Chapter 50

Although it was deep winter, the Li family's courtyard was extremely lively.

Not a single person who came to help was idle; everyone was finding work to do.

Li Long was a novice. After eating, he only managed to get the job of pouring boiling water over the wild boars—he was quite happy doing this kind of work that didn't require any technical skill.

In the eyes of the older men, Li Long was great at getting things, but for technical work like processing a pig, it still had to be done by an experienced hand.

With Mohe tobacco in their mouths and knives in their hands, they skinned the wild boars, while others had already prepared large laundry basins, intending to handle the offal.

"This wild boar is really big!"

"It's really fat; just looking at this fat, it must be three fingers thick!"

"Three fingers might not even be enough; the wild boars in these mountains eat well!"

"Jianguo's family will have good oil to eat this year. Once this oil is rendered and put in the cool room, it will be fine for over half a year."

"Look at how easy Jianguo has it; he won't even need to raise pigs next year. Just go for a turn in the mountains in the autumn, pull back two pigs, and there's enough meat and oil for the year."

"That requires ability and good luck! We've also encountered them when following the side-business team to dig fritillaria in the mountains. A group of seven or eight wild boars charging over—who would dare to block them?"

"You don't say, this Xiao Long has changed a lot after being tempered in the factory. One has to admire the things he's done!"

"Haha, you talk about Tao Dayong and Gu Ermao; what did they learn? It's truly a case of 'four unlike'."

"Why talk so much about that? Didn't you see Gu Laoda also came over..."

Gu Laoda had come over and even took the initiative to talk to Li Jianguo. Li Jianguo ignored him, but he didn't want to leave, standing there feeling awkward.

Li Long already knew from his sister-in-law that Gu Ermao had reported him to the joint defense team members. Actually, after knowing that it was Gu Ermao following him, he wasn't very surprised.

Gu Ermao was just that kind of person; it would be strange if he didn't do that.

However, this didn't mean he would forgive Gu Ermao. It just so happened that he hadn't intended to continue dealing with him, so he could use this incident to make a clean break.

Gu Laoda's eyes lit up when he saw Li Long. He walked over and said to Li Long with a smile:

"Xiao Long is back? You're amazing this time, two wild boars; no one in our team has that ability!"

Li Long wouldn't hold Gu Ermao's actions against Gu Laoda. He smiled and said:

"Good luck."

Gu Laoda wanted to say more, but Li Jianguo shouted from over there:

"Xiao Long, come over and pour the water!"

Li Long smiled and hurried over.

Gu Laoda knew this was Li Jianguo showing his attitude. He felt bitter inside, knowing he was in the wrong but unable to do anything about it. He wanted to get close, but the other party wouldn't give him the chance. He had originally wanted to use this opportunity to call Ermao over to help, which would have eased the awkwardness, but Gu Ermao felt he couldn't afford to lose face and didn't come. He came, but the others wouldn't give him face.

Many people in the courtyard were watching the joke. Honestly speaking, when encountering such a thing, no one would want a friend like Gu Ermao. But no one could guarantee that if they were in Gu Ermao's shoes, they wouldn't have turned Li Long in.

But logically speaking, everyone would stand in the position of the person who was wronged. Li Long didn't provoke you, so why did you turn him in? Are you trying to drag someone down with you? Can't stand seeing others do well?

There might be many such people, but they are definitely the ones everyone hates the most.

Li Long knew that Gu Ermao's reputation in the team was definitely ruined. After skinning the wild boars, opening the bellies to take out the offal, and dividing the pork, some people took the pre-cut pig necks and the caul fat from the bellies and sent them into the kitchen.

Liang Yuemei and several women were taking out the pickled vegetables, cutting the fat to render it in the pot, and then starting to stew the pork in a large pot.

Even the expensive spices that the family usually didn't want to use were put in. Liang Yuemei was making up for what happened when they slaughtered their own pig for the New Year.

At that time, they had also called a group of people to help, and everyone liked doing such things; helping each other was common. They also used this opportunity to add some oil to their stomachs.

But the Li family's pig was slaughtered, it was a "superstitious pig," and nothing else could be done. The pig was buried, and they couldn't eat the pork dish. Although everyone who came to help understood, Liang Yuemei was holding back anger.

People at this time took face quite seriously; there was no such thing as "touching porcelain" or blackmailing, and self-esteem was very strong. If I ate your family's pork dish, my family would definitely have to return the favor.

Now the Li family was equivalent to owing everyone a meal. And when Li Long brought back the two wild boars, Li Jianguo and Liang Yuemei reached a tacit understanding without even needing to discuss it: throw a big one!

Everyone was happy to come and help; it was a good thing!

"It's a pity about this blood; otherwise, it would be great to steam pig blood buns!" Someone cleaning the offal looked at the congealed black blood trapped in the pig's cavity and said regretfully.

At this time, meat was scarce, and usually, nothing would be wasted; even the scraps could be made into something.

Both pots were in use; the large pot in the west room was stewing meat, the east room started stir-frying the offal, and the Lu family was helping to steam buns in their pot.

Li Long could smell the gamey odor of the wild boar, but no one present minded. If you have meat to eat, can't you shut your mouth, and you're still complaining about this and that?

Especially when seeing the large slices of meat in the pot, no one would say anything—in this day and age, whose family is so generous with meat in their pork dish? Are they not living anymore?

But they had two pigs, so they were just that bold!

After things were processed, the men set up tables in the two rooms to play cards; one table was playing "Shuai Erzi," another was playing "Zheng Shangyou," and those who couldn't get a seat watched from the side.

!.

Someone was more interested in how Li Long hunted the wild boars and asked:

"Xiao Long, how did you hunt these wild boars?"

"Set an ambush in advance." Li Long didn't hide anything, "My friend is in the mountains and knew that a group of wild boars often came down to one place to gnaw on grass roots. We set an ambush in advance and took them down."

Some families didn't raise pigs and wanted to get some pork from the Li family to take back.

But they had no money. Li Jianguo and Li Long discussed:

"Xiao Long, they want some of this meat, but they don't have money. Look..."

"Do they have bullets?" Li Long's thought shifted, "Five-six-half bullets, five for one kilogram of meat is fine. If they have money, it's one yuan per kilogram; if they don't, five bullets for one kilogram."

Li Jianguo was a bit confused by this idea:

"Use bullets?"

"Yeah, bullets are scarce in the mountains."

"Every family has those." Li Jianguo laughed, "If you open it up, the meat from these two pigs at home could be traded away."

"That won't do; just trade some with those who have good relationships." Li Long smiled, "If it really doesn't work, I'll go see if I can hunt another one in a couple of days."

The first time he hit a wild boar with one shot, Li Long's courage grew, and his words became bigger:

"Brother, anyway, our family can't finish this meat, and the big wild boar meat is very gamey. Trading it is fine, but we have to make it clear to people beforehand."

"Gamey is still meat!" Li Jianguo glared, "It's so cheap; if they think the meat is gamey, then don't trade!"

Li Long smiled. At this moment, he could see his eldest brother's personality. Usually, he looked very gentle, but when something really happened, his personality was very decisive, and he belonged to the type that "dares to fight and dare to struggle."

Gu Laoda finally left awkwardly because no one paid him any attention.

The mouth-watering aroma permeated the courtyard, and the adults all went into the rooms. Outside the courtyard, only Qiangqiang, holding the pig bladder that Li Long had blown up with a reed tube, led a group of children to kick it like a soccer ball, their happy voices carrying far away.

People nearby could all tell: the Li family had risen.

(End of chapter)