Rebirth in 1981: Hunting and Fishing in the Northwest

In the harsh winter of 1981 in Northern Xinjiang, Li Long awakens to find himself back in his youth, having died at age sixty-seven from a cerebral hemorrhage. In his previous life, his naive generosity and inability to set boundaries led to his older brother Li Jianguo’s early death and a lonely, outcast existence. Determined to alter his fate, Li Long immediately addresses the family’s critical shortage of coal and food. He rejects the advances of Wu Shufen, the village’s most beautiful woman who had previously broken off their engagement upon hearing of his factory dismissal, and firmly refuses to lend money to the manipulative Gu Ermao, ending a cycle of exploitation that defined his past.

Li Long’s transformation is evident as he takes responsibility for his household’s survival. He ventures into the thirty-below-zero night to hunt sparrows and guagua birds, providing his niece and nephew with their first taste of meat in months. His actions earn him the respect of his brother and sister-in-law, Liang Yuemei, who had long viewed him as a burden. Recognizing the need for sustainable resources, Li Long plans to borrow the production team’s horse and cart to haul firewood from the mountains, a task he approaches with strategic planning rather than the impulsive recklessness of his past.

He recruits Tao Daqiang, a simple-minded neighbor who was previously excluded from social circles, to assist him. Together, they break through the ice at a local pond and secure a significant catch of carp and crucian carp. During the fishing, they accidentally net a muskrat, whose fur Li Long identifies as valuable, worth five yuan—a substantial sum that could alleviate the family’s financial strain. Li Long demonstrates his newfound maturity by negotiating with the team captain, Xu Chengjun, offering two large carp as a gesture to borrow the horse and cart, paying the required work points without complaint.

Meanwhile, Gu Ermao attempts to manipulate Li Long by spreading gossip and inviting him to view a newly acquired television, hoping to lure him back into old patterns. Li Long ignores these provocations, focusing instead on his goal. He also encounters Tao Daqiang’s abusive father, who mistreats his son, reinforcing Li Long’s resolve to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Tao Daqiang, moved by Li Long’s kindness and the respect he receives while working with Li Long, chooses to stay with the Li family rather than return to his own home, where he is consistently neglected in favor of his nephew.

As Li Long prepares for his mountain trip, the family dynamic has shifted. Liang Yuemei defends Li Long against village gossip, acknowledging his growth and the practical benefits he now brings to the household. The story concludes with Li Long and Daqiang setting off at dawn, equipped with the borrowed cart and provisions, heading toward the mountains to secure firewood and potentially uncover more resources from the wilderness, marking a decisive turn from survival to prosperity.