The whole mountain is my hunting ground

As soon as Song Mingzi arrived, Zhao Ling, Xu Chunyan, the old lady, Xie Sunshi, and Liu Lanying came to Zhao's house one after another.

After arriving, they peeled off the ashes under the leadership of Wang Meilan. Twenty-two pieces of gray leather were in the shape of barrels and were piled up on the table.

This is a good thing. Foreigners use it to make furs and scarves, and their tail hairs are used as paintbrushes.

Therefore, before the ban on guns and hunting, gray skin was an export product. 90 years ago, it was even one of the important products for exporting and earning foreign exchange.

In those years, the Black Province exported more than 100,000 gray skins every year, and the highest number even reached 180,000 in one year.

Things that can be exported are also expensive.

These days, mountain runners sell gray skins for upwards of thirty yuan. The colder the weather, the better the quality of the fur. The skin will turn black and the hair tubes will be shiny. The purchase price of ordinary gray leather is more than thirty-five yuan, and the best ones can even be sold for forty yuan.

These twenty-two pieces of skin cost more than 700 yuan. How much money is this? Zhao Youcai has worked in a forest farm for more than 20 years, and the annual salary he is proud of is only 1,400 yuan. These twenty-two gray skins equaled half a year's salary.

"Tsk!" Mrs. Jie Sun looked at the table full of gray leather and said with emotion, "Who would have thought this thing could be so expensive?"

"Then what else are you talking about?" Wang Meilan said: "The big leather is more expensive than this."

"Yeah." Ms. Xie Sun nodded, crossed her legs and said, "My village is not close to the mountains, but my parents' home is in the forest area. In the past, Xiaochen's father used to go there to hunt with his uncle and the others. , and then there’s the big leather guy, I heard he can make ten big leather bags in one winter.”

"Auntie." After hearing what Ms. Xie Sun said, Zhao Jun asked curiously: "What year is it? How much does a piece of skin cost?"

"In 1968." Mrs. Xie Sun curled her lips and tilted her head and said, "I heard them whispering that the number of first-class people on that thing seems to be more than eighty."

"Well, at that time, it was meant to earn foreign exchange." Zhao Jun agreed, and then heard Sun Xie say: "Jun, tell me, how long will it take for him to get rid of his big skin? But later his old son got married. , he also borrowed money and carried money all over the village, where do you think his money went? "

While several people were talking, Xu Chunyan pulled in two noodle bags, and Wang Meilan and Zhao Ling hurriedly collected the dough bags on the table. Jin Xiaomei on the left wiped the table with a rag, and Xu Chunyan on the right took out melon seeds and peanuts from her noodle pocket.

At this time, Zhao Jun picked up a gray leather tube on the table, showed it to Xie Sun, and said, "Auntie, I can't save the money I earn from killing people."

"Ah?" Mr. Jie Sun was stunned, and then heard Zhao Jun say: "Like our brother Tiezi, his yellow leaves can grow several thousand a year. Last year, he came to our house and took a black blind man with a nose and said he would give us ten We didn’t ask for it, but he couldn’t afford it at the time.”

"Why is that?" Xie Sun asked, and Zhao Jun said, "His wife has epilepsy, and she spends money on medicine and medical treatment every year."

"Ouch." After hearing what Zhao Jun said, Mr. Jie Sun frowned.

At this time, Wang Qiang grabbed a handful of melon seeds and continued: "As the old saying goes, you can't make a fortune by sieging. Either dad has something to do, or mom has something to do, dragging people here and there, eating what horses feed, no amount of money will be left."

"Oh, I..." Jie Sun's eyes widened when she heard this. She glanced at Jie Chen subconsciously, and then asked Zhao Jun: "Your little brother is making money with you, can I be okay?"

"Hahaha..." Jie Sun's panicked look amused Zhao Jun and the others. Seeing everyone laughing, Jie Sun pointed at Jie Chen and said, "If his father is gone, if something goes wrong, wouldn't it be me?"

"Hahaha..." The old lady laughed so hard that she slapped Mr. Sun. Zhao Jun realized that Ms. Sun was indeed scared and said with a smile: "Auntie, you don't have to be afraid. We went up the mountain just for fun, not to make money."

"It's not just to make money..." Mrs. Xie Sun pointed at the squirrel skins in Wang Meilan and Zhao Ling's arms and said, "Aren't you making money too?"

"My military brother is fine!" Jie Chen said loudly: "They all pointed at the mountain god who always gave his head to Shancai. My army brother didn't need it. My army brother even arrested the mountain god!"

"Ah..." Xie Sun easily accepted this statement from her old son. To be precise, Xie Sun cannot live without today's life. So as long as there is a step, Jie Sun will go down it.

Everyone chatted in the house for a while, and Zhao Jun, Wang Qiang, and Jie Chen went outside to burn charcoal. His house didn't have a stove, so he burned charcoal to roast the squirrel.

These days, elementary schools in forested areas and rural areas finish early in winter. Just after four o'clock, Little Bell came back with Zhao Hong, Zhao Na and Li Xiaoqiao.

