Chapter 631 Hunting Success 4
Xu Damao felt as if a basin of freezing cold water was poured down from head to toe in winter. The fire of hope that had been burning in his heart seemed to be extinguished by an invisible force in the harsh and cold rebuke of the workshop director, leaving only a wisp of smoke that rose up and quickly dissipated into the air. He slowly lowered his head and his eyes fell on the hunting knife he was holding tightly. The blade should have shone with cold light in the sun, but now it seemed to be covered with a layer of haze, losing its former sharpness and vitality, just like his mood at the moment, dim and dull.
"Second uncle, our carefully prepared plan..." Xu Damao's words were mixed with frustration and unwillingness that were difficult to conceal. Every word seemed to be squeezed out from the bottom of his heart, heavy and powerless. His eyes flashed with complex emotions, both the regret of failure and the confusion about the future.
Hearing this, Liu Haizhong sighed softly, and a bitter smile appeared on his weather-beaten face, as if he was comforting Xu Damao and also making fun of himself: "Da Mao, life is like chess. One wrong move can lead to a complete loss. We really can't rush this matter. We are now like screws in this workshop, small but indispensable. We must do our part well first, which is the foundation for us to gain a foothold. As for the mysterious place in the back mountain, let's put it aside for now and wait for the right time to make plans later."
Xu Damao clenched his teeth when he heard this, and the suffocation in his chest almost burst out of his chest, but he knew that Liu Haizhong was right, so he could only suppress the anger and unwillingness in his heart. He nodded silently, slowly sheathed the hunting knife that had entrusted him with countless dreams, as if he had also sealed up the unwillingness and desire, and then followed Liu Haizhong's steps and returned heavily to the familiar yet unfamiliar workstation.
In the workshop, the roar of machines rose and fell, like a never-ending tide, constantly hitting Xu Damao's eardrums. The busy figures of the workers intertwined into vivid pictures in front of his eyes, and he was like a small gear in this huge machine. Although insignificant, he had to run with the overall rhythm. Xu Damao took a deep breath and tried to calm his heart. He closed his eyes and let his mind escape from this turbulent reality temporarily. When he opened his eyes again, his eyes had regained their former firmness, although there was still a trace of subtle hesitation in that firmness.
He picked up the tools at hand and began to mechanically repeat his daily work, but the waves in his heart were difficult to calm down. Whenever his thoughts drifted to the shelved plan, He Yuzhu's smug face would involuntarily appear in his mind, as if silently mocking his incompetence. Every time he recalled it, it was like a sharp knife, deeply hurting his heart and making him unable to let it go.
Liu Haizhong silently observed Xu Damao's every move, his eyes full of understanding and sympathy. He slowly walked over, gently patted Xu Damao on the shoulder, and said in a low and powerful voice: "Damo, there will inevitably be setbacks and setbacks in life. The important thing is that we should not be defeated by temporary difficulties. Remember, the most important thing now is to be down-to-earth and do the best you can at hand. When the time is right, we will look for a turnaround together. By then, we will definitely make those who laugh at us look at us with new eyes."
Liu Haizhong's words were like a warm current that slowly flowed into Xu Damao's heart, gradually warming up his heart that had been cold due to failure. Xu Damao looked up and saw Liu Haizhong's encouraging eyes. An unprecedented strength surged in his heart. He secretly vowed that one day, he would prove his worth with his actions and make those who despised him pay the price.
Xu Damao's forced smile hung on the corner of his mouth for a few minutes before gradually fading, but his eyes revealed an imperceptible determination. He nodded to Liu Haizhong, with an imperceptible tremor in his voice: "Second Uncle, you are right. I will listen to you. Let's do the things in front of us first, and we can talk about the rest later."
Every minute that followed, Xu Damao tried his best to stop thinking about the plan that had been temporarily shelved. He forced himself to focus on the workpiece in his hands, and strived for perfection in every cut and every polish. However, every time he thought he had put that unwillingness behind him, a gentle call would always come from a corner of his heart, reminding him that the desire had not really dissipated.
