The Entire Mountain Is My Hunting Ground

When Zhao Jun said he wanted to sell the gun, Sun Haizhu was taken aback.

Although anyone with money could buy a gun from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, a sale still required the manager’s signature on the receipt. Besides, it wasn’t like the co-op’s guns sold well anyway.

After all, people weren’t well-off these days, especially hunters. Whether they pursued big game or small, they all shared one common trait: they never got rich.

That’s right. For nearly a hundred years, no hunter had ever struck it rich—with the sole exceptions of Zhao Jun and Li Baoyu, whom he’d brought into the trade.

This was true even if a Bear Gall fetched a thousand or eight hundred yuan, and a single sheet of Yellow Leaves was worth thirty or fifty.

Otherwise, Zhao Youcai would never have resigned himself to slinging a ladle in the Forest Farm’s cafeteria.

With hunters having it so tough, how many of them could afford to buy a new gun?

That was why the Supply and Marketing Cooperative barely sold a few guns all year. Selling one today had made Sun Haizhu feel like it was the New Year.

He never expected that the gun would only be out the co-op’s door for a few hours before ending up in Zhao Jun’s hands.

What’s more, the person who’d bought the gun earlier wasn’t even Zhao Jun. Sun Haizhu recognized the man; he knew it was Du Chunjiang, and he also knew that Du Chunjiang didn’t get along with his own brother-in-law, Jie Zhong.

Just then, Sun Haizhu suddenly remembered that when Zhao Jun was recounting his experience planting ginseng, he had mentioned going to work at the Logging Camp. And that Du Chunjiang was the Leader of that very camp.

Thinking about how Jie Zhong hauled lumber at the Logging Camp under the Yong’an Forest Farm, Sun Haizhu seemed to put the pieces together. He grinned and said, "Of course you can! Others might not be able to, but you can, Brother!" As he spoke, Sun Haizhu took the gun. "Come on, come back with me. I’ll get you a refund."

Zhao Jun told Li Baoyu to get back in the vehicle and wait, but to keep an eye on the Jianlibao in the truck bed so no one stole it. Then he followed Sun Haizhu back into the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

Sun Haizhu led Zhao Jun to the finance office and called through the counter window, "Bring me the receipt for the gun that was sold today."

There were two copies of the gun receipt. One was a carbon copy, which was the one currently in Sun Haizhu’s hands.

Once Sun Haizhu had the other copy, he handed both to Zhao Jun. Zhao Jun took them and said earnestly, "Thank you, Brother-in-law."

With both receipts in hand, all evidence of the transaction was gone. In the future, no one would be able to hold this over his head.

"Don’t mention it." Sun Haizhu waved his hand with a smile, then called to the person behind the counter, "Count out sixteen hundred yuan for me."

The words had barely left his mouth when the rustling sound of banknotes being counted came from behind the counter.

The finance clerk counted the money twice before passing it through the window. Sun Haizhu took it, handed it to Zhao Jun, and said, "Brother, you should count it."

Since this wasn’t a personal transaction between them, Zhao Jun didn’t stand on ceremony. He took the money and counted it right away. It was all banknotes, exactly one hundred and sixty of them.

"It’s all here, Brother-in-law."

"Good," Sun Haizhu said with a smile. "Brother, since you have people and a vehicle waiting, I won’t see you out. Drive safe on your way back."

"Alright, Brother-in-law. I’m heading out then."

"Go on. Next time you’re here, I’ll treat you properly."

After a few more pleasantries, Sun Haizhu went to put the gun back in storage, while Zhao Jun left the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

As soon as he got in the vehicle, he told Li Baoyu to start driving home. It was already almost four in the afternoon, and it would surely be dark by the time they got back.

"Brother," Li Baoyu asked, "why did you return such a nice gun?"

"What would I keep it for?" Zhao Jun retorted. He picked up the rolled-up burlap sack beside him and added with a laugh, "We’ve got a free gun right here. Why would we need that one?"

Although the gun in his hands was borrowed, it came with the blessing of the two top leaders of the Yongxing Brigade. He could use it for as long as he wanted.

