Yang Haitian's sudden change in demeanor startled Yang Yulan.
"Brother, what's wrong?" "Is there danger in Beiyang Gully?"
Yang Yulan grabbed Yang Haitian's hand, trying to calm him down.
Yang Haitian said, "That place is full of coffin pits. Some unscrupulous hunters set traps inside them. If you accidentally fall in, you'll lose your life."
"Especially at night, when you can't see the road clearly, it's easy to fall into these coffin pits."
The so-called coffin pits were where the older generation believed the cemetery's feng shui was bad, so they dug up the graves and moved them elsewhere. But the holes left behind were never filled in. Some unscrupulous hunters, for convenience, would place sharp long nails in these pits, using them as traps to catch wild boars. Over time, weeds and grass would grow around the pits, covering the surface. If you weren't careful, it was hard to tell there was a pit underneath.
Hearing Yang Haitian's words, Liu Tiezhu broke out in a cold sweat. If he accidentally fell into one of these coffin pits, his whole body could be pierced through.
"Brother Tian, where are these coffin pits scattered?" "Is the entire Beiyang Gully full of them?" Liu Tiezhu asked.
"The lower part of Beiyang Gully used to be wasteland with no good feng shui, so no one was buried there." "But near the foot of the mountain, there are graves everywhere, and that's where the most graves have been moved," Yang Haitian said.
Liu Tiezhu nodded. "I understand." "Since Beiyang Gully is that dangerous, let's not go." "It's not worth risking your life for wild cattle," Yang Haitian warned.
Liu Tiezhu didn't respond, but his mind was already calculating how to avoid these traps.
"Alright, brother, it's getting late." "You and Tiezhu sit for a while; I'll go make dinner."
Hearing this, Yang Haitian dropped the topic of Beiyang Gully. He took out roasted beef and bamboo-green wine and started drinking lightly with Liu Tiezhu.
About forty minutes later, Yang Yulan had prepared a table full of dishes: stir-fried beef with bamboo shoots, spicy wet beef, braised chicken, stir-fried dried fish with porcini mushrooms, and wild chicken soup.
After setting the dishes, Yang Yulan directly confiscated their cups. "You two can't drink anymore. Eat more food."
The two men chuckled sheepishly, neither daring to object.
They ate until seven in the evening. Seeing it was late, Yang Haitian told Liu Tiezhu and Yang Yulan to head back early.
"Tiezhu, are you still going to Beiyang Gully?"
After the mule cart had gone a short distance, Yang Yulan looked at Liu Tiezhu with concern and asked. Hearing her brother say how dangerous Beiyang Gully was, she didn't want Liu Tiezhu to take the risk. With so many coffin pits full of long nails, it was too dangerous.
"Yes, with all those wild cattle, we can't let them go," Liu Tiezhu said, still set on going to Beiyang Gully.
Though Beiyang Gully was dangerous, being careful should be fine. Besides, Yang Haitian had just said the coffin pits were only near the mountain side of Beiyang Gully. As long as they didn't go near that side, they'd be okay.
"Tiezhu, I don't want you to go." "That place is too dangerous. We're not short on meat; why take the risk?"
Yang Yulan looked at Liu Tiezhu seriously, speaking her mind.
Liu Tiezhu took her hand and comforted her, "Yulan, I know what you're worried about." "But don't worry, with the hunting dogs leading the way, nothing will happen." "Brother just said the coffin pits are only near the mountain side." "I'll just stay away from that side, and it'll be fine."
"Then promise me you absolutely won't go near the mountain side," Yang Yulan said.
"Alright, I promise." "But you also promise me you'll give me a big, fat son soon."
With that, Liu Tiezhu pulled Yang Yulan into his arms and kissed her.
"You're so bad! What if someone sees us? How embarrassing!"
Yang Yulan struggled free and walked quickly ahead.
When they got home, Uncle and the others were still awake, gathered around the stove eating roasted beef offal.
"Uncle, there's some bad news."
Liu Tiezhu sat down and explained the situation in Beiyang Gully.
Uncle thought for a moment and said, "No problem. We'll bring bamboo poles with us."
"Bamboo poles?"
Everyone was stunned by this.
"Dad, what are we bringing bamboo poles for?" Ergouzi couldn't help asking.
"To probe the way," Uncle said. "We'll poke ahead with the bamboo poles, and only move forward when it's safe."
This was a common method older hunters used to navigate deep in the mountains. But nowadays, few hunters dared to venture deep into the mountains, and this old technique had been mostly forgotten.
Liu Tiezhu said, "This method works. First, we probe with bamboo poles, then release the hunting dogs to track scents." "As long as everyone stays away from the mountain side, there won't be any problems." "During the day, the hunters from Liu Family Village will leave plenty of trails. We just follow those trails, and we'll be fine."
Everyone agreed with Liu Tiezhu.
Uncle said, "We'll do as Tiezhu says." "It's late. Everyone get some rest and recharge."
When Liu Tiezhu returned to his room, he found Yang Yulan sitting on the bed waiting for him. Seeing her flushed face, his desire instantly flared up. He walked over, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her.
That night was destined to be restless, with creaking sounds that wouldn't stop.
The next day, Liu Tiezhu opened his eyes and saw a blanket of white outside the window. The second snowstorm had arrived early. Based on his memories from his past life, the second snowstorm should have come two days later. It seemed the climate shift really didn't overlap.
Sister-in-law and Yulan had prepared breakfast, and everyone was up.
"Tiezhu, you were right." "This weather is really abnormal."
Looking at the vast whiteness, Uncle couldn't help saying.
Ergouzi said, "Dad, why worry about all that?" "With heavy snow, hunting is easier." "As long as it keeps snowing, meat prices will go up."
"Get lost with that nonsense."
Uncle shot Ergouzi a glare and called everyone to eat.
A day passed quickly. After dinner, the snow stopped, but the temperature dropped by six degrees.
Liu Tiezhu went to the dog shed, took out cooked bones and meat, tore them into pieces, and fed the dogs.
"Good buddies, eat up. Tonight, it's your turn to shine."
All the hunting dogs wagged their tails in response.
Ergouzi brought the gear and handed it to Liu Tiezhu. "Brother Tiezhu, my dad sent me to ask, when are we leaving?"
"We'll leave at dusk. Check the flashlights and kerosene lighters." "Make sure nothing is damaged," Liu Tiezhu said.
"Alright, I'll check now."
After sending Ergouzi off, Liu Tiezhu let all the hunting dogs out. Brother had also packed the night's provisions, and Uncle held two long bamboo poles. The three of them sat around the stove, waiting to set out.
Yaoyao ran around them, shouting for her dad and uncle to catch more wild cattle so she could eat more roasted beef, making everyone laugh.
This rare moment of peace didn't last long before the sky darkened. With a few barks from the Taro hunting dog, everyone loaded the gear onto the mule cart and braved the cold wind, officially setting off on the road to Beiyang Gully.