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

It was New Year's Eve, and the educated youth settlement was filled with joy.

The stove in the center of the house was burning brightly, and a pot of fragrant meat was stewing on it. It was pork that the village had distributed to the educated youth for the New Year.

Several female educated youths were making dumplings, with cabbage and radish fillings laid out on the cutting board.

"It's fate that we're all gathered together for the New Year," Zhang Li said gratefully as she made dumplings. "I never expected the villagers to take such good care of us."

“Yes,” Li Xiaoyun chimed in, “I heard that the educated youth in the next village didn’t even get any meat.”

Su Yan sat in the corner, holding a half-finished dumpling in her hand, but her eyes were drifting out the window.

Wang Ming went out early this morning, saying he was going to prepare a surprise for her, and he hasn't come back yet.

"Su Yan, your dumplings are all misshapen." Wang Ming's voice suddenly came from behind.

Su Yan turned around and saw Wang Ming standing at the door, his face red from the cold, holding a paper bag in his hand.

"You're finally back!" Su Yan said reproachfully. "If you hadn't come back, there wouldn't have been any dumplings for you."

Wang Ming walked over with a smile and handed the paper package to Su Yan: "I bought you some peanut candy. I know you like sweets."

Su Yan took the paper package, feeling a warm glow inside.

These days, it's really not easy to buy candy.

"Come on, everyone, stop what you're doing and have some drinks to warm yourselves up," someone suggested.

The educated youth put down their work and sat together.

The wine is homemade rice wine, not very strong, but it warms the stomach.

Just as everyone was enjoying a happy New Year's Eve, footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.

"Knock knock knock." Someone is knocking on the door.

Wang Ming got up to open the door. Two people in uniforms were standing outside, followed by a village official.

"Is Comrade Wang Ming here?" one of the uniformed personnel asked.

“That’s me,” Wang Ming replied, his voice a little strained.

"Please come with us."

“This is…” Wang Ming’s expression suddenly changed.

"I cannot disclose further details at this time. Please cooperate with our work."

The room was deathly silent. Su Yan's chopsticks fell to the ground with a "clatter."

"Wait..." Su Yan rushed forward, "Where are you taking him?"

"This is confidential, please do not inquire further." The uniformed officer's tone left no room for argument.

Wang Ming turned to look at Su Yan, his eyes filled with apology: "Don't...don't worry, I'll be back soon."

After saying that, he was taken away.

The atmosphere in the room suddenly turned cold. The laughter and chatter from just moments before seemed to have never existed.

Su Yan stood there blankly, still clutching the bag of peanut candy in her hand.

Her mind went blank, and her only thought was: It's over, everything is over.

“Su Yan…” Zhang Li came over to comfort her.

"It must be Li Xiangyang!" Su Yan suddenly screamed. "It must be him!"

"Calm down first..."

"I need to find out!" Su Yan grabbed her coat and was about to rush out.

"Are you crazy!" Li Xiaoyun grabbed her arm. "It's so cold outside..."

But Su Yan was no longer willing to listen to any advice.

She forcefully shook off Li Xiaoyun's hand and rushed into the swirling snow.

Su Yan staggered up the mountain.

The cold wind howled, and the snowflakes stung my face like knives.

She had walked this mountain road countless times, each time to find Li Xiangyang to ask for the wild game he had hunted.

At that time, she was arrogant and thought Li Xiangyang was just a foolish boy she could use.

But now he's walking this path again to question him about what he did to Wang Ming.

Su Yan felt a sharp pain in her heart.

She no longer cared about pretending that she and Wang Ming were just ordinary friends.

Because Wang Ming was her only hope of leaving this poor mountain village.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but shed tears, which were quickly chilled by the cold wind.

Although Wang Ming's father has problems now, he still has some connections.

When Wang Ming returns to the city, she can go back with him and live a decent life.

This thought sustained her through so long in this remote mountain village.

But now, that hope has suddenly been taken away.

And Li Xiangyang... Su

Yan shook her head with a wry smile.

The man who used to obey her every word now looks at her with eyes as cold as ice.

She personally turned away the last person who might have helped her.

The mountain road suddenly became unusually long.

Every step she took seemed to remind her of the reality she was about to face: she might really have to stay here for the rest of her life.

She stayed in this place she looked down on the most, living a life of toiling in the fields.

There are no movie theaters, no department stores, no bustling streets, only endless farm work and the toil of the changing seasons.

For a former educated youth who had once enjoyed a good life in the city, such a future was worse than death.

She couldn't help but think of the female educated youths she had mocked.

Some of them married young men from the countryside, while others dated the production team leader.

She used to laugh at these people for being spineless, but now...

She doesn't even have that little chance anymore.

Because her reputation is already very bad.

The mountain path was icy, and we had to be careful with every step.

Su Yan's cotton shoes were already soaked through with snow water, and her toes were so cold that they had lost all feeling.

But she couldn't care less about any of that; she only had one thought in her mind: she had to find Li Xiangyang and get to the bottom of this.

Halfway up the mountain, a dark figure suddenly flashed by.

Su Yan was startled, but upon closer inspection, she realized it was a black leopard cat.

It crouched on a roadside stone, its amber eyes gleaming eerily in the darkness, coldly scrutinizing her.

"Go away!" Su Yan waved her hand, trying to shoo it away.

The black leopard cat remained motionless, instead letting out a low warning.

Su Yan gritted her teeth and forced herself to continue walking forward.

The cat followed her at a leisurely pace, as if monitoring her every move.

Finally, Li Xiangyang's house came into view.

Through the window, you can see the lights inside and hear intermittent laughter and chatter.

Su Yan walked to the courtyard gate and raised her hand to knock, but heard a clear laugh coming from inside: "Brother Li, tell us another hunting story!"

It's Wang Ying's voice.

Su Yan's hand froze in mid-air.

She suddenly realized that she had once begged Li Xiangyang to tell her a story in the same way.

At that time, all she could think about was how to get more meat from him.

Just then, the courtyard gate suddenly opened.

Li Xiangyang stood at the door wrapped in a thick cotton-padded coat, the light behind him casting a long shadow.

"Is there something you need?" he asked casually.

"Where's Wang Ming?" Su Yan asked in a trembling voice. "Where did you take him?"

"What?" Li Xiangyang frowned.

"Don't play dumb!" Su Yan raised her voice. "It must be you! You're the one who got Wang Ming taken away!"

Li Xiangyang sneered, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You're lying!" Su Yan shouted uncontrollably, "You're just getting revenge on us!"

"Enough!" Li Xiangyang suddenly interrupted her sharply. "If I really wanted revenge, would I need to go through all this trouble?"

Su Yan was stunned.

Yes, with Li Xiangyang's abilities, he has plenty of ways to deal with them.

“I don’t care whether you believe me or not,” Li Xiangyang continued, “but I really don’t know anything about Wang Ming. It’s so late now, you should go home.”

After saying that, he turned around to close the door.

"Wait!" Su Yan suddenly lunged forward and grabbed his sleeve. "Please, help me..."

"Let go." Li Xiangyang's voice was as cold as ice.

Just then, the black leopard cat suddenly darted between the two, baring its sharp teeth at Su Yan.

Startled, Su Yan stumbled and fell into the snow.

"Go back." Li Xiangyang gave her one last look. "Some things are the result of your own actions."

The courtyard gate closed, leaving Su Yan alone, slumped in the wind and snow.

The sound of firecrackers could be heard in the distance, and the entire mountain village was immersed in the festive atmosphere of New Year's Eve, but she seemed to have been abandoned by the world.