Free Web NovelChapter 282: Chapter 238: Bringing Zhang Yuanmin Home
Hearing this, Zhao Jun had to admit that Zhang Yuanmin wasn’t really at fault for what happened today. The other haulers had been the ones plying him with drinks and everything.
The problem, however, was Zhang Yuanmin’s ridiculously high standing at the No. 77 Logging Camp. Anything he said, people believed.
Winter production was about to end, so Zhang Yuanmin wouldn’t be able to go after a Black Bear’s Den again this season. But what about next winter? If he rounded up another group of men to rampage through the mountains, it would be a huge problem.
Zhao Jun knew that Zhang Yuanmin had come to him hoping to borrow his gun and dogs to help solidify his status among the logging camp workers.
Hunting a bear for its gall was a good thing, but if they kept this up, those men would trust Zhang Yuanmin’s word even more.
And Zhang Yuanmin was always talking about his brilliant strategies and ingenious plans, acting like success was a sure thing.
’But to Zhao Jun, this was no different from courting death. From the time of the Republic to the present day, these mountains have never been short of Hunters. Was Zhang Yuanmin the only "smart" one?’
’Yet look at how things were now. Weren’t hunts still conducted properly, by the book?’
’Those "smart people" were always the first to die.’
Zhang Yuanmin didn’t know this, but Zhao Jun did. In his previous life, he hadn’t been there to save them. Minister Li and Li Erchen had been injured during that first raid on the Black Bear’s Den, which meant they couldn’t join Zhang Yuanmin on his later expeditions.
Without those two burdens, Zhang Yuanmin’s first expedition, despite some setbacks, had actually succeeded in taking down the Black Bear.
After that, Zhang Yuanmin, with his endless stream of brilliant plans, took out three Bear Dens. But one day, when the villagers went looking for him, they found him already dead in the mountains.
Zhao Jun knew all this, but Zhang Yuanmin didn’t. Seeing Zhao Jun remain silent, he grew anxious. "Brother, you have to help me out. There are dozens of men at the Logging Camp who look up to me. If you don’t help me, my reputation will be ruined."
Zhao Jun blinked, gave Zhang Yuanmin a long, hard look, and then smiled. "Alright, Brother. Where’s this Black Bear’s Den?"
"Ah." Hearing Zhao Jun agree, Zhang Yuanmin grinned. "It’s on the way from our No. 77 Forest Class up toward the No. 32 Forest Class. You know that sled trail between them? Head off that trail toward Little West Mountain, cross a ridge, and you’ll see it."
As Zhang Yuanmin spoke, a map of the terrain formed in Zhao Jun’s mind. Once he had a rough idea of the location, he said to them, "Alright then, Brother, Brother Jiang."
"Hey, Brother, go ahead." Hearing Zhao Jun call his name, Jiang Jinyou hurried over.
Zhao Jun said, "Don’t go out to haul logs tomorrow morning. Just wait for me at the shack. I’ll come find you two, and we’ll go together."
Hearing this, Zhang Yuanmin was overjoyed. He and Jiang Jinyou happily drove their sled away.
Zhao Jun stayed busy at the Logging Camp’s log pile all afternoon. He had to go to the Yongxing Brigade on the 30th, so he wanted to finish all his work ahead of schedule.
He worked straight until four-thirty, then clocked out. Grabbing his tools and ledger, he headed down the mountain and back to the village.
The moment he entered the village, Zhao Jun didn’t head home. Instead, he made a beeline for Zhang Yuanmin’s house.
He entered the yard, knocked, and went inside. He found Yang Yufeng and Little Lingdang, mother and daughter, sitting on the heated brick bed eating dinner.
When they saw Zhao Jun come in, the two of them quickly greeted him. Then Yang Yufeng said, "Brother, I didn’t know you were coming, or I’d have prepared something better. Please, just have a simple bite with us."
"I can’t stay to eat." Zhao Jun waved his hand dismissively. "Sister-in-law, I need to talk to you about something. I’ll leave right after."
"What is it, Brother?"
Zhao Jun said, "Sister-in-law, are you busy tomorrow?"
"I’m free tomorrow. Why?" Yang Yufeng sensed how serious Zhao Jun was, and a flicker of unease went through her.
Zhao Jun said, "Then tomorrow morning, after you take Lingdang to school, I need you to come up the mountain with me. We’re going to the Logging Camp to bring my brother back."
