[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-reborn-in-1981-fishing-and-hunting-in-the-northw":3,"chapter-reborn-in-1981-fishing-and-hunting-in-the-northw-reborn-in-1981-fishing-and-hunting-in-the-northw-chapter-40":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Reborn in 1981: Fishing and Hunting in the Northwest",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1933921,2572,"Chapter 40: Who Fears Who in a Show of Force?","reborn-in-1981-fishing-and-hunting-in-the-northw-chapter-40",40,"\u003Cp>Although it wasn't a rest day, the department store was quite lively, crowded with people, loud, and noisy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Long looked around; everyone was there to buy New Year's goods. Shicheng had many workers, and with extra money at year's end, even if they couldn't afford big items, buying two jin of fruit candy, some sesame cakes, or two cans of canned food was still a gesture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Yang Bailao ties two feet of red yarn to his head for the New Year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw fried noodles, squeezed over, and weighed out one kilogram. Compared to fruit candy, this snack, deep-fried and coated in white sugar, was clearly more premium. Then came roasted peanuts. The production team grew oil sunflowers; each family received a share in autumn. Part was pressed for oil, and the rest was saved for roasting and eating during the New Year, though it left their lips black after eating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peanuts Li Long bought were split into two portions: one kept for himself, the other reserved for Tao Daqiang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked around again and spotted a double-barreled shotgun—locally called a sand gun because the shot contained iron sand or lead pellets, with solid slugs used less often. One was clearly priced at over three hundred. There were also air rifles, priced at over one hundred each.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Small-caliber rifles cost one hundred eighty, the price of a bicycle. The bullets for small-caliber rifles were about the size of a thin pencil lead; they were still for sale at this time, making Li Long quite envious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pity he had no money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After another round, he saw cotton rubber shoes for children and wanted to buy some for Li Qiang and Li Juan, but not knowing their shoe sizes, he could only wait for next time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked around but saw no fishing nets for sale, so he left the department store and had Tao Daqiang go in instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Daqiang, I bought four kilograms of roasted peanuts: two kilograms for your family and two for mine. I didn't see any fishing nets; go in and check again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright.\" Tao Daqiang entered the department store with a mix of anxiety and excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But only a short while later, he came out; Li Long could even see sweat on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why did you come out?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I... I didn't know what to buy. There are too many things, and too many people.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Long smiled; this was timidity. But it was nothing; a few more visits would fix it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then let's go to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative and see if they have fishing nets there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cooperative wasn't far from the department store, and the horse cart arrived quickly. There were few vehicles on the road then, but several cyclists passed by in a hurry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you go in, or should I?\" Upon arrival, Li Long asked Tao Daqiang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Long, you go in again. Just now, I didn't even dare to ask.\" Tao Daqiang looked troubled. \"If they have any, buy them for me. If not... then forget it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Long entered the cooperative and saw fewer people inside than at the department store, with quieter noise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked around and saw fishing nets for sale, but they were large drag nets and barrier nets; the smaller ones were gill nets, with no landing nets available.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Long was somewhat disappointed, but he still asked about the price of the gill nets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this time, only single-layer gill nets were available: fifty meters of three-finger mesh cost two yuan, and two-finger mesh cost one point seven. He knew the prices but didn't buy; the salesclerk said nothing either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving the cooperative, Li Long told Tao Daqiang the situation. Tao Daqiang was disappointed, but there was nothing to be done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's head back.\" Li Long checked the time; the sun was slightly west, earlier than the time they finished selling yesterday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it would take two hours to rush from Shicheng to Maxian, and nearly another two hours to return. By the time they got home, it would likely be dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Passing the State-run Restaurant, Li Long bought four steamed buns, and the two of them ate while walking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they exited Shicheng, Li Long suddenly stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Daqiang, who was gnawing on a meat bun, saw Li Long stop and asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Long, what's wrong?