Rebirth in the 50s: The Couple with the Hidden Space-Chapter 753 - 628: Living Off the Mountain

Passing through the outskirts of Daqing Mountain, looking around, aside from a few fruit trees generating economic benefits, the once neat rows of coniferous forests are now sparse, with only a few immature trees left. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

No wonder they say the environment is damaged. Without a decade, if one wants to harvest timber for building houses, they would have to venture into the deep mountains. Zhou Jiao glanced around, slightly squinting her eyes.

Old Captain is indeed a clever man! — The transplanted fruit tree saplings are spread all over the periphery. Is he preparing ahead, planning to use the fruit trees to form a safety belt?

About thirty people, led by National Day and his three cousins, quietly ascended the collapsed path leading to the halfway point of the mountain. Further ahead is what the team members call the "Wolf Zone."

National Day looked at his overly energetic nephews with satisfaction. This physical strength truly inherited the good genes of the Old Zhang’s family. Each one is fit to be a hunter!

Of course, he wouldn’t dare to say this out loud. Being a hunter is life-threatening, unless one is so poor they can’t afford food, who would want their children to risk their lives?

Just in the past couple of years, his elder and younger uncle hadn’t considered letting their grandchildren learn this skill from the elders, which means that his grandfather’s hunting skills would cease with his generation.

Would he feel regret? There certainly is. But everyone has their own path to follow.

From Mr. Zhang not letting his two older brothers learn hunting, National Day could tell that the Old Zhang’s family truly planned to give up this hereditary craft.

Perhaps his grandfather, when he was old, spent all his energy training himself, foreseeing that such a day would come.

"Living off the mountain." If one lacks the ability to leave Zhang Family Village, National Day thinks that the inherited craft can’t be abandoned. Relying on a few work points to live a good life is hardly easy!

"I knocked down a few wasp nests over there, you guys better stay alert. Don’t wander off when we go up later. Especially don’t go further north, it is a real wolf den there."

"Fifth Uncle, will the wolves come over?"

"You fool, it’d be good if wolves come, there’d be meat to eat."

"Don’t make noise, making more noise will attract wolves."

National Day ignored the children’s chatter. He turned to Qing Shan and said, "We walk south for three to five hundred meters, then we’ll reach the place. I’ll be watching the perimeter. We must leave at noon."

Qing Shan nodded, "No need to stick to a schedule, just alert us if anything’s wrong."

"Alright. Let’s continue." National Day helped Zhou Jiao with her strap, holding Ping’an in his arms, handing him a bag of little stones.

Ping’an tightened the bag with his left hand, and exercised his right arm, "I’m fine now."

"Okay, keep your attention focused next, especially on the grass and treetops for venomous snakes." National Day finished speaking, seeing him nod, he smiled. His son felt safe in his arms.

In this brief five hundred meters on the mountain path, many events unfolded, leaving a group of people bewildered — just to see his young uncle (maternal uncle) wielding a machete to widen the road, while the little guy in his arms occasionally swung his arm swiftly, either knocking down a snake or a rapid rabbit.

The proficiency of this father and son duo, have they practiced often? And when did the little one learn this skill? Can daily stretches and boxing truly suffice?

A group of children were inevitably intrigued. Fortunately, they were in the mountains and knew they couldn’t make sounds now, or they’d have pursued the knowledge more. Anyway, not worried! There’ll be plenty of time upon returning.

National Day concentrated fully on listening to the surrounding sounds, his focus on his son. Seeing his victorious smile, he patted him. This is only the beginning? To survive in these mountains, much more is needed.

The closer they got to the destination, the more fruits appeared inside. Over the years, without harvesting, the fallen fruits decomposed into nutrients nurturing the roots, now the branches bore hawthorns, mountain pears, wild dates, bunches of mountain grapes near the rocks, and clusters of mushrooms clinging to dry roots, truly a fruitful bounty.

With the increasing number of fruit trees appearing, the children’s pace subconsciously slowed, eyes fixedly staring at various liked wild fruits around.

National Day chuckled, pointed ahead, gesturing ten.

The children cracked their silent smiles. As for whether "ten" meant ten minutes walking or ten meters, nobody cared. A place favored by their young uncle (maternal uncle) couldn’t be mediocre!

National Day quickened his pace. He only gave up this area because he was eyeing the oak forest a few dozen meters ahead. There are many wild hazel mushrooms and nuts. These valuable specialties can let the children sell for a bit of money.

He’d previously heard his mother mention that every start of the school season, several aunts wouldn’t let their daughters attend school. For this, the children were distressed, and his father often had to borrow money.

Don’t underestimate the semester fee of one or two dollars; with many children in his cousin’s family, come school season, it accumulates to a significant amount. Relying on work points for a year yields little money, even more so because these children don’t have the same grain supply as Xi Zi’s family. If it weren’t that the Old Zhang’s men were diligent and able to withstand hardship, they’d be in grain debt.

In less than ten minutes, they finally reached the front of an oak forest.

National Day stopped, nodded to the puzzled group. Suddenly, the children faces cracked in silly smiles, whispering among themselves.

Seeing this, he helplessly clapped his hands, waited for the children’s attention, then said, "Follow behind the adults, we’ll operate here today, and don’t run far. Fill your burlap sacks and place them beside."

National Day finished, shifting his gaze to the two cousins, "Brother, next, you and Brother Qingfeng will need to watch over the kids, I’ll be vigilant around."

"We’re all carrying his wife’s medicine, no issues. You handle your own business."

"Wu, you take your son to hunt more meat. We’ll watch here, no problem." Qingfeng winked at National Day, gesturing him farther away.

National Day nodded with a smile upon hearing this. But today he didn’t intend to go far; bringing children out means ensuring their safe return. The forest is fraught with dangers everywhere. Except for his own nephews and nieces he can trust, other children haven’t been involved, he really worries they might act recklessly.

Seeing them start moving, he quickly circled the place. After killing several snakes, he ran to the creek to wash his hands clean, then set Ping’an down.

"We’ll go find your mom, soon you familiarize yourself with some herbs, then we’ll gather forest goods. We’ll hunt as a family next time."

"I’ll listen to Dad."

National Day picked him up, laughed, "Dad already planned during yesterday’s scouting, when good weather arrives, our family will sleep overnight in the mountain. At night, you’ll hear the sounds various animals make clearer."

"Dad, will we go to the deep mountains?"

"This’ll have to wait for Dad to talk with Grandmaster Wang and arrange going with their family. Deep mountains your mom shouldn’t go, we’ll have to hide it from her, otherwise she’ll definitely prevent us."

"My mom says there’s no secret between you."

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