bookrebus Chapter 16: Using the Mountain to Crack the Dog, the Strongest Hunting Dog, Tiger, Enters the Mounta
Chapter 16: Using the Mountain to Crack the Dog, the Strongest Hunting Dog, Tiger, Enters the Mounta
During the heavy snowstorm, Li Ju'an, carrying a Mosin-Nagant rifle that had just been calibrated, braved the wind and snow to go into the mountains alone.
The wind and snow, as sharp as knives, made it almost impossible for him to open his eyes, but he could still spot the rabbit's footprints.
In his previous life, he went south to do business, stayed with hunters in the mountains for a while, until he learned that rabbits had a pattern of movement: they would run around in a circle and then come back after a while.
If he is accompanied by hunting dogs, the lead dog will bark upon seeing a wild animal, a sound known as "kai gang". Once the hunter catches up, the lead dog leads the pack, already surrounding the animal. At the hunter's whistle, the dogs lie down, exposing the animal, which the hunter can then shoot. If the shot misses, the animal escapes, and the lead dog leads the pack in pursuit, continuing the encirclement.
But now, he doesn't have a single hunting dog with him, and he has to rely on himself to hunt.
He recalled the old hunter, who had also climbed the mountain in the sky above the opium den. Back then, he was in a hurry to collect his goods and followed the old hunter. He heard the old hunter urge him, "Quick, untie your shoelaces."
Why are you untying your shoelaces?
"Just smoke when I tell you to, why are you talking so much?"
At that time, he watched as the old hunter urinated on his shoelaces, which would freeze into icicles in no time, and skillfully make rabbit traps.
Li Ju'an recalled the past snow hunting stories in his memory, found a rabbit hole, successfully startled a jumping cat, then took out his shoelaces, found a leeward slope to urinate while shivering, and then made rabbit snares out of the frozen shoelaces and placed them on the branches of the rabbit's feet.
His cat was nearby.
Before long, a lively, bouncy cat appeared wary and cautiously turned back, obediently slipping its paws into the shoelaces.
Without any effort, he picked up a plump jumping cat, tied it tightly into a sack, and tossed it into his basket.
Li Ju'an grinned, "It's so easy, so effortless."
He carried the burlap sack containing the jumping cat back to the dog training kennel.
Inside the snow shelter nearby, the production team members were still playing cards and drinking. Suddenly, they saw him carrying a heavy basket back from the mountain. The production team members stared wide-eyed in astonishment, their eyes fixed on the basket. Even the forestry team members, eager to see what Li Ju'an had brought back from the mountains in the blizzard, practically followed him into the doghouse with their eyes.
Bang-!
Li Ju'an threw the tied-up live cat into the middle of the kennel.
Old Tao was still warming himself by the fire; he hadn't expected Li Ju'an to return so quickly.
Qingchuan Dog Dahu suddenly stood up, its sharp eyes fixed on the jumping cat that was still circling and kicking on the ground. Dahu glanced at its prey on the ground, then looked up at Li Ju'an, a strange emotion flashing in its eyes.
The forestry team members who were watching the spectacle all looked on with envy.
"A live jumping cat?"
"Did the young man really go into the mountains? In this blizzard, who would go into the mountains without losing half their life?"
"Wow, that's quite the feline! Young man, you're really something, going hunting in the mountains on a day like this?"
The production brigade had just been joking, but no one expected Li Ju'an to actually go into the mountains and bring out live prey. They all looked on with amazement and envy.
Li Ju'an's face was also beaming with pride.
He looked at Lao Tao and said, "Brother Tao, Da Hu can come with me now."
Old Tao's expression changed, and he stared in disbelief at the jumping cat he had thrown to the ground.
How long has it been since he left home? Just now he was saying to Li Ju'an, "Let's gamble. Don't even mention betting eight. If you catch a jumping cat today, I'll be impressed. If Da Hu is willing to go with you, then take it with you."
Now, Li Ju'an went into the mountains, and in just a short while, he actually caught a jumping cat.
The production team members were still joking around.
"What did Lao Tao just say? You have to be able to take the risks! Don't forget what you said, Da Hu should give what he deserves, why are you still reluctant to go for it?"
Old Tao's face was ashen, and his eyes were constantly shifting, showing a struggle in them as he looked at Li Ju'an.
