All Heavens Strategy Game

Chapter 50. Goodbye Old Hu, Ouyang Ziming

After discussing the details of the plan with Lin Qingyun under the eaves of a street corner, Su Ming then escorted Lin Qingyun home.

He couldn't carry so many wolf pelts by himself.

Su Ming drove the donkey cart, carrying the valuable wolf pelt and the scholar Lin Qingyun, who was still immersed in great excitement and creative passion, over the muddy streets that were beginning to freeze, heading towards Wutong Lane in the north of the city.

The alley was indeed remote and dilapidated, with low, crooked mud houses on both sides. The snow was left untouched, with only a muddy path trampled into the middle.

When Su Ming found the third house from the end of the alley, with its gate made of a few broken planks and filled with withered grass to block the wind, a slight thought struck him.

This was the home Lin Qingyun described as the place where he and his grandmother lived together.

The gate to the courtyard was ajar, and Su Ming helped carry the wolf pelt into the small but surprisingly tidy courtyard.

There was an old locust tree in the courtyard, its branches bare and covered with snow.

Directly opposite the courtyard gate were two low mud houses with several torn window paper sections, which were barely covered with old cloth.

"My grandmother has difficulty walking and usually rests in the inner room. Put these wolf pelts in the woodshed first, so as not to disturb her."

Lin Qingyun lowered his voice and pointed to a smaller shed next to him, which was piled with firewood.

Just as the two had hidden the wolf pelt in the corner of the woodshed and were brushing the snow off their clothes, an old but gentle voice came from the main room: "Qingyun'er? Is that you back? I heard some noise outside."

"Oh, Grandmother, it's me who's back."

Lin Qingyun quickly responded, glanced at Su Ming, signaling him to wait a moment, and then strode into the main room.

Su Ming stood in the courtyard and could hear low conversations coming from inside, accompanied by a few suppressed coughs.

Before long, Lin Qingyun helped an old woman slowly move out of the house.

The old woman looked very old; her hair was almost entirely white, and she had tied it into a sparse bun at the back of her head, secured with a wooden hairpin.

His face was lined with deep wrinkles, bearing witness to the passage of time, but his eyes were not entirely clouded. At this moment, they looked at Su Ming, who was standing in the courtyard, with kindness and a hint of curiosity.

She was wearing an old cotton-padded jacket that was patched but clean, and thick cotton-padded trousers. However, her left leg was obviously a little weak, and she needed to lean on her grandson to walk.

"This is—" the old woman said, her voice a little hoarse, but her tone very kind.

"Grandmother, this is Brother Su Ming, a new friend of mine," Lin Qingyun quickly introduced, then turned to Su Ming: "Brother Su, this is my grandmother."

"Hello, Grandma." Su Ming stepped forward, cupped his hands in a respectful greeting.

Regardless of Lin Qingyun's character, proper etiquette must be observed when facing such an elderly person.

"Good, good child, don't be so polite." Madam Lin smiled.

Her gaze swept over Su Ming's face and body. Although Su Ming's clothes were ordinary and he had a wound on his temple, he had an upright posture and clear eyes, which did not seem like a cunning person. She felt a sense of goodwill towards him.

"What are you doing standing in the courtyard on such a cold day? Qingyun'er, please invite the guest inside to warm up."

"Brother Su, the house is simple. If you don't mind, please come in and sit down, and have a bowl of hot water to warm yourself up," Lin Qingyun quickly invited.

Su Ming originally intended to leave after giving away the wolf pelt, but seeing the old man's hospitality and Lin Qingyun's expectant eyes, he hesitated for a moment before nodding and saying, "Then I'll trouble you."

The room was smaller than I had imagined, with very little furniture: a table, two stools, an old bed, and a stove connected to a heated brick bed—that was all.

Everything was tidy and organized; though poor, it didn't appear dirty or messy. A ember still burned in the stove, making the small space much warmer than outside.

Madam Lin asked Su Ming to sit on the stool, while she herself sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed).

Lin Qingyun deftly poured two bowls of hot water into a rough earthenware bowl, handing one to Su Ming and the other to her grandmother.

