Reborn at 60: I Helped My Sister Get Rich Starting from Hunting

Upon meeting, before the two could even exchange a word, Zhang Minde saw the roe deer meat in the man's hand and immediately understood half of what was going on.

"I didn't expect you to actually make a haul up the mountain! This roe deer must weigh at least seventy or eighty pounds, right?"

Zhang Minde, being an experienced hunter who had patrolled the mountains for many years, could roughly judge the size of a roe deer just by looking at the cut piece of meat and the coarseness of its meat fibers.

Zhang Yang looked at him with admiration and gave him a thumbs up, "Uncle De! You're amazing!"

"You're such a smooth talker."

Zhang Minde sniffed, happily accepted the meat, placed it on the table, then tucked his hands into his sleeves and sat down on the edge of the kang (heated brick bed).

"You came back to me so quickly, it wasn't just to return the gun, was it?"

"Nothing can be hidden from you!"

Zhang Yang didn't beat around the bush and told the whole story about how the Wang family came to his house with people today, surrounded him, and extorted 88 yuan from him.

Zhang Minde's hut is far from the village, so he hasn't heard about this yet.

At this moment, even though he hadn't witnessed the situation firsthand, just hearing Zhang Yang's description had already ignited his fury.

"Those bastards from the Wang family, not a single one of them is any good! They're all bastards who do nothing right!"

After finishing his rant, Zhang Minde remembered that Zhang Yang had said he had promised to give the Wang family eighty-eight yuan. Like the other villagers, Zhang Minde couldn't help but feel worried for him.

"Where are you going to get so much money in just one month?"

Zhang Yang didn't answer directly, but instead looked at the hunting rifle he had put back on the table.

"Uncle, I'd like to borrow your gun for a few more days! There's no way out anywhere else, only in these mountains can we see a glimmer of hope."

“Take it!” Zhang Minde said indignantly. “As long as you don’t get hurt, I’m at ease handing this gun over to you! This old buddy has been with me for so many years, but in the end, it should be handed over to a younger man.”

Zhang Yang was overjoyed, but after his initial excitement subsided, he composed himself and promised Zhang Minde, "Uncle, don't worry, I will use it carefully!"

Zhang Minde nodded, neither refuting his words nor saying anything else, as if deep in thought.

"Yangzi, you go ahead with your work! If you have any more catches during this time, there's no need to rush to send them to me. The rabbit leg you took last time, and the roe deer meat on this table, are enough for our family to get through the winter."

Zhang Minde was still pondering something when he pulled a small wooden box out from under the bed as he spoke.

The box was not much bigger than a pig's head, but it was clearly written on it in neat, square black calligraphy: "For Patrol Team Use Only".

"I only have this many bullets left, you can take them all back." Zhang Mingde picked up the box and stuffed it into Zhang Yang's arms. "Use them sparingly, I'll send them home next time I get some."

"Thank you, Uncle!"

Having settled the matter of the gun and the subsequent bullets, Zhang Yang excitedly carried the box home.

After returning home, he used the small pieces of wood, bamboo strips, tree thorns, and wire he had on hand to make several simple animal traps.

In addition, he also found a crossbow that his father used to use among the old objects in the woodshed at home.

The crossbow bolts were homemade by his father; the crossbow mechanism wasn't even as long as his arm.

Due to the limitations of the bowstring material, this crossbow bolt has a short range and is not very lethal.

It's impossible to use it to deal with large beasts, but it's no problem to shoot birds within three to five meters, or to hunt field mice and small rabbits.

Because it hadn't been used for a long time and had fallen into disrepair, the metal parts of the crossbow were a bit rusty.

Overall, it looks pretty good. I'll wipe it with oil, and maybe I'll be able to use it again later.

Zhang Yang took his crossbow and went to Zhao Dong's house.

News spreads quickly in the village.

Zhao Dong had already learned that Zhang Yang owed the Wang family 88 yuan and was searching high and low at home.

Hearing Zhang Yang call from outside the door, Zhao Dong immediately opened it. "I was just about to come find you!"

Upon meeting, Zhao Dong said eagerly, "I've thought it over. Even if I have to sell everything I own, I'll definitely help you find a solution!"

What else do you have to sell?

Sister Cuilan from next door came over to deliver cornbread to Zhao Dong. When she saw the two strong young men looking at her, her cheeks flushed slightly.

"This, my mother asked me to give this to you!"

Sister Cuilan shoved the cornbread forward without paying attention to who it ended up in, and ran off.

Zhang Yang looked down at the thing in his hand and froze.

Zhao Dong quickly took it and explained, "The old lady next door is so kind; she always has her family bring me food. I just brought over some roe deer meat today, and she's already prepared my dinner!"

Once the two entered the house, Zhang Yang almost had nowhere to put his feet.

The Zhao family wasn't wealthy, but they had quite a few odds and ends.

Judging from the state of chaos in this house, his brother was really planning to sell everything in the house to raise money for him.

Zhang Yang felt a warmth in his heart and said, "There's no need to sell everything we own. Let's continue into the mountains tonight and bring back more stuff. Eighty-eight yuan is just around the corner!"

He closed the door, then took out the crossbow bolts from his basket and showed them to Zhao Dong.

"Look, I've found you some new tools. This crossbow is lightweight and easy to use; you'll get the hang of it after a few tries. Although it's not as good as a gun, it'll help you practice your strength first."

Zhao Dong picked up the crossbow bolt, his eyes shining with enthusiasm, "Alright! I'll try it tonight!"

Zhang Yang then pulled out his newly made animal trap. "And this trap is also very useful. Once we're in the mountains, we can use it with the snares, and it'll make sure those little creatures get in but never get out!"

The Zhao family's pot was still simmering with roe deer meat, its aroma filling the air.

He insisted that Zhang Yang stay at his house to have soup together, and Zhang Yang did not refuse.

The two of them enjoyed a delicious meal with steamed cornbread and a rich broth made from roe deer legs and bones.

During the meal, Zhang Yang explained the workings of the animal trap to Zhao Dong in detail, so that he wouldn't accidentally hurt himself when he turned around to retrieve it.

As dusk fell, the two packed up, went back to Zhang Yang's house to get their hunting rifles, and once again quietly sneaked up the mountain.