Wu Zhiguo’s excitement was palpable, but Li Ya kept shaking his head, his gaze fixed on the wild boar on the ground.

“That’s not right. Look at this gunshot wound—how did it hit the right side of the head? If the shot came from the right, it means the boar was shot from that side. In that case, its posture shouldn’t be this slump toward the right!”

Li Ya suddenly exclaimed, pointing at the dead boar’s head as he spoke.

The group froze, quickly turning their attention back to the carcass.

None of them were professional hunters, but they understood the basics. Especially Chang Feng, who had received professional firearms training; once Li Ya pointed it out, he immediately crouched down to examine the entry point on the boar’s head closely.

The hole on the boar’s head was large, suggesting it was blasted at close range. If it had been close range, this boar shouldn't have ended up in this specific posture of death.

Confusion clouded Chang Feng’s brow as well.

“Killing a boar is a good thing. We’ve hunted so many times, and we’ve never had such a haul. Let’s hurry back to town before any other boars come back for revenge!”

Long Cheng stepped forward, chuckling good-naturedly. With Li Ya and Chang Feng occupied by their doubts, it wasn't the time to press further.

Long Cheng knew the situation best; he needed to cover for Zhang Yang right now, understanding that Zhang Yang wished to keep his true capabilities hidden from others.

“Right, there were five boars earlier. Zhang Yang only took down three; the other two must have fled. If they bring back more boars, we’ll be in real trouble!”

Su Zhantao chimed in, a trace of genuine fear in his voice.

He had been genuinely terrified by the attack of those wild boars.

Su Zhantao’s remark instantly quelled any further dissent. They were all wealthy young masters who enjoyed a thrill, but staying put knowing real danger loomed would be sheer foolishness.

Three wild boars were heavy, especially the largest one, weighing at least two hundred kilograms; dragging them was impossible.

Fortunately, they had rope. Using the rope, a few men pulling one boar each was manageable.

Long Cheng, being the strongest, pulled one with Huang Hai. Su Zhantao, Li Ya, Chang Feng, and Wu Zhiguo handled another, leaving the last one for Zhang Yang and Long Feng.

Either one of them could have carried that boar away single-handedly, but that would have been too conspicuous. They had to pretend to strain and drag it like the others.

This dragging arrangement was Long Cheng’s suggestion; Huang Hai and the others already knew Zhang Yang was incredibly strong.

Dragging the massive carcasses while simultaneously keeping watch on their surroundings, it took the group nearly an hour to reach the town as dusk began to settle.

Er Hu and the others were guarding the camp, diligent in their duty. They would remain there until their masters returned, allowing no one near, nor daring to step inside the tents themselves.

However, they were stunned when they saw the men dragging the wild boars.

One of the guards quickly ran off to summon the town mayor.

Hauling the boars back had exhausted everyone, but smiles were plastered on every face. This was a significant haul, with the three large boars being the greatest prize.

Long Cheng had hunted a small boar before with others, but never encountered anything this massive.

“It’s really a wild boar, and this big!”

In a short while, Mayor Wang arrived, equally astonished by the size of the animals, his eyes constantly scanning the three carcasses.

“Mayor Wang, we had a great harvest today. Don't leave later; join us for some roast meat!”

Long Cheng laughed heartily, clearly elated.

While Zhang Yang had indeed killed the boars, they had ventured out together, and in the eyes of outsiders, this was a joint trophy.

Bringing down three such beasts was no small feat, and even Long Cheng felt a swell of pride.

“Good, good, thank you, thank you, Boss Long!”

Mayor Wang nodded repeatedly, a smile gracing his features. After taking another long look at the boars, he asked again, “Boss Long, did you venture into the deep mountains today?”

“We didn't go deep inside, just wandered around the outskirts,” Long Cheng shook his head. He knew what the Mayor meant by the deep mountains.

The so-called deep mountains were the interior of Savage Mountain—a place shrouded in legends of wild men and home to numerous ferocious beasts.

He wouldn't mind venturing there for larger game, but time was short. Splitting up in the deep mountains wouldn't be hunting; it would be offering themselves up as prey.

“Not the deep mountains? Strange, why would such large boars appear out here?”

The Mayor’s brow furrowed, and he fell into deep thought.

The 'outside' area referred to the foothills surrounding Savage Mountain, wild terrain, yes, but relatively safer because people often entered to forage or hunt small game. No large predators usually frequented this area.

Large beasts, like these massive boars, never ventured into the outer regions.

Hearing this, Long Cheng also paused slightly, understanding the Mayor's point completely.

After a moment’s thought, Long Cheng slowly suggested, “Maybe they wandered out? We just happened to run into them. There’s no clear boundary line between the inside and the outside!”

