Some things in this world can’t be explained by science, and even if you try to explain it, it won’t be convincing.
So Xu Lang didn’t argue with Yan Zi’s view, and as for what Lao Hu and the others wanted to do, Xu Lang also reserved his own opinion. This world was related to ghosts and monsters. He was more willing to be involved in it, scheming for his own benefit, and naturally didn’t want to interfere with Lao Hu’s life and choices.
While he said he didn’t want Lao Hu to take risks, in his heart, he was eager to go with him. Xu Lang was capable of doing such a thing.
He was willing to do it, but he didn’t want to do it that way.
Just like some “holy mothers” in reality, everyone hates being one, yet they all want to be friends with them.
Of course, forget about “holy mother b*tches”, they are completely different species from holy mothers!
After getting ready, Yan Zi and the others were going to the forest farm. There was a cluster of mountains near the forest farm. On top of the mountains was a large earthen mound. That large mound was called the Yellow Weasel Grave. Lao Hu and Fatso wanted to go there to catch yellow weasels.
They wanted to catch yellow weasels, on the one hand, to prove their bravery and fearlessness, and on the other hand, because they were craving them.
Although they went to Xu Lang’s home occasionally to have a feast, they had been longing for sugar for a long time, at least a few months without eating any.
However, Xu Lang was more inclined to think that they were just bored.
Yan Zi’s family had a pair of ancestral leather snares, which could be used to catch small prey. Once something got caught in them, unless someone outside opened it, the chances of escaping were almost zero.
Even other old hunters in the village didn’t have such snares. This pair was unique in the village.
Xu Lang had been cooped up at home for months and wanted to go out and have some fun too. After all, he wasn’t alone.
Thinking of this, Xu Lang went home to get his hunting knife and prepare some cured meat and a few kilos of white flour to bring to Huamei and the old man Knocking Mountain, so they could have a taste.
He didn’t want to take more because there was very little white flour, not even enough for Xu Lang himself. What he was bringing was already very generous.
These few items almost made Lao Hu and Fatso drool…
Old man Knocking Mountain and Huamei were the forest rangers of the forest farm. They had been in the forest farm for a long time, and they were familiar with Xu Lang.
When Xu Lang came back, Lao Hu had somehow managed to convince Yan Zi.
They would first go to the area near the forest farm. The Yellow Weasel Grave was on the cluster of mountains. After they caught the yellow weasel, they would then go to the forest farm. But this time they didn’t have guns or dogs, and they needed to be extra careful. If they encountered a bear again, it would be troublesome.
It was cold in the mountains. The snow had stopped, and Xu Lang wasn’t carrying much weight with the few kilos of things on his back.
The moon tonight was white and eerie. Even without a torch, they could see their surroundings clearly. The wind howled in the forest, like the wail of ghosts. The four of them soon reached the river by the forest farm.
The river surface was already frozen, with a layer of snow on top. They didn’t need to worry about the strength of the ice. Even if three fat people were tied together, the solid ice could hold them.
Even so, for safety’s sake, they followed Yan Zi’s suggestion and walked across on the logs that were frozen onto the river.
The moonlight reflected on the snow, casting a silver glow over the forest.
The four of them crossed the river quickly. On the other side was the cluster of mountains, and the forest was very dense.
I have no idea how Lao Hu managed to persuade Yan Zi, otherwise, with her personality, she wouldn’t easily come here.
Thankfully, the Yellow Weasel Grave was at the foot of the cluster of mountains, not far from the riverbank. If they were to venture deep into the forest at this time, even if Lao Hu was a smooth talker, Yan Zi wouldn’t agree to go crazy with him.
A large, raised earthen mound came into view. It was barren, and there were large and small holes all over it.
According to Yan Zi’s explanation, many yellow weasels, both big and small, were hiding in those holes. It seemed that the mound looked like a tomb, and since there were always yellow weasels coming and going, that was why it was called the Yellow Weasel Grave.
They didn’t go directly to the mound. According to Yan Zi, the downwind side wouldn’t let other animals smell their scent. No matter what methods they used to catch yellow weasels, they had to ensure that they wouldn’t be discovered.
Xu Lang naturally knew this. He wasn’t just hanging around these past few days. How could he be a hunter if he didn’t have some basic knowledge?
