OBS Chapter 296 You're just too nervous.
Chapter 296 You're just too nervous.
Li Xiangyang took out some coarse salt and sprinkled it on the venison to prevent it from rotting: "Let's divide it up. I'll take the hide, you take the deer penis, we'll each have half of the antlers, and the venison will be split equally, how about that?"
“Okay,” Wang Ergou said while working, “I originally wanted to give you all the antlers so your wife could use them as decorations. But my wife likes them too, and it'll be nice to hang them on the wall when we get back.”
“Then let’s split it in half,” Li Xiangyang said with a smile. “This is such a big piece of film, it’s enough to divide.”
They placed the deer hide, some meat, and one antler on a stretcher, while the rest of the meat and offal were strung together with branches and hung high to prevent wild animals from stealing them.
“The antlers also need to be cut,” Li Xiangyang observed the pair of magnificent antlers. “They’re too big; they’ll be difficult to carry.”
They spent half a day sawing at the base of the antlers with a hunting knife, finally managing to separate them.
Then, Li Xiangyang tied the meat and deer antlers to the stretcher with rope and made simple markings so that he could find the remaining prey the next day.
"Alright," Li Xiangyang clapped his hands, "Let's go back. It's so dark, we need to be careful."
Wang Ergou nodded, and the two of them used a thick rope to thread through the stretcher, lifting it one in front and one behind, and began to descend the mountain.
The mountain roads were more dangerous at night than during the day, and the stretchers made their movements slow and clumsy.
Li Xiangyang walked ahead, illuminating the road with a flashlight, while Wang Ergou followed behind.
Despite the weight of the stretcher, Li Xiangyang felt a surge of strength when he thought of Li Xiaoyun's smile upon seeing the deerskin.
"Slow down," Li Xiangyang warned as they passed a steep slope, "It's slippery here."
The two moved their feet carefully, sweat streaming down their faces and soaking their backs.
"Are you tired? How about I go first?" Wang Ergou asked.
Li Xiangyang shook his head: "No need, I know the way."
The mountain path was rugged, and the two walked and stopped frequently. Fortunately, they had moonlight and a flashlight, so there was not much danger.
Occasionally, the cries of wild animals could be heard from afar, but experienced hunters like Li Xiangyang and Wang Ergou found them nothing to fear.
Finally, late at night, the two returned to Xiaoliang Village.
The village was asleep, with only a few houses still lit by faint lights.
The two slowed their pace, trying not to make any noise so as not to disturb the sleeping villagers.
“We’ll go get the rest of the meat first thing tomorrow morning,” Li Xiangyang said to Wang Ergou at the fork in the road. “Let’s go back and rest first.”
Wang Ergou nodded, and the two divided their spoils, agreed on their plans for tomorrow, and then went home.
Li Xiangyang carried pheasants, rabbits, deer hides, deer antlers, and some venison, tiptoeing towards his home.
Pushing open the courtyard gate, Li Xiangyang found that the lights were still on inside the house.
"Still not asleep so late?" Li Xiangyang was a little worried, afraid that Li Xiaoyun was waiting too long.
He walked quickly to the door, gently pushed it open, and saw Li Xiaoyun sitting at the table, weaving something in her hands.
Hearing the door open, Li Xiaoyun looked up and smiled when she saw Li Xiangyang: "You're back?"
“Yes,” Li Xiangyang nodded, a smug smile on his face, “I brought you something good.”
"What good stuff?" Li Xiaoyun asked curiously, putting down her work and walking over to Li Xiangyang.
Li Xiangyang unfolded the deerskin and laid it on the table: "Didn't you say you wanted a deerskin coat? We were lucky today; we hunted a deer."
Li Xiaoyun's eyes widened in surprise as she looked at the intact deer hide: "You really hunted a deer?"
She gently touched the deerskin, feeling its soft and thick texture.
“Of course it’s true,” Li Xiangyang said with a smile. “There are also antlers and venison. The hides are enough to make a coat, and there’s still plenty left to make hats and gloves.”
Joy sparkled in Li Xiaoyun's eyes. She stood on tiptoe and kissed Li Xiangyang on the cheek: "You're so good."
Li Xiangyang felt a warmth in his heart and put his arm around Li Xiaoyun's shoulder: "As long as you like it."
“But look at you,” Li Xiaoyun scrutinized Li Xiangyang, “your face and hands are covered in injuries, and your clothes are torn. You must be exhausted.”
Li Xiangyang then noticed his disheveled appearance and laughed, saying, "It's nothing, just scratches from a branch."
Li Xiaoyun pulled Li Xiangyang down to sit with a pained expression, brought him warm water and a towel, and helped him wipe the dust and blood from his face: "You really went to great lengths to get me the deerskin."
Li Xiangyang grasped Li Xiaoyun's hand: "It's worth it."
A tear welled up in Li Xiaoyun's eyes as she cleaned the small wound on Li Xiangyang's hand. Then she went to the kitchen to heat up a bowl of soup: "Drink some soup first. Don't deal with the meat tonight; we'll talk about it tomorrow."
Li Xiangyang nodded, took a big gulp of hot soup, and his tired body gradually regained some energy.
"Are the children asleep?" he asked.
"Yes," Li Xiaoyun nodded, "They slept very soundly. Xiaohua and Wang Ying played in the fields during the day and went to bed early at night."
Li Xiangyang nodded in relief, then glanced at the deerskin on the table: "I'll process this hide tomorrow. Then I'll make you some clothes myself."
"No rush," Li Xiaoyun said softly, "It's hot anyway."
Li Xiangyang got up, put the meat in the kitchen, covered it with a fly-proof gauze, then went back inside and placed the deer antlers in the corner.
“These antlers are so beautiful,” Li Xiaoyun said softly. “We can hang them on the wall.”
Li Xiangyang smiled and said, "It will look even better once I have someone make a base for it."
Upon hearing this, Li Xiaoyun's eyes filled with anticipation: "That would be wonderful!"
After they finished getting ready, Li Xiangyang washed up and lay down on the bed, with Li Xiaoyun nestled beside him.
"You've worked hard," Li Xiaoyun said softly. "Actually, the deerskin coat... I was just saying it casually..."
Li Xiangyang pulled her into his arms: "I know, life is all about finding ways to make you happy."
Li Xiaoyun leaned against Li Xiangyang's chest, listening to his strong heartbeat, and a happy smile appeared on her lips.
The two snuggled together, chatted softly about everyday things, and gradually fell silent, drifting off to sleep, leaving only the occasional chirping of insects.
The next morning, the crowing of roosters woke Li Xiangyang from his sleep.
He got up quietly, afraid of waking Li Xiaoyun who was still fast asleep.
After washing up, he was about to go out to find Wang Ergou to get the remaining venison when Li Xiaoyun had already gotten up and was busy in the kitchen.
"You got up so early?" Li Xiangyang asked with some concern.
Li Xiaoyun turned around and smiled, "I'll make you something to eat. It must have taken you a lot of effort to climb the mountain."
Li Xiangyang walked into the kitchen and watched Li Xiaoyun efficiently preparing breakfast, a warm feeling welling up in his heart.
“You should rest more,” he said softly. “Your health is the most important thing right now.”
Li Xiaoyun pouted, "I'm not sick, I'm fine with normal activities. You're just too nervous."
Li Xiangyang smiled helplessly, knowing that he had indeed been overprotective.