The Beautiful Brother of the Orion’s Family (Wearing Book) - 31

 

| TBBOTOF | 31

Wei Dong said he would spend five taels of silver to buy the dead rabbit.

Tang Xu looked at the dead rabbit in the basket. Its fur was dull and brown, and after removing the bones from the seven or eight catties of meat, there wouldn't be much left. The only thing worth buying might be the intact skin, unlike one shot with an arrow, which would have a hole in the skin.

But can an intact rabbit skin be sold for five taels?

Thinking about it, it's impossible. How could a rabbit sell for more than a whole pig? If that were the case, who would raise pigs? It would be much better to catch a few more rabbits to raise, as they breed quickly. One rabbit can have six or seven litters in a year, and whoever raises rabbits will prosper.

He couldn't understand it, so he said, "I offered three taels of silver to Fuyun Restaurant just because I'm familiar with them. Maybe they'll accept it as a favor to me. If you give me five taels... No, no, I can't have a good conscience if I take your money."

Wei Dong felt somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected someone to push away money they had earned.

His gaze shifted to the two hunting trophies tied to the wooden frame. Normally, he used sharpened thick branches in the pit traps, and they were dug deep, with plenty of branches used. The trapped animals would never survive.

There were at least seven or eight blood holes in the pierced animals. Selling wild animals wasn't just about selling their meat and blood; their skins were more valuable.

For example, the stag, even if the antlers could be sold as medicinal materials separately, the skin on its body, because it wasn't intact, might only fetch two hundred taels. If it were a complete stag hide, the price would be much higher.

When he sold hunting trophies, he always took them to the town to sell them whole. Although the price was a little lower than selling them separately, it was easier and less trouble. If he really wanted to make more money, he would take them to the county town, but it was further away, and it would take much more time on the road.

Seeing him standing there without saying anything, Tang Xu waved his hand in front of his eyes and asked, "What are you thinking about?"

Wei Dong snapped back to reality, shifting his gaze to Tang Xu's face.

He remembered the first time he saw Tang Xu, he was washing clothes by the river with a wooden basin. Others would gather in groups of three or four, chatting and laughing while washing clothes, creating a lively atmosphere.

But Tang Xu was alone, washing clothes with a serious expression, even if others tried to talk to him, he seemed to not hear them at all.

He was thin and slender, with shiny black hair, although not particularly smooth, and his facial features were decent, but because he was too thin, his face lacked flesh.

After washing the clothes, he quickly carried the basin back home, walking with his head down and his back hunched, devoid of any vitality.

Others said he was Tang Erhu's son, Tang Xu. He was good in every aspect, but he was too honest and didn't like to talk, looking rather dull and stupid, and was nagged by his mother every day.

Wei Dong was not familiar with anyone in the village, and that time he was also by the river catching fish to make soup for his younger brother, and unexpectedly overheard some gossip about Tang Xu and his mother.

Later, they met two more times, both times by the river, just exchanging glances from a distance.

They were originally strangers, so logically, they shouldn't have much interaction. However, that day at the meat shop in town, they unexpectedly ran into each other.

Not only that, Wei Dong noticed that this person suddenly seemed completely different from before, as if he were two different people.

His face was still the same face, even if he painted it black, Wei Dong could recognize him at a glance.

These two encounters made Wei Dong realize that Tang Xu was becoming more and more beautiful.

How to put it, it's like a bud suddenly receiving nourishment from fertilizer and blooming.

The current Tang Xu, perhaps due to a different state of mind, had a lively expression on his face, a cheerful temperament, and walked with a straight back and brisk steps.

Eating well and feeling good, sleeping well without worries every day, naturally made him more spirited.

He had gained some weight, his face had also filled out, making his beautiful features even more dazzling.

The Tang family didn't have a mirror, so even when he washed his face, he could only see a vague reflection in the basin, which wasn't very clear.

When Tang Xu washed his face, he could only feel that his face seemed to have grown flesh, but he wasn't sure what he looked like now.

When Tang Xu was in college, because of his appearance, many male classmates confessed to him, yes, male classmates, there were fewer confessions from female classmates, saying that he was too good-looking, which made it easy to feel inferior when dating him.

But at that time, Tang Xu had no intention of dating, he was single-mindedly pursuing scholarships, which could alleviate a lot of burden for his mother, and he also wanted to find a good job after graduation to earn more money to bring his mother out of the countryside.

Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned.

