The Entire Mountain Is My Hunting Ground

CLICK!

BANG!

Zhao Jun pulled the trigger, but heard nothing. He pulled it again, and this time it fired.

But the moment Zhao Jun appeared, the leopard leaped to its feet and shot off in an instant.

By the time the gun went off, the leopard had already vanished without a trace.

"Fuck!" Zhao Jun looked up at where the leopard had disappeared into the woods and swore in frustration.

After cursing, he raised the gun in his hand as if to smash it, but he hesitated and lowered it again.

Zhao Jun turned and started back down. He’d only taken a few steps when he saw Zhang Yuanmin scrambling up the slope on his short legs.

He had started running up after hearing the gunshot.

As soon as he arrived, he saw Zhao Jun walking toward him with the gun. Zhang Yuanmin rushed forward and asked, "Brother, did you get it?"

"Get what?" Zhao Jun snapped, thrusting the gun in front of Zhang Yuanmin. "What is this piece of junk? Why’d it misfire?"

"What’s wrong, brother?" Zhang Yuanmin took the gun, looking confused. He examined it for a moment and said to Zhao Jun, "It misfired?"

"If it hadn’t misfired, I would’ve gotten it!" The leopard that had been right in his grasp was gone. Zhao Jun was furious. "Who gave you this gun? Didn’t you test it when you got it?"

"I did test it," Zhang Yuanmin muttered. "I fired a shot, and it seemed fine."

At this, Zhao Jun calmed down a bit. ’That leopard must not have been fated to die by my hand,’ he thought. He said to Zhang Yuanmin, "Alright, let’s head back."

"Huh? We’re not going after the Wild Leopard anymore?"

"What’s the point?" Zhao Jun said. "It saw me just now. It’ll run far away and won’t be back."

Zhang Yuanmin also knew that with the dry ground of early spring, there were no tracks to follow. They could only head back.

As Zhao Jun and Zhang Yuanmin walked home from the mountains, a different scene was unfolding in Yongsheng Village. In the east room of the Zhou family home, Zhao Youcai, Hu Sanmei, Zhou Jianjun, and Zhao Chun were gathered around a low table on the heated *kang*.

Hu Sanmei and Zhao Chun had already finished their meal but remained seated to keep the others company, while Zhao Youcai and his son-in-law, Zhou Jianjun, were still eating and drinking.

Though it was only lunch, the spread was lavish, with both chicken and fish. The alcohol was Yong’an Bai, a local specialty brewed from pure grain.

"Youcai," Hu Sanmei asked Zhao Youcai curiously, "how did it go for you two up on the mountain today?"

When Zhao Youcai and Zhou Jianjun had returned earlier, Zhao Chun had asked the same thing, but Zhao Youcai hadn’t answered, so she didn’t dare to ask again.

But now his daughter’s mother-in-law was asking, and Zhao Youcai couldn’t ignore her.

Zhao Youcai replied, "Didn’t see a trace of it. It’s probably run off somewhere far away."

"Dad!" At that moment, Zhou Jianjun raised his cup, touched its rim lightly against Zhao Youcai’s at a slightly lower angle, and then asked, "Should we maybe check the surrounding ridges?"

Zhou Jianjun phrased this diplomatically. What he really wanted to ask was whether they were waiting in the wrong spot.

Zhao Youcai brought the cup to his lips but didn’t drink. He thought for a moment before saying, "Impossible. It’s definitely in this area." Only after speaking did he take a sip of his drink.

Zhou Jianjun had only been up the mountain with Zhao Jun twice and knew nothing about hunting. Moreover, as the son-in-law, he couldn’t argue with his father-in-law, so he could only drink with Zhao Youcai in silence.

Zhou Jianjun didn’t understand, but his wife did. Ever since she was little, Zhao Chun had listened to Zhao Youcai tell his hunting stories. When she was older, she heard him teach Zhao Jun. When she was older still, she heard him tell the same stories to Zhao Hong.

So, as Zhao Chun twisted open the liquor bottle to refill Zhao Youcai’s cup, she said, "Dad, there are no paw prints in early spring. How can you be so sure it’s right there?"

"These creatures have large territories," Zhao Youcai said. "I marked out a circle based on where those packs of dogs died. The spot Jianjun and I went to today is definitely within its territory. If it didn’t pass through today, it will another day."

