My 1995 Small Farm

   Chapter 198 Homecoming

   "This is the two villages, the largest village in our place, where more than 2,000 families live."

   After the group arrived at Liangkouzhai, Wang Qingzhong introduced it.

  The two villages are located in a valley, with ponds and trees, farmland and houses scattered, and winding paths running through them. Only the north and south mountain passes can enter and exit.

   Standing in front of the mountain pass in the south and looking over, the red sun is rising, and the mountains seem to be shrouded in a layer of mist like a veil.

   Beneath the mist is the morning smoke and barking of dogs.

   makes it seem remote and peaceful.

   "Is it very close to Tianshui Village from here?"

  Han Ninggui asked.

   "Yes, go out from Beishankou, take a section of Zishan Road, go up the plank road, and soon you will reach Tianshui Village..."

  Wang Qingzhong was very familiar with this place. He took them all the way through the mountain pass, then walked into the stockade from the ridge, and then walked out.

The purpose of    is Tianshui Village.

   They have a lot of things, so they can't go fast.

  In addition, Han Ninggui also took out the hair, blood, etc. of the grass leopard from time to time, and asked Xiaojin and the others to search according to the smell to see if they could find other clouded leopards.

   When encountering villagers, Wang Qingzhong will also be asked to inquire.

   So it was almost ten o'clock when we walked out of Liangkou Village, which took more than two hours.

   But still nothing.

   In fact, yesterday Wang Qingzhong took Han Ninggui and others to turn around the nearby places.

   Most of the photos that need to be retaken have also been retaken.

   The task of entering the mountain has actually been completed for the most part.

   But because crested ibis appeared nearby.

  For the protection of crested ibis, in recent years, there have been very limited inspections of the surrounding mountains and forests.

   I am afraid that an accident will affect their survival. After all, there are only a few of them in the world.

   Now that the crested ibis group has gradually grown, and their habits have gradually become clear, they have gradually relaxed and allowed in-depth investigations.

   So when they came here this time, they wanted to do some simple investigation, record it, and explore the way first.

  Unexpectedly, they met Chen Ling's family in the town and learned that there were golden monkeys and clouded leopards in this mountain, so they naturally didn't want to miss it.

   must be looked for carefully.

  Although so far, no traces of other clouded leopards have been found.

   "Can't there be just this one in the whole Lutou Mountain?"

   After spending most of the morning, all four dogs were looking for it, but there was still no gain. Han Ninggui couldn't help but be a little suspicious.

   "It's not supposed to. Since there is a female in the clouded leopard, there must be a male nearby."

   "Besides, this season is when they are in heat, and the smell is the most obvious."

  Clouded leopards generally come into heat in winter and give birth to cubs in spring and summer.

  I usually come and go alone, but now it’s time to mate. As long as the male and female smell each other’s scent, they will come to the door on their own.

  “…”

  Chen Ling shook his head slightly: "Obviously obvious, but there are more mountain streams and rivers on Lutou Mountain, and the smell is easy to interrupt. Besides, there are fewer and fewer clouded leopards in the mountains now. It is not easy to find the same kind by smell."

  The mountain range around Fenglei Town is called Lutou Mountain. It’s not that the mountain resembles a deer’s head, but that there were many deer in this big mountain before.

  When mountain people enter the mountain, they will encounter all kinds of wild deer within a few steps, hence the name.

   As Chen Ling said.

   There are many water flows in this big mountain, and it is quite complicated.

  If one or two mountains, rivers and rivers are fine, Xiaojin's ability is nothing at all.

  I used to track Pa Gouzi, just across the river.

   Too much water flow will not work.

  The smell is easily dissipated and blocked, and even the smartest dog can't find it.

   "You're right, it's like finding a needle in a haystack, it's really not easy."

  Han Ninggui squeezed out a smile, "If there is nothing to gain today, we will not look for it."

  Because Wang Qingzhong is familiar with the mountains, he can quickly find something by comparing the original photos.

   The original mission progressed relatively quickly.