Anyway, for now, Tang Xu only knew that Xu Ge'er looked a lot like him in his youth, except he was thin, with no flesh anywhere on his body.

Since he arrived here half a month ago, he hadn't done too much work every day, but he ate a lot, just wanting to gain some weight on his body. He didn't care what others thought, but when he washed his body himself, he felt uncomfortable touching his bones.

Wei Dong considered himself to have seen many people. He went out to sell prey, not only in the town but also in the county several times. He had seen a lot of people, both men and women.

But he had never seen anyone like Tang Xu in terms of appearance. Saying that he was a flower in the countryside wouldn't be an exaggeration. His hands were slender and white, but his knuckles were wide. There were calluses on the palms and fingertips, indicating that he often worked with his hands. Perhaps he hadn't given a definite answer, Tang Xu slightly furrowed his brow, his eyes revealing unmistakable doubt.

His pale pink lips were slightly parted, and you could faintly see whiteness. With teeth gleaming white, and a tongue tinged red behind them, "Wei Dong!" 

Tang Xu impatiently tapped on his arm, "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing, you're right, you can't sell a rabbit for more than five taels of silver." Wei Dong scratched his ear with his finger, explaining, "Your rabbits won't fetch a good price."

Tang Xu: "..."

Wei Dong looked at the dissatisfaction in his eyes and inexplicably grinned.

"I'm not just selling rabbits, I'm adding value."

Seeing that he still didn't understand, Wei Dong pointed to his catch, "An intact pelt sells for three hundred taels, a damaged one for two hundred. By adding a rabbit, I can still sell them for two hundred and twenty taels. Got it?"

Tang Xu got it, of course he got it. This guy was not only muscular, but also quite clever.

"Only two hundred and twenty taels?" he felt the price was a bit low. Wei Dong paused for a moment, then chuckled.

His face was the epitome of a handsome young man, with his dark pupils and thin lips. When he didn't smile, he looked like someone owed him money, and someone you wouldn't want to mess with.

But when he smiled...

Tang Xu placed his hand over his chest, afraid that his rapid heartbeat would be heard by the other person. His eyes stared fixedly at the other's face, unable to stop himself from swallowing hard. What a handsome guy!!!

He was his dream guy!!!

Do you know what it means for a dream to become reality?

Ever since middle school, Tang Xu knew he was attracted to men, and he was the bottom. Since then, he had always had a mental image of a man.

Yes, in plain terms, he fantasized about being topped by himself.

Initially, when he fantasized, the model in his mind had no face, only a tall stature and well-built muscles.

As he grew older and encountered more people, he kept modifying and adding features to the model.

In the end, the perfect face of his ideal top, not to mention everything else, was at least an eight out of ten, similar to Wei Dong's face. And when Wei Dong smiled at him, with a hook of his lips...

Oh my, it's a ten, it's him, it's him, it's this face!

Of course, although he was a sucker for good looks, inner beauty was also important. Wei Dong was not just not bad, he could even be considered kind-hearted.

If he wasn't a good person at heart, how could he silently bring him back to the village, help him dig bamboo shoots, and even buy rabbits for five taels of silver?

Yes, he could definitely sell the rabbits for more if he bought them, but with these rabbits in his hands...

Forget about five taels, even three taels probably wouldn't work. Even if he brought up face, it wouldn't help. Those who run businesses are all smarter than him.

Although he thought about many things in an instant, Tang Xu looked at the man who had already returned to his expressionless state and murmured, "You should smile more."

His voice was low, but Wei Dong heard it.

And then, he smiled again.

The curve of his lips was slightly greater than before, and his eyes also curved a little.

"Like this?"

Tang Xu took a deep breath, his face tensed and his lips pursed, ‘Woo woo woo, so handsome!’

He wanted to pounce over and take a bite.

Calm down, Tang Xu!

You're a ger now!

They say a ger should be reserved!

Reserved!

He only felt his heart beating too fast, as if that heart of his was about to leap out of his throat. Wei Dong glanced at the sky and said, "I have to go. Are you selling the rabbits?" 

Tang Xu nodded vigorously, sell? Forget about rabbits, if you want me, I'll sell myself!

Wei Dong didn't notice his restless thoughts. He took out five silver coins from the pouch hanging at his waist. "Five taels." Tang Xu dumbly reached out, five silver coins lying in his palm, heavy.

