Chapter 14 Let's Go Ice Fishing Together (2)

  I slept really well, opened my eyes to find the sky already bright, although the sun hadn't risen yet. I got out of bed, stretched my waist and heard a series of cracking sounds from my joints, but felt refreshed and invigorated, with a clear mind and full of energy. Today is the first day of our group gathering, as the leader, I must set an example, after all, people say that the power of a role model is infinite!

  Last night, under my arrangement, everyone confirmed their roles and made clear divisions of labor. All the people present participated, including some girls, and they can also bring others. In other words, I want to expand the team and select some promising people from among them for further training. Isn't it better to have more people in Tang Qiu's army?

  They specified what tools to bring, such as: ice auger (a tool used to make holes in the ice surface, made of iron, one end sharp and heavy), forked rod (an iron tool used to correct the direction of the lead rod under the water surface, one end forked), towing rope (tied to the lead rod, a fine but sturdy rope that pulls the net forward), lead rod (a long, thin wooden rod, varying in length depending on the width of the ice surface, used to guide the towing rope under the ice surface, and control the direction of the net with a forked rod), and hooks (the main fishing tool, several sets are needed, with different hook sizes, lengths, and types for catching different species of fish). The most important thing is to bring five large sleds. Why so many? Just in case I have a lucky day and catch a lot of fish, the sleds will be used to transport the tools on the way there, and the harvest on the way back!

  Also, everyone has to bring their own lunch. If not, once you're hungry, you can't do anything else. You know, we're all in our prime years, with strong bodies and good digestive systems, so we get hungry easily! Besides, winter fishing is hard labor, you don't know how heavy the nets are in the water, it takes a lot of strength to pull them out. Without food to sustain us, what's the point? And why not just pick some birch bark from the nearby trees and use that as fuel? Are you kidding me? The trees in the forest are all alive, they're full of sap, can't be used for burning! Go pick up some lightning-struck wood or dead trees instead. How far do you have to run for that? It's a whole trip, takes half a day, and we still have work to do! All the nearby ones have been picked clean already! No way, just close your eyes and pretend you didn't see it, don't ruin my plan for a bonfire lunch!

  So, bringing fuel is a must, otherwise what would I use to roast fish? My companions also questioned me about bringing so many fire starters, I smiled and didn't answer, just telling them it's a must, it's an order! Why not tell them? Keeping some mystery is to give everyone a surprise at the right moment! Besides, it also helps to elevate my great and glorious image, don't you think? And let's be honest, it's also for my own gluttony! It's something that can only be understood, not spoken.

  I recalled the dream I had last night, and it's a bit embarrassing to talk about. In the dream, I tightly grasped Xiaoling's small hand, and the feeling was amazing. Xiaoling smiled sweetly with her big, shining eyes looking at me nonstop. Not only did she not get angry, but she also stretched out her other small hand and placed it on mine. Wow, she took the initiative! Her soft and smooth hands were really in my grasp? Where's my soul? It flew away already! I felt a bit unreal. Why was her hand so big? Let me verify... I tightly grasped both of my hands, "Ouch!" It hurt so much! It turned out that I was holding onto my own big feet! This is ridiculous! According to the authoritative experts' collective diagnosis, this is a typical symptom of being lovesick, and it's an extreme case! Go hit your head against the wall! This dream, even if you killed me, I wouldn't dare say it out loud. What if I talked in my sleep? How would that be? When sleeping, sew your mouth shut! However, the feeling in this dream was also warm and sweet. Sigh... Who let us be at an age where we have many dreams, and most of them are colorful ones like rainbows? Youth is making me happy and worried!

  "In a season where snowflakes fall, there's a young man tightly grasping his own feet! Young man, what are you doing?" Dammit, I even came up with song lyrics! This is my original creation, but I dare not make it popular. Let's just keep it as a memory for the vibrant youth in our hearts and quietly sing it to ourselves.