"Where is Su Xiaolang from? He looks unfamiliar; he doesn't seem to be someone who frequents this city," Old Madam Lin asked gently, holding a bowl of hot water.

"I am from Sishui Village outside the city. I have come to the city today to take care of some business," Su Ming replied.

"Sishui Village—is it near Xiaochong Mountain?" The old lady seemed to know the place and nodded. "That place is not peaceful these days. I heard that wolves are rampant in the mountains. I'm afraid life is not easy for the people in your village."

Su Ming's heart stirred slightly. He glanced at Lin Qingyun and saw him shake his head slightly. He knew that the old man was unaware of the wolf hunting, so he continued, "Yes, it was quite a big deal a few days ago, but it's better now."

"That's good, that's good. The most important thing is that everyone is safe and sound."

The old lady sighed, then looked at the ointment on Su Ming's temple and the bandage wrapped around his hand, and said with concern, "Young master, this injury—did you bump into something? You must be careful, it's cold, the wound won't heal easily."

"Thank you for your concern, Grandma. It's just a superficial injury, nothing serious." Su Ming felt a warmth in his heart.

Although the old lady was poor, she treated people with genuine care and concern; no wonder she was able to raise Lin Qingyun to be such a trustworthy and reliable person.

A grandson who knows how to be grateful and remember kindness.

The group chatted for a while longer, mostly with the old lady asking questions and Su Ming and Lin Qingyun answering.

Although the old man had difficulty walking and lived in a humble alley for a long time, he did not complain much in his speech. Instead, he exuded a kind of peace after experiencing hardships.

Seeing that Su Ming was honest and well-mannered, she felt even more favorably toward him. Suddenly, she said to Lin Qingyun, "Qingyun, Su Xiaolang has come all this way and helped you. How can you just let him have a bowl of hot water? It's almost lunchtime. Go and catch that speckled chicken in the yard, kill it, make a soup, and let Su Xiaolang have a simple meal at home."

Lin Qingyun was taken aback, and subconsciously said, "Grandmother, that chicken—"

That speckled hen that laid eggs was practically the most valuable "property" in the family besides the meager food rations. Most of the eggs it laid were saved up to exchange for salt and needles and thread, or to nourish my grandmother's body; we ourselves couldn't bear to eat them.

"Go when I tell you to." The old lady's tone was gentle, yet carried an undeniable air of authority: "Young Master Su is an honored guest; how can we neglect him? Go quickly."

Su Ming had already spotted the speckled hen in the yard, which was kept alone in a small corner and was scratching for food in the snow. It was not large, and its plumage was somewhat dull due to lack of nutrition.

He immediately understood that the significance of this chicken to the grandfather and grandson was probably no less than that of a cow to an ordinary farmer.

He absolutely cannot eat this meal.

"Grandma, there's no need for that." Su Ming immediately stood up, his tone sincere and firm: "I appreciate your kindness, but I absolutely cannot eat this meal today."

"Why is that?" the old lady asked, puzzled. "Does it mean you think my home is too shabby and the food too coarse?"

"Grandma, you're being too kind."

Su Ming replied, "To be honest, my family are also farmers, and we are used to simple meals. Why would we complain?"

"It's just that I have some urgent business to attend to in the city, and I need to take care of it immediately. There's no time to waste."

"If I were to neglect my duties for the sake of a meal, I would feel uneasy."

Having lived to such an old age, how could Madam Lin not hear the sincerity and thoughtfulness in his words?

This child clearly knows how important the chicken is to his family; he's just making an excuse.

Most people would be eager to devour all the good food in your house, but this boy is so honest and kind; he's a good kid.

"You child—" the old lady sighed, no longer insisting, "Since you really have important business to attend to, this old woman can't force you to stay."

"But I will remember this kindness."

"Qingyun'er, you've made a good friend."

Lin Qingyun, standing to the side, was filled with mixed emotions.

He had previously only thought that Su Ming was exceptionally strong and decisive in his actions, but now he realized that the other party also had such a thoughtful and meticulous side in dealing with people.

She can be surprisingly gentle and considerate when she speaks.