Wei Dong took the rabbit out of the basket himself and placed it on the deer carcass, intending to drag the wooden frame down the mountain. Tang Xu raised his arm to stop him, "Wait, if you drag it like this, the skin underneath will get damaged."

Wild boar fur, thick as it may be, couldn't withstand direct friction on the ground, and the wooden frame looked very crude.

"Wrap the middle with tree bark, then tie the sides with some vines. It won't fall off." Tang Xu gestured with his hands, "Shall I help you?"

Wei Dong considered for a moment, "Alright, thank you."

He didn't just stand by and watch. Following Tang Xu's instructions, he chopped down two thin trees, peeled off the bark, and cut the wood into pieces of equal length.

Tang Xu sat on the deer carcass, wrapping the tree bark around two long branches, then threading the short pieces of wood through the bark in the middle to secure them.

A wooden stretcher was quickly completed. Tang Xu rubbed his hands, sticky with tree sap, and looked up at Wei Dong, "This way, it's easier for you to pull it along, and you don't have to worry about them falling off."

Wei Dong nodded. He placed the wild boar on the stretcher, and Tang Xu used the bark to tie the boar securely before signaling for him to continue.

The stag was placed next to the boar, half of its body resting on top, and it was also bound tightly.

The rabbits were hung directly on the frame, securely fastened so they wouldn't fall off.

"Get in there, let the bark rest on your shoulders, and pull the wood forward with both hands. Give it a try," Tang Xu directed, and Wei Dong followed suit.

He pulled the stretcher downhill. With the bark resting on his shoulders, he saved the effort of dragging with his arms. The prey was tightly bound and wouldn't fall off, unlike before when he had to constantly look back after a few steps.

"It works well."

Tang Xu looked at him with a smile, proud, "This is the simplest method. When you get back, you can use a thick rope to tie and pull, which would be even better. And all these barks can be replaced with ropes."

Wei Dong shook his head, "I don't know how to tie knots, and I'm not good at making baskets."

He was clumsy with his hands, and even if he had seen how to do it, he couldn't remember. The bamboo baskets he made weren't sturdy and often fell apart. Tang Xu blinked, suddenly having an idea.

"Then, next time, when you have time, I can help you with it."

Wei Dong lowered his gaze, seeing the anticipation in Tang Xu's eyes, as if he really wanted to see him nod. "Um, okay." He nodded.

Even if Wei Dong himself might not have fully understood why, just now, he didn't want to disappoint the other party.

Tang Xu smiled even brighter, patting his chest, "It's settled then. Next time, I'll come to your house to help you make baskets!" 

Wei Dong was stunned, "Come to my house?"

"Yeah, if I don't go to your house, how would I know what you need and how could I help you make baskets, right?" Tang Xu's expression was proud and confident, not realizing that he had shifted the topic without any problem.

Since he found the other person pleasing to the eye, why not take the initiative?

After all, he would eventually marry someone, so why not marry someone he liked? Wei Dong was quite nice.

Tang Xu thought about how he had been pressured to get married recently, and that's where the plan came from.

He would first visit Wei Dong's house to see the situation. As long as it wasn't particularly bad, he would definitely make an effort to marry himself off.

It was better than being married off to someone he didn't know. He couldn't overpower others, but now, Tang Erhu respects him because he had gained benefits from him recently.

As time passed, there would be more gossip outside, and who knows, the other party might get annoyed.

While the relationship between them was still good, he decided to marry someone he found pleasing and comfortable to be with. He thought his nominal father wouldn't mind either.

With these thoughts swirling in his mind, the idea of going to Wei Dong's house became firm.

Wei Dong wasn't fooled by his words. After a moment of silence, he nodded, "Alright, tomorrow then. I'll be home tomorrow."

Tang Xu looked surprised. So soon?

Wei Dong said, "Tomorrow I'll go chop bamboo, you can come help me make baskets. So, let’s meet in the bamboo forest. After that, I'll come to spear fish as a thank-you gift." 

Tang Xu grinned, "Deal!" He really was the man Tang Xu had set his eyes on. Not only was he skilled in hunting, but he could also spear fish!

He was really amazing!

The two parted ways at around 9:40 to 10:20. Wei Dong pulled the stretcher down the mountain to the town to sell the game. With his fast pace and no need to constantly worry about the game falling off, he arrived in town in less than half an hour.

Wei Dong was acquainted with many people in Yong'an Town. Even the guards at the gate greeted him. When they saw the game on the stretcher, they were amazed. "Such a large wild boar is rare."

