The Entire Mountain Is My Hunting Ground

The first few dogs hadn't bitten Cyan Dragon or Black Dragon. The two puppies didn't even bark when they got near Black Tiger, just sniffed around him.

But to everyone's surprise, Black Tiger suddenly attacked Cyan Dragon.

Cyan Dragon was well within his reach. Black Tiger lunged forward, and before Cyan Dragon could react, he was pinned under Black Tiger's paws.

"AH... YIP... AWOO..." Cyan Dragon yelped sharply, flipped onto his back under Black Tiger's claws and teeth.

The puppy's cry was shrill and piercing.

Hearing the cry, Zhao Jun spun around and lunged, grabbing a handful of scruff on Black Tiger's neck and yanking him up.

Being yanked by the scruff didn't seem to hurt the big dog; Black Tiger just panted with his mouth wide open.

Cyan Dragon rolled over, scrambled to his feet, and ran off with his tail between his legs.

Zhao Jun quickly shoved Black Tiger aside and hurried toward Cyan Dragon. As he walked, he held out his hand and called, "Cyan Dragon! Cyan Dragon!"

The frightened puppy didn't run straight to Zhao Jun, but circled around before approaching him.

Zhao Jun was crouching now. Cyan Dragon stood on his hind legs, resting his front paws on Zhao Jun's knees and making little whimpering and whining sounds.

The little guy was terrified.

Zhao Jun held Cyan Dragon steady with one hand while using the other to ruffle through his soft fur, checking him over from head to tail.

Only after confirming that Cyan Dragon wasn't bitten did Zhao Jun let out a long sigh of relief. He immediately stood up, grabbed a broom leaning against the base of the wall, and marched toward Black Tiger.

When Black Tiger saw Zhao Jun approaching menacingly with the broom, he didn't run or hide. He just flopped onto the ground, belly up, with his front paws held up to his chest and his tail tucked between his hind legs.

This wasn't like Little Bear trying to act cute with Zhao Jun. This was surrender. It was his silent way of telling Zhao Jun: 'You're the master. If you want to hit me, I'll let you. I won't even run. I'm a good boy, right?'

As Zhao Jun got closer, he saw that Black Tiger's eyes were watery, truly brimming with tears as if about to overflow.

Zhao Jun pursed his lips. He wanted to hit the dog but couldn't bring himself to do it.

"You little rascal!" Zhao Jun tossed the broom aside. Black Tiger immediately flipped over, shook the dust from his fur with a wag of his head and body, and then tried to paw at Zhao Jun.

"Go on! Get!" Zhao Jun pushed Black Tiger away with his hand. But after a moment's thought, he grabbed Black Tiger's ear.

He didn't pull hard, but as soon as his ear was grabbed, Black Tiger started to whimper.

Zhao Jun ignored the drama queen and just waved Cyan Dragon and Black Dragon over.

At their master's call, the two puppies bounded toward Zhao Jun like a pair of rabbits.

Zhao Jun called Cyan Dragon and Black Dragon over. Then, holding Black Tiger's ear with his left hand and pointing at the two puppies with his right, he said to Black Tiger, "If you ever dare to bite them again, I'll really let you have it." As he spoke, Zhao Jun pulled back his right hand and made a mock-slap gesture toward Black Tiger's face.

The slap never landed. As the hand came close, Black Tiger squeezed his eyes shut.

Just then, Wang Meilan came out carrying a porcelain plate. On it were three Bear Galls, each with a piece of two-ply twisted twine tied to one end.

Zhao Jun took the plate from Wang Meilan, took the Bear Galls to the storeroom to hang them up, and put Cyan Dragon and Black Dragon back in with the three goats.

As Zhao Jun came out of the storeroom, all the dogs in the yard suddenly started barking, and they were all barking toward the gate.

Immediately after, the dogs at Li Baoyu's house also started barking.

Then, a voice called from outside the yard, "Anyone home? Watch your dogs!"

Zhao Jun took a couple of steps to the side, turned his head toward the gate, and immediately broke into a smile. "Brother Tie! Come on in, it's fine! The dogs are all tied up."

