After breakfast, Li Long drove the tractor back to the Big Courtyard. Gu Xiaoxia had already gone to work.
He shut the main gate, fetched a bucket from the kitchen, drew some water, then dragged the half-grown wild boar out of the trailer to skin and gut it.
It was not winter now, but leaving it ungutted a little longer would not make it stink.
Hearing the noise, the two fawns and the roe deer ran over from the backyard. They did not dare approach, merely watching Li Long warily and sniffing from a distance.
Li Long ignored them and began skinning the boar. He had not done it for a while, but his skills had not grown rusty. The half-grown boar's hide was just rather thick, making it less easy to peel off.
Once the hide was off, the fawns seemed to find Li Long less dangerous and actually came closer. They appeared to have smelled the blood, though he did not know whether they were curious or wanted a taste.
Li Long waved an arm to shoo the three little creatures aside, then opened the carcass.
A foul odor rose, immediately sending all three scurrying away. Li Long put the boar's innards into a large basin and began butchering it. He removed all four legs and left them soaking in cold water in a basin, then began washing the intestines and stomach.
It was more convenient doing this in the Big Courtyard. Once he finished washing, he left the offal soaking in water, then took several legs and drove the tractor out.
Just as people in later years stopped wanting to walk once they had cars, Li Long's explanation to himself was that carrying three legs was tiring and inconvenient. Taking the tractor was easier.
He first went