"That Wei lad has good skills."

Wei Dong nodded to the two guards as a greeting and entered the town.

Yong'an Town was similar in size to Yongning Town, with market days on odd-numbered dates. Today happened to be March 24th.

There were two main streets in town, and at this time, they were bustling with people. Some brought their children to the town market, while others came to sell their goods. It was lively with various items being sold.

Wei Dong went straight to the market with the stretcher. Many people exclaimed in surprise when they saw the wild boar and stag he was pulling.

It had been several months since he last brought a large haul. The last deer he brought before the New Year was just a female deer, which was bought by a wealthy family in town for seven hundred taels. They wanted to host a deer feast for the New Year, otherwise, it wouldn't have sold for that much.

This stag was different. Just the antlers alone could fetch a good price at the pharmacy, but he wanted to wait and see if any wealthy families came to inquire about the price. Selling the whole thing would be better.

Wei Dong had been hunting and selling game for several years now. He had been cheated in the beginning, but as he grew stronger and more skilled, those who wanted to cause trouble or cheat him no longer dared to.

He was fearless and had no weaknesses, making it impossible for anyone to take advantage of him.

That being said, Wei Dong found a vacant spot at the end of the market street. He didn't mind the location and simply laid out the rabbits, stag, and wild boar, and sat down on the ground.

Next to Wei Dong, there was a vendor selling steamed buns. The basket was filled with fist-sized buns, each filled with meat, and priced at three wen.

Wei Dong, feeling hungry after his breakfast of wild vegetable soup and hard steamed buns, waved to the vendor and took out fifteen copper coins. "Five buns."

The vendor wrapped five large meat buns in oil paper. With each bite, he tasted the delicious and generous meat filling.

Wei Dong ate quickly, finishing off the five buns in just a few mouthfuls.

After drinking some water, he looked at the middle-aged man squatting in front of him wearing a robe. "Steward Liu."

Steward Liu ran his hand over the smooth deer hide and asked, "Are you looking to sell the whole thing?"

Wei Dong nodded. Since they were familiar with each other, there was no need for small talk. He directly quoted, "Thirteen hundred, for the whole thing."

"Thirteen hundred?" Steward Liu withdrew his hand, his shrewd eyes scanning the stag, searching for room to negotiate.

Wei Dong continued, "Males are more valuable than females. This price is quite fair. I can also ask for two thousand from someone else, and then nod when you lower your offer."

"..." Steward Liu was speechless.

Wei Dong wasn't in a hurry. There were plenty of wealthy people in town, and besides, if he took the whole stag to the county to sell, he could ask for an even higher price. However, the journey was long, the weather was hot, and transporting it might cause the meat to spoil, so it wasn't worth the trouble.

Most of the time, Wei Dong sold his prey in town. Only in the cold winter would he go to the county, where he could earn a lot more.

Steward Liu wasn't very keen on buying. If the master of the household found out that he had bought a whole stag and brought it back, he would definitely not agree to sell the antlers and would instead keep it for himself to eat.

As a steward, there was always some self-interest involved. If he could sell the antlers, he could profit from it, but if he just bought it back like this, he estimated that he would only receive a reward of at most ten taels.

Not worth it.

While Steward Liu was hesitating, two middle-aged men wearing robes came over with an enthusiastic demeanor. Seeing their eager appearance, Steward Liu narrowed his eyes.

"Little Wei brother finally showed up. Our master has been talking about you lately. If you don't come to town again, we'll have to go to your village to find you," said Steward Song with a smile on his face. He greeted Steward Liu when he saw him and even extended his hand in greeting. "Steward Liu, good to see you again."

Steward Liu replied with a forced smile, "Well, it's not so nice to see you."

The three major gentry families in Yong'an Town were the Song family, the Liu family, and the Wu family.

These three families had been at odds with each other for many years, and none could defeat the others.

The Song family dealt in grains and had a relative serving as an official in the prefectural capital.

The Liu family operated a money exchange business, which was also a family trade.

The Wu family ran a gambling den. It was said that the Wu family's ancestors ran a large gambling den in the capital city, and Yong'an Town was just a minor branch of the family.

Returning to the present situation, as Steward Song and Steward Liu stared at each other, Steward Wu approached with a smile, blocking the two of them. He respectfully bowed to Wei Dong.

"Master Wei, my master requests your presence."

Wei Dong's expression remained indifferent. "What for?"

