Two months ago, in Qinjia Village, the village chief Qin Laohuai's house.

Qin Laohuai sat cross-legged on the kang, this was a 65-year-old, thin old man, the oldest in the village. In this era, in the poverty, turmoil, and human life in the north, it is considered an absolute longevity, and the prestige in the village is naturally the most sufficient. His skin was dark and his face was full of deep wrinkles, and if you looked closely, you would see that there were fine layers of earth and sand in those wrinkles. His face, like his name, is a piece of old locust bark. It's just that there is a fine light in those cloudy old eyes from time to time.

The old man picked up the liquor in his hand and drank it little by little, maybe the wine was too spicy, choking his brows tightly wrinkled together. In front of him was a low, dilapidated larch table, with mottled paint and a few small cavities. There were 4 or 5 fierce men around the table. Everyone was silent, and there was no sip of the bad wine in their hands, and only the pine branches on the wall were left, which "crackled" and burned.

"Okay, I've said everything that needs to be said, let's see what to do." Although it was a question for everyone, his eyes fell directly to the first man on the left.

I saw a mighty man, more than six feet tall, with a tiger's back and a bear's waist, and the muscles on his chest were bulging, as if he was about to tear his clothes out. The broad arms really ran the horses and drove the carts. Looking up again, the tiger's mouth and lion's nose, the size of copper bells in the eyes, and the eyes are as cold as substance, which makes people shudder. Such a character should be a battlefield warrior and a charging general, and it is a pity to live in this small village. This person is the best hunter in the village, Qin Duanshan.

"What else, this thief doesn't give us a way to live, when we are pigs and dogs, we will earn our lives to show it!" Sure enough, the sound was like thunder, and there was a sound on the ground. "All the people in the village have a handle, as long as they have a hunting fork, they all go hunting. The old and weak women and children, taking advantage of the shallow water of the Chaobai River, all fucking went to touch the fish, Lao Tzu didn't believe it, God could still starve the blind finches to death? Qin Duanshan spat out thick phlegm with a "poof" and said hatefully.

"Yes, Brother Qin is right, we can still starve to death if we don't believe it? That's it! "It was Qin Duanshan's iron brother who took the conversation, Duan Liu.

This is a middle-aged man in his almost forty. He has a knife face, which is very ordinary, and if you look at it alone, you can't find it in the crowd. But his capable temperament makes it impossible to ignore his existence. Even if he is standing in the corner and doesn't say a word, people will find him the first time. He is the only person with a foreign surname in Qinjia Village, 20 years ago he fled here with his wife, a set of "Duanjia knife" made it superb, and it was difficult to meet opponents in the village, that is, Qin Duanshan used his 60-pound steel fork to lower him. Therefore, Duan Liu in Qinjia Village only serves Qin Duanshan.

Seeing this, the others applauded. It can be seen that the prestige of Qin Duanshan is very high among these people.

"Don't be noisy, don't be noisy, since everyone has discussed it, the old man will go back and inform everyone to prepare, and we will set off the day after tomorrow." The old village chief patted the case table hard, and the case shook twice. "It's not early, let's go back and prepare!" The village chief waved his hand tiredly and gave the order to evict the guests.

"Yes!" The men got up suddenly, Qin Duanshan picked up the wine bowl, drank the rest of the wine, wiped his mouth and everyone turned around and walked to the door.

"Broken Mountain, wait a minute." The village chief suddenly stopped Qin Duanshan.

"Second uncle, do you have anything else?" Qin Duanshan turned around suspiciously. Since it is called Qinjia Village, naturally most of them are surnamed Qin, and the people in the village have such a relationship of playing a few poles. Although Qin Laohuai is not Qin Duanshan's uncle, he is not too far away.

"I heard that your mother-in-law is sick again? Can't you go with your brother again? It's a pity, even though that kid is young, he has the true inheritance of you and Duan Liu, and he is a good hand. The old village chief shook his head regretfully, not knowing if it was because he had buried a good hunter, or because he would hunt less prey.

"Alas, the lady's body is weak, and at this time, she coughs desperately before winter comes, and if she is not careful, she will get a cold. No, the day before yesterday, I made breakfast a little early, and I caught a cold, so I lay down. Qin Duanshan's eyes were full of worry and helplessness. Her mother-in-law is not like the girls in the mountains, and at this time it is a hurdle of life and death, but fortunately, there has been no danger for so many years.

"That's also something that can't be helped, but fortunately, you are the best hunter in our village, and you have been out for so many years in your early years, so you are very knowledgeable. Although there is less work to be done, others can't say anything. The old village chief waved his hand understandingly.

What Qin Laohuai said was the truth, Qinjia Village was originally a village where individuals were not very prosperous. Every man must be used as a strong laborer from thirteen or fourteen onwards. In such a disaster year, everyone is even more twisted into a rope, those who have money contribute, those who have no money contribute, no one can be lazy and slippery, except for Qin Duanshan's son Qin Wang. Since Qin Forget grew up, no matter how hard it was, he didn't go into the mountains and fight hard like other boys who were about the same age as him. Others have no complaints, relying on Qin Duanshan's ability and high prestige.

"Look at what the second uncle said, you are always the best hunter in our village, didn't you teach me all this ability?" Hearing Qin Laohuai mention the events of his early years, the essence in Qin Duanshan's eyes flashed, and he quickly covered it up, and patted him lightly. It seems that this is not a reckless man who looks so rude on the surface.