After sending the three little aunts to the door, Little Bell was ready to go back. Zhang Yuanmin was in bed recovering from his injuries, so Yang Yufeng had to stay with him at home. Parents don't come to Zhao's house, and neither does little Lingdang.

But Zhao Jun saw the little bell and stopped her.

"Bell!" Zhao Jun said: "Go, go inside and watch TV for a while. I will get you some delicious food later."

The aroma of grilled squirrel penetrated his nose, and the little bell couldn't help but walk towards Zhao Jun.

Zhao Hong, Zhao Na, and Li Xiaoqiao also followed. Zhao Jun fanned the fire with a cattail leaf fan and shouted to the four girls: "Go to the house, there is a lot of smoke here."

The four little girls were obedient, but as soon as Zhao Hong entered the house, she complained to Wang Meilan and said, "Mom, my brother is roasting rats."

…

The squirrel was roasted and brought into the house. It was chopped into small pieces on the cutting board and served on a plate. The children were in a hurry and it was gone in the blink of an eye. The adults couldn't eat at all.

But Zhao Jun left four roasted squirrels alone, wrapped them in butter paper, tied four prepared sand half chickens with No. 8 wire, and took them to Ma Ling's house.

When Zhao Jun arrived at Ma Ling's house, it was almost five o'clock.

Zhao Jun held a flashlight in one hand and something in the other. When he was at the gate of Ma Ling's house, he saw a person coming from the opposite side.

"Is it Xiaoyang?" Zhao Jun asked, and then he heard Ma Yang shouting, "Brother Jun!"

The boy ran and stumbled to Zhao Jun and asked, "What are you doing here?"

"I went up the mountain to hunt greyhounds and sand half chickens today, and I'll bring you some." Zhao Jun lifted the things in his hand and said to Ma Yang, "I roasted the greyhounds and brought them here, they smell so good."

"I smell it." Ma Yang roasted the squirrels and sand half chickens from Zhao Jun with a smile. Zhao Jun was happy not to take the things, but then he heard Ma Yang say, "Brother Jun, just give them to me, you can go back."

"I'll beat you!" Zhao Jun raised his flashlight to hit Ma Yang. He came to deliver things for a secondary reason, and he mainly wanted to see Ma Ling.

"Hehe." Ma Yang smiled. He was sensible now, how could he not know Zhao Jun's intention? He said that, but it was just a joke with Zhao Jun.

The two walked into the yard, and Zhao Jun asked Ma Yang: "You guys are going to have a holiday soon, right? Well... don't play jumping cats these days, hurry up and study hard."

After New Year's Day, junior high schools and elementary schools should have winter vacation. But before the winter vacation, there is still a final exam. In the last midterm exam, in the absence of Li Ruhai and Zhang Laibao, Ma Yang ranked last.

"I won't play anymore." Ma Yang said: "Li Ruhai won't accept it, who will I sell it to after playing it?"

"You can buy it at the market." As soon as Zhao Jun said this, Ma Yang rolled his eyes and said: "When there is a market, my mother and my sister will go. If they see me buying jumping cats there, my mother will let my father beat me to death?"

"Hehe..." Zhao Jun was amused by Ma Yang's words, and then he pulled Ma Yang over and asked in a low voice: "Hey? Have you given away that hairpin?"

Ma Yang's mouth twitched, his future brother-in-law was so trustworthy that he asked about everything all day long.

"No." Ma Yang whispered, "I'll give it to her the day after tomorrow. Isn't it the New Year? It's a New Year's gift."

"Oh!" Zhao Jun teased, "You are very smart."

"That's right." Ma Yang smiled proudly. At this time, the two walked to the door, but Zhao Jun pulled Ma Yang and whispered, "Can she not give up your things?"

"What are you talking about?" Hearing Zhao Jun's words, Ma Yang was not very satisfied, but then he said, "Wait until that day and I will secretly put it in her schoolbag, hehe..."

This silly boy, the matter has not been done yet, but he is already laughing foolishly.

But at this moment, the door of the Ma family was pushed open from the inside, causing Ma Yang's laughter to stop.

"Come in, it's so cold outside!" Ma Ling went out to greet Zhao Jun. Zhao Jun walked up with a smile and said, "Ling, what are you doing out here? It's so cold outside."

Ma Ling smiled and said, "My mother and I will watch you two enter the yard through the window, and we won't go in after that."

As they said that, the two went into the house and closed the door. The next second, Ma Yang opened the door with a cold face.

"Xiaojun is here?" Seeing Zhao Jun, Wang Cuihua greeted him warmly. The mother-in-law is more and more fond of her son-in-law, not to mention that a son-in-law like Zhao Jun is really hard to find even with a lantern.

"Auntie." Zhao Jun turned back and pointed at the things in Ma Yang's hand, and said to Wang Cuihua: "I went up the mountain to catch greyhounds and sand half-chickens today..."

"Oh!" Wang Cuihua frowned slightly when she heard it, and said: "You catch it, you can keep it for food. You have a large family, so you don't have to worry about us for everything."

Although Wang Cuihua said so, Zhao Jun's attitude towards her family made Wang Cuihua very happy.