"The master didn't say, but it must be something important," the steward from the Wu family said, his smile unchanged. "Next month, the old lady will turn eighty. The master probably intends to find some prey to add to the celebration."

Wei Dong thought to himself that at such an old age, one should eat lighter food. Wild prey might be too strong for the elderly.

Of course, he didn't show any of this on his face. He nodded slightly, indicating the game on the ground. "I'll come after I finish selling these. Please ask your master to wait."

"Alright, we'll take the wild boar then, for three hundred taels," the steward from the Wu family said cheerfully. He liked chatting with straightforward people and disliked those who were hesitant and pretentious.

Wei Dong nodded. "Okay. As for the rabbit, consider it a little extra. Take it back and make a hand warmer. This is the whole hide."

The steward from the Wu family smiled even more sincerely and thanked him profusely. After handing over the silver note and instructing his men to drag away the wild boar, he personally carried the dead rabbit. He then bowed slightly to Wei Dong. "I'll return to the mansion and wait for Master Wei."

Wei Dong stood up and gestured with his hand. "Alright."

Steward Song clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Why did you sell it for just three hundred taels? Our master hasn't eaten wild boar in a long time, and I was thinking of buying some!"

Wei Dong was not used to his manner and retorted, "If you wanted to buy, you should have said so earlier. As for the deer, do you want it? I'll sell the whole thing for thirteen hundred taels."

Steward Song rubbed his hands together, trying to put on a smile as he approached Wei Dong.

Wei Dong raised his hand to stop him. "We've known each other for many years, and I never ask for high prices in my business dealings. This deer fell into a pit during last night's rain. When I dragged it out this morning, its body was still warm. It hasn't been dead for too long. If you don't want it, I'll take some trouble and sell it in the county."

Steward Song swallowed and glanced at Steward Liu. "Steward Liu, what do you think?"

"My opinion?" Steward Liu scoffed, then turned to Wei Dong. "I..."

"Alright, the deer is yours," Steward Song interrupted, smiling at Wei Dong. "Fifteen hundred taels. Our master said that Brother Wei is capable, so the extra two hundred taels are for your hard work."

Wei Dong nodded in acknowledgment and thanked him. "Okay, please have it removed."

Steward Song handed over the silver note and signaled to his servants to quickly remove the deer. Steward Liu was infuriated by this blatant act, but he couldn't do anything to reclaim it. Thirteen hundred taels was already considered expensive, let alone fifteen hundred. With a huff, Steward Liu turned and left with his men.

Wei Dong lifted the wooden stretcher and nodded to Steward Song. "Goodbye."

Seeing Wei Dong about to leave, Steward Song hurriedly stepped forward to intercept him. "Brother Wei, please wait. Our master has something to discuss with you."

"Our master has something too?" Wei Dong's curiosity was piqued. It seemed like it had only been about two months since he last visited Yong'an Town, yet now both of them had something to discuss with him.

Steward Song smiled and said, "Yes, if we don't see you today, I'll probably have to go into the village tomorrow."

Wei Dong thought for a moment and replied, "I need to go to Huichun Hall first. Why don't you have your master wait at home? I'll come over later?"

"No need, no need. The master is at the shop, and it's close to Huichun Hall. Brother Wei can come over directly after finishing your business." Steward Song bowed slightly. "I'll go back to inform the master."

Wei Dong nodded. "Alright, take care."

Instead of heading straight to Huichun Hall, Wei Dong went to the government silver bank to deposit one thousand two hundred taels. He then returned seven hundred taels to Huichun Hall for purchasing medicinal ingredients. 

It was inconvenient to carry so much silver all the time, so he kept one hundred taels and exchanged the rest for smaller denominations of silver. 

Today was a lucky day; both of the hunted animals sold for more than expected, and he hadn't had to exert much effort. Feeling pleased, he planned to buy more meat on his way back home since they were running out of it.

After the medicinal preparation would take a while, Wei Dong decided to make a quick stop at the grain shop run by the Song family.

The old physician stroked his beard and gestured for Wei Dong to sit down. "Sit down, let me check your pulse."

Wei Dong obediently sat down and extended his hand.

As the old physician felt his pulse, he half-closed his eyes and shook his head slightly. Wei Dong remained silent, maintaining a calm demeanor.

After a while, the old physician asked him to open his mouth and show his tongue. After examining it, he looked somewhat disdainful. "It's time for you to find a wife."

