? Your Brother Han is here."

"Ah!" Zhao Jun snapped out of it, realizing he had been rude. He quickly stood up and said to Han Shang, "Brother Han, you’re here. I was just spacing out."

Just then, Zhao Youcai turned, pointed at Zhao Jun, and said to Han Shang with a laugh, "This kid, he treasures these two dogs more than anything. Now that they’re injured, he hasn’t eaten or drunk anything since he got back."

Han Shang smiled upon hearing this and said, "All hunters are like that."

"That’s right. I was the same way back in my day." As Zhao Youcai said this, he and Han Shang looked at each other and burst out laughing.

As they spoke, Han Shang moved to the edge of the kang and placed his medical kit on it. Then he said to Zhao Youcai, "Second Uncle, could you take the bandages off the dog?"

He then added, "I don’t dare do it. Yesterday at Baoyu’s house, I almost got bitten."

"I’ll do it," Zhao Youcai replied and walked over to Daqing.

Of the two dogs, Daqing was more severely injured. Although a little more time wouldn’t make a difference, Zhao Youcai still chose to tend to Daqing first.

"Uncle, I’ll help you." Li Baoyu, ever observant, stepped forward to help Zhao Youcai.

At this, however, Zhao Youcai turned and shot a look at Zhao Jun. ’What’s with this kid today?’ he thought. ’He doesn’t greet guests, he’s ignoring people, and now he can’t even see what needs to be done.’

"Zhao Jun," Zhao Youcai said, "go outside and get one of the Black Bear’s Paws ready for your Brother Han."

The Black Bear had been dragged all the way back from the mountain by Zhao Jun and the others, and it was now starting to freeze.

If it was left outside any longer, it would probably freeze solid.

Other things could wait, but the key was the Bear’s Paw promised to Han Shang. A thank-you gift should be fresh.

As for what Han Shang did with the Bear’s Paw after taking it home, that was none of Zhao Youcai’s business.

"Ah," Zhao Jun grunted in acknowledgment but didn’t move. He just said, "Baoyu, you go."

"Okay, sure." Li Baoyu was obedient and immediately got up to go outside.

Zhao Youcai was not pleased. The Zhao and Li families were on good terms, but Li Baoyu was a guest for dinner today.

How could his son order a guest around?

Zhao Youcai frowned, suppressing his anger. Just as he was about to say something, he remembered the girl he had seen not long ago—the one carrying a basket of bear meat and a Bear’s Paw.

At this thought, Zhao Youcai withdrew his gaze and focused on untying the bandages around Daqing’s wound.

After Li Baoyu came back inside with a Bear’s Paw, he was tasked with unwrapping the bandages on Hua Xiao’Er, while Zhao Youcai began stitching up Daqing.

When Zhao Youcai finished stitching up Daqing, Han Shang set up an IV drip. Wang Meilan came in from the outer room and said to Han Shang, "Han, have you eaten? Why don’t you have a bite with us?"

"No need, Second Aunt. I ate before I came."

"You really ate?" Wang Meilan asked again.

Han Shang replied, "I finished a long time ago."

"Alright then." Hearing this, Wang Meilan nodded and called to Li Baoyu, "Baoyu, you and your brother come and eat. Just let your uncle handle the dogs."

"Go on, wash your hands and eat," Zhao Youcai also said to Li Baoyu.

"Okay." Li Baoyu got up and walked into the opposite room.

Zhao Jun seemed to have come to his senses then. He followed Li Baoyu out, washed his hands in the basin, and then climbed onto the kang, crossing his legs.

After the two sat down on the kang, Wang Meilan brought over the food: sorghum rice and stir-fried pickled cabbage with bear leg meat.

Both of them were starving and wolfed down their food as soon as they picked up their bowls.

By the time the two were nearly finished eating, Han Shang had already set up an IV drip for Hua Xiao’Er in the other room. He then packed up his things and was seen out by Zhao Youcai.

"Leaving, Han?" Wang Meilan, who was wiping the stove with a rag, saw them and asked. Then she picked up the Bear’s Paw that was resting by the stove.

"I’m heading back, Second Aunt," Han Shang replied. He took the Bear’s Paw from Wang Meilan’s hand and, as he walked out, began to close the door as if to keep Zhao Youcai and Wang Meilan inside.

"Second Uncle, Second Aunt, don’t see me out."

Zhao Youcai held the door open and said, "I’ll walk you out. I need to close the main gate anyway."

Wang Meilan said, "Let your Second Uncle see you out. I won’t come out."

At that moment, Zhao Jun and Li Baoyu both put down their bowls and came out to see him off, though they didn’t leave the house. Zhao Youcai alone escorted Han Shang out.

After seeing Han Shang off, Zhao Jun and Li Baoyu went back, divided the remaining food, and polished it all off.

Wang Meilan came in to clear the bowls and chopsticks and tidy the room, while Zhao Youcai asked the two about their experience hunting the bear in Yongli Village.

After hearing the "glorious" tale of how Xing Zhuyong and Li Hu bravely captured the Black Bear, Zhao Youcai was stunned for a long moment before he finally recovered. He couldn’t help but sigh, "Isn’t that just asking for trouble you’re not man enough for?"

"Zhao the Second, come out and deal with this Bear Gall." At that moment, Wang Meilan’s voice came from the outer room. She had already boiled water, but she was busy washing dishes, so she called for Zhao Youcai to come out and process the Bear Gall.

After Zhao Youcai went out, Li Baoyu followed Zhao Jun back to his room. Looking at the two dogs on their IV drips, Li Baoyu suddenly said to Zhao Jun, "Brother, does this mean we can’t go hunting for a long time?"

Zhao Jun said, "We can’t use the dogs."

"Then can you teach me how to shoot?"

"Sure." Zhao Jun agreed without a second thought. Seeing Li Baoyu’s delighted expression, he said, "Tomorrow morning, take a bear leg and go find Zhao Jinshan. Trade it for some more bullets and come back."

"Then we’ll rest for a day. The day after tomorrow, we’ll go up the mountain and find a place for you to fire a few rounds."

Li Baoyu was ecstatic. What man doesn’t love guns? It’s just that he had never actually handled one before. Zhao Jun, afraid that a novice like him might cause an accident, had always restricted him.

How could Li Baoyu not be overjoyed now that Zhao Jun had agreed so readily?

He also knew that you couldn’t practice shooting in the village, or even near it.

Finding a clearing in the mountains was the best option.

But people are always a bit greedy, and Li Baoyu was no exception.

So, he pressed Zhao Jun, "Brother, can I shoot at something... alive?"

Zhao Jun thought for a moment and said, "You can fire a couple of practice shots first to learn the basics. Then we can go track and ambush something."

"Ambush hunting?" Li Baoyu felt like the surprises from Zhao Jun today were coming one after another. "Then, Brother, what are we going to hunt?"

"Wild boars, roe deer... whatever we see, we’ll shoot."