Era: Starting with the struggle to refuse being taken advantage of

Chapter 139 Bring More Bullets

Listening to Wang Chengpeng's methodical arrangements, Wang Tieshan felt a headache coming on and said irritably:
"You son are even arranging things for your father, that's truly outrageous."

"I know these things, you don't need to tell me."

"Go home and rest. I'll take care of things here."

Wang Chengpeng took the big white steamed bun his father handed him and devoured it in no time. Then he rode his bicycle home.

However, just as he was about to arrive home, Wang Chengpeng turned his car around and took a different side road.

This is Xie Feiyue's home; he has something to discuss with him.

In the ten-odd minutes it took to ride from the homestead to his house, it was already broad daylight. Xie Feiyue, who was just about to go out to wash up, was caught red-handed by Wang Chengpeng.

Looking at Wang Chengpeng, who had come to visit so early in the morning, with surprise, Xie Feiyue asked curiously:

"Xiao Wang, is there something urgent that you're looking for me at this hour?"

After looking around and seeing no one else, Wang Chengpeng whispered to Xie Feiyue:

"Uncle Xie, could you bring some bullets with you when you came today?"

"I'd like to learn how to use a gun from you. It's really frustrating to have a gun but not be able to use it."

Undeterred by Wang Chengpeng's innocent demeanor, Xie Feiyue knew that the young man before him was terrifyingly shrewd.

Otherwise, how could he have persuaded me to willingly lend out my family's prized hunting rifle with just a few words?
Thinking this, Xie Feiyue said with a serious expression, "Xiao Wang, did something happen to you last night?"

Wang Chengpeng shook his head casually, choosing not to tell the truth:
"I didn't encounter anything. If I had, would I still be standing in front of you looking so radiant?"

"I only heard some wolf howls at night. Although the sound was far away, I still felt it was better to have some confidence."

“Those wolves could come rushing out of the mountains at any time.”

The story of wolves eating people is not just a fictional one. The story of Xianglin's Wife is not entirely fabricated; at least in Wangjia Village, there were instances of wolves eating people.

Especially in the deep mountains, some people just walk and disappear.

Thanks to improved living standards, the population has grown rapidly, encroaching on the surrounding land and squeezing the living space of these wild animals.
In recent years, we have rarely heard of similar incidents.

However, fewer doesn't mean none, and Wang Chengpeng's concerns are not entirely unfounded.

However, Xie Feiyue breathed a slight sigh of relief and said, "I see. You gave me quite a fright."

"Don't worry, those wolves only stay in the mountains and don't dare to come down."

"The bloody lesson has taught them that going down the mountain not only means not finding food, but also a dead end."

"So there's no need for shooting practice at all, so don't even think about the bullets at my house."

"Both shotguns and bullets are very precious, and my family only has a pitiful amount of stock to prepare for an emergency."

"If you encounter wild animals, just run away. If you encounter people, scare them away with your shotgun. If you can't scare them away, go find the militia captain. You'll never have to resort to guns."

It's not that Xie Feiyue is stingy, but bullets are really very precious.

A seemingly small bullet can cost several cents, even more expensive than a meal.

Therefore, unless the benefit of a shot far outweighs the cost of the bullet, even hunters dare not fire recklessly. Although some skilled veteran hunters may make their own bullets, those crudely made bullets are not only unstable but also extremely dangerous, and they will not be used lightly unless absolutely necessary.

Although Xie Feiyue refused decisively, Wang Chengpeng was least afraid of people with weaknesses, and said with a smile:
"Uncle Xie, what you said makes a lot of sense."

"But even if the probability is very small, there are still some things we have to be wary of."

Changing the subject, Wang Chengpeng brought up another seemingly unrelated matter:

“Uncle Xie, you talked to me about packing yesterday, and I think there might be some changes.”

Upon hearing Wang Chengpeng say that the packing arrangements had changed, Xie Feiyue immediately recalled the joyful laughter his family had heard when he told them about it the previous night.

With a gloomy face, Xie Feiyue said, "Xiao Wang, we already agreed on the packing last night, you can't go back on your word."

"If word gets out that you're going back on your word like this, it won't be good for your reputation."

Nodding slightly, Wang Chengpeng said, "I am certainly not the kind of person who goes back on his word. On the contrary, I have always been very generous to those who are truly good to me."

"If someone were willing to teach me some hunting techniques right now, I wouldn't mind doubling the amount of food they pack for me every day."

"Of course, if this person is unwilling, I will not go back on my word and will proceed as before."

Six steamed buns and a bowl of vegetables, if eaten sparingly, would be barely enough for Xie Feiyue's family.

But if the portion were doubled, it would be enough to satisfy the whole family.

Faced with Wang Chengpeng's almost explicit words, Xie Feiyue began to struggle internally.

He himself was fine despite eating poorly, but he wanted his family to eat better.

Moreover, Wang Chengpeng's cooking is not just a little better; the ingredients are excellent, and his culinary skills are superb. Even if the dishes are the same, Wang Chengpeng's cooking is far superior.

Seeing that Xie Feiyue was beginning to waver, Wang Chengpeng knew that he only needed to give him one last push, and he would agree without hesitation.

Thinking this, Wang Chengpeng took out ten yuan from his pocket and said, "Uncle Xie, since you're teaching me marksmanship, you can't pay for the bullets."

"Here's ten dollars, enough for you to buy some bullets. I'm sure you won't refuse my small request just because bullets are expensive, right?"

"Of course, I won't force Uncle Xie if he really doesn't want to help. After all, there are still many people in the village who can use hunting rifles."

"However, since you kindly lent me this shotgun, I naturally want to ask you about it first."

This was Wang Chengpeng's second-line plan: if one option didn't work, he would try another.

There are indeed not many people who know how to use a hunting rifle, but they are not completely nonexistent.

If Xie Feiyue doesn't agree, but I've already told him in advance, then he shouldn't have any objection to me using his hunting rifle to find someone else to teach me marksmanship.

Xie Feiyue sighed heavily, not expecting Wang Chengpeng to be so difficult to deal with.

Although he looked young, he was in no way inferior to the old foxes he had encountered, and the conditions he offered were so irresistible that he couldn't refuse.

In fact, he had already decided to agree after Wang Chengpeng promised to double the food, but he did not expect that Wang Chengpeng would immediately add another price that would tempt him even more.

With a sigh of relief, Xie Feiyue accepted the ten yuan from Wang Chengpeng and said with a smile:
"Xiao Wang, I think you're absolutely right. Young people should learn more skills."

(End of this chapter)