   In addition, I spent two days in harmony with the wild golden monkey population.

   The harvest has been great.

   But he wasn't happy at all, instead his heart was heavy.

   makes it hard to find a few good hunting dogs.

   This proves that clouded leopards are really getting fewer and fewer.

   The greatness of a good hound needs no further description.

   is like training a dog with wolf blood, and you are sensitive to the smell of wolves when you enter the mountains.

   After a good hunting dog knows the smell of a clouded leopard, it is easy to find the same kind.

"Uncle Han, in fact, the earth leopard is sometimes hidden too deep. When our village went hunting in the mountains last time, it seemed that we had encountered one, and in the nearby Jinmen Village, many hunters also said that they were there. There are leopards in the mountains again this year."

   "It was rare before, but this year a lot of them ran out."

  Chen Ling noticed Han Ninggui's expression and comforted him knowing that this was someone who really cared about endangered animals and plants.

  Han Ninggui was refreshed after hearing this and hurriedly asked.

   After hearing Chen Ling's complete story, he became happy: "Although it does not belong to a mountain range, but they are all in the same county, and they are all south of the Qinling Mountains, it should be the same clouded leopard."

   "If it really doesn't get much here, I'll call some old friends next year and go for a walk in your mountains."

   The content of the book he is going to publish has not been completely sorted out, and it will definitely not work this year.

  …

   Talking all the way, out of Beishan Pass, after crossing the river, Xiaojin and Heiwa suddenly reacted, wagging their tails in front of the plank road and screaming.

   "Sure enough, it is greatly affected by the river."

  Han Ninggui looked at Chen Ling, "This should be the smell of this clouded leopard in our hands."

  Chen Ling nodded.

   In the town, the few Harriers told them that the grass leopards were picked up by medicinal farmers in Tianshui Village, and they did not lie.

   This sweet water village is not small and has a good reputation. It is famous for the fact that this village has a mountain spring, which is clear and sweet. It does not freeze in winter.

  Because it can be drunk directly, it is a place where traders and harriers like to rest.

   Walked the plank road and arrived at Tianshui Village.

   I wanted to ask the medicinal farmer in the stockade.

  I didn’t expect to meet the Harrier here again.

   are two young people who are not very young. They stopped at the entrance of the stockade with their pack horses, and the mother-in-law and the dolls surrounded a pile.

   Two Harriers, each carrying a long Harrier pole, and a Harrier standing on each shoulder.

   "Let the harrier, hurry up, hurry up, hurry up..."

   The little dolls chirped.

  The two harriers were not in a hurry under the urging. First they tied the pack horses to the tree beside them, and then they came over holding the harrier poles.

  This is about two meters long, and the other end of the pole is a shovel.

   The two stood apart, about ten paces apart, shoveled a piece of soil on the ground with an iron shovel, and threw it into the woods outside the stockade.

  The birds in the forest were startled, and they all flew out.

At this time, one of the two Harriers standing on the shoulders of the two Harriers fluttered their wings, rose into the sky, and flew over the heads of people staggeredly, aiming at a bird, and it flew away like a swooshing arrow, and the naked eye could only see it. I saw two shadows passing through the flock of birds in the sky, and then two birds shot down from the sky and fell down in a whirl.

  The little dolls widened their eyes excitedly, then jumped their feet and clapped their little hands and cried, "Catch one more, catch another."

   is still not enough.

   And after the two harriers flew out once, Shi Shiran flew back to the harrier pole, looking around with eagle eyes, standing proudly, looking very arrogant.

   The two Harriers also smiled slightly, unfastened the goods on their pack horses, and placed them in front of them.

The meaning of    is obvious. If you want to continue watching the show, you have to come and see what they sell.

   are some boots with coats, mainly coats, and the style is quite unique.

   can be exchanged for grain, leather, etc., and can also be bought with money.

  Chen Ling knew what the Harriers did last time, but he had never seen how they did business.

   Not to mention this strange way.

   took the lead and took a look at it for a while. The quality of these coats turned out to be really good.

