Traveling Through Those Years Of Farming (Quick Transmigration) - Chapter 5

“Captain, it’s bad! The land at the foot of our mountain is dug up!”

Early in the morning, team leader Zhen Shanfeng just picks up the corn porridge made by his wife and is about to drink something hot to warm his stomach when a young boy runs over from outside, causing a commotion.

“What?!”

The land is the root of the farmers, and the crops are their livelihood. The land being dug up is no small matter.

Zhen Shanfeng immediately puts down the bowl, dons his coat, and follows the boy who brings the news to the site of the incident.

Zhen Shanfeng’s home is close to the edge of the production team’s area. By the time he arrives at the foot of the mountain, many other members have already heard the news and rush over. Some members who live nearby even still hold bowls in their hands, sipping a few mouthfuls of porridge as they arrive.

“What happened here?!”

As soon as Zhen Shanfeng arrives, the crowd quickly makes way for him. Only then can he see the miserable state of the land.

Most of the land is planted with sweet potatoes. A few ridges near the small river are planted with cabbage. The cabbages, nearly ready for harvest, are gnawed to shreds—there isn’t a single intact head left. Even the sweet potatoes buried deep underground aren’t spared. Half an acre of land is torn up, with medium-sized sweet potatoes strewn all over the ground, each one showing clear bite marks from wild animals.

On top of that, the whole field is littered with chaotic footprints—not human, but clearly from animals.

“Damn wild boars have come down the mountain again!” An experienced elder curses bitterly.

These crops belong to everyone. The wild boars had destroyed hundreds of kilograms of sweet potatoes last night.

Excluding the portion handed over to the government, each household loses at least one or two kilograms of grain this year.

It’s only been a few years since the famine ended, and in their eyes, grain is worth more than gold.

“Wild boars haven’t come down for years.” A young man who’s been drinking corn porridge murmurs.

Their village backs the mountains, and typically, the wild animals in the area don’t venture down to destroy crops.

During the famine, when food was scarce in the mountains, some animals, including wild boars, came down to find food.

At that time, people were starving, and they valued the grain in their fields more than their lives. If the animals tried to destroy their crops, they defended them with their lives.

The nearby garrisons were dispatched during that time, killing twelve adult wild boars and six or seven young ones. The prey belonged to the army, but because some of the few crops were damaged, the army kept two young wild boars as compensation.

Anyone who lived through that famine still remembers the smell of wild boars.

It’s because of that experience that Zhen Shankun suggests sending strong laborers into the mountains to try to catch a few animals when they’re at their wit’s end.

However, their weapons aren’t as advanced as the army’s, and their physical strength and mobility don’t match well-trained soldiers. In the end, they catch a blind bear and some smaller prey, but this leads to Zhen Shankun’s death and some men being injured.

That experience makes everyone realize that the mountain, while a treasure, is also an extremely dangerous place.

“Didn’t the army catch all the wild boars last time?” They think the troops wiped out the entire herd. “Captain, what should we do this time?”

Everyone turns to Zhen Shanfeng, placing their hopes in him.

Country folk know how tough wild boars are. These animals spend all year rolling in mud and rubbing their skin on rocks. Ordinary knives can’t cut through their thick “armor.” Moreover, wild boars have a single-minded determination. No matter why they come down to steal crops, once they taste the sweet, crisp sweet potatoes and cabbages, they never let go of the remaining food.

Wild boars know what’s good, and the crops they cultivate are far tastier than the wild grass in the mountains. This time, the wild boars definitely won’t be the last to come down.

“Let’s dig up all the sweet potatoes in this field first.” Zhen Shanfeng frowns, his concern evident. It’s clear this is a difficult situation.

“These sweet potatoes aren’t big yet. If we dig them up now, they’ll be wasted…” Some of the older people look reluctant.

In just half a month, the sweet potatoes will grow bigger. Moreover, the sweet potatoes at this stage are still relatively raw and not crispy enough. When used to make potato starch, the yield won’t be very high.

“Better than letting them be destroyed by wild boars,” Zhen Shanfeng sighs.

