Hunting 81: Gathering Goods in the Mountains, I Spoil My Ex-Wife to the Extreme

"Comrade, this tiger skin is from the tiger I killed in the Red Star Forest Farm."

Li Yunshan stepped forward to explain.

"You killed a tiger? Oh, so you're Li Yunshan, the one who killed the man-eating tiger at Hongxing Forest Farm. My apologies."

After hearing Li Yunshan's explanation, Director Li was stunned for a moment, and then quickly thought of the recent uproar about the tiger killing incident at Hongxing Forest Farm. It was said that more than ten forest rangers, loggers and hunters who went into the mountains to hunt tigers had died, but the number was reduced to a few when it was published in the newspaper.

But this does not diminish people's fear of this man-eating tiger.

However, Director Li heard these past two days that the man-eating tiger that had caused such widespread panic had actually been killed.

On the same day it was killed, it also killed four hunters who had entered the mountains.

Then, the tiger was killed by a hunter named Li Yunshan with three shots.

Director Li is a retired soldier who was very competitive when he was in the army. Now that he has been transferred to civilian life, he was eager to get to know Li Yunshan after hearing that such a heroic figure had emerged from his jurisdiction.

But he never expected that the person who called the police today would be Li Yunshan.

"You're too kind. May I ask your surname, comrade?"

Seeing that he had the air of someone in a superior position, Li Yunshan humbly replied.

"My name is Li Ji, and I am the head of the Xiangyang Commune Police Station."

Director Li said.

Next came the formalities, including questioning about the events of the day, from Li Yunshan waking up in the morning to discovering that he was being followed by Wang Laowu, to how they lured the snakes out and arrested Yu Ergou and Wang Laowu.

There was also a police officer taking notes nearby.

Soon, the statements were taken, and the two police officers handcuffed Yu Ergou and Wang Laowu and put them on the sidecar motorcycle.

"Comrade Li Yunshan, thank you very much for eliminating this scourge for the people, and thank you very much for your support of our public security work."

Before leaving, Director Li gave Li Yunshan a salute, firstly to thank him for killing the tiger that had caused widespread panic, and secondly to thank him for giving him the credit.

After all, it was Li Yunshan and others who caught Yu Ergou and Wang Laowu for burglary; they were just dispatched to Guapigou Village on a police mission.

"Hehe, Director Li, you flatter me. But there's something I'd like to remind you: we need to keep digging deeper into these two petty thieves; there might be unexpected benefits," Li Yunshan said with a slight smile, offering a subtle reminder.

"You mean..." Director Li was immediately surprised and suspicious. He understood Li Yunshan's implication. Could these two petty thieves have committed something even bigger?

"Director Li, please investigate further."

Li Yunshan stopped there, saying no more.

"Okay, I'll listen to you and dig deeper."

After Director Li finished speaking, he paused, then asked, "Comrade Li Yunshan, which unit did you retire from?"

"Retired from the military?"

Li Yunshan was taken aback. He hadn't expected Director Li to ask this question, so he said, "Director Li, I've never served in the military."

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, serving in the army has always been a glorious thing, regardless of the era. As the saying goes, "If one person serves in the army, the whole family is honored."

For young people of military age, especially in rural areas, joining the army is a good way out. After a few years of training in the military, those with strong abilities can stay in the army and be promoted to officers, while those with weaker abilities can still receive a demobilization allowance and return to their hometown. It is better than being a farmer in the countryside and toiling in the fields for a living.

"You've never been in the army? I thought you had the guts to hunt tigers because you were trained in the military. It's a pity, I think you're in your early twenties, so you can't join the army. If I had met you a few years earlier, I would definitely have recommended you to join the army. You would definitely have made a name for yourself in the military."

I'm already twenty-six this year.

Li Yunshan said.

Before hanging out with Yu Ergou and his gang, Li Yunshan had considered joining the army, but the competition was fierce and he didn't get a chance.

Later, he got married and then spent several years fooling around with Yu Ergou and others.

"What a pity, what a real pity."

Director Li couldn't help but feel regretful.

Li Yunshan also felt a pang of regret. If he had actually joined the army back then, he probably wouldn't have spent so many years in a daze.

But then I thought, if he had really joined the army back then, would he still have married Gao Hongmei? He probably wouldn't have met Su Lihua and Lin Xiulan either.

Thinking about this, Li Yunshan felt there was nothing to regret.

"Comrade Li Yunshan, if you have time, how about we go hunting together?"

"No problem at all, Director Li, you're giving me face, I have to take responsibility for this."

Li Yunshan smiled. They'd already extended an olive branch; as the saying goes, having more friends means having more options, and who knows when it might come in handy.

"Haha, okay, it's settled then."

Director Li smiled, chatted with Li Yunshan for a few more minutes, and that was how they became friends.

Soon, Yu Ergou and Wang Laowu were stuffed into the sidecar of a three-wheeled vehicle and taken away by Director Li and his men.

The scene of Li Yunshan chatting and laughing with Director Li just now made the villagers who had gathered together extremely envious. Not only did Li Yunshan become sworn brothers with Director Zhou of Hongxing Forest Farm, but he could also talk to Director Li of the police station.

