"Brother Hao, where did you go? Why did you just get here?" Sun Chaoshu saw Ye Hao approaching and quickly stood up with Lu Bingsheng from beside the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, asking,
"Nothing, just dealt with a small matter. Why are you two squatting here? Have you finished buying your things?"
"We're done. We bought some white rabbit creamy candy, and I bought a box of vanishing cream for Zilan. Bingsheng didn't buy anything."
"You even bought vanishing cream for Zilan? I think you came here specifically to buy things for her. Bingsheng, here, take it, don't refuse, we're brothers." Ye Hao knew Lu Bingsheng had no money, so he handed him 20 yuan, telling him to buy whatever he wanted.
Ye Hao had everything in his space and lacked nothing, so he just went into the Supply and Marketing Cooperative for a look and didn't buy anything.
Lu Bingsheng didn't have anything he particularly wanted to buy, so he ended up buying some small gadgets that might be useful later.
Around noon, the three arrived at the state-run restaurant. Sun Chaoshu treated them to a big meal, which was actually just a braised wild rabbit, a stewed cabbage with vermicelli, and enough two-grain steamed buns. The plates after they ate looked as if a dog had licked them clean, gleaming brightly.
This was still due to their relatively good diet recently, with meat almost every day. If they hadn't had enough oil in their stomachs, this amount of food truly wouldn't have been enough for the three of them.
After eating, the few of them casually strolled around the City. There wasn't much to see in a small town, so they soon reached the intersection Captain Xu had mentioned. The three found a patch of grass and sat down to wait for Captain Xu and the others.
"Bingsheng, what did you buy? I see you carrying a small bag of things." Sun Chaoshu hadn't gone into the Supply and Marketing Cooperative with Lu Bingsheng, so he didn't know what he had bought.
"I bought some screws, nails, and wire. It'll make it easier to make things later. When I get back, I plan to remake our crossbows with tools, making them more powerful and accurate."
"Oh, why bother making crossbows? Didn't Captain Xu say he'd apply for guns for us in a while? Who'd still play with crossbows once we have guns?" Sun Chaoshu said dismissively.
"Chao Shu, you can't say that. First, Captain Xu said we can't just fire guns in the mountains. Even if you had a gun, with your accuracy, how many shots would it take to hit prey? Aren't bullets expensive?"
"Brother Hao, can we not talk about accuracy? I just missed the prey with the crossbow yesterday. A crossbow isn't as stable as a gun. I can aim with a gun, it has a sight. I can definitely hit it."
"Haha, you said it. If you can hit it, we'll see if you can hit it then. How about we make another bet? If you can hit one prey with ten shots, I'll wash your clothes for a month. If you can't hit it, you wash my clothes for a month, how about that?" Ye Hao was trying to trick Sun Chaoshu again.
"No, a month is too short. Even if I win, it's no fun. If we're going to bet, let's bet big. Half a year's worth of clothes, how about that?"
"Alright, half a year it is. Bingsheng will be the witness."
"Haha, okay then, I'll be the witness here. Let's see who wins then."
Just as the three were chatting happily, Captain Xu and Er Gouzi drove a mule cart out of the City, with several gunny sacks on it, no one knew what was inside.
"Have you all finished your business?"
"We're done, Captain Xu. What are you carrying?"
"These contain our rations, some condiments, and daily necessities. We packed them together so it'll be easier to carry them up the mountain later. Since everything's done, let's head back."
The journey back was quite tiring, as it was uphill, and the few of them had to push the mule cart. If it weren't for the diluted space spring water, Sun Chaoshu probably wouldn't have been able to walk.
"Oh, right, I went to the Forestry Bureau today and talked about your situation, and also about the poaching incident we encountered on the mountain. The leader said that they would give you more training these next few days, and next time we come down the mountain, you can receive your guns. However, you won't have many bullets, perhaps only a few rounds."
"That's great! We can finally get guns!"
"Comrade Xiao Sun, don't get happy too soon. Even if you get a gun, you can't just fire it casually. You can only fire it when in danger, and you must report every shot." Captain Xu poured a bucket of cold water on Sun Chaoshu.
"You have to give me some bullets to practice with, right? Otherwise, if I really encounter danger and can't hit anything, what then? I can't just listen to the sound."
"Don't worry, you'll get to practice, but the practice bullets are limited. I don't think they'll be enough for you. Haha." Captain Xu even laughed as he spoke.
They walked quite fast, and when they returned to Li Family Village, it was still early. The few of them unloaded the gunny sacks from the cart, Captain Xu went to return the mule cart, while Ye Hao and the other two went to the warehouse where the educated youths lived.
As soon as they arrived, Sun Chaoshu called Tang Zilan aside to a secluded spot. Ye Hao went inside to check on Niu Jianwen's injuries. Seeing that he was recovering quite well, he stopped adding spring water to their drinking water. Recovering too quickly could arouse suspicion.
No one knew what Sun Chaoshu said to Tang Zilan, but in the end, Tang Zilan accepted the box of vanishing cream. Seeing Tang Zilan accept the vanishing cream, Sun Chaoshu grinned like Er Gouzi. Tang Zilan glared at Sun Chaoshu, and Sun Chaoshu immediately withered like a mouse seeing a cat.
When Tang Zilan entered the room, a slight blush was still visible on her face. Zuo Lei, seeing Sun Chaoshu call Tang Zilan out alone, asked curiously, "Sister Zilan, why did Sun Chaoshu call you out? Was he trying to bully you? I'll go settle accounts with him."
"No, it's nothing, we just talked about something. Do you think a weakling like him could bully me? I could beat ten of him." Tang Zilan explained guiltily.
"How strange," Zuo Lei muttered softly.
"Comrade Xiao Ye, Captain Li and the others are preparing to build two houses for you all on that empty plot of land nearby. You can help out down there, and once the houses are built, you can go up the mountain. In the future, you can also live in these houses when you come down the mountain. Today, Er Gouzi and I will move some of these things up first, and then come back tomorrow for the rest."
"Alright, Captain Xu, but our bedding is on the mountain. We can't sleep down here without bedding for the next few days, can we? How about this, Chao Shu and Bingsheng, you wait for me down here. I'll go up the mountain with Captain Xu and the others, and then bring your bedding down."
"Brother Hao, let's go up with you. There's so much stuff, it's not convenient for you to carry it alone."
"Alright, you two stay down here. You've walked so far on the mountain today, your stamina won't keep up. Those things over there are a piece of cake for me." Ye Hao said to the two without question, then walked towards the pile of gunny sacks on the ground.
"Captain Xu, let's go." With that, Ye Hao hoisted two gunny sacks onto his shoulder and walked up the mountain.
Seeing Ye Hao like this, Captain Xu didn't say anything, and also hoisted two gunny sacks onto his shoulder and walked up the mountain, with Er Gouzi following closely behind.