’Besides, other people might not know, but he did. In eleven years, the Divine Land would ban all firearms. Every gun, no matter how good, would have to be turned in, and you wouldn’t get a cent for it. It was much better to return this one now.’

’He was just lucky to have the connection with Jie Zhong and Sun Haizhu. Anyone else trying to return a gun? No way in hell.’

Hearing this, Li Baoyu thought for a moment and had to agree. But then something else occurred to him. "Brother," he asked, "now that you’ve returned the new gun, what happens when Du Leader sees you using your old one? Isn’t he going to ask questions?"

"What’s there to ask?" Zhao Jun laughed. "He gave me a gift because he wants a favor. If it’s something I can do, I’ll do it."

Then he added rhetorically, "And that’s that, isn’t it?"

He had a point.

Du Chunjiang gave Zhao Jun the gift to ask for a favor. As long as Zhao Jun helped him, Du Chunjiang couldn’t care less what kind of gun he used for hunting. He wouldn’t even ask.

After rushing around all day, Zhao Jun was getting tired. But he knew Li Baoyu was sleepy as well, so he didn’t dare fall asleep himself. He forced himself to stay alert and kept talking to Li Baoyu.

Hugging the burlap-wrapped gun, Zhao Jun leaned against the seat back and mumbled, "The Sixth-grade Leaves sold for 3,700, the Fourth-grade leaves for 180. The three of us will split that, so about 1,300 per family. That Miao Lantern Platform and the two Second-class ginsengs were dug up by Brother Zhang and me, so we’ll split that money. You don’t get any of that, okay?"

"Mhm, mhm." Li Baoyu nodded. "Whatever you say, Brother."

Zhao Jun continued muttering, "I bought some snacks for our little brothers and sisters at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative earlier."

Hearing this, Li Baoyu laughed from the passenger seat. "Brother, I think you misremembered. We only have little sisters, not little brothers."

"Haha." Zhao Jun laughed as well. "Now, don’t say that. That kid Ruhai just has a smart mouth, that’s all. As for his other... other... other qualities... well, I guess he doesn’t really have any."

His voice trailed off, but then he suddenly perked up. "But he’s still our brother! And the candy in that Butter Paper bag cost nine cents a pound!"

"How much?" Li Baoyu was shocked. "Brother," he exclaimed, "they only cost one cent a pound back in our village!"

"You can’t compare them," Zhao Jun said. "That cheap stuff is sold loose. This candy has a proper wrapper, and even rice paper inside."

"Wow!" Li Baoyu nodded emphatically. "In that case, I’m definitely having a few extra pieces when we get back."

"There’s plenty for you," Zhao Jun said. "I bought six bags in total, two pounds each. Our families will each get two bags. Of the last two, one goes to Second Brother, and the other to Brother Zhang. I’m quite fond of his daughter, Lingdang."

The "Second Brother" Zhao Jun mentioned was not Sun Desheng, the ginseng buyer from the Lingnan Supply and Marketing Cooperative, but Lin Xiangshun.

"Okay, whatever you say, Brother," Li Baoyu agreed. Then he remembered something else. "Oh, right, what was that other stuff you bought? The things in the mesh bag."

"Haha, you’re such a country bumpkin," Zhao Jun teased. "Those are called Cans. They have soda in them."

"Oh, soda," Li Baoyu joked back. "We both live in the mountains. If I’m a country bumpkin, Brother, doesn’t that make you one too?"

Zhao Jun laughed. "I bought thirty Cans. Our families each get ten. Of the last ten, give six to Second Brother. The remaining four are for Brother Zhang."

"Okay!" No matter what decision Zhao Jun made, Li Baoyu’s response was always the same: "Whatever you say, Brother."

"Mhm." Zhao Jun felt his distribution was fair. He had no intention of asking Li Baoyu or Zhang Yuanmin to chip in for the gifts he’d bought.

But what he never expected was that because of those very Cans, Zhao Youcai would end up getting a beating!