RYEY -Chapter 413 A Thunderous Boom from the Mountain

What was even more heartbreaking was that more than a hundred mu of wheat belonging to the entire Xiangyang Village had been completely devoured by wild boars. Even the soil had been turned over. The villagers squatted on the ground, weeping.

“Good heavens, what on earth is going on? What’s happened to Xiangyang Village this year?”

“Did someone offend the heavens, so Heaven sent wild boars down the mountain to wreak havoc on us?”

“Oh dear, Huan-zai and Cheng Qiao live at the foot of the mountain—who knows whether they were hurt by the wild boars… pui, look at this filthy mouth of mine.”

“Why don’t we go take a look? While we’re at it, we can ask Huan-zai how to deal with this situation.”

“Let’s go, let’s go…”

“Folks, don’t go,” Secretary Hao hurriedly called out. “Yesterday Huan-zai was already injured, and the injury is very serious. Everyone knows Cheng Qiao has been admitted to the Capital Medical University, so she’s treating Li Huan right now. Don’t go and disturb them.”

Secretary Hao’s voice wasn’t very loud, and the villagers standing at the back couldn’t hear him at all. Wang Xiangyang stepped forward and repeated Secretary Hao’s words loudly.

Secretary Hao dug his fingers into his ear canals. This fellow really had a booming voice—his ears were buzzing from it.

When they heard the news, Uncle Niu, Aunt Wang, Niqiu, and the others all felt deeply distressed. Li Huan had clearly already been promoted and could have sat comfortably in an office in the county town, eating and drinking well.

It was the end of the year—he could have been happily with his wife and children in the capital, warming the kang and enjoying the New Year’s Eve dinner. Yet his heart was with Xiangyang Village. One phone call from Wang Xiangyang, and he rushed back from the capital, covered in dust and fatigue.

Now he had been seriously injured for everyone’s sake. Everyone felt unbearably guilty. Tears welled up in Uncle Niu’s eyes as he turned and walked home.

He had nothing to give Huan-zai. Earlier, Aunt Wang had said that Cheng Qiao needed a large number of water jars. Though he didn’t know what Cheng Qiao needed them for, he had several large bathing tubs at home.

Niqiu hurried after him. Uncle Niu was his master—when there was work to be done, it was only right for the disciple to shoulder the labor.

Those who had water jars at home also went back to carry them over. As for money, not a single person was willing to take it. They had consciences too—Cheng Qiao and Li Huan had treated them so well; how could they possibly have the face to ask for money?

Those without water jars also rushed home. In their kitchens there were eggs, hens, rice and flour, pickled vegetables—whatever good things they had, they sent them all to Li Huan’s house.

Chen Weimin stared at the huge wild boar that had lain in the field all night, desire flashing in his eyes. He had already split up with Juhua and was now living with Widow Liu.

The two of them were deeply affectionate and lived quite comfortably, but Widow Liu liked to hoard money and was unwilling to eat or use anything good. All he could do was work hard and earn money to cover her daily needs.

“Village Chief, how about we skin this wild boar and let everyone have a pot of slaughtered-pig dishes at the start of the New Year—to dispel some bad luck?”

Wang Xiangyang didn’t speak, but inwardly he agreed. Fortunately, times were no longer like before—saying things like ‘dispelling bad luck’ wouldn’t get anyone into trouble anymore.

“You’ll be responsible for handling this wild boar, and organize some people to make the slaughtered-pig dishes. But don’t go too far—otherwise, I have the authority to expel you from Xiangyang Village.”

Chen Weimin waved his hands repeatedly. He wasn’t that stupid. At most, he’d keep a skeleton frame and skim a jin or half a jin of pork. He definitely wouldn’t touch the rest.

Although Xiangyang Village had been unlucky this year, compared to other villages, conditions were actually quite good. He himself was now raising four pigs, just waiting for the purchasing station to come with money to take them away.

“Don’t worry, Village Chief. I’m not the Chen Weimin I used to be. Oh right—my sister-in-law is going to visit my elder brother in a couple of days. I’d like to go too.”

Wang Xiangyang didn’t agree right away. Although Chen Weidang and Chen Weimin were brothers born of the same mother, Chen Weimin had gone too far in many matters. Cuihua might not be willing to let him visit her husband.

“If Aunt Cuihua agrees, I have no objections. But you’re not allowed to follow along on your own.”

Chen Weimin was a little disappointed. He had saved up some cigarettes and food. Chen Weidang was still his elder brother, after all, and had taken good care of him in the past.

Secretary Hao said nothing. He mounted his bicycle and headed toward the county town. He had two things to do: first, find a better doctor to treat Li Huan.

Second, return to the office to write an application report, reporting everything that had happened in Xiangyang Village over the past couple of days—whatever the state could exempt or reduce, it should, to ease the villagers’ burden.

Cheng Qiao had just finished changing Li Huan’s sixth barrel of water when the courtyard grew noisy. She hurried over and saw dozens of villagers—some carrying water jars, others with large baskets slung over their arms or big back baskets on their backs—all heading into her yard.

“What are you all doing?”

“Qiao, don’t worry about it. Go watch over Huan-zai. I’ll handle things here,” Aunt Wang said, waving her hand and shooing Cheng Qiao back inside. She closed the main hall door and then directed the villagers in an orderly fashion to place their items in the courtyard.

Before long, the once-spacious yard was left with only a passage about a meter wide. Ye Xiaolin, standing to the side watching the commotion, felt an inexplicable ache in his heart.

Xiao Dan and Chen Xiaoniu ran over. When they saw Ye Xiaolin and the shoulder insignia on his military uniform, they immediately stood at attention and gave a solemn salute.

Ye Xiaolin returned the salute and asked whether they had brought a gun. Xiao Dan shook his head, then nodded again. He wasn’t qualified to carry a gun yet, but Chen Weidang had left behind an old homemade rifle.

“Do you dare go up the mountain and catch a few wild boars? Other animals would do too.”

Xiao Dan puffed out his chest. What was there to be afraid of? The Qilian Mountains were far more dangerous than Xiangyang Mountain, and he and his father had climbed halfway up them all the same.

Chen Xiaoniu was a little worried. The wild boars’ howls last night had been terrifying. Going up the mountain now, with just the two of them—wouldn’t they run into danger?

“Xiao Dan, how about we wait until Brother Huan recovers, then go together?”

“Comrade Chen Xiaoniu, Li Huan really has quite a following in Xiangyang Village, doesn’t he?” Ye Xiaolin asked with a smile.

Chen Xiaoniu nodded proudly. Of course. It was Brother Huan who led them to prosperity, who made their village an advanced collective, and who encouraged them to study and read.

“Xiaoniu, don’t worry. Help Aunt Wang and the others prepare the slaughtered-pig dishes. We’ll go up the mountain and add a couple of dishes to the table—we’ll be back soon.”

Chen Xiaoniu felt extremely uneasy. Going up the mountain to ‘add a couple of dishes’—it was hard to say who would end up adding dishes for whom. Just as she was about to say something, a heaven-shaking boom echoed from the mountains.

The three of them looked toward the back mountain. Rocks were already rolling down the slope, mixed in with small animals that hadn’t managed to escape in time.

“This is bad—something’s happened. Let’s go take a look!”

Without hesitation, Ye Xiaolin drew his pistol and charged toward the back mountain. Xiao Dan thought for a moment, then turned and dashed into Li Huan’s house, directly asked Cheng Qiao for a homemade rifle, and ran out after him.