The whole mountain is my hunting ground.

Chapter 1798 Quick decision

Chapter 1798 Quick decision

As soon as Zhou Jianjun finished speaking, Zhao Youcai's small eyes lit up instantly, and he asked Zhou Jianjun, "Jianjun, what's wrong? Are there more big thugs in our forest area?"

Everyone else was afraid when they heard there was a tiger nearby, but Zhao Youcai was eager to try it as soon as he heard about it.

Just then, Wang Meilan came over with fried peanuts and stir-fried bean sprouts with meat. She handed the dishes to the table with alternating hands, and then gently put her free hand on Zhao Youcai's shoulder.

When Zhao Youcai turned his head, he was met with Wang Meilan's unfriendly gaze.

Zhou Jianjun was so caught up in taking the wine glass from Li Dazhi that he didn't notice the interaction between his father-in-law and mother-in-law.

After putting down his glass and pouring more wine, Zhou Jianjun quickly replied to Zhao Youcai's earlier words, saying, "No, Dad, it's the same one as before."

"Which one?" Li Dayong chimed in, asking, "The big tiger from Old Ghost Head Ridge?"

The tiger has been living in the Yong'an Forest Area for some time now. Zhao Jun had previously notified the forest farm and the township to avoid Laoguitouzi Ridge.

But there are always stubborn people in this world, and quite a few at that. While those stubborn people dare not enter Old Ghost Head Ridge, there are quite a few who plunder and set traps on the surrounding mountains.

These people had witnessed the tiger hunting more than once while they were wandering around.

Normally, in the Lingxi area, which is the Yong'an forest area, the Siberian tiger is commonly referred to as "Big Claw". But now the tiger on Laoguitouzi Ridge is too unusual, and calling it "Big Claw" doesn't sound right, so the people of Yong'an call it "Big Tiger".

Back then, the township specifically sought out the forestry station for this tiger and even invited Zhao Jun to a meeting.

The final decision was to try to keep to ourselves the distance from the tiger, and as long as it did not threaten people, we should stay far away from it.

"Yes!" Zhou Jianjun nodded and said, "That's the one."

Hearing Zhou Jianjun's words, Zhao Youcai could no longer suppress his excitement.

"Did Da Hu get into trouble?" Zhao Youcai asked Zhou Jianjun. "What did my in-laws say?"

Zhao Youcai was excited because if that tiger caused trouble, the forest farm certainly wouldn't tolerate it. Now that Zhao Jun wasn't home, he was the only one who could deal with it.

If I can kill that tiger, it will surely cause a sensation in Shanhe County. Newspapers and television will flock to visit me, and my reputation as the Tiger-Slaying King will be firmly established!

Zhao Youcai looked at Zhou Jianjun with his small eyes full of expectation, but Zhou Jianjun said, "No, that big tiger didn't cause any trouble, but if we can get rid of it, we should get rid of it."

After entering the house, Zhou Jianjun didn't say why he was there, only asking where Zhao Jun had gone. It was only after learning that Zhao Jun had gone out to help someone drive away a tiger that Zhou Jianjun had this idea.

If Zhao Jun can help others drive away tigers, why not eliminate the hidden dangers at his own doorstep?

Now that he understood what was going on, Zhao Youcai's hopes were instantly dashed. He pursed his lips, picked up his wine glass, and said, "Let's drink, come on."

"Have some food, brother," Xing San stopped Zhao Youcai, saying, "Have something to eat first."

Wang Meilan continued serving the dishes, then asked Zhou Jianjun, "Jianjun, why did you come alone? Why didn't Chun'er and my eldest grandson come?"

"Ah, hehe." Zhou Jianjun chuckled dryly and said, "Chun'er isn't doing so well today. She said she's too lazy to move."

"Ah..." Hearing Zhou Jianjun say that, Wang Meilan felt something was wrong, but she didn't ask any further questions.

Actually, it was Zhou Chunming and Hu Sanmei who didn't let Zhao Chun and her child come, because the old couple were afraid that if Zhao Chun took the child out, she wouldn't go back for many days.

Once all the dishes were served, the whole room began to eat and drink. Zhou Jianjun still hadn't said what he came for, and neither had Zhao Youcai or Wang Meilan asked.

The couple understood perfectly well that since their son-in-law hadn't said anything, it meant it wasn't appropriate to discuss it in front of outsiders.

