Chương 13: Buying a Bow

The Great Ridge Mountains. On the way back, Song Que silently calculated his recent harvests, feeling quite confident in his heart. If I add this batch of wolf pelts, I should have gathered about half the required amount, right? Thinking of the wolf pelts, he still didn't know their exact market value. He hurriedly turned to Old Li and asked:"Uncle Li, how much do you think these wolf pelts can sell for?"

Li Tie pondered for a moment:"Uncle hasn't been to town in a long time, so I'm not entirely clear on the current prices. But six pelts, including the Wolf King's, should fetch at least ten taels of silver." Hearing this, Song Que's eyes narrowed into happy crescents. The goal isn't that far off after all! Seeing his expression, Li Tie knew exactly what the kid was thinking. He mused that today must have been blessed by a lucky star for the uncle and nephew to reap such a massive haul.

However, he didn't want to burst the boy's bubble, so he simply smiled in silence. The journey back to the village was safe and smooth, fortunately avoiding the gaze of any roaming beasts. Dumping the gear in the Li family's courtyard, Song Que impatiently dragged Li Tie toward Zhong Kui's house to inquire. He had been coveting a bow and arrow for far too long. Unable to resist the boy's pulling, Old Li dragged his exhausted old bones and led him to the Zhong residence.

It was a quiet, secluded house in the village, vastly inferior to the Zhao family's imposing manor. It looked incredibly ordinary; if Old Li hadn't led the way, Song Que would have found it hard to believe this was the home of the third most powerful figure in Giant Willow Village. After knocking for a short while, someone came to open the door. It was indeed Zhong Kui.

"Brother Zhong."...

"Uncle Zhong." Looking at the old man and the youth before him, Zhong Kui smiled, nodded, and stepped aside to let them in. He still harbored a deep impression of Song Que.

"What brings you two to find me?" Without waiting for Li Tie, Song Que cut straight to the chase:"Uncle Zhong, I have a favor to ask. I wanted to know if you have a way to get your hands on a bow?" Hearing this, Zhong Kui slightly furrowed his brows:"Song Que, you want to learn how to hunt? Well, you are strong and agile. You're a good seedling for a hunter. Do you want me to recommend you and help you join the village hunting team?" Song Que quickly shook his head.

Too many people meant too many mixed eyes; he found that far too troublesome. Seeing his reluctance, Zhong Kui didn't force the issue. Everyone has their own ambitions; he didn't take it to heart.

"My son in town does have a channel to buy military bows. If you want to buy one, Song Que, I can secure it for you for thirty taels of silver." Song Que's heart leaped. This price was definitely a "friendly discount." Years ago, Li Tie wanted to buy one and was quoted more than thirty taels. He replied decisively:"Uncle Zhong, I'll take it for thirty taels. When do you think it can be done?" This kid can actually afford that? Zhong Kui was quite astonished.

Looking at Song Que's rough, tattered clothes, he certainly didn't look like someone carrying a massive fortune of thirty taels of silver. Even so, Zhong Kui didn't voice his doubts—that would be too damaging to their relationship. He merely smiled and said:"There's no rush. The hunting team is preparing to head into the mountains in a few days. The next time we go to town to trade supplies will be at least two months from now. Just get yourself prepared, and I'll notify you when the time comes."

This suited Song Que perfectly. He needed time to gather the funds anyway. Silently giving Uncle Zhong a few mental "likes," Grandmaster Song smiled brightly and said: Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"Then it's decided! Thank you so much, Uncle Zhong."

"Brother Zhong, thank you. We won't bother you any longer."

"What gratitude? It's just lifting a finger. Have you two eaten yet? Why not sit down and share a cheerful meal with this old man?"

"No need, Brother Zhong, that's too much trouble. Our family is already cooking." Zhong Kui smiled and nodded, exchanging a few more polite pleasantries before walking the uncle and nephew to the door. Only on the way back did Li Tie anxiously ask:"A'niu, you shouldn't have spoken with such absolute certainty. What if we can't scrape together enough silver in these two months?"

"Uncle, there are no 'what ifs'. Don't worry, it's just thirty taels of silver. Besides, haven't we already gathered more than half of it?" Whatever you say, Li Tie mentally grumbled. Combined, the liquid cash of the Li and Song households probably didn't even amount to a single tael. They wouldn't be this lucky every time. In his past hunting trips, he usually only prayed to catch enough to keep his family fed. Having surplus income to save was a distant pipe dream.

