Chapter 36: Leprosy's Rise: Establishing Authority, a Single Boar Holds an Entire Village!

"What?!"

Zhao Dazhi was shaken again until he felt scorched on the outside and raw inside, and instinctively dug at his ears, seriously suspecting he had misheard!

"You say... give the team a whole one?! Pick the biggest one?! The one that weighs about three hundred jin?!"

His mouth opened so wide it could almost fit a fist!

This handwriting... it's damn huge!

A Wild Boar over three hundred jin! In these times when eating meat is harder than reaching the heavens, what does that even mean?!

Don't even think about sending a few people to lift the boar; even if the whole team of single men lined up to carry it they'd be fighting tooth and nail!

This Lu Lazi... no, this Lu Qingshan, has he truly turned over a new leaf or was he knocked senseless by a Wild Boar?!

"Right, give it to the team," Lu Qingshan said with a decisive tone, without a hint of hesitation.

Can't be so reluctant as to miss the wolf.

Using one pig to secure smooth transport, silence the gossip, and let the village officials owe you a favor—this deal is worth it!

"The other two, I'll handle myself."

"This matter still needs you to tell Old Zhao a word, and quickly arrange manpower and the carrying beams, ropes, and those kinds of things."

"The sooner the better, lest long nights bring many worries."

Zhao Dazhi was so excited his face flushed red, rubbing his hands as he spun around twice in place.

Has this Lu Qingshan truly undergone a damn transformation? Acting so openly?

Anyway, never mind!

With such a huge benefit truly falling to the team, this production team leader's face also brightens, and he can give the longing members a sky‑high answer!

"Done! This matter is on me!" Zhao Dazhi slapped his thigh hard, his voice trembling with excitement.

"You kid stay right here! I'm going to find Old Zhao Tou right now! Damn it, this must be handled immediately! The mountain reeks of blood, don't actually let those blind beasts spoil it!"

Saying that, Zhao Dazhi didn't even bother chopping wood, grabbed his axe and tossed it into the corner, his steps swift as wind, and rushed shouting toward Village Chief Zhao Yongnian's house.

Lu Qingshan watched his impatient back, and the corner of his mouth barely curved into a faint smile.

It's settled.

Before long, Zhao Dazhi returned dragging Village Chief Zhao Yongnian with him.

From a distance, upon seeing Zhao Yongnian, Lu Qingshan sensed a rotten, sickly aura around him.

Zhao Yongnian's hair was speckled gray, his back slightly hunchbacked, but his eyes remained sharp and bright.

He scanned Lu Qingshan several times, and in those slightly cloudy eyes flickered a complex light.

Obviously, Zhao Dazhi had already heard from his own wife or early‑rising villagers about last night's uproar that shook the whole village.

At this moment, his gaze at Lu Qingshan was filled with incredulous curiosity.

"Captain Zhao told me," Zhao Yongnian began slowly, his voice hoarse with age, yet his tone carried an undeniable solemnity.

Those slightly cloudy eyes stared at Lu Qingshan as if trying to see through him.

"Lu Qingshan kid, what you said... is it really true?"

"Really willing... to give the biggest Wild Boar to the team?"

When those words came out, even Zhao Dazhi held his breath, looking again at Lu Qingshan, his eyes full of tension.

"Old Zhao, absolutely certain," Lu Qingshan faced the two village officials, his tone calm yet unwaveringly firm.

"Without the team's help, those three big beasts, the three of us really can't bring them back."

"Instead of leaving them in the mountains worrying, which would only benefit those beasts, better to bring them out and contribute to our Shanwan village."

"And let the team's hard‑working big ones also share some glory, having a prosperous year."

Those words were bold and grand!

In Zhao Yongnian's cloudy eyes, a startling flash of brightness burst forth!

He nodded heavily, and a rare smile appeared on his gaunt face: "Good kid!"

"You've got responsibility!"

"This matter... handled brilliantly!"

He no longer hesitated, deciding on the spot.

"Alright! This matter, the team should take it!"

"Dazhi!" he turned his head toward the production team leader, "You hurry and shout for people!"

"Pick a few of the strongest, most agile youngsters!"

"Take our team's toughest ropes, carrying beams! And those two Sled Plows! Bring them all!"

"Go early, return early! No delays!"

"Got it!" Zhao Dazhi answered loudly and excitedly, turning and marching off to rally the workers, his back radiating impatient excitement.

The news spread like wings, and like cold water poured into a boiling pot, instantly exploding throughout the just‑awakened Shanwan village.

"Did you hear?! Lu Zhiqing and his crew didn't just kill three! They killed six! A full six Wild Boars!"

"My heavens! Six! Really? Could his ancestral tomb be exhaling dragon aura?!"

"Absolutely true! How could it be false?! Lu Qingshan just told the old village chief and Captain Zhao himself!"

"There are three even larger ones still out there in the mountains! The biggest is said to weigh over three hundred jin!"

"He even said... to give that biggest one to the team!!"

"What the heck?! Give it to the team?! Free giveaway?! A three‑hundred‑plus‑jin Wild Boar!!"

The impact of this news hit ten times harder than the three boars seen yesterday.

"Lu Lazi... no, Lu Zhiqing, when did he become so generous?! Has he gone mad?!"

"His family wasn't so poor that even the pot couldn't be lifted? Where does that confidence come from?!"

My mother! It's happening! This time it's really going to bring great wealth! Lu Qingshan, that kid…

He gave the squad one head, and he himself… doesn't he still have five heads?! Five heads!!

Various uncontrollable exclamations, shock, discussion, envy, jealousy… surged like tides in every corner of the village.

Many families couldn't even spare time for breakfast, and poured out of their doors, gathering toward Lu Qingshan's house and the western end of the village.

At the doorway of Lu Qingshan's home, and on the path leading to the back mountain, vague silhouettes of villagers stretched their necks and widened their eyes.

Their gazes, complex, fell upon the figure standing at the Lu Family courtyard gate, still thin in build, yet inexplicably upright.

Lu Qingshan stood there quietly.

He felt those gazes, as tangible as substance, some surprised, some admiring, some doubtful, even tinged with a faint, half‑present reverence.