The whole mountain is my hunting ground.

Chapter 1663 A wealthy man proposes: Demolish Wang Qiang's house.

Chapter 1663 A wealthy man proposes: Demolish Wang Qiang's house.

After Zhao Jun and Wang Meilan finished their private conversation, they went back into the house when they heard Jie Chen call out to Zhao Jun, "Brother Jun, can I borrow your Jeep for a spin on Sunday?"

"What are you saying?" Zhao Jun smiled and said, "Go ahead and drive, drive however you like."

After saying this, Zhao Jun suddenly felt something was wrong and hurriedly asked Xie Chen, "Are you going to drive it to Old Zheng's house?"

"Ah!" Xie Chen nodded emphatically, only to see Zhao Jun wave his hand and say, "Brother, forget it."

As he spoke, Zhao Jun pulled over a stool and sat down next to Jie Chen, saying, "It's not that I don't want you to drive it, it's just that the whole forest area knows that's my car. You might as well drive your own big Liberation truck instead."

Xie Chen was taken aback, and then Xie Zhong slapped his arm.

“Listen to your brother Jun,” Xie Zhong instructed. “Our own Jiefang truck will be enough for you wherever you go. Don’t pretend or show off like this.”

“Yes.” As soon as Xie Zhong finished speaking, Zhao Youcai chimed in, “We’ve been colleagues with Zheng Quan for years, I know what kind of person he is. When you go, Xiao Chen, you absolutely mustn’t be whining or anything, or it’ll all be for nothing.”

"I understand, Uncle Zhao." Xie Chen nodded solemnly in response. Just then, Zhao Jun said to Wang Qiang, "Uncle, my brother Zhang has guests."

"What? Is his family still not done with this?" Wang Qiang asked immediately after hearing Zhao Jun's words. "So, they're going to buy a few big items and then throw a banquet?"

"No, haha." Zhao Jun smiled and said, "Well, those two guys who used to work with him asked him to hunt black bears."

"He still dares to go?" Xie Zhong asked in surprise upon hearing Zhao Jun's words. "He almost died last time, how dare he go again?"

"Hehe... You've learned your lesson this time." Zhao Jun replied with a smile, then said to Wang Qiang, "Uncle, he wants you, Baoyu, and Xiaochen to go with him. See if you're willing to go."

After saying this, Zhao Jun looked at Xie Chen and said, "But, if you ask me, you shouldn't go."

"What's up, Brother Jun?" Jie Chen asked Zhao Jun, his mouth full of cold food, his words muffled. These guys were addicted to hunting in the mountains, just like fishing. Ever since Zhao Jun got married, this group hadn't been up the mountain; they were all restless.

“Tomorrow is Friday. If you go with us, will you be able to come back on Sunday?” Zhao Jun said. Jie Chen asked, “Brother Jun, where did Brother Zhang say we’re going? Won’t we be back in two days?”

"I really don't know." Zhao Jun didn't want Jie Chen to go, mainly because he was afraid that Zhang Yuanmin would cause trouble again once they got there.

If he causes trouble, that's one thing; Wang Qiang can keep him in check. But if Xie Chen is also there to help Zhang Yuanmin out of trouble, then things could easily get complicated.

"Then let's ask Brother Zhang tomorrow." Jie Chen laughed. "If we're in a hurry, I'll go for a stroll too. These past few days I've been treated like a beast."

“You bet,” Li Baoyu chimed in. “Me too. Staying at home like this is making my bones itch.”

"Baoyu," Li Dayong called out to Li Baoyu, "After this stroll, you need to calm down. In another month, it'll be time for you to get married."

"Ah, haha!" Upon hearing about getting married, Li Baoyu grinned widely and nodded emphatically.

Seeing his silly face, everyone laughed.

……

After a satisfying meal, the diners went home, and Zhao Jun and Ma Ling also left. The young couple had important life events to attend to, and they couldn't afford to delay.

Zhao Chun and her family of three hadn't left yet; she and Zhou Jianjun were in the west room with the children. In the east room, Wang Meilan was putting Zhao Hong and Zhao Na to sleep, while Zhao Youcai was sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) washing his feet.

Zhao Chun and his family lived in the west room, while the little lynx, the little black bear, and the little fat black bear moved to the east room.

At this moment, Little Black Fatty was sleeping next to Zhao Hong's pillow, while the little lynx lay sprawled on the table against the wall, its furry belly exposed, completely unsuspecting of the people and animals in the room.

The little black bear squatted next to the foot bath basin. No one knew what was wrong with it. Even though there were three basins of water for it, and the basins were filled with cooled boiled water, it always wanted to drink a few sips of the foot bath water.

While washing his feet, Zhao Youcai gently patted the little black bear's head. Despite being called a little black bear, it weighed over forty pounds and was as fat as a ball. When Zhao Youcai patted it, it neither dodged nor fought back, but just whimpered twice like a wronged child.

Just then, seeing Zhao Youcai wiping his feet with a rag, the little black bear grabbed the towel with its paw and pulled it away.