Did you hear that? The director even invited Li Yunshan to go hunting in the mountains together sometime.

"Li Yunshan has really made it big lately. He's not only made money, but he's also built up a network of connections."

"Exactly! He's got the farm manager on one hand, and he's also going hunting with the station chief. Anyone would be jealous!"

"Do you think Li Yunshan has been incredibly lucky lately? How come he's doing so well?"

"..."

Outside the courtyard, the onlookers were chatting animatedly, but Li Yunshan had no interest in what they were talking about. He glanced at the tiger skin placed on the table and thought that he should get rid of it as soon as possible to avoid attracting thieves to his house.

As the old saying goes, you can be a thief for a thousand days, but you can't guard against thieves for a thousand days. He can't stay at home all day to guard the tiger skin, or have Xiulan stay at home all day to guard it. That's impossible.

As for the deerskin, once it has been air-dried and tanned, Xiulan will make deerskin boots from it.

Having made up his mind, Li Yunshan checked the time and found that it was not yet noon.

"Big brother, now that I've finished my business, I need to pick up Xiulan and Doudou, and then we'll go to the county town together."

"Didn't you say you'd postpone it until tomorrow?"

"No, we'll go today. We'll stay at the guesthouse tonight."

Li Yunshan whispered in Li Yunshi's ear, "Keeping this tiger skin at home will only attract thieves. We might as well find a way to sell it for a good price as soon as possible. Next spring, I want to tear down this whole house and rebuild it. That will probably cost a lot of money."

"Alright, since you got the tiger skin through your own efforts, I won't interfere. But let me tell you, don't waste the money from selling the tiger skin!"

"Alright, big brother, I've learned it all, so don't worry."

Li Yunshan smiled, then went inside and put the broken chair in the corner. He tidied up the whole house before locking the door again. Then he went to Li Yunshi's house to pick up Lin Xiulan and Doudou.

"Third brother, is everything settled?"

Upon arriving at Li Yunshi's house, Huang Zhifang asked with concern.

"Mother, everything's taken care of. The police have arrested Yu Ergou and Wang Laowu. I was planning not to go to the county town today, but I thought about it again and decided to sell this tiger skin as soon as possible to avoid attracting unwanted attention."

"When the time comes, I'll deposit the money I earn in the bank first, and the bank will give me an 8% interest rate."

Li Yunshan said with a smile.

"8% interest, how much would that cost?"

"If you deposit 1,000 yuan for one month, you will earn 8 yuan in interest; if you deposit it for one year, you will earn 96 yuan in interest."

"Wow, that's a lot! It's more than what we farmers earn in a year by working in the fields."

Upon hearing this, Huang Zhifang's face immediately lit up with a smile.

"Mom, what's there to be so happy about? The money isn't even going to be in your hands, why are you so excited!"

Wang Xiaolian said sarcastically from the side.

"I'd be happy if the money ended up in my son's hands; I don't need it to be in my own."

Despite her eldest daughter-in-law's sarcastic remarks, Huang Zhifang remained cheerful, which made Wang Xiaolian feel like she had punched a cotton ball.

"Mom, when I get back from the county town, I'll go to the department store and buy you some nice things to take good care of you."

Li Yunshan wasn't too keen on talking to his sister-in-law Wang Xiaolian. After chatting with Huang Zhifang for a few more minutes, he left with Lin Xiulan and Doudou.

"Hmph, what's so great about it?"

Wang Xiaolian muttered something under her breath, and Huang Zhifang could only sigh.

……

After leaving Li Yunshi's house, Li Yunshan rode his bicycle, carrying Lin Xiulan and Dou Dou, towards the county town.

"Yunshan, if we go now, won't we have to travel in the dark tonight?"

Lin Xiulan frowned as she sat on the back of the bicycle.

"We dare not walk home in the dark tonight. We'll stay at the county guesthouse for the night. After visiting Hongmei's father, I'll find a way to sell this tiger skin so that it won't attract envy at home."

"Then, I'll take you and DouDou on a proper tour of the county town. We'll go out to eat, and then go to the department store to see what we want to eat and buy."

"It's good that you have your own ideas, but we're staying at the county guesthouse for one night and then going out to eat. How much will that cost? Maybe I should take DouDou and stay at the hospital with my older sister and the others tonight, and then we won't have to go out to eat."

Although Lin Xiulan really wanted to eat out, since she had never eaten out before, she was reluctant to do so because she thought about how much money it might cost.

Farmers don't earn much money all year round, yet they spend money on eating out; isn't that wasteful?

"Xiulan, don't worry. We have money now. What's wrong with me taking you out to eat? When I'm rich in the future, I'll build you a big villa, buy you a car, and let you eat the finest delicacies."

Li Yunshan smiled.

"Keep bragging. I'm already very satisfied that you're doing well in your studies. Big villas, cars, and delicacies? I think the corn porridge at home is pretty good, and our old brick house is nice to live in. It's warm in winter and cool in summer. I don't care about living in some big villa."