Chapter 277: There Is No Job That Can't Be Done

They saw that inside these six cloth pockets were several layers of cloth, and wrapped inside the cloth were all pitch-black paste-like dough balls.

These paste-like dough balls also emitted a unique, fragrant scent, and they smelled seriously quite good.

However, the three of Wang An, or rather, all the rural people in China in this era, recognized this thing.

It's just that very few people could see such a large quantity, because what was contained in these 6 small cloth pockets was actually something that all Chinese people hated.

It was also something called "sitting-through-the-fence paste," opium paste!

Opium paste, commonly known as opium, also called opium or smoke earth, originated from the poppy; locals call the poppy the "opium gourd."

These 6 pieces of opium paste were each about 10 centimeters in length, width, and height, but they were round.

And the quality of these 6 pieces of opium paste was quite good; it was obviously dried using pure fruit juice and was a top-grade item, not the secondary grade made by boiling.

Top-grade means this black paste obtained after the poppy fruit juice naturally dries.

Secondary grade is actually boiling the roots, stems, leaves, and fruits all together in a pot, which will contain some impurities.

Although this thing is not a good thing, essentially speaking, this thing is actually also a medicinal material.

And what dumbfounded the three of them was, why would 6 pieces this large, and all top-grade, appear on these 4 people?

You have to know that this thing, as long as it is in China, is not allowed to be planted, nor is it allowed to be traded!

And for 6 pieces this large, how many opium gourds' fruit juice would be needed to dry them out?

In other words, how much poppy would have to be planted to harvest so much top-grade opium paste?

Because the opium gourd, which is the poppy fruit,

is not large itself, only about four or five centimeters.

And top-grade opium paste takes only a tiny bit of pulp juice from each opium gourd.

And this pulp juice is not that easy to take; it needs to be done before the sun rises, using a very sharp small knife to cut a slit in this opium gourd.

Note, this slit cannot be cut too deep; if it is cut too deep, then this bit of pulp juice will be absorbed by the opium gourd itself.

However, it cannot be cut too shallow either; if it is cut too shallow, the juice won't come out.

Therefore, this job must be done by someone very skilled; otherwise, you won't be able to get anything out.

And this kind of top-grade item is the more precious thing; each opium gourd can only produce a tiny bit of opium paste the size of a little finger's fingernail.

That is to say, there was definitely enough opium paste here to get one person executed more than a dozen times.

Looking at the opium paste in front of him, even with Wang An's temperament, he didn't know what to do.

Because there was so much of it; this f*cking thing was simply life-threatening!

Wang An was so rampant in his past life, but he only trafficked guns and such; he absolutely didn't want to touch this thing and didn't dare to touch it. This is actually the bottom line as a Chinese person.

Actually, it is said that this is not allowed and that is not permitted, but in the rural areas of this era, many people would secretly plant a few stalks.

Because this thing can indeed save a life or keep a life hanging by a thread at a critical moment.

You have to know that medical care in this era was very underdeveloped, and anti-inflammatory drugs or antibiotic drugs were also very scarce.

As far as Wang An knew, the antibiotics of this era seemed to only include penicillin, and it was scarce to an outrageous degree.

If you wanted to use one dose, it was seriously not just ordinary trouble; you had to apply for approval, and even if you applied for approval, there might not be any medicine.

Therefore, in order to save a life or keep a life hanging by a thread at a critical moment, people would secretly plant a few opium gourds, which is the poppy.

People all know the harm of this thing, so usually no one dares to touch it.

Only when a person or livestock gets sick and is in unbearable pain do they take a piece the size of a millet grain to take orally.

Or mix it into dry tobacco leaves, roll it into a paper cigarette, and smoke a couple of puffs.

One has to say, this thing is indeed powerful and very effective. The three of them looked at it dumbly for a long time. Finally, Seeing Mu Xueli frowned and couldn't help but ask: "Brother-in-law, what should we do with this thing?"

Wang An also frowned and couldn't think of a way; mainly, this f*cking thing, if there's only a little bit, no one really cares.

But if this much were discovered by someone, holy crap, that f*cking wouldn't be a small matter.

However, when Wang An thought of the gold at home, he didn't worry anymore; whether it's gold or opium paste, as long as it's exposed, there won't be any good fruit to eat!

So Wang An said: "It's fine. If you want it, keep it; if you don't want it, throw it away. What's the big deal?"

Wang Li suddenly said: "Fourth Brother, I heard this thing is especially valuable. Why don't we sell it?"

Wang An's eyes instantly widened upon hearing this, and he slapped Wang Li on the head.

Although Wang Li was wearing a hat, Wang An had used force this time.

They saw Wang Li almost knocked directly to the ground by Wang An's slap.

After slapping Wang Li, Wang An stared with wide eyes and shouted at Wang Li: "If you're tired of living, point your gun at your own head and fire; don't f*cking implicate the two of us."

Wang Li took a slap and a lecture, looking a bit aggrieved.

Only then did Wang An say very seriously: "This thing, secretly hiding it for an emergency is actually breaking the law. If you dare to trade it, as long as you are discovered, you'll be executed directly. In China, we have zero tolerance for this thing, do you know that?"

Wang An looked at the two and continued to lecture Wang Li:

"Besides, Fifth, you are a junior high graduate and have studied plenty of history; don't you know how harmful this thing is? The key is, are we in a position where we need to sell this thing?"

Wang Li blinked and blinked, lowering his head and not daring to speak.

At this time, Seeing Mu Xueli also discovered that Wang An was truly angry, so he persuaded:

"Brother-in-law, Fifth was just thinking about it; he definitely wouldn't dare."

Wang An looked at Wang Li again and said in a smooth tone: "Fifth, remember, from now on, don't even think about this kind of thing."

Wang Li knew that his Fourth Brother had finished lecturing him, so he hurriedly admitted his mistake: "Fourth Brother, I know I was wrong; I definitely won't think about it again in the future."

Wang An thought for a moment and said to Seeing Mu Xueli and Wang Li: "You two don't split this thing; I'll find a place to hide it, and keep it for emergencies or something in the future. If you ever need to use it, come find me to get it."

"Yes, Brother-in-law, Fourth Brother," the two answered at the same time.

Wang An turned his head to look at the four corpses, then lowered his head to look at the furs and double-barrel shotguns and such:

"You two pack these things together, then strip off their clothes, pants, shoes, and such, and burn them. I'm going to fetch the sled, and I'll send them away in a while."

After Wang An finished speaking, he turned and left again.

After walking a few steps, Wang An turned around again and said: "You two be alert, listen for movements around you."

"Got it, Brother-in-law."

"Yes, Fourth Brother."

The two answered almost simultaneously.

However, after Seeing Mu Xueli and Wang Li packed up the furs and such, they had two bitter faces, looking at the four corpses with their brains splattered, and didn't move for a long time.

It might be that the two were used to vomiting last time, or it might be that the leopard gallbladder bile had taken effect.

Anyway, besides feeling disgusted, the two didn't vomit again or feel scared or anything.

One has to say, for people, there is no blessing that can't be enjoyed, only suffering that can't be endured—no, that's wrong, it's that there is no job that can't be done.

Begging for follow-reads, begging for follow-reads, I salute you!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 278 =====