Reborn in 1977, starting with severing ties with family.

In front of Yingzi and her grandfather's slanted pillar, Fu Chunsheng and the others waited anxiously.

Going is not an option, and leaving is not an option either.

Fortunately, Jiang Sen returned with Yingzi.

When Fu Chunsheng saw Yingzi, he slapped the back of his head and exclaimed, "What did I say? What did I say? Jiang Sen was right about the fairy maiden!"

The other three educated youths were also a little stunned and embarrassed, and they all looked at Jiang Sen.

Jiang Sen generously introduced her to them: "Her name is Yingzi, she's my girlfriend!"

Yingzi glanced at him, but didn't refute him, nor did she display the affectation typical of women.

She clasped her hands in a fist and said, "I am Yingzi. I can't speak, but I can hunt. Tell me what you want to eat in the future, and I'll even hunt a bear!"

These words instantly made the others look at them with new respect.

I'd heard that all the Oroqen people were skilled hunters, but seeing it with my own eyes was a different story, especially for a woman.

"Pack your things and come with us down the mountain."

Yingzi entered the diagonal pillar.

The old cripple returned from the side.

“You’re lucky, kid!” he said. “I heard from them that the one wearing the deer antler hat is their chieftain. He just wanted to test your feelings for Yingzi.”

Jiang Sen was speechless; he had taken it seriously.

Fortunately, I remained relatively calm at the time, otherwise I would have just grabbed a gun and started shooting.

"However, don't be smug! Oroqen women only recognize one man in their lives. If they are bullied, even if she can't kill you, her people will hunt you down."

Jiang Sen: "..."

Yingzi came out carrying a basket on her back and a hunting rifle.

"All right!"

The old cripple pulled Jiang Sen aside. "Are you really going to take her back?"

"if not?"

"How will you report this to your superiors?"

"Report the truth!" Jiang Sen's idea was simple: "Write an application and report to marry Yingzi."

"Have you written the application? Have you submitted the report?" the old cripple asked. "No, you're taking her back directly. If someone tries to sabotage you, you'll be in for a world of hurt. Besides, she's from a minority group in the mountains."

Jiang Sen didn't think that much about it.

"What should I do?"

The old cripple thought for a moment and said, "Later, leave the person at the hunter's hut, then quickly submit a report. Once it's approved, you can take the person back. Then you won't have to worry about what anyone says."

Jiang Sen knew that the old cripple genuinely cared about him, so he nodded and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you!"

After saying that, he went over and took Yingzi's basket from her back. It felt heavy in his hand, and he didn't know what was inside.

"Let's go!"

Yingzi nodded, turned around and took one last good look at the place where she grew up, and then left with Jiang Sen.

That night, they spent the night in the woods, and Yingzi hunted two pheasants and a wild boar.

This allowed everyone to enjoy a hearty meal, and they kept praising Yingzi's marksmanship and the Oroqen people's barbecue skills.

Yingzi had a small tin can, which was in the cloth bag she carried on her shoulder.

Jiang Sen was curious about what was inside; it seemed that when sprinkled on the grilled meat, it made the meat smell much better than usual.

“It’s a kind of herb seed from the mountains!” Yingzi showed it to him. “It can stop bleeding when you get injured, and if you sprinkle some on barbecue, the meat will be tender and won’t get too sore.”

Jiang Sen was incredibly curious. He looked closely and saw that the seeds were small, like millet grains. They had a pleasant fragrance that wasn't overpowering and even made his nasal passages feel clear.

Are there many of these?

"They're everywhere!"

The old cripple said, "Don't even think about it! This stuff is everywhere, but a whole plant only has six or seven seeds. You could work all day and still not get as many as you did today on the barbecue."

Jiang Sen was speechless, still thinking that if this thing were sold in Kyoto, someone would definitely buy it.

Unexpectedly, this seemingly ordinary thing was actually very difficult to collect.