"Broken Mountain, Uncle still remembers the way you took your mother-in-law back to Qinjia Village." Qin Laohuai smiled slightly, and accepted Qin Duanshan's sycophant, "Although the uncle has never been out of the village, he has lived for such a long time. Your mother-in-law is the daughter of a big family at first glance, and I estimate that even the daughter of the county master can't compare. In fact, when you first entered the village, many village elders told me that they wanted to drive you away, but I didn't agree, do you know why? ”

Hearing Qin Laohuai suddenly talk about the old past, and it was the last thing he wanted others to know, Qin Duanshan's face became complicated, and there was even a faint flickering killing intent in his eyes, "Why?" He asked in a deep voice.

As if he didn't see Qin Duanshan's expression, Qin Laohuai said to himself: "You kid grew up under the watchful eyes of your uncle, and your temper is the same as your father's, stubborn like a donkey." But if you want to say that you will do anything bad for the village, Uncle really doesn't believe it. You see, after so many years, you haven't come quietly? Uncle said that he didn't mean anything else, but just wanted to tell you that you must pay attention to hunting. I have a hunch that this year will be a disaster for me, and if I die, this village will be handed over to you. ”

Qin Duanshan's face turned red, and he was very ashamed of what he thought just now, "Uncle, don't say that, we haven't encountered such a disaster year before, we will definitely be able to get through it, and you will live a long life." ”

Qin Laohuai laughed, his face did not change, as if he was saying something very ordinary, "I have been hunting all my life, and I have learned the habits of those beasts in the mountains and forests, and sometimes I feel that I have also learned their skills." Everything has spirituality, goshawks and wild cats can have a premonition of their own death, and this time it can't be wrong. ”

Qin Laohuai's words were so conclusive that Qin Duanshan didn't know how to comfort him, "Uncle, rest assured, Duanshan will definitely do his best to protect the village." ”

Qin Laohuai smiled again, expressing his satisfaction.

"Mother, drink the medicine." Qin Forget cautiously came to his mother Qin Ji with a bowl of inky black medicinal juice, looking at his mother's pale face, his stiff brows wrinkled slightly, and his bright eyes contained worry.

"Forget your child, are you tired?" Qin Ji's face was pale, and his lips were bloodless, which made his originally fair skin a little whiter, reflecting a kind of morbid beauty.

She gently wiped a trace of ash from her son's cheek, "After being ill for my mother for a few years, I have made my son a famous little doctor, who collects, dispenses, and decocts medicine, and wrongs my son." "There is no Langzhong in the mountain village, once you get sick, in addition to stiffening, you have to go to the county town to ask for a doctor, but where can the villagers afford these doctors. There are also those barefoot langzhong and witches who walk the streets, but it is better to be stiff than to invite them. So over the years, Qin Wangpan has also practiced good medical skills with several medical books and rich practical experience.

"Mother, it's not hard. You're not as sick as you used to, you see。。。。。。 Qin looked at his mother with a look in his eyes, and his eyes were full of anxiety and expectation when he saw that the sugar could not reach it.

"My mother knows that you want to go hunting, but I don't allow my mother!" Qin Ji's face changed suddenly, and a layer of ice immediately formed on his originally pale face. His eyes also turned into the biting cold wind outside, and it hurt from the cold.

"Got it, mother." Qin Wang's eyes suddenly dimmed, he didn't understand why his mother hated him so much as a teenager in a mountain village and even strictly forbade him to hunt. Although his father secretly took him to practice a good hunting skill, how much he wanted to be recognized by his mother.

"Go review your homework, recite "Pipe" to me before going to bed today, I'm tired." Qin Ji slowly closed his eyes and no longer looked at his son's face.

"Child, my husband is going to take the people in the village to hunt the day after tomorrow, forget your child, and prepare things for Lao Tzu." At this time, Qin Duanshan pushed open the simple door and shouted.

"Hey!" Qin Forget happily agreed and went to prepare, usually his mother did not allow him to touch his father's hunting things, but now it was a rare and good opportunity, and he couldn't help but be unhappy.

"Take care of yourself when you're hunting, don't be too desperate." Qin Ji looked at the man in front of him, his tone was light, and he didn't seem to be facing his husband.

"Hey, hey, I know, you're not in good shape, take care of yourself." Qin Duanshan touched his head happily, and a word of concern that was not salty or light, seemed to make him very happy.

Next, Qin Ji turned over and fell asleep, and the two seemed to have spoken all the words in the world。。。。。。

Qin Duanshan looked at Qin Ji's who had fallen asleep, a look of admiration and pity flashed on his face, he looked at Qin Ji's family deeply a few times, and turned his face to pack up the dry food he was going to take to the mountain.

A day later, it was still the old village chief's house, 45 young and middle-aged people, 45 hunters of Qinjia Village, and 45 well-known men, who carried hunting bows, steel forks, hunting knives, animal clips, fire sickles, hunting dogs, dried cow dung, dry food, and sleeping bags。。。。。。。 Departure. There is no mobilization, no ambition, some are just the expectation to fill their stomachs, and the desire not to let their wives and children and parents go hungry. Walked through the path leading to the mountain at the entrance of the village, walked into the mountain pass like the blood of the beast, and walked into the depths of Taihang Mountain without hesitation.

This time, no one came back.