Time seemed to be stretched, and every second passed very slowly. Finally, the bell for the end of get off work rang, like a horn of relief, and the workers stopped their work and began to pack up their tools. Xu Damao's movements seemed a little slow, and his eyes wandered around the workshop, as if he was looking for something, or maybe just avoiding the reality he was about to face.
"Da Mao, what's wrong? Are you still thinking about that?" Liu Haizhong's voice sounded at the right time, interrupting Xu Damao's thoughts. He looked up and saw Liu Haizhong walking towards him with a relaxed smile on his face, as if all the troubles had nothing to do with him.
"Oh, it's okay, Uncle. I was just... a little distracted." Xu Damao smiled awkwardly and started to pack his things. He knew that Liu Haizhong saw through his worries and wanted to enlighten him.
"Let's go, Damao. Let's go have a couple of drinks and relax." Liu Haizhong patted Xu Damao on the shoulder, his tone implying that he could not refuse.
Xu Damao hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded. He knew that at this moment, he might really need a glass of wine to calm himself down. So, the two of them walked out of the workshop one after the other. The afterglow of the setting sun stretched their shadows long, as if telling of their helplessness and expectations.
In the pub, the lights were dim and warm, and the air was filled with a faint aroma of wine. Liu Haizhong found a seat by the window and ordered a pot of wine and a few side dishes. Xu Damao sat opposite him, his eyes drifting out the window from time to time, but his mind was obviously not on that quiet street.
"Da Mao, I know you're unhappy." Liu Haizhong poured a glass of wine and handed it to Xu Damao, with some understanding and sympathy in his voice, "But this matter can't be rushed. We have to take it slow, there will always be opportunities. Just like this wine, the older it gets, the better it tastes. Our plan also needs time to brew."
Xu Damao took the wine glass and drank it all. The spicy wine slid down his throat, bringing a brief sense of stimulation, as if it also took away some of the troubles in his heart. He put down the wine glass and sighed: "Second Uncle, I just can't accept it. Why can Sha Zhu be so easy? Do we have to be depressed here? Every time I see his smug look, I feel uncomfortable."
Liu Haizhong smiled, poured himself a glass of wine, and took a sip: "Da Mao, how can there be so many fair things in this world? Sha Zhu is just lucky. But luck is the most unreliable thing. As long as we wait patiently and work hard to improve ourselves, there will always be a chance. When the time comes, we will not only impress him, but also let him know who is the real strong one."
After that, the two smiled at each other, as if they had reached some kind of tacit understanding. The lights in the pub made their smiles particularly warm, as if all the troubles had disappeared at this moment. However, Xu Damao knew in his heart that the real challenge was still to come.
Xu Damao's silence did not last long, as if his inner struggle was just a moment of fireworks, and was instantly replaced by a fierce look in his eyes. "Second uncle, why don't we just... go and cause trouble for Sha Zhu? Let him have a taste of being humiliated! Let him know that we are not easy to mess with." Xu Damao's words were full of determination, as if he was ready to perish together with his enemies.
However, Liu Haizhong couldn't help but frown when he heard this. He shook his head and said earnestly, "Da Mao, this is absolutely not allowed. We are reasonable people and can't do such things as fighting violence with violence. Besides, although Sha Zhu sometimes acts arrogantly, he has his own power behind him. If we act rashly, we may get into bigger trouble. By then, the gain will outweigh the loss."
Xu Damao felt unwilling to accept this, but he also understood that Liu Haizhong was right. He lowered his head and drank a sip of wine in a depressed mood. The feeling of being frustrated surged into his heart again. He said bitterly, "So we're just going to wait like this? Do nothing?"
Seeing this, Liu Haizhong smiled faintly, picked up the wine glass, took a sip, and his eyes seemed to sparkle with wisdom. "Da Mao, don't be impatient. You can't eat hot tofu in a hurry. We have to take a long-term view. I have an idea. We can do this..." As he said, he moved closer to Xu Damao and whispered a few words.
