Fishing and Hunting 82, Starting with Three Sisters Who Overprotect Their Brothers

The sun was blazing overhead.

The horse-drawn carriage rolled slowly forward along the dirt road.

The people in the car, except for Zhang Wenshan, all had long faces and drooping lips. They showed no joy at making a lot of money, and everyone was worried.

Finally, it was the eldest sister, Zhang Fengxia, who couldn't help but speak up.

"Little brother, is what we're doing going to work?"

Lin Cuihua, standing nearby, also shrank back and whispered in agreement, "What if we offend the purchasing agent from the agricultural machinery factory and they refuse to lend us the machinery?"

"Yes!" Ge Ergui chimed in, "If all else fails, I'll risk everything and catch the snake."

"I know catching snakes can be deadly, and the team leader is doing this for our own good, but if this delays the entire village's farm work..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning couldn't be clearer.

"A purchasing agent doesn't have that kind of ability."

Zhang Wenshan held the straw hat in his hand, using it as a fan to cool himself, not taking it seriously at all.

"I'm not trying to spite him, but let's think about it. He's forcing us to deal with snakes today, what about tomorrow?"

"He's really pushing his luck, wanting the best of both worlds... and you're going to listen to him?"

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent. Lin Cuihua cautiously said, "He wouldn't go that far, would he?"

"What kind of good person do you think he is?" Zhang Wenshan sighed and patiently explained, "Putting everything else aside, what if he asks us to lower prices, cheat on weights, or issue IOUs for things in the future... what are we going to do?"

"Well, this, I..." Lin Cuihua stammered, her face turning red, and she scratched her head anxiously.

Ge Ergui sighed repeatedly, not knowing what to do.

"We can't back down when my brother says so." Zhang Fengxia clenched her fist and waved it a few times in front of her chest.

"But he's a purchasing agent from the town's agricultural machinery factory."

"So what?" Zhang Fengxia said, her eyes wide. "He's no different from the people in our village. At worst, we'll just work for him. Does he own the farm machinery factory?"

Upon hearing this, Ge Ergui and Lin Cuihua both gaped open, their expressions filled with disbelief.

Zhang Wenshan nodded slightly and smiled.

My eldest sister has finally developed some courage!

At least he had the courage to face the townspeople, no longer timid and afraid to even mention it.

They returned to the village in silence.

The other four members of the fishing and hunting team were at Zhang's house, efficiently processing small shrimp, crabs, and snails, preparing to add a meat dish for the people digging the frog pond.

Upon seeing Zhang Wenshan appear, everyone immediately stood up and turned to look at him.

"This is the receipt from the state-run restaurant. Take a look."

"No, no need."

"Team leader, you can't fool us."

While the group verbally declined, their eyes were all glued to the thin piece of paper.

"My goodness, thirteen yuan and fifty cents!"

"It actually made money! Team leader, you're amazing!"

"Am I dreaming?"

The four of them looked at each other, their arms and legs trembling, constantly swallowing their saliva.

"One dollar and twelve cents each, we'll save the change for next time, no objections, right?" Zhang Wenshan took out the money he had already counted out from his pocket and waved it.

No, no.

"We'll do as the team leader says."

Everyone's eyes followed the stack of money, unable to look away.

"Take the things to the brigade leader and come back this afternoon." Zhang Wenshan waved his hand, and everyone immediately busied themselves with the task, leaving happily.

"What's wrong with you guys?"

Lang Qiuping was perceptive and noticed at a glance that the group of people who had returned from town were not in high spirits, which puzzled him.

Could it be that the snake and rabbit didn't fetch a good price?

"Oh dear, I've gotten myself into big trouble." Lin Cuihua said with a mournful face, briefly recounting what had happened. "How come there are people like this in town?"

"I'm thinking of secretly catching some snakes to plug the hole," Ge Ergui tentatively suggested.

Lang Qiuping shook his head and said, "The team leader is right. Catching snakes is too dangerous now. Non-venomous snakes are okay, but venomous snakes can cost you your life."

Lin Cuihua asked, "Shall we go back to the abandoned educated youth settlement and take another look? Maybe..."

"I've been there, there's nothing there." Lang Qiuping shook his head and said, "When the weather gets cold, snakes hide in the grass and chaff, you can't even touch them, let alone catch them."

"Oh... what should we do then?" Lin Cuihua's face turned even more pale.

"The team leader said it's fine, let's not make any decisions on our own and cause trouble." Lang Qiuping said, looking at the two of them with a serious expression.

"Qiuping is right," Ge Ergui nodded.

"Alright then!" Lin Cuihua sighed heavily again.

"What are you dawdling about?" Zhang Wenshan shouted from inside the house. "It's time to divide the money."

The three responded and filed in. As soon as they entered, their eyes were drawn to the ledger spread out on the table and the thick stack of banknotes.

The brightly colored symbol of unity was particularly dazzling under the sunlight.

The air froze instantly.

They all forgot about the trouble they had just gone through, and their breathing became heavy and labored.

"Snake meat is 32.5 yuan, rabbit is 14.4 yuan, and the two we took are 5.2 yuan here too," Zhang Fengxia announced as she handed out the money.

"Fengxia, isn't that too much?" Ge Ergui squinted, noticing something was wrong.

Zhang Wenshan explained with a smile, "It's also money from selling snake meat. State-run restaurants don't handle accounting well, so they just gave it to me directly."

Ge Ergui and Lin Cuihua exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes.

Lang Qiuping looked at Zhang Wenshan, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

He wasn't wrong about him. Shanzi's character is impeccable. He definitely won't treat himself badly in the future.

"Team leader, I'll work for you from now on. I'll do anything you ask." Ge Ergui came to his senses and patted his chest to make a promise.

"Me too, me too." Lin Cuihua quickly raised her hand, wanting to say something different, but couldn't think of anything for a moment.

"No, no, it's not that bad," Zhang Wenshan waved his hand and said, "It's all everyone's hard-earned money."

Lin Cuihua and Ge Ergui still wanted to speak.

Zhang Wenshan waved his hand and said directly, "Take the money and hurry up and prepare the rabbits. We'll have something good for lunch today."

"No, no need, team leader, I'm going home to eat." Ge Ergui turned to leave, and Lin Cuihua hurriedly followed.

"Where are you going? Stay here, all of you." Xu Xiulian had already blocked the doorway of the outer room, her arm outstretched.

"Sister-in-law, this, this is not appropriate."

"Yes, or we can pay some more money..." Lin Cuihua said through gritted teeth, clutching a thick wad of banknotes.

Before Zhang Wenshan could speak, Xu Xiulian, hands on her hips, ordered, "Just eat what I tell you to eat. Why bother with all that nonsense?"

Under her firm stance, everyone stopped refusing and busied themselves preparing lunch.

"Mom, why aren't you rushing to cook anymore?" Zhang Wenshan asked, a little surprised to see his mother sitting steadily on the edge of the kang (heated brick bed). "Aren't you afraid I'll ruin the food?"

Xu Xiulian looked up and muttered irritably, "You've already spent over ten yuan, what else can you squander?"

"Oh ho, so you're feeling sorry for yourself!" Zhang Wenshan said deliberately. "Then I won't take it out next time."

"You dare? We can't take money from those heartless people." Xu Xiulian glared at her. "Your mother knows what she's doing. You have to rely on them, so you can't be stingy."

"You have foresight." Zhang Wenshan nodded, sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), and said, "Mother, I have something to ask you."

"What's up?"

"Does anyone in our village have bicycle vouchers?"