“Eldest Brother! Eldest Sister-in-law! Wait for me, let’s go to the county seat together!”
Song Beishan’s loud shout rang out from behind them.
Close behind his hurried figure was Song Beihai. Having avoided manual labor for years, Song Beishan was already panting heavily by the time he caught up to the donkey cart. Even so, he quickly plastered on his usual fake smile.
“Brother Beichen, I heard my niece hunted a huge black bear weighing more than three hundred catties in the back hills. Why didn’t you tell your brothers about something this important? I would’ve gladly come over to help.
“I also heard that Wen’er and Wu’er had to carry the bear down the mountain themselves. You and Sister-in-law are too careless. What if the boys had injured their backs or gotten hurt? I know you’re too polite to trouble us, but we’re brothers of the same blood. Why treat your own family like outsiders?”
Meanwhile, Song Beihai craned his neck and looked around curiously. His hand automatically reached for the cloth covering the basket.
“Eldest Brother, where’s the black bear? I’ve never seen one before. Let me take a look and broaden my horizons.”
Smack!
Song Beichen slapped his hand away without hesitation and moved the basket containing the bear meat farther behind him.
His voice was cold as ice.
“Brother Beihai, Brother Beishan, there’s no need to trouble yourselves. We’re in a hurry to get to the county. There’s no need for you to see us off.”
At that moment, Zhou Rong took out five copper coins and handed them to Wang Daquan.
“Daquan, here’s the fare for the trip.”
“Auntie Zhou, you’re being far too polite!”
Wang Daquan hurriedly pushed her hand back.
“Please put it away. This morning, the bear meat your family gave us weighed a full ten catties. My father even told me to learn hunting from Uncle Beichen and Sister Xiaoyu in the future. I haven’t even prepared my apprenticeship gifts yet. How could I possibly take your money?”
Zhou Rong did not insist and calmly put the coins away.
After all, maintaining a good relationship with Village Chief Wang’s family was important. They would certainly need his help with village matters in the future, so there was no need to argue over a few copper coins.
The moment Song Beishan heard that ten catties of premium bear meat had been given away, his heart nearly exploded with rage.
How much silver could a black bear bring?
Forget his yearly educational expenses, it would be enough to rent a courtyard in town and support his entire family in luxury for a whole year.
The thought of the remaining bear meat being given away as well filled him with panic.
“Eldest Brother, I’ll accompany you to the county and help sell the bear meat.”
As he spoke, Song Beishan hurriedly tried to climb onto the donkey cart.
Song Beihai immediately followed suit.
However, before Song Beishan could even grab hold of the cart, a small foot suddenly shot out.
Bang!
The kick landed squarely on his chest, sending him stumbling backward onto the ground.
Song Xiaoyu lowered her leg and sneered.
“Uncle Beishan, I never saw you care this much about my father before. Now that we’ve split from the family, you’ve suddenly become so attentive. Are you trying to freeload off our household? How is your skin thicker than the heel of Wang Er’s great-grandmother?”
The donkey cart was carrying several villagers.
The moment Song Xiaoyu finished speaking, laughter erupted all around.
Even villagers heading to the fields stopped to watch the show.
This little girl’s tongue was truly vicious.
Song Beishan’s face instantly turned the color of pig liver.
He had always prided himself on being a cultured scholar, yet he could not think of a single comeback.
Being humiliated in front of so many people was utterly disgraceful.
Song Xiaoyu turned her gaze toward Song Beihai.
“And you, Uncle Beihai. Last night you helped Grandmother and Auntie Wang steal our chicken meat. Today you’re trying to steal our bear meat.
“If the people from the second and third branches are tired of living, just say so. This auntie’s wood-chopping axe is extremely sharp. Feel free to come and test it.”
She pulled out her axe and pointed it directly at him.
Song Beihai nearly jumped out of his skin.
He hurriedly retreated several steps.
“Xiaoyu, don’t misunderstand! Your Uncle was only joking. Why are children nowadays so easily frightened?”
“Daquan, let’s go. Everyone’s here.”
Song Beichen didn’t even spare his brothers another glance.
“Right away, Uncle Beichen.”
Wang Daquan immediately cracked the whip.
The donkey cart jolted forward and steadily headed toward the county seat.