Wei Dong was puzzled by the statement. Why would the physician recommend finding a wife after just checking his pulse and tongue? What was the logic behind it?

The old physician stroked his beard and sighed lightly before calling out to the medicine apprentice, "Get him two doses of cooling tea to clear heat. It's on the house."

The apprentice acknowledged and went to prepare the medicine.

Wei Dong still couldn't quite understand and asked, "Do I have any illness that requires medication?"

"No illness, just a strong constitution and excessive internal heat. Drinking some cooling tea will help. It's convenient; just steep it in hot water. You're almost twenty; it's time to find someone to marry and carry on the family line. Don't waste your good health," the old physician advised, patting Wei Dong's shoulder with emphasis.

Wei Dong's face twitched as he understood.

So, the physician was essentially saying that because he didn't have a wife, he was accumulating too much internal heat and needed to drink cooling tea to relieve it. Feeling a bit embarrassed, Wei Dong stood up and said he would go to the grain shop to see Mr. Song first and then come back later to pick up the medicine.

The medicine apprentice responsible for preparing medicinal herbs was a young boy who always blushed whenever Wei Dong came around. Despite Wei Dong's greeting earlier, indicating he would come back to pick up the medicine later, the boy simply nodded shyly with flushed cheeks and didn't say anything else.

Once Wei Dong left, the boy's face turned sour, filled with regret.

The "Huichun " (春堂) was a renowned pharmacy with a history of over a hundred years. They had branches in various major cities, and the physicians working there were all arranged by the family. They wouldn't allow anyone without genuine skills to treat patients.

The medicine apprentices were mostly descendants of the family's servants.

The senior physician was named Xu, around seventy years old but still robust. He had served as a royal physician for a period about twenty years ago but resigned when he discovered too many dark secrets in the palace, fearing for his life.

Though he rarely left the pharmacy, he was knowledgeable about many things.

Now, with no patients to attend to, he walked over to check on the medicine apprentice who seemed distracted. He stroked his beard and lightly slapped the apprentice's head, saying, "If your mind isn't focused and you make a mistake with the herbs, it could cost someone their life. Are you prepared to take responsibility?"

The apprentice quickly apologized.

"If you have feelings for Wei Dong, why not just ask him directly? But considering his family background, you should know better. Even if he earns a lot, it won't make a difference if he can't keep it," Xu said before walking away with his hands behind his back, leaving the dejected apprentice behind.

"Qige, do you really want to marry Wei Dong?" Another older apprentice approached, leaning in and speaking softly. "Wei Dong seems nice, but his family situation with his sick younger brother is burdensome. Marrying into that would mean endless responsibilities and stress."

Wang Qi bit his lip and shook his head. "How could someone like me, with my background, match up with Master Wei?"

They were both born into servitude. Despite their roles as medicine apprentices in the pharmacy, which might sound impressive, they were essentially slaves. Only if their masters released their bonds could they regain their freedom.

On the other side, Wei Dong walked through the streets from the Huaichuntang pharmacy to the largest grain shop in Yong'an Town, Fengmancang. There were many people coming in and out, as his family's grain prices were affordable, attracting many customers.

This season was just the beginning of spring farming, so most of the people coming in and out were families buying grain from the town. Wei Dong was seen entering by Mr. Song, who then led him to the backyard. Mr. Song, nearly fifty years old, was plump with a kind smile on his face, giving off the impression of a charitable person.

Wei Dong had dealt with him several times before and knew not to judge a book by its cover. So after entering, he simply greeted him with a hand gesture and sat down, waiting for Mr. Song to speak first.

After sipping his tea, Mr. Song pushed a plate of pastries towards Wei Dong and said with a smile, "Brother Wei, you must have made quite a profit with this last transaction."

"It's alright, even if I make more, I can't keep it," Wei Dong replied casually, taking a pastry from the plate and putting it into his mouth. "Mr. Song, if you have something to say, just say it."

Mr. Song nodded and said, "I like doing business with Brother Wei, straightforward. I have something in mind. I want to send a gift to the capital before the fifth day of the fifth month."

Wei Dong didn't quite understand. The fifth day of the fifth month? Isn't that the Dragon Boat Festival? Why would he need to send a gift? He guessed, "Do you want me to help escort it over?"

Mr. Song laughed heartily and waved his hand, "No, no, no, what I mean is, I want a ferocious beast."

Wei Dong paused his chewing and raised an eyebrow, looking at him.

