Chapter 114: Small-Caliber Rifle Acquired

Li Xiangqian and Li Long got out of the jeep at the entrance of the county supply and marketing cooperative, and Director Qian got out with them.

"Director, come sit in our office?" Li Xiangqian said with a smile. "It's already noon..."

"No, I'm in a hurry to get back. I won't disturb you this time. Next time, next time I come, even if you don't treat me, I won't agree," Director Qian said with a smile. "It's noon now, so treat Little Li well. Without him this time, things wouldn't have gone so smoothly."

Having spoken, he reached out his hand to Li Long.

"Comrade Little Li, you've done me a huge favor this time. I won't say more. Come play in the region when you have time, and find me then."

Xiao Jiang took the headless yellow antelope from the trunk, set it on the ground, nodded to Li Xiangqian and Li Long, and returned to the driver's seat.

After seeing off the jeep, Li Long looked at Li Xiangqian.

"Don't rush. I'll settle this yellow antelope first." Li Xiangqian was in a good mood. Looking at Uncle Li, who had just pushed the door open, he smiled and said, "Second Uncle, leave this yellow antelope here for now. Little Li and I have some business to handle. I'll come pick it up in a while."

"Fine." Uncle Li nodded with a smile. Li Long greeted Uncle Li, then followed Li Xiangqian toward the cooperative's family compound.

Li Xiangqian lived in a bungalow in the family compound. He led Li Long inside and said to him:

"Sit first." Then he went to the inner room.

Although it was a bungalow, the furnishings inside were considered quite fashionable at that time.

"Where's your sister-in-law?" Li Long asked while sitting in the living room. "And the children?"

"Your sister-in-law works at the county grain bureau, and the children went to their maternal grandmother's house." While speaking, Li Xiangqian took a small-caliber rifle from the inner room.

There are two types of small-caliber rifles among the people: one is homemade, where skilled craftsmen modify air guns into small-caliber rifles; the other is the standard-issue small-caliber rifle, such as the "Jianwei" or "Emei" brands.

The one Li Xiangqian held was a semi-automatic small-caliber rifle of the Jianwei brand. Judging by the reddish-brown wooden stock with no scratches on its lacquer, it was clear the gun had been used very few times.

"I bought this gun when I first became section chief, after returning from a procurement trip to the mountains. There are many good things in the mountains. At the time, I thought I'd definitely have a chance to hunt foxes, rabbits, and such, but unfortunately—I never had the time."

The gun was excellent. Of course, it couldn't compare to the Type 56 semi-automatic, but it was very good for hunting rabbits, foxes, and pheasants. After all, using a Type 56 on such animals would leave a huge hole, causing too much loss.

"I also have two boxes of ammunition. If you run out, they sell them at the Xinhua Bookstore."

Li Xiangqian handed the rifle, the holster, and the ammunition to Li Long and said:

"Little Li, we are friends made through conflict. You did me a huge favor today. If anything comes up later, just come find me directly. If I can help, I will."

Li Long took the rifle and said with a smile:

"Section Chief Li, I understand."

"Let's go to the canteen. I'm treating. We've been tired all morning; we must have a good meal!"

Li Long took the rifle to the Big Meat Canteen. In these days, carrying a gun wasn't a big deal; after all, during militia training, Type 56 submachine guns and Type 56 semi-automatics were handled freely. And the Xinhua Bookstore even sold small-caliber rifles, shotguns, and air guns.

The two entered the canteen. Zhong Guoqiang walked over and said with a smile:

"Oh, Section Chief Li, Comrade Little Li, you know each other?"

"Manager Zhong, you know Little Li?" Li Xiangqian was somewhat surprised. Chen Hongjun knew Li Long, and now Zhong Guoqian knew him too. This Li Long was no simple man.

But thinking about it, it made sense. Since Li Long sold all kinds of things, naturally he knew many people.

"We are old acquaintances," Li Xiangqian said with a smile. "Little Li just did me a huge favor. We're hungry at noon, so we're coming to eat here. Bring whatever good dishes you have; we aren't picky now." "Fine, Section Chief Li, do you want wine?"

"No wine, I have work this afternoon. Little Li, do you drink?"

"No, I have to return to the team this afternoon." Li Long also waved his hand.

"Alright then, Manager Zhong, you decide what to serve."

"Good." Zhong Guoqiang went inside to give orders, while Li Xiangqian and Li Long went to the inner room separated by a screen.

After finishing their meal, the two parted at the entrance of the Big Meat Canteen. Li Long walked toward the big house, while Li Xiangqian returned to the supply and marketing cooperative.

As they left, two people approached from a distance. Gu Ermao saw Li Long parting with someone while carrying things and was somewhat surprised. Who was Li Long eating with here?

"Do you know that person?" the middle-aged man who came with Gu Ermao asked him.

"He's from our team," Gu Ermao said, pursing his lips. "He used to be a worker, but later got fired. He's a single pole (no good)."

"Single pole?" the middle-aged man snorted. "You must have mistaken him. The one eating with him and coming out is Section Chief Li from the supply and marketing cooperative. That Section Chief Li is very arrogant; he wouldn't look up to just anyone!"

"A leader from the supply and marketing cooperative?" Gu Ermao turned his head to look in the direction of Li Xiangqian, who was now just a distant shadow.

"What do you think?" the middle-aged man patted Gu Ermao. "Let's go, stop looking. He's better than you!"

!.

Li Long didn't know that Gu Ermao had seen him eating with Li Xiangqian. Holding the rifle, he hummed a tune, returned to the big house, then rode his bike home.

The temperature outside was slowly rising. The snow on some sunny slopes had begun to melt, revealing black soil and withered weeds.

When Li Long rode into the team, there were few children playing on the road. He guessed school was about to start, so students were rushing to finish their winter break homework. As for preschoolers like Li Qiang, or those not yet in school, without older children to lead them, they rarely gathered in groups to come out, so the road was quiet.

Near the Li family home, he met Xie Dafa. Brother Fa looked at Li Long's bicycle and said enviously:

"Xiao Long, you've gotten impressive, huh? This bike runs fast!"

Li Long put his foot on the ground and said with a smile:

"Brother Fa, after this autumn harvest, maybe you'll be able to buy one too."

"How is that possible?" Brother Fa quickly waved his hand. "That bike costs over a hundred yuan. How can anyone afford it?"

"What if the policy changes?" Li Long smiled. "The schools are expanding enrollment, and so many people in the team will directly become teachers. Won't the farming policy have to change too? Inside the country, land is already distributed to individuals. Won't we be next?"

"That's true!" Brother Fa touched his chin, pondering. "If the land is distributed to ourselves..."

While he was still pondering there, Li Long pushed off with his toe and said:

"Brother Fa, you stroll along. I'm leaving."

Back at the Li house, Li Long had just put away his bicycle when he saw the door push open and Li Qiang run out from inside.

"Little Uncle, did you finish hunting the yellow antelope? Did you catch it?"

Li Long took the small-caliber rifle case off the bike, held it up, and said:

"See this? This is the reward for catching the yellow antelope."

"Uncle, what is this?"

"A gun. Want to take a look?"

"Yes, yes!" No boy could dislike playing with a gun; Li Qiang was overjoyed.

(End of this chapter)