Reborn in 72, I hunt to support my family and spoil my younger sister rotten.

Inside the room, Uncle Li began to snore.

Li Xiangyang tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. The incident involving Su Yan and Wang Ming during the day felt like a thorn in his heart.

He knew Wang Ming's character all too well; he was a venomous snake.

The thought of his hunting rifle made him even more uneasy.

Having been given a second chance at life, how could he not know the sensitivity surrounding firearms in this day and age?

"Still not asleep?" Uncle Li's voice suddenly rang out in the darkness.

Li Xiangyang was taken aback: "Uncle, did I wake you up?"

“No,” Uncle Li said softly, “I can’t sleep either. I keep feeling like you have something on your mind.”

Li Xiangyang was silent for a moment, then said softly, "Uncle, I want to go home and visit."

“Okay,” Uncle Li sat up, “I’ll go with you.”

"This...is it too much trouble for you?"

"You brat," Uncle Li said, groping himself to get dressed in the dark, "what nonsense are you spouting? Your mother and sister are at my house. What kind of behavior would it be if I let you go out alone in the middle of the night?"

Li Xiangyang felt a warmth in his heart.

He knew that Uncle Li was worried about leaving something to say about him, which would give people something to gossip about.

These days, reputation is more important than anything else.

The two put on their cotton-padded coats and tiptoed out the door.

Under the moonlight, the snow shimmered with a bluish-white light.

The cold wind howled, and the snow particles stung people's faces from time to time.

"Xiangyang," Uncle Li suddenly spoke as they walked on the snow, "are you afraid that your girlfriend, a former educated youth, will ruin you?"

Li Xiangyang was taken aback: "Uncle, you know?"

"Hey," Uncle Li waved his hand, "At my age, what can't I see? The way that female educated youth looked at you, and the way her boyfriend acted—how could he have good intentions?"

Li Xiangyang smiled wryly: "Uncle, you really can't hide anything from you."

"I've lived this long, what haven't I seen?" Uncle Li sighed. "You can't judge a book by its cover; you can never be too careful."

When he arrived at his doorstep, Li Xiangyang carefully checked the lock to make sure it hadn't been tampered with before he breathed a sigh of relief.

“Go check on your baby,” Uncle Li said, stopping in the yard. “I’ll keep watch here for you.”

Li Xiangyang nodded and quickly went into the house.

By the moonlight, he found the place where the gun was hidden and examined it carefully.

The gun was still in its place, and everything seemed normal.

"How was it?" Uncle Li asked in a low voice after Li Xiangyang came out.

"It's nothing," Li Xiangyang breathed a sigh of relief, "I'm just a little paranoid."

“This isn’t paranoia,” Uncle Li patted him on the shoulder, “it’s just caution. Alright, go back now, we still have work to do tomorrow.”

On the way back, the cold wind grew even stronger.

Uncle Li shrank his neck: "In this awful weather, only you could hunt in the mountains."

Li Xiangyang smiled and said, "There's no other way; we have to make sure the family lives a good life."

“Yes,” Uncle Li nodded, “Your thinking is right. But remember this: some things, what you can see, aren’t necessarily true, and what you can’t see, aren’t necessarily false.”

Li Xiangyang nodded thoughtfully.

He understood that Uncle Li was telling him that some dangers are invisible, but must be guarded against at all times.

Back inside, Uncle Li lay down again: "Go to sleep, we'll talk about it tomorrow."

Li Xiangyang lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), listening to the howling wind outside, and felt much more at ease.

In this life, with so many people caring about him and giving him guidance, he must live well.

As for those who want to harm him, let them stink in the shadows.

……

Down the mountain, at a makeshift settlement for educated youth, Wang Ming lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), tossing and turning in bed.

The cold wind blew in through the cracks in the window, making him shiver.

This place is nothing like a farmhouse; even the heated kang (a traditional heated platform bed) can't keep out the biting cold.

He originally planned to steal a gun from Li Xiangyang's house under the cover of night.

But the awful weather made him give up the idea just by thinking about it.

Wang Ming knew that if he didn't go today, he would never have another chance.

Thinking of this, he pulled a piece of paper from under his pillow.

By the dim moonlight, he examined the handwriting on it again:

"Letter of Complaint: This is to certify that Comrade Li Xiangyang, a resident of Xiaoliang Village, has purchased a hunting rifle without any proper procedures, which may pose a danger of injury..."

This is what he wrote this afternoon.

After finishing writing it, he hesitated about whether to send it out.

After all, in this day and age, informing on others is definitely a bad idea.

If you get caught, you'll be talked about behind your back.

But thinking of Li Xiangyang's current success, and considering his own predicament, and the fact that he couldn't even steal a gun...

Let's just go with the worst option!

Serves you right for pretending!

You're so arrogant now, but once you've lost everything, let's see how long you can stay so cocky.

Then we'll see if you're still so arrogant!

Thinking of this, Wang Ming's unease was finally completely replaced by the pleasure of revenge.

He stuffed the letter of complaint back under his pillow.

He will go to the post office first thing tomorrow morning to mail the letter.

As for the consequences...

He gave a cold laugh.

Anyway, he's not afraid of anything anymore.

At worst, he'll end up like his father. In this day and age, who can really do anything to him?

The wind and snow outside the window grew even stronger.

The houses at the educated youth settlement creaked in the wind.

Wang Ming wrapped himself tightly in the blanket and slowly closed his eyes.

Early in the morning, Uncle Li got up and brought Li Xiangyang a few roasted sweet potatoes.

"Eat quickly, and after you finish, let's get everyone to work. Today we'll lay the tiles, tomorrow we'll lay the thatch, and then the house will be ready to live in."

As Uncle Li spoke, he poured him a cup of hot water.

After eating roasted sweet potatoes, Li Xiangyang went home with Uncle Li.

Gradually, the courtyard became lively again.

Several young men arrived to help and began moving the timber, the sounds of hammering and banging echoing throughout.

My mother and sister also returned from Uncle Li's house and were helping to boil water.

Looking at the bustling scene before him, Li Xiangyang felt a warmth in his heart.

With so many people helping him in this life, he must live well no matter what.

"What are you standing there for? Come and help!" Uncle Li's voice interrupted his thoughts.

Li Xiangyang had just answered and was about to go help when he heard someone shout from outside the yard:

"Is Li Xiangyang home?"

He turned his head and saw Sun Yongliang and Li Wenbin standing at the gate of the courtyard.

Both of them had weathered the day, clearly having arrived early in the morning.

"Brother Sun, Brother Li, come in and have some hot water." Li Xiangyang greeted them.

"No, thank you," Sun Yongliang waved his hand and pulled a manila envelope from his pocket. "Captain Zhou asked us to bring this to you."

The sounds of work in the yard had stopped at some point, and everyone was looking in their direction.

Li Xiangyang took the envelope, opened it, and saw that it contained a hunter's certificate with his name and certificate number clearly written on it, as well as the official seal of the forest farm.

"Captain Zhou said this certificate wasn't easy to obtain, so you have to keep it safe," Li Wenbin said in a low voice. "If you lose it, it won't be so easy to get a replacement."

"Please thank Captain Zhou for me." Li Xiangyang nodded solemnly.

"Are you repairing a house?" Sun Yongliang looked at the scene in the yard.

"Yes, we have no choice but to fix it."

"Logically, we're brothers, so we should lend a hand. But my brother and I have to go to the county town to buy New Year's goods. Alright, don't see us off, you two are busy."

After Sun Yongliang finished speaking, he apologized to Li Xiangyang and left with Li Wenbin.