Chapter 719 Northeast Journey 5
In the lush, thorny forest, the sun struggled to penetrate the gaps between the layers of branches and leaves, casting dots of light. Chen Dahu, Liu Ping'an, and Chen Xiaohu were struggling to move forward. They were covered with dirt and grass, and their clothes were soaked with sweat and stuck tightly to their backs. The three of them were holding up the corpse of a huge wild boar. The wild boar had long since died, but its thick fangs and huge body still showed its ferocity when it was alive. In addition, Liu Ping'an was carefully holding a furry little wild boar cub. The little guy twisted restlessly in his arms, making a faint humming sound.
The mountain road under their feet was rugged and full of gravel and weeds. They took one deep step and one shallow step. Every step took a lot of effort. Chen Dahu walked in the front. He was tall and strong, but he was also exhausted and panting. He stretched out his strong arms and pushed away the branches that were blocking his way. The sharp thorns on the branches scratched his arms from time to time, leaving shallow blood marks, but he didn't care. He just kept muttering: "This wild boar has been dealt with, but these little guys are enough for us to toss for a while. Look at these one by one, and we have to worry about their eating, drinking, defecating and urinating. I don't know whether it is a blessing or a curse." There was a hint of helplessness in his voice, but also a hint of excitement. After all, it was not an easy task for them to capture such a big wild boar.
Liu Ping'an held the little wild boar in his arms with a gentle smile on his face, and responded: "This is fate. Maybe it can bring some benefits to the village in the future. Think about it, when these little guys grow up, maybe we will have more meat to eat in our village, and we can also take them to the market to exchange for some money to improve everyone's life." As he spoke, he gently stroked the little wild boar's head. The little guy seemed to feel his kindness and gradually calmed down.
Chen Xiaohu followed behind, looking at the little fellow in his arms from time to time, his eyes full of love. He grinned and said, "Yes, it looks so pitiful, we have to take good care of it. Such a small fellow has lost its mother, if we don't take care of it, it may not survive. Since we have encountered it, we have to be responsible for it." He reached out and gently poked the belly of the little wild boar, and the little fellow was amused by him and hummed twice.
In this way, the three of them slowly moved forward on this difficult mountain road, taking every step carefully, fearing that they would fall to the ground accidentally. After an unknown amount of time, when they finally walked out of the forest, the scenery in front of them suddenly opened up. From a distance, they saw the hunter from before anxiously wandering at the edge of the forest. The hunter was wearing a tattered coarse cloth, his face was full of anxiety and worry, and he was still holding the axe tightly in his hand. From time to time, he looked into the forest, his eyes full of expectation and anxiety.
Seeing Liu Ping'an and his companions coming out, the hunter's eyes lit up, as if he had seen a savior, and he hurried to meet them. He took two steps at a time and quickly walked to the front of the crowd, saying excitedly: "Oh, I finally saw you out! I was worried about what happened to you in the mountains! There are many dangers in this forest, and there are many wild animals. I am so anxious waiting here that my heart is in my throat." His voice was trembling with anxiety, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
The hunter looked at them with concern, his eyes fell on the wild boar cubs in their arms and the wild boar carcass on the ground, his eyes full of gratitude. He bowed deeply and said, "Thank you very much, if it weren't for you, I would have lost my life in this mountain today. The wild boar suddenly rushed out, and I was so scared that my legs went limp. If you hadn't helped me in time, I would have been killed by the boar. You not only saved my life, but also subdued the wild boar. I really don't know how to thank you." His voice was full of gratitude, and his eyes were slightly red.
Seeing the hunter so grateful, Liu Ping'an quickly waved his hand, with a humble smile on his face, and said: "Brother, don't say that. No one would stand idly by if they saw this situation. We are all honest people. When faced with such a life-threatening situation, how can we just watch someone die? And we are lucky to have subdued the wild boar. The wild boar was very ferocious. If it weren't for the three of us working together, and adding a little cleverness, we might not have been able to take it down. Don't take this matter too seriously." His voice was simple and sincere, and every word seemed to carry the earthy flavor of the countryside.
