Chapter 23: Don’t You Care About My Brother’s Life?

“Dad, Jingchen, hunting wild boars is dangerous. Why don’t we just forget about it?”

Fu Jingchen was indeed skilled, but the ferocity of the wild boars and their tusks were no joke. What if someone got hurt?

If it was just for wild boar meat, there was no need for such risks; she had plenty of supplies in her space.

Fu’s mother nodded along, agreeing that her daughter-in-law was right.

Fu Wangshan replied, “Don’t worry, daughter. We’re just going to ask. We’ll only go if we can borrow a rifle.”

“Jingchen has spent so much time in the army; if he can’t even hit a wild boar, then what’s the point of all that training?”

As he said this, Fu Wangshan wore a faintly proud expression, his demeanor very confident.

All of this stemmed from his acknowledgment of Fu Jingchen’s abilities.

Fu Jingchen reassured her, “You don’t need to worry.”

Jiang Yuman had to swallow her words.

In the book, the Fu family had not participated in driving away the wild boars at all, but now, because of her “butterfly effect”, Fu Wangshan and his son had gotten involved.

However, Fu Jingchen’s shooting skills were indeed impressive; if they had a rifle, it could yield great results.

Feeling a bit pressured, Jiang Yuman couldn’t argue against it.

She exchanged a glance with Fu’s mother, and both of them reluctantly agreed.

As Yao Anguo had no intention of hiding the matter from the villagers, by afternoon, everyone was aware of it.

After work, many people gathered at the team leader’s house to discuss the situation excitedly.

At that moment, the Fu family also made their way to the Yao family.

Zhou Yun, seeing them approach, rolled her eyes to the heavens.

Ever since that night when the two families had a big fight, the rift between them had been thoroughly established.

In a mocking tone, she said, “Why are they following everyone else to discuss hunting wild boars? What do they think they’re doing?”

Fang Xiwen hesitated, “Could it be that they want to join in?”

“Please!” Zhou Yun sneered. “Just because they’re tall doesn’t mean they can hunt wild boars. That requires strategy!”

“I heard the team leader say they’re going to borrow rifles from the police station, and if anyone participates and catches a wild boar, they get a share of the meat,” Xu Fang chimed in from the side.

The educated youths, who hadn’t tasted meat in half a year, swallowed hard at this news.

The craving for meat was real, but they lacked the courage, merely staring at the tightly shut door of the team leader’s house.

After chatting for a bit longer, they finally returned inside.

“Dad, you should hurry up too; I want to eat meat,” Yang Tianci said, having overheard the conversation outside, tugging on his father Yang Anfu’s hand.

“You silly boy! You’d risk your dad’s life for a piece of meat? Wild boars could kill me!” Yang Anfu shouted in frustration.

Yang Tianci pouted, “But they’re all going, why can’t you go?”

The “they” he referred to was the Fu family, as both households lived at the far end of the courtyard, directly across from each other.

“You think just because they’re going, because there’s meat waiting for them? Just wait; I bet it’ll be a fool’s errand, and they might even get hurt!”

Zhou Yun scowled as she swept the floor and added, “I heard that anyone who goes and manages to catch one will get a share of the meat; with so many people going, why don’t you give it a try?”

Despite her sarcastic remarks, after such poor and exhausting meals, no one could stand it.

From a selfish standpoint, she also hoped her husband would go take a look at the situation.

“You heartless woman! Hunting wild boars is so dangerous; two people from the back mountain team have already died. Are you trying to get my son killed?” Before her husband could say anything, Old Lady Cai had already started scolding her.

It was far too dangerous to hunt wild boars; what if her son got hurt?

In her opinion, staying at home was the best option.

“Mom, they said they borrowed a rifle,” Zhou Yun said, frowning.

She meant to inform Old Lady Cai that having a weapon would lessen the danger.

Old Lady Cai’s eyes widened as she scolded, “What? There’s a gun? What if someone accidentally shoots my son? Then you’ll be left without a husband!”

Turning to Yang Anfu, she spoke with an unusually firm tone: “Anfu! You must not go!”

Yang Anfu lay on the bed, allowing his mother and wife to argue loudly.

After hearing his mother’s words, he nodded vigorously.

Of course, he didn’t want to go; staying at home was what he desired!

……

At this moment, in the team leader’s house.

A crowd had gathered in the main hall, and upon hearing that Fu Jingchen used to be in the army and could handle guns, the villagers felt much more at ease.

They started discussing the situation outside.

A group of men were smoking pipes, while Jiang Yuman, being pregnant and unable to tolerate the smell, stayed inside with the other women in the team leader’s house.

Among them were his three daughters-in-law and Yao Simeng.

Yao San’s wife, who was more familiar with Jiang Yuman, couldn’t help but ask, “Yuman, does your husband really know how to use a gun?”

Yao Dajie and Yao Erjie were also surprised.

When they heard this outside, they thought they must have misheard.

But if Fu Jingchen was from the army, why was he sent down to the countryside?

The three sisters-in-law were puzzled, while only Yao Simeng, who knew the truth, furrowed her brows, lost in thought.

“He can use one,” Jiang Yuman nodded. “His aim is quite good.”

She wasn’t exaggerating.

In two years, Fu Jingchen would earn a merit award for shooting a fleeing traitor from across two houses, preventing the leakage of important information.

This was a testament to his accuracy.

“Then why don’t we let our men go too?” Yao Dajie and Yao Erjie exchanged glances, eager to join in.

If they could catch a wild boar this time, everyone involved would get a share of the meat.

They had wanted their men to go before, but their younger sister had strongly against it.

Now that they knew Fu Jingchen could shoot, their interest was reignited!

“No way!” As soon as they spoke, Yao Simeng interjected fiercely.

“What is the difference does it make if they can shoot? In that kind of situation, who can guarantee the bullet will hit the wild boar and not a person? I will not allow my three brothers to go!”

She could never forget how in her previous life, her three brothers were gored by wild boars, ending up crippled and losing their positions as team leader!

Since she had returned this time, she might not be able to stop the pig hunting, but at the very least, she had to prevent her brothers from going.

Her tone was passionate and loud, startling everyone.

Being reprimanded in front of Jiang Yuman it made Yao Dajie and Yao Erjie feel embarrassed.

“Little sister, you were worried before that no one could handle a gun. Now that Jiang’s husband is from the army, what’s there to be concerned about?” Yao Dajie said impatiently.

She had one son and one daughter, both of whom were at the growing stage and were desperate for meat.

With so much time until the meat was distributed, she didn’t want to easily give up the chance to hunt wild boars with someone who could shoot.

“Sister-in-law, can’t you think a little further?” Yao Simeng frowned, saying, “It’s just a bit of meat. Are you willing to risk my brother’s life for it?”