Early the next morning, after breakfast, Gu Xiaoxia went to work while Li Long inspected his Type 56 Semi-Automatic Rifle.
Originally, this trip had only been to deliver grain, but the job Li Xiangqian had offered was quite tempting to Li Long. If things went well and he shot a few wild boars and a few other animals, he could make close to another thousand.
Li Long was quite pleased to have a job like this before the New Year. He now knew several hunting spots and could also ask Harimu and the others. With that plan, surely even a poor trip into the mountains should net him a wild boar or two.
To do a job well, one first had to sharpen one's tools.
To bag good game, he naturally had to clean his rifle first-otherwise, if the action froze, jammed, or discharged accidentally in the bitter winter cold, watching his prey run away right before his eyes would feel terrible.
Worse than hooking a fish only to lose it.
If a wild boar went berserk and his rifle jammed at the crucial moment, its charge could kill him.
After carefully cleaning and reassembling the rifle and putting it into its case, Li Long put on his coat, slung the rifle over his back, and went outside. He checked every door, shut and locked them all, then led Number 76 out and hitched him to the cart.
Number 76 was a very clever old horse. Knowing there was work to do, he obligingly turned and stepped between the shafts. Li Long fitted the harness on him, patted his back, and said:
"If only you could be like that dog I saw in my previous life, the one that picked up schoolchildren, and knew how to hitch yourself up."
Number