Chapter 25: Conversation with Li Biao

Wang Andao: "Biaozi, are you sure you want to go into the mountains with me?"

Li Biao replied, "I'm sure! Of course I am! My eldest and second brothers are both doing 'gui-leng' work at the logging camp. When it comes to me, my dad's old comrade-in-arms has tried to arrange something several times, but nothing works out!"

*Gui-leng* refers to logging workers at the timber camp, responsible for using chainsaws to fell trees and cutting off the branches, leaving only the trunks and thick limbs. They are formal workers.

Wang Andao: "Is it really that hard to get a *gui-leng* job these days?"

Li Biao: "Yeah, they say you can't even get a temporary job now. There are too many people and not enough work!"

Wang Andao: "What about hauling? There's always a need for haulers, right?"

Hauling involves using horses, mules, or oxen to pull sleds to drag trunks and thick limbs out from deep within the forest. This work is hired privately by contractors. Haulers are required to bring their own sleds and livestock, though the contractor provides the fodder!

Li Biao: "Don't even get me started on hauling. Nowadays, haulers form partnerships of two or three people to buy livestock and work in shifts. There are more people waiting for work than there is timber! Those *batou* (foremen) are all incredibly powerful!"

The *batou* here refers to the leaders of the hauling gangs—the contractors who deal directly with the logging camp. The forest is divided into numbered sections, and each section has one gang leader. The haulers are all employed by these leaders, so they all have to obey them!

Wang Andao: "What about the brick factory? Can't they arrange anything there either?"

Li Biao: "They say the bricks and tiles aren't selling, so the workers are just sitting around! Now, the brick factory is buying bricks and giving away tiles for free. Can you believe how crazy that is? Hahaha..."

Wang Andao: "Fine. I'm heading into the mountains tomorrow, and the day after that, we'll go together. From now on, I'll probably be heading in whenever I can. You come with me first to try it out. If it works, you can work with me in the future. If you can't handle it, you can go play with a spoon by yourself."

Li Biao: "Please! Who are you looking down on? You make it sound like I'm always the one getting knocked down!"

These words seemed to trigger a memory for Wang An of how he had been pinned by Li Biao earlier, unable to break free, and eventually had to submit!

Wang Andao: "Still acting tough with me! You stupid Biao, haven't you had enough of being beaten?"

Before he could finish his sentence, Wang An lunged from the end of the *kang* (heated brick bed). Before Li Biao could react, Wang An had him pinned down and was pummeling him!

Li Biao, of course, was not submissive. He craned his neck and yelled, "If you're so capable, let me up and we'll go again! You're sneak-attacking me—you're not even as good as a damn woman!"

The more he yelled, the more he was beaten; and the more he was beaten, the louder he yelled: "Do you dare let me go so we can restart? If I let you use one hand, you wouldn't even be a man, you believe me?"

Wang An pinned Li Biao down while punching him. He was using a lot of strength, so he didn't dare speak, fearing he would lose his momentum if he did! He just kept punching!

Li Biao yelled in frustration, "Xiao Anzi, you little bastard! If you're a real man, let me up!"

Wang An was exhausted—absolutely exhausted!

He climbed directly on top of him, pinning Li Biao beneath him to strike him. It indeed saved a lot of energy compared to pinning him down from the side!

A few minutes later, Li Biao surrendered. He stopped resisting and began begging for mercy!

Wang An let him go.

The two of them sat at opposite ends of the *kang*, chatting casually, as if nothing had happened—except for the fact that they were both panting heavily!

After a while, their breathing evened out.

Li Biao asked suspiciously, "Brother Wang, you've changed! You're not like you used to be!"

Wang An's heart jolted, but he asked calmly, "What? Not as comfortable as when I used to beat you?"

Li Biao replied, "No, it's not that. Before, when I said 'let's go again,' you would say 'it was hard enough just to pin you down,' and then when I said 'if I let you use one hand,' you would let me up, get into a stance, and we'd go at it again."

Wang An: "...Fuck!"

Li Biao added, "Brother Wang, you've changed. Haven't you noticed the rhythm is off? Why didn't you let me up so we could restart?"

