Volume 1 Chapter 6 The Wager

"Hurry up, take off your clothes and get under the covers; Mother will dry them for you by the fire."

As He Yulan spoke, she toasted the damp clothes while mulling over what her son had just said. "If my son could truly become a mountain guardian, that would be wonderful. Though he wouldn't receive a share of the brigade's grain rations, any game he caught in the mountains would be his to manage. Trading that game for grain would certainly be enough for our family to survive."

But Lin Xiao was still so young, and he had no master to teach him the art of the hunt. How could he possibly become a mountain guardian? Just as He Yulan was lost in thought, she heard Lin Xiao say in a persuasive tone, "Mother, just let me try."

After a moment of contemplation, He Yulan replied, "Very well. Tomorrow, I will go with you to see the brigade leader. I’ll take the opportunity to ask him if we might borrow some corn stalks."

After breakfast, Lin Xiao pulled the "ice sled" with his younger sister, Lin Xi, sitting atop it, while their mother followed close behind. The three of them made their way toward the brigade leader’s house.

The Wolong Mountain Brigade was nestled deep within the Changbai Mountain range, surrounded by peaks. Ever since their Great Uncle could no longer climb the mountains, the brigade had been left without a guardian. Without a hunter to keep them in check, wild animals had swarmed into the area like a rising tide. Boars roamed in packs, and one could often see crops ravaged by them in the fields.

Previously, the brigade leader, Zhao Hu, had organized night patrols and led the young, able-bodied men into the mountains to hunt during the day. Once, during a hunt, a villager named Wang Erzhu became separated from the group and encountered a black bear. By the time the leader and his men found him, Wang Erzhu had been disemboweled. His young and beautiful wife, Sun Liwei, was left a widow, and she had caused quite a scene at the brigade headquarters over the incident. Ever since then, whenever the leader proposed a hunting party, the villagers would fall silent, none of them willing to go. Lately, in particular, villagers had frequently heard the howling of wolves; every night, families would bolt their doors early, terrified that wild beasts might break into their homes.

The leader, Zhao Hu, and He Yulan’s older brother, He Qingshan, had both been disciples of their Great Uncle, He Shoulin. Back then, they had followed the old man into the mountains to learn hunting, with the intention that one of them would eventually succeed him as the mountain guardian. During one hunt, the three of them had encountered a black bear fighting a tiger; the scene was said to be unimaginably perilous. When they returned, He Qingshan was so terrified that he fell into a severe illness, nearly dying. Once recovered, he never dared to hunt again, let alone take up the mantle of mountain guardian. Zhao Hu, on the other hand, had chosen to take over from the old man, becoming the leader of Wolong Village.

When the three arrived at Zhao Hu’s house, they found that, unlike the homes of most villagers which were enclosed by simple log fences, his home—like the old man’s—featured walls built of rammed earth.

Lin Xiao stepped forward, knocked on the door, and called out, "Is the leader home?"

A moment later, the sound of the door opening echoed, and a figure stepped into the courtyard, asking, "Who is it?"

Recognizing the voice of Zhao Hu’s wife, He Yulan quickly replied, "Sister-in-law, it’s me, Yulan."

"Oh, Yulan! Just a moment." With that, Zhao Hu’s wife opened the gate.

Seeing her open the door, He Yulan urged, "Lin Xiao, Lin Xi, hurry and greet your aunt." The two children quickly offered their greetings.

"Is Brother Zhao Hu home?" He Yulan asked with a faint smile.

"He is. Come inside, quickly," Zhao Hu’s wife said, ushering them into the courtyard.

Hearing that Yulan had arrived, Zhao Hu hurried out to greet them. He had grown up with He Qingshan and He Yulan; the three of them were as close as siblings. Furthermore, He Yulan’s uncle, He Shoulin, had been his master. Since He Shoulin had chosen him to be the leader instead of his own son, He Qingshan, he shared an inseparable bond with the He family. When he learned that He Yulan and her children had been cast out by her in-laws, he had even considered going to the Lin family to demand an explanation.

