Chapter 251: Enlightenment
Editor: Atlas Studios
After putting on a thick cotton-padded jacket, Great-aunt went out and saw Mu Yangling fiddling with a mousetrap. She asked, “Are you going into the mountains?”
“I’m going into the mountains to set up a few traps.” Mu Yangling placed the things in the basket on her back and picked up a machete and a bundle of ropes to carry. She stood up and said, “Since there’s no work to do in the winter, I’ll go get some firewood after setting up the traps.”
On the day of the winter solstice, the Mu family moved into the new house. Mu Yangling now had a room of her own, and likewise for Bowen. Xiuhong and Xiulan had originally stayed in separate rooms, but it had been too cold for the past two days, so they stayed in the same room again. However, this meant that they had to burn twice as much firewood as before, so the firewood they had prepared previously was a little insufficient.
For the past few days, Xiuhong had brought Xiulan and Bowen to the foot of the mountain to pick firewood with the children in the village. However, two days ago, a wild boar ran out of the mountain and almost injured the children. It was only because there were adults nearby who threw stones to chase the wild boar away that the children were saved.
However, Mu Yangling did not allow them to gather firewood anymore.
The weather this winter was a little abnormal, and the wild beasts in the mountains were restless. Who knew what would run out of the mountains next time?
Mu Yangling was about to carry her things out when Old Man Sun rolled up his sleeves and came to look for her. When he bumped into her, he hurriedly asked, “Ah Ling, are you going into the mountains?”
Mu Yangling nodded. “Grandpa Sun, what’s the matter?”
“Something’s up. Didn’t the wild boar go down the mountain two days ago? I heard that someone in the neighboring village was killed by the wild boar coming down the mountain.” Frowning, Old Man Sun said, “I don’t know what’s wrong with the heavens. It’s been almost a month since the winter solstice, but there hasn’t been a single snowfall. The mountains aren’t peaceful either. The weather is getting colder and colder every day and everyone doesn’t have enough firewood. If this continues, people won’t starve to death. Instead, they’ll die of cold.”
When Great-aunt heard this from the courtyard, she walked out with a handful of green onions and leaned against the wall. “Big Brother Sun, if there’s anything, just say it. You don’t have to preface the topic with such stuff to hold my Ah Ling hostage. No matter what you ask her to do, don’t expect our Mu family to suffer a loss.”
“Yes, yes. How can we let you guys suffer?” Smiling, Old Man Sun said, “Isn’t Ah Ling the only one in the village who knows how to hunt and set up traps? That’s why I want to ask Ah Ling to set up some traps in the periphery of the mountain. This way, we won’t be afraid of big prey breaking out. Everyone can be at ease and cut some firewood in the periphery. Of course, since you’re providing the labor for the village, the prey in the traps will still go to Ah Ling. What do you think?”
Great-aunt looked at Mu Yangling and asked, “Considering it’s not hard to set up traps for hunting, everyone can master it after watching it a few times. Will you secretly learn Ah Ling’s skills?”
“Of course not. Everyone knows that the Mu family is a hunter family. How can they steal your livelihood?” Old Man Sun patted his chest and said, “Don’t worry. If there’s anything that needs to be done later, just instruct them to do it. They definitely won’t look at what they shouldn’t.”
However, Mu Yangling said with a smile, “Actually, it’s not a big deal for them to learn my skills. Learning another skill will also ensure their survival. I have nothing to hide. If you want to set up traps in the forest, it won’t be done in a day or two. How about this? Get them to cut down a few sections of trees first. Around 30 feet long. I still have something on today, so I’ll teach everyone tomorrow.”
Great-aunt pulled Mu Yangling’s hand, and the latter patted her hand comfortingly.
Old Man Sun chuckled and said, “Alright, alright. I’ll go tell everyone now.”
“Ah Ling, I have no objections to you teaching these skills to your uncles, but why are you even teaching them to the villagers? If everyone knows how to hunt in the future, what money will our family earn?”
“Don’t worry, Great-aunt. Even if I want to teach them, they won’t be able to master it just because they want to. Moreover, our family’s reliance on our hunting income is reducing. It’s fine to teach them.”
Great-aunt looked at her suspiciously. “That’s definitely not the reason. Tell me honestly and I’ll consider letting you go.”
