Catch the Mountain 1985

Chapter 55 It's Winter

The days passed quickly, and it was almost winter. Zhang Peng and Zhao Chunming were both waiting for the arrival of the first heavy snow, and nothing happened during the period. Zhang Peng and Zhao went to the state-owned store in the city again. I found Wang Wencheng's counter and sold bear bile and leather at a pretty good price. I got another 600 yuan, [-] yuan for each of the two families, which was another big income.

When Zhang Peng woke up this morning, he saw that the sky was overcast. After a while, snowflakes suddenly fell from the sky. It was just a little bit at first. Gradually, he saw large flakes of snowflakes, like cotton wool, falling from the dark clouds. Floating down in the dense sky.The snow fell heavier and heavier, and soon the ground turned white. Dahuang and a group of puppies were hiding in the kennel, looking at the snowflakes in the sky. I don’t know what he was thinking. Maybe he was thinking that winter had finally arrived and it was time for him to show off his skills. .

It was also the first time for the puppies to see snow. From time to time, a naughty puppy ran out of the kennel and chased the snowflakes falling from the sky. Then, maybe because the snowflakes fell on the body and made them feel cold, they ran back to the kennel to keep warm. Run out again, and the cycle begins again.

It snowed heavily all day long, and as far as the eye could see, there was only a vast expanse of white.Whether it's on the streets, on the roofs, or on the mountains, they are all covered with snow.It seems that everything is brand new. Auspicious snow heralds a good year. The first snow indicates that next year will be a good year.

Zhang Peng hid in the house all day. The snow prevented him from going anywhere. He could only sit on the kang at home. The stove was burning, and the earthen kang was very hot. He buried sweet potatoes and potatoes under the stove. When it was cooked, he took it out, it was sweet and soft, and he and his sisters ate it. Zhang Tiejun and Wang Cuifen sat on the kang and looked at them with a smile, and then chatted about home affairs.

Zhang Tiejun also took a rest today. This snowy forest farm also has to consider safety issues. If it snows heavily, it can stop work. Just wait until the snow stops before going back to work.

At this time, the door was opened, and Zhao Decai and his family came over to visit, holding melon seeds and peanuts in their hands. It was no fun to stay at home in this snowy day. The main activity in the Northeast winter is to visit and chat, that is, to " "Cat Winter", Li Cuihua conveniently put the melon seeds and peanuts on the kang, and added the hazelnuts and pine nuts fried by Wang Xiufen, which was also very rich.

"Er Xiaoer, I heard from people in the neighboring village that there are wild boars coming down the mountain again. Their village has a few wild boars in the fields. It seems that the wild boars this year are quite thick."

Zhang Peng also smiled when he heard this. He didn't know whether there would be many wild boars this year, but each village had set a lot of indicators. It is estimated that the number of wild boars on this mountain will definitely decrease sharply after this year.

"Uncle Zhao, this year's task is also heavy. If we only rely on wild boars for so much meat, then the number of wild boars on the mountain will definitely decrease next year. Correspondingly, the wild wolves will definitely go down the mountain without food, so I estimate that there may be a wolf disaster next year."

Others were a little surprised when they heard this, but if they think about it carefully, it is not impossible. The main prey on the mountain is gone. How long can they survive with roe deer and the like? How can hungry wolves go down the mountain to look for them? If there is no food to eat, then the farmers will suffer.

"Yes, Erxiao'er is right. The poultry and livestock in this village are in danger."

Zhao Decai was also worried. He had experienced wolf disasters a few years ago. In fact, his generation had experienced many wolf disasters. The wild wolves were so hungry that their eyes were green, and they were also very smart. Wild wolves can hurt people. It was also very common that a guard team was set up in the village during that time, but there were too many wild wolves for the guard team to take care of. The black tiger of Zhao Laowen's family also became famous in the wolf disaster. "By the way, son, are you sure about this winter siege?"

Wang Xiufen saw that everyone fell into silence, so she asked Zhang Peng. She wanted to let it go. Since it was unavoidable, the two families didn't have any livestock. When the time came, when the chickens and other things were put into the house, there would be Zhang Peng and Zhang Peng at home. Zhao Chunming's two guns, and Dahuang's dog gang outside. If any wild wolf that really doesn't have eyes comes into their two courtyards, it will really be like eating arsenic for the old man - he will be impatient to live.

If one or two wolves are not enough, even if seven or eight wolves come in and occupy a good location, the family's guns and hunting dogs can also keep them here. If more than a dozen wild wolves really come, then there is only one possibility that the family has recruited something. , otherwise there is basically no such possibility.

"Mom, I estimate that we should be able to make a lot of money this winter. The first thing is the number of wild boars. In fact, judging from the situation this year, there are still a lot of them. We should be able to catch some by hunting for rhubarb in winter. We can't all catch them. Count on wild boars, which are meat anyway, but not roe deer or anything else. You can hunt whatever you encounter. Saving money will make you money. It is probably impossible to find such a price next year. With fewer prey animals, meat is eaten on the mountains. is also consuming, so it won’t be as good as this year.”

Everyone agreed with Zhang Peng's analysis. People who go up the mountain rely on these seasons for food, so it is important to plan what they will do this winter.

Then Zhao Chunming mentioned that Zhao Peng had told him about breeding before. After going home and discussing it, he felt that it was a way to do it. He could try to raise it first next year, not too much, and save some experience, and then After getting familiar with it, I will do more. The policy has not been relaxed yet, so I can do it in a small way. If it becomes a large scale, I will have tea with you.

Zhao Decai and Li Cuihua didn't have any objections. They were both doing good things. They could help the family to some extent, and they also had to think about the future.

The two families chatted for a while, and Wang Xiufen started cooking. It happened that both families were there, and the first dinner party in winter began. The two things Northeast Maodong did was eat, drink, and play mahjong, but the two families didn’t know much about mahjong. Interested, but still interested in eating, Li Cuihua went home and brought some small miscellaneous fish, and also specially selected water turtles.

Water beetles have a very domineering scientific name: dragon lice, also known as water beetles. They are not only found in the Northeast, but are widely distributed around the world. There are more than 4000 species. They have very vicious temperaments and mainly eat food. Meat, small fish and shrimp are their main meals. It is said that they are very nutritious, because "Shui Lao Turtle" also has a nickname: "Underwater Ginseng".This kind of delicacy can be fried, pan-fried or grilled. Northerners like to fry it and sprinkle it with refined salt. It tastes crunchy and delicious. It is a perfect match with white wine.

Wang Xiufen prepared various meats, including bear meat, roe deer meat, pork, and fried peanuts. This table full of dishes was really mouth-watering. When everyone was there, two tables were placed on the kang. , at the men's table, Wang Xiufen and Li Cuihua were at the other table with their children, and they were not too polite. Zhang Tiejun took the first bite of the food. This was the signal to start eating. The two families chatted while eating and drinking. The sky was falling, and laughter filled the room, which seemed to be a joyful one.

For a while, the two families ate and drank. Zhang Peng and Zhao Chunming were also taking care of themselves. During this period, they did not forget to meet Li Chunmei several times. When they came back, they were looking forward to the first winter siege.

(End of this chapter)