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

In the late June mornings of Northeast China, the air still carries the chill of lingering fog.

The rubber wheels of the horse-drawn carriage rolled slowly forward, rubbing against the potholes on the dirt road.

Ge Ergui, driving his chestnut horse, remained silent as always, while Lang Qiuping carefully supported a basket full of snails, looking somewhat reserved.

Zhang Fengxia, who is usually very talkative and loves excitement, was unusually quiet today, keeping her head down and holding onto the fish basket containing shrimp and crabs tightly.

The reason, of course, is that Captain Wang Tieshan was on the carriage today.

He leaned against the corner of the car, his pipe tucked into his waistband, his gaze falling on the two pheasants with their necks twisted, breaking the silence: "When did you do this?"

"The trap was set last night."

Zhang Wenshan didn't try to hide anything. After working hard for a while, he had managed to infiltrate the core circle of Chishongtun. As long as he didn't cause too much trouble, the old Party Secretary and the brigade leader wouldn't interfere.

"Where did you get them?" Wang Tieshan leaned forward and asked curiously, "I occasionally see two around the village. They're incredibly clever; they never even use snares."

"The area around the cemetery."

"What?"

Apart from the ever-calm Lang Qiuping, the other three were suddenly startled, especially Zhang Fengxia, whose face was filled with worry.

Go to the cemetery late at night.

How can you be so carefree?

"Nobody goes there usually, so there's naturally more stuff there," Zhang Wenshan said, pointing to two pheasants that weighed about two pounds each. "This is the best time to catch them, but unfortunately they're not very big."

"Easy to catch?" Wang Tieshan's eyes widened.

Doesn't he know how much effort it takes to catch pheasants?

Zhang Fengxia and others were already used to this. Whether it was in the mountains or in the water, it was no different from going home for Zhang Wenshan. Getting something was as easy as taking something out of his pocket.

"The pheasants that dare to wander around the village are all old pheasants; these chicks are different, they don't have much experience."

Zhang Wenshan gave a brief explanation, then changed the subject and asked a question.

Why is the Li family making such a fuss?

When they left, Sun Xiaoqin had already woken up and walked home by herself, so the matter was naturally dropped.

The brigade leader also had someone notify the old Party Secretary, so there was no need to worry about the family.

Zhang Wenshan reviewed the entire process and realized something was wrong.

The Li family is too hasty. Anyone with a brain knows that this is a critical time, and they should be keeping a low profile and avoiding trouble. Why are they rushing to run into trouble?

Wang Tieshan sighed heavily, took the pipe handle from his waist, but didn't light it: "In the end, it's all because of you."

"Me?" Zhang Wenshan was even more confused. "Just because of Li Dong's matter?"

Wang Tieshan shook his head and asked in return, "Have you forgotten what Li Laosi and his wife do?"

"Years ago, I apprenticed with a master and worked as a shop assistant in the commune's oil pressing workshop. My wife is from a neighboring village; I met her while learning the trade. What's up?"

Zhang Fengxia finally couldn't help but speak, tilting her head with a face full of confusion.

Ge Ergui freed one hand, seemingly lost in thought.

"Before the land was divided, Li Laosi's family never lacked oil. Many people in the village would secretly go to him to exchange oil, and he could also get some other rare things."

"Back then, when the team was feeding the pigs, we had to beg him for some soybean cake scraps." Wang Tieshan struck a famous match to light his pipe stick. "We also got oil from him to exchange for other things outside."

Listening to what the others were saying, Zhang Wenshan's long-forgotten memories gradually became clear, and he couldn't help but touch his nose.

By binding the brigade with shared interests, and then gaining a voice, it seems somewhat similar to what I'm doing now.

He hesitated before asking, "And then?"

"Later, he got arrogant!"

Wang Tieshan sighed deeply, slowly shook his head, and his tone carried a hint of something indescribable.

"First they said the price of soybean cake residue had gone up, then they started shortchanging us. The residue they gave us was either mixed with dirt or of poor quality. We went to look for it, and Sun Xiaoqin said it was her own dried product. Li Yue just broke her arm in front of us!"