But since things had reached this point, what else could he do? He could only strap in and risk it all with Young Master Song. Thinking of the kid's outstanding performance today, maybe he really could pull it off. Li Tie wasn't sure, yet he harbored a faint sense of anticipation. He pondered for a moment, then sighed:"Then let's push ourselves a bit. Back when your father and I were still in our prime, we actually discovered a wild ginseng. But seeing it was still young, we hid it.

It's been a decade since then; I hope it's still there."

"If it is, it should be a twenty-year-old ginseng by now. We could sell it for four or five taels in town." Hearing this, Song Que was deeply moved.

"Uncle, thank you."

"Why are our two families saying 'thank you'? If your father were alive to see you now, he would be overjoyed. Back when Er'ya was born, we even promised to become in-laws. Now, the people are gone, but the scenery remains... sigh." Here we go again. The marriage talk. Song Que's face darkened, and he didn't even bother replying. He, Song Que, resolutely upheld the law, strictly opposed child marriage, and firmly followed the path of the great Party!

Of course, refusing to marry Er'ya wasn't because the girl wasn't pretty enough. He, Song Que, was absolutely not that superficial. Her not being pretty was just a tiny, tiny part of the reason. There was also the fact that her legs weren't long enough, she had zero curves, and her face lacked sex appeal. Alright, fine. Song Que admitted he rejected Old Li because little Er'ya did not fit his aesthetic standards.

His standards for a girlfriend were incredibly low: she just needed to have a smoking hot body and be beautiful to look at. That's it. Most importantly, she must be beautiful, definitely beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Important things must be repeated three times! Two months passed in the blink of an eye. Tomorrow was the village's supply trading day in town. Song Que and Li Tie were sitting in the house, sorting through the goods they would take to town to sell the next day.

Benefiting from Song Que's "Mountain Sparrow drone," the uncle and nephew had amassed a jaw-dropping harvest during this period. They entered the mountains three times a week, and every single time they returned with overflowing baskets. They never missed. This sheer consistency made Li Tie severely doubt his entire life's reality. Life for the Li and Song families was getting better day by day. They ate their fill, wore warm clothes, and everyone now had a healthy, rosy complexion.

Both Gou'dan and Song Que had also grown significantly taller. Lying lazily by Song Que's feet was the newest member of the Song family: Husky. That was the name he gave the wolf pup he had picked up. Under the meticulous care and training of the great Beast Tamer Song, the wolf had grown robust and possessed incredible spiritual intelligence. The prolonged periods of symbiosis allowed it to understand a vast majority of what Song Que said.

With Husky's help and its incredibly sharp nose, their recent trips into the Great Ridge Mountains had become much easier. Li Tie constantly eyed the wolf with extreme envy. Unfortunately, Lord Husky had quite the temper and wouldn't even spare him a glance. Aside from Song Que, it allowed absolutely no one to get close. Gou'dan and Er'ya had long yearned to pet the majestic Lord Husky, but the little guy gave them no face whatsoever.

After trying to shamelessly cuddle it a few times and being swiftly taught a harsh lesson, the two kids now treated Lord Husky like an evil spirit, avoiding it at all costs. Sitting on the bed, Song Que looked at the two massive baskets in front of him, silently calculating.

"Six intact wolf pelts, one twenty-year-old ginseng, an adult black bear pelt and its gall bladder, seven Dark Star grasses, four Black Pig fungi, eight deer antlers, and nearly fifty catties of various dried mushrooms and herbs."

"Uncle, this should be more than enough to buy a bow, right?" Looking at the fruits of their labor over the past two months, Li Tie was in a daze:"There should definitely be a lot left over. I reckon all this is worth at least forty taels of silver." Song Que was very satisfied with this:"Uncle, what do you think your family needs to buy?"

"Gou'dan, Er'ya, come here! Husky won't bite you. What do you two like? Big brother will buy it for you tomorrow!" Hearing this, the two kids immediately beamed with joy, rattling off a long list of desired items. As for Li Tie, he was already immensely content with his current life. It was spring, the hunted prey was abundant, and they had more meat than they could eat. He and Song Que frequently traded their surplus for daily necessities and copper coins with the other villagers.

The household lacked nothing right now. Life is getting better every day. Li Tie grew increasingly satisfied with Song Que. Mature, steady, and highly capable. What a perfect son-in-law! You couldn't find a second one in this village even if you searched with a lantern. Why does he keep refusing? Wouldn't it be better for our two families to become even closer? Li Tie was incredibly stubborn about this matter. But what could he do?

That brat Song Que was resolute in his attitude, treating Er'ya strictly as a younger sister, leaving the matter permanently unresolved. Leaving Husky to guard the house, the two men hoisted the two massive, heavily loaded baskets onto their backs and walked through the darkness toward Zhong Kui's house.