Hunters rely on two things: accurate marksmanship and well-placed traps.
Most importantly, they need patience.
…
Winter, 1949.
Deep in the mountains.
A pristine blanket of white snow adorned the forest.
Trees stood bare, their branches stripped of leaves, resembling aged and lifeless elders.
The withered vegetation of autumn lay hidden beneath the snow, only the roots of the earth retaining a touch of moisture, awaiting the rejuvenation of spring.
The winter chill was biting, and animals retreated to their dens, rarely venturing out.
It was not a season suitable for hunting.
Yet for those desperately lacking food, winter hunting was the only option after wild vegetables had been exhausted and edible bark consumed.
In the heart of the snowfield.
Broken sweet potatoes and a few grains of rice served as bait.
Beside a pile of dry grass, a hunting rifle pointed towards the bait, its surface coated with a layer of snow. A pair of hands, reddened by the cold, gripped the rifle barrel tightly.
A pair of determined eyes, their owner's features concealed by a scarf.
“Gulp.”
Qin Si swallowed, his mouth dry. He had been lying here for over an hour.
So far, there had been no luck.
He scooped some snow into his mouth, alleviating his thirst, while the coldness of the snow gradually calmed his restless mind.
He woke up, inexplicably transported through time.
Qin Si had gradually come to terms with this reality, and lying in the snow for over an hour was nothing new.
His parents had passed away, leaving him with nothing but empty walls.
If it weren't for the help of the beautiful widowed neighbor, who had lent him some grain, Qin Si likely would have starved to death shortly after his arrival in this time.
Fortunately, his home had a hunting rifle.
With this homemade black powder rifle and the trap-making skills he had learned from watching videos in his previous life, Qin Si had managed to capture a few small animals, barely enough to sustain himself.
“It's so cold.”
Qin Si shivered, stuffing some leaves into his clothes for warmth.
It was merely a psychological comfort.
The cold was relentless, and the occasional gusts of wind nearly froze him solid.
If he didn't catch anything soon, he would have to leave. And if the traps he had set were unsuccessful, he would return empty-handed.
The next few days would be unbearable.
“Humph, humph, snort.”
Finally!
Just as Qin Si was about to give up, he heard a noise in the distance.
A large black boar, accompanied by a few piglets, slowly approached.
The boar was massive, its fat haunches swaying with each step. It rooted the ground with its snout every few paces, searching for food, weighing at least a hundred to two hundred pounds.
“Wild boar!” Qin Si's heart raced.
He had only caught rabbits and chickens before, small in quantity and lacking in meat.
In the black market, he could only exchange them for a few meager grains of rice, barely enough to survive.
He couldn't bear to eat them himself.
If he could take down this wild boar, it would fetch a good amount of grain, enough to sustain him for a month or two. He wouldn't have to worry about food.
He could even keep some meat for himself!
Meat!
Qin Si couldn't help but swallow, his gaze fixated on the boar, as fervent as a lover, his eyes gleaming with greed.
Taking a deep breath, Qin Si steadied his trembling hand.
“Closer, just a little closer.”
He prayed silently.
Before his arrival in this time, Qin Si had never touched a gun. Desperation had driven him to learn, risking a fatal explosion. He had relied on his memory and the knowledge he had gleaned from videos to load black powder, insert iron balls, and pull the trigger.
He had mastered the rifle, but his marksmanship was not good, relying heavily on luck at any distance beyond a few feet.
He had only a limited supply of black powder and iron balls left, not enough for practice.
So, Qin Si had placed the bait at a distance of five meters, the optimal range he had determined over the past month.
Any further, and he wouldn't be able to hit it.
Any closer, and the likelihood of the wild boar approaching would be low.
Qin Si's prayers were answered.
The group of boars, seemingly drawn by the scent of food, lumbered towards the bait, oblivious to any danger, relishing their unexpected feast.
“They're really pigs.”
A smile crept across Qin Si's face as he slowly aimed his rifle at the large boar, ignoring the piglets.
The sound of the rifle would inevitably scare the boars and cause them to flee.
He had only one shot. He fought to control his trembling hand, the five-meter distance was practically face-to-face.
He could even smell the boar's stench.
Aiming at the head…
As the large boar shifted its fat haunches, revealing its head, Qin Si pulled the trigger!
Bang!!
Flames and smoke erupted from the barrel, accompanied by a deafening roar. The iron ball, propelled by the force of the burning black powder within the barrel, instantly shot out.
It pierced the icy air, striking the large boar's forehead.
Pshh!
Blood splattered everywhere!
“Humph!!”
Startled by the loud noise, the boars squealed and scattered, disappearing into the forest in the blink of an eye.
The large boar ran for a dozen meters before collapsing to the ground.
Bang!
It crashed to the earth, kicking up a cloud of snow.
Swish!
Qin Si leaped to his feet, sprinting towards the boar while drawing his machete from his waist. Within a few breaths, he reached the fallen beast, swinging his machete forcefully at its neck and head.
One chop, two chops…
Only when the large boar lay lifeless, its body completely still and incapable of escape, did Qin Si collapse onto the snow, exhausted.
“Hahahaha, yes, yes!!”
Qin Si lay on the snow, punching the air in jubilation, a broad grin spreading across his face.
If it weren't for the boar's foul odor, he would have hugged it with delight.
At this moment, even a wife wouldn't trade places with him!
After a month of hardship, his reward today was the greatest. His excitement was palpable.
A long while passed.
Qin Si struggled to his feet.
He inspected his prey with a smile, while stretching and shaking his stiff body.
“Huh?”
Qin Si was confused.
A red light suddenly appeared beside the large boar, radiating an eerie glow…