Chapter 54 We Don't Owe Them Anything

"My son..." After they left, Mother Li could no longer hold back. She grabbed Li Xiangyang's hand, her voice trembling. "What are we going to do? If they really revoke your hunter's license, how will you go up into the mountains in the future..."

Mother Li could not finish her sentence.

This was what worried her the most.

Without a hunting rifle, if her son went into the mountains and encountered wild beasts...

Looking at his mother's pale face, Li Xiangyang gently comforted her, "Mother, don't worry. No matter how fierce they sound, they still need to have the actual capability to back it up. I'll go to the forestry station first and find out what kind of background this Yang family really has."

"Then be careful on the road..." Mother Li wanted to say more, but Li Xiangyang interrupted her.

"Don't worry, I'm just going to gather some information."

With that, Li Xiangyang hurried off toward the forestry station.

When he arrived at the forestry station, Team Leader Zhou was basking in the sun in the courtyard.

Seeing Li Xiangyang approach, he greeted him with a cheerful laugh, "Little Li is here?"

Li Xiangyang smiled and nodded, taking some choice cuts of meat from his bag. "I brought this especially for you."

As he spoke, he also slipped a ten-yuan bill over.

"Oh, you child, you're too polite." Team Leader Zhou beamed as he accepted it.

Li Xiangyang struck up a conversation, "Brother Zhou, I'd like to ask you about something. Do you know Accountant Yang's family in Yangjiacun Village?"

"Well, to be honest with you, I've heard about your situation. That Yang family wants me to revoke your hunter's license..."

Team Leader Zhou looked left and right, then lowered his voice. "Let me give it to you straight: those people don't amount to a hill of beans. It's just that Yangjiacun is a large village in our area. They have a large population and a lot of distant relatives, that's all..."

"Of course, they're used to running wild and are good at fighting dirty."

"Just last year, someone from the neighboring forestry station had a grievance with the Yang family. On his way home at night, he was ambushed and beaten with a club, and he's still lying in bed to this day."

Li Xiangyang understood completely in his heart.

This Yang family truly acted without regard for the law.

"Brother Zhou, then your meaning is..."

"Hah, the Yang family. If they knew how to grease palms like you do and provided enough benefits, your big brother here might have really revoked your hunter's license."

"But playing the intimidation card with me? Does your old man look like someone who gets scared easily? Back when I was eight years old, I had the guts to kill Japanese invaders..."

He turned his head and shouted toward the courtyard, "Little Sun! Little Li! Come over here!"

Soon, Sun Yongliang and Li Wenbin emerged from the house.

"Team Leader," the two replied.

Team Leader Zhou didn't beat around the bush in front of Li Xiangyang. He said directly, "Starting today, each of you will carry two extra boxes of ammunition and take turns guarding the forestry station. Also, travel in pairs on your way home."

He looked up at the sky. "It gets dark early. Make sure you all carry your hardware with you when coming and going to work. If you run into any blind fools who dare to strut around making threats, take them down immediately. I'll take the blame if anything happens."

"This..." Sun Yongliang hesitated slightly.

"What?" Team Leader Zhou glared at him. "Afraid your old man doesn't keep his word? Damn it, I was killing invaders at age eight; do you really think I don't know a few people? Besides, if we handle it this way, we might even get commended. When I get promoted upwards, won't the person in charge here have to be chosen between the two of you?"

"Understood, Team Leader." The two nodded immediately.

"Little Li, as for you," Team Leader Zhou turned to Li Xiangyang, speaking earnestly, "when you encounter this kind of thing, never show weakness. Anyone who dares to ambush you with a club, just treat them like a black bear and take them down."

"Oh, by the way," Team Leader Zhou suddenly remembered, "is your ammunition still enough?"

"Not quite enough."

"Good timing then. Little Sun, go get the warehouse key."

A moment later, Team Leader Zhou emerged from the storeroom with ten boxes of ammunition. "Take these. It's best if you don't have to use them, but you always have to be prepared."

