Camping

Camping

At five in the afternoon, the minibus arrived at the campsite.

Everyone carried the things out of the trunk and said goodbye to the driver.

The foothills in the distance, the grass beneath their feet, and the blue sky and white clouds overhead all excited these students who were used to city life.

Xu Jing was especially delighted. "Wow, this place is great. Let's come here every week from now on."

Xiaoxiao scolded, "Does your family's money grow on trees? It's 300 yuan. I can't afford to come every week."

Shen Xixi said, "Stop messing around. It'll be dark soon. Let's find a place to set up the tents first. We still have to cook."

Xu Jing said with a grin, "I can't cook. I'm only responsible for eating."

"Sure. Sell a cute act in exchange for a bite to eat."

They chatted and laughed as they walked forward, the atmosphere relaxed. The campsite had been chosen by the girls—mainly Xiaoxiao. They had deliberately avoided the most popular spots.

She had an uncle who loved hiking and knew all the wild hills nearby like the back of his hand. She had pestered him into recommending several places, all scenic but not yet heavily developed.

Accordingly, there would be far fewer tourists and none of that chaotic bustle.

Unfortunately, aside from Xiaoxiao, who had gone camping with her uncle once or twice as a child, none of them had much experience. And at that age, Xiaoxiao had only cared about having fun herself; things like making fires and cooking had all been handled by her uncle.

So merely choosing where to pitch their tents stumped them.

No one could agree. Some said they should camp on the mountaintop, others said they should find a sheltered spot, and still others said they needed to watch out for falling rocks. In the end, Zhang Heng could not stand it anymore.

"Uh, there's nothing dangerous around here. It's the middle of summer, so we don't need to worry about keeping warm. Just pick a spot and set up."

No one paid him any attention.

Everyone had clearly become immersed in the excitement of playing house in the wilderness, strongly condemning Zhang Heng's make-do attitude. After a long and painstaking selection process, they finally chose an open patch at the foot of the mountain as their campsite before sunset.

To be fair, the place really was quite nice. It had a broad view and no flaws other than being a little far from the water source.

The problem was that night was falling fast, and they had not even started setting up the tents.

This was no trivial matter. For beginners, pitching a tent was a technical job. Threading poles, pulling ropes, hammering stakes, securing the walls—without experience, each step took a long time to figure out.

Fortunately, this was no challenge for Zhang Heng, who had once built a house with his bare hands. He practically set up all three tents by himself, and by the time he reached the last one, he was working in the dark.

"Not bad, Zhang Heng. If I were stranded on a deserted island and could choose one person to accompany me, I'd pick you," Xu Jing said, clapping.

"You're awful. Even if you're stranded on a deserted island, you still have to drag someone down with you," Chen Huadong said with a click of his tongue.

"I've watched a few wilderness survival shows. If we really got stranded on a deserted island, it wouldn't help even if our whole group went," Wei Jiangyang said, shaking his head.

Zhang Heng smiled but said nothing.

No one took that sort of casual chatter to heart. Xu Jing soon came up with another idea. "It's completely dark now. Let's have a bonfire party!" This girl seemed never to have any worries.

"A bonfire, my ass. Eat first. I'm starving to death," Xiaoxiao said irritably.

While Zhang Heng was setting up the tents, aside from Shen Xixi, who could offer a little help, the others were not much use. So they all consciously went off to the side to cook.

They were in the civilized world. Even outdoors, there was naturally no need to start a fire by rubbing sticks together. They had a portable outdoor butane stove, which could be used simply by attaching a gas canister. It was very convenient.

Zhang Heng was naturally happy with that arrangement. He was here to have fun, not show off. So-called wilderness survival skills were only for preserving one's life in unexpected extreme circumstances. If he had a lighter on a deserted island, he would not rub the skin off his hands trying to make a fire.

Dinner was hot pot, the easiest thing to prepare. They only had to add the soup base, then toss in the washed vegetables and meat. By the time Zhang Heng finished pitching the tents, everyone was sitting in a circle, holding disposable plastic bowls and staring eagerly at the bubbling pot.

For most of them, the feeling was entirely new.

The temperature in the mountains was just right in summer, neither cold nor hot, much more comfortable than an unairconditioned dormitory. The only problem was the terrifying number of mosquitoes.

Zhang Heng and Shen Xixi almost simultaneously took mosquito repellent out of their bags. Seeing what the other was holding, they smiled at each other.

"Why isn't the meat ready yet?" Xu Jing sniffed and asked pitifully. She had been shouting about a bonfire party just moments ago, but now she was more preoccupied with the meat in the pot than anyone else.

Chen Huadong was about to tease her when a rustling sound came from the woods nearby.

Xu Jing was the most timid. Hearing it, she immediately grew nervous. "Oh my god, are there wild animals in these mountains?"

"N-No, right?" Xiaoxiao froze as well. This place was not a tourist attraction, but it was not that far from the city either. Many photography enthusiasts came here in autumn, and the group had even seen other campers farther away earlier. If there were wild animals, it made no sense that no one had spotted them before.

As soon as she finished speaking, the thing emerged from the woods.

It was not an animal, but merely a person. Yet when everyone saw what the newcomer looked like, the unease they had not yet shaken off rose again.

He was a young man with tattoos on his arms and a delinquent-looking face. Grinning frivolously, he said, "Yo, I was wondering where that delicious smell was coming from. So there's good food over here. Mind if I join you? I haven't had dinner either."

The moment he finished speaking, Zhang Heng stood up, turned, and ran toward the tents without saying a word, directly ducking inside one.

The young man burst out laughing. "Nice, nice. You know what's good for you. Now there's even a seat for me. Then I won't hold back."

Everyone could tell by now that he had likely come with ill intent. Wei Jiangyang and Chen Huadong exchanged a glance. At a time like this, as the men, they had to step forward.

Wei Jiangyang said, "Brother, we're not used to eating with strangers."

"That's fine. I can introduce myself first. That's how you make friends. Chat a little, and we'll get acquainted," the young man said with a grin, pulling a folding knife from his pocket.

Wei Jiangyang and Chen Huadong's expressions changed instantly. Xu Jing's face went pale with fright. They were all college students—where had they ever seen something like this? Fights were rare even on campus, and even if people came to blows, they would never use knives.

The young man's next words sank everyone's hearts to the bottom. "I've also got three brothers who haven't eaten yet. They'll be here soon, but it looks like there aren't enough seats." His eyes shifted as he pointed at Wei Jiangyang, Chen Huadong, and Wang Huan. "How about you three do us a favor and give up your seats?"

Uh, the cover... got changed. I changed it back, but it still needs a few days for approval. Please wait.