Chapter 60
Chapter 60: I Happen to Have a Sheep
It had to be said, wrestling in heavy snow was truly spectacular.
The clash of strength, the occasional low growls from both men, the force with which they grabbed each other trying to throw their opponent.
Though snow was falling heavily, it somehow made one’s blood boil with excitement.
“Oh, what a pity there are no drums – if we could beat the drums, it would be even better.” Qiaoba cheered them on from the sidelines.
In the distance wolves howled, nearby horses neighed.
Everything harmonized perfectly, composing a song of the grasslands.
Xie Changqing smiled slightly and took aim.
“Bang!”
The target across from him fell with the sound.
Hairile jumped up excitedly and ran forward in excitement: “I’ll set it up, I’ll set it up!”
He was still clutching another target in his hand. After running over to set it up, he ran back some distance and set up another one.
Then he quickly ran back, looking at Xie Changqing with excitement: “Changqing, try again!”
“Alright.” Xie Changqing raised his gun and adjusted his position according to what Chagan had taught him.
Unfortunately, he missed the first shot.
But that was fine – Xie Changqing quickly adjusted his angle and changed his approach according to what Sangtu had taught him earlier.
When he fired again, he hit the target perfectly.
“There’s one more, one more!” Hairile’s eyes widened as he shouted excitedly.
Xie Changqing smiled slightly, held his breath, and fired another shot.
Once again, the target fell with the sound.
He discovered this was quite dependent on feel.
Fortunately, his feel had always been good.
“Hmm?”
This commotion even got the attention of the wrestling Chagan and Sangtu, who got up and came over: “What’s going on!? You hit two out of three shots?”
Qiaoba squinted and looked carefully, then nodded with certainty: “That’s right! Haha! Changqing, you’re really something!”
Chagan and Sangtu looked at each other, then asked in unison whose method he’d used.
Obviously, no matter who he said, they were definitely going to fight again.
“I used both of your methods and combined them.” Xie Changqing thought for a moment, then said slowly: “I found that what you both said was essentially the same.”
Shooting was all about steadiness.
Balance left and right, adjust the muzzle and shooting strength according to wind direction, weight, and angle.
And what Xie Changqing was best at was steadiness.
“Oh right.” Qiaoba nodded, looking at his hands: “He tested weights before – no matter what it is, once it passes through his hands, he knows how heavy it is!”
This really seemed like divine assistance.
Sangtu was immediately envious: “Oh my, that’s so good… It took me several months of practice to reach your level…”
“You can practice more.” Chagan nodded approvingly: “Practice until you’re more accurate, then I’ll teach you moving targets.”
What were moving targets? Targets that moved, ran, or even flew.
“If you want to hunt, just being able to hit stationary targets won’t do.”
Xie Changqing completely agreed.
Therefore, while Qiaoba and the others went back to the ice shelter to drink, Hairile stayed here to accompany Xie Changqing for extended target practice.
As they practiced, they suddenly saw figures moving in the distance.
Then six horses burst out from behind the slope and quickly ran away.
“Changqing!” Hairile’s eyes widened in shock as he turned around.
“Shh.” Xie Changqing smiled calmly, put down his gun, and flexed his hands: “They’re gone.”
Only then did Qiaoba and the others come out.
Qiaoba walked up beside him and smiled: “You stopped… they left?”
“They left.”
“What left?” Sangtu frowned, somewhat confused: “What riddle are you speaking?”
Chagan glanced at him disdainfully: “You don’t know? Then what did you come here for today?”
“…Wasn’t it to teach Changqing to shoot… and check on you?” Sangtu’s voice got smaller and smaller.
Qiaoba shook his head and smiled helplessly: “Didn’t I mention it before? Someone has their eye on our ranch.”
Those people were the ones who came to scout the route.
Chagan said he’d seen them yesterday – they were clearing snow in this area.
Fortunately, he’d gone to sleep in the ice shelter early, and once it snowed heavily, the other party couldn’t see him at all.
Of course, they would never have imagined that the remarkable Chagan could actually sleep in the snow in this kind of weather.
From the other party’s perspective, what seemed like a foolproof plan was completely shattered by Xie Changqing’s continuous gunshots today.
After all, Qiaoba had Hairile set up the target right in front of the slope where they were hiding.
Xie Changqing kept shooting in their direction, and occasionally missed shots would hit near them.
Those people were probably scared out of their wits long ago, especially when Sangtu and Chagan were wrestling earlier, shouting so loudly that it didn’t sound like just one or two people.
Therefore, after much hesitation, the other party decided to run before getting hit.
“Alright, let’s head back.” Qiaoba checked the sky and smiled: “At least for the next couple of days, they won’t come.”
But Chagan waved his hand calmly: “You all go back. I’ll keep staying here – this is quite nice.”
The ice shelter wasn’t cold, and he slept soundly.
Most importantly, this was the main route – no matter which ranch wanted to launch a sneak attack, they’d definitely come this way.
After all, this was the closest route!
If there really was any movement, he’d be the first to notice.
His family was all back at the ranch, so guarding here gave him peace of mind.
Qiaoba tried to persuade him a couple of times, then gave up: “Alright then. When spring comes, I’ll buy you a couple more bottles of liquor!”
“Haha, good!” Chagan wasn’t modest about this at all: “The stronger the better!”
After returning, Xie Changqing specifically went to thank Suhe for lending him the gun today.
When he mentioned this, Suhe stared in shock: “Gun!? Mine?”
“Yes!” Sangtu sat down beside the bed cheerfully: “Didn’t I tell you? I wanted to borrow it for practice, and you said yes yes yes yes yes!”
Suhe took a deep breath and remembered.
At that time, Tana was changing his bandages, and because some areas had scabbed over, when she pulled off the gauze it took a piece with it.
The pain was excruciating, and he was shouting: “Ah, yes yes yes yes yes… it hurts so much…”
Sangtu had indeed said something nearby, but he hadn’t heard it clearly at all…
No wonder when his bandages weren’t even finished being changed, Sangtu had happily gone out – turned out they’d been talking at cross purposes.
But now that the misunderstanding was established, Suhe didn’t say anything.
He looked at the gun, then at Xie Changqing.
His very life had been saved by Xie Changqing, and he was worried that if he sent some cattle and sheep over, Xie Changqing might not accept them: “If you don’t mind, I’ll give you this gun, Changqing. You really do need to protect yourself properly.”
If he were still at his own ranch, given Zhuolige’s usual behavior, he would probably just abandon him…
Even though Xie Changqing wasn’t his ranch’s veterinarian, building a good relationship certainly wouldn’t hurt.
In case something unexpected happened in the future, at least he’d know where to go to beg him to save his life.
Xie Changqing was about to decline, after all, he didn’t want to take someone’s beloved possession.
But Suhe waved his hand calmly: “Don’t worry about it. These guns are hard for you to get, but easy for me.”
“Really?” Xie Changqing was delighted.
“Of course it’s true!” Suhe got carried away and started boasting: “You don’t even know – as long as I make a move, forget just one gun, even ten guns would be no problem, and the key is, I only need the price of one sheep for the whole deal!”
Xie Changqing’s eyes immediately lit up, and he said without hesitation: “That’s wonderful! I happen to have a sheep – can I pre-order ten guns from you!?”
“…”