This piece of land is somewhat remote, with the nearest household located thirty or forty meters away. It’s still unclear how large the wild boar herd is, but judging by the footprints and the amount of food destroyed overnight, the herd is definitely not small.

If someone guards the field during the night, it could be dangerous, and assigning anyone to do so would likely lead to complaints.

When everyone hears Zhen Shanfeng’s words, they understand his dilemma.

“These animals are really a nuisance.”

Looking at the torn-up sweet potatoes—many with only a single bite taken—it’s clear the boars aren’t just eating to survive anymore. The amount wasted is at least a hundred jin.

The villagers care more about the food than hygiene. They decide to pick up the half-eaten sweet potatoes, cut off the bite marks, and divide the rest among the production team. It won’t kill anyone to eat them.

“During this period, everyone should keep a close watch on their children and make sure they don’t wander off, especially in the wild fruit forest. Stay away from there for now.” Zhen Shanfeng gives a few instructions before heading quickly to the brigade headquarters.

There’s a bicycle at the team’s office, which is public property. Zhen Shanfeng needs to go to the commune to report that the wild boars have come down from the mountain.

They’re definitely not capable of handling such a large group of wild boars by themselves. At this point, they have to ask the militia or the nearby garrison for help.

The animals in the mountains are also considered public property. When the wild boars come down the mountain, whether they can be killed to protect the food is a complicated issue. He has to consult with the commune about the regulations for handling such situations, as he can’t afford to make a mistake in this matter.

After her rebirth, Lin Rui spends a few days adapting to her five-year-old body. She can’t clearly remember what she looked like at that age, so she tries to talk less and do more to avoid arousing her family’s suspicion.

Even her two closest sisters notice that she becomes quieter during this time, but they never suspect that the soul in her body belongs to someone from more than ten years in the future.

Lin Rui’s eldest sister, Lin Hua, is eleven years old and in the fifth grade at the commune primary school. Like most families in the countryside, Lin’s parents focus more on their sons but are not overtly biased. When Lin Hua reaches school age, they willingly spend the money to send her to school.

However, girls in the Lin family still do much of the housework.

Lin Hua is a diligent girl. Every time she comes home from school, she helps Lin’s mother wash clothes and cook.

Lin Rui’s second sister, Lin Duo, is two years older than Lin Rui and isn’t old enough to go to school. In fact, the Lin family doesn’t have too much housework. Lin’s mother and eldest sister are both capable and hardworking, leaving only scattered chores for the two younger sisters. The two of them spend one or two hours a day finishing those tasks.

Lin Duo is mischievous. After finishing her chores, she goes out to play. She’s one of the children who get brought to the brigade headquarters when the jujube tree in the wild fruit forest breaks.

When Zhen Baoli raises his hand to confess, Lin Duo also enthusiastically raises hers. As a result, she gets a spanking when she gets home.

But Lin Duo has a thick skin. She bawls during the spanking and swears she’ll never speak to her mother again. The next morning, she’s already trailing behind her mom with a grin, asking what they’re having for breakfast.

Seeing how withdrawn their little sister has been lately, how she no longer wants to talk or play, Lin Duo decides to drag her outside to have some fun and lighten her mood.

Lin Rui doesn’t want to go. She feels out of place among these children. But Lin Duo is stronger than her and pulls her along. She can’t break free, so she gives in and follows.

When the sisters arrived, many other children had already gathered at the Zhao family’s house. Among them are Zhen Baoli and Zhen Baobao.

Lin Rui spots two familiar faces in the crowd, her heart aching. She immediately looks away.

“Where are we going to play today? Mom says we shouldn’t go near the foot of the mountain for now. Tsk, I was hoping to find some bird eggs and roast them today.” Standing in the middle of the group, Zhao Chenghu looks dejected.

Most children in the countryside grow up freely—what kid doesn’t know how to climb trees or wade into a river?

Even though everything in the mountains and rivers technically belongs to the commune, if a bunch of kids catch a few birds or fish a bit to roast and eat, the adults can’t possibly make a big deal out of it.

Even the strictest cadres in the commune can’t do much about it, as they also have children of their own. With the difficult living conditions, this is the only way for the children to satisfy their cravings.

