Wei Shiqi went to Xinyang Town to sell animal skins, and sold the money to buy Huoyanyanba tea. Meat is greasy, and the tea soup with salt can digest food and relieve greasiness, which is indispensable.
Passing by Kutenggou, I took the opportunity to visit the old Liu Tou who was lying in bed. His legs and feet were still severely swollen, red and purple. Although he applied herbal medicine, it took a few months to heal.
Old Liu Tou knew that he was going to the town, so he asked Mulian to carry the medicine basket and go together so that he could be taken care of.
The two came out of Kutenggou and followed the mountain road to the east. Mulian was too thin to keep up, so Wei Shiqi had to slow down and did not set foot in Xinyang until noon. town.
Xinyang Town is located in the remnants of Laoya Ridge, with mountains on its back and water on its side. The tributary of Ximinjiang River passes through the town. It is connected by three stone bridges from east to west, namely Shangguan Bridge, Yuanlong Bridge and Xiapu Bridge. Most of the vendors gather between Yuanlong Bridge and Xiapu Bridge.
Wei Shiqi led Mulian to Chongyuan Hall first. The animal skin was thrown at his feet, and he helped Mulian unload the medicine basket and put it on the counter. The shopkeeper's surname was Song. He had a bitter look on his face and was picky and disdainful of the items in the medicine basket. Mulian stared at her toes nervously, twisting her clothes with her hands, rolling them up and loosening them, not knowing what to do.
Shopkeeper Song picked out a dozen herbs, quoted a price, and said, "That's all, take the rest back." Mulian's face suddenly turned pale, and she was waiting for the money to buy rice. To buy salt, I also need to make a few plasters for my father. These few dollars are simply not enough.
Wei Shiqi knew it well. Shopkeeper Song looked at his face, so although he lowered the price a few points, it was still fair. Old Liu Tou couldn't go into the mountains, so he could only rely on magnolias to toss around Kutenggou. Finding these is no longer easy. He thought for a while, pushed in the remaining herbs picked by the shopkeeper, and asked for an extra hundred dollars.
Shopkeeper Song shook his head, "Brother Wei Xiao, these herbs are not worth anything. You should ask elsewhere."
Wei Shiqi asked casually: "How to collect bear bile?"
Shopkeeper Song's eyes lit up, "Do you have bear bile on hand?"
Wei Shiqi nodded slightly, but made no move. Shopkeeper Song understood and took it out The half-full amount of money was placed on the counter. Mulian glanced at him and timidly put the money away.
Wei Shiqi took out a shriveled bear bile from the hide. It was gray-black in color and as big as an adult's palm. Shopkeeper Song took it carefully, looked at it in the bright light for a long time, and said with his head: "The quality is good, and it's worth four or five taels anyway..."
"Twelve taels of silver, I want official silver. "
Official silver is of sufficient quality, and ten taels of silver can be used as eleven taels of envoys. This lion's mouth is wide open. Shopkeeper Song took a breath of air. Just as he was about to bargain, Wei Shiqi suddenly added, " This is golden gall."
Bear gall is divided into golden gall, iron gall, and cauliflower gall. Golden gall is also called copper gall. The gall kernel is golden and bright as amber. It is a rare and rare high-quality product. Shopkeeper Song knew that he was a sensible person and couldn't fool him, so he had to give him a real price, "Brother Wei Xiao, you are also a regular customer. The gold gallbladder is not worth the price..."
Someone interrupted, “Shopkeeper Song, is this the best gold gall bladder?? ”
Shopkeeper Song was a little annoyed. He interfered during the business negotiation and violated the taboo of Chongyuan Hall. Said: "Steward Deng, you are here, but you want to take medicine? "While greeting, he ordered the waiter to watch and pour tea.
The man who interrupted was an old man in his fifties, with a handsome appearance, gray temples, a goat's beard, and yellow eyes with bloodshot eyes. . He looked Wei Shiqi up and down, and asked with a pleasant expression: "Is this little brother a hunter in the mountains? "
"Exactly. ”
Shopkeeper Song hurriedly introduced him, “He is Wei Shiqi, the hunter from Laoya Ridge. He is a good hunter. He can hunt bears, tigers and leopards. He can collect the best tiger bones and bears every year.” Courage. Brother Wei Xiao, come and see Butler Deng. Butler Deng is in charge of Zhao Yuan's residence in Shangguanqiao. You are lucky to have him take care of you. ”
Zhao Yuanwai is one of the most wealthy businessmen in Xinyang Town. He started his business by selling mules and horses. He has a fortune and an eye for the sky. It is said that he is responsible for more than half of the military and horse business in the northwest frontier. He There are three cronies under him, Deng Abacus and Wang Xiangma, thank you. Among them, Deng Abacus is Deng Zhang, the housekeeper in charge of Qiangu's access.
