bookrebus Chapter 292 Chasing the Mountain to Find the Sticks, Tying a Red Rope on It
Chapter 292 Chasing the Mountain to Find the Sticks, Tying a Red Rope on It
Sun Weimin's gaze was like two sharp ice blades, coldly piercing Li Ju'an and Lu Zhiqiang's group who were closely following behind him. His heart felt like it was being gnawed by a million ants, and an unnamed fire was burning fiercely, but he still pretended to be relaxed and curled the corners of his mouth, his tone full of sarcasm and disdain.
"Li Ju'an, you take these guys with you wherever you go these days. Isn't it just because of your glorious feat of daring to break into the forest and kill the tiger, and because of your empty title of Tiger King that you act all high and mighty? In the end, what's so great about it!"
Upon hearing this, Li Ju'an smiled faintly, a smile as warm as the spring sunshine, and said, "Sun Weimin, if you hadn't gone down the mountain on your own that time, you'd probably still be lying in bed recovering from your injury. I didn't go with you because I was really afraid that your impulsive nature might cause some trouble again and break your other leg."
These words struck Sun Weimin like a heavy hammer, hitting him hard in the heart and directly addressing the pain point he least wanted to face.
His face changed drastically, his eyes widened like an enraged wolf, and he suddenly jumped up, spitting as he cursed, "You! You brat, don't be so arrogant! If you're so capable, go and run into that pack of wolves and those black bears deep in the mountains, and see if your 'gunner' name is more impressive, or if your life is tougher! Otherwise, who are you trying to impress with your arrogance!"
Seeing this, the sisters-in-law who were standing nearby quickly stepped forward to mediate. Their words were like a gentle spring breeze, trying to quell this unnecessary conflict.
“Oh dear, you two are both well-known hunters in our village. Why ruin your relationship over such a small matter? You should know that in these vast mountains and forests, only those who are skilled in hunting and have dealt with wild beasts countless times, walking on the edge of life and death, can be respectfully called ‘cannons’.”
"The reason why Xiao Li is called 'Xiao Li Pao' instead of just 'Li Pao' is because his name is so well-known that even we women know him. Although he is young, he is very capable. This is because everyone recognizes and respects him."
The sisters-in-law's words carried a gentle wisdom, both reminding the two men of the weight of their positions and subtly easing the tense atmosphere. Under their persuasion, Li Ju'an and Sun Weimin, though still resentful, gradually suppressed their anger, and their eyes regained a sense of awe for the mountains and forests and for hunting.
Sun Weimin's face still showed dissatisfaction and stubbornness, as if he had a thousand pounds of grievances weighing on his heart, about to find an outlet to explode. He stared at Li Ju'an with a dark expression. He blamed Li Ju'an for stepping on the stick and breaking his leg.
If Li Ju'an and the Lu brothers hadn't pulled down the bear trap, and he hadn't secretly gone to check if any bears had been caught, how could he have stepped into the bear trap?
He spent three months in the hospital recovering from his leg injury, and even lost half of his ear due to frostbite, necessitating the removal of half of it. He blamed it all on Li Ju'an. He stared at him with venomous eyes.
Just then, Li Ju'an said, "Sun Weimin, you're still not happy, are you?" Li Ju'an's voice was deep and powerful, like a thunderclap in summer, instantly attracting the attention of those around him. Before he finished speaking, his fist had already swept across like the wind, landing solidly on Sun Weimin's shoulder.
With a thud, Sun Weimin was knocked back several steps, almost falling. Although he controlled his strength well, everyone present could feel the undeniable authority emanating from him.
Sun Weimin was so startled by the sudden attack that he staggered and involuntarily shouted, "What the hell are you doing!"
Li Ju'an snorted coldly, his eyes sharp as knives: "Hit you? Because you stole something! Look at you, wandering around like a scoundrel, thinking you can do whatever you want? What will your parents do if something happens to you? They raised you with such hardship, just to watch you go into the mountains and steal traps?"
Sun's mother and Sun Quande looked over. The Sun family members were already standing in a row. Hearing this, they glanced at Sun Weimin. Sun Weimin had told them that he had accidentally slipped down the slope and fallen into the trap, never expecting it to be a human-stealing trap.
Sun Weimin's face turned pale and then red. He tried to argue, "I didn't steal anything! Why are you framing me?" But his voice sounded weak and powerless amidst the taunts of Lu Zhiqiang and the others.
Lu Zhiqiang had a playful smile on his lips as he slowly said, "You didn't steal it? Then how did you break your leg? Don't tell us this is a coincidence."
Sun Weimin's eyes flickered uncertainly, but he finally forced himself to say, "It was broken from a fall!" Even he himself felt unsure of his words.
Upon hearing this, Li Ju'an couldn't help but sneer, his laughter tinged with mockery and helplessness: "Get lost, Sun Weimin! Your leg is so bad you can barely lift firewood, and you still say it's broken? Do you think we're three-year-olds?"
A burst of hearty laughter erupted from the crowd, the sound particularly loud in the summer sun, a direct mockery of hypocrisy and lies. He then waved to a few friends around him.
He said, "Either act like a man, be responsible for your actions, and stop whining and whining all day long, making people look down on you; or be honest and stop doing those petty thefts and tarnishing the reputation of our village!"
Li Ju'an's words were resounding, each word like a heavy hammer, striking Sun Weimin's heart and shaking everyone present.
Sun Weimin's expression became extremely complex, a mixture of shame, resentment, and a hint of awakening. He lowered his head, remaining silent, seemingly engaged in a silent struggle within himself. Sun Quande, though protective of his son, also disapproved of the thief and called his son over, asking, "Did you steal it?"
"No."
Sun Quande remained defiant. His uncles and aunts gathered around, shifting their anger from Li Ju'an to Sun Weimin. Many hunters in the mountains had had their traps stolen at some point, and they despised such behavior.
Uncle Sun slapped Sun Weimin across the face, making his head throb with pain.
Sun Quande was indignant, but when he looked up and met Sun Quande's disappointed gaze, he felt guilty. He spat angrily on the ground, wanting to turn around and leave. But he had been too arrogant before and almost broke a leg as a result, so he dared not be arrogant now. He could only grit his teeth and continue to follow in the group, glaring resentfully at Li Ju'an.
Li Ju'an ignored him.
He walked at the very end of the winding procession, his brow furrowed, his gaze piercing through the bustling crowd as he silently calculated. Even if he were lucky enough to find a precious club-shaped herb in this vast forest, the sheer length of the procession would likely not be enough for everyone to share.
He took out a sticky rice cake, quickly ate a few bites, mechanically chewing and swallowing it. He knew there was still a long way to go before reaching the ditch, and time was of the essence; opportunity was fleeting.