As long as the number of children is not too large, the adults generally choose to turn a blind eye.

“Why don’t we go catch snails? Soon they’ll burrow into the mud, and we won’t be able to reach them even if we want to,” one child suggests.

Since the adults won’t let them go to the foot of the mountain, the children figure they can head to the river pond, catch some snails, and, if they’re lucky, even catch a few fish to grill and eat.

The boys eagerly approve of the idea.

As for the girls, they aren’t too interested in this activity because the weather has turned cold. Everyone wears long sleeves and long pants, and if they go into the water, they’d have to remove their pants and risk catching a cold.

While the riverbank has a shallow area, and the deeper parts are only above the knees, the muddy pond bottom is enough to make the girls, who already care about their appearance, uncomfortable.

“If you’re not going into the water, just go look for some wild fruit nearby. I remember there are biandan gan trees over there. Not sure if all the fruit’s been picked,” suggests Zhao Chenghu.

As the oldest among the children, he feels responsible for considering the girls’ feelings and doesn’t want to be a biased leader.

The biandan gan he mentions is a common type of wild berry, small and bright red, about the size of a red bean. It doesn’t taste like much, but it looks nice. Many girls don’t even have a red ribbon for their hair, so they like to pick these berries to use as decorations, tucking them into their braids.

When Zhao Chenghu makes this suggestion, the expressions of some of the girls soften.

Everyone agrees, and soon the group of children makes their way to the riverbank.

“Sister, I’ll get you some big snails later,” Zhen Baoli says, holding his sister’s hand and patting his chest proudly.

In truth, it’s not the best time to eat snails. The tastiest snails come around Qingming Festival, before they lay eggs, and again around Mid-Autumn Festival, when they are most plump.

But in the countryside, food is scarce, so even though the snails aren’t as flavorful as during those two periods, they’re better than nothing.

The children have a simple way of preparing snails. They pick the meat out of the shell, remove the back end, leaving only the head, and skewer it with a thin stick. Then, they roast it over the fire, adding a bit of chili powder for flavor.

The roasted snail meat still has a muddy taste and isn’t rich in flavor, but it’s chewy and fragrant, with a meaty taste that makes it a rare and enjoyable snack.

If they are lucky enough to catch a small fish or loach while hunting snails, it’s an even greater treat. No matter how small the fish or loach, it provides more meat than a whole bunch of snails.

Lin Rui, holding Lin Duo’s hand, feels a mix of emotions as she watches the Zhen siblings walking ahead.

Zhen Baoli is truly a good brother. No matter how useless his sister is or how many resources she drains from the family, he never complains. In comparison, her own brothers treat their sisters fairly well too—but when it comes to property and resources, even familial affection isn’t enough.

If she were Zhen Baobao, she would be thrilled to have such a brother, but she happens to be Zhen Baoli’s wife, which puts her in a different position with a completely different mindset.

Even though she has many complaints about her life in her past life, Lin Rui has to admit that many people envy her for having a husband like Zhen Baoli, who can earn money, and for having a mother-in-law who cares deeply for her daughter and barely interferes with the young couple’s life.

Lin Rui smiles to herself. Perhaps, in truth, she would prefer a husband who focuses more on her and their children than on everything else.

“Wow! A big truck!”

As they walk toward the riverbank, a military green truck drives through the village. A dozen young men in military uniforms sit in the back of the truck, each holding a rifle, looking very impressive.

In this era, everyone—men, women, old, and young—admires soldiers. If the truck drives slower, the children would rush to its side and cling to it like lizards.

“I know! The soldiers must be here to hunt wild boars,” Zhao Chenghu says confidently. He overheard his parents talking that morning. The captain went to the commune early the previous day to report that wild boars had come down from the mountain, hoping that the militia or the nearby garrison could help eliminate the threat.

It seems the higher-ups take the news very seriously, as they send troops the very next day.

The soldiers are all armed, likely preparing to head into the mountains to hunt wild boars.

Gulp—

Several children swallow hard.

Except for Baobao and those of a similar age, the older children, like Zhao Chenghu, are all reminded of the wild boar meat they ate during the famine.

