Chapter 301: You Were Called Only To Carry Things (2)
Nancheng.
Mo Beihan had a day off today. Previously, he completed an assignment with Ji Mingzhe which earned him four days of holidays.
He wanted to make a trip to the mountains.
However, it was inconvenient for him to go alone as he could not bring back the animal if he managed to hunt a large-sized one.
It was troublesome without Yao Yao and her interspace.
Thus, he could only go with Ji Mingzhe.
Ji Mingzhe was his loyal friend in both the previous and present lifetime and he was definitely trustworthy.
While Nancheng was a prosperous city, its surrounding was a forest patch which was even more primeval than his hometown. They would definitely be able to find large animals in this primeval forest.
Ji Mingzhe was willing to hunt in the forest and he had done so before. The periphery was a deep forest and he was permitted to enter the forest to hunt for animals to make a sumptuous meal with.
His younger sister was not in a good mood recently too and he had to bring her good food to coax her.
Hence, Ji Mingzhe was foolishly bluffed into the forest by Mo Beihan just like that.
Mo Beihan made full preparations – he was equipped with all sorts of tools and rations. Along with them was Lin Dongxu as well!
Having been in Nancheng for a few months, Mo Beihan completely deluded him into being his younger brother. The current Lin Dongxu was not as capable as Mo Beihan and was not doing well.
After hanging out with Mo Beihan for a period of time, he was utterly conquered by Mo Beihan. In the words of the later generation, he was just this close to kneeling on the ground and calling Mo Beihan 'father'!
Lin Dongxu had some skills as well. After all, he once starved and entered the mountains to look for food. When he went to look for his relatives, he also crossed mountain after mountain. While his skills were far from that of Mo Beihan and Ji Mingzhe, people who had received training, he was way more skilled than ordinary people.
Seeing that Mo Beihan went deeper into the mountains, Ji Mingzhe asked with uncertainty, "Are you going further in? That's the remote mountains. It's too dangerous!"
Mo Beihan laughed. "I would not be going if it's not dangerous!"
Ji Mingzhe: ...
Admiration filled Lin Dongxu's face and his expression resembled that of worshiping a father figure. "Don't worry. There's meat to eat when you follow Elder Brother Mo!"
Ji Mingzhe: ...
The few of them trudged forward even more for a period of time. On the way, Mo Beihan had been observing the surroundings while Ji Mingzhe began chatting with Lin Dongxu.
He finally could tell that this fellow had lost all reason from his blind worship of Mo Beihan.
Seeing that there were many ropes and cloth bags hung on Lin Dongxu's body, Ji Mingzhe asked curiously, "It's the most important to pack lightly when out to hunt so it will be convenient to escape. Those tools that your Elder Brother Mo brought are sufficient already. What did you bring so many ropes for?"
Lin Dongxu looked at the ropes on his body. "It's not a lot!"
Ji Mingzhe's lips twitched a little. "Are these still not a lot? If we encounter danger in the hunt later, don't make me pull you. You can run by yourself."
Lin Dongxu replied, "We called you here not for you to hunt. We don't need you to hunt."
Ji Mingzhe was dumbfounded and laughed. "Why did you all call me to come when I don't need to hunt? We are in the remote mountains. Do you think that your Elder Brother Mo will be able to protect you if there's danger with just the two of you when you're what more a burden?
"The remote mountains are too dangerous. Don't run about later. We will join forces and end the fight quickly. The longer we stay in this place, the more dangerous it gets."
Lin Dongxu looked at him with a serious expression. "We really did not call you to hunt. Just Elder Brother Mo alone is sufficient. He won't need us."
Ji Mingzhe shot a glare. "Then why did you all call me to come?"
"To carry things!" Lin Dongxu replied as though it was natural. "Elder Brother Mo is exceptional at hunting. The both of us would not be able to carry so many things. I heard that you have more strength..."
Ji Mingzhe: ...
Chapter 302: You Were Called Only To Carry Things (3)
Ji Mingzhe did not wish to talk to him and simply walked ahead to look for Mo Beihan.
The three men set off in the early morning and had been walking for an entire morning. Mo Beihan only stopped when there were traces of large animals in the surroundings.
"Let's lay some traps in the surroundings. We will go forward later."
For the umpteenth time, Ji Mingzhe said, "Brother, do you still want your life? This place is already dangerous as it is but you still want to go even deeper into the mountains?"
