The Entire Mountain Is My Hunting Ground

Still, Zhao Jun casually asked, "Did Ruhai not eat lunch?"

"Hah!" Zhao Youcai chuckled. "That mouth of his was too busy blathering to have time for food."

Zhao Jun was a little speechless. But recalling the fervent discussions among the inspection team at noon, he asked Zhao Youcai, "Dad, how effective was Ruhai’s little campaign?"

At Zhao Jun’s words, Zhao Youcai’s eyes lit up. He pushed himself off the wall, turned to Zhao Jun, and grinned. "You wouldn’t believe it. This time, that bastard Zhang was completely ruined by that mouth of Ruhai’s."

...

Since Lin Xiangshun had driven off somewhere, Zhao Jun and Li Ruhai took the Forest Farm’s commuter train home.

The train was headed for Yong’an Village, and everyone on board was from there. Zhang Zhanshan was among them.

But at this moment, Zhang Zhanshan sat all alone in the southeast corner of the car. There was no one within half a meter of him.

Zhang Zhanshan rested his hands on his knees, his back against the carriage wall, and his face tilted upward. His posture was imposing, but his heart was like dead ashes.

Meanwhile, in the northwest corner of the car, Li Dayong, Zhao Youcai, Zhao Jun, and Li Ruhai sat quietly. During the ride, Li Ruhai didn’t say a word, simply leaning on Li Dayong’s shoulder with his eyes closed to rest.

The little train pulled into the station. Zhang Zhanshan was the first one off, while Zhao Jun and the others waited until they were the last to disembark.

The four of them got off and walked home together. Zhao Jun and Zhao Youcai, father and son, walked ahead, with Li Dayong and his son, Li Ruhai, following behind.

"Dad," Zhao Jun asked Zhao Youcai, "do you think if we let Ruhai go at it for another two or three days, Zhang Zhanshan’s name would be completely infamous?"

𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"No need." Zhao Youcai laughed. "After just today, it seems like everyone in the entire Forest Farm—except for those who took the day off—already knows."

Hearing this, Zhao Jun couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Behind them, however, the conversation between the Li Family father and son wasn’t quite as friendly.

"Dad!" Li Ruhai said to Li Dayong with a grin, "In a couple of years, I want to come work at the Forest Farm too."

After this one day, Li Ruhai had grown completely tired of school life. He used to think school was pretty good, with nearly two hundred students and teachers for his amusement.

But today’s little trip to the Yong’an Forest Farm had shown Li Ruhai what a real spectacle was!

And he was born for the big stage.

If not for the fact that he was still too young—only fourteen, and the Forest Farm wouldn’t hire him—Li Ruhai would have been the first person in the five-thousand-year history of Huaxia to drop out of school just to be a gossip.

But Li Ruhai had already made up his mind. As soon as he turned sixteen, he would definitely come work at the Forest Farm.

But when Li Dayong heard this, he frowned and said irritably, "You think it’s that easy to get a job at the Forest Farm? It’s one man, one post these days. Take your Brother Jun—if Elder Li hadn’t retired, he wouldn’t have gotten in either. And your older brother, if the vehicle team hadn’t added a new truck, he wouldn’t have been hired."

"Oh!" Hearing this, Li Ruhai wasn’t the least bit disappointed. He just said, "Then I’ll take over your post!"

"Take over my..." Li Dayong’s expression changed the moment he heard that.

In those days, it was indeed possible for parents to retire early and let their children take their place. But Li Dayong was forty this year and would only be forty-two in two years. Plus, he’d just been promoted to a management position. How could he possibly agree to retire in two years?

But seeing the expectant look on Li Ruhai’s face, Li Dayong held back the harsh words on the tip of his tongue. He only said, "How old will you be in two years? Do you think you can handle the heavy labor at the Forest Farm?"

If Li Ruhai were to take over, he certainly couldn’t inherit Li Dayong’s position as deputy team leader. He’d most likely end up as a regular worker. And the Gui Ling work was no easy job; it could even mean having to live and eat up in the mountains.

"If others can do it, so can I," Li Ruhai said with a smile. "Didn’t that Zhao Xiaoshuan from our village take over his dad’s post at sixteen... OUCH!"

Before Li Ruhai could finish, Li Dayong kicked him. With a furious look on his face, Li Dayong cursed, "Get lost, you little brat! Zhao Xiaoshuan took over at sixteen because his father died!"

Just then, Zhao Youcai, who was walking ahead, turned back and said, "Dayong, why are you hitting the boy? Our Ruhai did such a great job today!"

That’s right! Li Ruhai had done a great job indeed!

The next morning, Zhang Zhanshan was too ashamed to even take the commuter train. Instead, he walked for over an hour along the mountain road to get to the Forest Farm.