He dropped the pretense and snorted coldly, "You believe everything I say?"
"It's just a five or six-pound jumping cat, anyone with a bit of experience could take it down. You can take this one, I've shown you this one, good teeth, fast, bold, and best of all, it's young. Spend some time building a bond, and it'll definitely be very loyal, a good dog. You can have the grouse meat and the bear meat, I'm not going to take advantage of you."
Old Tao, carrying several pieces of frozen meat, was about to stuff them into Li Ju'an's hands. His meaning was clear: he didn't want the meat he had given him last time, but he was giving Li Ju'an a Qingchuan hunting dog for free. Moreover, it was a well-trained and promising dog. What was even more rare was that it was only six months old, the perfect time to cultivate loyalty.
The Qingchuan hunting dog, carried up by the scruff of its neck, had bright, sparkling eyes and looked very intelligent and clever; it was quite endearing.
Who wouldn't love a handsome and courageous half-grown hunting dog? Especially the little guy with his brown, black, and black and yellow stripes on his back—so good-looking and dashing, he looks loyal to his owner and is also very good-looking.
The forestry workers' eyes lit up, their gazes filled with amazement and envy.
What a fine hunting dog!
If they cultivate a good relationship, this Qingchuan hunting dog will definitely not be as good as the lead hunting dog of the Lu family back then!
What's more, Lao Tao didn't want any money; he returned all the meat, giving it away for free.
Where else can you find something this beautiful!
Everyone held their breath, waiting to hear Li Ju'an's excited words of thanks.
Li Ju'an remained unmoved, pointing at Da Hu and saying, "I only want Da Hu, nothing else."
There was a moment of silence, and the atmosphere became awkward and frozen.
When the forestry workers saw Lao Tao's chest heaving with anger, some of them were too timid to care and quickly slunk back to the snow shed, fearing that if a fight broke out there, they might also be caught in the crossfire.
The mountain dog, Da Hu, suddenly pricked up its ears, its indifferent and calm eyes widening as it stared intently at the determined young man before it, filled with doubt and curiosity.
Da Hu, through the training kennel, poked out his moist nose and sniffed gently, catching the scent of the young man's cotton-padded clothes. Then he slowly blinked his resolute and determined eyes.
Old Tao casually fiddled with the bottles and jars of soy sauce and vinegar, then opened the kraft paper and crumpled it into a ball again.
He took two deep breaths and cursed irritably, "Get the hell out of here! Don't even think about leading Big Tiger away without bringing Eight-Tooth down the mountain! Don't you know your own limitations? You're not worthy at all!"
Li Ju'an turned his head and walked away.
The head of the forestry production team stayed behind to watch the spectacle. He remained silent, not daring to speak, but his eyes were filled with smug satisfaction. Who wouldn't want some free entertainment? Especially with the infamous mountain-chasing dog, Big Tiger, who was renowned throughout the surrounding area.
The legendary Tiger, known throughout the surrounding villages, was rumored to be able to capture a wild boar single-handedly! He also had the skill of catching foxes. The saying in the village was, "When the Qingchuan dog makes a move, you know if it's any good."
A tough dog among dogs, specializing in subduing those from out of town who dare to defy orders. The phrase "Slaying dogs with the strength of a mountain" refers to Da Hu, the strongest Qingchuan dog trained by the Dog Commander.
Suddenly, a strange "clicking" sound came from the training kennel.
After a crisp "click," a black and yellow figure darted out of the training kennel like a bolt of lightning.
The production team leader only saw a shadow flash by, then turned around and exclaimed, "Old Tao! Your dog ran away!"
The seemingly ordinary-looking Qingchuan dog, Da Hu, transforms into a tiger once it enters the jungle, darting silently through the blizzard.
Many production team members outside the snow shed saw Da Hu dart out, and a group of people exclaimed in surprise.
"Big Tiger has escaped!"
"Heavens above!"
"A tiger has entered the mountain! My God!"
Old Tao took two steps, his cloudy eyes widening in shock and disbelief. His most hardworking and honored mountain dog had actually used its nose to pry open the latch and run away?
On a blizzard-stricken day, Tiger, the strongest hunting dog known as "Hound of the Mountain," is incredibly fast. What is it that it takes to rush into the mountains like lightning?
……