Mr. Song, feeling intimidated by his stare, quickly added, "Of course, I wouldn't ask a brother to do something so dangerous alone. I'm not that kind of heartless person."

Wei Dong clapped his hands, poured a cup of tea, and asked, "What kind of animal do you want to capture?"

"Tigers, wolves, bears, anything fierce," Mr. Song replied, looking at him. "It's best if they're alive."

Wei Dong tapped his fingers on the table, making a clacking sound.

After a moment, he shook his head. "It's not that I don't want to help, but this matter won't work out."

"Why?" Mr. Song was puzzled, repeating, "Money is not a problem, and if it succeeds, I'll be extremely grateful."

Wei Dong continued to shake his head. "Let me put it this way, the Dayou Mountain is not only home to many ferocious beasts, but also numerous snakes and insects, most of which are highly venomous. Every plant and tree there could potentially be poisonous. I've been there twice, and both times I almost lost my life."

Mr. Song opened his mouth, wanting to say that if you managed to escape from there twice, why couldn't you go back in and possibly escape a third time? But before he could speak, Wei Dong continued, "Back then, I was desperate because I had no money and had to fight for survival. But now, I value my life."

This was originally a matter of mutual consent. Even if Mr. Song offered a fortune, Wei Dong wouldn't accept the task. Mr. Song paused for a moment, then said, "In that case, Brother Wei, could you at least provide directions? I'll find someone else to enter the mountain following the path you provide."

Wei Dong pursed his lips, considering for a moment before nodding. "Alright, but let me advise you, the Dayou Mountain is difficult to enter and exit. Without thorough preparation, going in would be like feeding oneself to the wild beasts."

Mr. Song nodded. "I trust Brother Wei's words, but sometimes, certain things need to be tried."

Wei Dong didn't inquire further. For him, some of the things Mr. Song mentioned were too distant and irrelevant. Mr. Song had someone bring writing materials, and although Wei Dong had studied when he was younger, his handwriting wasn't great since he didn't practice regularly. 

He didn't care whether others could recognize his writing or not. 

He simply drew a rough map from memory and marked a few locations. "Here, here, where I killed the tiger and the bear. Here, there's a large mud pit where you can't get out once you're in, and inside are some particularly ferocious beasts with thick skin."

Mr. Song nodded. "Alright, I'll remind them."

"And here's a snake nest, with a great number of snakes, large and small, all highly venomous." Wei Dong circled another spot. "But I'm not sure if it's still there now. I haven't been into the Dayou Mountain for a long time."

Mr. Song nodded again and said to his steward, "Remember this."

The steward of the Song family was frightened just by listening, his face turning pale. "I remember, I remember everything."

Wei Dong's map looked like a rough sketch, with a line representing the road, a circle representing a location, and a larger circle representing a wooded marsh. Even though he wrote some words next to it, it still looked confusing.

The steward of the Song family tried hard to remember everything Wei Dong had said, becoming more nervous as he listened. "Trees can also kill people?"

Wei Dong nodded. "Their sap can melt flesh, and their branches can wrap around prey and drag them into tree holes as fertilizer."

He didn't know what kind of tree it was, but its fruits were very large and red, emitting a sweet fragrance. It lured prey to pick the fruit, then turned them into fertilizer to nourish itself. He had seen a large monkey climbing the tree to pick the fruit, only to be strangled to death by the branches.

"That's about it. I can't remember anything else." Wei Dong folded the paper, blowing on the ink stains. "I just want to advise you one last time, if you can avoid entering the Dayou Mountain, do so. It's too dangerous."

Mr. Song nodded in agreement, hearing one ear and letting it out the other. After all, he wasn't the one going into the mountains; there would always be some people who valued money more. 

He signaled to his steward, who approached Wei Dong and handed him a silver note worth one hundred taels.

Wei Dong raised an eyebrow and refused it. "I already received an extra two hundred taels for the deer just now. That's enough."

After bidding farewell to Mr. Song, Wei Dong went to the Herb Pavilion to pick up the medicine for the next ten days, then proceeded to the Wu Mansion without much greeting. 

Upon hearing that Mr. Wu wanted to find a hundred-year-old ginseng as a gift for his mother's eightieth birthday, Wei Dong nodded and agreed, "A hundred-year-old ginseng is hard to come by. Whether I can find one or not depends on luck. I'll give you a definite answer before the eighth day of next month."

After speaking, Wei Dong looked at Mr. Wu.