"What’s wrong? What happened to him?" Hearing that he needed to be brought back, Yang Yufeng’s first thought was that Zhang Yuanmin had gotten into some kind of trouble.
"He’s fine for now," Zhao Jun said. "My brother is perfectly alright at the moment. But he’s at the Forest Farm, and he’s stirred up dozens of men. They’re out in the mountains every day looking for a Black Bear’s Den. Even the Leader can’t control him."
"What? That good-for-nothing!" Upon hearing this, Yang Yufeng collapsed onto the heated brick bed. A heavy feeling settled in her chest, and her eyes reddened as tears began to fall.
Seeing this, Little Lingdang didn’t know what to do.
But Zhao Jun, worried Yang Yufeng didn’t grasp the severity of the situation, added, "Sister-in-law, you know a Black Bear is no easy opponent. He’s leading all those men, and none of them know what they’re doing. What if one of them gets hurt or killed? Won’t their families come after you?"
"That utterly shameless man!" Yang Yufeng wiped her tears and ground her teeth. "I’m going up that mountain first thing tomorrow morning. I’ll drag him back no matter what."
"Good." Zhao Jun continued, "A couple of days ago, my brother got a Bear Gall, right? I went back and looked at it. It should sell for well over a thousand yuan. When he splits the money, he should get at least one thousand yuan. Plus, he still has a share from that Black Bear that he, Baoyu, and I hunted. After what I already gave you, there are still a few hundred yuan left. When you add it all up, it’s quite a bit of money."
"Plus, spring is almost here. A few of us brothers are going to hunt deer for musk, and in the fall we’ll dig for ginseng. With that and the few acres of land you have, maybe he should just stop hauling logs."
Zhao Jun didn’t feel the least bit embarrassed saying this. Even though he was the one who’d arranged the job at the Logging Camp for Zhang Yuanmin just a few days ago, and now he was trying to get him sent back home, he knew Yang Yufeng would understand.
Sure enough, Yang Yufeng said, "Brother, you don’t have to say another word. I get it. No matter how hard things get, we can’t let him go messing with those things. I’ve heard stories from when my uncle and the others used to go on hunts... how many old Hunters lost their lives to Black Bears. And what does your brother know how to do? He can’t even shoot a gun! He’s short, shuffles when he walks, and can’t even run fast."
Hearing her say this, Zhao Jun smiled. "Alright, then it’s settled. And about that chainsaw you bought, give it to me. I’ll ask around at the Logging Camps and find a buyer. I’ll sell it for whatever you paid for it."
"Brother, don’t worry about it," Yang Yufeng said. "We’ve troubled you more than enough already. You don’t need to worry about that. We’ll keep it to use at home."
"That works too. Well, Sister-in-law, I’m heading out."
Zhao Jun went home, ate, and went to bed. The night passed without incident. The next morning, just as he finished breakfast, Yang Yufeng arrived.
Zhao Jun slung his bags over his shoulder and left the house with Yang Yufeng. He didn’t bring his dogs or his gun; he didn’t even bring his Invasion Blade.
Yang Yufeng, however, was carrying a rolling pin. And it wasn’t just any rolling pin—it was a long one used for making noodles, nearly a meter in length.
They made their way up the mountain to the No. 77 Logging Camp, where Zhao Jun led Yang Yufeng straight to the haulers’ shack.
Inside the shack, Zhang Yuanmin, Jiang Jinyou, Li Yuan, and Li Wei were all still waiting for Zhao Jun to arrive with his dogs.
Li Yuan was getting impatient. "Brother Zhang," he asked, "when is Technician Zhao going to get here?"
"Soon, soon," Zhang Yuanmin said. "Don’t worry. What’s the rush? My brother said he’d come, so he’ll definitely be here."
The words had barely left Zhang Yuanmin’s mouth when the shack door opened and Zhao Jun appeared in the doorway.
Seeing him, Zhang Yuanmin started toward the door to greet him, calling over his shoulder to Li Yuan, "See? What did I tell you? My brother’s here..."
Just as he said this, Zhang Yuanmin reached the doorway. He saw Zhao Jun step to the side, revealing another person standing before him.
Zhang Yuanmin raised a hand and rubbed his eyes, thinking they were playing tricks on him.
