Return to 1983 Hunting Xing'an Mountains

Chapter 353: Both deception and inducement! Zhen, I was strangled by the devil
Inside the house, the teapot was empty.

Xu Laonian sat at the end of the kang and turned to open the piano cabinet. Just as he was about to pull out the pillow from inside, he was stopped by Xu Ning.

"Dad, you look listless, shall we go out and do some work?"

Xu Laonian turned his head and stared at him in surprise, "What kind of work? Let your uncle do it."

"My uncle still has to clean up the bear's paw."

"Looking for your elder brother Huzi, aren't Biao and Tianen free too..."

Xu Ning said with a smile: "They must go, you can't just sit there."

"Oh my god, no, what do you want to do, you little bastard? I finally get a day off, can't you let me lie down for a while?"

Xu Ning pulled their legs down and dragged them to the edge of the kang, saying, "I see you're feeling uncomfortable lying down, so do some work as exercise... Dad, what you did last night was not very decent."

Xu Laonian frowned and waved his hands, "What can you do? You still want to fight me? I think you are getting more and more presumptuous! Did I not cut you?"

"Then go ahead and hit me. I am your son after all."

Xu Laonian gritted his teeth and said, "You are really a living father! What do you do?"

"Go to the old forest to get some firewood, then stay home and chop some wood. It's not much work."

Xu Laonian looked at his hip pocket and waved his hands, "Don't you want to give me some money? I bought you the air rifle for nothing."

Xu Ning lowered his head and opened his pocket, saying, "I really don't have any now. I'll give it to you in a couple of days. Didn't my brother buy you some cigarettes?"

"Okay, stop teasing me, okay? Otherwise I'll get mad at you!"

"Let's go, it's time for lunch."

Xu Laonian glanced at him with a bit of distrust, then put on his shoes and went downstairs to greet Wang Erli who was chatting with Li Fuqiang. He was a bit confused, "Where are you going, brother?"

"Let's go to the old forest to fetch some firewood. Hey, isn't this our home? Usually Erning and Huzi go to fetch firewood. As a father, I have to share the burden with my children."

Xu Ning gave a thumbs up and said, "Look at my dad's ideological awareness!"

"Get lost!"

"Hahaha……"

Immediately, except for Liu Daming who collected the bear paws, the rest of Li Fuqiang, Wang Hu, Wang Biao and Liu Tianen were called to go to the old forest. There was indeed strength in numbers, and they pulled back seven sleds in one trip, catching up with the amount that Xu Ning and Wang Hu pulled in three or four trips.

They got home just in time for lunch. The dishes were sauerkraut, cabbage, and shredded potatoes. Liu Lizhen also steamed the remaining buns and dumplings in the jar.

During the period, Xu Ning kept praising Xu Laonian for his efficiency in work, and Liu Lizhen also complimented him a few times. She was so overwhelmed by the praise for Xu Laonian that after dinner, she dragged Wang Erli, Liu Daming, called Xu Ning and others, and pulled the sled to the old forest again.

After arriving home, everyone picked up their axes and started chopping firewood. Wang Biao and Liu Tianen stacked the chopped firewood on the firewood pile. They worked until four o'clock and finally finished chopping all the firewood. The firewood stacked in the woodshed was enough to burn for three months.

Xu Ning stood at the door and grinned. If he and Wang Hu were to do this, it would definitely take six or seven days! Not only would it take time, but it would also tire out the arms and legs, and the whole body would be sore and sore. How would they go hiking when the time came?
"Second brother, how did you convince my uncle?"

Xu Ning laughed and said, "It's both deception and inducement."

"It has to be my second brother." Wang Hu grinned.

Xu Ning hugged his brother and said, "From now on, you can coax my second uncle like this, and he will keep silent after you coax him."

"OK!"

