Chapter Summaries

Li Long searched the mountain for the surviving wolves, found that the injured wolf had been eaten, and collected rock salt from a cave. On his way back to the cabin, he spotted another wolf and fired as it ran toward him, leaving the encounter unresolved.

• Li Long followed the trail to the wounded wolf’s location and found only fur and scraps of bloody flesh.
• Li Long entered the cave, startled two hares, and knocked two chunks of rock salt from the wall to take with him.
• Li Long waited near the rocks for the wolves, then gave up and headed back toward the cabin.
• Li Long spotted a wolf watching the cabin from beside the spring and crept closer, trying to locate its companions.
• A howl from the pine grove warned the wolf, which fled toward Li Long; Li Long raised his rifle and fired as it turned.

Li Long killed a wolf, prepared its head and innards as bait, and spent the night watching for the remaining pack. After discovering the wolves had tried to ambush him, he set makeshift snares and headed toward Hot Spring Valley to hunt.

• Li Long shot a wolf, brought it back to the cabin, and preserved its hide, fangs, and bones.
• He froze the wolf’s head and innards outside as bait, then waited inside for the pack to approach.
• During the night, Li Long spotted a wolf near the bait and fired at it, but it escaped; in the morning, he found tracks beside his door and saw that wolves had tried to dig up the innards.
• Li Long cleaned his gun, made wire snares, and secured them around the bait before pouring meat broth over it.
• Li Long left the cabin with his gun and entered Hot Spring Valley to look for game.

Li Long pursued a herd of wild boars through the mist, wounded one, and tracked it until it fell on a steep slope. He butchered the boar and carried the meat back to the wooden cabin, where he prepared food while remaining wary of nearby wolves.

• Li Long heard a herd of wild boars near the hot spring, but they startled and fled before he could get a clear shot.
• Li Long fired four rounds into the fleeing herd, wounded a boar, and followed its blood trail through the pine woods.
• Li Long found the wounded boar after it fell down a steep slope, then killed it with a shot to the head.
• Li Long skinned the boar, kept its stomach, liver, and heart, and carried the carcass back to the wooden cabin.
• Li Long processed the meat, cooked boar bones, and ate a toasted bun while watching for wolves that he believed were observing him.

Li Long waited in his cabin for the wolves he hoped to kill, but a fox triggered his snares and drew two wolves into the traps. He shot the pack leader and its trapped companion, then cautiously went outside, unsure whether the last wolf would return.

• Li Long prepared broth and stir-fried wild boar offal while waiting for the wolves to come at night.
• A fox approached the bait, got caught in a snare, and was pinned by a wolf that then became trapped in another snare.
• A larger wolf arrived and tried to free its subordinate by chewing through the firewood and wire.
• Li Long fired several shots, wounding the pack leader and killing the trapped wolf, then shot the pack leader again as it tried to flee.
• Li Long waited for the last wolf, then reloaded his rifle and cautiously left the cabin, finding no wolves nearby.

Li Long processed the two wolves he had killed and slept after cleaning the Wooden Cabin. The next day, he followed tracks from the missing wolf innards into a rocky area, where he spotted a lynx but missed his shot and continued searching cautiously.

• Li Long released the frightened fox, dragged the two dead wolves into the Wooden Cabin, and processed their hides, meat, and organs.
• Li Long cleaned the cabin, stored the wolf heads, and went to sleep after working through much of the night.
• Li Long found that an unknown animal had taken some of the wolf innards and left unfamiliar paw prints around the Wolf-Head Platform.
• Li Long followed the creature's trail for more than two kilometers into the pine trees and found the tracks ending among a jumble of rocks.
• A lynx sprang out beside Li Long, but it dodged his gunshot and vanished into a crevice, so he cautiously continued searching among the rocks.

After a storm trapped him inside the cabin, Li Long discovered that the lynx he had failed to catch earlier had been caught in one of his snares. He killed it, prepared its valuable pelt and meat, and began the day with a hearty breakfast.

• Li Long abandoned his search for the lynx, returned to his cabin, and waited out heavy snow by reading and preparing food.
• After waking thirsty and then needing to relieve himself, Li Long went outside and found the lynx caught in a wire snare beside the Wolf Head Platforms.
• Li Long fetched his Type 56 and shot the lynx before it could break free, then carried it back to the cabin.
• Li Long skinned the lynx without damaging its valuable pelt, salted and stretched the hide, and set the snares again after disposing of the entrails.
• Li Long cleaned the cabin, cleared snow from the decking and path to the spring, and steamed fresh buns as the sun rose.
• Li Long stir-fried lynx meat with pickles and ate it with steamed buns and cornmeal porridge for breakfast.

