After the tiger hunt all those years ago, Han Shengli and Xue Baojun had been fired from the Forest Farm for stealing tiger bones.
That was 1966. Back then, you can imagine the consequences for stealing public property.
So, of the original Four Tiger-Slaying Generals, the only one who could still be called upon was Zhao Youcai.
Zhao Jun was from a younger generation, and Zhao Youcai was his family’s in-law. ’Asking a father to face danger in his son’s place... that just isn’t right.’
’Should I really go to Zhao Youcai and say, "My dear in-law, we’ve got a wild boar here that’s already injured several people. It might be dangerous for your son to go, so why don’t you go instead?"’
So, Zhou Chunming discussed with Zhang Yuntao whether the Forest Farm could provide the guns and request a few skilled n from the town’s public security departnt.
But Zhang Yuntao said that if it were a tiger, that would be one thing. But to file a report over a single wild boar would inevitably make the higher-ups think the Yong’an Forest Farm was making a mountain out of a molehill.
After much discussion, they still couldn’t reach a conclusion. However, Zhou Chunming had a change of heart and decided he didn’t want Zhao Jun risking his life on Little Gu Mountain.
Now, faced with Hu Sani’s question, Zhou Chunming shook his head and said, "Elder Zhang didn’t have any good ideas either. He just said that a hefty reward is sure to attract a brave man. The village is offering one hundred yuan and fifty jin of food tickets, right? Our Farm will match that. That brings the total to two hundred yuan and one hundred jin of food tickets. I refuse to believe no one will take the job."
After he finished, Zhou Chunming looked at Zhao Jun again. "Jun, don’t go. If sothing happens to you, how could I possibly face my in-law?"
"Uncle," Zhao Jun said, "I went up the mountain for a look today. That boar won’t be easy to hunt."
At this, Zhao Jun’s tone shifted, and he added, "But I can."
The mont the words left his mouth, Zhao Chun, who was sitting behind him, hurriedly slapped him on the back. "Brother, this is no laughing matter."
"Don’t worry, Big Sister. I know what I’m doing." Zhao Jun drained the glass of water in front of him and turned the translucent cup upside down on the table.
Zhao Jun used the overturned cup to represent Little Gu Mountain, explaining to everyone, "Yesterday, I heard Brother Wei describe how the boar injured those people and gored the dogs. Today, I went up the mountain to track it myself. This boar..."
As he spoke, Zhao Jun traced a counter-clockwise circle around the cup with his right index finger, starting from the side facing him. "Every day, this boar travels from east to south, then west, then north, finally looping back to the east. It just circles the mountain day after day."
"The boar is hard to hunt because the terrain is too open—it’s all wide, gentle slopes, and the ground is noisy. When it charges, the dogs can’t contain it."
Although the Zhou father and son weren’t hunters, they both worked at the Forest Farm and had a decent understanding of the mountain’s topography. Listening to Zhao Jun’s clear and logical explanation, both n found themselves completely drawn in.
Seeing them nod, Zhao Jun continued, "I saw it today. On the western ridge, there are two knolls with a depression in between, forming a natural shelter from the wind. There are also a few large pine trees nearby. I’m almost certain that’s where the boar makes its lair at night."
"If we’re going to hunt it, we have to get up there early with the dogs. We’ll surround it before it even leaves its lair!"
When Zhao Jun finished, he looked expectantly at the father and son. But Zhou Chunming and Zhou Jianjun just looked at each other, unable to make a decision.
Then, Zhao Jun said to Zhou Chunming, "Don’t worry, Uncle. Haven’t you noticed? The boar only injures people who are isolated. When it’s surrounded by the dogs, it might hurt the dogs, but it won’t hurt the hunters."
Zhou Chunming and the others found this convincing. It was true. Including Huang Gui today, four groups of hunters had already gone after the boar with their dogs. And no matter how many dogs were killed or injured, the hunters themselves had always remained unhard.
The Zhou Family didn’t keep dogs, so they didn’t understand how deep a hunter’s bond with his hounds could be. All they cared about was that the people involved would be safe.
Zhou Chunming thought long and hard before finally asking Zhao Jun, "So, Jun, you’re still planning to go tomorrow?"
Zhao Jun nodded. "Baoyu and I will take the dogs into the mountains tomorrow. We’ll scout around, pin down its trail, and figure out a plan."
Hearing this, Zhou Chunming looked at Zhou Jianjun and said, "Jianjun, you go with them tomorrow, too. And ask Wei Lai to co along. After all, he’s an experienced mountain man."
"You got it, Dad," Zhou Jianjun imdiately agreed.
It was getting late. Zhao Jun and Zhou Jianjun had been so preoccupied with helping Huang Gui and his dogs at noon that they hadn’t even had a bite to eat. Hu Sani and Zhao Chun went to the outer room to start a fire and cook a al.
After dinner, Zhao Jun and Li Baoyu took the potatoes Hu Sani had specially stead for them, mashed them with so vegetable broth, and went into the courtyard to feed the dogs.
Watching the four dogs devour the mashed potatoes, Zhao Jun said to Li Baoyu, "Baoyu, when you co up the mountain with tomorrow, you have to keep a tight leash on these dogs. Don’t you dare let them go unless I give the word."
Seeing Li Baoyu’s confusion, Zhao Jun explained, "My brother-in-law and the others are amateurs. They wouldn’t understand if I explained everything. Taking down this big loner won’t be easy; it’s not as simple as I made it sound before dinner. Tomorrow, we’ll head up the mountain first to scout around, read the trail, and test the dogs."
Li Baoyu only grew more confused. He glanced around, and his eyes finally landed on White Dragon. A flicker of understanding crossed his face. "Yeah," he said. "He does need to be tested."
The next morning, Zhao Jun and Li Baoyu were up a little after five. It wasn’t that they needed to head up the mountain that early, but when you’re a guest in soone else’s ho, it’s impolite to sleep in.
After breakfast, just past seven, Zhao Jun and Li Baoyu finished getting their gear together and went to the west room to find Zhou Jianjun.
Zhou Jianjun was sitting on the edge of the kang, tying his leg wrappings. Zhao Jun took his nephew from Zhao Chun’s arms, wanting to dote on the little boy for a bit before he left.
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