My Manor

"We're here!" After driving for about three and a half hours, the sky, which had been somewhat unclear at first, had completely changed. Thanks to Bell's skilled driving, Jiang Hai's car was the first to reach a parking spot at the corner of the mountain. Shortly after, the other cars followed suit and stopped.

Once parked, the group climbed out of their vehicles and stretched, tired after such a long drive.

After stretching, they began taking out their weapons. Jiang Hai and Fu Yuan were taken aback by the sight—there was an impressive variety of firearms. Along with Jiang Hai's AUG, they saw Swiss-made G3s, German G3s, French FAMAS rifles, and, of course, numerous American M16s in various models. There were even several guns Jiang Hai didn't recognize. Naturally, these were civilian versions, as transporting military-grade weapons across provinces would have led to trouble.

Jiang Hai and Fu Yuan were momentarily stunned. Realizing this, Fu Yuan quickly pulled out his phone to snap some pictures.

Though the group members were large and imposing, with beards or tattoos, none of them objected to Fu Yuan's request to take pictures. Foreigners often enjoy showing off and happily cooperated with his broken English, even posing for him. Watching Fu Yuan struggle with the language made Jiang Hai shake his head in amusement.

"Ha, your friends are quite lively," Paul chuckled as he approached Jiang Hai. "Jiang, make sure to check your guns, bullets, and gear. We're about to head into the mountain."

"Yeah, I know." There was no real need for Jiang Hai to prepare; Bell had already taken care of most of the details.

Paul's remark, though, was directed more at the others, ensuring everyone was ready.

After another round of checks, Paul gave the signal, and the group began trekking into the mountain.

Before they left, Paul made sure to pull Jiang Hai and Fu Yuan aside. As newcomers, there were important things they needed to keep in mind—such as making sure their pants were tied tightly, no matter how hot the weather, to prevent insects from getting in. If bitten, they should avoid swatting at the insect, as the bite could lodge in the skin, leading to infection or worse. He also emphasized staying clear of certain areas and being cautious around trees, where snakes might be lurking.

Listening to Paul, Jiang Hai felt a bit naive. He hadn't considered these details before, but fortunately, Bell had taken care of everything. He just hadn't explained it in detail.

"Hey, Paul, you're the only one talking so much. Look at this guy—he hasn't said a word because he's too lazy to listen to you," Will, the big man who had asked the first question the day before, teased Paul. "If I'm not mistaken, this should be the team logo of the Delta State Army, even though the badge has been removed. But this guy here is from Delta State. For us, this place is exciting, but for him, it's just home!" Will spoke proudly.

Jiang Hai, who had previously learned that Will was actually an IT network engineer, couldn't help but chuckle. Will had the look of a bandit with an M16A2 slung over his shoulder, but he used to be a soldier. It had been many years, but he still remembered the Delta State logo.

"Hehe, I'm just trying to teach Jiang Hai!" Paul replied with an awkward smile.

"It's fine, it's fine," Jiang Hai said, eager to defuse the situation. "I really had no idea about any of this. I only just learned from Paul how much there is to think about when heading into the mountains."

"That's right," Will added. "This is actually the safest time to go. The snow's almost melted, so no risk of avalanches. The temperature is still low enough that most poisonous insects haven't hatched, and the snakes are still hibernating. Even the bears are still asleep..."

As they walked, a big man ahead of them turned around with a grin. "The animals are pretty thin right now, though," he commented. It was early spring, and after a long winter of hibernation, most of the animals were skinny and hungry.

"You don't eat them, so why say that?" Paul retorted, dismissing the man's comment.

In Europe and North America, hunting game is often viewed differently than in China, where wild meat is highly prized. For foreigners, there are concerns about parasites and disease in wild animals. On the other hand, Chinese people find wild game to be delicious, enjoying the lean and firm meat, which differs from farmed animals.

But in the U.S., the focus is more on avoiding parasites than tasting the food's natural flavor.

"When we enter the mountains, some animals are fair game, but others are off-limits," Paul continued. "For instance, if you see wolves, bears, or mountain lions, don't shoot them—we'll just fire our guns to scare them off. But deer, pheasants, hares, and even snakes are all up for grabs, especially deer. You can shoot as many as you want. If you don't want them, we'll leave the bullets behind. Wild boars, though—they must be killed if you see them."

Jiang Hai was taken aback. "Wait, you have to shoot them dead? Really?"

Paul smiled at his confusion. "Yes, even though the U.S. isn't as sparsely populated as Canada or Australia, in certain suburban areas, deer and wild boars can overtake local resources. In the mountains, the larger predators, like mountain lions and wolves, have mostly died out, leaving coyotes and foxes to handle smaller prey. That's why deer and wild boars can thrive and damage the food chain. We're authorized by the environmental protection organizations to manage the populations."

Hearing this, Jiang Hai's appetite grew. He loved wild game, and now he was told he could freely hunt it? There was no way he was passing that up.

He started thinking about how much he could carry back.

"By the way," Will whispered to Jiang Hai, "if you go out again, it's best not to drive a pickup truck. An off-road SUV is much better. Pickup trucks are fine for the streets, but they're not great for activities like this."

Jiang Hai was confused at first, but then he remembered Bell's earlier words. Westerners can be particular about vehicles, with specific cars for specific tasks. For outings like this, an SUV was a must, no matter how good the pickup truck was.

Jiang Hai nodded, realizing he had been a bit rough around the edges. He hadn't thought too much about it, but now he would be more mindful in the future. Perhaps it was time to sell some of those gold coins and buy a sedan and an SUV or MPV for more convenience.

As the group continued trekking, they soon entered the deeper parts of the forest. The first animals they encountered were flocks of birds. No one took action, though, because Americans generally don't eat birds—chicken is another matter, but small birds didn't hold much interest. Besides, birds don't cause enough environmental damage to warrant hunting.

Looking at the birds, Jiang Hai couldn't help but think of his childhood when his father would take him and his friends bird-catching in nearby woods. They'd catch dozens, even hundreds, and prepare them for a delicious meal.

But since sparrows had been classified as beneficial birds, Jiang Hai hadn't had a chance to enjoy them again. It seemed he wouldn't be able to in the future either. (To be continued...)