Back then, hunger made them desperate. With no proper way to cook, they even ate wild boar meat that wasn’t cleaned of its hair in order to save water. In their memories, that was the best delicacy.

In reality, wild boar meat may not be as tender or fragrant as domestic pork, especially when cooked improperly. If not prepared well, the strong odor of wild boar meat can be overwhelming.

But these children have eaten it only once, and the passage of time turns that experience into a cherished memory, making them think of wild boar meat as a rare and unforgettable treat.

The soldiers coming to hunt wild boars means that pigs will be distributed. That means the brigade will give out pork, and every household will get some wild boar meat.

The children’s logic is simple: troops = wild boars = pork = a delicious meal at home.

With this in mind, the group of children becomes more excited. They decide to first eat some snail meat to fill their stomachs, then they can go home later and enjoy the promised wild boar meat.

With this energy, they soon reach the riverside.

The boys and some of the girls roll up their trouser legs and wade into the shallow part of the river, sticking to the rules their parents taught them. They don’t dare venture deeper into the river.

Zhen Baoli entrusts his sister to the other girls who don’t want to go into the water, and he rushes into the river like a playful child. He bends over, turning over rocks with his backside in the air as he searches for snails hiding under them.

“You have to hold me tighter.” Zhao Xiaomei tilts her head and says reluctantly as she carries the burden of taking care of Baobao. “Forget it. I’ll just hold your hand, or you’ll get lost and start crying again.”

Though she pretends to be annoyed, Zhao Xiaomei still holds Baobao’s hand, pouting as she searches for biandan gan berries along the riverbank.

“Sister Xiaomei, you’re so nice.” Baobao smiles sweetly at the little girl. Zhao Xiaomei, who often seems to dislike her, is actually very kind-hearted. “Don’t worry, I won’t cry.”

After these past few days, Baobao feels like she’s gotten better at controlling her tear ducts.

“Hmph.” Zhao Xiaomei, who has just been given a compliment, can’t help but smile.

But remembering that Baobao is the one driving a wedge between her and her brother, she quickly wipes the smile off her face and glares at her again.

“Ruirui, let’s pick more biandan gan, and bring some for big sis too. If we get wild boar meat tonight, we’ll beg big sis to sneak us a piece when she cooks.”

Lin Duo licks her lips. She is craving meat too.

She isn’t sure how much pork her family will get this time, but one thing is certain: her mother will never allow the whole family to eat all of the pork at once. The meat will be cooked for her father and brothers first, and the amount the sisters can have will be very limited.

Still, Lin Duo is content. At least they get to taste meat during the yearly distributions. Many of her friends have grown up never tasting a single bite of meat.

But the craving is too strong. She hopes her doting big sister will secretly sneak a piece or two for her and her little sister.

“Meat? What kind of meat?” Lin Rui, lost in thought, hasn’t noticed the military truck that passed by earlier.

“Wild boar meat! Didn’t you see those soldiers with rifles? They must be here to catch the wild boars. I wonder how many we’ll get this time.”

Lin Duo swallows again and looks at her sister with sympathy. “What a pity. You were still so young back then. Mother chopped the wild boar meat into minced meat and cooked it with wild vegetables and leaves. I had a big bowl, and mother gave you a small one. You ate it happily.”

Remembering those hunger-stricken days makes Lin Duo truly appreciate their current life. “Wild boar meat!”

Lin Rui’s voice rises sharply, drawing attention from those nearby. “You’re saying the army’s here to hunt wild boars?”

Her forehead breaks into a cold sweat. A long-buried memory surface.

When she was five, the army indeed came to help capture wild boars and left behind meat for the production team. But during that meat distribution, a tragedy occurred.

Everyone believes the wild boars came down the mountain in the middle of the night to raid food, only to return to the mountains afterward. But what they don’t know is that a lone wild boar got separated from the group and wandered to the other side of the village, near the riverbank.

This area has dense reeds, and since the villagers focus on the foot of the mountain, the wild boar stays hidden for two days without anyone noticing.

That day, while the army is deep in the mountains following the herd’s tracks, that lone wild boar, startled by a group of children playing on the riverbank, attacks them in a panic.

