Chapter 5: The Mountain Is Where I Truly Belong

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Zheng Qiuhua was used to dominating her home, bullying this couple as easily as picking on chicks. Especially Lin Qian, who never dared to resist despite all the beating and scolding. Naturally, she reached out to grab the roasted rabbit meat. But before her hand could get close, Zhao Weimin pulled the roast away. Zheng Qiuhua’s hand grasped at empty air, her brow furrowing in displeasure. “Weimin, why are you dodging? Are you afraid your sister-in-law will eat your share?” “If you want some, go hunt it yourself.” “Hunt it myself? Hah…” She sneered coldly and reached out again. “Don’t think I’m afraid to tell you—I was the one who suggested you come back. You don’t even thank me properly, and now you won’t even eat a piece of rabbit meat? Ungrateful wretch!” “So now I’m supposed to thank you properly?” Zhao Weimin smirked, eyes fixed on her. “How do you want me to thank you?” At this, a smile returned to Zheng Qiuhua’s face. “We’re family, no need for thanks. That rabbit looks plump. Give it to me—I’ll eat it. These days your nephew is nursing heavily; I can help increase his milk supply.” She reached out again. This time, however, it wasn’t a dodge but a hunter’s knife pressed against the child in her arms. The sudden shift terrified Zheng Qiuhua. She quickly stepped back two paces, clutching the child tightly, then angrily scolded, “Zhao Weimin, are you crazy? Pointing a knife at your nephew? If your brother finds out, he’ll break your hand!” “Take your brat and get lost!” Zhao Weimin dropped the act. “This time I held back, next time I might not.” Seemingly frightened by his fierceness, Zheng Qiuhua stepped back a few more paces. But recalling that she was there to bring them home, her confidence returned. “Zhao Weimin, I’m here to take you home. Looks like you don’t want to go back!” “Who told you we want to go back?” “What?” Zheng Qiuhua was stunned. “You don’t want to go back? Do you want to freeze or starve to death?” “Whether we freeze or starve, it’s none of your business.” “You…” Zheng Qiuhua’s mouth twitched. “Look at where you live, look at the clothes you wear and the blankets you have. Sooner or later, you’ll freeze to death!” “None of your business.” Their back-and-forth left Zheng Qiuhua speechless. She was furious. She had thought she could easily control the couple, but instead, she was given the cold shoulder. Soon, her gaze fell again on the roasted rabbit. As if realizing something, she scoffed, “I know why you won’t go back. You just got lucky finding a dead rabbit and had a full meal, so you forgot all about starving and freezing before, right?” In Zheng Qiuhua’s eyes, there was no way Zhao Weimin had actually hunted this prey.

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This rabbit was definitely a stroke of luck he stumbled upon in the mountains. Seeing no response, she was convinced of her suspicion. “Don’t think you’ll be lucky every day. Without your brother hunting to feed you two, you’ll starve to death out here.” Facing Zheng Qiuhua’s mockery and threats, Zhao Weimin raised his knife. “If you don’t leave now, I’ll be collecting the remains of the brat in your arms.” “You…” Zheng Qiuhua was somewhat intimidated. Seeing he was unmoved, she had no choice but to give up. “You’re truly stubborn—wait till you’re begging me to come back!” Saying that, she quickly left the cabin with the child in her arms. Watching her retreating back, Lin Qian felt worried. She stood and closed the wooden door, then returned to the fire. After glancing at her husband, she remained silent. Zhao Weimin, noting her hesitation, guessed she had something to say. “You think we should go back?” “No, no, no…” Lin Qian shook her head vigorously. “Even if we starve or freeze out here, I don’t want to go back.” “Then what are you doing?” “Sigh!” She sighed, her eyes tinged with sorrow. “You know your brother, your mother, and sister-in-law’s temper. Sister-in-law suffered losses here, and they definitely won’t let it go.” “So what if they won’t let it go?” “Weimin.” Lin Qian placed her frostbitten hand on Zhao Weimin’s arm. “Don’t forget your brother has a hunting rifle.” “You think he’d dare shoot me with it?” “Can’t be sure. After all, you pointed a knife at his son.” Lin Qian sighed again. “Weimin, you were too impulsive earlier. It’s one thing to be tough with sister-in-law, but you shouldn’t have threatened the child. You know the kid is your brother’s apple of the eye. What you did is like tearing the family apart—you’re enemies now.” “You suffered so much at home, and a lot of it is because of this brat. How could I not take it out on him?” “But…” “Enough.” He cut her off. “Don’t be afraid. Zhao Dajun has a hunting rifle, but I’m not necessarily afraid of him.” The hunting rifle—in this vast forest and snowy wilderness, it was more than a tool for hunting; it was a symbol of power. Now that all firearms were confiscated and centrally managed, the fact that Zhao Dajun still had one showed his strong local connections. So the root problem was clear: he needed not only a hunting rifle but also to build his own network. Otherwise, if Zhao Dajun ever came looking, he and his wife could be killed, and no one would ever know two souls had been lost in this vast mountain wilderness.

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To build connections, one needed resources. In this forest and snowfield, or any era really, what mattered most? Food. More precisely, supplies—ample supplies. The game on these mountains, combined with his hunting skills, was his capital for accumulating resources! It seemed he had to hunt more himself. Using just horsehair snares wasn’t enough; his hunting tools had to improve. Without a hunting rifle, a bow and arrows would do. Make bows and arrows! The mountains were full of materials for making bows, but the challenge was how to get the materials. The bow’s body could be made from sturdy, roasted cypress branches—after all, cypress trees were everywhere here. But bowstrings were harder to find. Ideally, deer sinew was best. Now, not to mention deer, even rabbits were rare. Still, the mountains were not short of deer—it was just a matter of hunting methods! “Wife, do we have any rope at home?” Lin Qian looked up at his voice. “We do. A few strands of thin hemp rope. Do you need it?” “Thin hemp rope will do.” Though not as tough as sinew, with the elasticity of the pine and cypress branches, it would be enough to cause close-range damage. For now, it would have to do, and when he caught a deer, he could upgrade the bow and arrows. Also, he needed to make some traps. The bow’s damage was limited; for now, traps would be the main force! “Wife, make me a few more snares. No need for horsehair, hemp rope will work.” Hearing this, Lin Qian was startled. “You’re going back up the mountain?” “Of course. The mountains are my realm!”