Chapter 156 Self-righteousness (1/2)

Looking at the white ball of fur in her palm that had instantly lost all its luster, Ruan Tang couldn't help but burst out laughing.

She knew this little thing was most susceptible to this.

She casually tucked Little White into the collar of her warm sweater, leaving only its fluffy, droopy little head sticking out. Then she reached out and gently scratched its little chin with her finger.

"Sweetie, the family needs you more."

Ruan Tang's voice was soft and sweet, like it was coated in honey, specifically designed to penetrate Xiao Bai's fragile little heart.

"Think about it, what if bad guys sneak in while my brother and I are out?"

"Then who will protect our base? Who will protect Big Orange, who's still in the corner doubting Tiger's life?"

Little White's droopy silver-tipped ears twitched almost imperceptibly.

That's right!

In this house, apart from the young master and that abnormally powerful man, it is the most formidable!

Protect headquarters!

Protect your newly recruited underlings!

Me, a little mouse, have a great responsibility!

After being fooled by Ruan Tang, Xiao Bai's resentment at being treated as a "little good-for-nothing" vanished instantly.

Its little chest puffed out suddenly, and its previously dull, dark purple beady eyes instantly rekindled with a fierce fighting spirit!

That's right! I, the little mouse, am the last line of defense for this family!

It stretched out its mithril claws, patted its chest hard, and let out a loud and firm "squeak"!

Don't worry, Master! With me here, the house is as solid as a rock!

In the corner, the big orange cat, still drawing circles with its paws, raised its enormous tiger head in a daze.

It felt as if it was being "protected" by something extraordinary, but it wasn't quite sure.

Big Orange glanced at the little mouse that was swaggering around Ruan Tang's collar again, then looked down at its own paws, which were thicker than the other's thighs. Its orange tiger eyes were full of confusion.

This family is becoming increasingly incomprehensible.

...

Time flies, and it's already December.

The north wind was like a knife, stinging people's faces. The members of Jixiang Brigade, apart from taking turns to work in the greenhouse to earn a few work points to survive, basically stayed at home to "hibernate."

The heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed) was hot enough to bake pancakes. The whole family gathered around it. The woman used the dim light from the window to sew shoe soles, while the man puffed on his pipe, the pungent smell of which mingled with the aroma of food. The children, now mostly grown up, rolled around on the kang. Life went on lazily like this.

Until a major event occurred, like pouring cold water into hot oil, it caused an uproar throughout the entire brigade.

Winter Hunt!

This is a long-standing tradition of the Jixiang Brigade.

Every year before spring, team leader Chen Fengshan would organize the strongest men in the team and have experienced hunters like Li Jianshe lead the way into the mountains.

It's truly dangerous, but the rewards are incredibly tempting.

If you're lucky enough to run into a mud leopard or wild boar, the whole brigade can get a few pounds of meat, and the aroma of that oil will stay with you until the following year!

In previous years, there was nothing for the educated youth, but this year, Captain Chen Fengshan waved his hand and issued a new instruction: If the young men at the educated youth settlement have the guts and can get past Li Jianshe's hurdle, they can also be given a chance to go into the mountains and broaden their horizons!

When the news reached the educated youth settlement, the boys' dormitory was as hot as boiling water that very night.

Outside, the north wind howled like wolves, but inside, the kang (heated brick bed) was so hot it burned your bottom. The smell of sweat and feet, mixed with an irrepressible excitement, made your head burn.

Apart from the unlucky An Sanchuan falling ill again and being sent to the clinic to get acupuncture from Han Zhishan, the rest of the male educated youth sat cross-legged on the kang (a heated brick bed), their eyes shining brightly under the dim kerosene lamp.

Lu Hongwei cleared his throat, his face flushed from the heat and excitement.

"Um... comrades, everyone knows about the winter hunt, right? Uncle Li Jianshe said that anyone who wants to go has to be tested by him first. Let's discuss who should go, so we can all go to Uncle Li together."

He was drooling with envy, but he knew that with his small frame, he would just be a snack for the wild boars if he went, and could only enjoy the thrill of being an organizer.