As soon as he arrived at Canteen No. 2, he saw the Canteen Director sitting in the main hall.

The Canteen Director’s name was Zhang Guoqing. He was fifty-two this year and was in charge of both Canteen No. 1 and Canteen No. 2. However, he rarely managed the specific details, having delegated the two canteens to Zhao Youcai and Zhang Zhanshan respectively.

Seeing his direct superior, Zhang Zhanshan hurried forward to greet him. "Director, you’re here so early. Is something wrong?"

"Elder Zhang," Zhang Guoqing said, giving Zhang Zhanshan a deep look. "You’re not to be the foreman of this canteen anymore. Let Elder Wu take over for now."

"What?" For a moment, Zhang Zhanshan couldn’t believe his ears. The foreman position Zhang Guoqing mentioned was his post as Head Chef of Canteen No. 2.

It was because he held this foreman position that he, Zhang Zhanshan, had the final say in all matters of Canteen No. 2, including purchasing.

Moreover, the foreman received a monthly foreman’s bonus of five and a half yuan.

Most crucially, Zhao Youcai was the foreman of Canteen No. 1, while he, Zhang Zhanshan, was the foreman of Canteen No. 2. This was the only area where he could measure up to Zhao Youcai.

Now, Zhang Guoqing was stripping him of his foreman title. From now on, whenever he saw Zhao Youcai, he would be a step below him.

This was what Zhang Zhanshan could not accept.

"Director!" Zhang Zhanshan said anxiously. "What is this for? I’ve been doing a good job as foreman, and I haven’t made any mistakes!"

Zhang Guoqing shot him a glance and said coldly, "Elder Zhang, I’m trying to let you save some face here. What more do you want me to say? Don’t you know what the entire farm is saying about you right now?"

"I..." Zhang Zhanshan was at a loss for words, but he didn’t want to lose his position as foreman of Canteen No. 2. He immediately argued, "Director, what they’re saying about me has nothing to do with my work. I’ve worked hard without complaint for all these years. There’s never been a problem."

"Hah!" Hearing this, Zhang Guoqing’s face filled with disdain as he sneered, "I am the Canteen Director. I decide who gets to be a canteen foreman. I’m removing you today. Is there a problem?"

"I..." For a moment, Zhang Zhanshan was speechless. Zhang Guoqing didn’t have the authority to fire him, but he did have the authority to appoint and dismiss him as a canteen foreman.

Zhang Guoqing gave Zhang Zhanshan a sideways glance and turned to leave.

Watching Zhang Guoqing’s retreating back, only one thought flashed through Zhang Zhanshan’s mind: ’I have to keep my foreman position.’

So, Zhang Zhanshan chased after him out of the canteen. But when he got outside, his head suddenly felt dizzy, and he quickly grabbed onto the large poplar tree in front of the canteen to steady himself.

Zhang Zhanshan felt something was wrong. He looked up and scanned from side to side, just in time to see his son-in-law, Dong Zhiming, walking by.

"Zhiming!" Zhang Zhanshan raised his hand, calling out to Dong Zhiming.

Dong Zhiming acted as if he hadn’t heard and continued walking down the road.

Zhang Zhanshan called out again. Only then did Dong Zhiming walk over reluctantly, asking irritably when he got close, "What do you want?"

’Great,’ Zhang Zhanshan thought. ’He’s not even calling me Dad anymore.’

Who was Zhang Zhanshan to miss that? He immediately sensed Dong Zhiming’s attitude. The gloom that had started yesterday at noon, compounded by this morning’s incident, made Zhang Zhanshan’s anger flare. He roared at Dong Zhiming, "Dong Zhiming, I am your father-in-law!"

"Hah!" Dong Zhiming sneered. "That’s right, you’re my father-in-law. And you’ve really made us proud!"

At this, Dong Zhiming’s face twisted into a vicious expression as he said resentfully, "I’m ashamed to even be associated with the shitty things you men have done! I was this close to finally becoming a team leader, and you all screwed it up!"

Dong Zhiming was also a worker in the Gui Ling team. Just a couple of days ago, the team leader had spoken with him, saying that he’d noticed his hard work and was preparing to promote him to sub-team leader.

But last night, just before the end of the workday, the team leader had found Dong Zhiming and gave him a long lecture about being a decent person. In the end, he told Dong Zhiming that his promotion was on hold for now; the team needed to continue observing him.

When a superior says something like that, how could Dong Zhiming not understand? His promotion to sub-team leader was off the table. And he knew why—he knew it was because of Zhang Zhanshan and his son.

Dong Zhiming snorted coldly and turned to leave.

At that moment, Zhang Zhanshan’s face flushed crimson. He felt his left leg go weak, and his entire body crumpled to the ground!