After scalding the three gallbladders, there was no need to change the water; it had been a struggle to melt that snow-water, and pouring it out would be a waste!
Using the hot water, he sliced the meat and threw it directly into the pot, adding salt and chili powder. He had passed a patch of wild Sichuan pepper earlier and cut a large bundle; he pulled out a branch, chopped it up, and tossed it in. He slammed the lid shut and started the stew!
The wild Sichuan pepper of the Northeast is a vine with round leaves—specifically, the vine of the magnolia berry. In truth, the vine is a type of medicinal herb, but nobody wants it; the locals use it for stewing meat. Of course, since every household lacked meat, it wasn't used that often!
But for stewing meat, this stuff was genuinely good. Wang An felt the flavor was even more authentic than the Sichuan pepper and spices sold at the supply and marketing cooperative!
Beside him, Mu Xueli was already roasting sticky bean buns.
After ten minutes, the outer layer of the twelve sticky bean buns had been heated through.
The two began to gnaw on this heated layer. This stuff was truly hard; they could only eat one layer at a time. With six buns each, once they finished one layer, they had to roast them again to continue gnawing on the next.
In a short while, all twelve sticky bean buns were covered in tooth marks!
However, the two ate with great relish. The more they chewed this stuff, the more fragrant it became; it tasted even better than roasted meat.
Once the sticky bean buns were finished, the black bear meat was also done. They sipped the soup to fill the gaps, and were instantly full.
Sated and satisfied, they set off for home. This trip into the mountains had yielded another significant harvest, and both were very content.
Driving the sledge, smoking, bragging, and chatting!
With a pile of meat on the sledge, they were raking in the money with ease!
Wang An felt that this was what a happy life looked like; this way of living was just too damn cozy!
Just as they reached the village entrance, they saw Li Er-lengzi strolling around. Li Er-lengzi spotted Wang An and the others at the same time and hurried over to greet them.
Wang An didn't mind; he was just concerned about money, which was perfectly normal!
Seeing the three black bear pelts on the sledge, Li Er-lengzi was instantly ecstatic.
But before Li Er-lengzi could speak, Wang An beat him to it and explained the actual situation.
Still, when Li Er-lengzi heard that there were two bears in that ground den, he was very happy.
Wang An also took out the iron gallbladder and the grass gallbladder for Li Er-lengzi to see.
After looking at them, Li Er-lengzi said, "Brother, you see, I'm also in need of money, so maybe..." After speaking, he looked at Wang An with a bashful expression.
Wang An instantly understood what he meant: he didn't trust him and wanted the money now!
Mu Xueli, of course, also saw what was happening, and her expression immediately soured.
The rule in the mountains was that regardless of what was caught, the meat was divided upon returning home.
However, for pelts or bear gallbladders, the money was only divided after they were sold! Because when it came to slight differences in value, these things couldn't be calculated until they were turned into cash.
Furthermore, most families didn't have that much money; in this era, a hundred or so yuan was no small sum!
But Wang An completely understood; money didn't count as yours until it was in your own pocket!
Without getting angry, he said, "These two gallbladders aren't large. I estimate they'll sell for five hundred yuan at most, so we'll settle the account based on five hundred."
Hearing Wang An agree to divide the money now, Li Er-lengzi's bashfulness vanished instantly. He hurriedly said, "Five hundred is fine, let's do it your way, brother."
Wang An reached into his pocket, counted out seven "Big Unity" ten-yuan notes and one five-yuan note, handed them to Li Er-lengzi, and said, "Fifteen percent of five hundred yuan is seventy-five yuan. Count it and see if it's correct."
Li Er-lengzi took the money, his grin stretching almost to his ears. He counted it and said with a laugh, "Brother, you really handle things efficiently!"
Wang An gave a small smile without speaking, then turned to the sledge and took two black bear paws.
Seeing Wang An take the bear paws, Li Er-lengzi pulled a large cloth bag out of his cotton coat pocket.
When Wang An turned around and saw this, he was momentarily stunned. This guy was damn well prepared!
However, Wang An said nothing and placed the bear paws into Li Er-lengzi's cloth bag, then turned back to take four pieces of meat and put them in the bag as well.
Li Er-lengzi was so happy he couldn't close his mouth!
