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

The group followed the footprints for about a mile.

Along the way, the shapes of the footprints became increasingly strange, sometimes clear, sometimes blurry, and sometimes even suddenly changing direction.

Li Xiangyang was also puzzled as to who left the traces.

Suddenly, a rustling sound came from ahead.

"Don't move!" the village official whispered.

Everyone held their breath, staring intently in the direction from which the sound came.

The branches drooped low under the weight of the snow, obstructing the view somewhat.

A dark figure flashed past from behind the tree.

"Go!" The village official waved his hand, and several militiamen immediately rushed forward.

However, after passing through the bushes, the scene before them stunned everyone.

With a sharp "click," the crisp sound of the bolt being cocked pierced the silent, snowy forest.

The militiamen froze on the spot.

Looking up, they saw a dark gun barrel pointed at them from above.

Behind the ancient, vigorous pine tree, a figure can be vaguely seen.

At his feet, a rabbit caught in a snare was struggling.

"Who is it? Why are you chasing me?" a deep voice rang out.

“Old...Old Zhou?” The village official recognized the man with some uncertainty.

"Hey, Uncle Zhou. What brings you here to hunt?"

Li Xiangyang recognized the other person and asked curiously.

Taiping Village is ten miles away from Xiaoliang Village. It is the village closest to the deep mountains, so most of the people there make a living by hunting.

In the past, hunting was something that other hunters would do in the territory of Taiping Village.

It's quite unusual for people from Taiping Village to come here.

Hearing Li Xiangyang's words, Old Zhou put down his gun, shook his head, and sighed, "For some reason, there's been no game in Taiping Village this year. Even Old Zheng, let alone me, gets nothing when he goes into the mountains. That's why we're trying our luck here."

As he spoke, he kicked the rabbit on the ground. "Look, I've been busy all this time, and all I got was a rabbit, and now you've become the rabbits being chased."

The village official's face flushed red, and he stammered, "Old Zhou... Old Zhou, I'm so sorry. We thought... we thought..."

"What did you think I was?" Old Zhou bent down and picked up the rabbit. "Did you think I was some wanted criminal? I say, what are you people doing, chasing after an honest man like that in this freezing weather?"

"Let me tell you, if someone really wanted to hide, they'd probably be deep in the mountains by now. If it were that easy for you to catch them, wouldn't you have already apprehended them in Shanghe Village?"

"Alright, everyone, your production team leader from Shanghe Village is no better than a piece of trash. It's better if he's dead. What's the point of mobilizing so many people in the dead of winter?"

His words made sense, and several militiamen nodded in agreement.

After all, who would want to wander aimlessly in the mountains in this kind of weather?

We're still seeking justice for someone who's no good.

Seeing that morale was about to collapse, the village official turned around and glared fiercely at Li Xiangyang.

Li Xiangyang shrugged: "No, why are you glaring at me? Did I say whether or not to pursue him is up to you? Just tell me if he's an adult male!"

The village official, his face grim, grabbed Li Xiangyang by the collar: "Are you playing us?"

Li Xiangyang slapped his hand away and sneered, "You think I'm playing you? You were the ones who wanted to chase after them, and now you're blaming me?"

"Exactly, stop bullying the younger generation," Old Zhou couldn't stand it anymore. "People are kindly helping you find someone, so what, just because they see footprints they have to confirm if it's the person you're looking for?"

"If you're so skilled, why be a hunter? Just become a god."

"Listen to this, listen to this! I think I've been too lenient with you, making you think I'm easy to bully? Let me tell you, I've put up with you for a long time. You asked me to lead the way, and I did. You told me not to bring a gun, and I listened to that too. Now you've picked the wrong person, and you're glaring at me like that?"

"You!" The village official raised his hand to grab Li Xiangyang again.

"What? Can't win an argument, so you want to resort to violence?" Li Xiangyang's eyes turned cold. "I advise you to think carefully. In the mountains, if you fight me, do you believe I can make sure none of you can go home?"

Upon hearing this, several militiamen instinctively took a step back, hastily disclaiming any involvement.

Are you kidding me?

Deep in the mountains and forests, trying to bully the hunters?

Are you tired of living?

"Alright, alright, stop arguing," Old Zhou tried to smooth things over. "It's freezing cold, go back. They've already fled, maybe even reached Manzhouli. If you delay a few more days, they'll be past the border. What's the point of all this fuss?"

The village official glared at Li Xiangyang resentfully: "You just wait! If I can't afford it, I'm not using it anymore."

After saying that, he turned around and left.

Several militiamen quickly followed.

After they had walked away, Old Zhou spat on the ground: "Pah, what a piece of trash. Why didn't he do anything when their village production team leader bullied people? Otherwise, things wouldn't have come to this!"

Li Xiangyang remained silent.

Indeed, if they had intervened earlier, would this have happened?

Most people sympathize with the plight of those sent-down youth.

"Alright," Old Zhou said, picking up the rabbit from the ground, "I've got some more to give you. I need to take a look around."

Li Xiangyang waved his hand: "No need, Uncle Zhou. I was planning to rest these past two days anyway. This whole ordeal has made me feel sick."

Old Zhou understood the implication in his words and immediately and generously insisted on giving him the rabbit, nodding with a smile: "You should rest well when you're sick. Take this and nourish yourself."

Li Xiangyang carried the rabbit and walked briskly down the mountain.

The cold wind blowing on his face actually felt unusually comfortable to him.

He chuckled softly as he recalled those footprints.

I've seen countless footprints while hunting before, but I've never seen anything so interesting.

No wonder he felt something was off the whole way.

Old Zhou is right. If we delay for a few more days, we'll have already crossed the border. What's the point of chasing us then?

When he got home, Li's mother was anxiously looking around in the yard.

Seeing her son return carrying a rabbit, she was taken aback: "Didn't you go chasing someone? How come you're back hunting?"

"Why chase after them? It's just a waste of time." Li Xiangyang waved the wild rabbit in his hand. "In a few more days, they'll be across the border. I'm not going to waste my time with them. Luckily, I ran into Uncle Zhou from Taiping Village; this was a gift from him."

Li's mother took the rabbit, a knowing glint in her eyes: "Uncle Zhou from Taiping Village? He has few prey there, so he came here to hunt?"

“Yes, he said he came here to try his luck, and you know what? He’s really been lucky,” Li Xiangyang said with a smile. “By the way, Mom, I caught a chill when I went into the mountains, I need to rest for a couple of days. Let them find their own way.”

Seeing her son's smile, Li's mother's lips also curved upwards slightly: "You caught a cold, you should rest well. I'll go prepare the rabbit and stew it for you tonight to make you something nourishing."

"Okay. I'll stop now, Mom. I'm dizzy, I'm going back to my room to lie down..."

As Li Xiangyang spoke, he leaned against the wall, looking as if he couldn't stand steadily.

"Quick, go inside and lie down." Li's mother, carrying the rabbit, smiled and helped him back inside.

"Mother," Li Xiangyang said softly, taking his mother's hand, "If anyone comes looking for me..."

"Just lie there and rest," Li's mother interjected. "You've started to have a fever; you can't go out anymore."