Wang An stared at Li Biao as if he were looking at an idiot!!

Noticing Wang An's intense stare, Li Biao became even more confused: "What are you looking at? That stare is so piercing... it's the same way you look at Mu Xueqing!"

Wang An: "..."

*How the hell can those two completely different looks be lumped together?!* The main reason was that he was simply too exhausted; having pummeled Li Biao twice in a row had drained him completely!

This guy had no memory! He kept saying things that would make people not even bother to break up a fight!! There was truly no way to deal with him!!

Left with no choice, Wang An changed the subject: "That *Shuilianzhu* (Type 18 semi-automatic rifle) at your house... do your uncle and aunt allow you to use it?"

Li Biao's family did have a gun. In Northeast China, the number of guns in actual use was far lower than the actual number of guns in existence!

Just like the "Invasion of the Blades" era, many households in the village didn't have one, but many more did, and the numbers were truly massive!

The land of the Northeast had experienced far too much!

At first, the Russians were shameless and came in, so people fought the Russians!

Then came the bandits, the *liuzi*, and the *huzi* (outlaws) who responded to the call! But they couldn't win!

Then the Japanese came in. Their attitude was somewhat "dog-like," so people had no choice but to fight the Russians alongside the Japanese!

Once the Russians were driven out, the Japanese lost their manners again, so people fought the Japanese!

At that time, the bandits, the *liuzi*, and the *huzi* all descended from the mountains. In the end, every mountain and stronghold was empty!

Later, the Russians became "better" and came to help fight the Japanese, and then the Japanese were finished.

Finally, there was internal strife... but the result was very good!! The people finally lived good lives!

So, in these days in the Northeast, having a gun was perfectly normal, though most were kept hidden! Because everyone was afraid!

Having one but not using it was a completely different concept from not having one at all!

Only with a gun in hand could one feel a sense of security!

The *Shuilianzhu* at Li Biao's house was a souvenir given to Li Facai by a comrade-in-arms years ago.

It was maintained perfectly. According to Li Biao, whenever Li Facai had free time, he would sneak into the back room, disassemble the gun into a pile of parts, and wipe down every single piece!

However, Li Facai wasn't a professional soldier; he was more of a militia member who had served in small-scale combat, providing logistics. He never spoke about the specifics of what happened between him and his comrade, so no one knew!

Li Biao's family also had a single-shot shotgun—a 16-gauge with a break-action—which could fire either single slugs or buckshot!

The *Shuilianzhu* was the Li family's hidden gun. Aside from a few very close relatives, no outsider in the village knew about it!

On the surface, the Li family only had that one 16-gauge shotgun! Zhao Facai, Li Long, Li Hu, and Li Biao would occasionally hunt wild chickens or rabbits near the village!

The main issue was that using such a weapon on large game was too dangerous! You only had one shot, whether it was a slug or buckshot, and both were lead!

A slug had more power than a 56-semi, but once that shot was fired, unless you hit the head, it often wouldn't kill a large animal instantly!

And there was no time to reload! The consequences were predictable!!

Of course, many old hunters or marksmen had always used such weapons, and they had successfully taken down plenty of large game!

The reason Wang An dared to shoot at a top-tier beast like a *Tubaoge* (wild boar) was partly due to his confidence in his marksmanship, and partly due to his confidence in his gun!

A 56-semi had ten rounds, and by continuously pulling the trigger, one could achieve rapid fire. The magazine could be emptied in fifteen or sixteen seconds!

Li Biao replied, "I don't know! If it doesn't work, I'll just take the shotgun with me!"

Wang An froze for a moment, then snapped angrily, "You think you're a marksman? What can you even do with that thing in the mountains?"

He added, "What, is a wild boar's skin itchy? You want to go poke it with that thing??"

Li Biao, unable to hold his ground, said, "My marksmanship is actually decent! I've shot chickens and rabbits before!"

Wang An said disdainfully, "Give me a break! If a dozen chickens gathered together, you'd use buckshot and still only kill one! That rabbit still had a snare mark on its neck! Don't you have any clue how it died?"