As Liu Haizhong spoke, Xu Damao's eyes gradually brightened, as if he saw the dawn of hope. The haze on his face was swept away, replaced by a touch of excitement and anticipation. He nodded, a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, and the smile was a bit cunning and resolute: "Second Uncle, you still have a way! Let's do it! We must teach that silly Zhu a lesson!"
The two smiled at each other, as if they had reached some kind of tacit understanding. They raised their glasses, clinked them lightly, and drank them all. The lights in the tavern shone on their faces, giving them a mysterious and firm glow, as if foreshadowing the coming storm.
In the next few days, Xu Damao's mood was obviously much better. He was no longer as depressed as before, but full of energy and vitality. The workers in the workshop noticed his change and wondered if he had encountered something good or had a chance encounter. However, only Liu Haizhong knew that Xu Damao's change was because their plan was moving forward step by step, and they were secretly preparing and waiting for the right time.
Finally, the opportunity they had been waiting for came.
After get off work one day, Xu Damao and Liu Haizhong quietly came to the back mountain. The afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on the mountains and forests, giving the entire hillside a layer of golden brilliance, as if even nature was cheering for their plan. Xu Damao clenched the hunting knife in his hand, feeling nervous and excited, a complex emotion mixed with expectation and trepidation.
"Uncle, can we really find those beasts?" Xu Damao asked in a low voice, with a hint of uneasiness in his voice. Although he had made preparations, he still felt a little uneasy in the face of unknown challenges. However, Liu Haizhong just smiled slightly, his eyes full of confidence and determination, as if telling Xu Damao: "Don't worry, Damao, we will definitely find them."
Liu Haizhong gently patted Xu Damao's shoulder, his eyes full of comfort and encouragement: "Da Mao, don't worry. Didn't we come out this time just to have some fun and test our courage and wisdom? As long as we are careful and stay alert, we will definitely gain something, whether it is prey or something else."
The two of them stepped into the forest carefully. The dead leaves under their feet rustled, as if it was the whisper of nature, reminding them of the mystery and unknown here. Xu Damao's heartbeat accelerated involuntarily, and he held the hunting knife in his hand tighter because of nervousness. He looked around, afraid to miss any slight movement, any corner where prey might be hidden.
Suddenly, there was a rustling sound from the bushes ahead, as if some creature was moving quietly. Xu Damao and Liu Haizhong stopped at the same time, held their breath, and pricked up their ears to listen carefully. The sound was getting closer and closer, as if it was about to reveal its mystery.
"Here it comes!" Liu Haizhong said in a low and excited voice, with a glimmer of anticipation and excitement in his eyes, as if he had already seen the prey right in front of him.
Xu Damao nodded nervously, holding the hunting knife tightly, leaning forward slightly, ready to attack at any time. However, just as they were about to act, a gray-brown hare suddenly jumped out of the bushes, looked at them in fear, and then ran away quickly.
Xu Damao was stunned for a moment, then he breathed a sigh of relief, and the tension in his heart also dissipated a little: "It turned out to be a rabbit... I thought..." He didn't finish his words, but Liu Haizhong already understood what he meant.
Liu Haizhong smiled, with a bit of understanding and tolerance in his smile: "Da Mao, don't be impatient. We have just entered the mountain, and there is still a long way to go. Let's go further in, maybe we can run into bigger prey, so don't be soft-hearted when the time comes."
The two continued to move forward, and the atmosphere in the forest became increasingly tense. Xu Damao's forehead began to bead with sweat, but his eyes became more determined. He held the hunting knife tightly, not daring to relax at all, as if ready to meet the challenge at any time.
At this moment, a deep and powerful roar suddenly came from the front. The sound echoed in the mountains and forests, making people feel cold. Xu Damao and Liu Haizhong stopped at the same time, looked at each other, and read the same message from each other's eyes: it's a beast!