Reborn in 80: Starting with hunting in the mountains to get rich

The Niu brothers were very hospitable and generous. They slaughtered a pig and held a banquet even before the New Year, and they even specially hired a pig butcher.

The village butcher, holding a butcher's knife, plunged it into the pig's heart from below its neck, then quickly pulled it out, and pig's blood gushed out like a floodgate opening. The Niu family's aunts and sisters-in-law hurriedly caught the blood in a basin, and then proceeded to gut the pig, scald it with boiling water, and scrape off its hair.

The butcher's skill in dismembering pigs was unparalleled; he even made it look like an art form. Li Ju'an stood by and watched as he swiftly sliced ​​through the pork and bones with his knife, separating them into small pieces without even using an axe. He even used the knife to pry open the seams between the bones. The pig's head was the most difficult to remove, but with his speed, it was off in just a few strokes.

Niu Jianghe laughed and scolded, "It's a good thing we were willing to spend this money, otherwise, if we had swung the axe like crazy, we would have been flying sparks before we even got the pig's head off."

The villagers who were watching burst into laughter.

Aunt Niu and her daughters-in-law had prepared a large table of pork stew.

Radish stewed with pork, potato shreds stir-fried with lard, vegetables with dipping sauce, stewed pork bones, braised pork ribs with soybean paste, pork belly stewed with sauerkraut, stir-fried pork tenderloin, sweet and sour cold vermicelli and cabbage hearts... Like other villagers, the Niu family couldn't get fresh vegetables in winter and relied entirely on radishes, cabbage, and potatoes to get through the winter. But as hunters, the Niu family managed to gather more dried mountain delicacies, and the aunt and sister-in-law even sprouted some bean sprouts at home.

Niu Jianghe shouted loudly, "Li Pao'er is leading us to hunt wolves! Today, Li Pao'er is coming to our village to sit down, so everyone bring your gear and prepare a few tables!"

That's how it was back then. When a family hosted a banquet, they needed helpers. But those who helped couldn't just come for nothing; they had to eat at the table. The Niu family had plenty of chopsticks, all homemade, but they didn't have enough bowls and plates, so they went from house to house to contribute. Several families came to contribute tables, chairs, and benches. The villagers who came to help carried baskets filled with plates, bowls, and basins, bringing their eating utensils into the courtyard and shed.

Niu Jianghai went to buy liquor, and he chose 52-proof pure Wuliangye liquor.

Li Ju'an sat in the seat of honor, with Sun Weimin, Lu Zhiqiang, and Song Desheng beside him. Niu Jianghai said to Niu Jianghe, "Eat something first, and get ready later. We'll toast Li Pao later."

Niu Jianghe, who had been waiting impatiently, shouted, "Oh my god, what are we waiting for? Brother Li! Let me toast you!"

Li Ju'an was peeling off a cornbread. He picked up some braised pork ribs with soybean paste, chewed it, then peeled off another piece of cornbread and ate it with the meat. The cornbread, baked on the edge of the large iron pot, was crispy and golden brown. Eating it with the braised pork ribs was a delightful experience, with a satisfying crunch.

He looked up and saw Niu Jianghe offering him a toast. The Niu brothers had suffered a great loss at the hands of the wolves and had become stubborn; now that they were genuinely thanking him, it would be impolite for him to refuse.

He picked up his small glass of grain liquor, clinked glasses, and shouted, "What are you waiting for? Come on!"

Song Desheng objected: "I also hunted wolves, why aren't you showing me respect?"

Lu Zhiqiang laughed and cursed: "You've been hiding in the pit all winter, you shameless bastard, you think you can be respected? Get the hell out of here."

A group of people burst into laughter.

In the freezing cold villages of Xing'anling, a grand feast of pig slaughtering is in full swing, with steaming hot food and a joyful atmosphere.

Li Ju'an sipped his wine, then took a bite of a hearty meat dish, before breaking open a large steamed bun filled with sauerkraut and white flour. The bun was incredibly fragrant, revealing sauerkraut glistening with pork fat inside; the aroma of the lard could be smelled from afar. He took a big bite, feeling the bun's skin soaked in meat juices. His mouth was greasy and full of the savory, meaty flavor—he was thoroughly enjoying the meal.

Niu Jianghe was already trembling from drinking. He was prone to getting drunk when he drank too fast, and he kept urging Li Ju'an to drink more.