When Xu Laonian and others entered the east room, they lay down or sat down, staring at each other, and no one spoke a word, because when they just started working, everyone was chatting enthusiastically, but as their enthusiasm grew less and less, they shut their mouths, and persisted with just one ounce of energy, and in the end everyone was too tired to talk.

In the outer room, Liu Lizhen, Yang Shuhua and others were busy preparing dishes. Stewing was easy, but cooking was very busy and tiring. Also, the space in the outer room was not big, five or six people could barely fit in, and if there were more people it would be crowded.

Xu Feng and Li Jinyu had been staying in the west room and had not gone out. Li Mantang was exhausted after helping to stack the firewood. At this moment, he was lying on the kang in the west room, watching the two people playing cat-tape.

When Xu Ning came back from the toilet, Liu Lizhen whispered, "Are you feeling refreshed this time? Your father and the others are so exhausted."

Xu Ning smiled at his mother, "You feel sorry for my dad, why don't you feel sorry for me? When they are not at home, who does the housework? If they don't do it for one day, Hu Zi and I will have to do it for half a month..."

"Come on, forget it. You're always right. Who did the housework when you were out?...Oh, let's not bring up the past. Let's not bring up the past. You're the biggest contributor to our family."

Liu Lizhen patted her eldest son on the back, coaxing him like she was patting a child.

Xu Ning pouted: "Just tell me..."

"No, just go inside and don't force me to slap you."

"Okay!" Xu Ning walked quickly into the house and lay on the kang, rubbing his belly.

Han Fengjiao watched his back disappear behind the door curtain, then approached Liu Lizhen and said, "Sister-in-law, you said Erning bought an air gun to shoot greyhounds. Is that true? A few days ago, Erning was very accurate with a slingshot. I remember when he was twelve or thirteen, he shot a pot of sparrows back, and the sparrow didn't have any serious injuries at all..."

Liu Lizhen sneered: "Your eldest brother is the one who is causing trouble, and let my old son take the blame. This old bastard is nothing!"

"Sister, please don't be angry with my brother-in-law." Wu Qiuxia added some fire to the stove, stood up and came over to say.

Liu Lizhen shook her head: "Why are you angry? I've already bought it, how can I return it? I'm just wondering where he got the money from."

"Maybe it was given by Erning. Even though they don't get along well, Erning acts like a good son." Wu Qiuxia said.

"It's unpredictable. Er Ning is willing to take the blame for his father. I'm too lazy to ask. So let it be."

At this time, Wang Shujuan walked into the outer room and said, "Mom, the rice is ready. Can I feed the dog?"

"Put it in, chop a cabbage in it, and add two scoops of bran... Tell me, how much do you need to feed these old dogs in a day?"

Wu Qiuxia said with a smile: "Sister, I still have wheat bran at home. Let Daming bring it over tomorrow."

Liu Lizhen nodded: "Well, if it really doesn't work, let Erning spend money to collect some money in the village..."

If you don't bring a dog helper when hiking in the mountains, they will have to eat three meals a day at home. They have to be fed a mixture of cornmeal and bran. But there are more than ten dogs, and they are all big dogs. They eat more than humans. A jar of cornmeal or bran can be empty in a week.

What to do? Xu Ning had his own plan. He had gone to Wang Minfu's house last time to discuss this matter. The grain station had crushed bran, which few people would buy. They would only feed chickens, ducks and geese. It would be better to ask the grain station to grind it into fine bran, and then spend some money to buy it back. It would be cheaper than collecting it from door to door in the village, and it would not take advantage of others.

People suffer in winter, and dogs suffer too. There is really no way to deal with it.

The banquet tonight was quite grand. The hot dishes included braised bear paws, beef stewed with potatoes, stir-fried mutton offal with hot peppers, stewed bear meat with radish, scrambled eggs with onions, and stir-fried dried tofu with hot peppers. The cold dishes included pig ears with cucumbers, red sausage, fried shrimp chips, and duozi meat. There were ten dishes in total!