"Grandma, you flatter me. In that case, I'll take my leave now." Su Ming cupped his hands in farewell again.

"Alright, alright, be careful on the road. Qingyun, see Su Xiaolang off," the old lady instructed.

Lin Qingyun saw Su Ming out of the courtyard and said in a low voice, "Brother Su, thank you very much for today."

This "thank you" was both a thank you to Su Ming for agreeing to cooperate and a thank you for his thoughtfulness and respect towards his grandmother earlier.

"Brother Lin, you're too kind. It's my duty. Now that the wolf pelt and money have been delivered, I'll leave the rest to you. I'll wait for your news in a month." Su Ming climbed onto the donkey cart.

"I will certainly live up to your trust!" Lin Qingyun solemnly promised.

The donkey cart creaked as it drove away from the dilapidated yet warm Wutong Lane.

Su Ming looked back and saw the thin scholar still standing in the cold wind in front of the broken wooden door, waving vigorously at him until he turned the corner of the alley and could no longer be seen.

It was already afternoon, but Su Ming did not go straight out of the city to go home. He touched the only wolf skin left beside him, drove the donkey cart, and turned towards the "wild market" in the north of the city.

The market was even more deserted than the last time I visited. Many stalls had already closed, leaving only a handful of people who had nowhere else to go or were hoping to try their luck selling something to earn a living. They were still shivering in the cold wind and holding on.

Su Ming's gaze swept across the area and quickly locked onto the deepest corner of the alley.

Old Hu was indeed still there, still wrapped in that old, thin jacket, squatting on the ground with three small, mostly empty earthenware bottles in front of him—the very bottles that had previously contained the "Tibetan Flavor Powder".

I wonder what kind of medicine powder they're selling this time.

He was huddled up, his hands tucked into his sleeves, his chin resting on his knees. Ice crystals covered his gray eyebrows and beard, and his face was blue from the cold. He looked miserable and almost frozen, clearly indicating that his business had failed again today.

Su Ming stopped the donkey cart and picked up an ordinary wolf skin that was tied with straw rope on the cart board—this was the one he had specially kept to fulfill his promise.

He walked up to Old Hu's stall and saw that the man seemed a little dazed from the cold and hadn't noticed him, so he bent down and gently placed the gray, but thick and warm, wolf skin on the tattered cloth in front of Old Hu.

The soft fur touched his cold fingers, and Old Hu shuddered. He suddenly looked up, his cloudy eyes initially blank, but when he saw the person standing in front of him and the extra things on the stall, he was startled and almost fell backward.

"It's...it's you?"

Old Hu recognized Su Ming and stammered, his gaze shifting uncertainly between Su Ming's face and the wolf skin: "Young man, what are you doing?"

Su Ming straightened up, his tone calm, as if he were talking about something trivial: "Your Tibetan-style rice noodles are good; they helped me a lot."

"As agreed before, I'll give you a wolfskin coat."

"The tanning of this leather is not bad. You can take it back and find someone or make a coat for yourself."

"Don't let yourself get cold in this weather."

Old Hu was stunned, his mouth slightly open, unable to utter a word for a long time.

He instinctively reached out, his hand trembling, to touch the wolf skin.

It feels substantial and the fur is smooth, with a slightly stiff but excellent warmth that comes with tanning. The fur is intact, with only a treated cut on the neck.

This is definitely not an old, worn-out pelt; it is a top-quality wolf pelt that was recently hunted and tanned!

This boy—did he really go into the mountains to kill wolves in the dead of winter?

Not only did he kill me, but he actually—actually remembered that "joke" that I hadn't taken seriously at all, and actually gave me this fine leather piece that was worth quite a few copper coins so casually?

Old Hu felt a sudden rush of heat to his eyes, and his nose stung.

He had been running a stall in this market for many years and had seen the coldness of human nature, the swindling and cheating, and the endless pursuit of personal gain.

A good piece of leather can turn brothers against each other and neighbors into enemies.

But this young man in front of me had already paid for the medicine powder, and the transaction was settled. I had long forgotten my joke about "giving you a wolfskin coat," but he remembered it and actually delivered it!

"This—this won't do, this won't do!"