Mu Yangling smiled and said honestly, “Great-aunt, hoarding skills isn’t what’s best for a person. Instead, it’s best to disseminate them and let everyone learn and improve upon them. We’ll benefit that way even more. Of course, I’m not talking about hunting. If everyone learns to hunt, it won’t be good. The wild animals in the forest will suffer.”
“Then what do you want to do?”
Mu Yangling was silent for a moment before saying, “I’ve always felt that hunting and fighting have something in common. We’re living at the border now, and there are wars almost every year. Who knows when we will find ourselves facing the Hus? I just hope that everyone can have more capital to survive. Moreover, as Grandpa Sun said, it’s too cold this year and everyone doesn’t have enough firewood. If we don’t gather more, we might really freeze to death.”
“How can it be so fast? Before winter, every family prepared enough firewood to survive the winter. Even if it’s colder this year, there must be a lot left. How can it be used up?”
“A person who doesn’t think far ahead will definitely have immediate worries. Great-aunt, we can’t wait until we run out of firewood before thinking of going up the mountain to get firewood. Xiuhong, I, and the others have been going up the mountain to get firewood every day. We still have a room full of firewood at home now.”
Great-aunt remained silent.
Mu Yangling continued, “Since it’s not snowing yet, everyone will naturally try their best to transport firewood home. When it starts snowing and the forest is sealed, no one will be able to enter even if they want to.”
“Alright, alright. I know you’re kind. Go, go. But you have to be tough. Don’t let them think that it’s easy to take advantage of our Mu family. Don’t be as good-natured as you were at Nearhill Village.”
“Don’t worry, Great-aunt. I know. Then I’ll go into the mountains first. I won’t be coming back for lunch at noon. I’ll eat in the mountains.”
As there was no snow in the mountains, Mu Yangling made a rustling sound each time she stepped on the dry leaves. She went straight into the depths of the forest to set up traps. By the time she was done, it was almost noon.
Mu Yangling looked around for pheasants, wanting to catch one to fill her stomach.
However, it was a little difficult to find such prey in winter. Perhaps they had caught too many rabbits this spring, so even rabbits were rare in the forest.
In the past, Mu Yangling could find prey anywhere near the water source in winter. However, it had not snowed since winter this year. The water source in the forest was occupied by large animals, and many weak animals did not dare to go over. Mu Yangling did not dare to go over either, for she did not know where they had hidden.
To the south was the middle section of Chef Mountain. Mu Yangling often hunted there. After thinking about it, she headed northwest. That side was close to Luocong Mountain. As there was not much vegetation on that mountain, she never went over. Perhaps she could go over and take a look today.
Just as Mu Yangling carried the basket on her back and walked over, a pheasant flapped its wings and flew to a branch. Mu Yangling’s eyes lit up. Just as she was about to pull out an arrow to shoot it, the startled pheasant flew into the dense forest. Mu Yangling could only give up on shooting and chase after it. She held her breath and originally wanted to catch up in one go before using the bow and arrow, but she felt that her lower abdomen was slightly warm. However, her footsteps were faster and she could jump forward lightly, her footsteps no longer as heavy as before.
Mu Yangling’s heart stirred. She vaguely understood something as she chased after the pheasant. When she encountered any obstacles, she would leap over. She chased the pheasant all the way from the depths of Chef Mountain to the edge of Chef Mountain.
If that pheasant had any mental activity, it would definitely feel extremely resentful. For this person chased after it relentlessly, even ignoring the roe deer and rabbits that passed by on the way, how much hatred did she have for it?
Qi Haoran was originally lying on the ground and staring at the deer not far away, drooling. When he heard the commotion, he snuck over to take a look and saw Mu Yangling chasing after a pheasant. Qi Haoran burst out laughing and stood up to ask loudly, “Why didn’t you shoot it? You’re in the mood to chase after it?”
Mu Yangling stepped on the ground and easily jumped onto the branch where the pheasant had been standing. Bending her waist, she dodged the branch blocking the way. Then, she jumped down and continued to chase after the pheasant.
The smile on Qi Haoran’s face froze. Watching the scene seriously, he threw the bow in his hand to Fei Bai and got up to chase after the girl and the pheasant.