It was obvious that the cucumber and pig ears were specially brought by Yang Liguo for Xu Ning, because the whole family knew that he liked to eat cucumber and pig ears, so when Wang Shujuan served the dish, she also deliberately placed this dish in front of Xu Ning.

"Today's feast is so grand! Jane, why don't you say something?"

Liu Lizhen rolled her eyes at Xu Laonian and said, "What are you talking about? Just eat quickly. We are all family, why are you making such a fool of yourself?"

"Okay, hurry up and start drinking. Qiangzi, don't you want to drink?"

Li Fuqiang shook his head: "No, I'll order more food. These are some delicious dishes."

Xu Laonian teased him deliberately, "Your brother has to drink. Your aunt has personally said so."

"Dad, don't wrongly accuse a good person. Why did I drink alcohol the other day?"

"You will definitely have to drink after you get married. Your mother will force you to drink by then. Don't worry!"

A few days ago, Xu Laonian and Liu Lizhen were chatting in bed, and he knew what kind of wine Wang Shujuan gave Xu Long to drink. Although he was a little greedy, he still held back. After all, it was a matter concerning the next generation and must be taken seriously.

Li Fuqiang glanced at Xu Ning and said with a smile: "Uncle, let my brother drink. I can just smoke a little. When my brother gets married, I will definitely not drink at all..."

Wang Erli raised his wine glass, "Good job, Qiangzi! Keep up the spirit."

"Well, don't worry, Second Uncle." Xu Laonian smiled and raised his glass, saying, "Come on, let's raise our glasses together and let our relatives see what kind of life we ​​are living now!"

"Got it!"

In some places, gatherings are not allowed during the Qingming Festival. There are many reasons for this. For example, Qing'an does not have such a saying. Instead, they strongly support family gatherings on the evening of the Qingming Festival. This can not only enhance feelings, but also increase cohesion. Of course, the most important meaning is to let the deceased relatives see how they are doing now...

Xu Ning picked up a piece of mutton offal with chopsticks, chewed it and asked, "Who cleaned up these mutton intestines?"

"I cleaned it. What's wrong? Does it smell?" Liu Daming said as he picked up a piece of food with chopsticks.

"It doesn't smell at all. How did you clean it, uncle?"

Liu Daming took a bite and nodded: "It doesn't have much taste. I just use rice washing water and cornmeal to make it. It takes a lot of effort."

"That's pretty good. I'll have to clean it up later, uncle."

"Row!"

"Did you throw away the cornmeal?"

Wang Shujuan, who was sitting on the kang, shook her head: "No, I mixed it with dog food and fed it to the dog."

"Oh my god, you really treat dogs badly..."

"Why waste it? I think they are eating very happily, especially the gray wolf, who licked the dog bowl until it was shiny!"

"Hahaha……"

Hearing Wang Shujuan's words, everyone in the room burst into laughter.

The drinking session lasted until 8:30. Xu Laonian, Wang Erli and Liu Daming were drunk and staggering. Xu Ning and Li Fuqiang took great pains to send them home one by one. When they got home, the house had already been cleaned up by Liu Lizhen and others. Then Li Fuqiang and Yang Shuhua left with the children.

Xu Ning climbed onto the kang in the west room and was about to cover himself with the quilt when Xu Feng ran over angrily and said, "Second brother! I'm a little angry!"

Xu Ning didn't look back, he just pulled the quilt and spread it on the kang, and said, "Then go and get angry with our mom."

"Aiya!" Xu Feng stamped her feet and twisted her shoulders. "Why don't you ask me why I'm angry?"

"Isn't it because I didn't take you to fish? Didn't you see me working in the afternoon?"

"Ah, how do you know?" Xu Feng asked with his eyes wide open.

"How should I know? I know what you are thinking just by blinking your eyes. Are you trying to play tricks on me? I will take you there this Sunday. Go back to your room and go to sleep. I have to go up the mountain tomorrow."

