The snowy mountain forest made going up difficult, and going down even more so; Chen Lan dared not put the wild pheasants into the system warehouse, fearing they might be alive when put in and dead when taken out, which would cause a big problem.
So, she had no choice but to carry the basket full of wild pheasants on her back. Fearing the pheasants would freeze to death, she used an old quilt she had stored in the system warehouse before coming to the valley to wrap the large basket tightly, leaving only an opening for air.
Then, she walked down the mountain step by step, or rather, slid down. The slope was very steep and difficult to walk on. Each step was a slide forward, and she could have easily tumbled down the mountain headfirst. It was too dangerous. Finally, Chen Lan bought a large, double-person sled from the system.
She first unloaded the basket and placed it on the sled. She exhaled a cloud of mist, then moved the six roe deer from the system warehouse to the sled as well.
Finally, Chen Lan, with her prey, slid down the mountain quickly on the sled. As soon as she reached the bottom, she saw a figure by her house, constantly looking towards the direction she had come from. It was obvious they were waiting for someone to come home.
Chen Lan guessed it was probably her mother, as in the 1950s, the person most concerned about her safety was likely her mother. Chen Lan stopped thinking and focused on sliding towards home quickly. Looking again, it was indeed her mother!
Her mother stood fully equipped in the snow, tucking her neck, stomping her feet back and forth on the snow, and occasionally looking towards the mountain. Seeing Chen Lan coming down from afar, she hurried to trudge through the thick snow towards Chen Lan.
Chen Lan quickly stopped her, shouting, "Mom, don't come over! The snow is too deep, I'll be there soon."
With that, she slid rapidly towards her mother. Chen Lan put the sled back into the system warehouse and left the roe deer to freeze in the snow by her own yard. She decided that each family could take one home to prepare later.
Then, Chen Lan picked up the heavy basket, took her mother's hand, and the mother and daughter walked happily home hand in hand.
As soon as they entered the house, her two younger brothers rushed to greet them, calling out happily, "Big sister, big sister, you're back!"
Chen Lan grunted and placed the basket on the shoe-changing stool by the door. She took off her thick cotton coat and snow boots, exhaled deeply. Then, she took off the leather gloves she was wearing, rubbed her slightly stiff fingers, and raised her hand to pat her two younger brothers' heads.
Smiling, she asked, "Thank you two for looking after the children for me today. Were the children good today? Did they bother you two?"
The two younger brothers shook their heads in unison. Wen Kai said, "No, big sister. They were all very good. Jia Hui and Jia Yao were also very good. They even told Mom when they needed to poop."
Her mother stepped forward and quickly stopped the brothers from continuing, saying immediately, "Wen Kai, Wen Qi, don't bother your big sister. She just came down from the mountain and must be tired! Wen Qi, keep an eye on the children; Wen Kai, quickly go to the kitchen and pour a cup of warm water for your big sister. She's sweated a lot and must be thirsty."
After instructing her sons to work, her mother turned to Chen Lan and said softly, "Lan'er, hurry up and sit on the sofa to warm up. Don't underestimate how cold it is outside, even though it's not snowing today. You must have sweated a lot going up the mountain. Rest for a while, then go upstairs to change your damp clothes and take a hot bath to relax."
Chen Lan didn't refuse. She had indeed sweated a lot going up the mountain today and really needed a bath. So, she nodded obediently and said, "Okay."
As the mother and daughter were chatting about going hunting on the mountain, her mother-in-law, Mother Cui, and Mother Liu pushed open the door and came in. The three of them were discussing new dance moves as they walked in.
Her mother-in-law took off her thick cotton coat and saw Chen Lan sitting on the sofa. She asked joyfully, "Xiao Lan, you're back from the mountain so early. How was it today?"
Chen Lan proudly extended her hand and cupped her fist towards her mother-in-law, saying, "Mother-in-law, I have not failed my mission, and I have a surprise for you."
Her mother-in-law immediately asked happily, "Really! Xiao Lan, where is it? Where is the big rooster?"
Chen Lan gestured towards the basket by the door, saying, "It's all in the basket by the door."
Her mother-in-law immediately ran over in three quick steps, opened the old cotton quilt covering the basket, and then exclaimed with surprise, "Oh my goodness! Xiao Lan, you're truly capable! In such a short time, you've gathered a full basket."
Then she immediately turned around and instructed, "Chun Mei, quickly go to the storeroom and get a few more baskets; Hong Xiu, hurry over and help. Heaven protect us! Please don't let anything happen to the big rooster I wanted."
After the three of them busily sorted the hen pheasants and roosters into baskets one by one, they stood up and breathed a sigh of relief.
Chen Lan decided to give her mother-in-law another surprise today, so she asked with a smile, "Mother-in-law, Mother Liu, Mother Cui, did you see a pile of things by the courtyard gate when you came in?"
The three looked at each other and shook their heads in unison, all saying, "We didn't see anything! Xiao Lan, what good thing did you put by the courtyard gate? Why didn't we see it?"
Chen Lan thought that perhaps they were too engrossed in their conversation about the Yangge dance and didn't notice the six roe deer by the courtyard gate. It seemed this surprise wouldn't work.
So, she said regretfully, "I also hunted six 'silly roe deer' today. We can eat dumplings with roe deer filling for the Little New Year tomorrow."
Her mother-in-law's eyes lit up immediately, and she asked happily, "Really! That's great! Anyway, I'm not going to the sewing workshop for rehearsal this afternoon. I'll go get them now and prepare them so they can be used directly tomorrow."
Chen Lan quickly stopped her, saying, "Mother-in-law, don't bring them all in. Our family can keep at most two smaller ones. The other four can be taken home by each family to prepare."
Her mother-in-law nodded in agreement, "That makes sense. Xiao Lan, I know what to do. I'll let them take the roosters home with them later as well."
As her mother-in-law was speaking, she suddenly stopped and then continued, "Xiao Lan, you prepare everything needed for the Little New Year for each family this afternoon! Let them take it home directly after school this afternoon so it's convenient for tomorrow's Little New Year."
Chen Lan readily agreed, "Mother-in-law, I understand. Don't worry! I'll start preparing after lunch and I guarantee everything will be ready before they get off school this afternoon!"
Her mother-in-law's mouth split into a wide smile, and she said, "That's good! That's good!"