After hearing this, the hunter scratched his head and showed a simple and honest smile on his face. That smile was like a flower blooming in spring, with a bit of simple joy. He grinned and said, "No matter what, you are my saviors. If it weren't for you, I might have become a meal for wild boars. I am not well educated and can't speak nice words, but I remember this kindness in my heart. By the way, where are you going? I don't think you are locals. Your accent and your dress reveal the atmosphere of city people." His eyes were full of curiosity, staring at Liu Pingan and the others, as if he wanted to find the answer from their expressions.
Liu Ping'an cleared his throat and said seriously: "Brother, to be honest with you, we are purchasers from Sijiu City. Sijiu City is a big place with a large population and great demand. We are responsible for purchasing agricultural products from the countryside and transporting the good things grown by the villagers with great effort to the city to sell. Originally, I was worrying about how to find a suitable village. I was unfamiliar with the place and didn't know where to go. I didn't expect to meet you. This is really fate." There was a hint of emotion in his tone, as if the arrangement of fate was so wonderful.
When the hunter heard this, his eyes lit up instantly, like a meteor that suddenly streaked across the night sky, bright and full of surprise. His face was full of surprise, and he slapped his thigh excitedly and said, "Oh, what a coincidence! The village you are going to is exactly our village! Our village is not far ahead, with beautiful mountains and rivers, fertile land, and the things grown are so good. Come on, come back to the village with me, I will definitely ask the villagers to bring out the best things for you to see! I guarantee you will be satisfied and dazzled." As he spoke, he walked in front enthusiastically to lead the way, with brisk and anxious steps, as if he was afraid that Liu Ping'an and the others would change their minds.
Along the way, the hunter was like a hospitable tour guide, constantly introducing the situation in the village to Liu Ping'an and the others. He pointed to the hillside in the distance and said, "Look at that hillside, that's the orchard planted by the Zhang family. The Zhang family is good at growing fruits. The fruits are big and sweet. When you take a bite, the juice will flow down the corners of your mouth. There are apples, pears, peaches, and everything else. They are all natural and pollution-free. It's hard to buy such good fruits in the city." His face was filled with pride, as if the orchard was his own.
Then, he pointed to a vegetable field on the side of the road and said, "And this vegetable field belongs to Aunt Wang. The vegetables grown by Aunt Wang are so fresh and green, and they are pleasing to the eye. The cucumbers, tomatoes, and beans are all very fresh. She never uses chemical fertilizers, but only farmyard manure, and the vegetables she grows taste different, sweet and refreshing. When you get to the village, you must try them." As he spoke, he gestured with his hands, as if he wanted to convey the beauty of those fruits and vegetables to Liu Ping'an and the others.
"Although our village is not big, it is rich in products. Every household grows a lot of things, hoping to sell them at a good price. The arrival of your purchasing agents is really a great thing for our village! If the villagers knew you were coming, they would definitely be very happy. Maybe they would set up a few tables tonight to entertain you well." The hunter said excitedly, with joy flashing in his eyes, as if he had already seen the smiles on the faces of the villagers and the lively scene.
Liu Pingan was very happy when he heard this. He said, "Brother, please tell the villagers when you go back. As long as the product is of good quality and the price is reasonable, we will definitely purchase a large amount."
The hunter patted his chest and assured: "No problem! I promise to pass on the message. The villagers will be very happy to know that there is a buyer coming."
Before they knew it, they arrived at the quiet and vibrant village. The village was like a warm pearl, quietly embedded at the foot of the mountain. Houses were scattered in an orderly manner, some built on the mountain, some by the water, and the blue tiles and white walls were shining in the sun, exuding a simple and warm atmosphere. At this time, it was the time for every household to light a fire and cook. Wisps of smoke rose from the chimney, like soft ribbons, slowly floating in the breeze. The smoke was filled with a strong breath of life, with the faint smell of burning firewood and the tempting aroma of food, as if silently telling the ordinary and happy days in the village.
The villagers were busy with their own things. Some were carrying hoes and returning from the fields, some were carrying buckets to fetch water from the river, and some were hanging clothes at the door. When they saw the hunters returning with three strangers, they couldn't help but stop what they were doing and gathered around curiously. They were like a group of children who had discovered something new, with curiosity shining in their eyes and talking among themselves.
The hunter looked at the villagers who gathered around him, his face filled with a proud and enthusiastic smile. He cleared his throat and said loudly: "Fellow villagers, these three are purchasers from Sijiu City, who come to our village specifically to purchase agricultural products! If you have any good things, don't hide them, take them out and show them to the purchasers! This is a great opportunity for our village. Maybe we can sell all our products to the city, so that everyone can live a better life!" His voice was loud and passionate, as if injecting a powerful motivation into the villagers.