"Okay, second brother! Then I will sleep with you."

"Go get a basin of water to wash your feet."

"I sleep in this room?"

"No! Don't talk about conditions. If you say one more word, I won't take you there on Sunday."

"Hmph!" Xu Feng stamped her feet, glared at him, walked out the door, then turned back and bared her teeth: "I didn't say anything!"

Two minutes later, Xu Feng brought a basin of foot-washing water into the room, placed it under the edge of the kang, and returned to the east room.

After Liu Lizhen came back from outside, she entered the house and saw him washing his feet. She asked, "Son, when did you buy that air rifle the other day? Why didn't you tell me before? Do you have enough money in your pocket?"

Xu Ning looked at his mother's suspicious eyes and said with a smile: "Mom, you already know the reason, why are you asking me? Then what should I say?"

"Just tell the truth. Your dad is drunk and can't hear you."

"Oh, that's it. Don't ask me any more questions. I can't tell you even if you ask me."

Liu Lizhen rolled her eyes and said, "Forget it..."

She didn't even need to think about it, she knew what was going on, she just didn't want to get to the bottom of it.

That night, Liu Lizhen looked at Xu Laonian who was sleeping soundly beside her, and angrily pinched his tender arms, inner thighs and old waist twice.

The next day, when Xu Laonian woke up in the morning, he felt severe pain all over his body. Looking at the bruises on the inside of his thighs and arms, he felt as if he had been frightened.

"Jane, look at this! I was pinched by a ghost last night! Look at all the black and blue bruises."

Liu Lizhen sneered: "You must have done something wrong, otherwise why would the ghost pinch you? Think about whether you have done something bad."

"I didn't do anything!"

Liu Lizhen glanced at him, put on her clothes and went to the outer room to steam some rice.

Xu Ning came out of the toilet and just pulled up his trousers when he saw Wang Hu crawling over with a cloth bag on his back. Then the two of them ate a meal in the outer room. He put the lunch box into the cloth bag, tied his belt and leggings, and went out with his gun on his back.

Liu Daming and Lao Jiang were already waiting outside the courtyard gate. The four of them, leading their dogs, walked quickly towards the west entrance of the village, where they ran into Li Fuqiang.

"Qiangzi, why are you leaving so early?"

Li Fuqiang said with a smile: "Lao Lin said to make one more trip today."

"Last month, we were delayed for more than ten days. Were our wages paid as usual?" Liu Daming asked.

"Yeah, Lao Lin is quite particular. He never missed a day for me."

Xu Ning said, "Give him some pork in a couple of days."

"Okay! Brother, I heard Lao Lin mention that he has an uncle who has a tractor to sell. Didn't you say last time that you would buy a tractor in the spring?"

"Yes, we can use it when the time comes. Where are his uncles and cousins ​​from?"

"I didn't ask in detail, so why don't I ask today?"

"Let's ask. If the price is right and there are no major problems, we'll go take a look."

"it is good!"

At the fork in the road, Lao Lin sat in the car and looked around. He saw six people walking towards him with a bunch of dogs. He was a little puzzled, wondering who this family was. How arrogant!

When I got closer, I saw that it was Xu Erning, the little Xu Pao from Qing'an!
"Oh my god, who am I thinking about, Brother Xu!"

"Brother Lin!"

"Going up the mountain to hunt animals?"

"OK……"

Liu Daming handed him a cigarette and said, "Qiangzi, thanks for taking care of me."

"What do you mean by taking care of me? We are partners."

While we were standing under the car and chatting, a loud speaker came running over in a hurry, "Hey! Hurry up, hurry up..."

"Did you drink too much last night? Why are your eyes red?"

"I had a few drinks yesterday and was having a great time. I don't know what I said that irritated my wife, and she came up and gave me a glare..."

"Hahaha!" Everyone laughed.

(End of this chapter)