   Most of them are made of yak hide and wolf hide.

   couldn't help but ask: "You came from Qinghai-Tibet?"

"Yes."

   The two Harriers, one tall and the other short, were both quite thin. After looking at them in surprise, they nodded with a grin.

   "You guys are also caravans? Why are you only bringing dogs and no horses?"

   "It's not a caravan. It's winter. Come to the mountains to hunt and play for a few days."

  Chen Ling squatted down with a smile, stretched out his hand and touched the coat they were putting out: "How do you sell this wolf fur coat?"

   "One hundred and fifty dollars."

   "What if I exchange wolf skins for you?"

   "Nine wolf skins for a coat."

   "Nine? Do you have nine wolf skins in your coat?"

   "No, six."

   These two Harriers were more sincere than the ones they saw in the town two days ago. After shaking their heads, they gestured on a coat, "This is one, this is... a total of six."

   "For a coat, men wear six or seven pieces, and women wear four or five pieces. The big wolf and the little wolf are different. The men's coat will take you nine pieces, because wolf skins are difficult to tan."

   Hearing the strong Qinghai-Tibetan accent, Chen Ling smiled, got up and said, "I have six wolf skins in my hand. How much do you need to make up for a coat?"

   "Sixty dollars."

  The people in the surrounding Tianshui Village had to disperse when they saw that the Harriers were putting out things for sale.

   They always took the baby to watch Harrier perform acrobatics, so it’s better to spend money to buy things.

   But at this time, seeing Chen Ling and the others coming, they left in no hurry.

   Dressed up like a mountain person, but also brought a dog, which is very strange.

   There are also people who know Wang Qingzhong, and they have come to ask questions.

   At this time, seeing Chen Ling and Harrier chatting again and wanting to buy a coat, became more curious. Continue to watch the fun.

   However, when Chen Ling took out the wolf skin, the two Harriers were stunned and looked at each other, wondering, "Well, you can't use the wolf skin as six."

"what?"

  Chen Ling was also stunned.

  The short harrier pointed to the wolf skin and showed him, "It's not cleanly stripped."

  Chen Ling blushed suddenly, and became embarrassed, "Can that be used as a few replacements?"

   "Four, you add another hundred dollars, and we'll give you a wolfskin hat."

"Row."

  Chen Ling nodded happily, put down the wolf skin, and paid them again.

   A soft and thick wolfskin coat was obtained, and it was heavy, and matched with a wolfskin hat.

   "Do you want to buy it?"

   "Don't buy it, I have it at home. My father also has a tiger fur coat. It was given to him for more than a hundred years. I'll show you when I go to the city."

   Lynx laughed.

   "Are you hunters who specialize in hunting?"

   At this moment, the tall Harrier asked.

   "I don't specialize in hunting, or just come and play."

  Han Ninggui took over the conversation, took out the dead grass leopard, and showed them, "Have the two little brothers seen this thing?"

   "Shan Biaozi, I've seen a big one."

   "Really?"

   "Yeah, I've seen it, several times."

   "Where did you meet, not far from here?"

   The two Harriers looked at the suddenly excited old man and pointed in one direction.

   "Shan Biaozi came out at night and was always on the tree, you can't catch it."

   "Don't catch."

  Han Ninggui explained: "We don't catch them, we just want to know how much these things are now, and which mountain they live on, we don't need to see them, just find their footprints and pull the feces."

  After all, the clouded leopard is different from the golden monkey. Even if the golden monkey is not close to people, it can still be seen. If the clouded leopard wants to hide and hide in the tree without moving, even if the dog knows it is there, people may not be able to find it.

   So it is also an investigation of their living environment and population size.

   "Then you have to go to Changgu County. There are many in Changgu County. You run out at night to find food. You can meet them on the mountain road. Horses and Harriers are afraid of them."

   said the tall Harrier.

   "Changgu County? It's a bit far..."

  Han Ninggui frowned when he heard the specific location.

