Chapter 6: The Roe Deer

After finishing the roasted rabbit, Zhao Weimin sought out a straight cypress branch. It was about two fingers thick, making it ideal for a bow. Such wood was abundant and could be found everywhere.

He held the branch over the fire, bending it as it toasted to set its shape. As the moisture was drawn out by the heat, the once-straight branch gradually curved into the form of a bow. After testing its flexibility and tension, he found it more than adequate for the task. He then used his hunting knife to carve notches at both ends of the limb to secure the bowstring, preventing it from slipping when drawn. Finally, he attached a hemp rope and pulled it taut.

A makeshift bow was complete. As he drew the string, the bow bent into a graceful arc. When he released it, the string snapped forward with a sharp whistle. Based on his past experience, this bow could inflict lethal damage within twenty meters. However, being made of cypress, it was not durable and would eventually need to be replaced with something better.

Next came the arrows. These were even simpler: straight wooden sticks sharpened to a point, fitted with fletching to ensure a stable flight path. He chose cypress branches for these as well; they had enough weight to prevent the arrows from flying erratically, and they were easy to scavenge. For the fletching, he used pheasant feathers. When he had first moved into the small cabin, he had discovered a cache of them on the bed frame. Fortunately, he hadn't discarded them, or he would have been hard-pressed to find any now.

By the time the sun set, he had finished one bow and ten arrows. Zhao Weimin took his gear outside, selected a cypress tree ten meters away, and nocked an arrow. After taking aim, the arrow whistled through the air.

*Thud.*

A second later, the arrow struck the trunk of the cypress tree, square and true.

"Success!" he muttered with a burst of excitement, hurrying over to the tree. However, only the tip had embedded itself in the wood. A light tug was enough to pull it out. Moreover, the tip was no longer as sharp as it had been. "It seems wooden tips aren't quite enough; I'll need iron or alloy tips for real effectiveness."

Still, against a living, breathing animal, even wooden arrows would barely suffice. With everything prepared, he waited for the hunt the following day.

***

The next morning, Zhao Weimin returned to the site of yesterday’s hunt. He was still wearing only a thin sweater, but his equipment was much improved. In addition to his hunting knife and horsehair snares, he carried his new bow and several thin hemp rope traps.

After setting his snares, he walked through the snow, bow in hand. The crunching of snow echoed in his ears as he scanned the pristine white landscape. In truth, winter made tracking game much easier than in other seasons. While the cold was biting, animals left distinct trails in the snow.

Before long, he spotted a pile of dung. The blackish-green droppings stood out sharply against the white snow. He leaned in to inspect them; they were granular, shaped like small ovals. By all appearances, they were from a roe deer. The color was still dark, and they hadn't been buried by the snow, meaning they were fresh. Someone had been here recently.

Roe deer are small members of the deer family. They are docile and non-aggressive, making them a prime target for hunters. However, they are timid and flee at the slightest sign of danger, and they are quite fast. To take down a roe deer with his current equipment would be difficult—unless he had a rifle. Still, he had experience with crafting traps for such occasions in extreme circumstances, and having a bow now gave him a distinct advantage.

Roe deer provided plenty of meat and fat—a single deer offered more fat than ten rabbits combined. Furthermore, their hides were excellent for warmth, far better for clothing and footwear than what he was currently wearing. His goal for the day was set: he would have roe deer meat for dinner!

A hunter does not wander aimlessly, shooting at whatever crosses his path. Instead, he selects a target and tracks it until it is brought down. Like an assassin, a hunter sometimes spends days and nights away from home. But with his current clothing and supplies, he couldn't afford to spend a night in this environment.

He had to take this deer before nightfall, or he would return empty-handed.

With his resolve hardened, Zhao Weimin began to look for tracks leading away from the droppings. Sure enough, he soon found a series of perfect, heart-shaped hoof prints. The snow was deeply depressed on the sides and raised in the center—the hallmark of an artiodactyl. It was definitely a roe deer.

The tracks branched off to the south. It was clear which way the deer had come and which way it had gone. Judging by the prints, it had arrived from the east and headed south after leaving its mark. "Typical foolish roe deer," he thought, "leaving a trail so easy to follow."

Zhao Weimin followed the prints at a brisk pace. The trail stretched for miles, occasionally changing direction, passing through thickets, and even crossing a frozen lake, which caused him to lose the track several times. Only his extensive experience kept him on the trail.

By noon, with the sun high overhead, he stopped to gnaw on the remains of last night's rabbit leg. He had already tracked the animal for over ten miles, and he had no idea where the beast was going. If the deer didn't stop, he didn't know how long he would have to keep going. He looked back at the path he had traveled and hesitated. Should he switch targets? Going too far was dangerous. If he didn't make it back before sunset, he would surely freeze to death in the winter night.

Just as he was wavering, he heard a strange, barking cry from below the hillside. It was the shot of adrenaline he needed. He immediately rose and peered toward the source of the sound.

There, in his field of vision, was a deer-like animal, its head bowed as it nibbled on the tender twigs of a shrub. Zhao Weimin’s heart hammered against his ribs. He quickly tucked the remaining rabbit leg into his pack. It was the very roe deer he had been tracking all morning!

There were no pre-set snares here. To bring it down, he would have to rely solely on his bow and those ten arrows. Whether he returned in triumph would depend entirely on his skill and experience. With that, he began to formulate his hunting plan on the spot.