Li Long welcomed Li Junshan, Li Junfeng, Tao Daqiang, and Yang Yongqiang, who marveled at his recent haul and asked to watch him hunt. He led them through the snowy mountains to a cave, hoping they would find animals inside.

• Li Junshan and Li Junfeng arrived with Tao Daqiang and Yang Yongqiang, explaining that Uncle Jianguo had sent them to check on Li Long after heavy snowfall.
• Li Long showed the group his deer, wild boar, wolves, and lynx, and described how he had killed the wolves and caught some animals in snares.
• At Li Junfeng's request, Li Long agreed to take everyone hunting after they ate a meal together.
• Li Long led the group and their horse-drawn cart through the snow toward a rock salt cave where he thought animals might be sheltering.
• The group crept uphill to block the cave entrance, but nothing inside reacted, leaving Li Long worried they had found nothing.

Li Long and the others found a wolf fighting a mother red deer in a cave, killed the wolf, and captured the mother and her young. They returned to the wooden cabin with the animals and meat, ate before setting off down the mountain, and Li Long wondered whether to tidy his overgrown face.

• Li Long found a wolf pinning a mother red deer in the cave and shot it dead when it released its bite.
• Li Long and the others caught the mother deer and her young, then checked the mother’s neck wound and judged that she would survive.
• Li Long skinned the wolf and kept its hide, meat, stomach, and intestines as the group led the deer and cart back to the wooden cabin.
• At the cabin, Li Long froze the wolf’s head, helped pack the meat, and answered Li Junfeng’s questions about the rock salt.
• The group ate before preparing to leave for the village, and Li Long wondered whether to tidy his overgrown face.

Li Long returned to the County Seat with the hunting party, unloaded their meat and hides at the Big Courtyard, and stayed there with Gu Xiaoxia after the others went back to the team. They caught up on her work and transfer prospects before Li Long washed and went to bed, leaving Gu Xiaoxia still awake.

• Li Long and his companions left the mountains with a hind, a young deer, meat, and hides, and reached the County Seat after dark.
• Li Junfeng and the others declined to stay at the Big Courtyard, unloaded the supplies, and headed back to the team with the cart and deer.
• Gu Xiaoxia welcomed Li Long and the others, and Li Long told her about hunting a wolf pack after the others left.
• Li Long and Gu Xiaoxia discussed her meals with Sister Yang, her family, and her likely transfer to bureau staff.
• Li Long heated water, washed in the guest room, and went to bed while Gu Xiaoxia continued revising a draft.

Li Long took his pelts to the Purchasing Station, but the man on duty could not identify the lynx pelt and argued when Li Long chose to leave without selling. After visiting Yang Xiulan and Han Fang at the Free Market, Li Long went to the County Seat barbershop for a haircut.

• Li Long brought seven pelts to the Purchasing Station and found that Chen Hongjun was absent.
• The middle-aged clerk mistook Li Long's lynx pelt for a fox pelt and could not identify it without its head and paws.
• Li Long gathered the pelts and left after the clerk became irritated with him.
• Li Long considered how to raise money for future purchases and decided to wait for help from Eldest Older Brother and another trip into the mountains.
• Li Long visited Yang Xiulan and Han Fang at the Free Market, declined their offer of porridge, and continued through the market.
• Li Long went to the County Seat barbershop and waited for the barber to finish cutting an elderly man's hair.

Li Long brought game meat to Li Xiangqian and sold him a lynx pelt after learning that private buyers were paying higher prices. After delivering meat to Yang Xiulan and Gu Xiaoxia, Li Long returned to clear snow, where Old Chen arrived at the gate.

• Li Long visited Li Xiangqian at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative and told him how he had hunted a wolf pack.
• Li Long explained that the Purchasing Station had mistaken his lynx pelt for a fox pelt, prompting Li Xiangqian to hurry to inspect it.
• Li Xiangqian bought Li Long's lynx pelt for a thousand yuan, and Li Long added a roe deer penis to the deal.
• Li Long brought game meat to Yang Xiulan's courtyard and shared lunch with Yang Xiulan, Gu Xiaoxia, and Han Fang.
• Li Long escorted Gu Xiaoxia to the Education Bureau, then spent two hours clearing snow in the Big Courtyard.
• Old Chen knocked at the gate, and Li Long suspected he had heard about the pelts.