\" He was sitting on the cart, facing backward, and couldn't see the situation. \"Someone is blocking the road; most likely they want to rob us,\" Li Long said quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing about a robbery, Tao Daqiang stuffed the bun into his mouth, jumped off the cart nimbly, and looked ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two young men, one holding an iron chain and the other an iron pipe, were slowly walking toward the cart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were woods on both sides, and these two had chosen their spot well; after robbing, they could dive straight into the woods, making them hard to find.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Long, shall we fight?\" Tao Daqiang sounded a bit nervous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you afraid?\" Li Long took the whip handle in his hand, wrapping the lash around the shaft for easier striking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Afraid? Afraid of what!\" Tao Daqiang spat. \"If they want to rob our money, we'll have to fight to the death!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We want our lives, and we want our money!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brothers, we seek wealth, not lives. Pay a toll, not much, just ten yuan, and you can leave. Otherwise, who knows what happens to you, but if we kill you, you won't have a good time, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one with the iron chain stopped five meters in front of the cart and said, \"We aren't greedy. We know you made quite a bit of money this trip. What do you say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nothing!\" Li Long sneered. \"Want a free meal? Then see if you have the ability!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned to Tao Daqiang and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You take the left, I take the right...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he finished speaking, Tao Daqiang had already charged forward!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two men were startled. What was this? Fighting directly?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Tao Daqiang charge, Li Long immediately followed, holding the whip shaft and striking at the head of the man with the iron pipe as he ran—the whip was long, giving him an advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one with the iron chain saw Tao Daqiang rushing at him and knew peaceful resolution was impossible. He swung his chain, but unexpectedly, although Tao Daqiang was simple-minded, he was no stranger to fighting and roughhousing in the team. As he jumped, he suddenly threw the hat on his head at the opponent. The man's vision blurred, and Tao Daqiang kicked him hard in the chest. The man stumbled back two steps, and Tao Daqiang rushed forward, grabbed his shoulder, and smashed his forehead into the man's face!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man screamed in pain, clutched his head, and squatted down. Blood filled his eyes; he could see nothing, suffering unbearably!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Daqiang's side was a direct collision, while Li Long's side was a skirmish. He swung his whip; the opponent used the iron pipe to block. Li Long didn't close in; he wasn't as big as Tao Daqiang and wasn't very skilled at fighting, but he was agile. He struck the opponent unexpectedly, making the man furious but helpless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man with the iron pipe thought he would just charge at Li Long regardless, hoping to land a heavy blow once close, but then he heard his partner's scream!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning his head, Li Long knew the opportunity had arrived. He rushed forward quickly, grabbed the man's arm, and tripped him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn't good at fighting, but he had practiced some street wrestling!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By then, Tao Daqiang had come to help, punching the robber who was still struggling to the ground. Li Long took the chance to step on him several times, preventing him from turning over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Search them,\" Li Long told Tao Daqiang:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"See if there's anything valuable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since they came to rob the road, they naturally had to be prepared to be robbed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Long, I found twelve yuan and a stack of grain coupons here.\" After the fight, Tao Daqiang acted simple-minded again, even revealing his address for Li Long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Long's search yielded eight yuan and fifty cents, some grain coupons, and a fountain pen; he didn't know if it had been stolen from someone else or belonged to the man himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Take the iron chain and the iron pipe, let's go!\" Li Long put away the money and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We must leave at once.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is another's territory; he feared retaliation from the other party.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the final day of the May Day holiday, thank you to the Taiwan Bookworm reader for the donation, and thank you all for your support! Today we begin the first round of recommendations; I am slightly excited, hoping the data looks good, and I hope everyone continues to support us!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of this chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1486,"2026-06-14T06:06:39.549Z",1,"Qwen3.5 122B","884082fa693e81aade01a26f85bcb163d49e4f3373abd1ec23d3614aa21f437a","reborn-in-1981-fishing-and-hunting-in-the-northw-chapter-41","reborn-in-1981-fishing-and-hunting-in-the-northw-chapter-39",180,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Freborn-in-1981-fishing-and-hunting-in-the-northw-cover.jpg"]