12dz Chapter 382 You'll be able to feel it when you're older.
Chapter 382 You'll be able to feel it when you're older.
"Let's go. This lynx has probably suffered a huge loss and won't dare show its face again anytime soon. Let's find a good spot and see what we can do."
As Li Xiangyang spoke, he began searching for a suitable location.
Wang Ergou nodded, and the two walked up the mountain, found a sheltered spot, squatted down, and quietly waited for their prey to appear.
Time passed second by second, and the cold air caused their breath to condense into white mist.
About half an hour later, Little Tiger suddenly pricked up his ears and began to whimper softly.
Li Xiangyang and Wang Ergou immediately became alert and gripped their hunting rifles tightly.
“Get ready,” Li Xiangyang whispered, his eyes fixed on the bushes ahead. “They’re here.”
Sure enough, the bushes swayed slightly, and a wild rabbit darted out and ran frantically toward them.
Closely following behind was the greyish-white figure of a lynx.
It was incredibly fast, practically skimming the ground, and was about to catch up with the panicked hare.
"A good opportunity..."
Upon seeing this, Wang Ergou said excitedly.
"Shh, don't attack yet," Li Xiangyang whispered, "Wait until it gets closer."
The lynx's focus on chasing its prey gave Li Xiangyang an opportunity to retaliate.
Li Xiangyang slowly raised his hunting rifle and aimed at the lynx that was speeding past.
He took a deep breath, steadied his arm, and decisively pulled the trigger just as the lynx was about to run past.
boom!
Gunshots echoed through the silent mountain forest.
The lynx's body traced an arc in the air before crashing heavily onto the snow, where it remained motionless.
"Hit!" Wang Ergou shouted excitedly.
Li Xiangyang gestured for him to be careful, and the two slowly approached the fallen lynx.
Upon closer inspection, they confirmed that the lynx was dead; the bullet had struck it squarely in the head.
"That saves us trouble," Wang Ergou breathed a sigh of relief. "I was worried it would attack us again."
"Yes, it seems I guessed right. It must have been caught before. Look at the wounds; they were clearly caused by a trap."
As Li Xiangyang said, the lynx had many scars and its fur was in poor condition, but it still had some value.
The two quickly dealt with the lynx, and seeing that it was still early, they continued deeper into the mountains.
Over the next few hours, they had good luck and caught two rabbits and three pheasants.
Carrying their prey and animal hides, the two men retraced their steps and began their journey home. Before long, they could see the outline of Xiaoliang Village.
From afar, Li Xiangyang saw a figure moving at the village entrance. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was Li Xiaoyun.
"It's over," Li Xiangyang said in a low voice, "She was already worried, and now the clothes are torn."
Wang Ergou also saw Li Xiaoyun and couldn't help but shrink back: "What should we say later?"
Li Xiangyang took a deep breath: "Let's be honest. Let's go, we'll have to face this sooner or later."
As they approached the village entrance, Li Xiaoyun was already standing there with her hands on her hips, her expression unreadable.
"Wife..." Li Xiangyang smiled awkwardly, "Why did you come out?"
Li Xiaoyun looked the two of them up and down, quickly noticing the injuries on his body: "Injured again? Didn't we agree to just go for a walk? You two are getting more and more of a worry."
Li Xiangyang quickly grabbed Li Xiaoyun's hand: "It's really nothing, just a torn cotton-padded coat, not a scratch."
Wang Ergou tried to smooth things over, "Sister-in-law, really, we were pretty lucky this time. Look..." He waved the pheasants and rabbits in his hand, "enough to make a big pot of stew."
Li Xiaoyun rolled her eyes at him: "Alright, I know that going into the mountains is always risky." She took the pheasant and turned to Li Xiangyang, saying, "Hurry home and change your clothes. It's freezing cold, don't catch a cold."
Seeing her tone soften, Li Xiangyang breathed a sigh of relief and winked at Wang Ergou: "Let's go home then. We're tired from hunting all day and we're hungry."
Wang Ergou understood immediately and nodded quickly, "Yes, yes, I should go back too. Hongxia is waiting for me at home." After saying that, he slung his spoils over his shoulder, waved to Li Xiangyang, and ran off in a flash.
Back home, Li Xiangyang took off his tattered cotton-padded coat. Li Xiaoyun took it and examined it carefully. After confirming that only the clothes were torn and that he was not injured, she was relieved.
"Wear the new one first, put the bad one aside, I'll mend it for you later." As she spoke, she took a thick cotton-padded coat from the closet and handed it to Li Xiangyang.
Li Xiangyang took the clothes and pulled Li Xiaoyun into his arms, saying, "Wife, you really don't need to worry so much. I've been hunting for so many years, I've seen all kinds of storms."
Li Xiaoyun leaned on his shoulder and sighed softly, "I know you can take care of yourself, but... since I got pregnant, I worry about everything."
"Alright, don't worry about me. Everything will be fine once the baby is born. Wait for me to cook for you."
As she spoke, she got up and headed towards the kitchen. Li Xiangyang quickly followed, watching Li Xiaoyun's busy figure: "Let me help you, don't tire yourself out."
Li Xiaoyun smiled and said, "Okay, then start the fire."
Li Xiangyang squatted in front of the stove, carefully adding firewood.
As the temperature of the stove fire gradually rose, the meat in the pot began to emit an enticing aroma.
Li Xiaoyun stood by the pot, gently stirring the stewed meat with a long-handled spoon, occasionally skimming off the foam floating on the surface of the soup.
Her cheeks were slightly flushed from the heat, adding to her beauty.
"Wife, I see that your stewing skills are getting better and better," Li Xiangyang praised sincerely.
Li Xiaoyun smiled and said, "Don't give me that. You just want to eat a few more pieces of meat."
"I'm innocent!" Li Xiangyang feigned innocence. "I was just telling the truth."
Li Xiaoyun chuckled at his words: "Alright, alright, you're the most honest." She scooped up a spoonful of soup, tasted it, and nodded in satisfaction. "It'll be ready in a little while."
After waiting a while, the meat in the pot was cooked.
Li Xiangyang scooped the meat into a basin and placed it on the table. He had just picked up a piece of pheasant meat and put it in his mouth, about to say a few words of praise, when he saw Li Xiaoyun suddenly frown.
"What's wrong?" he asked with concern.
Li Xiaoyun gently shook her head: "It's nothing, it's just... my stomach moved a little just now."
Li Xiangyang was startled: "Did the child kick you?"
Li Xiaoyun nodded, a look of surprise on her face: "Yes, it should be."
She pulled Li Xiangyang's hand and placed it on her stomach. "Can you feel it?"
Li Xiangyang held his breath, placed his palm on Li Xiaoyun's abdomen, and waited for the slightest movement.
One minute passed, two minutes, three minutes...
After waiting for a while, nothing happened, and he was a little disappointed: "Maybe it was too light, I couldn't feel it."
Li Xiaoyun patted his hand with a smile: "Don't worry, the baby is still small. You'll feel it when he gets older."
Li Xiangyang smiled and nodded, his heart filled with anticipation.