"Whoa whoa whoa slow down! Slow down!" 。Crisp laughter and cheers mingled with the elders' sighs and playful remarks. Jiang Yan was completely immersed in this joyous atmosphere. She gripped the handrail of her sled, her almond eyes crinkling with laughter as she shouted loudly at He Jian Guo who was pulling the sled forward with all his might. 。This was the third day after the snow. The snow on the ground had melted and refrozen several times. Almost everyone in the village came out, not just young people anymore. Even girls, such as Jiang Yan's familiar Niu Xiaolan and Xinghua, joined in. 。The power of women is undeniable, as they shoulder the responsibility of handling the game, taking turns to safely escort the prey back to the village. 。Last year, He Jian Guo was still that steady and composed person. This year, he seems to have undergone a complete transformation. His change has made the older generation sigh at how magical time truly is. 。Jiang Yan was immersed in He Jian Guo's humor and thoughtfulness, like bathing in the winter sunshine. His laughter flowed out constantly as he imitated the comical characters in the snow, driving a simple sled at lightning speed. He would also come up with whimsical surprises—sparkling ice-carved branches, vibrant wild berries hidden in the snow, even the occasional caught squirrel—all cleverly woven into their adventure. 。However, that vinegar-flavored cat always tried to steal the spotlight. Jiang Yan had to keep a close eye on it lest the little life met with an accident. 。Jiang Yan's pet cat is no longer just the petite Pekingese it used to be. The thick winter coat makes it appear plump and round, more like a miniature black panther. This has made Jiang Yan absolutely smitten with it; wherever they go, he carries it in his arms like a precious treasure. 。Although the cat usually doesn't compete for affection with its mother, when Jiang Yan goes out, it follows her like a shadow. At first, it was for warmth, but later it became part of Jiang Yan's happy atmosphere, hanging around her neck like a lively scarf. 。The team ventured deep into Daheishan, avoiding last year's encampment. They moved cautiously, wary of a repeat encounter with the wolf pack from the previous year. 。The children's curiosity was ignited, and they gathered around the most patient Fifth Grandfather, asking: "Fifth Grandfather, why are we going to Dragon Head Mountain this year" 。Wǔyé gave a concise explanation: “We are going to capture the foxes there. It is said that their fur is helpful for our engineering.” 。His answer made the sensible children understand that every step, whether it's electrical engineering, school construction, or safety considerations, has its own etiquette and meaning, especially in a rural area where human relationships are valued deeply. 。Jiang Yan's curiosity drove her to ask about the details of the fox den, which in turn sparked a lively discussion among the children. They described a mysterious world to Jiang Yan through stories passed down by word of mouth. 。One story tells of a scholar who encounters a beautiful woman at night. The woman, appearing kind, invites him to stay the night. 。However, the scholar woke up in the dead of night to find that the once magnificent mansion had become eerie and terrifying. It turned out that the woman was no ordinary person. 。He fled in panic, and just happened to see a fiery red fox bowing to the moon under the moonlight. 。The scholar knew the key to the fox's cultivation and feared its revenge, so he decisively took action, resulting in the fox's death. 。Many years later, the scholar passed the imperial examination and became a high-ranking official. However, due to that past encounter, he unexpectedly saw the fox's phantom during the final imperial exam and fainted in fear. This angered the emperor, and he was sentenced to death. 。Another is a Chinese version of the Cinderella story, with its entanglement between foxes and humans, filled with fantasy. 。,However, the Black Dragon's soul did not dissipate, transforming into a vengeful spirit that permeated the area, trying to incite the villagers and mountain spirits to rebel. 。One day, this resentment encountered a newly born white fox and intended to tame it into a tool for revenge. 。Unexpectedly, the white fox's innocence and kindness touched the black dragon. In the end, the black dragon poured out its remaining power and transformed into a black fox. It lived with the white fox deep in Mount Origami, building a home together. Their offspring thrived, becoming a sight to behold in the mountains. 。Although the white fox did not devour the scholar, it kindly accepted him. However, the scholar repaid kindness with treachery, which he brought upon himself. 。The little girls, upon first hearing such a story, were moved by the white fox's kindness while feeling anger towards the scholar's actions. They clapped their hands in approval, as if they could see the scholar receiving his due punishment. 。Jiang Han shook her head and smiled. These little girls were so innocent. Perhaps the scholar was just unlucky, or he may have unintentionally angered someone, which is why he suffered such treatment in the palace exam. 。"Fox... White fox" 。As they were hotly discussing, the ox-child suddenly shouted loudly, drawing a chorus of disapproving boos. 。They turned around, and on the cliff beside them, a delicate orange figure stood gazing at them silently, like a fairy from the clouds looking down upon the mortal world. 。"Quiet 。The Fifth Elder waved his hand to stop the men who were about to raise their guns. He scrutinized the white fox carefully, let out a sigh, and signaled for the troop to continue marching. Then he discussed something with the other elders. 。,The elders cautioned seriously, and even the experienced rangers were reminded once more. 。Young people understood the gravity of the situation and readily responded. 。"Mr. Chen, could this noodle be the passage to the Dragon Palace" 。"> "。