C30 Returning to the 1960s: Starting with Digging for Fo-ti

Old Sun secretly raising extra chickens was no secret in Xiao An Village. In this era, although the collective economy had been established, hunger and cold remained the norm in the countryside.

Fortunately, the authorities had loosened restrictions, allowing for small-scale farming. Each household could raise a few livestock such as chickens, sheep, or pigs.

Piglets were precious; ordinary families fought hard to get them, though fertilized eggs were easier to find.

Xiao An Village had a rule: each household could raise at most five egg-laying hens.

But Old Sun had his own small plans. He publicly displayed five hens but secretly raised more behind the scenes.

Over the years, the chicks he sold or gave away never stopped coming from his coop.

Villagers saw this but chose to look the other way.

As soon as Du Jianguo mentioned wanting a clutch of chicks, Old Sun’s expression changed. He quickly waved his hands and said, “Don’t talk nonsense! I raise chickens according to the rules. I only have five. How could I spare you a whole clutch?”

Du Jianguo smiled knowingly. “Uncle Sun, I know you follow the rules. But you must have other ways. If I help you find herbs in the mountains to treat your rheumatism, and you help me get a few hens to lay eggs, isn’t that a win-win situation?”

Old Sun frowned, thinking it over. Remembering how his wife’s legs hurt so much she kept groaning, he finally gritted his teeth. “I do have a way. But let me be clear: these chickens are from someone else’s hand, not from my own extra stock!”

“Of course, I understand,” Du Jianguo nodded gratefully. “Thank you, Uncle Sun!”

The thought of soon having hens eased the burden on Du Jianguo’s mind. With chickens, his family would have a steady source of income.

Hens were valuable. They laid nutritious eggs, and since the family had few valuables, raising them would supplement their livelihood and provide better nutrition. It was perfect.

In the past, his wife Liu Xiuyun often mentioned wanting to raise chicks, but every time she brought some home, the old Du Jianguo would sell them for money to gamble or squander.

Later, she gave up hope and never mentioned it again.

Getting a few hens from Old Sun this time was like fulfilling her wish.

“I’ll go up the mountain to find the rheumatism herbs in the next couple of days. I might be late when I come to feed the animals, so please bear with me,” Du Jianguo said, pouring a basin of pig grass into the feeding trough.

“Don’t worry about that! I’ve been taking care of these animals for years; they won’t go hungry!” Old Sun replied.

After chatting about daily life for a bit longer, Du Jianguo headed home, carrying the bear paw, bear gallbladder, and the thick bear skin.

He wondered if bringing these items back would finally make his wife happy.

Pushing open the door, he found Liu Xiuyun carrying a basin of foot-washing water out, her face clouded with worry.

They locked eyes.

Du Jianguo spoke first. “Wife, I’m back.”

Clang!

Liu Xiuyun dropped the wooden basin, splashing hot water all over the floor.

She had already learned that Liu Chun’an had argued with his father and gone into the Wilderness Gully that day.

She had even gone looking for Du Jianguo but couldn’t find him, assuming he had gone with the group. Although the place was dangerous, being with so many people should have been safe.

By evening, when the villagers returned from the Wilderness Gully and gathered at the village committee to cut up the bear meat, Liu Xiuyun finally understood from others’ words.

Du Jianguo hadn’t gone with the main group. He had gone into the Wilderness Gully alone, armed with a gun!

The Wilderness Gully was a place that could eat people!

Generations of Xiao An Village villagers had lost their lives there.

Thinking of Du Jianguo venturing in alone made Liu Xiuyun shudder with fear. She lost all interest in the bear meat and trembled her way home.

How could he dare to hunt a bear alone?

Liu Xiuyun had once said several times she would “die with Du Jianguo,” but in this moment of near separation, her heart felt not hate, but terror.

She took a deep breath, looked at Du Jianguo, and raised her voice. “Du Jianguo, you’ve become quite capable! You dare do anything, even hunt a bear in the Wilderness Gully!”

Du Jianguo smiled instead. “Wife, are you worried about me?”

“Worried about you? I’m afraid you’ll die out there and I’ll have to collect your corpse!” Liu Xiuyun glared at him, her voice trembling with anger and anxiety. “So many people in Xiao An Village, why couldn’t you go with the group? You had to play the hero! What will the child think? It was just luck you came back alive. We finally had hope, and you had to go to the gates of hell!”

As she spoke, tears rolled down her cheeks.

Seeing this, Du Jianguo quickly stepped forward and pulled her into his arms.

“Don’t touch me!” Liu Xiuyun cried out, struggling violently.

But Du Jianguo held her tighter, speaking softly in her ear.

“Wife, rest assured. I didn’t go to die on purpose. I was confident I could return safely. Don’t you remember the bet we made? In one month, I wanted to show you that I, Du Jianguo, can make a living by hunting.”

“Did you forget? Look, I’m already on the path to success!”

He loosened one arm and opened the mouth of the sack he was holding, showing it to her.

“Look at what this is? Bear gallbladder and bear paws. These are things that can fetch a high price. Tomorrow I’ll go to town to sell them, and I’ll definitely buy you a new dress. I won’t forget the rouge and powder either; I’ll buy you the most expensive ones!”

“Who cares?” Liu Xiuyun stubbornly turned her head, but her heart was secretly moved. Which woman wouldn’t hope for a husband to have such intentions?

Yet, she wasn’t ready to soften her tone completely. “I bet you’ve already saved this money for gambling!”

“Wife, I said I changed!” Du Jianguo patted his chest, trying to reassure her. “If you don’t believe me, go ask Old Sun. I just agreed with him to get a clutch of hens. In a couple of days, we can have fresh eggs every day!”

Liu Xiuyun froze, looking at him in disbelief. “Are you serious?”

“Of course, I am!”

Recalling how the old Du Jianguo used to sell the chicks he bought for money to squander, the fact that he was now actively trying to get hens for the family made Liu Xiuyun’s emotions overwhelm her. Her tone softened. “I’ll believe you for now… Let go, I need to get a new basin of water for washing my feet.”

“Wife, I’ve been so obedient lately. Shouldn’t you reward me?”

“What do you want to do? Don’t…”

Her breathing quickened immediately.