At this moment, Wang An said with a smile, "No need to be so happy. Once I clear out that sky den tomorrow, you'll get a fair share of that too!"
Hearing this, Li Er-lengzi's smile vanished instantly. He stammered
"Brother, please don't be angry... that... that sky den, I... I told others about it. There's an eighty percent chance it's already been cleared out."
Wang An's face immediately darkened. He said displeasedly, "I handled things so efficiently for you, and this is how you fucking play it? Fuck!"
Having said that, he ignored Li Er-lengzi standing beside him, took the horse, and went home.
By the time he reached the courtyard gate, the smile had returned to his face!
Walking into the yard, he gave a loud shout, and the whole family ran out.
Although the harvest was substantial, the family seemed to have grown used to it; not one person showed the kind of overjoyed expression they had when he caught prey in the past!
However, their movements in moving the meat were exceptionally skilled. Half was left for Mu Xueli, and the other half was either put into jars or buried in the snow.
Only when they saw the little yellow piglet in the burlap sack did Liu Guilan and Mu Xueqing become very happy, because a wild boar that small could be raised!
They immediately decided that the ones caught by Er-hei and San-hei would be split—one for each family—while the one caught by Da-hei was a bit lethargic, so it would be kept without being divided!
These past few days, Wang Dazhu had to go to the county town almost every other day. There was no other way; there was too much meat, and if he didn't sell it, they couldn't eat it all!
Listening to the couple mutter, they had already made several hundred yuan selling meat during this period!
Once all the meat had been moved into the house, Wang An drove the sledge to take his brother-in-law home, mainly because there were too many things for him to carry back on his own!
Arriving at his father-in-law's house, Wang An gave his sister-in-law a kiss on the cheek. Mu Xueting was becoming closer and closer to Wang An; it seemed a brother-in-law was much better than an older brother!
Once the brother-in-law had unloaded the things from the sledge, Wang An said to Mu Xueli, "Don't forget to drive the sledge to my house tomorrow. I'm heading out now."
Declining the request from his father-in-law's family to stay for dinner, he drove the sledge back home.
After dinner, Wang An glanced at the wall clock: six-thirty.
And the show Wang An had been anticipating officially began!
The bell at the brigade headquarters was struck; it was struck urgently, which meant a gathering.
If it weren't urgent, it would still be a gathering, but that would mean a general meeting!
Calling it a bell was a stretch; it was actually a piece of railway track less than a meter long that had been hung up!
Every hamlet had something similar—either a large slab of thick iron, a rusty large guillotine blade, or occasionally, a real iron bell.
Regardless, as long as these things were hit with a hammer, they were incredibly loud, with the sound traveling at least two li.
He heard his mother ask in confusion, "What big event has happened now?"
Wang An calmly put on his shoes and told his family, "I'll go take a look!"
He stepped out and walked toward the brigade headquarters. People from all directions were converging there, asking each other what had happened.
Wang An knew what was going on, but could he say it? Definitely not!
So, he pretended to know nothing and continued toward the headquarters.
The headquarters was adjacent to the small shop, and people were gathered at the shop's entrance, chatting and shooting the breeze, with no atmosphere of tension or worry.
Wang An and several of his uncles and cousins—his eldest brother Wang Yong, second brother Wang Shun, third brother Wang Gan, and fifth brother Wang Li—naturally came together and began chatting nonsense.
During this time, several families had eaten plenty of meat sent by Wang Dazhu, and they knew Wang An was currently hunting in the mountains, so they were all clamoring to go hunting with him...
For this kind of bell-summoned gathering, anyone who had split off to start their own household had to attend!
In the Northeast, too many different kinds of things happened, and people had become numb to it. Therefore, no matter the matter, it was inevitable to start with some nonsense and bragging!
Once most of the people had arrived, the brigade secretary, Niu Yiqun, cleared his throat and spoke
"Comrades, today, our hamlet's comrade Niu Dali went into the mountains to hunt black bears and has not yet returned. An accident may have occurred!
For a comrade who bravely fought against livestock that destroy our grain, we must go rescue him!
Therefore, I announce the formation of a search party. All able-bodied men from every household must mobilize. Groups of at least 5 and at most 10 people will enter the mountains immediately. Everyone with a gun must bring it, and every group must have a militia member or a hunter. Depart!"
(End of Chapter)