Li Long sold his lynx pelt to Li Xiangqian and sold his remaining pelts to Chen Hongjun, then spent the afternoon clearing snow at the Big Courtyard. Gu Xiaoxia joined him, and the chapter ended with them sharing dinner after working and doing chores together.

• Chen Hongjun visited Li Long and learned that Li Xiangqian had already bought the lynx pelt for a thousand yuan.
• Li Long sold his deer pelt and Wolf Pelts to Chen Hongjun for 220 yuan, then learned that Wednesdays were the safest days to find him at the Purchasing Station.
• Li Long hauled snow from the Big Courtyard, built a snowman, and watched the officers across the street clear their courtyard.
• Gu Xiaoxia returned from work and helped Li Long clear snow until dark, then took the laundry inside to wash.
• Li Long cooked dinner while Gu Xiaoxia finished the laundry, and they ate together.

Li Long agreed to guide three wealthy officials’ children on a hunting trip in exchange for set payments for any animals they shot. He reassured Gu Xiaoxia that he would be careful, though their inexperience with guns could make the trip risky.

• Li Long repaired his handcart and cleared snow until Li Xiangqian arrived to speak with him.
• Li Xiangqian asked Li Long to guide three officials’ children on a hunting trip, offering fixed payments for each animal they bagged.
• Li Long agreed to guide them in about a week and warned Li Xiangqian not to provide small-caliber rifles for hunting large animals.
• Li Long finished clearing the snow, then went to Yang Xiulan’s home for a meal with her, Han Fang, and Gu Xiaoxia.
• Li Long told Gu Xiaoxia about the hunting job, and she worried that the inexperienced hunters might be dangerous.

Li Long returned to the production team, prepared the Big Courtyard for Gu Xiaoxia, and learned that his relatives planned to go home for the New Year. After settling the fish-sale money with Li Jianguo and sharing game meat and wolf fangs with the others, he prepared to leave again in a few days for another mountain hunt.

• Li Long stocked the Big Courtyard with food and supplies, left Gu Xiaoxia his small-caliber rifle, and returned to the production team.
• Uncle Lao Luo told Li Long that Li Jianguo, Li Anguo, Chen Xingbang, and the others planned to go home after New Year's Day, and the family agreed they would take money and goods back to their families.
• Li Long told his relatives about his upcoming hunting job and agreed that the others should go home for the holiday.
• Li Jianguo handed Li Long the proceeds from selling the remaining fish, but Li Long gave him about a thousand yuan to keep for family needs and sending money to their father.
• Li Long returned to Old Ma's Place, shared game meat with the departing relatives, and gave Li Junshan two wolf fangs to take home as gifts.

Li Long took Tao Daqiang, Yang Yongqiang, Li Junfeng, and Li Junshan to Little Haizi to try ice fishing and explore the nearby flats. After the group caught two hares and waited for fish to gather at their holes, they returned to find fish beneath the ice and began scooping up a good catch.

• Li Long finished cleaning his rifle and agreed to take Tao Daqiang and Yang Yongqiang to Little Haizi to assess the ice fishing.
• Li Long led the group south across Little Haizi, where they chose two spots, broke through the ice, and waited for fish to gather.
• Li Long and the others searched the eastern flats, where they chased down two hares; one scratched Li Junfeng before Li Long killed it, and Yang Yongqiang killed the second.
• Li Long returned to the fishing holes and spotted fish beneath the ice, while Tao Daqiang and the others began scooping up crucian carp, silver carp, and a five-stripe perch.
• Li Junfeng took over Li Long's scoop net, and Li Long saw that people at the other fishing holes were also gathering fish.

Li Anguo and Chen Xingbang discussed their plans to return home and the possibility of moving their families to Northern Xinjiang, while Li Long hosted a meal to celebrate their good fortune. The gathering ended with Li Junshan confiding his uncertainty about returning next spring, leaving his plans unresolved.

