Chapter 74: Deer Antlers and Bear Gall All in the Mix, Lu Qingshan Silently Strikes It Rich!

On the seventh day of the New Year, the sky was just dimly bright and roosters crowed everywhere.

The cold still numbed bones and hair, and another length of icicle grew under the eaves.

Lu Qingshan silently got out of bed.

He moved gently, fearing to wake his wife and daughter sleeping soundly on the kang.

Soon the kitchen filled with the whoosh of the bellows and the faint clatter of pots, bowls, and pans.

Flames licked the bottom of the pot, dispelling some of the chill.

When Lin Yue'e stepped out, wrapped in her clothes, the fire in the stove was already blazing.

The cornmeal porridge in the pot was bubbling, exuding the characteristic grain aroma.

Lu Qingshan was slicing several pieces of air‑dried bear and deer meat into thin strips, preparing to cook them with dried wild greens into the porridge.

The meat slices made a faint thudding sound on the cutting board.

"Are we still going out today?"

Lin Yue'e's voice came from behind, carrying a barely perceptible worry.

She looked at the neatly packed bundle at Lu Qingshan's feet, which contained those precious mountain goods.

She knew the items were valuable, yet also knew a trip to the town wasn't easy, leaving her uneasy.

"Hmm, a trip to town."

Lu Qingshan didn't even turn his head, continuing to slice the meat.

"Exchange the goods for cash and vouchers, and also see if the Supply and Marketing Cooperative has any rare items."

His movements grew even gentler, as if soothing his wife's feelings.

Lin Yue'e gave a "hm" and walked to the stove, silently beginning to tend the fire.

After breakfast, Xiao Xue was still sleeping on the kang, her little face flushed pink.

Lu Qingshan carefully wrapped the golden‑hued bear gall in oil paper, layer upon layer.

He then wrapped it in several clean cloth layers outside, sealing it snugly against his body.

The six pieces of deer antler were also neatly wrapped in clean cloth and placed at the bottom of the bundle.

He patted the bundle, confirming it was correct.

When daylight brightened, the familiar clatter of a horse carriage drew nearer, entered the village, and stopped outside the Lu Family courtyard.

"Brother Qing Shan, all set?"

Liu Hua Qiang stuck his head out, grinned, showing teeth yellowed by smoke.

He was now increasingly courteous to Lu Qingshan, even with a hint of reverence.

Who in Shanwan Village now doesn't know that Lu Qingshan is a man of great skill, feeding the whole village meat and sharing the money.

"Alright, Brother Huaqiang, thank you for your trouble."

Lu Qingshan handed over a cloth bag containing smoked wild chicken.

"It's the New Year, nothing fancy; take this home for your younger siblings and kids to try something fresh."

Liu Hua Qiang's eyes lit up instantly; the scent of the smoked chicken could be smelled through the cloth.

He didn't refuse, chuckling as he took it, hefting it—it wasn't light.

"Then I won't hold back! Brother Qing Shan, your family's cooking is unique in the town! So fragrant!"

He placed the smoked chicken gingerly on the carriage pole, fearing the bumps might ruin it.

The carriage jolted along, the cold wind cutting the face like a knife.

Lu Qingshan tucked his hands in his pockets, leaning against the carriage board, scheming in his mind.

Bear gall and deer antler are rare, pricey items, especially that golden gall, which is especially hard to come by.

This trip must turn them into solid cash and vouchers, so the family can purchase things and improve their life.

When they arrived at Wan Gou Zhen, the town was a bit livelier than the village, yet on the seventh day of the New Year, few pedestrians were on the streets.

Lu Qingshan first bypassed the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, instead turning into the familiar secluded alley from last time.

The deeper they went, the darker and quieter it became.

At the alley's depth, Brother Zhang still looked unkempt.

He was wrapped in a thick cotton coat, squatting on a small stool, murmuring quietly with a skinny old man.

Seeing Lu Qingshan, his eyes brightened, he quickly stood, dusting off his backside.

"Lu junior, you finally made it! Happy New Year!"

Brother Zhang's face beamed with a smile, warmly ushering Lu Qingshan toward a deeper, dilapidated room.

That room was darker than outside, its windows patched with tattered cloth, the air smelling of mildew mixed with tobacco.