Old Hu recoiled as if burned, jerking his hand back and shaking his head repeatedly, his face flushed with excitement and shame: "Young man, that—that was just a joke, don't take it seriously!"

"You've already paid for that powder; it was a mutually agreeable transaction. There's no reason for us to take anything else from you."

"This wolf pelt is too valuable, old man, I can't accept it. Take it back quickly, take it back quickly!"

He struggled to stand up and return the wolf skin to Su Ming, but after squatting for so long, his legs and feet were numb with cold, and he stumbled and almost fell.

Su Ming reached out to help him up, his tone still calm but carrying an unyielding indifference: "I said I'd give it to you, so take it. It's just a piece of fur, nothing much. You don't need it. Where are your family? In this freezing weather, you're almost frozen stiff. Don't you have anyone in your family suffering from the cold? If you make a coat out of the fur, it'll keep you warmer and less miserable."

Old Hu's outstretched hand froze in mid-air.

Su Ming's last words were like a needle, precisely piercing the softest and most helpless spot in his heart.

He opened his mouth, but all the reasons he had prepared for refusing became pale and powerless in the face of the words "family," and he couldn't utter a single word.

Yes, if my old bones freeze, so be it, but what about my sick wife and grandson at home—are they supposed to tough it out too?

He stared blankly at the gray wolf pelt on the ground, which seemed to radiate warmth. Then he looked up at the calm and expressionless face of the boy in front of him. In those clear eyes, there was no pity of charity, no condescending favor, only a sense of "doing what you say" that was almost taken for granted.

A surge of scalding heat could no longer be contained, bursting through the restraints around my eyes.

Old Hu hurriedly lowered his head, wiped his eyes hard with the back of his chapped, rough hands, and when he raised his head again, his voice was choked with sobs: "Young man...you...you've made this happen to me...I..."

He stammered for a long time without getting to the bottom of it; a thousand words were stuck in his chest, and in the end, all he could do was wipe his eyes more vigorously.

Su Ming didn't say anything more, just patted his shoulder lightly, and turned to leave.

The words have been spoken, the goods have been delivered, and saying anything more would be pretentious.

"Brother! Wait! Wait a minute!" Old Hu suddenly snapped out of his daze when he saw that Su Ming was really about to leave. He didn't care about his disheveled appearance and hurriedly called out.

As if he had suddenly remembered something, he frantically began searching behind the dilapidated stall.

Su Ming stopped and looked back.

Old Hu carefully took out a small object wrapped in old cotton wool from the corner.

He strode up to Su Ming, shoved the small package into Su Ming's hands without a word, his face still streaked with tears, yet he forced a somewhat awkward smile, a mixture of shame and hope: "Young man, I can't thank you enough. I don't have anything else of value—please take this!"

Su Ming touched the cotton-wrapped object and felt its warmth; it was even slightly wriggling. Surprised, he gently lifted a corner and met a pair of wet, round, black grape-like eyes—it was a puppy!

Judging by its size, it's not much bigger than the palm of your hand.

Its fur is light yellow mixed with some black and gray, and the puppy fur has not yet fallen out, making it look fluffy.

The puppy was held by a stranger. It instinctively bared its still-growing baby teeth and made a soft "woofing" sound. But it seemed to smell Old Hu's familiar scent and heard Old Hu shush. It immediately stopped growling and instead stuck out its pink little tongue to tentatively lick Su Ming's fingers.

"This is—" Su Ming was stunned.

"It's a bastard, a hound's offspring!"

Old Hu hurriedly explained, his face showing a complex expression of reminiscence and pride: "To be honest, young man, I used to be a hunter who made a living in the mountains. In addition to knowing how to mix some ancestral medicinal powders, my family has raised hunting dogs for generations."

"During my most glorious years, I led seven or eight good dogs, traversing mountains and forests, and wild animals dared not approach me."

"Alas, later the family fell into decline, people got old, and the dogs either died or were sold. Now there is only an old female dog that has been with me for more than ten years. Two months ago, she had this litter, and only this one survived, her only offspring."

He looked at the puppy in Su Ming's arms with affection and sighed, "An old dog's only son is the most precious, and often the most intelligent and capable."