Zhao Youcai and Wang Meilan didn't ask, after all, in this Yong'an forest area, the Zhou family didn't encounter any other difficulties besides lacking money. If Zhou Jianjun was borrowing money, it wouldn't be a problem for the Zhao family at all.

But Zhou Jianjun wasn't really there to borrow money. Halfway through his meal, he asked Zhao Youcai, "Dad, do you know what a stone dragon is?"

"Huh?" Zhao Youcai was taken aback and blurted out, "Jianjun, why are you asking this?"

"Well..." Zhou Jianjun popped a peanut into his mouth before saying, "Today my mom went to the big pancake stall and overheard Liu Fuchen's wife talking to someone about it."

At this point, Zhou Jianjun paused slightly before explaining to Zhao Youcai, "Liu Fuchen is from the north end of our village. He's in cahoots with the Pang family, and they graze together every year."

"I know that," Zhao Youcai urged, "Did my mother-in-law hear what his wife said?"

"Speaking of which..." Zhou Jianjun said, clinking glasses with Lin Xiangshun next to him, taking a sip of wine before continuing, "He said that Blind Pang asked his Liu Fuchen to pack his things, as he was going to stay on the mountain for two days and then let his family rest for two days."

They're leaving tomorrow morning, in a real hurry. Blind Pang told them to each bring their own provisions, and Liu Fuchen's wife quickly went to order large pancakes.

As Zhou Jianjun finished speaking, Xing San, who was eating and drinking at the same table, frowned and said, "Where did they stay when they went up the mountain the other day?"

Seeing Zhao Youcai and the others looking at him, Xing San said, "Didn't the Ginseng Gang only start building shacks in the mountains before they drove out of Red Hammer's place?"

At this time, one can go mountain climbing and carry a club, because in the fourth and fifth months of the lunar calendar, all kinds of plants begin to grow and ginseng seedlings sprout, but those newly sprouted seedlings are too hard to find.

In June and July of the lunar calendar, the ginseng seedlings grow tall and produce seeds, but the seeds are not mature and are green. In the mountain trekking, this season is called "Green Hammer City".

During this season, weeds grow rampant, and ginseng leaves and seeds are difficult to spot, making ginseng hunting in the mountains difficult.

It wasn't until July or August of the lunar calendar that the ginseng seeds matured and turned red. A single red dot amidst the greenery was both eye-catching and delightful.

This is the prime time for ginseng hunting, and ginseng guilds usually stay in the mountains for these two months.

Before meeting Zhao Jun, Xing San knew nothing about ginseng hunting, but he lived in the mountains year-round and had seen ginseng hunters living in makeshift shelters.

After seeing it many times, Xing San figured out the pattern.

Hearing Xing San's words, Zhao Youcai leaned forward slightly, resting his hand on the table, and asked Zhou Jianjun, "Jianjun, Liu Fuchen's wife said that when her husband went up the mountain, he was helping the Pang family carry the stone dragon, right?"

Being observant and perceptive, Zhao Youcai recalled Zhou Jianjun's question about the stone dragon and guessed what Zhou Jianjun hadn't finished saying, thus deducing the future movements of the Pang family gang.

“Yes, Dad.” Zhou Jianjun’s next words confirmed Zhao Youcai’s idea. He said, “My mom said that when Old Sun from the big pancake shop asked Liu Fuchen’s wife what her husband had gone up the mountain to do the other day, Liu Fuchen’s wife said that she went with Pang to lift the stone dragon.”

Old Mrs. Sun asked what a stone dragon was, and Liu Fuchen's wife said she didn't know. Then my mom went home and asked my dad, and he said he didn't know either. Then, in the afternoon…”

Just as Zhou Jianjun was about to ask why he had come, he saw Zhao Youcai get up and walk quickly towards the small east hut.

"Jianjun, you guys eat first." Wang Meilan from the next table stood up and called to Zhou Jianjun, then quickly followed Zhao Youcai.

Zhao Youcai and Wang Meilan weren't curious about Zhou Jianjun's purpose in coming; what they cared about was that their son had gone to Lingnan to carry the stone dragon.

Now, the Pang family father and son also need to go into the mountains to carry out the stone dragon. Whoever can carry out the stone dragon first can exchange it for 100,000 yuan.

Zhao Youcai wouldn't disrupt the Pang family's mountain raid, but he had to remind his son, Zhao Jun, to hurry up and finish the battle quickly, otherwise 100,000 would become 10,000.

　I'm 2,000 words short, I'll add them tomorrow.

(End of this chapter)