• Li Anguo and Chen Xingbang discussed what to take home and when to leave, while Chen Xingbang privately considered moving his family to Northern Xinjiang.
• Li Junfeng and the others returned with fish and rabbits, and the young men prepared a feast at Old Ma's Place.
• Li Long toasted everyone to a better life, and the group shared fish, rabbit, liquor, and talk about life in Northern Xinjiang and back home.
• Li Anguo and Chen Xingbang discussed asking their parents to move north, while Li Junshan asked Li Long about getting married and building a house.
• Li Long offered honey and liquor for the group to take home, and Chen Xingbang and Li Junshan requested five-liter jugs.
• Li Junshan became emotional as he told Li Long he wanted to return next spring but was unsure because of complications at home; the gathering ended with everyone helping clean up.

Li Long prepared gifts for his companions’ journey home, then met three young hunters sent from the prefecture and guided them into the mountains. Their first stop was his cabin, where they would decide whether to stay and hunt.

• Li Long bought honey and liquor at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, then divided the gifts among Li Junshan, Li Junfeng, and the others.
• Tao Daqiang, Yang Yongqiang, and other villagers sold fish in the County Seat, encouraging more young men to try fishing for income.
• Li Xiangqian told Li Long that three hunters would arrive from the prefecture and that they were to follow Li Long’s instructions in the mountains.
• Yang Chen, Qi Jingyue, and Xie Ruifeng arrived with a driver and firearms, and Li Xiangqian introduced Li Long as their hunting instructor and guide.
• Li Long learned that the three had some hunting experience, then directed the Jeep toward his cabin and explained the local hunting conditions.
• Li Long arrived at the cabin, saw hoofprints outside, unlocked the door, and started a fire for the group.

Gu Xiaoxia received her official transfer to the Education Bureau and left the Middle School, while Li Long led Qi Jingyue, Yang Chen, and Xie Ruifeng through the snowy mountains toward a hot spring. The group found a piece of jade and abundant animal tracks, and they approached the pools quietly in hopes of spotting game.

• Deputy Director Wang gave Gu Xiaoxia her transfer letter, and Gu completed the paperwork to leave the Middle School.
• Gu Xiaoxia packed her belongings, said goodbye to Teacher Wang, returned her key, and rode toward the County Seat, eager to share the news with Li Long.
• Li Long took Qi Jingyue, Yang Chen, and Xie Ruifeng from the Wooden Cabin toward a natural hot spring after explaining that game was less active at midday.
• The group reached the misty ravine, where Qi Jingyue tested the warm water and Li Long found a piece of Ma River Jade for her.
• Li Long pointed out old wild boar tracks and droppings, then led the group quietly toward the hot spring pools as fresh animal tracks became more plentiful.

Li Long took Qi Jingyue, Yang Chen, and Xie Ruifeng hunting, showing them the hot springs and asking Harimu about nearby game before leading them to the Salt Cave. They shot a wolf and a roe deer, and the chapter ended with Li Long gutting both animals after Qi Jingyue decided she wanted to have the wolf mounted.

• Li Long found no worthwhile game at the hot springs and explained that animals might return there in the morning.
• Li Long visited Harimu, who told him about Mongolian gazelles near the mountain pass and signs of wild boar at Small White Poplar Gully.
• Li Long led the group to the Salt Cave, where they spotted a wolf; Li Long shot it after the others missed.
• A roe deer emerged, and after warning Xie Ruifeng to watch his muzzle, Li Long wounded it while Yang Chen and Qi Jingyue finished it off.
• Qi Jingyue said she wanted the wolf mounted, so Li Long explained that they needed to gut the animals and then did so.

Li Long led Qi Jingyue, Yang Chen, and Xie Ruifeng back to the cabin with a wolf and a roe deer, then cooked the roe deer's offal for dinner. Qi Jingyue and the others agreed to stay and hunt wild boar the next morning, and Li Long woke them before dawn to set out.

• Li Long packed the roe deer's innards into its body and dragged the wolf and roe deer downhill on plastic sheeting, while Qi Jingyue, Yang Chen, and Xie Ruifeng followed.
• The group reached the cabin, where Li Long cleaned and stir-fried the roe deer's offal as the others rested and discussed their difficult first hunt.
• Qi Jingyue decided to stay and hunt wild boar with Li Long the next morning, and Yang Chen and Xie Ruifeng agreed to join them.
• Li Long cooked offal, flatbreads, and cornmeal porridge for everyone, and the group ate together before preparing for the night.
• Li Long woke shortly after five, roused Yang Chen and Xie Ruifeng, and went to wake Qi Jingyue so they could leave before dawn to look for wild boar.