mtl008 Chapter 104 You want to give it away for free?
Chapter 104 You want to give it away for free?
"Alright, stop muttering!" Old Zheng wiped the blood from his hands and looked at Li Xiangyang and Wang Ergou. "The prey is all prepared. Let's hurry and transport it to the city to sell while it's still early."
Looking at the tiger and bear skins displayed in the yard, Li Xiangyang was a little embarrassed to speak up: "Uncle Zheng, how about we don't sell these skins?"
"What's wrong?" Old Zheng looked up.
"Well, your gear is really good. I'm thinking of getting myself a bearskin sleeping bag, a tiger-skin rug, or something..."
"Ha!" Old Zheng couldn't help but laugh and scold, "You've got some nerve, kid. That equipment is what I've saved up from hunting for most of my life, and you think you can get it all in one go?"
Li Xiangyang lowered his head sheepishly: "I was just saying..."
"Tell me about it?" Old Zheng shook his head, his expression suddenly turning serious. "Talking won't do. A real man should dare to think and act. I'm too old for that; I don't plan to go up the mountain anymore. Keep the equipment I lent you."
"Oh? How can that be!" Li Xiangyang quickly waved his hand, "That's all your hard work."
"Why not?" Old Zheng glared at him. "I even gave you a gun!"
Li Xiangyang panicked even more: "This, this..."
"What? You're embarrassed? How about this, you trade with me, I get the tiger skin. I've hunted my whole life, and I haven't managed to save a single tiger skin for myself."
“It is only right! This tiger skin should have been yours. But Master Zheng, these pieces of equipment are your lifeblood for hunting; each one represents your hard work and dedication…”
“What ‘labor of love’?” Old Zheng interrupted him, his eyes suddenly becoming profound. “You know, I’ve been a hunter my whole life, handled countless prey, and never thought of collecting a pelt. Then…”
Old Zheng's voice lowered, his gaze falling on the beautiful tiger skin: "Later, as people grow old and are not what they used to be, I knew that there was probably no hope for me in this lifetime."
Li Xiangyang felt a pang of sadness as he listened. He wanted to say something, but Old Zheng waved his hand to stop him.
"But today, I really like this tiger skin. Even though I didn't forge it myself, it's still a keepsake, which is more meaningful than any equipment..."
"It's settled then," Old Zheng declared decisively. "I'll take the tiger skin; everything else is yours."
"You can't give me the gun," Li Xiangyang quickly shoved it back into Lao Zheng's hand. "Even if you don't go into the mountains, you can still hunt some game. Besides, I already have one..."
As he spoke, he gestured with his chin toward Wang Ergou's sniper rifle.
Old Zheng took the gun, glanced at the prepared bear meat, and casually tossed off a piece: "Alright, I'll take these back then."
Seeing that Li Xiangyang wanted to say something more, he waved his hand, "Forget about the rest, my old arms and legs can't handle such nourishing food."
After saying that, Old Zheng slung his gun over his shoulder, grabbed the tiger skin and the piece of bear meat, and turned to leave.
Li Xiangyang and several others rushed to see him off.
"Alright, everyone stop following us." Old Zheng waved his hand. "Xiangyang, come visit us more often when you have time."
"Alright, Master Zheng, I'll definitely come often." Li Xiangyang replied quickly, feeling warm inside. He secretly vowed that in the future, if he caught any good game, he would definitely send it to Old Zheng first.
These are all Lao Zheng's hard work; he got such a great deal out of it.
Watching Lao Zheng's receding figure, Li Xiangyang was filled with mixed emotions.
"Hey, Li Xiangyang!" Wang Ergou, not caring what Li Xiangyang was thinking, immediately spoke up, "Master Zheng's share has already been divided, let's hurry up and divide it too."
As he spoke, he didn't forget to kick Li Daqiang: "Say something too!"
Li Daqiang lowered his head, his face slightly flushed: "I'll let it go..."
