Flip the table and divide the family property! Take his wife and daughter into the mountains and eat

VIP Lounge, Harbin International Hotel.

The heavy velvet curtains shut out the noise from the outside world, and the only sound in the room was the occasional crackling of the charcoal fire.

On the long table, a dozen or so sable pelts were laid out in a row.

Jin Wanfu was wearing white gloves and holding a magnifying glass, his expression focused.

He didn't speak, but occasionally blew on the downy fibers against the light, feeling the hardness of the needle tip with his fingertips.

A full ten minutes passed.

Jin Wanfu put down the magnifying glass, took off his gloves, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and a satisfied expression appeared on his face:

"Director Li, this batch of goods is Grade One."

"The guard hairs are glossy black, the underfur is thick, and there isn't a single stray hair. It's definitely genuine wild-caught. It's more than enough to meet our province's current export quota."

Director Li breathed a sigh of relief, finally putting his mind at ease. He was about to say a few polite words with a smile.

"but……"

Jin Wanfu put down his teacup, tapped his fingers lightly on the table, and frowned slightly.

"This batch of goods is good, but it's not quite enough to overwhelm the Soviets at the Moscow trade fair."

"The Soviet Union is the home of sable, and Siberia has an abundant supply. If we bring top-grade pelts there, we can only sell them following in their footsteps and can't gain pricing power."

Jin Wanfu turned his head and looked at Zhao Shanhe, who had been sitting silently on the sofa:

"Brother Zhao, you're an expert. Let's speak frankly."

"In the Greater Khingan Mountains, besides this top-grade hide, is it possible to find that... the kind of exquisite quality that makes people unable to look away at first glance?"

The room fell silent.

Zhao Shanhe was toying with a half-smoked cigarette in his hand. Upon hearing this, he didn't show any excitement, but instead shook his head slightly.

"Disaster."

Zhao Shanhe uttered a single word, his voice steady, as if he were chatting casually:

"Boss Jin, you know your stuff. These hides are graded, and from the top grade onwards, it's all up to fate."

He pointed to the pieces of leather on the table:

"Most of these top-grade pelts are either 'trap-caught' or 'gun-fired'. Look at this one; although the fur is good, there's a tiny hole on its neck, from a small-caliber rifle shot. Although it's been repaired, in the eyes of an expert, this is called 'disfigurement'."

"And this one, it was clipped on. The hair on the legs is a bit worn, the blood hasn't been completely drained, and the leather is slightly stiff."

Zhao Shanhe flicked his cigarette ash and calmly explained:

"If you want to make a splash in Moscow, the kind of top-quality woman you're looking for is what the trade calls 'Black Pearl'."

"First, it has to be big, and it has to be an old mink that has lived for more than three to five years, so that its fur is black with a hint of purple, like satin."

"Secondly, and most difficultly, there can't be a single needle prick on the body, and the skin plate can't have any damage."

Director Li was stunned: "No needle holes? How do we catch them then? With a net?"

Zhao Shanhe glanced at Director Li and smiled:

"The sable is very cunning; a net can't catch it at all. To get a perfect 'skin,' you can only use the stupid method—'force it into a corner' or 'suffocate it.'"

"Find its lair, block all exits except one, then set a snare at the entrance, or smoke it until it's dazed, and while it's confused, skin it alive by hand. Only the hide obtained this way will be full of life and have the best luster."

At this point, Zhao Shanhe paused and looked at Jin Wanfu:

"But this job requires the right timing and location."

"At this time of year, heavy snow has blocked the mountains. The snow is so thin that it goes up to your thigh when you step on it, making it impossible to walk. Moreover, the sables are all hibernating and won't come out for ten days or half a month at a time."

"Whether we can encounter the 'Black Pearl' if we go into the mountains at this time is another matter. Just the low temperature of tens of degrees and the hungry wolf packs are enough to give hunters a hard time."

Jin Wanfu listened very attentively.

He wasn't angry that Zhao Shanhe said it was "difficult," but instead his eyes showed even more appreciation.

He had seen plenty of boastful people; only a truly knowledgeable veteran hunter would lay out the difficulties openly and scrutinize every detail.

"Brother Zhao, you're right."

Jin Wanfu nodded, his expression solemn:

"If it were easy, I wouldn't be so worried. Since you've made things clear, I'll be frank with you too."

"I'll take all of this batch of first-grade hides, cash on delivery."

"As for that 'top-quality' one..."

Jin Wanfu leaned forward, staring at Zhao Shanhe:

"I'm not urging you to go all out right now. But I hope you take this to heart. After the New Year, when the snow has hardened, or if there's an opportunity, could you help me make a trip into the deep mountains?"

"Whether or not you can catch them, as long as you're willing to take action, I'll believe you halfway."

Zhao Shanhe remained silent for a moment, going over the terrain of the mountains and the climate after the start of spring in his mind.

"OK."

Zhao Shanhe stubbed out his cigarette and readily agreed:

"As long as the equipment is in good working order, I'll lead a group into the mountains once the snow crust hardens."

"I can't guarantee that I'll be able to catch the 'Black Pearl,' but as long as there are still these things in the Greater Khingan Mountains, I can dig them out for you by following the footprints."

"good!"

Jin Wanfu slapped his thigh and burst into laughter:

"That's great! That's exactly the kind of drive we need!"

He turned to look at Director Li:

"Director Li, let's settle the accounts! I'll take this whole truckload of hides! Cash payment!"

Jin Wanfu waved his hand, his heroic spirit soaring to the heavens:

"Let Brother Zhao take the money and go back to the village in style for a good New Year! As for that 'Black Pearl' note, we'll deal with that another day!"

Director Li was all smiles. This wasn't just delivering goods; it was like delivering the God of Wealth!

"No problem! Old Sun, quick! Take Comrade Zhao to the finance department to collect the money! Not a penny less!"

……

Twenty minutes later.

The head of the finance department walked in carrying that heavy canvas bag.

"Comrade Zhao, the total is twelve thousand eight hundred and fifty yuan. Please count it."

Twelve thousand eight!

Erga and Dazhuang, standing nearby, gasped as they looked at the neatly stacked "big unity" bills in the bag.

They could farm their whole lives and still not earn a fraction of that amount!

Zhao Shanhe glanced at it, then zipped up his jacket and casually handed it to Ergaizi:

"Hold on tight."

Then, he stood up, cupped his hands in a clean and efficient gesture towards Jin Wanfu and Director Li:

"Boss Jin, Director Li, then we won't stay any longer. We've taken the money, so we need to get on with some business."

"Where to?" Jin Wanfu asked casually.

Zhao Shanhe straightened his sheepskin coat, his tone calm:

"Department store".

"To do a good job, one must first have the right tools. If I want to go deep into the mountains in the spring to get the 'top-quality' stuff, my old homemade guns are definitely not enough. I need to find two real double-barreled shotguns."