Chapter 175: The Aunts’ Uneasy Worries
After returning to the Youth Cadre Compound, Ning Xiyue went straight to the kitchen to prepare medicines.
She made a variety of potions: hemostatic gold wound medicine, antidotes, and sedatives for animals — all useful for hunting in the wild.
Considering the life-or-death stakes, Ning Xiyue ensured all her medicines scored above 19 points, making them exceptionally effective.
At the appointed time, the team leader came to collect the medicines. Ning Xiyue explained the use of each one in detail, especially pointing out a large bag of sedative powder and emphasizing its importance.
“Team Leader, this sedative is the most effective. You must take it hunting. If you encounter large prey, like wild boars, and can’t take them down, sprinkle some of this. Once the animals smell it, they’ll be knocked out in no time.”
The team leader laughed so hard his wrinkles crinkled, holding the sedative and inspecting it repeatedly:
“This medicine is excellent! With this, we don’t have to worry about being overpowered by large prey. Little Yue, if we manage to get a wild boar, I’ll make sure you get a big, juicy leg.”
“I’ll be waiting for your triumphant return,” Ning Xiyue said sincerely, then pointed to another pack of soybean-sized pills. “These are antidotes for the sedative. To avoid accidentally being affected, take one beforehand.”
She handed the team leader the cloth bag filled with all the medicines.
“All right, got it, Little Yue. I’ll bring back the prey with Uncle Dawei.” The team leader took all the medicines, smiling with satisfaction as he left.
Watching the team leader leave in high spirits, Ning Xiyue hoped he would return with plenty of game — and that everyone would come back safely, celebrating the New Year happily.
She had already planned what to do with the promised leg of meat.
The next morning at six o’clock, while Ning Xiyue was still fast asleep under her quilt, the team leader led a group of skilled hunters, armed with rifles and other tools, carrying three days’ worth of provisions and Ning Xiyue’s medicines, resolutely marching into the snow-covered mountains.
They would not return until they had enough game or until the three days of provisions ran out.
That morning, Ning Xiyue sat with the women of the Youth Cadre Compound, knitting scarves. She had finished one for her elder brother and was now making scarves for her parents.
Wang Mengmeng and Liu Yao slowly knitted scarves using yarn evenly distributed from Chen Ye Chu.
Wu Guifang continued working on her clothes, and Chen Ye Chu knitted a sweater.
They chatted occasionally, a quiet contentment filling the room — the atmosphere was pleasant.
But the calm in the compound didn’t last long.
Perhaps because half of the strong men had gone into the mountains with the team leader, leaving their wives and children at home, worry gnawed at them. They feared their household heads might not return or meet with accidents.
Hearing that Ning Xiyue had provided some medicines for the hunting team, or knowing her as a barefoot doctor, many aunts flocked to the compound to chat with her, seeking distraction and comfort.
In no time, the quiet compound became lively.
Aunt Yang Liu was mending clothes in her hands, voicing her worries:
“Little Yue, when will Uncle Dawei and the others be back? I don’t even expect them to bring home big prey — I just hope they return safely. Sigh… every year it’s nerve-wracking, truly exhausting.”
Aunt Qian rubbed her hemp rope and sighed:
“Exactly! My two sons were so excited when they heard we’d go hunting. They insisted on going; I couldn’t stop them. Now, I’m left at home, worried sick.”
“Wild boars and other beasts could even harm people. I don’t dare even imagine it,” another aunt fretted.
Although such large-scale hunting occurred every winter, the aunts’ worries were as serious as ever.
Ning Xiyue could only offer words of comfort.
“Aunts, don’t worry. The sedatives I provided are designed specifically for large beasts. If you encounter big prey, only the prey will be affected. All the uncles and brothers will return safely with their game.”
Honestly, she had full confidence in her medicines. Aside from uncontrollable factors, they would ensure everyone’s safe return. Whether they brought back much game depended entirely on their luck.
“Hearing you say that, Little Yue, I feel much less worried.”
Aunt Yang Liu, Ning Xiyue’s biggest supporter, trusted her words completely. A smile appeared on her face, the worry vanished, and she reassured the others.
For three days while the hunting team was in the mountains, Aunt Yang Liu brought the other aunts to the compound to chat with Ning Xiyue.
Gathering at the compound and keeping busy talking seemed to comfort them, preventing them from overthinking.
This also allowed the other residents of the compound to get to know the aunts, and they got along pleasantly.
By the afternoon of the third day, Ning Xiyue noticed the aunts becoming restless — attention wandering, faces slightly irritable, some constantly peering toward the door.
As time passed, the aunts grew even more agitated, unable to sit still — like students a few hours before a holiday or office workers half an hour before the weekend. They anxiously awaited the arrival of their family members.
Some impatient aunts, like Aunt Zhang, stood and went to the door, looking toward Mount Daqi behind the compound. Seeing nothing, she returned, pacing restlessly:
“Why aren’t they back yet? They only took three days’ provisions; they should have finished by now.”
Aunt Liu put down her work, worried: “Do you think something happened? They usually return by afternoon. Why is it getting dark and they’re still not back? Tonight’s snowstorm is worse; I don’t know how cold it must be up there.”
Aunt Yang Liu, showing the composure of the team leader’s wife, calmly said:
“Don’t overthink it. Nothing will happen. They’ve returned safely in previous years. With the medicines Little Yue made, there’s even less chance of anything going wrong.”
“Aunts, don’t worry. Take care of yourselves at home. They’ll return when they should. They’re probably delayed because of bringing back more game. Here, have some pine nuts. I gathered them from the mountains and roasted them myself — very fragrant.”
Ning Xiyue pulled out a bag of roasted pine nuts to distract the aunts and started discussing pickling vegetables.
Chen Ye Chu and the others joked around, lightening the mood.
Chen Ye Chu generously offered spicy potato chips to the aunts.
In past years, the aunts worried alone at home. This year, gathering at the compound, chatting and being entertained, their hearts felt much lighter.
But the whole night passed without the hunting team returning.
At home, families of the hunters were growing anxious.
The next morning, the aunts gathered again at the compound, this time to ask Ning Xiyue for medicines.
Aunt Yang Liu stepped forward, looking at Ning Xiyue solemnly:
“Xiyue, we’re planning to organize a group to go up the mountain and check. If anything happens, we can treat it in time. Do you have extra medicines to spare?”
Seeing them all so anxious, with dark circles under their eyes from a night of worry, Ning Xiyue nodded.
“Aunts, I’ll go with you this time. If anything happens, I can handle it immediately.”
“Good, thank you, Xiyue.” Aunt Yang Liu held Ning Xiyue’s hands, tears in her eyes, expressing her gratitude.
Ning Xiyue carried the medicine box and followed the second group up Mount Daqi, with Aunt Yang Liu accompanying her.
At the foot of the mountain, Ning Xiyue’s sharp eyes spotted Comrade Zhang Jianguo from the hunting team rushing down the slope.
“Aunt, isn’t that Comrade Jianguo?” Ning Xiyue pointed.
“Where?” Aunt Yang Liu anxiously followed her gaze and saw that it indeed was a young man who had gone up the mountain with her husband.
She called out loudly: “Jianguo, why are you the only one coming back? What about the others? Are they all okay?”
“Is my husband okay?”
As Zhang Jianguo ran up, others gathered around to ask questions.
Panting, Zhang Jianguo looked cheerful:
“Aunt, the team leader and the others are behind me. They’re all fine. I came back first to inform everyone. It’s so good to see you here — there’s wonderful news!”
