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

Li Xiangyang led Chu Qingxuan to a flat snowfield and squatted down to examine the ground.

Chu Qingxuan also squatted down curiously beside her.

"Look here," Li Xiangyang pointed to the fine marks on the snow. "These are pheasant claw marks, and there are also pecking marks nearby. It means it was here."

He deftly made a slipknot with wire, propped it up on a tree branch about a foot off the ground, and then took out a handful of corn kernels from his pocket and carefully scattered them around the slipknot.

“Let’s walk a little further over there,” Li Xiangyang stood up. “Let’s set a few more snares along this thicket to increase our chances.”

The two walked along the bushes for a while, and every fifty or sixty steps, Li Xiangyang would stop to set a trap.

In no time, they had set five or six traps.

"Alright," Li Xiangyang patted the snow off his hands. "Now it's all about luck. These days, prey is cunning; sometimes you can wait all day and still catch nothing. Why don't we find a sheltered spot and wait a bit? Maybe we'll get lucky and catch something."

Chu Qingxuan nodded.

Li Xiangyang led her behind a protruding rock, where she could find shelter from the cold wind.

The two sat on the ground, gazing into the distance at the snowfield riddled with traps.

"That's how hunting is," Li Xiangyang said softly. "You're lucky if you catch one out of ten times."

"Don't you get bored?" After waiting for a while, Chu Qingxuan asked softly, turning her gaze away from the snow-covered ground.

Li Xiangyang shook his head, his eyes still fixed on the distance: "To be honest, it's quite boring. But the most important thing about hunting is patience."

His voice was very soft, as if afraid of startling any potential prey: "Sometimes I'll be lying in wait for most of the day. I go into the mountains before dawn and don't return until sunset. If I'm lucky, I might catch something; if I'm unlucky, I'll just be staring blankly at this snowy landscape."

A cold wind blew by, carrying a few snowflakes that drifted down.

Chu Qingxuan shrank her neck and wrapped her cotton-padded coat even tighter.

“You’re right, it definitely takes patience.” She looked at Li Xiangyang’s focused profile. “I’ve only been sitting here for a short while, and I can’t sit still anymore.”

Li Xiangyang smiled and said, "At first, I couldn't sit still either. I was young then, and I just wanted to catch some prey and go home as soon as possible. But I always ended up empty-handed. Later, I gradually realized that the more anxious you are, the less likely you are to catch anything."

He paused, then continued softly, "Like the story of waiting for a rabbit to run into a tree stump, the rabbit running into the tree is accidental. But if you don't even wait for the tree, you won't even have that accidental chance. So, the worst thing for a hunter isn't waiting, but being unable to wait."

Chu Qingxuan nodded, then shrank further into the rock, finding a more comfortable position.

The distant snowfield was silent, save for the occasional mountain breeze.

“You’re right,” she said softly. “This waiting has its meaning. In the city, every day is a rush, and you can’t really settle down.”

Li Xiangyang didn't answer, but simply gave a soft "hmm".

The wait was indeed boring, and the two of them weren't familiar with each other and didn't have much in common.

About an hour later, a plump pheasant poked its head out from the bushes in the distance.

It cautiously surveyed its surroundings, slightly turning its head to observe its environment.

Wow! What great luck!

Chu Qingxuan was so excited she almost cried out, but quickly covered her mouth.

Li Xiangyang quickly turned his head and gestured for her to be quiet, his eyes showing a hint of nervousness.

Chu Qingxuan nodded repeatedly.

The pheasant seemed to feel safe and strode forward.

The pheasant looked around several times to make sure it was safe, then lowered its head and quickly pecked at the corn kernels on the ground.

It moved cautiously, turning its head as it ate, vigilantly observing its surroundings.

Gradually, it lowered its guard and moved toward the trap.

Li Xiangyang held his breath, staring intently without blinking.

With a "whoosh," the pheasant's neck was caught in a slipknot.

It flapped its wings frantically, leaving a chaotic trail on the snow.

Li Xiangyang dashed out and nimbly grabbed the pheasant.

He skillfully snapped the pheasant's neck, stopping its struggle.

"I'm really lucky," Li Xiangyang said with a smile as he returned carrying the pheasant. "This pheasant must weigh at least five pounds."

Chu Qingxuan looked at the plump pheasant with delight: "Yes, I didn't expect to actually catch it!"

"Hmm, it's rare to have such good luck." Li Xiangyang weighed the pheasant in his hand. "Let's go back and stew it for your grandfather; it'll be good for his health. Pheasant meat is the most nourishing, fresh and tender."

He packed up the other traps, carried the pheasant on his back, and led Chu Qingxuan back.

On the way back, Chu Qingxuan gazed at the distant mountains and suddenly sighed, "In these mountains, everything seems so pure and free."

Li Xiangyang glanced at her, said nothing, and continued walking forward.

"Tell me, what should a person pursue in this life?" Chu Qingxuan seemed to be talking to herself. "In the city, everyone is busy, everyone is pursuing something."

She paused, a hint of confusion in her voice: "Grandpa said this is the best of times, but why do I always feel so empty inside?"

Li Xiangyang slowed his pace: "Who can say for sure about this world? To put it bluntly, life itself has no inherent meaning."

"Look at these pheasants in the mountains. They don't know where they'll be tomorrow, but they still have to look for food every day to survive."

"We're the same. Whether in the city or the countryside, as long as you live your life steadily, you'll always find your direction. Even if you don't, it doesn't really matter, right? If you ask me, the most important thing in life is to be happy."

"Yes, being happy is the most important thing. It's a pity, you're a nice person, simple and clean-cut. To be honest, if you weren't engaged, I might have actually pursued you. I've seen too many men in the city, they're all too worldly, I don't like them."

Li Xiangyang froze, unsure how to respond.

He had never encountered such bluntness from a young lady before.

Seeing his nervous expression, Chu Qingxuan smiled and waved her hand, "Don't be nervous, I was just saying. But I'm quite curious about what kind of girl Li Xiaoyun is. Perhaps you could introduce me to her sometime?"

Li Xiangyang breathed a sigh of relief and didn't refuse: "Sure, she's also preparing for the rural public school teacher exam recently. You two should have a lot in common."

"Really?" Chu Qingxuan's eyes lit up. "Then I definitely have to meet him."

"Let's go!" Chu Qingxuan skipped forward. "Let me try your cooking. My grandpa says you're an excellent cook."

At this point, Li Xiangyang perked up: "It's alright, but we'll have to use your grandpa's stove."