Zhang Fengxia frowned and said, "Why go all out?"

Ge Ergui and Lang Qiuping nodded in agreement.

Anyone with eyes can see that this is no different from a child making a mistake, and when someone comes to complain, the parents beat the child up first.

The harder you hit, the less likely the other party will feel to pursue the matter.

But his arm was broken, that's too cruel!

Wang Tieshan didn't respond with a comment, took a puff of his cigarette, and continued, "Later, a few of us pooled together some money and found other ways to plug the hole in the team."

Li Yue hadn't been back much in the past two years, but after the land was allocated at the beginning of the year, he suddenly came to the team, saying he wanted to go back to the village to open an oil press and needed to hire people to work.

In an instant, everyone's eyes fell on Zhang Wenshan.

"He doesn't have Shanzi's skills," Wang Tieshan sneered. "He wants to borrow money from the team, using the oil mill as collateral."

Zhang Fengxia asked, puzzled, "Where would he get an oil mill?"

"Isn't it enough to just borrow money?" Wang Tieshan said contemptuously. "The old Party Secretary scolded him severely on the spot. Li Yuegang was not giving up and had Li Yuejin bring it up several more times, but the brigade did not approve it."

As he spoke, he looked at Zhang Wenshan: "Then came Hama Pond and the fishing and hunting group."

"So that's why he's causing trouble for my brother?" Zhang Fengxia immediately realized, her face turning frosty and her breathing becoming rapid.

Lang Qiuping remained silent, his hand unconsciously reaching for the axe. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes. Zhang Wenshan was his hope for a new life; he would fight to the death with anyone who dared to cause trouble.

"It's not just that, is it?" Zhang Wenshan thought for a moment and continued to ask.

The village is so big, but the oil mill doesn't warrant such a dangerous risk.

"Indeed." Wang Tieshan glanced at the others, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "You've all heard about the village being converted into a new one, haven't you?"

They looked at each other and nodded silently.

Although the matter was not made public, rumors had been circulating, and many squad leaders were secretly contacting people to garner support.

I heard that from now on, village officials will no longer be appointed by higher authorities, but will be elected by the villagers themselves.

"The Li family had been thinking about this for a while."

"They're incredibly audacious!" Zhang Fengxia said incredulously. "Even if it were a contest, everyone would definitely support the old Party Secretary and you!"

Wang Tieshan shook his head and said, "It's not that simple. Once the land is distributed, everyone is free. We old bones don't know anything without instructions, let alone how to lead everyone to make money."

They could sense that the wind direction had changed.

But who knows where the wind will blow? Fortunately, Zhang Wenshan suddenly appeared.

"So, I really did ruin their plans."

Zhang Wenshan seemed to be deep in thought.

The Li family's original plan was not hard to guess. It was simply that Li Laosi would use the village's money to set up an oil mill and then win over more people.

It was only natural to push Li Yuejin to the top.

At that time, the Li family will truly become the number one family in Chishong Village.

As it turned out, by sheer luck, he managed to push the brigade leader to the top. No wonder the three leaders of the brigade passed through Hama Pond so quickly back then.

Speaking of which, we have to thank the Li family for their help.

"Don't say this to anyone else today; just keep it to yourself."

Wang Tieshan began by giving instructions.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Zhang Wenshan tapped his fingers rhythmically on the drum, his mood becoming somewhat heavy.

Knowing what will happen next year makes us hesitant and timid in our actions.

According to the elderly residents of the welfare home, many people with bad reputations and negative public reactions are dealt with directly.

When the wind picks up, a little effort will make Old Li's family no longer a problem. But in the meantime, letting them run wild could easily lead to accidents.

He began to silently consider what method he could use to decisively defeat the other party while also protecting himself.

The carriage swayed and rattled as it arrived at the entrance to the town.

Zhang Wenshan composed himself and prepared to get down to business.

I wonder if people these days still accept the old ways of presenting banners.