"But nowadays—I can't even feed myself, let alone raise it."

"I originally wanted to take it to this market to see if any kind-hearted person or fellow hunters who needed a hunting dog would buy it and give it a chance to survive. It's better than it starving to death with me. But after listing it for several days, very few people have inquired about it."

"Young man, you're a skilled hunter. This bastard is perfectly suited to follow you!"

"Once it grows up, it will definitely be a great help to you, for tracking, guarding, and hunting. I guarantee it won't let you down! You should—you should take it!"

Su Ming looked down at the little guy in his arms, who was squinting comfortably because of the warmth and gently rubbing his head against his palm.

Its eyes were indeed bright and alert, displaying a level of intelligence far exceeding that of an ordinary puppy.

Old Hu spoke with reluctance yet determination, clearly wanting to repay the wolf skin's kindness with the only thing he could offer, perhaps his last "treasure."

"Hunting dogs need to eat some meat at every meal to grow well, and so do my dogs—" Su Ming hesitated.

Raising a good hunting dog requires a significant investment, especially in years of famine.

"Yes, I want to raise them well so they can have meat at every meal."

Old Hu nodded, but then immediately added, "But if things get really tough, a little minced meat, or even just a few drops of oil mixed with rice, will be enough to feed them."

"It's not picky, which is better than it following me—brother, I can see that you are a capable and kind-hearted person. It's good fortune for this puppy to follow you."

"Just consider it—just consider it a small token of my goodwill, and also give this little thing a chance to live, okay?"

Having said all that, Su Ming really couldn't say anything more.

He felt the warmth and gentle, dependent touch of the little life in his arms, and a soft spot in his heart was touched.

Having a hunting dog would indeed be very beneficial for future mountain treks and guarding of the house.

Although things are tough right now, since we're destined to meet, let's accept it!

No matter how tough life gets, with an extra mouth to feed, there's always a way to find a solution.

"Alright, in that case, I'll accept it. Thank you, Uncle Hu."

Without further hesitation, Su Ming carefully pulled the puppy closer to his chest, covering it with the front of his cotton-padded jacket, leaving only its little head exposed.

"Hey! Good, good!" Old Hu's face lit up with joy when he saw Su Ming accept it, as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders, and he nodded repeatedly.

"Young man, treat it well, it will definitely not let you down! By the way, it doesn't have a name yet, can you give it one?"

Looking into the puppy's bright, pure black eyes, Su Ming thought for a moment and said, "Its mother is an old dog, it's an only child, and with this coat color—let's name it Golden Tiger. I hope it will be as brave as a tiger in the future, and also bring me some good fortune."

The name may be a bit rustic, but it has a good meaning and is easy to pronounce.

"Golden Tiger? What a great name! How majestic!" Old Hu exclaimed.

The puppy seemed to understand that it was being talked about. It raised its head and barked at Su Ming, its voice soft and childish but full of energy.

The two smiled at each other, and even the cold wind seemed to warm up a bit.

After exchanging a few more words about the trivial matters to be careful about feeding, Su Ming picked up Jin Hu, said goodbye to Old Hu, and got back onto the donkey cart.

Holding a warm little life in his arms, Su Ming's state of mind was somewhat different.

He glanced at the sky; although it was nearing dusk, he still had things to finish.

Driving a donkey cart, he followed the address provided by Zheng the butcher and his son to find Ouyang Zimo's residence and workshop in a not-so-prosperous area in the west of the city.

It was an independent house with a small courtyard, more tidy than ordinary houses, but the facade was not conspicuous, with only a wooden sign without any writing on it.

When the door was opened, a middle-aged man came out, completely different from the image of a burly blacksmith or bow maker with calloused hands that Su Ming had imagined.

He was tall and thin, wearing a slightly worn but neat dark long gown, with a cotton vest over it for warmth. He had a lean face, three long wisps of beard, and calm eyes.

If it weren't for the thick calluses on his knuckles from years of labor, and the faint smell of wood, paint, and metal emanating from his body, he would look more like an accountant in a trading company, or a frustrated scholar.