Xu Lang was able to catch prey, not just because of his hunting dog, but also because of his own understanding and use of hunting skills.
When they left, they took three flasks of wine brewed by Yan Zi’s father.
Because of the scarcity of grain, the wine was made with corn stalks.
It was impossible to live in this place without drinking. Even Xu Lang, with his body, could have a few sips. One sip of wine would warm you up. But you definitely couldn’t drink too much. If you got drunk in this kind of place, you’d only freeze to death.
This wine was hard to drink, but you couldn’t be picky. Something was better than nothing.
After taking a sip of wine, Fatso urged, “Hurry up and get to work. Get the eggs you smuggled from Yan Zi’s house. If you don’t give up something, you won’t catch the wolf. If you don’t give up the eggs, how can you catch the yellow weasels? Don’t be so reluctant.”
Lao Hu chuckled and looked at Yan Zi, saying, “Using eggs is too extravagant. After thinking it over, I came to a decision, after careful consideration, I plucked a handful of feathers from your family’s chickens. I didn’t have time to report to you beforehand, I’m sorry!”
Yan Zi, upon hearing this, punched Lao Hu in the chest: “It’s one thing to steal your eggs, but why did you pluck my family’s chicken feathers?”
Xu Lang twitched at the corner of his mouth. No wonder the chickens in the village didn’t lay eggs after those intellectuals came. Case closed!
Fatso, seeing that Yan Zi was angry, quickly said, “We are close revolutionary comrades. We need to have a civilized debate, not a physical fight. I’ll make this guy reflect deeply, and let him feel the education of love and realize how terrible his actions were. But for now, let’s set the snare for the yellow weasel.”
Xu Lang glanced at Fatso and said disdainfully, “Fatty, you’re no good either. Tell me honestly, how much cured meat did you help yourself to while my Xiong Da was away?”
Before Fatso could answer, Lao Hu looked surprised and interjected, “Comrade Fatty, this is wrong of you. We’re all close and intimate comrades. If you want to give something, you should share it. Comrade Little Xu has already given something, now it’s your turn to share.”
Sure enough, when it comes to being shameless, you are the master, Comrade Lao Hu!
Fatso laughed, “We’ll share it when we get back. First, let’s set the snare and catch the yellow weasel. When we get some fruit candies, I’ll give Comrade Little Xu a bigger share.”
Actually, catching yellow weasels wasn’t that difficult, as long as you had the right tools. The leather snare, also known as the “leather dumpling”, was a lost art.
It was a specially made leather bag. When it was made, a special secret medicine was used to remove the smell. There was a one-way opening inside, and the outside was round and could be stretched. There was a special mechanism inside. Once the prey went in, it would trigger the latch. It was specifically for catching small prey.
What was amazing was that this leather snare could not only catch prey, but it wouldn’t damage the fur, ensuring that the fur was intact.
The wisdom of the ancients was evident. There was always a way to overcome difficulties, and everything could be solved through research, as long as the benefits were great enough.
So human wisdom is boundless. Just like when Xu Lang took the college entrance exam in his previous life, some people were amazing. Most people studied how to get the answers right, but Chinese people studied how to get the answers right when they didn’t know the answers!
So the wisdom of Chinese people is unmatched. Foreigners can’t even compete. Involution is an attitude, we can out-involute them until they’re desperate!
Lao Hu stuffed chicken feathers into the leather snare. They were chicken feathers mixed with egg whites. The egg ultimately didn’t escape Lao Hu’s clutches. He placed it next to the large earthen mound, and the four of them waited in the distance. That was all they had to do.
It was that simple, as long as you had the tools.
They were fully equipped, all they had to do was move Yan Zi’s entire family fortune over.
If they still couldn’t catch the yellow weasel, then it would be a shame to Yan Zi’s family’s ancestral leather dumplings.
The four of them waited for a long time. They were hiding in the snowy forest, quietly waiting for some unlucky yellow weasel to deliver itself, to offer itself up, so that they could record its fearless and great spirit.
However, as the moon reached its zenith, they were all losing patience. There was still no movement.
The wind howled when they arrived, but now it was incredibly quiet. The weather was truly strange.
Suddenly, in the silent night, there was movement by the trap!