Chapter 235: Ye Changyuan Returns

Chapter 235: Ye Changyuan Returns

Ye Changsheng nodded. Someone in Li Deshu’s condition probably wouldn’t be able to travel much farther and would likely keep pace with the two of them.

Even if he was keeping his distance now, they’d eventually cross paths with him sooner or later.

They walked on for a while longer.

The front of the group had already started bagging some game.

Ye Xiaoxiao saw a rabbit dart by her, but she had no idea how to catch it.

Besides, she was swaddled in heavy clothes, wearing a hat and gloves, and even her shoes were bulky. Dressed like this, she wouldn’t be able to run if danger arose, let alone chase after a rabbit.

The villagers didn’t even use guns for small prey like this—they could just snag them with nets.

Ye Xiaoxiao glanced at Ye Changsheng. “What’s our purpose here?”

Ye Changsheng had a very clear understanding of their situation.

“It’s about participation.”

Ye Xiaoxiao: “I doubt they’ll split the haul just based on attendance.”

Otherwise, there’d be plenty of people in the village just freeloading like them.

Ye Changsheng: “The chief will see who contributed more and distribute accordingly. People like us, just strolling around, probably won’t get anything.

But a lot of people don’t stick with the main group either. They can snag small game along the way.”

Ye Xiaoxiao followed the group a little farther before the crowd started fanning out.

Ye Changning walked alongside Ye Xiaoxiao and the others, toting his rifle.

Ye Changjun, meanwhile, was with Ye Jianguo at the front of the group.

Ye Changning: “See that? They’ve already taken down a wild boar up ahead.”

A shot cracked from the front, and a lone wild boar dropped to the ground.

The kill would probably be hauled back first.

Ye Xiaoxiao: “Then let’s go back with the boar carriers.”

Ye Changning chuckled teasingly. “I figured you were itching to head back. Come on, let’s turn around.”

They hadn’t gone too far in yet.

Ye Xiaoxiao noticed that others had also broken off into pairs, as this area wasn’t particularly dangerous and rarely had large animals.

Then she spotted a rabbit—very close to her and frozen stiff.

“Brother, rabbit—a rabbit!”

Ye Changning handed his rifle to Ye Changsheng.

“No need for the gun here. Third Bro’s got this.”

Creeping forward, Ye Changning suddenly pounced, pinning the rabbit down.

Ye Xiaoxiao walked over to help, but Ye Changning took out a rope and tied up the rabbit's legs first. The rabbit struggled violently, but it was futile.

“Don’t underestimate rabbits—they can kick and bite. Ye Xiaoxiao, don’t touch it.”

Ye Changning stuffed the rabbit into a sack and carried it on his back.

Because of the delay, they got separated from the group transporting the wild boar.

Ye Changning decided to take his younger siblings around the area instead. They couldn’t go back with nothing—way too humiliating.

Nearby, there were pheasants, hares, and tons of small game around.

Ye Xiaoxiao still hadn’t caught anything, so Ye Changning handed her the sack of prey to watch.

Ye Changsheng went to help Ye Changning flush out another rabbit.

Ye Xiaoxiao stood under a large tree when, suddenly, a rabbit came barreling straight at her.

Then—*thud*—it crashed into the tree.

Whoa, free rabbit delivery!

Just as Ye Xiaoxiao bent down to pick it up, the rabbit, which should’ve been knocked out, suddenly flipped over and darted sideways—only to be snatched up by another hand.

Ye Xiaoxiao looked up and saw Li Deshu.

“Spill where Ye Yanyan’s at, and I’ll give you this rabbit.”

Ye Xiaoxiao thought he’d lost it.

“Didn’t know you were this desperate… If you want it, just take it. Though I didn’t realize things were so bad that you’d fight over a rabbit.”

Li Deshu gritted his teeth. “We’re doing just fine!”

Though they had indeed gone bankrupt, compared to the truly destitute in the village, his family wasn’t starving.

But easy to get used to luxury, hard to go back.

Li Deshu, convinced he was a reborn guy with golden luck, couldn’t accept living like this.

While he was talking, Ye Changning and Ye Changsheng returned with another rabbit.

Li Deshu panicked, dropped the rabbit, and bolted.

Then the rabbit took off too.

As it fled, it collided with Li Deshu’s foot, sending him face-planting into the snow. His head hit a rock, knocking him out cold.

Ye Changning: “What the hell—? I wasn’t even going to hit him.”

Ye Xiaoxiao’s eyes widened. “He freaking squashed the rabbit dead.”

Li Deshu was out cold in the snow. Ye Xiaoxiao felt for a pulse. “He’s not dead.”

Ye Changsheng deadpanned, “Let’s go back.”

The place was deserted—they’d lost the others ages ago.

They were all on the same page, but they’d barely taken two steps before—

Li Deshu's uncle walked over to them.

"Deshu, what happened to you?"

The uncle shouted loudly, then turned Li Deshu over and saw the rabbit beneath him, struck dumb.

He’d been hoping to pin the blame on the Ye family.

But now it was obvious that he'd knocked himself out rabbit-chasing.

Pathetic.

"Uncle Dazhuang, since you're here, we’re out."

Ye Changning said and immediately booked it with his younger siblings.

Li Deshu's uncle was fuming.

He could tell these people had no intention of helping Li Deshu, but now he had no choice but to force out a "thank you."

Ye Xiaoxiao and the others quickly slipped away.

They’d bagged a good haul—a solid four or five rabbits.

These were all caught by themselves, so they didn’t have to share with anyone.

"Once we get back, we’ll slow-cook 'em for you. By evening, they should be tender, and we can stick some flatbread to the pot’s edge."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Hell yeah!"

As the three reached the foot of the mountain, they spotted a figure trudging up the trail.

"Who’s going up this late? Slacking worse than us."

Ye Changning muttered under his breath.

Ye Xiaoxiao squinted at the familiar silhouette. "Third Bro, isn’t that Changyuan?"

Ye Changning stopped in disbelief. "No shot—he didn’t even warn us."

Even if Ye Changan had returned, it wouldn’t have been this surprising.

Ye Changyuan, that rookie soldier, hadn’t come back last year, and who knew how long they’d let him stay this time.

Ye Changsheng ran over excitedly. "Holy crap, it’s him!"

Only after arriving home did Ye Changyuan realize none of the kids were there, and then he found out about the village hunt.

He wasn’t about to wander into the woods solo, so he decided to scope out the base of the hill first.

He knew those two—Changsheng and Xiaoxiao—better than anyone.

Even if they went into the mountains, they’d bail within an hour.

Ye Changyuan ran over and hugged Ye Changsheng.

Ye Changsheng was already tall, but now he’d shot up like a weed.

Ye Xiaoxiao also rushed over. "Changyuan, you’re baked!"

Ye Changyuan said, "I'm out at sea every day—no wonder I'm so sunburnt."

Ye Changning urged everyone to head home, "Let's talk at home. You've got good timing, kid—we've got rabbits, and we might even get some pork tonight."

Ye Changyuan chuckled, still grinning like the same goofy kid they knew.

"I've been pretty lucky."

Ye Changsheng asked, "So how's army life treating you?"

Ye Changyuan replied, "That first year was brutal, but I've gotten used to it now."