"Whom are you looking for?" Ouyang Ziming's voice was as calm and soothing as his personality.

"Is this Master Ouyang? I am Su Ming, introduced by Uncle Zheng Zhenshan, the butcher from the east of the city, and have come to pay my respects." Su Ming said, cupping his hands in greeting.

Upon hearing Zheng Zhenshan's name, a barely perceptible ripple flickered in Ouyang Ziming's calm eyes. He sized up Su Ming, especially noticing the bulging and slightly shifting front of his robe and the empty donkey cart behind him, before stepping aside to let him in.

The yard wasn't big, but it was kept very tidy.

On one side was a shed, from which came faint smells of smoke and various tools and materials;

On the other side are the houses.

Ouyang Zimo led Su Ming into a small hut that served as both a reception area and a drawing room. Inside, there was a small charcoal brazier, which was much warmer than outside.

Several bows and crossbows, some completed and some unfinished, hung on the wall. They were all different in shape and had smooth lines. Even though Su Ming was not very knowledgeable about them, he could tell that they were exquisite.

"I have some old ties with Butcher Zheng. Young man, what brings you here?" Ouyang Zimo asked directly without exchanging pleasantries.

Su Ming carefully avoided Jin Hu from his bosom, took out the long, well-protected item wrapped in oiled paper, placed it on the table, and carefully unfolded it to reveal the pale yellow, clearly veined, and faintly powerful wolf king tendon inside.

"I was fortunate enough to obtain a fine animal sinew, and I would like to ask Master Ouyang to help me make a strong bow."

Ouyang Zimo's gaze fell on the wolf tendon, and his usually calm and even eyes instantly sharpened.

He stepped forward, but instead of taking it immediately, he examined it carefully for a moment, even bending down slightly to take a sniff, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"This is... wolf tendon? And it's definitely not from an ordinary wolf!"

He raised his head, his gaze towards Su Ming now more scrutinizing: "This tendon is exceptionally tough and elastic, still retaining its ferocious aura. It must have come from a wolf king-level beast, right? And it wasn't fresh for long."

"Master Ouyang has a good eye." Su Ming nodded: "It was indeed taken from a giant wolf with silver-white fur."

Ouyang Zimo didn't ask any further questions about the origin of the tendon. He gently picked up one end of the wolf tendon, carefully feeling its texture and toughness. After a moment, he slowly said, "This kind of thing is a once-in-a-century find. I only heard my master mention it back then. I never thought I would actually see it with my own eyes. The quality of this tendon is excellent; it's the best I've seen in recent years. I wonder how many stones of bow you would like to make, young brother?"

"Five-stone bow," Su Ming uttered three words.

"Five stones?" Ouyang Zimo frowned almost imperceptibly, carefully examined Su Ming again, lingering for a moment on his not particularly burly figure, and shook his head.

"Young man, it's not that I'm shirking my responsibility or looking down on you."

"The Five Stone Bow requires five or six hundred catties of strength to draw; it cannot be drawn without superhuman strength and long-term arduous training."

"This sinew is more than enough to make a five-stone bow, but if you are not strong enough and force yourself to draw the bow, you will not only fail to exert the bow's power, but you will also easily injure yourself."

"It would be more reliable and convenient to make a bow with a strength of two or three stones."

"Thank you for the reminder, Master Ouyang."

Su Ming's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable certainty: "I have some confidence in my strength, and I may even improve in the future."

"Having obtained such excellent talent, I am unwilling to settle for less."

"Please trouble Master Ouyang to forge a five-stone bow. Please tell me what materials and labor costs are needed."

Ouyang Ziming looked at Su Ming's calm and determined eyes and remained silent for a moment.

The young man was dressed plainly, even somewhat shabby, but he had a calm and composed demeanor, and he showed no arrogance when he mentioned the Five Stone Bow.

He suddenly remembered that Zheng Zhenshan had come by in a hurry a few days ago, and in his words he had praised a certain "young man from Sishui Village" highly and vaguely mentioned "inhuman" power. Could it be the person in front of him?

"Since you insist, and with Butcher Zheng's recommendation, I can make this bow."

