Chapter 17: Our Second Son Suddenly Opened Up
If using a Northern Goshawk to catch it, the hawk is too large to be released from a flat position. It can only be held on the arm and released for fist-hunting, so the initial speed will definitely be a beat slower. Moreover, even if it catches a Purple Sable, the Northern Goshawk's larger claws and sharp beak can easily damage the fur.
However, if using a Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Female), these issues are not a problem. Releasing it from a flat position gives it a high initial speed, increasing the success rate of the chase. The hawk's claws and beak are also less likely to damage the Purple Sable's fur. As long as the hawk is brave enough and agile enough to ensure it isn't bitten by the Purple Sable before the hunter controls the prey, that's the best choice.
“If this little hawk you're talking about can do the 'tiger head embrace,' you can really give it a try! This Purple Sable is very fierce; besides using both claws to hold its head, there's no other way to avoid being bitten!” Yue Lei analyzed seriously.
“Hehe! Dad, please hold the hawk for me for a bit, I'm going inside!” Yue Feng chuckled, handed the hawk to his Dad, and entered the house with his satchel.
On the stovetop, Mom had already prepared the dumplings in advance, a full two trays worth, using a whole catty of pork, with cabbage and pork filling.
“Mom! I'm back! Let's boil some water to pluck the feathers, and we'll stew this big rooster tonight!” Yue Feng found an aluminum basin like he was presenting a treasure and placed the big rooster inside.
“Oh! You caught such a big wild chicken?” Meng Yulan was very surprised.
Yue Feng leaned closer to his mother and said with a smile, “Hehehe, it's nothing! Guess how many Flying Dragon and Sand Grouse I caught on the mountain today?”
“Ten?”
Yue Feng shook his head, gestured ten, and then gestured eight.
“That many?”
“Yeah! You don't know, this Da Qing Yao is really efficient at its job! Once it targets something, it basically doesn't lose the goods (meaning it doesn't lose the prey). This big rooster was also caught by it!” Yue Feng said proudly.
“My son is amazing! How do you plan to handle these game animals?” Meng Yulan praised her son, then turned and asked.
Yue Feng thought for a moment and asked, “How about, when it gets dark, I send a few to Li Shu's house? I'll sell the rest in town tomorrow morning?”
The Li Shu Yue Feng mentioned is named Li Wentong. He is a former neighbor of the Yue Family. Li Wentong was a veteran and is said to have participated in battles against the monkeys in the south.
Li Wentong has a very good relationship with Yue Lei. He is also the village's tractor driver. In previous years, during the slack farming season, he would go hunting in the mountains with Yue Lei. The two families were very close.
This year, Dad Yue Lei broke his leg, and Li Shu's family took great care of the Yue Family.
Meng Yulan nodded and added, “Take one Flying Dragon for your Li Shu, and two Sand Grouse as well!”
“Okay!”
“Also, take one Flying Dragon and one Sand Grouse for Old Uncle's family. I'll borrow his bicycle to go to town tomorrow!” Yue Feng's thoughts wandered, and he instantly thought of the village Secretary, Wang Jianguo.
Hearing that her son was proactively offering to deliver chicken and borrow a bicycle, Meng Yulan was a bit surprised. Had her son finally opened up?
Usually, when there were social matters or favors at home, this kid never bothered with them; it was always his dad, Yue Lei, who handled everything.
In fact, Yue Lei's social skills were also average. He didn't like to flatter or say things against his conscience and was stubborn, so he suffered quite a few disadvantages in the village.
“Alright, you're an adult now. Your dad injured his leg, so it's time for you, as his son, to step up and show yourself!”
“Heh, that's because Mom led me well!” Yue Feng quickly flattered her.
“You must be tired from working all day. Quickly take off your gaiters and rest for a bit. I'll finish preparing the chicken soon, and then we'll cook the dumplings!” Meng Yulan said with a little heartache.
“Okay!”
...
It was not yet five in the evening when the sky darkened. Jingjing came home from school with her backpack, and the dumplings in the pot were also cooked.
“Second Brother, is it New Year today? Are we eating dumplings?” Jingjing looked at the white flour dumplings Mom served on the table, her eyes sparkling, and her mouth watering.
White flour was a rarity at home; they usually ate coarse grains. For little Jingjing, these pork and cabbage dumplings were indeed like celebrating the New Year.
Hearing this, Yue Feng felt a pang of sadness in his heart.
Yue Feng picked up his sister in one go: “Today, Second Brother went to town to sell Sand Grouse and bought flour and meat. Jingjing, study hard. As long as you get first place, we'll eat dumplings every day from now on!”
“Really? We'll eat dumplings every day if I get first place?” Jingjing's eyes lit up after hearing this.
“Really, I mean it. If you get first place, we'll eat dumplings every day! If you don't believe me, let's pinky swear!” Yue Feng promised very solemnly.
“Okay, Second Brother, I definitely believe what you say! I'll definitely get first place in the final exam during the New Year!”
“Mm-hmm!” Yue Feng responded verbally, but his thoughts drifted far away without him realizing it.
In his previous life, his sister, because their father passed away and their mother became ill from grief, dropped out after only finishing primary school. Later, she married a young carpenter from a neighboring village. Although she didn't suffer much hardship, she never left this small mountain village her entire life.
In this life, Yue Feng wanted her to study hard and strive to see the big world outside.
“What are you two brothers whispering about! Dinner is ready, aren't you eager to eat dumplings!” Mom's reminder interrupted Yue Feng's thoughts, and Yue Feng put his sister down from his arms.
Yue Feng didn't rush to start eating. Instead, he got up and took out another bowl from the cupboard.
“Mom, we made a lot of dumplings today. I'll take a bowl to Li Nainai too. No one takes care of her family, it's quite pitiful!”
Li Nainai's house was behind the Yue Family house, with a road separating the two houses, so they were back and front neighbors.
When he was little, he heard his father say that Li Nainai's husband and eldest son were both martyrs who died on the battlefield, and her second son went missing without any news.
Li Nainai's family could be considered a family of loyal martyrs. Although she was alone and had no one to rely on, the villagers held her family in great respect.
The year before last, the village's mischievous Dogzi Zhu Erhai broke the water Cylinder in Li Nainai's yard with a slingshot. The Secretary went to his house. Zhu Erhai's dad, Zhu Jianshe, was known in the village for being unreasonable and protective of his offspring, but after hearing the whole story, he hung Zhu Erhai in the yard and almost beat him to death with a half-inch wide leather military belt.
“Go ahead, we made two full trays! Use that large soup bowl and put plenty in. If you don't eat them tonight, you can heat them up in the morning and have another meal!” Mom said, pointing to the cupboard.
Yue Feng nodded, filled a large bowl with a heaping portion of dumplings, and then headed straight for Li Nainai's house.
After her son left the house, Meng Yulan and Yue Lei whispered to each other, “Husband, why do I feel like our second son has suddenly opened up?”
Yue Lei also nodded thoughtfully: “He is stronger than before! Last year, he was still messing around with the village kids everywhere, but this year he knows how to practice Falconry and go hunting in the mountains, reducing the burden on the family!
Yesterday, I wasn't comfortable when he said he was going to town alone to sell mountain goods, so I asked Old Li to secretly follow him the whole way. The child was quite steady the whole time!”
Yue Feng carried the dumplings and knocked on Li Nainai's door.
“Nainai! These are dumplings my family made, Mom asked me to bring you a bowl!” Yue Feng said softly, holding the bowl.
After seeing the old lady's dinner, Yue Feng felt another pang of sadness in the softest part of his heart.