1986: Old Stories in Northeast China

"Tiezhu, this young man is here to see you."

The second master, who was chatting with Mr. He in the yard, called out.

"Young master, young master, do you remember me? This time I'm here to ask for your help." The young man hurried to Chen Tiezhu.

"It looks like you're a little dazed, but I really can't remember where I saw you." Chen Tiezhu said.

"You are a noble man who forgets things easily. Once at the county fair, you were selling hares and pheasants there with your daughter, and we chatted for a while, didn't we?" the young man said.

"Yes, I remember. Wang Tieniu from Wangjiabao, right?" Chen Tiezhu said with a smile.

"Yes, yes, yes, that's me. This time I really have something to ask for. Two people from our fort came to Erdaoling to dig ginseng on the sixth day of the first lunar month, and they haven't returned yet." The young man said.

Chen Tiezhu frowned, "Aren't we closed the mountain? Why are you here? Are you going to the front mountain or the back mountain?"

"Ah... Actually, I know the mountain is closed, but my family needs money for the child's wedding in the spring. There is no other way, so I decided to try my luck in the mountain." The young man sighed.

"I didn't know it earlier. It was their family who found me and wanted me to help find someone. I don't have that ability, so I thought of Second Master."

"I also understood after coming here. Now you are in charge of the mountain. They have a thousand faults. They have been in the mountain for so many days. I am very worried that something might go wrong."

"Second Master, what do you think of this? I have never experienced this before. It seems that they may have climbed the back mountain." Chen Tiezhu frowned and said.

"It's hard to say whether it was before or not." Second Master said.

"Before we closed the mountain, someone came to ask for help, so we had to go up the mountain to look for him. No matter if we can find him, we have to try."

"Now you are in charge, and you have to make the decision. You have to make it. This matter is up to you. But the chances of finding him are slim."

"Tell me, why are you so anxious to make money? You can make some money when spring comes, right? You can't wait for so many days?" Chen Tiezhu said helplessly.

"I just found out today." Wang Tieniu said with a wry smile.

"The girl is from our village too. The two of them secretly fell in love. Now that she is pregnant, she is anxious. If we wait for too long, she will be pregnant and it will not look good to anyone."

"Let's put it this way." Chen Tiezhu said.

"Even if we go up the mountain tonight, we won't find anything. It's a waste of time. I'll go into the mountain tomorrow to take a look. If I haven't found anyone in two days, then it's basically impossible to find them."

"As for whether the person is still alive, I won't be sure by then. There are too many beasts on Erdao Ridge. I don't dare to go up easily now."

"Thank you, young master, thank you, young master." Wang Tieniu clasped his hands together.

"I'm so grateful that you can go up the mountain to help take a look. Their family... I don't know what to say. Those who live nearby know that there are many wild animals on the back mountain."

"You go up and take a look, it will give them some hope. Do you need me to call some people in our fort to follow you up the mountain?"

"Don't worry." Chen Tiezhu shook his head.

"It would be more convenient for me to do it alone. If I bring a group of people with me, I will have to sacrifice myself before the person is found. Life and death are determined by fate, and wealth and honor are determined by God. As for me, I can only do my best and leave the rest to fate."

"Okay, I'll go back and tell their family." Wang Tieniu said hurriedly.

Chen Tiezhu nodded, and the matter was settled.

"Tiezhu, it sounds like this is very uncertain?"

After Wang Tieniu left, Mr. He asked.

"It's not just uncertain. After such a long time, it can be basically confirmed that the person is gone." Chen Tiezhu said calmly.

"It's not like the weather is warm now. Even if you don't have food or water, you can just dig some wild vegetables to make do. It's not spring yet, and the weather is still so cold."

"Even if they have food and water, how can they survive at night? In addition, there are many ferocious beasts on Erdaoling, such as tigers, leopards, wild boars, wolves, etc."

"Don't worry about encountering blind bears. They should still be hibernating now. But if they encounter any of these in front, they will have a hard time escaping."

"You don't need to look at me. Erye knows what's going on. On Erdaoling, such dangers are nothing. There are more dangerous ones than this."

"Normally, in summer and early autumn, people dare to touch Erdaoling." Erye said with a wry smile.

"Otherwise, in early spring, there are many wild beasts in heat, and their activity range is relatively large, so it is easy to encounter them. And our Erdaoling is really weird.""Tiezhu's judgment is not bad. If nothing happened to these two people, it would be a great fortune. Now, only Tiezhu dares to go up the mountain to look for people. Take out your treasure and let Lao He take a look."

"Okay, I'll get it now." Chen Tiezhu nodded.

When he came out again, he was holding a large snake skin in his hand.

"Look at this thing. If it is still alive, how big would it be? Although it should hibernate in winter. But it has grown so big, who knows where it sleeps." Chen Tiezhu said.

Lao He didn't say anything, but picked up the snake skin and looked at it carefully.

He was really scared in his heart. This is only a part of such a large snake skin. It might not be taken seriously by tigers.

"Master, this thing is too big, isn't it?" Lu Dan asked.

"What do you think? Our Erdaoling is a real place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers." Chen Tiezhu said with a little pride.

"Come on, let's not think about it for now. I'll dig some mutton and we'll just have a hot pot. Yingzi's work has made a new breakthrough today, so we have to celebrate."

"Uncle, if we don't find them quickly, won't it be more dangerous?" Qi Cuiwen asked.

"Wenwen, in fact, now is almost the same as tomorrow or the day after tomorrow." Chen Tiezhu said.

"If they can save their lives, they don't need a day or two. If they are already in danger, it will be too late for us to rush to the mountains now."

"People's lives have been better in recent years. Ask the second master. In the past, there were only a few people in the mountains."

"That's right. In the past, even when we were hunting, we had to go to Erdao Ridge in a group." The second master said.

"At that time, we had no choice. If we didn't go to the mountain to find some food and drink, how could the food in the fields be enough? By the way, Tiezhu, before you go into the mountain tomorrow, please worship the mountain properly."

"Second Master, what is the etiquette?" Chen Tiezhu asked with a frown.

This was not the first time that the Second Master mentioned this, and it seemed very important.

When the Second Master mentioned this, the others looked over curiously.