Ouyang Zimo finally revealed: "However, the craftsmanship of the Five Stone Bow is complex and time-consuming. It requires carefully selecting the wooden core, preparing the fish glue, carving the bow thread, and repeatedly straightening it. Even if everything goes smoothly, it will still take more than a month, and the labor cost is considerable."

"Take as long as it takes, and how much money it will cost, Master Ouyang, please tell me," Su Ming said.

Ouyang Zimo pondered for a moment and said, "For the wood used for bows, I have excellent mulberry and mulberry wood, as well as rarer and tougher sandalwood and ironwood to choose from."

"Bow strings can be woven from a mixture of cow tendon, human hair, or silk, and there are also different grades."

"Other materials such as horn, glue, lacquer, and decorations also have specific requirements."

"Roughly speaking, if practicality is the only requirement, a minimum of three taels of silver would suffice."

"To achieve both durability and some performance characteristics, eight ounces are needed."

"If the best auxiliary materials are used, and the ultimate power, feel and durability are pursued, and appropriate decorations are added, then fifteen taels are required."

Which one do you want?

Fifteen taels!

This is almost equivalent to the price Wang Tielei quoted for that wolf king pelt.

At this moment, Su Ming didn't even have a single tael of silver on him.

But he knew that a good bow was like a second life for a hunter, especially after witnessing the ferocity of wolves, when a powerful weapon was even more necessary.

If we're going to build it, we can't settle for less!

Wolf tendon, such a main material, is extremely rare and hard to come by. It would be a waste to have the bow's overall performance affected by poor auxiliary materials.

We must choose the best quality!

His mind raced. Although he had no money at the moment, he had already entrusted the wolf skin to Lin Qingyun for operation, and according to the plan, there would definitely be a return within a month.

At that time, fifteen taels of silver should not be a problem.

"Master Ouyang, I want the best, the fifteen-tael kind." Su Ming gritted his teeth and made his choice.

A hint of surprise flashed in Ouyang Zimo's eyes. He hadn't expected this seemingly poor young man to have such courage.

"Fifteen taels is no small sum. You—"

"To be honest, Master Ouyang, I came in a hurry today and did not bring enough money."

Su Ming replied frankly, showing little embarrassment: "Could you grant me some time to repay the fifteen taels? Once the bow is completed, I will certainly bring the full amount of money to collect it."

"I wonder—is a deposit required?"

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Zimo was not angry. Instead, he gave Su Ming another deep look.

If an ordinary person were to make such a demand for a powerful bow worth fifteen taels of silver without any explanation, he would have already served tea and seen the guest off.

But the young man before me had clear and open eyes, and spoke with sincerity and determination.

More importantly, the wolf tendon in his hand was quite valuable in itself. The fact that the other party dared to entrust him with such a precious material was itself a form of trust and "collateral".

Moreover, given Zheng Zhenshan's connection, and the fact that this young man does indeed seem to possess extraordinary qualities—

"No need for the deposit."

Ouyang Zimo waved his hand, his tone indifferent: "This tendon is precious. Since I have agreed, I will make it with care."

"You may come and collect the bow in one month."

"At that time, the payment will be settled on a cash-on-delivery basis."

He paused, looked at Su Ming, and slowly added, "I'm not afraid you won't come; in fact, I'd love for you not to come. If this bow is completed, even if you don't come to pay, it's mine. Even if you don't take it, I'll still sell it for a good price."

"I only hope that this fine bow will not be wasted, but will be used by someone who can truly draw it and use it well, so that it can unleash its full power."

These words were frank, even somewhat blunt, but Su Ming could tell that there was no disdain in them; on the contrary, there was a craftsman's expectation for the final destination of his work.

He solemnly clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Master Ouyang, rest assured, if this bow is completed, Su Ming will certainly live up to its promise."

"It will arrive as scheduled one month from now, without missing a single penny."

"Okay." Ouyang Zimo nodded, said no more, picked up the wolf tendon, looked at it carefully, and then began to ask Su Ming about his specific requirements for the feel, length, and draw distance. He also took out a charcoal pencil and rough paper and sketched it out.

After all the details were agreed upon, Su Ming took his leave.