As soon as the words fell, the villagers were in an uproar, and the originally quiet scene suddenly became lively. Everyone was like a group of chirping sparrows, talking at once.
"Hey, the buyers are here. This is really rare. Our village products are now in demand!" A slightly plump woman clapped her thighs excitedly, with a smile on her face like a blooming chrysanthemum. As she spoke, she gestured with her hands, as if she had seen the lively scene of her own agricultural products being shipped to the city.
"That's right. The apples from my few acres of land have a bumper harvest this year, but I'm worried about where to sell them! Those apples are big, red and sweet. If I can sell them to the city, I'm sure I can get a good price." A dark-skinned uncle grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. His eyes were shining with anticipation, as if he had seen the money waving to him.
At this time, someone in the crowd shouted, "Look, they have killed a wild boar. It is really big!" This shout was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring up thousands of waves. Everyone's attention was immediately attracted to the huge wild boar. They gathered around, pointing at it, their eyes full of amazement and curiosity.
"This wild boar must weigh at least 300 to 400 kilograms. How long will it take to eat? Such a big one is enough for our whole village to eat for several days." A white-haired old man came over tremblingly on a crutch, squinting his eyes to look at the wild boar carefully, muttering to himself.
"Look at the fangs, they are so long, pointed and sharp, like two sharp daggers. If it weren't for the buyers, no one else would be able to deal with it! They might even be hurt by this wild boar." A young man stretched out his hand, carefully touched the wild boar's fangs, with an expression of awe on his face.
Just as everyone was talking about it, the village chief came hurriedly. He was a middle-aged man in his fifties, with a tall and straight figure, like a vigorous pine tree. He was wearing a Zhongshan suit that was washed a little bleached, and had a kind smile on his face, which was like the warm sun in winter, making people feel particularly warm. But his eyes revealed a shrewd and capable look, as if he could see through the essence of everything.
When he saw the wild boar, a flash of surprise flashed in his eyes, and then a warm smile appeared on his face. He walked quickly to Liu Ping'an and the other two, stretched out his hands, held Liu Ping'an's hands tightly, and said: "Welcome to our village! I heard that you are buyers, this is really a blessing for our village. Our village has been looking forward to such an opportunity to sell our agricultural products to the city. Your coming is like bringing a ray of hope to our village." His voice was steady and kind, which made people feel particularly at ease.
Liu Ping'an stepped forward and said politely, "Hello, village chief! We are lucky to have happened to pass by and saved this brother. We also learned that our village is rich in products, so we thought of buying some agricultural products."
The village chief nodded, his eyes fell on the wild boar again, and said: "You guys are really capable, this wild boar is a big one. I think it will be difficult to deal with it if you keep it for a while, so why not sell it to the village. The village will buy it at the market price, as a thank you for saving our village hunters."
When Chen Dahu heard this, his eyes lit up and he said, "Village Chief, that's great! We were just worried about the inconvenience of carrying this wild boar."
Liu Pingan thought about it and thought this was a good idea, so he said, "Okay, then I'll follow the village chief's arrangement. But we'll have to trouble the village chief to take care of our purchase of agricultural products."
The village chief patted his chest and said, "It's not a big deal! Don't worry, the quality of our village's agricultural products is absolutely guaranteed. So, tomorrow I will organize everyone to bring out their own agricultural products so that you can choose carefully."
"Village chief, these little guys will definitely not survive in this mountain without their sow. I was thinking if we could find a place in the village to raise them. When they grow up, maybe they can bring some benefits to the village."
The village chief heard this, touched his chin, thought for a moment and said, "Your idea is not bad. How about this, there is an abandoned pigsty at the west end of the village, we can clean it up and use it. Let's all work together to clean up the pigsty and raise the little wild boars."
The villagers responded one after another. They discussed how to arrange the pigsty and how to take care of the little wild boars. With the concerted efforts of everyone, they soon cleaned up the pigsty and found some soft hay to spread on the ground to make a warm nest for the little wild boars.
Liu Ping'an and his friends put the little wild boars into the pigsty and watched them rummaging around in the haystack, curiously exploring this new environment. Smiles appeared on everyone's faces.