"Brother Zhang, Happy New Year."

Lu Qingshan said no more, found a relatively clean corner, and set down the bundle.

He carefully retrieved from his chest the bear gall wrapped in oil paper and cloth, then the deer antler.

Brother Zhang's gaze was instantly drawn to the golden‑transparent bear gall.

"Whoa! Fine stuff!"

He lifted the gall, holding it up to the weak light streaming through the doorway to examine it closely, then brought it to his nose to sniff.

The surprise on his face grew ever stronger.

"The hue—golden and translucent, glossy like amber; in the light it looks like flowing honey!"

"This isn't ordinary bear gall; it's top‑grade golden gall! Junior, your luck is no joke!"

He whispered in amazement, gently placing it back onto the oil paper.

"This golden gall is rare; in the old days they said 'one gram of gold for one gram of gall.' Though that's no longer so exaggerated, this thing is truly precious! This piece must weigh… almost fifty grams, right?"

Lu Qingshan nodded: "Almost."

Zhang Da Ge again picked up the antler velvet, examining each piece carefully.

"Spotted Deer antler velvet, two‑bar head, plump, hair fine, blood color even, top grade!"

"These two three‑forked ones are also fine, all good goods!"

"These two horse‑deer saw‑type antler velvets have perfect timing, and the roots are cleanly processed!"

He took a piece of Spotted Deer antler velvet, weighed it in his hand, and a satisfied expression appeared on his face.

He paused briefly, extended two fingers, and said to Lu Qingshan:

"Spotted Deer antler velvet, good quality, four hundred per piece. Horse‑deer antler velvet, two hundred per piece. These six pieces of antler velvet total two thousand cash."

Lu Qingshan was fairly satisfied with the price and nodded. These days, the price isn't low.

Zhang Da Ge glanced again at the bear gallbladder, a hint of excitement in his eyes.

"This golden gallbladder, at fifty grams, I'll give you fifteen hundred cash! Little brother, this price is absolutely fair; it's because it's you—if I dealt with anyone else I couldn't pay this much!"

He lowered his voice, sounding very sincere.

Lu Qingshan thought briefly; the bear gallbladder and antler velvet together total three thousand five hundred cash.

This sum is enough for him to do many things.

"Alright, just as you said."

Zhang Da Ge was overjoyed, rubbing his hands.

He pulled from a locked old wooden chest in the inner room a thick stack of Great Unity notes, each ten cash a piece.

Then from another small iron box he took out several brand‑new industrial vouchers.

"Little brother, this is three thousand five hundred cash, you count it."

He handed the money and vouchers to Lu Qingshan.

"These industrial vouchers are an extra gift from me; when there's good goods later, you'll have to think of me first!"

Lu Qingshan took the money and vouchers; his hands felt heavy.

He counted them carefully; the amount was correct.

He knew Zhang Da Ge was being friendly and also valued his ability to continuously obtain good items.

"Zhang Da Ge, rest assured, good stuff will never be without you."

After securing the money and vouchers, Lu Qingshan asked Zhang Da Ge again: "Brother, I still have a few Wild Boar hides and a bear hide, all in good condition; do you buy them here?"

Zhang Da Ge waved his hand: "Hides are not easy for me to sell; they take up space and the risk is high."

"However, at the east end of the Black Market there's a guy called 'Dao Piao Li' who specializes in this; he takes everything, all sorts. You can look for him. But that fellow is very shrewd, like a monkey; you'd better keep your wits about you."

Lu Qingshan thanked him and went to find that Dao Piao Li.

The familiar Dao Piao Li indeed lived up to his reputation.

He was skinny like a dry reed, with thief‑like eyebrows and mouse eyes, a greasy cloth clip in his pocket, his small eyes darting around, looking at a person's pouch first.

Hearing Lu Qingshan mention bear hide and Wild Boar hide, his eyes lit up, like a starving wolf seeing meat.

"Bear hide? How big? How's the skin? Any damage?" he asked in a rapid series, saliva almost dripping.

They immediately agreed to meet the next day at Shanwan Village to inspect the goods, with payment and delivery exchanged hand‑to‑hand.

Having settled these two major matters, Lu Qingshan felt much more at ease.