Chapter Eleven: Exchanging Supplies

Li Xiangyang stepped carefully over the morning snow, making his way toward the forest station. Along the path, he pondered how to negotiate with Captain Zhou; after all, these days, everyone’s hands were tied tight.

Sunlight filtered through the treetops, casting specks of golden light upon the snow-covered ground. Li Xiangyang couldn’t help but recall the days of his previous life when he hunted in these very woods. Back then, to escape reality, he had buried himself deep within the mountains, yet in the end, he was never able to let go of that obsession.

“Stop! Who goes there?” A forest ranger called out from the gate of the station.

Recognizing the voice, Li Xiangyang saw Sun Yongliang, his good partner from the past life. At this moment, Sun was still young, his posture straight and gaze sharp.

“Brother Sun, it’s me, Li Xiangyang from Xiaoliang Village. I’ve come to see Captain Zhou about something.”

“Oh, it’s you, kid,” Sun Yongliang smiled. “I heard you’ve had quite a haul in the mountains these past few days?”

“Got lucky and bagged a stag. I want to trade for something from Captain Zhou.” Li Xiangyang patted his satchel.

Sun’s eyes lit up. “A stag? That’s rare. Come on, I’ll take you to see the captain.”

They passed several rows of low bungalows before reaching Captain Zhou’s office. Li Xiangyang pushed open the door and was met with a heavy scent of smoke.

Captain Zhou sat at his desk, smoking, his eyes brightening as he saw Li Xiangyang enter. “Little Li’s here? Sit down.”

Li Xiangyang placed his satchel on the table and deliberately pulled out a wax paper package. “Captain Zhou, this time I managed to bring in a prime stag. These are all valuable items.”

He laid out the antlers, tendons, and heart of the deer one by one. Captain Zhou’s eyes gleamed brighter.

“Good stuff!” Captain Zhou picked up the antlers to examine them. “Little Li, you’ve got a future. What do you want in exchange?”

Li Xiangyang’s heart leapt, but his expression remained calm. “Captain, you know my family’s not well-off; we lack everything, especially warm clothes.”

“That’s easy.” Captain Zhou rose and walked to a cabinet in the corner. “Our station just received a batch of supplies.”

He opened the door to reveal neatly stacked quilts, cotton-padded clothes, salt, sugar, and other essentials.

“Take a look. What do you want?”

Li Xiangyang’s eyes caught something at the back—a fierce bow and several javelins. His face brightened. “Captain Zhou, can I trade for that bow?”

“The fierce bow?” Captain Zhou followed his gaze. “That thing’s no good. If you want it—”

“I just like it,” Li Xiangyang smiled.

Captain Zhou nodded readily. “Alright, no one really uses it anyway. Take it. You can have half of these supplies too. But, Little Li, if you get good stuff in the future, remember to think of me first.”

“That goes without saying. You’re my benefactor.”

Li Xiangyang carried his new goods out, and Sun Yongliang accompanied him to the door, lowering his voice. “Little Li, you seem different from before.”

“Is that so?” Li Xiangyang smiled. “Maybe I’ve just grown up.”

“No, it’s more than that.” Sun looked at him earnestly. “You’re a true hunter now.”

Li Xiangyang felt a warm glow inside and patted Sun’s shoulder. “Brother Sun, I’ll treat you to a drink sometime.”

The sun had risen high by then. Li Xiangyang fashioned a simple sled and began hauling his trade goods briskly toward home.

From afar, he spotted Li Xiaohua standing at the village entrance, scanning the road.

“Brother!” The little girl ran up as soon as she saw him. “You said you’d bring me something good. Where is it?”

“What’s the rush?” Li Xiangyang affectionately tweaked her nose. “I’ll show you when we get home.”

Inside the courtyard, their mother was drying things under the sun. Seeing her son return with such a large bundle, she hurried over. “You traded for all this?”

