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

As darkness fell, the snow fell heavier and heavier. After walking for nearly two hours, Li Xiaohua's steps became noticeably unsteady.

"Are you tired?" Li Xiangyang stopped in his tracks.

"No...no," Li Xiaohua said, forcing herself to speak, but her face was red from the cold.

“Silly girl,” Li Xiangyang put down the rope, “here, take my water bottle and have some water.”

As his sister took the water bottle out of his backpack, he said, "See that crooked pine tree over there? It's sheltered from the wind there; let's rest there for a while."

Li Xiaohua nodded, grabbed the water bottle, and ran ahead.

"Slow down, don't fall," Li Xiangyang said as he quickened his pace.

When they reached the tree, he secured the sled, took out a piece of dry food wrapped in oil paper from his backpack, broke it in half, and handed one half to his sister.

"Have something to eat to fill your stomach."

The cold wind howled in the Northeast, but the brother and sister felt warm huddled together.

"Brother," Li Xiaohua suddenly asked, "could you teach me to recognize animal footprints? That way I can help you next time."

Li Xiangyang shook his head: "No."

"Why?" Li Xiaohua asked, somewhat disappointed.

“You have to go to school,” Li Xiangyang said firmly. “Didn’t your teacher say that being literate is very important? If you can’t read, you won’t even be able to understand big-character posters.”

"But many girls in the village are no longer going to school..."

“That won’t do,” Li Xiangyang interrupted his sister. “Dad said when he was alive that all the children in our family, regardless of gender, must go to school. Hunting is dirty and tiring work; I’m good enough for that.”

Li Xiaohua lowered her head and thought for a moment: "Then... once I've mastered it, I'll write you a letter of commendation and post it at the brigade headquarters."

Li Xiangyang chuckled: "Sure, but before that..."

"What happened before this?"

“We need to make your scarf and hat first,” Li Xiangyang said, playfully pinching his sister’s nose. “It’s so cold; our family’s future hope can’t get cold. You have to go to school tomorrow.”

After resting for a while, the brother and sister continued on their way.

In the distance, wisps of smoke rise from chimneys; that's the direction of home.

As darkness fell, the wind and snow intensified.

Li Xiangyang and Li Xiaohua hurried home through the thick snow.

"Brother, look!" Li Xiaohua pointed ahead, "Mom's in the yard."

In the dim light, Li Xiangyang saw his mother looking out from the courtyard gate.

Although they were still far apart, I could feel my mother's anxious gaze searching through the wind and snow.

"Let's hurry up." Li Xiangyang quickened his pace, and his younger sister jogged to keep up.

"You're finally back!" Seeing her two children return safely, Li's mother rushed forward to greet them. "The weather was getting worse and worse; I was really worried."

"Mom, look what my brother and I caught!" Li Xiaohua excitedly pointed to the prey on the sled.

"Come inside, come inside," Li's mother hurriedly pushed her daughter towards the house. "Your skin is all red from the cold, come inside and warm up."

Li Xiangyang watched his mother lead his younger sister into the house, a warm smile appearing on his lips.

He put down the sled and called into the house, "Mom, I've taken care of the deer. You and Xiaohua can stay inside."

"Then hurry up, don't catch a cold," Li's mother's voice came from inside the house.

Li Xiangyang touched his nose; he didn't want his sister to see the bloody scene that was about to unfold.

A heavy stag lay on the snow; this was quite a fortune.

He skillfully took out his hunting knife and spat on the blade.

Having processed hundreds, if not thousands, of game on the African savanna in his previous life, this task was a piece of cake for him.

The knife tip sliced ​​open the deer's belly, and steaming hot liquid gushed out.

Li Xiangyang worked swiftly, first removing the internal organs and then sorting them out neatly.

Deer heart and liver are both valuable, and deer gallbladder is an even rarer medicinal material.

"These days are really good," Li Xiangyang remarked as he worked. "If this were in later generations, just hunting this one deer would be enough to get him jailed for years."

He carefully peeled off the deer hide, which was a valuable item.

Next, they would remove the deer's genitals and sell them to those who specialized in making medicinal wine, which brought in a considerable income.

Li Xiangyang skillfully cut the venison.

Lean leg meat can fetch a good price, and the other parts can be cured at home, enough to feed the whole family for quite some time.

With these, the debt burden will be lighter, and you might even be able to pay it off all at once.

Of course, there's no rush. The most urgent thing is to buy some new clothes for Mom and Xiaohua, Li Xiangyang thought to himself.

These days, if you have the skills, you'll find a way out.

Li Xiangyang took a small piece of the tenderest meat from the prey, skewered it with a stick, then started a fire and roasted it over the flames. He planned to give his mother and sister a taste later.

"Son," Li's mother's voice came from inside the house, "come in quickly, it's too cold outside."

"Almost done!" Li Xiangyang replied, quickening his pace.

He divided the prepared venison into several wooden basins.

As the flames blazed, the unique aroma of the venison wafted out with the steam, making him swallow hard.

Stepping into the room, the heat from the heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed) made his frozen fingers feel numb.

"Mom, have a taste." Li Xiangyang handed his mother the piece of roasted tender meat. "This is the freshest part of the venison; I roasted it over a fire."

"Son, you eat first," Li's mother quickly declined.

"Mom, please try some," Li Xiangyang insisted. "If you don't eat it, Xiaohua and I won't eat it either."

Li's mother's eyes reddened. She took the meat, put it in her mouth, chewed it carefully, and then handed the biggest piece to Xiaohua.

"Delicious!" Li Xiaohua also took a bite. "Brother, this is even more delicious than rabbit meat!"

Seeing his sister's satisfied expression, Li Xiangyang pondered the best way to use the deer.

Deer hides are the most valuable, but now that it's freezing cold, it's best to save them for making clothes for the family.

While eating the steaming hot venison, Li Xiangyang said, "Mom, this deerskin is actually quite big. Besides making a dress for Xiaohua, the rest should be enough for you and Xiaohua to each have a hat, a pair of shoes, and a scarf..."

"And what about you?" Li's mother looked at her son with affection.

“Me?” Li Xiangyang laughed, “I’m tough and thick-skinned, I’m not afraid of the cold. Besides, there’s plenty of prey in the mountains, so don’t worry.”

“No,” this time it was Li’s mother who insisted, “You have to come first. You always think about us, mother and son.”

“That’s right!” Li Xiaohua rushed over and hugged her brother’s arm. “Brother, I have to make clothes for you first.”

"Alright, alright," Li Xiangyang chuckled, "but brother is so tall and strong, I'm afraid there won't be enough fabric. Besides, brother is so capable, maybe before your little clothes are even finished, brother will have already hunted down an even bigger prey."

"Alright, it's settled then. We'll make you an outfit, and Mom and I will each make a hat, a pair of shoes, and a scarf. Is that alright? Besides, there are quite a few valuable parts on a deer. With the money from selling it, Mom and I will buy you some cotton-padded clothes."

Seeing Li Xiangyang say this, the family finally agreed and burst into laughter.

"Alright," Li Xiangyang said with a smile, "We're in a good mood today, let's stew some venison first."

"Xiaohua, go get me some scallions, ginger, and garlic."

Soon, the fragrant venison was served.

The three of them sat together, looking at the steaming meat soup, and all smiled.

At this moment, the cold winter night became warm once again.