“Okay,” Wang Ergou’s eyes lit up, “then Xiangyang and I will split it…”
"You're dreaming!" Li Xiangyang sneered. "This prey should be divided into three equal parts."
"Why should I?" Wang Ergou protested. "He already said he didn't want it..."
"Because he's my cousin." Li Xiangyang glared at Wang Ergou. "Besides, if I hadn't gone to find my cousin, do you think this good thing would have happened?"
Wang Ergou was speechless, and could only reluctantly reply, "Fine..."
Li Daqiang was still somewhat hesitant: "Xiangyang, I really can't accept this..."
"What?" Li Xiangyang glanced at him sideways. "Xiao Fang isn't going to marry you? Don't you want people to respect you anymore?"
Upon hearing this, Li Daqiang blushed immediately.
If not for this, why would he go into the mountains?
"I..." Li Daqiang opened his mouth, but in the end, he couldn't say anything.
"Alright, it's settled then," Li Xiangyang decided. "Brother Daqiang, you go back and get the donkey cart first, we'll go into town together."
"Okay!" Li Daqiang felt like he had been granted a pardon and turned to run home. He felt a warmth in his heart knowing that his cousin was doing this for his own good.
Wang Ergou watched Li Daqiang's retreating figure, muttering something to himself in dissatisfaction, but dared not say anything more.
The donkey cart swayed and rattled along the icy dirt road, and the three of them remained silent the whole way.
Li Daqiang occasionally stole glances at Li Xiangyang, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.
Only after the donkey cart entered the county town did Wang Ergou ask, "Where are we going first?"
“Old Zhou’s leather workshop,” Li Xiangyang replied briefly.
Wang Ergou's eyes lit up: "That place charges higher prices!"
Seeing Wang Ergou so excited, Li Xiangyang didn't bother with him.
The group arrived at the leather workshop, and upon entering, they were immediately greeted by a strong smell of leather.
"Hey, Little Li's here!" Old Zhou greeted him from the inner room. "What good stuff have you brought this time...?"
Halfway through his sentence, Old Zhou's eyes widened.
"Good heavens!" He strode forward, his fingers trembling slightly as he stroked the bearskin. "This is the real deal!"
Li Xiangyang smiled and asked, "Uncle Zhou, how much do you think it's worth?"
Old Zhou carefully examined the bear pelt, clicking his tongue in admiration: "Excellent quality, perfect coat color, this is a rare find. We know each other, so I won't beat around the bush. How about 1200?"
"Sure!" Li Xiangyang agreed without even thinking.
This price is already very reasonable.
As for how much money they can make by reselling it, that's their skill.
"Oh, right," Li Xiangyang paused, "we also have tiger bones, would you like some?"
Old Zhou's expression suddenly changed, and he lowered his voice, saying, "Tiger bone? You're quite the daredevil, aren't you?"
He looked around, then leaned close to Li Xiangyang's ear: "If you have tiger skin, I'd be willing to buy it. As for tiger bones, you'll have to find another way."
Li Xiangyang nodded; he also knew that tiger bones were not easy to sell.
"Save some bear meat for me," Old Zhou added. "I'm treating some friends tonight..."
“Okay!” Li Xiangyang readily agreed, then turned to Li Daqiang and said, “Brother Daqiang, take off both of your hind legs.”
After packing the bear meat, Old Zhou smiled and took out his money: "That's 1300 in total. Here's an extra 100 yuan for the bear meat."
The reason Lao Zhou was so generous was not because the bear meat was really worth that much, but because Li Xiangyang didn't bargain, which made him feel a little embarrassed.
Li Xiangyang took the money, didn't count it, and stuffed it into his pocket.
Wang Ergou, watching with envy, leaned closer and whispered, "Shall we leave now?"
Li Xiangyang glanced at him: "What else? They don't have the connections, do you expect me to give it away for free?"