Chapter 365 - 239: Prey in Short Supply (2)

Chapter 365: Chapter 239: Prey in Short Supply (2)

"I already ate. My grandma and my mom made me breakfast first thing in the morning."

Zhao Wendong paid him no mind and pulled him over. "Come on, eat some more."

After breakfast, the six of them checked their equipment: various tools, dry rations, food, firearms, knives, ropes, and so on. Dahuang and the others hadn’t fully recovered from their injuries, so Zhao Wendong didn’t bring them along.

’Is Master going into the mountains? Why isn’t he taking us?’

Hearing Dahuang’s thoughts, Zhao Wendong saw its pitiful expression and squatted down beside it. He repeatedly stroked the dog’s head, calming it down.

"Dahuang, you all haven’t fully recovered yet. I’ll take you into the mountains next time. Just rest up at home."

"WOOF WOOF WOOF!"

The three dogs barked wildly at Zhao Wendong and the others, wagging their tails, though it was hard to tell if they understood. Zhao Wendong picked up Xiaojin’s cage. Seeing they were about to head for the mountains, the fox, Xiaobai, quickly leaped from Little Tuanzi’s arms and trotted after them. The White Weasel, however, continued to lie on the kang, holing up for the winter. Ever since arriving at Zhao Wendong’s house, Little Xiaobai had completely embraced a life of just lying flat.

"Go and come back soon."

Although it wasn’t the first time, Lin Zhiyin still watched Zhao Wendong, reluctant to see him go.

"I know, honey. It’s not my first time going into the mountains."

"You got so thin last time you came back. It broke my heart."

Zhao Wendong chuckled, pulled her over, and gave her a hug. It made her pretty face turn as red as an apple. Zhao Wendong’s actions were a bit too bold for the times, but fortunately, everyone was used to his occasional unconventional behavior.

Little Tuanzi ran out of the house and clung to Zhao Wendong’s leg, refusing to let go.

"Third Brother, Little Tuanzi wants to go into the mountains too!"

"There are big tigers in the mountains. Aren’t you scared?"

Little Tuanzi blinked, thought for a moment, and let go.

"Then... then I won’t go for now. When Zhuangzhuang grows up, I’ll have him chase away the big bad tiger."

"Haha, okay."

Zhao Wendong looked at Zhuangzhuang, who was yawning lazily in her arms. He petted the little tiger’s head. "We’ll be counting on you in the future, new king of the jungle."

"OINK OINK!"

Zhuangzhuang responded with a couple of pig-like snorts, making everyone roar with laughter.

Zhao Wendong picked up Little Tuanzi, handed her to Lin Zhiyin, patted the little girl’s head, then turned and called for the others to set out.

Zhao Wendong and Zhao Wenwu walked in the middle, with Wei Laishun and Zhao Wenjun in the back, and Zhao Baozhu and Er Gou leading the way. Before, it was just Zhao Wendong and his second brother who went up the mountain, but the team had gradually expanded. If they hadn’t turned down Lin Zhiyin and Jin Xiuying, there would have been two more people.

Just as they left the village entrance, under the brightening sky, Zhao Ergou suddenly noticed someone lying next to the large snowman. The person was wearing a cotton-padded jacket so tattered that the grayish-black cotton filling was exposed. They were curled up in a ball, face down in the snow, completely motionless.

"Someone’s here!"

Zhao Ergou shouted, then rushed forward in a few quick strides and flipped the person over.

It was a man in his thirties. His face was ashen, his lips were cracked and bleeding, his eye sockets were sunken, and his cheekbones were high. He was as thin as a skeleton and was still clutching a tattered cloth bundle in his hand.

Zhao Wendong squatted down and checked for his breathing.

"He’s still breathing. Let’s carry him back."

Without a word, Zhao Wenwu scooped the man up, muttering, "How is this guy so light? He weighs less than a wolf. Like a piece of paper."

"He’s starving. You get like this too when you haven’t eaten enough. Let’s take him... take him to Third Master’s place."

Zhao Wenwu nodded vigorously. "Okay."

The six of them turned back. Instead of going home, they took the man directly to Third Master Zhao’s house. At Zhao Wendong’s instruction, Zhao Ergou and Zhao Baozhu ran ahead to notify Zhao Weiguo and the others. When Zhao Tiehua heard the door and saw them, she was stunned. "Dongzi, didn’t you all go up the mountain?"

She had just come from Zhao Wendong’s house, so to see him and his group back already, it was no wonder she was surprised.

"Something came up. We’ll head into the mountains again in a bit."

Just as Zhao Wendong finished speaking, Zhao Wenwu had already carried the man into the house and placed him directly on the kang.

"What’s going on?"

Seeing them bring back a stranger, Third Master Zhao was also baffled.

"We don’t know. We just found him at the village entrance. No idea where he came from. He probably passed out from hunger. If we hadn’t found him, he likely would have frozen to death at the edge of the village."

Third Master Zhao walked over, looked at the man’s face, then rummaged through his pockets and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper.

"Pine Tree Valley Production Team, Liu Decai."

Third Master Zhao read it aloud, then looked up at Zhao Wendong.

"Pine Tree Valley? That’s two Communes away. What’s he doing so far from home?"

"Regardless, let’s save him first and ask questions later. Big Brother, go get Granny Liu to come take a look."

"Okay."

Zhao Wenjun, still carrying the Type 38 rifle on his back, didn’t even bother to take it off before turning and heading out the door to get help.

Zhao Wendong and the others got some warm water and broke off half a flatbread to soak until it was soft, intending to feed the man. Unfortunately, he wouldn’t wake up no matter how they called to him.

"Should we try to pour some water into his mouth?"

"No, don’t be reckless. He’ll choke."

Zhao Wenwu had just spoken when Third Master Zhao stopped him. After all, the elder had been through more and was more experienced.

A little less than an hour later, Granny Liu arrived. With her small, bound feet, she tottered to Third Master Zhao’s house, supported by Baozhu’s mother and Zhao Wenjun. The old woman carefully examined the man’s complexion, pinched the fleshy part of his hand between his thumb and forefinger, and checked under his eyelids.

"He likely fainted from hunger. Let him be for a bit; he should wake up on his own after a while. When he wakes up, feed him something thin first. His body is severely depleted. He’ll need to recover slowly. If no one had found him today, he would’ve frozen solid as it got colder."

Zhao Wendong nodded and handed the man over to Zhao Weiguo and the others who had arrived.