Li Xiangyang took the ammunition, a warm feeling welling up in his chest.

"Brother Zhou, this..."

"Don't stand on ceremony with me." Team Leader Zhou waved a hand, a trace of self-deprecating humor touching the corner of his mouth. "Me? My ideological awareness is just poor, and all I think about every day is living a good life. That's why I ended up stuck in a place like this."

He looked at Li Xiangyang, approval shining in his eyes. "Unlike you, you know how to handle things."

Sensing that Team Leader Zhou was praising his resourcefulness, Li Xiangyang couldn't help smiling. "Brother Zhou flatters me."

"Alright, don't waste time here." Team Leader Zhou stood up. "Remember what I said: whoever dares to ambush you, treat them like a black bear. If things blow up, your big brother will cover you. Doesn't everyone know a few people?"

Li Xiangyang nodded and turned to leave.

Behind him came Team Leader Zhou's voice, "Be careful on the road!"

This parting reminder warmed Li Xiangyang's heart.

By the time Li Xiangyang pushed open his front door, it was already dark.

"Son, you're back." His mother was tidying up clothes in the main room. Seeing her son return, she hurried forward. "Why did you take so long?"

"I chatted with Team Leader Zhou for a bit. Don't you worry about the hunter's license..."

Li Xiangyang sat down in a chair and recounted what had happened at the forestry station to his mother.

When he mentioned how Team Leader Zhou told him to treat anyone looking for trouble just like a black bear, Mother Li's hands suddenly stopped moving.

"Son," she said softly, "that's not right."

Taken aback, Li Xiangyang raised his head to look at his mother.

The light of the kerosene lamp shone on her slightly aged face, which was full of worry.

Mother Li put down the clothes in her hands. "Team Leader Zhou is a straightforward man. But no matter what, we have no right to take someone else's life. Listen to your mother: if you really run into them, give the other person a chance to survive. Scaring them off is best. Only if you can't scare them away should you listen to Team Leader Zhou."

Li Xiangyang lowered his head.

Every word his mother said struck deep into his heart.

As the night grew deeper, the mother and son sat facing each other in the main room.

Looking at his mother's wrinkle-lined face, a wave of warmth suddenly surged through Li Xiangyang's heart.

This kind woman had never done anything earth-shattering in her entire life, yet her simple words contained the most profound wisdom.

"I understand, Mother," Li Xiangyang said softly.

"Son, you must listen to your mother." Mother Li grasped Li Xiangyang's hand, her eyes filled with anxiety.

"Alright, Mother, I promise I'll listen to you completely."

"Then what about the production team leader? Our family's work points and grain rations all depend on him."

Looking at his mother's weathered face, Li Xiangyang felt a pang of heartache.

For all this time, she had shouldered far too much.

"Mother, I won't tell you not to worry anymore, but how does this sound? I'll ask Uncle Wang to find you a job in the city. That way you won't have to stay here and take abuse."

"A job in the city?" Mother Li was visibly stunned, her hand tightening slightly.

"Yes," Li Xiangyang patted his mother's hand gently. "Uncle Wang is the section chief in the education bureau; it'll be easy for him to find you a logistics job. Even if you only make a few yuan a month, it's better than this."

He paused for a moment, then added, "Most importantly, Xiaohua will be able to go to school in the city, too."

A flash of light appeared in Mother Li's eyes, but it dimmed just as quickly. "And you? Are you saying you'd be left alone in the village?"

"Me?" Li Xiangyang smiled, his gaze drifting toward the night outside the window. "Don't you know me? I love this kind of free and easy life. Besides, with my hunting skills right here, I'll never starve."

Mother Li looked at her son's resolute profile, her gaze wavering.

Soon, however, she shook her head again. "Son, let's forget about this. Uncle Wang has helped us so much lately, and he's just been reinstated. It's a critical time for him."

She sighed. "People don't owe us anything. We can't keep troubling them with everything."