*This sister of mine is living in the mountains now because she doesn't want to make things difficult for me,* he thought. *After all, squeezing out extra rations is incredibly hard, let alone enough for three people.* Ever since the Soviets withdrew, the whole country had been busy repaying national debts. In these difficult times, everything was kept to a minimal standard. He knew that for He Yulan to come with her children now, she must have reached a desperate impasse.

Before He Yulan could speak, Zhao Hu said, "Sister Yulan, I’ve heard about your situation. I know you and the children are staying in the small cabin in the mountains." He swallowed hard, finding the next part difficult to say. After a brief pause, he continued, "Grain is extremely scarce right now; there isn't a single bit to spare. You know as well as I do that there are too many beasts, and the crops have been decimated. Every family only received a tiny ration; I truly can't squeeze any more out for you. The cabin is state property, but I can make the decision to let you stay there. If anyone gives you trouble, tell them to come to me." He lowered his head and took a drag from his pipe.

Before He Yulan could respond, Lin Xiao interjected, "Uncle, we aren't here to borrow grain. We’re here to borrow a gun."

Upon hearing the request for a gun, Zhao Hu nearly dropped his pipe. "You’re just a child! Why would you want to borrow a gun?" he asked sternly.

"I want to hunt in the mountains. Otherwise, Mother and we will starve to death," Lin Xiao said, looking at his mother and then his sister.

"You brat, you’re still wet behind the ears! Hunting? Have you ever even used a gun?" As he spoke, he gave the back of Lin Xiao's head a light tap.

Lin Xiao quickly countered, "I’ve seen one at our commune before, and I’ve even been up the mountain once to hunt with 'Pockmarked Wang'." Pockmarked Wang was the mountain guardian of the neighboring commune. Because communication was difficult, Zhao Hu didn't know if Lin Xiao was telling the truth.

Seeing Zhao Hu remain silent, Lin Xiao added, "If you’re willing to lend it to me, I guarantee I’ll bring back game."

"That’s easy to say! If wild beasts were so easy to hunt, our crops wouldn't be destroyed, and the villagers wouldn't be afraid to go into the mountains!" Before Zhao Hu could finish, Lin Xiao said quite solemnly, "I even caught a small roe deer yesterday."

"Is that true?" Zhao Hu looked at He Yulan, expecting her to verify the claim.

"It’s true. He used a knife to kill the roe deer yesterday," He Yulan said, briefly explaining what had happened.

"Who gave you permission to hunt in the mountains without authorization? What if something had gone wrong? Besides, if someone reports you for misappropriating state property, no one can protect you." Zhao Hu was right; Lin Xiao was not a mountain guardian and had no right to hunt. "Though, you have some guts, kid," Zhao Hu added, his tone softening. "But the gun—I only have this one in the entire brigade. Even though it was left behind by your Great Uncle, it is state property. If I let you take it and a beast enters the village, what then? Besides, a gun is useless without bullets. This rifle doesn't have many rounds left, and we don't have the money to buy more. My nephew, don't make this hard for me; I truly cannot lend you the gun."

After saying all this, Zhao Hu looked at Lin Xiao’s crestfallen face and added, "If it were anything else, I might consider it."

Seeing Zhao Hu’s stance, Lin Xiao’s mind raced. "Alright then, Uncle Zhao Hu, let’s make a bet! If I can catch more game within three days, you’ll lend me the gun."

Zhao Hu thought to himself, *This boy has courage and strategy; he really is a natural for hunting. If he truly can catch game, lending him the gun to help the brigade guard the mountain would be a win-win situation.* With that thought, he readily agreed.

"Um, Brother Zhao Hu..." He Yulan stammered.

Seeing her hesitate, Zhao Hu asked, "What is it, sister? Just speak your mind."