Zhao Youcai reacted quickly, snatching the towel back and then slapping the little black bear.

The interaction between the person and the bear made Zhao Hong and Zhao Na laugh heartily.

"Stop messing around!" Wang Meilan turned around abruptly and hissed at Zhao Youcai and the little black bear. She was putting the children to bed so early so that she could interrogate Zhao Youcai after Zhao Hong and Zhao Na fell asleep.

This is making the child laugh so hard, how can he sleep?

The little black bear wasn't afraid of Zhao Youcai, but when Wang Meilan yelled at it, it turned around, wiggled its tail, and crawled under the table against the wall.

Hearing that Wang Meilan's tone was off, the chubby black cat lying next to Zhao Hong's pillow raised its head, and the little lynx lying on the table also rolled over and sat up.

"Lan!" Only Zhao Youcai couldn't discern a good or bad expression. While wiping his feet with a towel, he turned to Wang Meilan and asked, "When is our son coming to town?"

"Wouldn't that be next week?" Wang Meilan said. "Qiangzi and the others are going out tomorrow, so they need a car, right?"

After saying this, Wang Meilan looked at Zhao Youcai and asked, "What's wrong? Why are you asking this? Is something the matter?"

"Ah," Zhao Youcai responded, "I was thinking of having my son buy another basket of apples when he goes to town, because I haven't been feeling any flavor in my mouth these past few days."

Upon hearing this, Wang Meilan couldn't help but curl her lip, thinking to herself, "This guy is still thinking about food!"

"Don't let him buy the oranges." Zhao Youcai picked up the foot basin and walked towards the door, saying, "The ones he bought last time were sour and didn't taste good."

Wang Meilan pursed her lips and didn't say anything. When Zhao Youcai returned, Wang Meilan was still coaxing the two children.

But just as Zhao Youcai was about to get into bed, he saw Wang Meilan give him a look.

"Hmm?" Meeting that look, Zhao Youcai instantly perked up. That look was the secret code between an old married couple.

"Mom, can my brother take me to the city?" Zhao Hong suddenly asked, followed by Zhao Na saying, "I want to go too."

"You two, shut up and go to sleep." Before Wang Meilan could say anything, Zhao Youcai spoke first, his tone stern as he said to his two daughters, "What time is it? Aren't you going to sleep?"

Zhao Hong and Zhao Na both pouted, but dared not utter another word.

After finally getting the two little girls to sleep, and hearing Zhao Hong and Zhao Na breathing evenly, Zhao Youcai grinned and called to Wang Meilan, "Lan'er."

As he spoke, Zhao Youcai reached out his hand to Wang Meilan.

But the next second, his hand was slapped away by Wang Meilan without any mercy.

"Huh?" Zhao Youcai was taken aback, thinking to himself, "Wasn't this the signal you gave me?"

"I'm asking you!" Wang Meilan whispered to Zhao Youcai, "Think carefully about what your father said to you before he passed away."

"Ugh!" Zhao Youcai frowned, saying impatiently, "You've asked me eight hundred times already. I've told you everything I can remember. Just hurry up, Lan..."

"Lan what Lan?" Wang Meilan interrupted Zhao Youcai impatiently, saying, "Last time in the west room, Qiangzi and Lao Xing were there too. You said my family used to be herding animals, and that we had a book brought from the palace?"

"Ah." Zhao Youcai nodded slightly, then heard Wang Meilan ask, "What about the book?"

"A book?" Zhao Youcai stared at him with his small eyes in surprise, and said, "How would I know?"

“If you don’t know, who does?” Wang Meilan asked again, “Dad tells you everything, but you never say anything afterward.”

"I..." Zhao Youcai blinked twice, trying to recall carefully, but he still couldn't remember where the book was.

"Lan, what book or notebook? I really don't know," Zhao Youcai said sincerely. "Our father didn't mention anything about that!"

The lights were off and the curtains were drawn, so Wang Meilan couldn't see Zhao Youcai's expression. She simply asked, "Then how did you know there was such a book?"

“I…” Zhao Youcai recalled the past again, and then said to Wang Meilan, “Once, it was around autumn. I remember, Dayong and I went hunting in the mountains. Before we came back, Ersha bit a badger. You remember that big badger, it weighed about thirty pounds and its little butt was so fat…”

"Stop with this useless nonsense," Wang Meilan interrupted Zhao Youcai angrily, "Tell me about the book!"

"After bringing it back, I took the badger to your house. Then Mom skinned it and stewed it, and I drank with Dad." Zhao Youcai said, "After drinking, Dad started talking about tiger blood pills and stuff, which confused me. I asked the old man, 'Is that stuff real or fake? You mean this old lamp... no!'"

"Damn it..." Wang Meilan was furious upon hearing this and reached out to tear Zhao Youcai's mouth apart. Zhao Youcai grabbed Wang Meilan's hand, quickly admitted his mistake, and said, "Lan, you know, this old man. He led a bunch of bandits up the mountain to make tiger blood pills, and he didn't say a word."