Mr. Wu's mother's birthday is on April 28th, and there are still twenty days before the eighth day of the next month. If he can't find the ginseng, he still has time to prepare other birthday gifts. 

With thirteen days left until the beginning of next month, Mr. Wu nodded and said, "Alright, I'll trouble you, young brother."

Wei Dong didn't take the deposit Mr. Wu gave him, only saying that he would give it to him when he brought the ginseng. 

…

On the other hand, after parting ways with Wei Dong, Tang Xu walked down the mountain with a basket on his back, picking mushrooms along the way until the basket was full, then headed towards the village.

"Xu Ge'er is going to the mountain again!" He met the woman who spoke to him last time. Tang Xu smiled, "Yes, there are many mushrooms in the mountains, so I'm going to pick some."

"I just saw your sister Li going to pick mushrooms too. What's so special about those mushrooms? They smell weird." The woman grimaced, showing her displeasure.

Tang Xu didn't say much. Taste preferences varied, and some people didn't enjoy the taste of mushrooms.

He went straight to the tofu seller's house and bought tofu for five coins. Carrying the bowl back home, he saw Liu Xiangxiang holding a small stick and hitting Tang Yang. Tang Yang screamed, running around and yelling, "I didn't do anything wrong, why is Mom hitting me?"

"How dare you steal my money, see how I beat you!" Liu Xiangxiang chased after him angrily, swinging the stick, but with limited accuracy, she basically didn't hit Tang Yang.

Seeing Tang Xu, Tang Yang rushed towards him, "Brother! Help, Mom's going to kill me!" 

Tang Xu frowned, blocking the person behind him. Liu Xiangxiang got even angrier when she saw him and swung the stick at him. Tang Xu stood still, reaching out to grab her wrist, smiling, "Mom, getting angry is bad for your health."

Liu Xiangxiang struggled a few times but couldn't break free, glaring at him. "You little beast, let go!"

"Why do you always include yourself when you scold me? You gave birth to me, so I'm a little beast, a little bastard, a little brat. Then what does that make you?" Tang Xu let go of her hand, no longer looking at her, turning to look at Tang Yang hiding behind him, asking him, "Did you steal money?"

Tang Yang vigorously shook his head, pouting when he glanced up at him.

Tang Yang nodded, "I, I didn't steal Mom's money. I just took back your money from mom."

Tang Xu was surprised, "My money?"

Tang Yang vigorously nodded, "Yes, yes, Sister said Mom took the ten copper coins Brother gave her to buy a jar!" He opened his dirty little hand, revealing ten copper coins inside.

"Brother, here you go."

Tang Xu really didn't expect this, the little guy actually felt so close to him now.

"No matter whose money this is, you can't just take it. You can reason with Mom and ask her to give the money back. Taking it secretly like this is wrong." He lightly pinched Tang Yang's cheek, "Apologize to Mom first."

Tang Yang's face was pinched, reluctantly saying, "Mom, I'm sorry, I won't do it again." Liu Xiangxiang was so angry that her eyes turned red. Her beloved son didn't listen to her but listened to Tang Xu, this short-lived ghost!

Tang Xu took the copper coins, counted five and kept them, giving the other five to Liu Xiangxiang, saying, "I just bought tofu for five coins. We'll use it to stew loaches for lunch. Keep the remaining five coins for next time we need it."

After that, he patted Tang Yang's shoulder, "Go help Sister peel the bamboo shoots, and I'll give you two extra loaches to eat later."

Tang Yang crisply agreed and ran to call Tang Li out to work.

Liu Xiangxiang looked at the five copper coins in her hand and bitterly said to Tang Xu, "You little beast, don't get cocky!"

Tang Xu shrugged, carrying the tofu towards the kitchen, leaving behind a remark, "Mom should cherish herself and not do things to harm others, it will not be good for anyone."

Liu Xiangxiang gritted her teeth and angrily went back into the house.

Lunch was a big pot of tofu stewed with loaches. After eating, Tang Xu went back to his room to rest. When he climbed into bed, he saw the hemp rope piled up in the corner. Thinking about going to help Wei Dong tomorrow by weaving baskets, he couldn't help but chuckle.

Going empty-handed might seem impolite, after all, Wei Dong said he would give him some fish.

Tang Xu licked his lips, thinking he should bring something that would remind Wei Dong of him as soon as he saw it, but it shouldn't be too valuable, otherwise it might be rejected. What should he bring? 

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