The group, eager to leave the forest, pulled their sleds through the snow for almost two hours. They were tired and hungry, but dared not stop until they found a place to camp. To remain in the deep mountains after dark was extremely dangerous.
Chen Lan took off her gloves and wiped the sweat from her face. She looked at Xu Mingxuan, who was pulling the sled with her and was also covered in sweat.
"Mingxuan Ge," she asked, "how long will it take to walk this slowly with such heavy things on the snow? It's getting late, and the sky will be dark in just over two hours. We really can't afford to delay. If we're still in this forest when it gets dark, it will be a big problem."
Xu Mingxuan stopped, took off his gloves, and wiped his sweat. He looked at Chen Lan and asked, "Lan'er, do you have any good ideas?"
Chen Lan continued to pull the sled forward with effort and asked, "Mingxuan Ge, how far is it to your farm?"
Xu Mingxuan thought for a moment and replied, "Lan'er, we're deep in the mountains now. It should be about thirty li to the farm. Lan'er, what's wrong?"
Chen Lan then asked, "Mingxuan Ge, have we walked fifteen li so far?"
Xu Mingxuan replied, "No, maybe seven or eight li. What's up?"
Chen Lan said, "Mingxuan Ge, at this speed, pulling so much stuff on this snowy plain, it will take us at least two more days. How conspicuous are we? It's like telling the wolves and tigers in the mountains that we have meat. How dangerous is that?"
Xu Mingxuan agreed and asked, "Lan'er, what should we do?"
Chen Lan then said directly, "Mingxuan Ge, if you want the people at the farm to have a good year, listen to me. Let Qingsong and Daye take the children from the hunting team with some of the small game on their sleds and head back to the farm first. Tell them the children are from a neighboring farm and met them here, asking for a night's lodging. After they leave, tell everyone to keep quiet and not spread the word. Then, after dark, organize people to bring the livestock and quietly haul all this game back. This way, things will be easier for us. What do you think? We can leave the game halfway for them to pick up. What do you say, Mingxuan Ge?"
Xu Mingxuan immediately understood Chen Lan's plan. "Okay, let's do that. But not here. We need to find a place sheltered from the wind first and dig a snow cave to wait until dark. Lan'er, let's stop and rest for a bit. I'll go find Qingsong and Daye. They know this area well."
When Qingsong and Daye heard Xu Mingxuan's explanation, they said, "Come with us. There's a sheltered spot in the birch forest nearby."
The group soon found the sheltered spot in the birch forest. Without resting, they immediately began to dig a snow cave. Chen Lan quickly stopped them and explained today's plan to avoid any confusion.
Everyone was delighted to hear that they could sleep on a warm kang tonight at the farm. No one objected. Who wouldn't want a warm kang in this freezing weather?
So, they immediately started gathering firewood from the surrounding area. They had been hungry for most of the day and needed to eat well before continuing their journey.
The meal was simple, consisting of baked red sugar steamed buns or grilled sausages with hot water. But at least it was warm, filling their empty, cold stomachs.
Xu Mingxuan told those who would be traveling shortly to eat first, while he and Er Zhuang continued to gather firewood in the birch forest. The group ate their meal hastily. As soon as they finished, it was almost dusk, and they had to set off quickly. The members of the hunting team, with Qingsong and Daye, loaded their game onto their sleds and immediately departed.
Chen Lan watched their receding figures. The cold wind blew from the birch forest behind her with a whistling sound, making the desolate mountain even more desolate.
Chen Lan looked up at the sky. Although it wasn't completely dark, a bright moon had already risen by the mountainside.
She then looked at the seven wild boars and the few remaining roe deer on the four sleds in front of her and put them into her system storage. She suddenly remembered that she had several wild pheasants in her system storage. After days of eating baked red sugar steamed buns and grilled sausages, Chen Lan decided to have chicken for dinner. She had initially wanted to make beggar's chicken, but with the freezing weather and snow everywhere, she couldn't find lotus leaves or mud. In the end, she decided to stew chicken soup. She took out a large iron pot from her system storage, the same one she had used in the cave in Pogranichny town. She had three wild pheasants, but seeing that they were too thin and small, she took out three more.
Chen Lan skillfully began her work: shoveling snow, boiling water, plucking feathers, gutting, and removing internal organs. These were tasks she often performed in the valley, so she worked very quickly.
When Xu Mingxuan and Er Zhuang returned with two large bundles of firewood, the chicken soup was already simmering in the pot, and a rich aroma filled the air.
Er Zhuang put down the firewood and said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, I could smell it from afar. Are we having chicken tonight?"
Chen Lan replied, "Yes, the chicken soup is almost ready. Do you want red sugar steamed buns with chicken soup, or noodles with chicken soup?"
Er Zhuang smiled and said, "I'll eat whatever, whatever Big Brother eats."
Xu Mingxuan glanced at the golden chicken soup in the pot and inhaled its rich aroma. His stomach growled hungrily. He rubbed his hands with clean snow and said, "Lan'er, let's have something different today. Let's have noodles with chicken soup!"
Chen Lan happily replied, "All right! Just watch! I'll prepare the chicken soup noodles for you. It's good to have something to eat and drink."
Fifteen minutes later, the three of them each held a bowl of golden, fragrant chicken soup noodles and ate ravenously. Chen Lan took a sip of the chicken soup and shivered with delight. An indescribable aroma lingered on her palate, leaving a lasting and unforgettable taste.
Chen Lan ate a bowl and burped, lamenting her small appetite. She watched Xu Mingxuan and Er Zhuang still eating with relish, likely due to days of eating steamed buns and plain water. Chen Lan, still burping, savored the taste: "The chicken soup is golden, rich, and delicious. The chicken meat is tender and smooth. This wild chicken soup is truly a rare delicacy!"