As Zhao Jun finished speaking, Wei Tie walked in from outside the yard. He smiled at Zhao Jun and said, "Xiaojun, you're not at work today?"

Zhao Jun replied with a smile, "Nope, it's my day off."

Wei Tie nodded and asked, "Is my aunt home?"

"She is." Zhao Jun gestured toward the house. "Brother Tie, come on in."

Zhao Jun led Wei Tie to the door and called out, "Mom, Brother Tie is here."

The shout was to give Wang Meilan a heads-up.

"Oh, Wei Tie's here?"

Her voice arrived before she did.

Only after her voice faded did Wang Meilan walk out from the inner room.

Seeing Wang Meilan, Wei Tie gave a slight bow and nodded. "Auntie."

Wang Meilan smiled and beckoned to Wei Tie. "Hurry and come inside."

After entering the room, Wang Meilan sat down on the right side of the kang table. When Wei Tie came in, Wang Meilan invited him to sit, so he took a seat on the left side of the table, the side closer to the door.

As he was of a younger generation and the two families didn't visit often, he didn't climb onto the kang to sit cross-legged, but just sat on the edge.

Zhao Jun followed them in. Seeing Wei Tie seated, he said, "Brother Tie, have a seat. I'll go get you some water."

"Xiaojun, don't trouble yourself."

"It's no trouble, no trouble at all."

After the brief exchange of pleasantries, Zhao Jun went to the outer room to pour some water into a small enamel mug, while Wei Tie remained in the inner room making small talk with Wang Meilan.

How have things been lately?

Been busy with anything?

Zhao Jun came back in, placed the small enamel mug in front of Wei Tie, and gestured. "Brother Tie, have some water."

"Thanks." Wei Tie smiled at Zhao Jun, then turned to Wang Meilan. He took out ten yuan from his pocket, unfolded the bill, and placed it on the table.

At this point, Wang Meilan already understood why Wei Tie had come, but she still frowned and asked, "Wei Tie, what are you doing with that money?"

"Auntie," Wei Tie said with a smile, "before the New Year, I got a Black Bear's nose from you. I said I'd owe you ten yuan for it, and well... I've come to pay you."

"Oh, that." Wang Meilan pretended to have a sudden realization. "Auntie already told you, I don't want the money."

At this, before Wei Tie could react, Wang Meilan quickly asked, "How is Pang Li doing now? Is she all better?"

"Much better," Wei Tie said with a smile. "She hasn't had an episode all month." As he spoke, he glanced at Zhao Jun, then turned back to Wang Meilan. "The day before yesterday, I came down from the mountain and sold the Pelts, then I went and paid off all my debts."

After speaking, Wei Tie extended his right hand, pressed his index and middle fingers on the ten-yuan bill, and pushed it toward Wang Meilan. "Auntie, if you hadn't given me that Black Bear's nose, my Pang Li wouldn't have gotten better. This money is what your nephew promised you. You have to take it."

"Take what?" Wang Meilan waved her hand dismissively and smiled. "As long as she's better, that's all that matters. I don't want the money."

"That won't do." Wei Tie pulled his hand back, leaving the money on the kang table. "Auntie, I've got something to take care of at home, so I'll be heading back. I'll come see you again another day."

"Hey!" Seeing this, Wang Meilan quickly tried to get up to stop him.

"Brother Tie, Brother Tie." Zhao Jun hurried forward and put an arm around Wei Tie's shoulder.

Just then, Wang Meilan came over with the ten yuan. Seeing Wei Tie trying to block her with his hands, she held the money high in one hand, pushed his hands away with the other, and stuffed the bill into his left breast pocket.

"Listen to Auntie. Your wife is better now, so just focus on living a good life. Don't worry about money."

"Okay." Hearing this, Wei Tie nodded heavily. "Auntie, I understand. I'll come see you again during the Dragon Boat Festival."

"Alright, we'll see then." Wang Meilan waved at Wei Tie. "Auntie won't see you out. Let your brother walk you out."

"Alright Auntie, I'm off then."

Zhao Jun walked Wei Tie out of the house. Once they were outside the yard, he said to him, "Brother Tie, tell me the truth. Was my sister-in-law's illness really cured by the Black Bear's nose, or was something... messing with her?"