He was just shoving a broom here and there with me, and you know, I'd had a few drinks back then. It's been twenty or thirty years, how could I possibly remember anything like that?

"What do you know!" Wang Meilan glared at Zhao Youcai and said, "What era was that? How dangerous was it back then? Would your father dare to tell you all that? Your father was just vaguely explaining these things to you, and who would have thought you'd drink it all away."

Zhao Youcai was speechless, thinking to himself, "Who wants to listen to your family's messy affairs?" But he dared not say those words aloud.

"Huh?" Suddenly, Zhao Youcai remembered something and quickly reached out to tug at Wang Meilan's shoulder. Although Wang Meilan pushed him away, Zhao Youcai still said, "Lan, you're right. It wasn't safe back then. Think about it, if that book came from the palace, what would people think if they found out? They would smash our bones to pieces."

Hearing Zhao Youcai's words, Wang Meilan thought they made sense. She quickly said to Zhao Youcai, "Then you should think about it quickly. Did Dad say where he hid the book?"

"I can't remember, Lan," Zhao Youcai said, reaching out to hug Wang Meilan. "Let's go to sleep first, and think about it tomorrow."

"Sleep what?" Wang Meilan pushed Zhao Youcai away and said, "Hurry up and think. If you can't remember, then don't sleep."

"What are you doing?" Zhao Youcai, who also had a temper, said somewhat unhappily, "Isn't this a time for people to sleep?"

Wang Meilan also felt something was wrong. Remembering her son's words, "A great reward will surely attract ruthless people," Wang Meilan quickly said to Zhao Youcai, "Dad, our son said that book is quite important. Think about it carefully. If you remember it, I'll let you go up the mountain later."

"Go up the mountain?" Zhao Youcai's small eyes lit up upon hearing this.

……

At four o'clock the next morning, Wang Meilan was woken up by Zhao Youcai.

"What time is it? What are you doing?" Wang Meilan asked, but Zhao Youcai replied with a hint of surprise, "Lan, I remember now!"

"What?" Wang Meilan was still confused and didn't react. Then she heard Zhao Youcai say, "I know where Dad hid that book."

"Where did you hide it?" Wang Meilan blinked, becoming a little more awake.

"They're at your house," Zhao Youcai said mysteriously. "The house where Qiangzi and the others are staying now."

Wang Meilan looked puzzled, and then she heard Zhao Youcai say, "I remember now, that day Dad was talking to me about tiger blood pills and stuff, and then he said we had a book at home, and so on and so forth. I'm always curious, so I asked him where that book was and if he could let me see it."

Then Dad said, "We can't get that book out now, but it's definitely part of the Wang family's wealth."

"So where exactly is it?" Wang Meilan was quite annoyed with Zhao Youcai at this moment. Why are you babbling on and on? Just tell me where it is, that's enough.

“I already said that, that’s where Qiangzi and the others live now,” Zhao Youcai said. Wang Meilan didn’t believe him and said, “That’s nonsense. They lived there for years and they didn’t see that book.”

“Look, listen to me,” Zhao Youcai said. “That day, in that room, my father and I were drinking. Our father said that if there were anything else in the house, it would be half for you two sisters, but he wanted to leave the house for Qiangzi to get married. He also said that the house was the lucky place for your Wang family, and all the good fortune was in that house.”

"So where exactly is it?" Wang Meilan asked again, while Zhao Youcai said, "I guess it's either inside the roof beam or buried inside when the foundation was being laid."

Hearing Zhao Youcai's words, Wang Meilan's eyes widened. Then, Zhao Youcai said, "I remember clearly, when your family was building that house, our father didn't ask me to find anyone. He found people himself, a bunch of old men. He even helped with the groundbreaking and the raising of the roof beams."

As he spoke, Zhao Youcai patted Wang Meilan lightly and said, "This doesn't fit our father's personality at all."

The old Wang family compound used to be just as grand as the Zhao family compound today. But after a few turbulent years, their old house was demolished.

Later, Zhao Youcai came up with a plan to classify the Wang family as middle-class farmers, and the Wang family found another piece of land to build a house, which is now the Wang Qiang family.

"Oh dear..." Hearing Zhao Youcai say this, Wang Meilan frowned and said, "The foundation is buried inside? The beam is being raised... how can it be placed inside?"

“All carpenters know that skill,” Zhao Youcai said. “Look at what the old man said. First he talked about tiger blood pills, then about the book, and finally about your house.”

"Tsk!" Wang Meilan thought there was some truth to what he said, but she was also a little troubled. She said, "If it's really like you said, then how do we get it done?"

At this point, Wang Meilan asked again, "So, you can tear down the house?"

“Then let’s just tear it down,” Zhao Youcai said. “My son said that the book is full of descriptions of old hills and such in the mountains. If we just say that there’s one big seedling in each old hill, then with ten old hills, we could build a skyscraper.”

“This…” Wang Meilan hesitated for a moment, but then Zhao Youcai said, “When your brother comes in a little while, just tell him to tear down his house.”

Wang Meilan: "..."

(End of this chapter)