Song Beihai and Song Beishan chased after it for a short distance, but two legs could never outrun four.
Watching the cart disappear, Song Beihai anxiously asked,
“Brother Beishan, what do we do if Eldest Brother refuses to give us even a piece of bear meat?”
Among the brothers, Song Beishan had always been the schemer.
He snorted coldly.
“Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law are too selfish. They’d rather give valuable bear meat to outsiders than share even a bite with their own brothers.
“We can’t let them have such an easy life.
“Come with me. We’ll borrow a donkey cart from the neighboring village and go see Squire Liu in town.
“The seven-day mourning period for his son is almost over. They’re desperately waiting for Xiaoyu to complete the ghost marriage.
“When the time comes, Eldest Brother’s family will be forced into desperation and come begging me for help.
“Once they hand over the silver from selling the black bear, I’ll simply spend a tiny portion of it to buy some random girl from another village and send her to the Liu family in Xiaoyu’s place.”
Song Beihai’s eyes lit up immediately.
“As expected of Brother Beishan! That’s brilliant! Let’s do exactly that!”
He raised a huge thumbs-up in admiration.
…
Meanwhile, Wang Daquan had already driven the donkey cart to the gates of Dazhu County.
Dazhu County was located in the remote region of Liangzhou.
Its territory was not particularly large, but the population was substantial.
Although the current famine had greatly reduced the prosperity it once enjoyed several years ago, many businesses were still operating normally.
Much of that stability was credited to the county magistrate, Chen Yongqi, whose governance was widely praised.
After entering the city, the villagers riding on the cart scattered to attend to their own affairs.
Song Wen crouched down and carried Song Beichen on his back.
As she walked, Song Xiaoyu silently made a note to herself.
She needed to find a carpenter and have a wheelchair made.
Otherwise, with her father’s injuries requiring a hundred days to fully heal, he would have difficulty traveling anywhere.
Fortunately, her medical-space warehouse contained blueprints for numerous tools and mechanical devices.
If she searched through them later, she would likely find a wheelchair design.
After selling the bear meat, she could bring the blueprint to a carpenter for consultation.
Song Beichen had spent years selling wild-meat and was highly experienced in dealing with buyers.
Most of the time, he sold directly to two major restaurants in town.
Occasionally, he would set up a temporary stall if individual customers wanted to purchase wild-meat.
Naturally, he was not the only hunter who came to the county.
Hunters from other villages often sold their catches more cheaply, allowing unscrupulous restaurant managers to use those prices as leverage when bargaining.
The family made their way toward West Street.
Along the road, Song Wen and Song Wu constantly looked around with vigilance, worried that pickpockets might target them.
Song Xiaoyu, however, appeared completely relaxed.
One hand rested casually near the short blade hidden inside her sleeve.
If some thug dared approach, she would simply teach him a painful lesson.
As they walked through the bustling streets, she took the opportunity to observe the county’s businesses.
There were stationery and antique shops selling paintings, calligraphy, and the Four Treasures of the Study.
Tailor shops displayed hats, robes, shirts, trousers, skirts, and shoes.
The cosmetics and jewelry stores were especially popular among women and young girls.
As for food, there were steamed bun shops, pastry stalls, fruit vendors, tea houses, and wine taverns everywhere.
Street hawkers also sold flatbreads, candied hawthorns, and a variety of snacks.
Before they had even finished exploring the surroundings, they arrived at the entrance of Zuixian Restaurant.
The restaurant was bustling with customers.
Judging by the constant flow of people entering and leaving, business was thriving.
Song Beichen had Song Wen set him down, and the family stopped a short distance from the entrance.
Manager Wu of Zuixian Restaurant had purchased wild-meat from Song Beichen many times before, so they were familiar with each other.
Song Beichen instructed his second son,
“Wu’er, go inside and let Manager Wu know we’re here.”
“Alright.”
Song Wu nodded and headed toward the entrance.
Unfortunately, before he could even step inside, a fierce-looking employee blocked his path.
“Get lost! Get lost! Where did a little beggar like you come from?”
The worker shoved him violently.
“You’re reeking of pig slop! Open your filthy eyes and take a good look. Is Zuixian Restaurant a place someone like you can enter?”
Before Song Wu could even cross the threshold, he was forcefully pushed back out onto the street.