Chapter 95: The Old Lair Without Big Game

Wang An chatted for a while longer with the anxious Li Erlengzi.

Then, he patted Li Erlengzi on the shoulder and promised with a chuckle:

"From now on, the two of us are partners. Any news you hear, tell me directly. I’ll make sure you get your fair share of the benefits!"

After saying this, Wang An turned and left, leaving Li Erlengzi standing alone in the wind, completely bewildered.

Upon returning home, Wang An told his parents and Mu Xueqing about his plan to build a house on the small hillside to the west.

Wang Dazhu frowned immediately after hearing this. Who knew better than them what the area around their home was like?

He asked skeptically, "That place is nothing but rocks. How are you going to clear it? Can you even build a house there?"

Liu Guilan was even more displeased, saying, "Why pick that place? It’s just a rotten, rocky slope. Did a donkey kick you in the head?"

Only Mu Xueqing remained silent, though she looked at Wang An with confusion, seemingly waiting for an explanation.

Wang An carefully detailed his thoughts, mentioning that he would borrow a bulldozer and an excavator to clear the land.

He also told his family about the meeting he had heard about at the Brigade Headquarters regarding the division of land to households, and he made up some stories about individual businesses.

He explained that in the future, whether it was trading or animal husbandry, everything would be opened up. In that case, the location would be perfect for raising mountain livestock and domestic animals.

However, since the homestead requirement was that each family could not exceed three mu of land, there would be no space left for animal husbandry.

But if handled correctly, they could negotiate with the Brigade to expand the homestead on that rocky slope, because the land was so poor that no one else wanted it.

Then, they could also move their private plot there. This way, the entire hillside would be theirs! It would be very spacious for future farming or other ventures.

The whole family’s eyes lit up upon hearing this, because the most headache-inducing part of that hillside was the clearing!

As long as it could be cleared, it would be an excellent courtyard. They wouldn’t even need to dig a well; they could build a house and move right in. They wouldn’t even need to build a wall, as the thickets and tree stumps would serve as a natural fence.

In the current rural Northeast, courtyard walls were made of earth. These earth walls were built section by section using wet soil packed into wooden frames. To make the walls sturdy and durable, the process required constant tamping with a "chicken-egg roller," which is why it was called "wall-beating."

The chicken-egg roller was an egg-shaped stone, symmetrical on both sides, weighing over ten pounds. It had indentations on both sides so it could be gripped with both hands, lifted high, and slammed down hard. The person doing this work was called a "roller-swinger."

Once the family agreed on the homestead, Wang Dazhu couldn't sit still; he put on his shoes and headed straight for the Brigade Headquarters.

It was as if he feared that if he went a moment later, someone else would snatch up that hillside.

Because in the Tuntun, things had always been this way: whoever occupied it first, it was theirs.

After Wang Dazhu left, Wang An didn't stay idle; he grabbed his sled and headed to Han Dajiugang’s house.

This time, Wang An intended to buy more liquor to soak the bones of the mountain leopard and the spine of the sika deer.

While these things could be sold for money, they were far less cost-effective than soaking them in liquor for himself.

Moreover, Wang An had a clear premonition that he was currently like a male donkey, messing around every day with Mu Xueqing and Shen Wei. No matter how strong his body was, he would eventually be unable to take it.

If he didn't prepare early, wouldn't he be left weeping in vain when he saw Mu Xueqing or Shen Wei in the future?

Besides, as a man, maintaining a strong physique was very important.

At the very least, he wouldn't be a coward when it came to a fight. With so many scumbags around every day, who knew when a fight would break out?

Arriving at Han Dajiugang’s house, he saw Han Shuisheng tidying up the yard.

"Grandpa Han, busy? You’re quite diligent every day," Wang An greeted him cheerfully.

"Busy with what? Just tidying the yard. Big lad is here, what’s up? Run out of liquor?" Han Shuisheng also said with a smile.

"Not yet. I was thinking of making some medicinal liquor, so I came to you, Grandpa," Wang An said.

"Haha, medicinal liquor is good!" Han Shuisheng said, leading Wang An toward the back room.

"I heard you caught a big Xiong Ba?" Han Shuisheng asked suddenly.

"Ah, yes, Grandpa. I was lucky enough to run into a crippled one." Wang An was taken aback by the question, wondering to himself: How did this news spread?

"Big lad, I was thinking of discussing something with you. Could you spare the Xiong Ba’s kneecaps for me?" Han Shuisheng seemed to have planned this for a while and asked directly.

Kneecaps were excellent raw materials for medicinal liquor and were medicinal herbs known as "fake tiger bones." They could be sold for money; a pair of kneecaps could fetch at least 10 yuan.

But Han Shuisheng used the word "spare," which meant he wanted them for free, not to buy them.

But they weren't related, and he was paying for the liquor, so wasn't it a bit inappropriate to ask for this?

Wang An was stunned by the question.

However, after a moment of hesitation, Wang An immediately asked with a smile, "Grandpa, are you planning to make medicinal liquor too?"

"My legs ache so much every day that I can't sleep. The kneecaps I soaked before are no longer effective, so I was thinking of getting some more to soak," Han Shuisheng replied slowly.

As the saying goes: People get cunning with age, horses get slippery, and old rabbits are hard for hawks to catch!

From Wang An’s deflection, Han Shuisheng knew that Wang An had misunderstood his intention, thinking he wanted them for free.

So he continued, "I won't take your Xiong Ba kneecaps for nothing. I’ll trade you for an old lair. That old lair doesn't have big game anymore, but you should be able to find a four-leaf ginseng and a few three-leaf ones. You’ll have to dig them yourself, but you won't be losing out!"

Upon hearing this, Wang An knew he had misunderstood. This old man was not the type to take advantage of others at all!

But even if he had misunderstood, he couldn't admit it! Who told you not to be clear? I work so hard every day, getting anything isn't easy!

So he said with a smile, "Alright, Grandpa. I’ll bring them to you when I get home later. I also have a pair of black bear kneecaps; I’ll bring those for you too."

The reason Wang An was so generous was that a four-leaf ginseng was priced at 200 yuan at the supply and marketing cooperative!

Moreover, he had the mountain leopard bones and deer bones; the Xiong Ba and black bear kneecaps had little value in his hands other than for selling.

Although the ginseng wasn't a sure thing and he would have to dig it himself,

learning from this old man and asking around—even if there was no harvest—would be good practice.

After filling the liquor and paying, Wang An pulled his sled and left. This time, he bought a full 100 catties of sorghum liquor and headed home slowly and cautiously.

Back home, he didn't stop, but took the black bear kneecaps and the Xiong Ba kneecaps and headed back to Han Dajiugang’s house.

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