Winter arrived as promised. Heavy snow fell from the sky, blanketing everything in white. Even the trees wore white coats of snow, and the weather grew much colder.
The tribespeople could only huddle around the fires for warmth. Long'er's mother told everyone to ration their food; only the five pregnant women could eat without restriction. The nine injured men were also able to get up and move around now.
Everyone felt this was the best news they could have hoped for. Long'er's mother felt as though a thousand-pound burden had been lifted from her shoulders, and she was much more at ease.
Yet that relief did not last long. Just when everyone thought they could make it through the bitter winter safely, a problem suddenly arose with the tribe's food stores.
The tribesperson in charge of the stores came running in a panic to tell Long'er's mother.
For some reason, rats had gnawed through a great deal of the food, and some had even gone moldy and could no longer be eaten.
This sudden turn of events piled frost atop snow, making their already strained food supplies even more precarious.
Long'er's mother knitted her brows, pondering what to do next. She called the tribespeople together to discuss it, and someone suggested going out hunting to try their luck.
But outside, the world was locked in ice and snow, and game was scarce to begin with. The nine men had only just recovered, so the risk was far too great.
Wenlong, who had been resting with his eyes closed and turning things over in his mind, said unhurriedly, "Don't panic, everyone. Once the snow stops and the skies clear, I'll take Shitou and the others up the mountain again. Don't worry. Store the remaining food properly."
After speaking, Wenlong closed his eyes again, still occupied with his thoughts.
"Shitou, take some people to the cave entrance and practice archery. Bows and arrows might be more useful for hunting in winter," Wenlong instructed him again without opening his eyes.
Shitou agreed, called over a few of his young companions, and began practicing archery at the cave entrance.
Outside the cave, heavy snow still swirled through the air. Snowflakes fluttered down, striking those practicing their archery, and the young companions could not help shivering in the cold.
Only Shitou remained wholly focused, drawing his bow and shooting again and again. Perhaps because the cold had stiffened his hands, his aim was less than ideal.
A few days later, the snow stopped and the skies cleared. Wenlong took four young companions up the mountain again. A hare suddenly darted across the snow, and everyone's eyes lit up.
Shitou swiftly nocked an arrow and loosed it. Unfortunately, it flew past, grazing the hare's fur. Startled, the hare vanished into the snow in the blink of an eye.
Everyone felt a little dejected. Shitou gritted his teeth and said, "Let's try harder. Next time, we mustn't let our prey get away."
Suddenly, inspiration flashed through Wenlong's mind, and he remembered the grove of wild fruit trees covered in snow at the foot of the mountain.
Though fruit was scarce in winter, perhaps they could still find some that was fit to eat.
Filled with hope, Wenlong led Shitou and the others toward the wild fruit grove, seeking another chance of survival for the tribe.
From a distance, the five of them spotted two wild roe deer on the snow. Someone cried out in delight, "Foolish roe deer!"
Their luck was good. Wenlong quickly told everyone to lie down and split into two groups to surround the roe deer.
Once he had crawled within bow range, Wenlong drew his bow and nocked an arrow. The bamboo arrow flew swiftly toward its target, striking the roe deer squarely in the thigh. It ran two steps, then suddenly fell to the ground.
On the other side, Shitou and his two companions loosed three arrows at once, bringing the other roe deer tumbling down.
Everyone rushed forward, pinned the roe deer down, and bound them securely with vines. All five jumped for joy.
With two roe deer in hand, they no longer bothered picking wild fruit. In high spirits, the five dragged the deer back.
They also sent someone ahead to call the adults for help. Before they had gone far, more than a dozen women arrived.
Only then did the young companions heave a great sigh of relief. If they had had to drag the deer back themselves, who knew how long it would have taken them to get home?
This time, everyone was delighted. They had meat to eat, and the roe deer hides could be made into clothing-two birds with one stone. Clothes were just what they lacked in winter.
Long'er still went to check the trap enclosures meant to catch wild boars, but found nothing inside.
Even so, Long'er put wild fruit into both enclosures, hoping wild boars would venture in.
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