“Yes, Captain Zhou is generous.” Li Xiangyang began unpacking. “Two quilts—one for you and Xiaohua, one for me. These coats each for you and mom.”

“Brother, you promised me good things!” Li Xiaohua couldn’t help but ask again.

Li Xiangyang ruffled her hair with fondness and handed her a paper package. “Here you go.”

Eagerly opening it, Li Xiaohua found several snow-white sugar cubes inside.

“Wow!” Her eyes lit up. “Sugar! Brother, how much did this cost?”

“No money. It was a trade. Captain Zhou gave me extra.”

“Can I try one?” Xiaohua asked cautiously, afraid he might change his mind.

“Silly girl, it’s all for you.”

She carefully broke off a small piece and popped it into her mouth. The sweet flavor melted on her tongue, and she closed her eyes in bliss.

“Mom, you try some too.”

Li Xiaohua quickly offered a piece to their mother.

Seeing her daughter’s joy, their mother’s eyes glistened with tears.

The last time she’d tasted sugar was before their father passed away, when they could still sit together and share a sweet treat.

“Don’t cry, Mom.” Li Xiaohua grew anxious.

“Silly child, these are happy tears.” Their mother wiped her eyes and smiled. “Your brother’s doing well now. Our days ahead will only get better.”

Watching this tender scene, Li Xiangyang felt warmth spread through his heart.

Though the supplies he’d traded for were excellent, the prized possession was undoubtedly the fierce bow.

It was a standard hunting bow, its limbs made from fine ash wood. Because it had long been unused, the bowstring was slack.

“Good bow, but it needs a new string.”

Recalling skills from his former life, Li Xiangyang found some thick hemp rope in the yard, twisted it into a single cord, and applied pine resin repeatedly.

“That should do it.”

After restringing the bow, he drew it a few times and nodded in satisfaction.

Next came the arrows.

He rummaged through the woodpile for bamboo, selecting several straight and slender stalks, then carefully carved and polished them with a knife.

“Brother, let me help.”

Li Xiaohua squatted nearby, fascinated.

“Okay, help me split these bamboo stalks.”

Li Xiangyang handed her a small knife with a smile. “Remember, go along the grain, and be careful not to hurt yourself.”

Working in harmony—one splitting bamboo, the other smoothing shafts—the siblings soon finished a dozen arrow shafts.

Li Xiangyang cut several narrow strips from the deerskin and meticulously wrapped and secured the fletching at the arrow tails.

Finally, he forged arrowheads by hammering scraps of iron into triangular points and affixing them to the shafts.

One by one, a set of standard hunting arrows stood ready.

“Getting dark. Time to test their accuracy.”

Li Xiangyang stepped into the yard and hung a target on the wall.

“Whoosh!”

The first arrow flew smoothly, hitting the bullseye.

His archery skills from hunting on the African savannah in his past life remained intact.

Several more arrows followed, each striking true.

“Brother, you’re amazing!”

Li Xiaohua watched, wide-eyed and speechless.

“It’s nothing. When you get into university and come back as a top scholar, that will be amazing,” Li Xiangyang said with a smile.

As dusk settled, their mother brought out a large bowl of stewed venison from the kitchen.

The steaming meat was sprinkled with scallions, filling the air with a rich aroma.

“Eat while it’s hot.”

She served generous portions to both children.

The siblings sat on the heated brick bed, savoring the fragrant meat while sharing stories from the day.

“Mom, you should eat more too.”

Li Xiangyang offered a piece to their mother.

In this era of scarcity, a family gathered around a warm meal of meat was a profound blessing.

After dinner, Li Xiangyang checked the newly made arrows once more, arranging them neatly in the corner.

Tomorrow, he planned to take them into the mountains to test his skills.

Though he now had a rifle, bullets were costly, and the loud gunshots easily spooked game.

By contrast, the silent bow and arrows were far more suitable.

Lying under the new quilt, Li Xiangyang reflected on the day’s gains, a faint smile curving his lips.