Chapter 993: Chapter 866: Production Brigade

The Zhang Family Village is celebrating today. No, it’s even more lively than the New Year!

At the production brigade’s courtyard, the open space where members often gather to listen to the radio and study important documents, three layers of people are gathered inside and out.

— In the center, there are three wild boars, one deer, five foolish roe deer, two large sacks of wild rabbits and chickens, with some fish.

Unlike previous years, now there are quite a number of city patrol teams and old folks from Old Zhang’s family wearing red armbands like Mr. Zhang, making it impossible to move wild game back to the county without drawing attention.

Therefore, Zhang Guoqing has already made plans; once he has caught something, he will clean it up and hand it over to his parents to slowly move it back home.

So at around three in the morning, just as the sky began to show a hint of light, he ran into Daqing Mountain.

Familiar with the path, he caught two deer and a foolish roe deer without being greedy, quickly cleaned them up by the small stream at Wood Nest, and carried them back home.

As it happened, he anticipated the start, but not the end.

The apprentices that he and a few old hunters had trained years ago heard that Zhang Guoqing was returning home alone this time. Oh, they aimed to "persuade" the Old Captain.

Like suggesting since the autumn harvest is coming, don’t they need some meat?

Mentioning how over the past two years, these creatures have gotten smarter, and they need the village’s top expert.

And every year during the wheat harvest, wild boars come down from the mountain. A few years ago, there were even bears. Shouldn’t they take the opportunity while Xiao Wu is here to lead the militia team up the mountain and check it out?

Concerned for the villagers, the Old Captain remained calm on the surface, but his heart was already eager. What he regretted most was Zhang Guoqing’s departure.

He originally envisioned Zhang Guoqing as the successor for the next generation. Who knew this kid would suddenly leap like a dragon and fly away?

In the past few years, several nearby production teams have organized winter hunts, but because of previous disturbances, the animals on the mountains have become savvy, and the harvests are not very substantial.

Each year when he heard how many game Old Man Wang’s team had caught, the Old Captain felt a pang in his heart. Old Zhang’s family are the real hunters. In the early years, how could they have allowed wild boars to come down and ruin the crops?

"Xiao Wu, Third Grandpa isn’t asking you to bring back a lot of game. He just wants you and a few old buddies to take some young villagers and practice."

Zhang Guoqing felt rather troubled, "Third Grandpa, I have to return to the team this afternoon."

Hearing this, the Old Captain was overjoyed. Hmm, as long as it’s not a flat refusal. "I know that, I won’t hold you up from your duties. Just take them for a spin."

And so, under the expectant and nervous gazes of the Old Captain and a few childhood friends, Zhang Guoqing had no choice but to climb the mountain again.

He understood well that the Old Captain’s goal was to hope he would, as before, create a safe passage so that the villagers could benefit.

The dense forest he had discovered earlier, as well as the large area of wild fruit ravines on the hillside that came later, have all been turned over to the team.

It’s said that without the production team’s consent, individuals cannot pick or sell randomly in these two places, except kids trying to satisfy their cravings, or else they would be scorned by the whole village.

Of course, this statement is mild. Mother Zhang said, should anyone defy the Old Captain’s wishes, the old man wouldn’t be gentle.

However, Zhang Guoqing didn’t disclose the other places this time, as he plans to leave them as a paradise for his three sons. Occasionally returning home, it would also make his wife happy.

In his view, the village conditions are quite good already. With the large tract of land previously developed, and the beverage workshop, plus the mountain treasures of Daqing Mountain.

How long has it been? Now only one-third of the old courtyards remain in the whole village. From the village entrance to the foot of North Mountain, there is a row of new courtyards, each comparable to those in the county town.

Except for a few households with genuinely few labor hands and consecutively having baby calves, no longer is there the situation from a few years ago where clothing was scant and even basic livelihood was difficult to meet.

This way, indeed, it’s all quite good.

Looking at the gradually aging Old Captain, Zhang Guoqing truly admired his selflessness, but it didn’t mean he had to be equally selfless. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

On the journey, everyone was in high spirits until they quieted down halfway up the mountain.

The Old Captain said earlier that a few of the old hunters were either visiting relatives or too old, so it was just Zhang Guoqing leading the ten or so people.

These twelve people, having hunted for so many years, are now quite skilled, only lacking courage and decisiveness. After all, without being driven to desperation, who would risk their life up the mountain?

Zhang Guoqing did not lead them into the deep mountain. Firstly, time was limited, and secondly, safety. If he brought them up, he needed to bring them back.

This was also why he was hesitant to take outsiders up the mountain each time. Despite the village people claiming kinship, prefacing the climb with words of concern, should any accidents occur—

He could walk away, but a bunch of troublesome matters would be waiting for his parents and brothers.

Even though he was reluctant, analyzing the pros and cons, he still faced them with a smile. This is where he differed from Zhou Jiao.

— If it were Zhou Jiao, she would have refused outright, got in the car, and left.

But Zhang Guoqing couldn’t! Whether for reputation or for his parents, he couldn’t let people say he forgot his roots after a stroke of good fortune.

Daqing Mountain was like Zhang Guoqing’s backyard, especially since he had just come down not long ago. As they moved, Zhang Guoqing instructed to bring the game down as soon as they caught it, wielding a small stone and a machete expertly.

A wild boar of three hundred catties fell with a thud from just two stones and a flying knife, in a matter of moments. The astonished little companions had their mouths wide open.\p>

Gradually, as young guys carried things down the mountain, it amazed the villagers at work, who all took leave, excitingly slipping back.

As more people took leave, the grinning Old Captain kicked a few leaders lightly, conveniently announcing to eat first and resume work earlier in the afternoon.

The five young intellectuals, chewing melons, watched the villagers disperse, exchanged puzzled looks—what’s going on? Last year’s hunting didn’t see the whole team stopping work.

It was Tan Xiaoru who swiftly reacted, quickly approaching an elderly lady who was a step slower. "Old Ma’am, let me support you."

People live a lifetime, and youngsters can’t hide their little thoughts from the old ladies. But she didn’t mind. These five kids are all nice, and since they’re in their village, they’re considered their people.

So she laughed heartily and said, "No need, no need. Look at those little ones running off to watch the excitement. You young folks are spry, go have fun."

The five were indeed curious, chuckling with embarrassment.

"Hahaha... silly kids! Go ahead, when the feast starts, eat more. Ever since our Xiao Wu went to the Capital, opportunities like this have decreased."

"Auntie, is Xiao Wu you’re talking about that Zhang Guoqing in military uniform earlier?"

"Yes, that’s the most capable kid in our family. Back when he was studying, our village always caught more game than others each year..."

And just like that, the glorious deeds of Zhang Guoqing from childhood to adulthood were once again told by the smiling old lady.