Chapter 3: The First Clear Day After Winter Snow, Venturing into the Mountains with Childhood Friends!

It was no wonder Zhao Xiulian severed ties; she was determined to find a way to snatch a wild chicken.

This was 1978, the dawn of the 1980s, a time when grain was desperately scarce across the nation.

Though Qin Feng’s family lived near the Xing’an Mountains, meat—rich in fat and oil—was a rare luxury.

A steaming iron pot bubbled on the stove, filling the entire house with the aroma of rendered fat.

Dong Qiufen had cut some potatoes to stew with the chicken, and casually mixed in some coarse grains, lining the pot’s edge with a ring of flatbreads.

Qin Xiaoyu circled the pot, her face lit up with an unending smile.

“It smells so good, big brother!”

“Isn’t it cooked yet? My stomach’s already growling!”

The little girl had been malnourished for years, so thin she swayed like a twig in the wind.

“Xiaoyu, don’t be impatient, it’s almost ready!”

Qin Feng lifted the lid, scooped out a large bowl of chicken drumstick meat for his sister.

The coarse grain flatbreads, toasted to a golden brown, dipped in the stew’s broth, were simply heavenly.

The soft, tender potatoes were exceptionally delicious, and the three of them ate with immense satisfaction.

“This stewed chicken is so good! Ah, if only we could eat this every day!”

Rubbing her round belly, Qin Xiaoyu sat on a stool, contentedly digesting.

“Don’t talk nonsense. In times like these, which family can eat meat every meal?” Dong Qiufen, clearing the dishes by the stove, couldn’t help but respond to her daughter’s wish.

Thinking of Qin Feng’s reckless venture into the mountains to catch these two chickens, which had led to his serious illness, she felt an uneasy worry.

“Xiaofeng, listen to your mother. You mustn’t take such risks anymore.”

“The weather is turning colder; soon the heavy snow will close the mountains. I really can’t bear the thought of you going alone.”

“Our family’s life is hard, but now that we’ve split and cut ties, with no one to interfere, things will eventually improve.”

“Tomorrow, I’ll ask the village chief if there’s any work that can earn more credits—you just have to endure a little more hardship.”

“Your father left us early, but I will risk my life to take care of you both...”

“Mom, you don’t have to say more,” Qin Feng said warmly, moved by his mother’s words as he shared his resolve.

“Don’t worry. Your brother has grown up and can protect both you and Xiaoyu.”

“I’m going into the mountain tomorrow, but rest assured, I know my limits and won’t get into trouble!” Qin Feng assured his mother as he looked around the empty house.

“Just stay home and take care of your sister. No need to find other work.”

“I’ll gradually add what we need at home. Our family will surely live well someday!”

Smiling, Qin Feng pinched his sister’s chubby cheek and said, “From now on, I’ll make sure you eat meat every meal and raise you into a little pig!”

“Really?” Qin Xiaoyu, still innocent and carefree, eyes sparkling at Qin Feng’s words.

“That’s great! I can eat meat every meal!”

“But I don’t want to turn into a pig...” she pouted, happy yet troubled.

...

Autumn settled over the Xing’an Mountains, and the first snow arrived early.

When Qin Feng opened the door in the morning, a thin layer of snow already blanketed the yard.

But it was no big deal; judging by the sky, the snowfall was about to stop and wouldn’t delay his trip into the mountains.

Qin Feng’s body hadn’t fully recovered; the fever had mostly subsided, but he still felt weak.

After tidying the yard, he dug out a few barely usable old burlap sacks.

He tucked his short knife into his belt, greeted his mother, and stepped outside.

“Be very careful!” Dong Qiufen called after him from the doorway.

Though still worried, she sensed her son was different since his illness.

Watching Qin Feng’s gradually growing figure, an inexplicable sense of security blossomed in her heart.

“My child has grown up...”

Qin Feng’s village was called Panlong Village, named after the nearby Panlong Mountain of the Xing’an Range.

It fell under the jurisdiction of the Seventh Commune of the Xing’an Forest Farm, a full 120 li from the bustling Kaiyuan County.

The first snow fell, and temperatures plummeted. Qin Feng’s cotton-padded jacket was worn and patched in several places on the sleeves.

The cold wind licked his skin through the cuffs, raising goosebumps on his arms.

He wrapped his clothes tighter and followed the path to the east end of the village.

“Liuzi! Liuzi!” Qin Feng called out, his breath forming white mist as he looked up, calling his childhood friend’s name across the wooden fence.

Soon, a tall, lanky figure emerged from a low house.

“Xiaofeng! What are you doing here?!” The tall boy, about seventeen or eighteen, smiled foolishly at Qin Feng.

His name was Zhao Chunliu, Qin Feng’s childhood companion. His parents died early, and he was raised by his grandmother.

As a child, a high fever left him with some impairment—his mind not quite sharp.

Villagers nicknamed him “Big Fool Chun,” but Qin Feng affectionately called him Liuzi.

Back in school, many village kids bullied Liuzi, but Qin Feng always stood up for him. Their bond was like that of brothers.

Though Liuzi’s family was better off than Qin Feng’s, life was still hard.

Liuzi’s uncle was the village chief, Zhao Xicheng, who occasionally lent a helping hand.

“I heard from my grandmother that your family split up last night?” Liuzi scratched his head, concerned.

Qin Feng nodded, inwardly amazed at how fast news traveled in the village.

“Have you recovered from your illness? I’ve been hoping we could go back into the mountains together.”

“But my grandmother says my mind isn’t as sharp as yours, and only by following you can I go up there.”

“That’s exactly why I came!” Qin Feng laughed, patting Liuzi’s shoulder.

“Go tell your grandmother we’re heading up the mountain soon.”

“I’ll take you hunting for goods, then we’ll feast!”

Hearing Qin Feng’s words, Liuzi leapt about like a fool, overjoyed.

“Alright, Xiaofeng! Wait for me here! Ma Mountain, here I come!”

As Liuzi came out of his house, Qin Feng reminded him to take an axe.

The two friends set off together, Liuzi trailing behind Qin Feng as they headed uphill.

Passing by the house of Qin Feng’s second uncle, Qin Feng’s aunt, Zhang Xiao’e, happened to be outside shoveling snow and caught sight of him.

Qin Feng held no fondness for this aunt and pretended not to see her.

“Oh? Isn’t this Xiaofeng from the eldest brother’s family?” Zhang Xiao’e called out loudly. “Since you cut ties, you’ve turned so cold—you don’t even call me aunt anymore?”

Seeing Qin Feng ignore her completely, Zhang Xiao’e deliberately raised her voice and shouted.

She poured a basin of hot water onto the snow, nearly soaking Liuzi’s feet.

“Slow down, auntie! Xiaofeng and I are going up the mountain to hunt goods. If my cotton shoes get wet, my feet will get frostbite when we come back,” Liuzi said with a grin as he walked.

“Hunting goods on the mountain?!” Zhang Xiao’e’s face twisted with mockery.

She thought to herself: You two fatherless bastards want to dream of making a fortune in the mountains?

If it were so easy to get things down from the mountain, do you think you’d have a chance?

“Better to die up there... go find your short-lived father sooner,” Zhang Xiao’e muttered softly behind their backs as they walked away.