"How long will that take?" Hearing that Zhao Youcai planned to just wait it out, Zhao Chun quickly said, "You two have jobs. You can’t just keep taking days off."

After Zhao Chun spoke, she saw her mother-in-law, who was sitting opposite her, give her a meaningful look. But there was no hint of caution in Hu Sanmei’s eyes; instead, they were full of encouragement.

’That’s right,’ she thought. ’Not going to work properly and wandering around in the mountains every day, what kind of behavior is that?’

But Zhao Youcai was her daughter-in-law’s father. No matter what she thought, she couldn’t be the one to say it.

"Daughter," Zhao Youcai said, tilting his head toward Zhao Chun. "Who do you think I came here for? Isn’t it all for your father-in-law and for Jianjun?"

As soon as Zhao Youcai said this, Zhao Chun was speechless. Beside her, Hu Sanmei quickly smiled at Zhao Youcai and said, "Youcai, we still have some canned luncheon meat. I’ll go open one for you."

"Don’t trouble yourself. There’s enough food."

Zhao Youcai tried to stop her, but he wasn’t quick enough. Hu Sanmei had already gotten up and gone to the outer room to get the can.

After her mother-in-law left, Zhao Chun shot Zhou Jianjun a harsh glare.

A bitter smile appeared on Zhou Jianjun’s face. He was suffering in silence. He never wanted Zhao Youcai to come in the first place; his father-in-law had simply overheard a bit of conversation and eagerly invited himself along.

After eating and drinking his fill, Zhao Youcai went back to his room to rest. The room he was staying in at the Zhou Family home was the same one Zhao Jun had used during his visit.

He had spent the whole morning running around in the mountains, and just now he’d drunk a good amount of liquor. A wave of exhaustion washed over him.

He had just pulled down the quilt on the *kang*, preparing to lie down for a nap, when he heard someone whisper from outside the door, "Dad, are you asleep?"

It was Zhao Chun.

Hearing his eldest daughter’s voice, Zhao Youcai quickly sat up. "Daughter, Dad’s not asleep. Come on in."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Chun pushed the door open, closed it behind her, and walked over to sit on the edge of the *kang*.

Zhao Chun reached out and felt the quilt, asking Zhao Youcai, "Dad, are your blankets warm enough at night? You’re not cold, are you?"

"Not at all," Zhao Youcai chuckled. "It really takes a daughter to be so thoughtful. Much better than that little brat."

"Little brat" was what he called a boy.

And Zhao Youcai only had one son: Zhao Jun.

Hearing Zhao Youcai complain about Zhao Jun, Zhao Chun smiled. "Dad, you can’t say that. My brother has become so capable in the last six months. This time, he really helped my father-in-law out in a big way."

The moment Zhao Youcai heard this, he felt a knot in his stomach. How had Zhao Jun helped Zhou Chunming? Wasn’t it just by hunting that Pig God?

Before Zhao Youcai could respond, Zhao Chun continued, "I heard from Jianjun that your legs haven’t been as good these past six months, Dad. And before the New Year, you almost got caught in a snowslide while hunting..."

Zhao Chun kept talking, not noticing that her father’s expression had already darkened. "My brother’s doing well at his job now, and he’s even hunted so many Bear Galls. Our family doesn’t have to worry about a thing. I’m just saying, Dad, you’re getting older every year. Why don’t you just stop hunting and let my brother do it instead?"

These words made the fire in Zhao Youcai’s heart burn hotter and hotter. But his eldest daughter was married now, and he barely saw her more than a few times a year. How could he bear to scold Zhao Chun?

He could only wave his hand dismissively and say, "Daughter, I just remembered something. Go get Jianjun for me, quick."

"Huh?"

"Hurry up!"

Zhao Chun had no idea what was going on, but seeing how anxious Zhao Youcai looked, she quickly got up and left the room to find Zhou Jianjun.

A short while later, a groggy Zhou Jianjun came in. As soon as he entered, he saw Zhao Youcai gesturing for him to shut the door.

Zhou Jianjun did as his father-in-law instructed, pulling the door closed. He then walked over to Zhao Youcai and asked, "Dad, you needed me for something?"

Zhao Youcai craned his neck to glance at the doorway. Seeing no one was coming in, he gestured for Zhou Jianjun to lean in close.

Then, he heard Zhao Youcai ask, "Jianjun, you got any money on you?"