Wild boars are omnivores and can be very dangerous, especially when threatened.

In a frenzied panic, the wild boar attacks the children.

At that time, seven or eight children were bitten. One child is bitten on the aorta and dies despite efforts to save them.

Eventually, one of the children who runs faster finds an adult, and they manage to kill the wild boar together. But the child who gets bitten is beyond saving.

Since the families all live in the same village, everyone is connected in some way. One child dies, and a group of others get injured, leaving the adults devastated. Even when the army distributes pork, the village can’t feel any happiness.

At the time, Lin Rui was too young to grasp the full weight of it all. If it weren’t for her second sister mentioning wild boar meat, she might never remember that the riverbank is the site of such a tragedy.

But now, she is certain that she and her second sister have never come to this riverbank in her previous life. It is her fault that her second sister is here today. And in her past life, she and her sister never came here that day. Which means her rebirth alters things—she drags her sister along.

“Get out of here! Everyone leave now!”

Before her rebirth, Lin Rui has just become a mother. She knows how devastating it is to lose a child. She can’t just stand by, knowing what is about to happen.

Lin Rui lets go of her sister’s hand and yells at the children searching for poles in the bushes. “Wild boar! I see wild boar footprints. Everyone, run to the village and find adults!”

Her mind is a mess—she hasn’t actually seen any tracks and hasn’t thought of what to say if the adults question her about it.

But hearing the word “wild boar” is enough to throw the children into a panic. Some girls start crying.

“Zhao Xiaomei, take the kids and run!” Lin Rui sees Zhao Xiaomei. This girl has always been the responsible one and will surely be able to manage. “Sister, go hold Zhen Baobao’s hand. She can’t run fast.”

Compared to some unfamiliar kids, she’s obviously more familiar with her detestable little sister-in-law Zhen Baobao. Lin Rui knows she’s a sickly one—if the wild boar charges out now, she’ll be caught after just a few steps. With her delicate, tearful nature, she’d probably be scared to death the moment she sees the wild boar’s tusks.

She also knows her sister well—she is strong and can easily carry a small child like Baobao, who is as light as a two-year-old.

After saying this, Lin Rui rushes back to the riverbank, intending to call back the children who are still looking for snails in the shallow water.

The water is so shallow that it could be dangerous if the wild boar starts charging. In the chaos, some of the children might even run into the deeper parts of the river and risk drowning.

“Wild boar! Where is the wild boar?!” Hearing Lin Rui’s shout, whether or not they have seen the wild boar, the children immediately scramble to the shore, abandoning the snails they just caught.

Rustle—

A rustling sound comes from the bushes not far away, and a black wild boar suddenly leaps out, howling toward the sky.

“It really is a wild boar!”

The children panic instantly, running in all directions like headless chickens, some crying in terror.

Lin Duo is stunned. How can her sister say there is a wild boar, and then the wild boar actually appears right after?

Her mind is filled only with her sister’s earlier words. She rushes toward where Zhen Baobao is standing, picks up a child, and starts running. She is so terrified that she closes her eyes as she runs.

“Hurry up, run to the village!” Zhao Xiaomei is no better at handling the situation. She shouts urgently, pushing the kids around her to run for the village.

Baobao is knocked down by the frantic crowd of children. She doesn’t notice when Lin Duo picks up another child and runs to the village. She is too focused on finding her brother, Zhen Baoli.

The wild boar charges straight toward him.

Baobao freezes. That brother of hers might have a sharp tongue, but he’s still her real brother. Without thinking, she runs straight toward him.

While everyone else runs from the wild boar, she runs towards it.

Bang—!

She dives at the wild boar, hitting it squarely. The wild boar, which weighs dozens of kilograms, flies through the air before crashing hard to the ground.

Everyone watches in disbelief as the wild boar twitches a few times and spits out a mouthful of pig’s blood mixed with a broken fang.

Baobao, knocked back by the impact, lands hard on the ground.

It hurt!

Her buttocks sting, and her arm aches from the collision with the wild boar.

Tears well up in Baobao’s eyes as she rubs her sore rear.

Honestly, she really is a very delicate girl.