  Changgu County can only be reached by crossing the neighboring Zhuguo County. Zhuguo County is also divided into Dongzhuguo and Xizhuguo, and the road is extremely difficult to walk.

   In such an environment, it is normal that more clouded leopards choose to settle there.

   "In Canggu County, is there a lot of this stuff?"

   Lynx also asked.

   "Well, there are quite a lot. We stayed in Changgu for two nights, and we cried at night, like a ghost crying, it's scary."

  The short Harrier said, smiling embarrassedly: "I heard that Shan Biaozi is making dolls. Like cats, they are more energetic than cats. After making dolls, they can press out a big hole under the buttocks."

   "Hahaha, it's like this..."

  Han Ninggui laughed: "But it wasn't a hole made by a doll, it was dug out to scare other male leopards."

   The smell of **** and pee in the pit is marked, and of course there is the smell of mating, which means that the female leopard living here has already mated with me, and no one is allowed to come back.

   "Male Leopard? Why are you all called Leopard, I heard from people over there that Shan Biaozi is a little tiger."

   Yao Zike was puzzled.

  Shan Biao, that is, the tiger who gave birth to three sons, there must be a Biao Biao.

   means a very ferocious little tiger.

  There are many places around Fenglei Town called this.

Wang Qingzhong also said: "Yes, we are all called Tu Leopards. To the east of Changle Township, there are also called Laohuhu and Mahu. Changgu and Zhuguo are called Shanbiao from north to south, and Miao Village is also called this way. . . . this thing is called a lot."

   "Well, Ah Zhong is right."

  Han Ninggui nodded: "The clouded leopard is called a lot, but in fact this thing is not a leopard, nor is it a tiger."

   "The name of the old tiger is quite good. The word for tiger is very accurate. Look at its teeth."

   said, he opened the mouth of the grass leopard, revealing his long fangs, "This thing is in the same way as the saber-toothed tiger."

   "But the hemp tiger is different. The hemp tiger and the old tiger are not the same thing..."

As soon as he said this, a boy behind him who was watching the fun suddenly shouted: "I know this, Ma tigers are black, my grandma said that Ma tigers can breathe black smoke, their eyes are like lanterns, and they can eat a hundred of them in one bite. Little Doll."

  The adults suddenly burst into laughter.

  Han Ninggui didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "You're right, hemp tigers are black, and their eyes are like small lanterns, but they don't blow black smoke."

   Laohu is a name for a leopard.

  The Ma tiger is a black tiger called "Bawangxiao". It is fierce in nature, eats people, and is much fiercer than ordinary tigers.

   In the mouths of the common people, it is often confused with the old tiger to frighten the little boy.

   has existed in history, but now there is no such thing.

   said, seeing that the people next to him were a little confused, he smiled and said, "You can just listen to it as a story."

  The people from Tianshui Village laughed along.

   Then it became more and more lively.

  Han Ninggui took this opportunity and took Wang Qingzhong to inquire about the clouded leopard.

   asked the hunters and medicinal farmers of this stockade again.

   The answer I got was similar to that of Liangkouzhai, and it was also similar to what Wang Cunye said, but I haven't seen this thing much recently.

   The medicinal farmer who picked up the grass leopard also said that it has only been three or four years since he saw it this time, and it was only dead.

   "It seems that the clouded leopards here are likely to migrate to Changgu County, but it is worth a visit."

After   Han Ninggui came back, he made a decision after discussing with the four Bobcats.

  Changgu and Zhuguo counties also belong to Lutoushan.

  Lutou Mountain is the boundary mountain between the three provinces. It is relatively large and is located in the south of the Qinling Mountains. Therefore, the clouded leopard population here has research value.

   Then he looked at Wang Qingzhong and Chen Ling and said, "I said before that I was afraid of delaying your own affairs. If you can't find the clouded leopard, you should go back early."

   "It's just right now. The clouded leopard's base camp is in Changgu County. We can return this afternoon."

   "Huh? Can't find the one here?"

   Wang Qingzhong was a little puzzled.