"There are some at home too." Zhao Jun pointed to the butter paper package and said: "The greyhound, I brought it after roasting it, it's still hot."

Hearing Zhao Jun's words, Ma Yang looked at Wang Cuihua. A child of this age is in the period of growth. Ma Yang was hungry before he got home after school. But after so many years of education at home, Zhao Jun was still there, and Wang Cuihua didn't speak, so Ma Yang didn't dare to open the food.

"Wait for your uncle to come back." Wang Cuihua smiled at Zhao Jun and said, "Don't leave when you come. Auntie will cook two dishes for you and eat here in the evening."

"No need, Auntie." Zhao Jun smiled and said, "I have something to do at home. I will leave in a while."

"Then go upstairs." Wang Cuihua greeted Zhao Jun and said, "It's warm inside, warm inside."

After sitting down in the east room, Ma Ling poured water for Zhao Jun. The three chatted for a few words. Wang Cuihua suddenly remembered something and asked Zhao Jun, "Xiaojun, your sister-in-law wants to ask you something."

"What is it, Auntie?" Zhao Jun knew that the sister-in-law Wang Cuihua was referring to was Ma Ling's sister-in-law Xu Qing, so he didn't dare to neglect her.

"Her family is from Liangdianzi." Wang Cuihua said, "You probably haven't been there, that place... it's all big fields, there are wolves there."

There are no wolves in the mountains, the wolves are all in the plains and big fields.

There are many rabbits in that field, especially in winter, the rabbits eat hollow willows and locust bark in the field. When there are many rabbits, there will naturally be more wolves.

"Ah?" Zhao Jun blinked his eyes, he clearly remembered that Zhao Youcai had mentioned Liangdianzi, saying that there was a strange incident where wolves surrounded the village, and then the local village officials asked gunners from ten miles away to go and kill the wolves.

I don't know why Wang Cuihua mentioned wolves, but Zhao Jun didn't interrupt, but quietly waited for Wang Cuihua to continue.

At this time, Wang Cuihua continued: "They dig traps and set traps to kill wolves, and collect a lot of wolf skins... After that, they want to sell them for money..."

"Huh?" Zhao Jun was stunned when he heard this. His mother's mountain goods shop hasn't even opened yet, and now there is business coming to the door?

But wolf skins are worthless. Zhao Jun was thinking about refusing, and suddenly remembered something and said to Wang Cuihua: "Auntie, I don't want wolf skins. Let them take them to Daohua County Supply and Marketing Cooperative to sell."

At this point, Zhao Jun changed the subject and said: "Auntie, do they have wolf teeth?"

"It seems that there are quite a few." Wang Cuihua nodded and asked: "What's the matter, kid, is there anyone who wants wolf teeth?"

These days, no one wants wolf teeth and bear teeth, so do you think they can become good things in the future?

"Yes!" Zhao Jun nodded heavily and said, "Auntie, if you have wolf teeth, I will take them. I will take as many as you can get."

Antiques in prosperous times, gold in troubled times

Wolf teeth and bear teeth are not valuable these days, but in 20 or 30 years, a wolf tooth can reach four figures. But now, it can't even be sold for a dime, and you have to collect a lot and sell them by pound.

So Zhao Jun thought this deal was very cost-effective. After collecting them, he kept them at home, and when the antiques became popular, he would take the wolf teeth out to sell.

Zhao Jun chatted with Wang Cuihua and Ma Ling in the house for a while, then got up to say goodbye and go home. Not long after he got home, Zhao Youcai and others came back.

When everyone was together, they started to eat. But before they sat down, Zhao Youcai pointed at Zhao Jun and said, "Are you going up the mountain tomorrow?"

"I haven't decided yet." Zhao Jun asked back, "What's wrong, Dad? Are you busy?"

"Say, I'm fine." Zhao Youcai said, "Your Uncle Zhou asked you to go find him tomorrow."

"Oh, that's fine." Zhao Jun replied vaguely, and then asked, "Dad, what does Uncle Zhou want to talk to me about?"

"Yongli Tang Daquan went to find him today." Zhao Youcai said, "They said they suggested that our forest area should also do spring hunting. After that, your Uncle Zhou asked you to go and study with them."

Zhou Chunming treated Zhao Jun as an expert. Zhao Youcai was dissatisfied. Obviously, his marksmanship was better than that kid, but people outside were willing to find Zhao Jun when they had something to do.

"Hey?" At this moment, Li Dayong suddenly remembered something and asked, "That old bastard has been back for several days and I don't know if he knocked off that big claw."

After Wang Qiang said this, Zhao Youcai felt a sense of crisis again. The Siberian tiger in Hansongbaozi, Lingnan can be shot dead. If Huang Gui really kills it with one shot, then Zhao Youcai will brag to Huang Gui the same way he did to him the next time they meet.

At this time, Huang Gui was lying on the south kang in the west room of a family in the north of Hansongbaozi, Lingnan, with a pale face, and said weakly to Jiang Weifeng, "You should call Lingxi early tomorrow morning and ask our Zhao Jun brothers to come and kill the tiger!"