Wei Shiqi crossed his hands and saluted, "I have met housekeeper Deng. "
Deng Zhang dianded and did not spare the circle. He said bluntly: "The Zhao Mansion happens to be short of bear bile. Shopkeeper Song, please take it first and then send it to the Zhao Mansion. Then go to the accounting office to collect the money." It's as much profit as it is, and it won't embarrass you. ”
Shopkeeper Song agreed repeatedly. Making money is a small thing and he has the final say. Therefore, establishing a relationship with the Zhao family and forming a good relationship is the top priority. He took the bear bile He carefully put it away, took the silver and handed it to Wei Shiqi, knowing that Butler Deng would have a purpose in intervening, and he would have nothing to do next.
"Brother Wei Xiao, I have something to ask you--" Have you ever had a meal? "
"To be honest with Butler Deng, I came in a hurry and didn't eat. ”
“There is a restaurant nearby that makes good beef and mutton. The old man is here to serve as a host and we talk while eating. "
"Okay, thank you Butler Deng for your kindness. "Wei Shiqi carried the animal skin on his back and gave Mulian a few words, asking her to buy some steamed buns to satisfy her hunger first and then wait for him in Chongyuan Hall.
Deng Zhang listened to his smooth conversation, neither humble nor overbearing. They felt a little appreciative at first.
The two of them walked out of Chongyuan Hall and walked along the revetment towards Yuanlong Bridge. They saw a restaurant in the distance with an unrolled green flag and the words "Dongxing" written on it. Big characters.
The waiter led the two of them to the upstairs seating area. Deng Zhang told him to just serve the food and drinks he was good at. The waiter agreed with a smile on his face, but he was a little confused in his heart. Could it be that the man was from the Zhao family? His distant relative wanted to alert Butler Deng to accompany him to dinner.
After a while, the waiter brought four plates of cooked vegetables and a pot of wine. The four dishes were braised beef tendons, white-cut mutton, and crock pot chicken. Braised sea rice and cabbage, the wine is home-brewed Xi Minchun, fragrant and fragrant.
Deng Zhang didn’t move his chopsticks much and just tried to persuade Wei.Wei Shiqi was not polite when drinking wine and eating meat. Deng Zhang got to know him through small talk. Wei Shiqi said one thing and another, without boasting or deprecating himself. His answers were calm and honest.
After eating the meal for more than half an hour, Wei Shiqi was full of wine and meat, so he put down his chopsticks and waited for the next meal. He was a smart man, and Deng Zhang took another high look at him. He noticed that when Wei Shiqi introduced himself, he only said "I" and did not say "I" or "Xiao". There was a bit of arrogance in his bones, and he was by no means an ordinary hunter. After pondering for a moment, he decided to get straight to the point.
"Brother Wei Xiao, I have something to ask of you."
Wei Shiqi smiled and said, "But Butler Deng said it's okay."
"Old man There was a grandson who suffered from convulsions in his infancy and had been ill for a long time. He asked a famous doctor to diagnose and prescribe a prescription, which contained three precious ingredients. Two of them were already available, but the prescription for bear bile was still missing. Famous doctors said that this flavor of bear bile is the most important. It must be golden-backed bear bile that is more than fifty years old. If it is replaced with ordinary bear bile, the efficacy of the medicine will be greatly reduced, the disease will not be cured, and the old man may not survive until the age of twenty. My grandson had no choice but to shamelessly ask his employer for help, and finally found out that there seemed to be a golden-backed bear in Laoya Ridge."
Wei Shiqi thought for a while, frowned and said, "Maybe it's from Black Pine Valley. That old bear?"
Deng Zhang's eyes lit up, "Brother Wei Xiao, have you seen that black bear?"
"There is a golden hair on the back? If so, it’s the old bear in Heisong Valley.”
About two years ago, Wei Shiqi passed by Laoya Ridge while hunting and saw two green wolves fighting with a golden-backed black bear. The black bear was so ferocious that it hit the green wolf on the head with a palm, breaking the tree stump as wide as a bowl. Another green wolf jumped on its back and bit it fiercely, but was unable to tear the thick fur apart. Instead, the black bear hit it hard. , broke the waist. He lay down upwind, not daring to breathe, and watched helplessly as the black bear ate the entrails of the two green wolves and staggered toward the Black Pine Valley.
After learning the whereabouts of the golden-backed bear, Deng Zhang breathed a long sigh of relief and asked tentatively: "Brother Wei Xiao, how many manpower are needed to hunt that black bear?"
Wei Shiqi refused, "No matter how many people there are, it won't be enough. That old bear is not an ordinary ferocious beast. It is extremely powerful and can break a tree with just one slap. It has been itching in the pine forest for many years, and the pine resin seeped into its fur and hardened it." Like armor, even strong bows and sharp arrows cannot penetrate it."
Wei Shiqi's reaction was as expected by Deng Zhang, "A golden-backed bear that has been more than fifty years old is a monster that has become a spirit. Of course ordinary hunters can't do it. How about this, I will arrange the manpower, and Wei Xiao will just lead the way without taking any action. After the thing is done, I will give you three hundred taels of silver."
Wei Shiqi lowered his head and thought for a moment. , asked tentatively: "Is there an immortal master who took action?"
Deng Zhang narrowed his eyes, subconsciously tapped the table twice with his right index finger, and said slowly: "I have a distant nephew, please. Under the gate of Xiandu.”