Only the Oroqen people would casually collect small amounts of it in small iron cans, accumulating it little by little for use in roasting meat or for injuries.

Ok!

Jiang Sen gave up.

There are other ways to make money.

The next day at noon, they returned to the edge of the pool, rested briefly, and then continued on their way to the hunter's hut.

While the others cooked outside, Jiang Sen led Yingzi inside.

The room was clean, and there were still many things they had left behind.

"Yingzi!" Jiang Sen pulled her down to sit. "I have something to tell you. You stay here for now, I'll go back first..."

Yingzi grabbed Jiang Sen, "You don't want me anymore?"

"No, no!" Jiang Sen quickly explained, "I just want you to stay here first. I need to go back and report to my superiors to apply for marriage with you."

"Can't you take me back with you to report together?"

Jiang Sen knew that Yingzi was now completely helpless and had no sense of security.

“You don’t understand. I’m a sent-down youth. If I want to get married, I have to submit a report to my superiors. If I just take you back directly, people will misunderstand that we have some kind of ambiguous relationship.”

The charge of having illicit sexual relations is particularly useful when framing someone.

When a man and a woman talk together, people will always gossip.

If we just take the person back, wouldn't that be handing them a handle to use against them?

"Who's misunderstanding? I'll go talk to him! If that doesn't work, I'll shoot him!"

Jiang Sen quickly pressed down on her hand holding the gun, saying, "No, no, I was just using an example. I'm just in case! You know I'm serious about you, so I don't want anyone to say anything bad about you. Just wait here for me for a few days, and I'll definitely come to pick you up!"

"Really?" Yingzi clearly didn't believe it. "What if you're lying to me and never come back?"

"I..." Jiang Sen really felt the inadequacy of his language; how could he not explain himself clearly?

As soon as the door opened, the old cripple came in.

"This is easy!" He handed the two of them two lunchboxes. "Eat first, and then listen to me! Jiang Sen goes back to submit his application; I'll stay. If he doesn't come back, I'll take you to find him, and then I'll kill him with my own hands!"

Yingzi smiled and said, "Okay!"

The old cripple was old and disabled.

Although he didn't talk much along the way, Yingzi could tell that the old cripple was also from the mountains, so familiar with everything there, and was a good hunter.

Jiang Sen breathed a sigh of relief. "Old cripple, can you really not go back?"

"It's alright! Don't worry!"

The old cripple went out.

Yingzi said, "He is a good person, we must treat him well in the future."

"Okay!" Jiang Sen quickly agreed, finally getting it sorted out.

Simply tidied up.

Yingzi slept fully clothed, without mentioning any distinction between men and women, and let Jiang Sen and the others sleep in the small house.

When Yingzi woke up the next day, the old cripple had already prepared breakfast.

The old cripple said, "You guys should go back as soon as you've finished eating! Don't worry about me here. Just tell the squad leader when you get back."

Jiang Sen nodded and looked at Yingzi.

Yingzi glared at her. "What's wrong? What are you looking at? In the woods, you're not even as good as me!"

Jiang Sen touched his nose and smiled. He was indeed worried, but Yingzi was right.

In these mountains, he was indeed not as good as Yingzi.

He led Fu Chunsheng and the others away, turning back every few steps.

The old cripple picked up his basket and gun. "Girl, let's go get some good stuff!"

Back at the camp, Sui Zhongliang and the others also returned.

"Squad leader! We're back!" Jiang Sen shouted loudly, waving vigorously.

Fu Chunsheng and the others joined in the shouting.

Sui Zhongliang smiled. "How did it go? Did you manage to get the person out?"

Jiang Sen's smile vanished, and Fu Chunsheng and the others also wilted.

"What's going on? People..."

Jiang Sen handed the basket and gun to Fu Chunsheng to take into the house, then walked a little to the side with Sui Zhongliang and recounted the whole story.

Upon hearing this, Sui Zhongliang also felt it was a great pity.

"Then what about you and that girl named Yingzi..."

I want to file for marriage!