Chapter 21: Selection for the Eagle Hunt Squad

"Dad, Mom! The buns are best right when they're steamed. You and Dad don't need to save them for me and my sister!"

Seeing his parents only eating a symbolic amount, Yue Feng felt a pang of heartache.

Parents always saved the best for their children; this kind of detail was reflected in every aspect of daily life.

In contrast, children might not be the same way. While there were filial children, there was no shortage of those who, once they started their own families, neglected their parents.

Take Yue Feng's eldest brother, for example.

Meng Yulan didn't respond to the comment. She silently wrapped three of the buns in oil paper and placed them on the corner of the table. "Aren't you heading up the mountain later? Take the buns with you for lunch!"

Yue Feng didn't dwell on such small matters. He nodded and then turned to his father. "Dad, there's something I want to discuss with you!"

Yue Lei and his son rarely had such formal communications. Hearing his son's words, Yue Lei's expression turned solemn.

"What is it?"

"I met a procurement master from a small canteen at a coal mine in the ghost market. He said he could buy all the mountain goods I catch in bulk! Do you think it's worth it for us to catch a few more hawks, gather a few people, and make money together?"

Having lived two lifetimes, Yue Feng's vision far exceeded that of an ordinary person. In truth, he already had the answer in his heart. The reason he was discussing it so solemnly with his father was primarily to give his old man a sense of involvement, while also listening to his perspective.

After listening to his son's question, Yue Lei did not answer immediately. Instead, he frowned slightly and thought for a few seconds.

"We can find a few people, but their character must be solid and their mouths must be shut tight. Furthermore, the technique of flying hawks can be taught, but the core technology of training them must remain a secret!"

In this era, if one truly wanted to learn a trade, many professions required formally apprenticing under a master. Although hawk training was a niche skill, once learned, it was definitely more lucrative than the honest farming done on one's own small plot of land.

Yue Feng had learned hawk training from his grandfather, but his father, Yue Lei, had previously had no interest in hunting with hawks.

In Yue Lei's view, even if they weren't using a sparrowhawk but a large hawk for catching rabbits (a female Goshawk), they could only catch small prey like pheasants and rabbits. After a whole day's work, there wouldn't be much meat, which was far less satisfying than going up the mountain to set traps or snares to catch larger mountain game.

Of course, this perception was based on the premise that the small prey caught—pheasants, rabbits, or even flying dragons—couldn't be sold for a high price and could only be eaten at home.

If someone had told Yue Lei earlier that a live flying dragon could sell for over a yuan, he would have taken up the family's traditional hawk-training skill long ago.

At this stage, the bulk of ordinary villagers' income came from the year-end dividends from the village production team. Those with slightly more initiative would go into the mountains to gather wild delicacies like wood ear mushrooms or monk cap mushrooms, or dry medicinal herbs like Schisandra to sell to the supply and marketing cooperatives, though the prices were kept extremely low.

It wasn't that there weren't people who raised dogs and bought guns to go hunting, but the threshold was too high; ordinary families simply couldn't afford it. Most farming households barely had enough grain for themselves, let alone enough to feed a dog.

By comparison, taking advantage of the autumn hawk season to bring out a few hawks for small hunts to sell live wild game was a much more cost-effective business model.

"How about this: I'll find some time to set some nets and catch a few more young hawks, and you help me get them ready?" Yue Feng pressed the advantage after receiving his father's affirmation.

"Fine. I don't have much to do at home anyway. I can help you tame the hawks for a few days! Have you thought about who you want to work with?" Yue Lei nodded, accepting the task.

Yue Feng already had an answer in mind. "How about I ask my former neighbor, Uncle Li, and his son? And then add the Zhang brothers, Xiaowen and Xiaowu?"

Li Wentong and Li Mingtao went without saying. The two families had been extremely close since Yue Lei's youth. In his previous life, when Yue Lei met with an accident in the mountains, he entrusted his wife and children to his brother, Li Wentong, before he died.

