mtl008 Chapter 210 Everything was so beautiful, it felt like a dream.
Chapter 210 Everything was so beautiful, it felt like a dream.
A gentle spring breeze blew through the mountains as Li Xiangyang and Wang Ergou, carrying their prey on their shoulders, walked back along the leaf-strewn mountain path.
Tender green shoots sprouted from last year's withered leaves, with Xuanmao and Xiaohu leading the way, occasionally lowering their heads to sniff the newly grown wild grass.
“Brother Xiangyang, since we’re going to the forest farm, we should bring some gifts. I think wild boar meat will do, it’s fresh,” Wang Ergou said as they walked.
Li Xiangyang nodded: "Indeed, let's cut off two of their hind legs and take them with us. After all, this is Captain Zhou's first visit since his promotion."
The two brought their prey home, and Li Xiangyang swiftly and decisively severed its two hind legs.
"Let's go, before it gets dark."
After wrapping up their hind legs, the two rode their bicycles toward the forest farm.
When they arrived at the forest farm, the new team leader, Li Wenbin, was inspecting the fire prevention equipment that had just been delivered in the yard. Upon seeing the two visitors, he immediately put down his work.
"Aren't these Li Xiangyang and Wang Ergou? Please come in!" Li Wenbin said with a warm smile. "Just in time for dinner."
"Captain Li, this is a wild boar we hunted. We brought it here especially for you to try." Li Xiangyang handed over the wrapped wild boar leg.
"Great, great!" Li Wenbin took the wild boar leg, his face beaming. "I happen to have some mountain produce here, perfect with wild boar meat. Old Liu!" he called to the kitchen, "Bring out that jar of wine I've been saving!"
A response came quickly from the kitchen.
The three of them sat down under the apricot tree in the courtyard. A spring breeze caressed their faces, and petals fluttered down into their wine glasses.
“Speaking of which,” Li Wenbin poured each of them a glass of wine, “Captain Zhou came by a couple of days ago and specifically mentioned you two. He said your hunting skills are unmatched in this whole forest area.”
"Captain Li, you flatter me." Li Xiangyang raised his glass, the aroma of which carried the sweet scent of apricot blossoms. "Even the best hunter is forged through firearms. To be honest, I've come here to buy some bullets."
“Bullets,” Li Wenbin nodded, then smiled, “that’s easy to arrange, same price as before, one yuan per bullet. This price was set by Captain Zhou, and it can’t be changed.”
Knowing there was little room for negotiation, Li Xiangyang pulled out 100 yuan: "Then give me 100 rounds."
Wang Ergou also took out some money from his pocket: "Captain Li, I'll take a hundred rounds too."
"Alright." Li Wenbin took the money and turned to Sun Yongliang, who had just returned, saying, "Old Sun, go to the warehouse and get two hundred rounds of ammunition."
Sun Yongliang quickly brought the bullets and handed the ammunition box to the two men.
After getting the bullets, the group drank for a while longer.
Li Xiangyang glanced at the sky. "It's getting late. We won't disturb you any longer; we should head back."
"Leaving already?" Li Wenbin asked, somewhat reluctantly. "Want to have a couple more drinks?"
"Let's do it another day," Li Xiangyang said with a smile. "We've already had quite a bit to drink; we can't drink too much on our bike ride home."
After hearing this, Li Wenbin and his companion did not try to persuade them to stay any longer, and rose to see them off: "Then be careful on your journey. Come visit us often when you have time."
"Definitely, definitely."
After leaving the forest farm, Li Xiangyang and Wang Ergou rode their bicycles back home.
"Brother Xiangyang," Wang Ergou called from behind, "We're selling the game tomorrow. How about we split up? You go to town, and I'll take care of the livestock."
Li Xiangyang nodded: "That works too. I know all the places in the city where they collect goods anyway."
The two quickly arrived at the village entrance. Wang Ergou offered to go check on the livestock, telling Li Xiangyang to go back and rest first.
Li Xiangyang didn't stand on ceremony. After agreeing to meet Wang Ergou the next day, he rode his bicycle home.
When he got home, Li Xiangyang first went to his second uncle's house to say hello and borrowed a donkey cart before going to bed.
Early in the morning, Li Xiangyang brought the donkey cart from his second uncle's house and began to prepare the game.
The meat of the roe deer and wild boar was prepared very well, and the eagle owl and badger were also cleaned up properly.
There are also the hides I saved from hunting a few days ago.
After loading everything onto the donkey cart, he checked the ropes again to make sure they were tied securely.
Li Xiangyang drove his donkey cart into the city. He first went to Director Zhang's state-run restaurant, where roe deer and wild boar meat always sold well.
Sure enough, Director Zhang beamed with joy as soon as he saw him.
Then he went to several of his regular customers and sold the eagle owl and badger as well.
When the final tally was taken, a total of 280 yuan was sold on this trip.
It was already afternoon when Li Xiangyang returned to the village, and he went straight to the livestock shed.