After a while, Li Ju'an also got drunk.

"Brother Li, just tell me, who can afford this kind of feast? It's definitely high-class. If you ask me, I'm definitely going to be your brother."

"If you ask me, this meal isn't enough. We should bring all the wolf meat we've hunted down the mountain. Let the wolves raid our territory! We'll taste what wolf meat is like!"

Li Ju'an also slurred, "Going into the mountains in this weather? There are so many wolves, how many people would it take to pull them down?"

Niu Jianghe poured himself another glass of grain liquor, his face flushed red with drunkenness, and he slurred, “When hunting wolves, you have to strike at their vital points. We can’t let others have the wolves we’ve worked so hard to hunt. I’m going to the mountains right now to bring down all the wolf meat.”

He was pulled back by Niu Jianghai, and then he said with a grin, "Are you getting impatient, bro? I was just kidding. Brother Zhang's team is still in the mountains. I left a message for him on a tree root. Don't worry, the wolf meat will be brought down the mountain."

The group of hunters led by Lao Qin, the foreman, consisted of 17 men. Only Lao Qin and Wang Guochang were seriously wounded and taken to the clinic. The local hunter Zhang and Wang Guochang got separated, and the Niu brothers fired their guns to mark the spot. Sure enough, at dusk, Zhang's group, leading large livestock, leisurely carried the wolf carcass down the mountain.

According to the profit-sharing system, these hunters, who also contribute their labor, can also receive a share of the large livestock.

After the wolf hunt, the villagers of Niubei Village also helped with processing the wolf meat.

In the village, as long as the neighbors don't have a bad relationship, they'll share the meat when a pig is slaughtered, and they'll also share some after the rice and peanut harvests. No one feels comfortable eating for free, so they'll always lend a hand. This time, with a large quantity of wolf meat needing to be processed, one person from each household went to help skin the wolves and butcher the meat. This way, they can have at least several hearty meals of meat and vegetables a month before the New Year.

After Li Ju'an returned from the clinic after seeing Qin Pao, he found Aunt Niu leading a girl, rendering oil from wolf fat. The oil rendered in this way would be enough for the whole family to eat for a month.

The girl was young, wearing a floral cotton-padded jacket and arm warmers. She was pretty and learning how to fry oil, while a large pot of water bubbled beside her. When Aunt Niu saw Li Ju'an arrive, she busied herself, calling out warmly, "Li Pao'er, go warm your hands by the kang (heated brick bed). Xiao Fang, go get the half-jin of 'silly half-pound' your brother brought over last time and take it to Li Pao."

The girl obediently agreed and actually brought over a half-pound of meatless hazelnuts. He often ate this kind of thing; it didn't have much meat, but it was enough to make a dish.

He politely declined twice but couldn't get away with it, so he had to put it aside for the time being. Aunt Niu asked him with a smile how old he was and if he'd been on a blind date yet. Only after the girl, her thick braid swinging, went to the yard to get some eggs did she say seriously:

"Xiao Li, don't blame me for being nosy, but you're at the age where you should be going on blind dates. A young lady should be diligent and capable, so she can take care of the household. My eldest niece is the right age for you, and I think we get along well."

Before she could finish speaking, Li Ju'an understood. It turned out that his enthusiastic aunt and sister-in-law had come to introduce him to potential partners since he wasn't married.

He could only say, "Thank you, thank you, no need for introductions."

Aunt Niu immediately understood: "Oh dear, she's got someone she likes." She went on and on, wondering which girl was so lucky to be chosen by such a young and capable man. Good young men really are hard to find; if you're too slow, you won't be able to find anyone.

Xiao Fang walked in with her head down, carrying a basket of free-range eggs and a basket of wild mountain vegetables.

These days, eggs aren't cheap, averaging 12 cents each. In the mountains, they can be exchanged for grain as money, so they can be considered a form of hard currency.

Vegetables are difficult to store in winter, so people in Niujiatun like to pick wild vegetables in the autumn. They store baskets of wild aralia shoots, wild celery, pickled mustard greens, and cat's claw vegetables in their cellars. Some families also like to wash, dry, and pickle them. Wild vegetables are essential for making fillings in winter.

Xiao Fang hesitated, looking down at her toes, and said shyly, "Brother Li, can we take this back to make vegetable dumplings?"