“That’s possible. Well, forget that—congratulations! It’s been many years since anyone around here managed to hunt boars this size. You are all warriors!”

Mayor Wang looked up with a grin. He had to consider the safety of the townspeople. If large predators were appearing in the outer forests, it posed a threat to them all.

Those who went into the mountains would need to be more cautious; these beasts might wander out and cause trouble in the town, which would be a serious problem.

“Haha, Zhang Yang killed all of these himself; he’s the real warrior!”

Long Cheng laughed again. Mayor Wang squinted suspiciously at Zhang Yang, whom Long Cheng had indicated.

Having lived in the mountains his entire life, the Mayor knew precisely how formidable these wild boars were. Even an expert hunter, fully prepared, might only perhaps manage one large boar, and that was a maybe. Truly dealing with such a beast required several top hunters working together.

Zhang Yang, alone, with just a hunting rifle, had downed three of them—the Mayor couldn't believe it.

“Mayor Wang, let’s eat one tonight. For the other two, take them and prepare cured meat. You keep one portion, and we’ll take one back,” Long Cheng told the Mayor. Since Zhang Yang was the one who took them down, he should have the final say on distribution.

However, Zhang Yang had already given Long Cheng full authority to allocate everything, ensuring everyone received a share.

These men were not poor; they didn't particularly covet the meat, but the significance of having hunted it themselves held different value. Curing one boar would give them meat to enjoy for days, and the portion they took back would let their families taste authentic wild game.

“How can I accept that? A boar this size is worth a lot of money!”

Mayor Wang shook his head vehemently. The town was too remote, and as mayor, he received little unofficial benefit. In the city, meat from such a large boar could fetch seven or eight yuan per jin, potentially selling for over a thousand yuan—which, to him, felt like a fortune (ShuShuWu).

“I didn’t say you keep it all for yourself. Take it back and distribute it as a benefit to the school teachers. Or give it to others; it’s yours to decide,” Long Cheng smiled, shaking his head. Mayor Wang was an honest man, which was why Long Cheng always sought him out.

Mayor Wang wasn't even fifty—he was forty-nine—but the harsh conditions and relentless labor of the mountains made him look sixty.

“If you say so, then we owe you even more!”

Mayor Wang scratched his head sheepishly, chuckling.

The town was small, with only one school encompassing both primary and middle grades. Because the area was remote and poor, few teachers were willing to come; the school frequently lacked staff, currently relying on just over a dozen local residents as teachers.

They were all part-time teachers earning meager salaries. The town lacked the funds to supplement their wages, forcing them to find other ways to make ends meet. Naturally, Mayor Wang wouldn't object to Long Cheng offering the boar as a welfare benefit.

Long Cheng smiled and then asked, “How are the children doing these days?”

“Thanks to your kindness, they are all doing very well. Many children at the school mention your name daily. If you have time, you should visit!”

Speaking of the school children, the Mayor’s face lit up again.

The last time Long Cheng and his party visited, they learned about the school’s hardships: insufficient teacher pay, and children going hungry, leading to widespread malnutrition.

Upon learning this, Long Cheng, Huang Hai, and the others specifically left behind two hundred thousand yuan.

This money wasn't for distribution among the children; it was to establish a chicken farm and a pig farm.

The chicken farm would focus on laying hens; the eggs would feed the children, and any surplus would be sold to generate income to ensure the teachers were paid adequately and their living conditions secured.

The pig farm would primarily provide meat. Eggs alone weren't enough; they needed meat too. With both eggs and meat, the children’s nutrition would be guaranteed, allowing them to concentrate better on their studies.

Giving a man a fish feeds him for a day; teaching him to fish feeds him for a lifetime. Long Cheng and his friends established these two breeding operations so they could grow continuously, guaranteeing everything the school needed and providing a steady source of income.

Nearly two years later, the town’s school had developed remarkably well, and the children's faces shone with health—the two farms were instrumental in this success.

“We will visit when we have time. Regarding your road, if the opportunity arises, I will talk to some people and see if we can help you get it repaired,” Long Cheng added. Mayor Wang froze, looking at Long Cheng with intense emotion, tears welling up in his eyes.

Fixing the road had been his greatest concern for years. The town was too poor, largely because the road was terrible. Cars took several hours to make the journey, and walking took an entire day (NuoQiu). Furthermore, only large SUVs like Long Cheng’s could navigate it; sedans or larger trucks couldn't pass, severely restricting their development. He dreamt constantly of having the road leading to the city properly paved.

………… Fourth update. Writing this, Xiao Yu was reminded of a documentary I watched, sparking some emotion, so I couldn't help but write a bit more. It's not just 1998; there are still poor mountain villages like this today—that is reality. Apologies for the rant. The next chapter will be updated around six o'clock; Xiao Yu needs a late-night snack, I’m hungry.