Chapter 8: Increasing Supplies

Before they could even exchange a word, Zhang Minde saw the roe deer meat in Zhang Yang’s hands, and he immediately understood half of the story.

"I didn't expect you to actually have a haul from the mountain, kid!"

Zhang Yang did not act conceited; instead, he humbly replied, "I owe it all to this old hunting rifle of yours! If it weren't for this treasure, even if I had spotted something, I wouldn't have been able to bring it back so smoothly."

Zhang Minde waved his hand repeatedly. "Stop playing coy with me! Plenty of hot-headed youngsters have gone up that mountain before. Hmph, let alone bringing anything back, they were lucky just to come home with their lives!"

He took the roe deer meat Zhang Yang offered, inspected it, weighed it in his hand, and beamed with satisfaction.

"You really have luck on your side! And your marksmanship isn't bad either! This wild roe deer must weigh at least seventy or eighty catties, right?"

Zhang Minde was a seasoned hunter who had patrolled the mountains for years. Just by looking at the cut of meat and the thickness of its fibers, he could roughly estimate the size of the animal.

Zhang Yang looked at him with admiration and gave a thumbs-up. "Uncle De! You’re the real expert!"

"You and your honeyed words."

Zhang Minde sniffed, happily accepted the meat, and placed it on the table. He tucked his hands into his sleeves and sat on the edge of the kang. "You came back to see me so soon—it’s not just to return the rifle, is it?"

"Nothing gets past you!"

Zhang Yang didn't beat around the bush. He laid out everything: how the Wang family had cornered him at home today and extorted eighty-eight yuan from him.

Zhang Minde lived far from the village, so he hadn't heard the news yet. Even without witnessing the scene, hearing Zhang Yang’s account was enough to fill him with righteous indignation.

"Those bastards from the Wang family—not a single one of them is worth anything! They never do a decent thing in their lives!"

After venting his anger, he remembered Zhang Yang saying he had promised to pay the Wangs eighty-eight yuan. Like the other villagers, he couldn't help but sweat for him.

"You only have a month. Where are you going to scrape together that much money?"

Zhang Yang didn't answer directly; he just looked at the rifle he had placed back on the table. "Uncle, I want to borrow the gun for a few more days. There’s no other way out, and the mountain is the only place where I can see a glimmer of hope."

"Take it!" Zhang Minde declared with passion. "As long as you don't get yourself hurt, I trust you with this rifle! This old partner has been with me for years, but it’s destined to be passed on to the younger generation eventually."

Zhang Yang was overjoyed. After the initial excitement, he composed himself and promised, "Uncle, don't worry, I will be careful!"

Zhang Minde nodded. He didn't dispute the words, but he didn't say anything else, looking as if he were lost in thought.

"Yang, go on and do what you need to do. If you have more luck in the coming days, don't feel rushed to bring it to me. The rabbit legs you brought last time and this roe deer meat are enough for my family to get through the winter."

Zhang Yang insisted, "That won't do! We agreed that the meat was the rent for the rifle, and I must keep my word."

"Just listen to your uncle on this one."

Zhang Minde was still deep in thought as he spoke, pulling a small wooden box from under the bed. The box was barely larger than a pig's head, but written on top in neat, upright black calligraphy were the words: *Reserved for the Mountain Patrol Team.*

"This is all the ammunition I have left. Take it all back with you." Zhang Minde picked up the box and thrust it into Zhang Yang's arms. "Use it sparingly. When I get more next time, I’ll send it to your house."

"Thank you, Uncle!"

With the rifle and extra ammunition secured, Zhang Yang hurried home. Once there, he used small wooden boards, bamboo strips, thorns, and wire to fashion a few simple animal traps.

Additionally, he dug through a pile of old items in the woodshed and found a crossbow his father had used years ago. The crossbow was homemade, its body not even as long as his arm. Limited by the material of the bowstring, its range was short and its lethality low. It would be impossible to use against large beasts, but it was perfect for shooting birds within three to five meters or catching field mice and small hares.

Because it hadn't been used in a long time and had fallen into disrepair, the metal parts of the mechanism were slightly rusted. Overall, however, it was in decent shape. With a bit of oil, it might come in handy later.

Zhang Yang took the crossbow and headed to Zhao Dong’s house. News in the settlement traveled fast, and Zhao Dong already knew about the eighty-eight yuan debt. He was in the middle of rummaging through his house when he heard Zhang Yang calling from outside. He immediately opened the door. "I was just about to look for you!"

The moment they met, Zhao Dong said impatiently, "I’ve thought about it. Even if I have to smash the pots and sell the scrap metal, I’ll find a way to help you!"

"What's left in your house to sell?"

Just then, Sister-in-law Cuilan from next door came over to bring steamed buns to Zhao Dong. Seeing the two young men staring at her, her cheeks flushed slightly.

"This... my mother told me to bring this to you!"

She shoved the buns toward them, not caring who took them, and ran off. Zhang Yang looked down at the food in his hands, stunned.

Zhao Dong quickly took them and explained, "The neighbor lady has a kind heart and often has her family bring me food. I just sent some roe deer meat over, and she’s already sorted out my dinner!"

They went inside, and Zhang Yang could barely find a place to stand. The Zhao house wasn't wealthy, but it was filled with all sorts of clutter. Seeing the chaos, he realized his brother was truly prepared to empty his home to help him.

Zhang Yang felt a warmth in his heart. "There’s no need to smash pots or sell scrap. We’ll head back into the mountain tonight and bring back more game. That eighty-eight yuan is within reach!"

He closed the door, took the crossbow out of his basket, and showed it to Zhao Dong. "Look, I found a new tool for you. This crossbow is light and simple to use. You’ll get the hang of it after a few tries. It’s not as good as a rifle, but it’ll help you practice your aim and grip."

Zhao Dong took the crossbow, his eyes lighting up with determination. "Deal! I’ll practice tonight!"

Zhang Yang pulled out the newly made traps. "And these, they’re very useful. Once we’re in the mountains, we’ll set them up with some bait. We’ll make sure those little critters don't escape once they wander in!"

Roe deer meat was still simmering on the stove, the aroma filling the room. Zhao Dong insisted that Zhang Yang stay for soup, and he didn't decline. The two of them ate heartily, enjoying the rich bone broth with the steamed buns. During the meal, Zhang Yang carefully explained the mechanism of the traps to ensure Zhao Dong wouldn't accidentally hurt himself while checking them later.

As dusk fell, they gathered their gear, returned to Zhang Yang’s house to pick up the rifle, and once again quietly slipped into the mountains.