   "I don't look for it anymore. It is estimated that there have been more and more caravans passing by here in the past few years, and the clouded leopards have gone there."

  Han Ninggui guessed.

   "There are probably no more than ten in the mountains on your side, even if there are."

   Wang Qingzhong didn't quite understand.

  Chen Ling knew that Han Ninggui's guess was 80% correct.

   In the next ten years, after all the highways and railways were built, not to mention the leopards, the wolves would not be seen. It's because of human activities.

...After deciding not to look for it, they stopped staying in Tianshui Village. They followed Wang Qingzhong at noon, went to an acquaintance to exchange some steamed buns and corn cakes with wolf meat, and went to the mountain spring to get some water. There was a fire outside the stockade, wolf meat was roasted, and wild vegetable soup was boiled.

  The roasted wolf meat is eaten with steamed buns and tortillas, and the whole body is also warmed up with hot soup.

  The two young Harriers were rare and real people among the Harriers. After selling two leather hats, they squatted over to eat a piece, and gave them some tough jerky, in exchange for two strings of wolf meat.

   And then let the Harrier go catch a few birds and skewer them and bake them.

  Chen Ling saw this scene and asked them how to train Harriers.

   They didn't hide their secrets either, and the steps were roughly the same as for eagle training.

   Hearing the end, Chen Ling shook his head, it was too tormenting for birds and people, he couldn't do it.

   "It can also be raised from a young age, look at my hands."

  The tall Harrier stretched out his hand, and saw dense white spots on the back of his black-red complexion, like small white blisters, but upon closer inspection, they were not, but small scars.

   "It's all pecked by harriers?"

  Chen Ling was surprised.

   "Well, if a bird bites, it's hard to raise big and small. In the end, it still needs to be trained. Those who eat raw meat are fierce and hard to raise."

   he laughed.

  Chen Ling nodded silently.

   This is also true. If the dog is not trained, eating raw meat is completely different from not eating raw meat.

  I have seen blood once, and it is not uncommon for a dog whose temperament has changed drastically.

   After lunch, we set off with two Harriers.

   It's just that the two of them didn't stop when they got to Liangkouzhai. They continued to do the same as before, letting go of the eagles, attracting people, and setting up stalls to sell things.

   "There is an Eagle Cave on the cliff on the north side of Qingzhu Village. If the Harrier is not good at training, I will take you to dig out the Eagle Cubs next spring."

   Wang Qingzhong saw that his brother-in-law was still staring at Harrier when he left, so he smiled and patted him on the shoulder.

   "And Eagle Cave, okay, I'll definitely come."

  Chen Ling also laughed.

   He didn't want to train the Harrier, but the more he looked at the Harrier, the more he felt like he was playing a monkey.

   But playing monkeys is purely performing arts and asking for a reward, they are selling goods, and they look slightly better than those who play monkeys.

   "Count me in, and call me when the wealth comes."

   Lynx also hurriedly said.

   "Okay, when I come over, I'll go to the county seat to call you."

   If Chen Ling is a little interested.

   Lynx really loves these things.

   Hounds, eagles, wolves, fish and turtles, play with everything, work hard, spend money, and endure hardships.

  Because a dog can run a long way, in order to have good hunting dog seedlings, he braved poisonous insects and mosquitoes to go to the mountains to catch wolves for breeding in summer.

  Chen Ling didn't understand very much before.

   Now that I am familiar with it, I feel that such people are easier to get along with than others.

   also makes it easier to be good friends.

   When the group returned to Yaowang Village, it was after four in the afternoon.

   After sitting at home for a while, Han Ninggui and the others went down the mountain before dark.

   And Chen Ling and his wife didn't stay any longer. Wang Susu had been living at her parents' house for almost a week and was going to go home early tomorrow morning.

  Wang Zhenzhen wants to go back to school, and there are a lot of things to take care of at home. For example, he agreed with Zhao Dahai that it is the eleventh month of the lunar calendar, and the construction of the farm must be prepared in advance.

   (end of this chapter)