"Mhm!"
Ji Mingzhe: ...
Lin Dongxu was very obedient and followed whatever Mo Beihan said without asking. Now, he already ran to dig and lay traps very obediently.
Ji Mingzhe completely surrendered to these two people!
Mo Beihan had been to this forest plenty of times before so he was very familiar with it.
It was spring now thus there were many animals like chicken, rabbit and deers. There were even all sorts of wild vegetables, mushrooms and most importantly, herbs.
His Yao Yao liked these the most.
After setting up the traps, he told Ji Mingzhe and Lin Dongxu to pluck those mushrooms and wild vegetables while he searched for herbs.
In his hands was the powder that Gu Qingyao gave him. It was extremely tempting when the powder was laced on those baits as the scent could travel a far distance. Hence, Mo Beihan was not at all worried that there would be no prey.
There were rarely any humans in here thus herbs were still aplenty. Mo Beihan only stopped plucking herbs when he filled an entire sack.
He went hunting afterward. He had the concoction that Gu Qingyao made for him. It was similar to anesthesia – by wiping a layer of the concoction on a hidden weapon, the prey which touched the weapon would collapse immediately. The effects would wear off after a period of time, thus it was not dangerous at all.
Mo Beihan only stopped after catching a few deers and silly roe deers as well as some chicken and rabbit.
When he saw the two, they had two entire sacks of mushrooms, vegetables and fungus.
Mo Beihan chuckled. "You all got so much but are you all able to bring them back?"
Ji Mingzhe: ...
Lin Dongxu, "..."
Looking at the sack in his hands that was filled to the brim, Ji Mingzhe's lips twitched!
There was no choice. It was the first time he went hunting so deep in the mountains and there were plenty of items here. There were too many people in the periphery who plucked vegetables and whatnot and bit by bit, the citizens looted them all. It was unlike here.
There were goods everywhere?
Excited, he collected too much.
Meanwhile, Lin Dongxu was always protective of food. As he was too poor last time, he was not picky and collected every edible item that he saw. And by accident, he collected a massive amount.
This was not the first time already but every time he came out with Mo Beihan, he could not change this habit!
Mo Beihan needed herbs, thus he collected more of those.
But wild vegetables and mushrooms were not as important. Almost every family had these at this generation, hence it did not have a high monetary value.
Only those people in the city who did not go to the mountains to pluck vegetables would occasionally require these items.
Although it was not very important, they were reluctant to leave it behind too, so they still decided to keep everything.
There was a river ahead and Mo Beihan mainly came to catch fish this time.
There were especially many fishes in this river and many were very large-sized as nobody came to fish for a long time. He knew this since his previous lifetime thus he came here now.
After placing their items down, Mo Beihan took out a fishing net and the three cooperated to catch fish.
After pulling up the net, Ji Mingzhe's eyes bulged out at the sight of the number of fishes in the net.
"There's... there's so many fishes here?"
Mo Beihan's lips curled up. He used the item that Yao Yao gave him and lured many fishes over before casting the net.
Chapter 303: You Were Called Only To Carry Things (4)
After sorting the fishes, Mo Beihan tossed those small ones back into the river, causing Ji Mingzhe's heart to ache.
"Many... families want those... We got it after much effort..."
"They're too small!" Mo Beihan was very decisive.
Ji Mingzhe: ...
He only kept a small portion of the larger ones and kept the most of those who were neither large nor small as these were the best to sell.
Each cast was very successful as the net was always filled with a large number of fishes. Ji Mingzhe simply could not believe his eyes.
How... How many fishes exactly were there in this river?
This was too unusual!
Lin Dongxu took a look at him. "I told you already. There's meat to eat when you follow Elder Brother Mo."
Ji Mingzhe: ...
After getting sufficient fish, the trio processed the fishes at the riverside.
Mo Beihan took a small bucket of water, poured in a packet of powder and stirred it evenly. Afterward, he placed those processed fishes in the bucket to let the water run over them.
Ji Mingzhe was dumbfounded. "What's this for?"
"Maintain their freshness!"
In the previous lifetime, he would bring Yao Yao out to play whenever he had the time and she really liked studying these unusual little things.
As long as water ran over the fish, they would still be fine within ten days even if they were just left piled together without any additional processing.
Ten days' time was enough for him.
