Chapter 30: Just Get the Marriage Certificate Already

When Zhou Ye heard her agree so easily, he suddenly wasn’t sure whether to hope they didn’t catch any wild boars.

Two of them were in charge of carrying the fishing net and rope, while Ge Mazi took a pickaxe and a shovel. The five of them began heading into the mountains.

Once in the mountains, at the spot where they had previously seen wild boars, Jiang Manman drew a circle on the ground.

“We’ll start from here. First, lay out the fishing net. The net should form a circle, and the bottom part must be left a bit longer.

Support the net with poles. Right—did we bring enough poles like we discussed yesterday?”

Wang Jiaxing scratched his head.
“Not enough, but since we’re in the mountains, we can just cut some tree branches to use as poles.”

Jiang Manman thought about it and agreed.
“Alright, let’s lay out the fishing net first. Then we’ll look for branches that can hold the net and withstand the wild boar’s impact.”

Zhou Ye looked at the 12-jin bag of corn in his hands.
“After eating this, would the wild boars even have the energy to move?”

“Of course,” Jiang Manman replied. “It’s not poison or anything. The wild boars will still have energy, just less of it and for a shorter period.”

After she finished, she directed them to finish setting up the net. Then she let Zhou Ye scatter the corn kernels.

The corn was spread in the center of the net. Once they were done, everyone looked at each other.

“What do we do next?”

Zhou Ye tested the net’s sturdiness—it seemed fine—then looked at Jiang Manman and asked.

Jiang Manman thought of the videos she had seen—those people had surveillance. Since they didn’t, she said:

“We wait. Or maybe we can go cut pigweed elsewhere and come back in the afternoon to check.

Or one of you can wait up in a tree like a rabbit trapper, and when a wild boar comes in, you can alert the rest of us.”

They exchanged glances and then looked at Jiang Manman.

She pointed at her nose, speechless.
“Why are you all looking at me? You don’t really think I’m the best one to stay behind, do you?”

Zhou Ye shook his head.
“No way. You’re out. I’ll stay behind. You guys go cut pigweed.

If we really do catch a bunch of wild boars, we’re going to need even more pigweed.”

Wang Jiaxing and Liu Jianye looked at each other. He had a point.

“But…” Ge Mazi shook his head.
“Your back still isn’t healed. I’ll do it. I’ll stay and keep watch.”

Seeing him volunteer, Zhou Ye didn’t insist. Catching wild boars would be great. If not, he’d just stick with Jiang the educated youth and eat for a month anyway.

“Alright then, you keep watch. We’ll come back in the afternoon.

Find a tall tree to keep lookout from.”

Ge Mazi patted his chest, full of confidence.
“Don’t worry. I’m great at climbing trees. I used to climb up to snatch bird nests all the time.”

Hearing that, Zhou Ye gave him a playful punch on the shoulder.
“Alright, up you go! We’re off to cut pigweed and prep food for the wild boars we’re about to catch.”

The four of them didn’t go far—just stayed in the mountains to cut pigweed.

Zhou Ye walked alongside Jiang Manman.

“How did you come up with this method?”

She glanced at him.
“Trade secret.”

“No, I’m being serious. I need to write this up later.

If we really do catch a few wild boars, you’ll be recognized and rewarded.”

Hearing that, Jiang Manman thought for a moment.
“I saw it in a book at a library in the capital. Can’t remember exactly which one.”

Zhou Ye, also from the capital, immediately thought of the sealed-off library.
“You went to that library?”

Jiang Manman gave him a knowing smile.

“You can report my dad if you want, but don’t report me.”

Zhou Ye frowned, not understanding what she meant.
“Why would I report your dad? Forget it. As long as I know how to write the report, it’s fine.

Just say you happened to see it in a library book and never thought it’d be useful.”

Seeing him help her come up with an excuse, Jiang Manman chuckled.

“You really think this method can catch wild boars?”

“It doesn’t matter. You already promised to feed me for a month—I’ve got nothing to worry about now.”

Jiang Manman paused mid-swing of her sickle and glanced at him.

Then she continued cutting pigweed.

By noon, both of them had each collected thirty jin of pigweed and headed back.

Lunch was simple—fried rice with eggs. This time she brought a portion for Zhou Ye.

She’d added some of the meat they had distributed yesterday.

She had marinated the meat the previous night, and it was perfect for cutting into cubes and stir-frying into the rice today.

Zhou Ye ate the egg fried rice she made and couldn’t believe how delicious it was.

He found himself back at that same dilemma again—was it better to catch the wild boars or not catch them?

They rested for a bit after lunch. In the afternoon, they went back to the mountain together to check the trap.

They moved quietly, afraid of startling any potential wild boars nearby.

When they reached the net, there was not a single wild boar in sight.

Up in the tree, Ge Mazi was already dozing off. When he saw them coming, he perked up excitedly:

“You two are finally here! Time to switch shifts?”

Zhou Ye smiled.
“Come down and go rest. I’ll take over.”

Then he looked at Jiang Manman.
“You can climb trees too, right? Want to go up together?”

Jiang Manman rolled her eyes.
“I still have to cut pigweed!

If we don’t catch any wild boars, and you still eat up a month of rations, how am I supposed to feed you?”

“Eh?”

Ge Mazi looked at Jiang Manman in shock, then at Zhou Ye.

“You two might as well go get your marriage certificate.”

“Get lost!”

“Get lost!”

Ge Mazi was heartbroken. That was some real teamwork—saying “get lost” in perfect unison. Fine, he’d get lost!

Before he left, he added,
“Hey, Jiang the educated youth, if we don’t catch any wild boars this time, use my rations for the next attempt.

You don’t have to feed me for a month—just two weeks is fine.”

Zhou Ye: …

“You’re still not leaving?”

“I’m going, I’m going. Jiang the educated youth, I’m serious!”

Jiang Manman shook her head, speechless. Ge Mazi was a bit cheeky, and Zhou Ye was kind of a rascal too—definitely a pair of good buddies.

“You go climb the tree. I’m off to cut pigweed.”

“Alright, be careful.”

Watching her walk off into the distance, Zhou Ye quickly scrambled up a tree. From up there, he could still see her figure working away at the pigweed.

He didn’t know what he was thinking, but suddenly a smile spread across his lips. Then he frowned again.

Turning to look toward the trap—
Still no wild boars. Was next month’s food supply really going to be wiped out?

But if there was one thing he had plenty of, it was patience.

He continued watching from the tree. After a while—there really were wild boars approaching.

Zhou Ye’s eyes lit up. He looked toward where Jiang Manman had gone, but couldn’t see her anymore.

She’d probably gone farther down the mountain.

One boar, then two, then three or five… all of them entered the trap and began munching contentedly on the corn inside the net.