Since then, Li Wentong, though not a blood relative, had looked after Yue Feng's family of three. When Li Wentong went hunting, he would take Yue Feng along to help. No matter how much effort Yue Feng put in, the catch was always split half-and-half between the families. When Yue Feng was rebuilding his house and getting married, it was Li Wentong who busied himself with the arrangements, contributing both money and labor, treating him almost like his own son. Naturally, when it came to organizing people to fly hawks and make money, he would be included.

Zhang Xiaowen and Zhang Xiaowu were only a year apart. These two brothers were Yue Feng's good friends in his previous life. Their father, Zhang Deliang, was a mountain gatherer in the village. One autumn, while gathering mountain goods, he was kicked by a black bear, leaving behind two underage brothers and an elderly mother who required constant medication.

The two brothers were famous in the village for being filial.

A few years ago, when the brothers were only thirteen or fourteen, someone in the village held a wedding banquet. The brothers went to help, and the hosts provided food. After a day of work, the brothers each tucked a piece of fried knife-fish into their pockets to bring home to their mother.

In this era, resources were extremely scarce. At occasions like wedding banquets, "heavy dishes" were limited. For instance, with fried knife-fish, one piece per person was considered good luck, yet these two brothers couldn't bear to eat it themselves, bringing it home to honor their mother instead.

Beyond their filial piety, the two brothers were also extremely loyal. In his previous life, Yue Feng had taken them up the mountain to kill a bear. When the bear emerged from its den, Yue Feng's gun misfired, and he was nearly crushed when the bear sat on him.

Neither of the brothers ran. They grabbed their spears and prepared to fight the bear to the death. After a fierce battle, they finally rescued Yue Feng, though both brothers suffered deep scratches on their chests and backs from the bear and took a month to heal.

This was a true life-saving debt. In his previous life, Yue Feng had not repaid them, but having been reborn, he was determined to repay that debt.

It was now 1980, and the brothers had just reached adulthood. With no father to act as the pillar of the household, they were struggling to care for their mother, who required constant medication.

Yue Feng knew these two were loyal and righteous. Since he had a way to make money, he was naturally willing to give them a hand. Even if he had to take a slight loss to let them have a larger share of the money, Yue Feng wouldn't find it improper.

"The Li family is definitely fine. As for the Zhang boys, give them a trial run, that's fine too!" Yue Lei nodded, approving of the partners Yue Feng had mentioned.

In this era, most people placed great importance on their reputation. With low productivity, villagers often needed to band together to accomplish things. A good reputation meant good character, and everyone was willing to associate with such people.

Although Xiaowen and Xiaowu were young, the whole village knew of their filial reputation. Despite their poor circumstances, most people did not look down on them. In fact, more than one wealthy family from outside the village had approached the village matchmaker, Old Iron-Mouth Wang, wanting to propose to the eldest, Xiaowen, as a live-in son-in-law, though Xiaowen had declined.

"Then, should I make the arrangements when I have time?" Yue Feng continued to ask.

"Don't be too eager, or you'll ruin the deal. Do it like this..." Yue Lei waved his hand, beckoning Yue Feng closer, and whispered several things into his ear.

"Alright, I'll do as you say, Dad! Mom, pack a few more steamed buns in my bag!" Yue Feng nodded in agreement.

Three heads are better than one. Although Yue Feng had thought through how to handle the matter, there were still some flaws in the details. With his father's instructions, the plan was suddenly perfected.

Having made up his mind, Yue Feng tied his leg wraps, slung his backpack, and set off with his hawk.

He didn't head straight up the mountain today; instead, he went to his former neighbor, Uncle Li's house.

"Xiao Tao! Are you busy today? If not, keep me company. I'll take you up the mountain to fly hawks and catch chickens!"

"Sure thing, Brother Feng! Let me finish my leg wraps! Give me a few minutes!"

The Li family had also just finished breakfast. When Xiao Tao heard Yue Feng inviting him to go hawk hunting, he agreed instantly.

Xiao Tao had been following Yue Feng around since they were children. Although he was a bit reckless in his actions, his execution was impeccable. He was the kind of brother you could trust with your life at any time.

(End of Chapter)