Wang Ergou was adding hay there when he saw him return and quickly went to greet him.
"Brother Xiangyang, how are sales?"
Li Xiangyang smiled and pulled out some money from his pocket: "That's right, 140 each."
"It's a lot, but after deducting the money spent on bullets, we only made forty. Add to that the losses from raising livestock, and it's like we've been working for nothing lately."
Wang Ergou muttered under his breath as he took the money.
"Don't be ungrateful. It's all for nothing. You'll make a profit if you catch more prey next time."
Li Xiangyang said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"That's true, but I really don't want to go back into the mountains anytime soon. Let's discuss when to head to the city..."
After discussing it, the two decided to leave after the spring planting season ended in two days.
After saying goodbye to Wang Ergou, Li Xiangyang returned the donkey cart to his second uncle and headed towards the educated youth settlement.
Along the way, he thought about his promise to take Li Xiaoyun to the mountains, and felt a little expectant.
At the educated youth settlement, Li Xiaoyun was hanging clothes to dry in the courtyard.
When she saw Li Xiangyang arrive, she paused for a moment, then smiled.
"Why are you here?" She put down the clothes she was holding and walked to the gate of the courtyard.
“These few days are the best time of spring. I promised to take you to see the scenery in the mountains, and I happen to have some free time today,” Li Xiangyang said, looking into Li Xiaoyun’s eyes.
"Now?" Li Xiaoyun was pleasantly surprised, but then hesitated. "But I still have to prepare my lessons."
"Don't worry, it won't take too long. Besides, I can tell the children about the scenery in the mountains, right?" Li Xiangyang said with a smile.
Li Xiaoyun thought for a moment and nodded: "Then I'll go change my clothes."
When Li Xiaoyun came out after changing her clothes, Li Xiangyang was stunned for a moment.
"What's wrong?" Li Xiaoyun felt a little embarrassed by his gaze.
"It looks great," Li Xiangyang said sincerely.
The two slowly walked up the mountain path, with Xuanmao and Xiaohu leading the way.
Spring sunlight filters through the treetops, casting dappled patterns on the ground.
“Look,” Li Xiangyang pointed to a cluster of small purple flowers by the roadside, “that’s corydalis. In a few days, the hillside will be covered in bloom.”
Li Xiaoyun crouched down and gently touched the petals: "So beautiful."
“And this,” Li Xiangyang stopped under an old tree, pointing to clusters of small mushrooms on the bark, “These are wood ear mushrooms. Once they grow bigger, we can pick them and dry them.”
“You know so much.” Li Xiaoyun looked up at him.
Li Xiangyang smiled and said, "After wandering around in the mountains for a while, you gradually get to know everyone."
The two continued walking uphill, stopping from time to time to look at the wildflowers and weeds along the roadside.
Li Xiangyang patiently introduced each plant to Li Xiaoyun, sometimes explaining their uses.
Reaching a gentle slope, Li Xiangyang suddenly stopped: "Listen."
A clear, melodious bird song drifted from afar, one after another.
“They are thrushes,” Li Xiangyang said softly. “They are courting.”
Li Xiaoyun listened quietly, a longing look on her face: "That's wonderful."
Li Xiangyang looked at her profile, his heart stirred, and he gently took her hand.
Li Xiaoyun was taken aback at first, then blushed and let him hold her hand.
The two held hands, listening to the birdsong and gazing at the spring forest.
“This way,” Li Xiangyang said softly, “I’ll take you somewhere.”
Holding Li Xiaoyun's hand, Li Xiangyang led her around a thicket of bushes.
Suddenly, a breathtaking view opened up before me, revealing azaleas blooming all over the mountains.
In the distance, the mountains rise and fall, with azaleas blooming like colorful clouds.
“Here…” Li Xiaoyun was so surprised that she couldn’t speak.
"The azaleas are blooming exceptionally well this year," Li Xiangyang said softly. "I've been wanting to bring you to see them for a long time."
Li Xiaoyun nodded, tears welling in her eyes: "So beautiful, so incredibly beautiful."
A mountain breeze blew by, and the azaleas all over the mountain swayed gently in the wind, their petals fluttering down.
Several tits hopped on the branches, and clear bird songs drifted from afar.
At that moment, it seemed as if the whole world consisted only of the two of them and the azaleas blooming all over the mountains.
Li Xiangyang stared into Li Xiaoyun's eyes.
Sunlight filtered through her eyelashes, casting dappled shadows on her face.
He gently raised his hand and brushed away a rhododendron petal that had fallen into her hair.
Li Xiaoyun looked up, her eyes filled with a hint of shyness, yet also with anticipation.
Amidst the vast sea of azaleas covering the mountains, Li Xiangyang slowly lowered his head and gently kissed her lips.
At that moment, time seemed to stand still.
A gentle spring breeze blows, the air is filled with the fragrance of flowers, everything is so beautiful, it's like a dream.