  My mom saw me getting up and said, "Just rest for two more days, this injury is not fully recovered yet, if you go out and exert yourself again, what if it gets worse?" Before I could say anything, my dad spoke up from under the covers, "Let him go, his injury is fine, besides, he's been cooped up at home for over ten days already, it's making him lazy. Going out will do him some good, and we promised everyone else, if he doesn't go, won't that be breaking our promise? How can Xiaohua hold her head high in front of her friends later?" Ah, my dad is the best!

  It turned out that last night, my parents went out to visit relatives and came back. After seeing everyone and finishing their business, they left and asked me what I was discussing. I didn't hide anything and confessed honestly. As soon as I finished speaking, my mother expressed her opposition, saying that my injury wasn't fully healed and couldn't withstand the commotion. Moreover, a group of half-grown children going to the river without an adult would be dangerous if something happened while breaking ice or digging ice holes. My father, on the other hand, strongly supported me and even gave me several suggestions that I had overlooked or hadn't taken seriously. He repeatedly reminded me of relevant precautions. Ah, my father is indeed knowledgeable and experienced, no wonder they say: "A family with an elder is a treasure!"

  Not like the kids nowadays, before parents finish speaking, they get impatient and say things like "outdated", "can't keep up with the times" or "generation gap" in front of their parents, using words that sound trendy or modern but actually don't understand themselves. Of course, I'm a good kid, I take my dad's opinions seriously, absorb them and enrich my own experience, this is called learning power!

  When my dad said that, my mom didn't insist on opposing it anymore. Instead, she got up to make me breakfast. I hurriedly stopped her, "No need for you to get up, Mom. You just rest and don't move. I'll do it myself." To be honest, I'm not very good at cooking, but I'm clever. Didn't we have leftover food from last night? I just heated it up in a pot, and in less than 10 minutes, the hot food was ready to eat. This is something I can do! After eating, I lit the stove in the house, filled the furnace with coal, and did some chores to share some of the household work with my parents. I think this is what I should be doing. After finishing these tasks, I felt a sense of satisfaction and comfort. As they say, laborers are the most glorious people!

  Besides, rural children are not spoiled from a young age. They help adults with some chores that they can handle. I secretly brought some salt and chili powder. Why? Didn't we say to bring our own lunch? I won't bring it. Today's lunch, I decided to roast fish, this is an essential seasoning, just lacking a bit of cumin. Ah, no problem! Don't be discontented, my cunning is great! This afternoon, I will show off my skills! To win over the hearts of my subordinates, first conquer their stomachs (from Tang's Military Strategy, Article 6). At home, my mom was reminding me of something, but I didn't listen carefully. Maybe it was to be careful, wear more clothes, and come back early? Before she changes her mind, let's hurry up!

  Out of the hospital gate, there is no wind, it's a good day! At this time, the sun has just climbed to the top of the big mountain in the east, and the rays of light are pouring down. The snow-covered mountains stretch far and wide, the peaks are covered with frost, the pines and cypresses are lush and green, and the smoke from every household is rising high into the air like clouds and mist, gently dancing above the village. The village is like a newborn baby who has just woken up, opening its eyes wide to gaze curiously at this bright world! Everything is bathed in the golden light of dawn, which expands your chest and makes you feel the vibrant vitality of life and the rhythmic pulse of blood. I really want to shout loudly and express my heroic emotions. What a beautiful scene of sunrise in Guandong! How can we let Japanese pirates trample on it?! (A bit too pretentious)

  Hasty footsteps, running on the snowy road, trampling on the snowflakes, reflecting the bright sunshine, sparkling with golden stars, happily fluttering in front of me, just like my mood at this moment! A long line of footprints stretches behind me as I dash towards the threshing ground in the middle of the village. From a distance, it looks like a lively little deer running across the snowy plain, light and agile, full of dynamism. Am I being a bit self-absorbed? Don't forget, I'm carrying profound inner strength, yet I can still run as clumsily as an ox!

