The night passed peacefully. At dawn, just as the sky began to lighten, Zhou Cang crawled out of the makeshift shelter. The heavy snow from last night had added another half a foot to the ground level. The bonfire hadn't completely died out, with the last pieces of wood still stubbornly burning.
Seeing that the snow had significantly lessened and also worried that Zhang Yue and Grandma would be anxious waiting, Zhou Cang got up, packed the sled, secured the bow, arrows, and other equipment onto the sled, and only carried the hunting rifle and knife on himself.
Zhou Cang warmed the flatbread over the remaining embers and ate it, then completely extinguished the fire with snow, put on the tow rope, and dragged the sled down the mountain.
The mountain forest was exceptionally difficult to navigate after the heavy snow. Sometimes, he would step on tree roots or holes hidden by the snow, stumbling and progressing with uneven steps.
Finally, he reached the hillside outside the Village entrance as the morning sun rose. Looking at the curling smoke rising from the chimneys in the Village, he could clearly see which one was his home.
Thinking of Zhang Yue and Grandma still waiting for him, Zhou Cang dragged the sled faster and faster, wishing he could jump straight in front of Zhang Yue and then enjoy the Xiao Yatou's surprised expression.
Thinking of this, his old face couldn't help but blush. Zhou Cang felt a bit speechless about his current state of mind. After all, he had lived two lives, yet he cared about a little girl to such an extent!
However, it was also a bit shameful to admit that he was only twenty-seven years old when he was killed by a drone in his previous life and never had a girlfriend until he died, which didn't quite align with the mercenary tradition.
Zhang Yue had been looking out from the Village entrance since dawn. When a few villagers sunning themselves saw her, they just offered a few words of comfort and then stopped talking.
In those days, it was very common for people who went into the mountains not to return; incidents happened frequently. After several old Hunters, including Fu Gui's father, had died, the only person in the entire Village who still dared to go into the mountains was Fugui!
Zhang Yue's heart felt like it was being roasted by fire. Her Fugui Ge absolutely could not be in trouble!
Zhang Yue, who had been craning her neck in anticipation, finally saw Zhou Cang dragging the sled!
"Fugui Ge!"
Zhang Yue flew over like a little sparrow. At this moment, all the waiting was worthwhile.
Throwing herself into Zhou Cang's arms, even if villagers saw, Zhang Yue was no longer willing to hide anything. What brother and sister? She would be Fugui Ge's wife sooner or later!
This was something everyone in the Village knew!
"Oh, Fugui, is this a wolf?" Several villagers gathered around, looking at the wolf carcasses on the sled in astonishment.
"So big!"
"Four of them! All big wolves, and this one is especially large!" An old man shouted.
"There are also two roe deer legs!"
Everyone showed envious expressions. This full sled was probably enough to exchange for a winter's worth of grain.
Zhou Cang rubbed Zhang Yue's hair and said, "Alright, let's go home first. I'm hungry."
Only then did Zhang Yue react. Her face flushed, she ran behind the sled to push it, and she was also amazed when she saw the stacked wolf carcasses.
The villagers were the same. No one had ever hunted so many wolves at once before. Previously, at most, many people would go into the mountains together to hunt one or two.
What was the situation with Zhang Fugui? How did he hunt so many at once!
Everyone followed behind the two, all the way to Fugui's courtyard. In the countryside at that time, visiting each other's homes was a common thing, and no one would refuse entry.
"Fugui, how did you hunt them?" A villager finally couldn't help but ask.
"Heh, I originally wanted to hunt roe deer, but I accidentally stumbled into a wolf den. These beasts wanted to eat me, so I killed a few, plus this alpha wolf."
"These two roe deer legs were picked up in the wolf den," Zhou Cang said calmly.
"Hiss!" There was a collective gasp of astonishment.
"You weren't injured?"
"No, why would I be injured? Just a few wolves?" Zhou Cang felt that not acting cool at this moment would invite lightning strikes, so he simply told the truth.
"Look, these two were shot, this one was pierced by an arrow, and the biggest one was stabbed to death with a knife!"
Hearing this, the villagers felt it was too incredible, but seeing the bloodstains on Zhou Cang's clothes, they couldn't doubt it.
"Fugui, what are you planning to do with these wolves?" A villager asked.
"I'll exchange them for grain in Town. We'll keep one to eat at home, and the rest will be sold."
"Fugui, look, how about I exchange some sorghum for some offal with you?" The villager continued to ask.
Since the Village was too small, Zhao Kaishan also got the news and came over at this time, along with Zhang Deben and his son, and many other people from the Village.
"Captain, he killed wolves. Will the Wolf Pack retaliate against the Village in the future?" Zhang Shengli said.
This dog that can't change its ways! Zhou Cang looked at Zhang Shengli coldly, already having murderous intent. This scoundrel was Zhang Fugui's relative, but not Zhou Cang's.
In Zhou Cang's eyes, Zhang Shengli was clearly just a villainous NPC, and finding an opportunity to kill him wasn't out of the question!
"Stop spouting nonsense!" Zhao Kaishan cursed. "Wolves used to come into the Village to snatch sheep and steal chickens when they were hungry. Who were they retaliating against then?"
He poked at the wolf carcasses for a while and also saw that the largest alpha wolf had been stabbed to death with a knife.
"Not simple!" Zhao Kaishan thought silently, then stood up and looked at Zhou Cang.
"Fugui, come inside and let's talk for a bit." Zhao Kaishan pulled Zhou Cang into the house. Hu Xianglan also followed.
Zhao Kaishan glanced at Hu Xianglan, didn't avoid anything, and said directly to Zhou Cang,
"For these wolves of yours, the Production Team will exchange half a one for grain. The Production Team canteen hasn't seen meat in a long time!"
At that time, the Great Brigade had a canteen, and every household didn't need to cook. But later, the canteen ran short of grain, so they had no choice but to start cooking at home again.
"Okay, for what the Production Team wants to exchange, just give whatever amount of grain you see fit, Captain! Also, I'll send you a roe deer leg tonight." Zhou Cang gave Zhao Kaishan plenty of face.
"Good, Fugui, you are capable. I'll work something out for you later. Our Production Team still lacks a Forest Ranger, and I think you're just the person!"
"The salary isn't much, eight yuan. From now on, when you go hunting in the mountains, just hand over a portion of what you hunt to the Great Brigade. What you hand over will be counted as work points for you. In addition, the Great Brigade will provide you with a gun and bullets. You just need to be responsible for driving away the wolves around the Village."
"Don't dislike the low salary. I also know that meat is valuable now. But think about it, with the identity of a Forest Ranger, no one will gossip about you anymore."
Seeing Zhao Kaishan's sincere face, Zhou Cang also understood that to build his fortune through hunting, he had to maintain a good relationship with the Production Team.
"Okay, I'll do it!"
Zhou Cang had already seen through it; Zhao Kaishan wanted to rely on him for meat. Cooperation was good for everyone. Moreover, if the whole Village could eat meat because of Fugui, it would also make Zhang Yue and Grandma's lives more comfortable.
Stepping out, Zhao Kaishan glared at Zhang Shengli and said to the villagers,
"Everyone listen up, go to the canteen for dinner this afternoon, there will be stewed wolf meat!"
"If anyone wants to exchange meat with Fugui, just come and see. As long as both parties agree, the Production Team won't interfere. If anyone causes trouble..." Saying this, he glared fiercely at Zhang Shengli again.
"Don't blame me for being impolite!"