  Last night's gathering place was in the middle of Tunzi, on the threshing floor. I ran here, my face not red, my heart not racing, and my breath not short. This amount of exercise is nothing for me. Fortunately, everyone else hasn't arrived yet. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a whistle, which I had specifically found at home. The whistle sound would be the signal, and when everyone heard it, they would hurry over to gather. This was what I had especially requested last night, also in order to slowly instill discipline in everyone, gradually forming a habit. As the saying goes: habits are cultivated! All actions follow commands - this is the beginning of military training and tactical drills, which I highly value. Don't forget, a good start is half of success!

  With the whistle in my mouth, I took a deep breath, filling my lungs to their maximum capacity with the crisp and refreshing air of Kanto. With renewed energy, I blew the whistle, producing a clear and high-pitched sound that shook the air, breaking the tranquility of the mountain village. The sound echoed through the air, carrying far away, and even the distant mountains seemed to have an echo. This whistle was blown with skill, strength, spirit, and passion, as if with a hint of self-love. Whatever the case, this whistle achieved the effect I wanted - it was the call to assemble, the signal for battle, and my team's first step into the fray under my leadership. Perhaps my companions didn't know that soon we would be heading onto the battlefield against the Japanese invaders, to receive the baptism of blood and fire. Perhaps they still didn't know that from the moment they gathered at the sound of the whistle, their life's direction was already set! My friends, my future comrades-in-arms and brothers, won't you blame me for leading you down this bloody path? At this moment, my emotions were extremely complex.

  The whistle had not stopped, and from different directions around the threshing floor, there came a series of urgent footsteps, just like their mood, eager, expectant, and excited. For them who grew up by the Songhua River in the mountains, this winter hunting was not their first time participating, but today's mood was different, it was the first action organized by us young people without adults participating, as if we had grown up, with a faint sense of controlling our own destiny, how could they not be excited? It was just like some of the first times in life, how could one's mood be calm, even I had such a feeling, let alone them.

  Almost simultaneously, figures appeared in my line of sight, gathering around me as the center. They ran to my front and stopped, almost every face with an excited flush. I counted them - thirty-five people, more than ten from last night. The effect was not bad, still quite rallying. I loudly commanded: "Form up, by height order, in two teams!" Of course, Mountain Tiger took the lead. No choice, can't use military terms yet, or they wouldn't understand and would laugh at me, ruining today's sacred first gathering! Can't rush it, need an adaptation process - can't eat hot tofu too quickly! Seeing everyone swiftly following my orders, their movements were quite agile. Not bad. "Check equipment," I gave another order. This group understood, I emphasized the importance of equipment last night and they knew what it was. After checking, "Everyone is well-prepared, all brought equipment according to requirements, very good. From now on, every action must meet today's standards, or even higher. Understand?" I said again; "Understand!" Good grief, dozens of people, this one shout, the noise was loud enough - that's what I wanted, this momentum.

  "Target, riverbank, march in step!" I gave the order to advance, and with the bright morning sun shining on us, our young team set off towards the riverbank with vigor and spirit. Along the way, early-rising adults looked at us with curious and interested gazes. Seeing this, everyone's morale was boosted even more, each one holding their head high, chest out, swinging their arms, and marching in an even more orderly fashion - of course, this refers only to the boys; as for the girls, let's just forget about it! What's even more interesting is that several fluffy, fierce, and large dogs, like they were on a pleasure outing, followed along both sides of our team, playing and frolicking with each other, running back and forth with high spirits. Could it be that today was an unusual day for them as well? Whatever, let's just leave them to their fun - after all, this is also a local specialty!

  I noticed that Xiaoling tied a bright red scarf today, wearing a simple and elegant orchid dress, walking in the middle of the team. The winter cotton jacket couldn't hide her slender waist and plump figure. Her eyes were like black gemstones washed by snow water, shining brightly, occasionally drifting over me. The red scarf floating with her swaying figure was like a cluster of jumping flames, igniting my passion and surging up...

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