After catching sufficient fishes, it was already evening. Ji Mingzhe looked at the sky and said, "It's late already. Stop already!"
Mo Beihan took a look and replied, "Don't panic. I know a place to rest. It's not far from here."
The mountains were more dangerous at night. Although Mo Beihan was not anxious, he did not stay there for too long either and headed to a cave that he found previously after packing up.
After drying those vegetables and mushrooms for the entire afternoon, the amount reduced greatly and it became much easier to carry them back.
They carried the fishes back first. The cave was at the waist of the mountain. It had a small entrance, but it was very spacious and rather deep inside. Such a cave was the safest.
Ji Mingzhe went in to take a look. There were a pot, some firewood and even utensils in it. Evidently, it was not Mo Beihan's first time here.
"Amazing! You can even find such a great place."
Mo Beihan smiled without saying anything. He placed the items down at the deepest corner of the cave before coming out to retrieve the vegetables and mushrooms. Mo Beihan left after scattering something at the cave entrance.
After drying the vegetables, mushrooms and herbs for an entire afternoon, they only took up two sacks when contained together.
They had a large surface area but were not very heavy.
Mo Beihan took a look at the traps in the surroundings and found some gains.
They gathered the loot. Lin Dongxu gleefully tied the animals up one by one with his ropes and strung them together. Then, he hung them all on his body with the largest grin he could ever form.
Ji Mingzhe's lips twitched!
He seemed to understand what this fellow brought so many ropes here for!
On their way back, they suddenly heard some strange noises when they passed a forest.
Mo Beihan and Ji Mingzhe paused in their tracks and squinted their eyes.
"Is this... a wild boar?" Ji Mingzhe was alarmed.
"Climb the trees!"
Before he finished speaking, Mo Beihan already made a decision. He immediately took some of the preys on Lin Dongxu's body and hung on himself and set aside those vegetables and mushrooms. However, he could not bear to abandon the herbs in fear that the wild boar would ruin them, thus he carried them on his back and climbed up the tree.
Chapter 304: Hanging Out With Big Boss Will Never Be Too Bad (1)
Among the three of them, Lin Dongxu had the least amount of things on him as Mo Beihan and Ji Mingzhe took quite some stuff from him before climbing the tree.
It was all right for Lin Dongxu to carry some when they were walking normally, but it wouldn't do if they were climbing trees as his skill was inferior to the other two.
They were afraid that he would not be able to climb up the tree.
The trio climbed up the trees and held their breath. The noise in the surrounding approached them and when it was near, they realized that two wild boars were fighting.
They were locked together in the life-and-death struggle.
Ji Mingzhe: ...
Lin Dongxu: ...
Both men exchanged a look and waited on the tree obediently.
These were grown wild boars and thus should not be offended. If they drew their attention, it would not be fun at all.
Only Mo Beihan's eyes lit up as he watched the two wild boars fight.
The fight lasted for another half an hour or so and the outcome was... both wild boars died!
Both perished together!
Ji Mingzhe and Lin Dongxu remained on the tree in a daze. Damn! What luck!
Mo Beihan had already gotten down from the tree and proceeded to check the two wild boars. It was a fierce fight as both their bodies were covered in injuries and blood.
"The bloody smell is too strong. We have to leave quickly," said Mo Beihan.
Ji Mingzhe was dumbfounded. "What? Leave? This opportunity happens once in a blue moon. Do we just leave this pork here to rot? It's such a pity!"
Mo Beihan glanced at him.
So did Lin Dongxu.
The way they looked at him was as though they were looking at an idiot.
Ji Mingzhe: ...
Mindfully, Lin Dongxu took all the prey that Mo Beihan was carrying and carried them himself instead while Mo Beihan carried a wild boar and walked back.
Ji Mingzhe: ...
After peering at Lin Dongxu, Ji Mingzhe suddenly felt that he was really a little foolish today. What was with him today?
His brain did not seem to be working!
He hurriedly passed his items to Lin Dongxu as well and carried the other wild boar before following after Mo Beihan.
The bloody smell of these wild boars was too strong and they had to clean them quickly. Otherwise, they would definitely be unable to bring them back to the cave.
The sky had not darkened and they should head to the river to clean it immediately.
Before the sun set, the two people processed the wild boars urgently – they cut open the stomach, cleaned it and carried it back to the cave.
They processed the loot further during the night and returned the next morning.
Mo Beihan originally intended to stay in the mountains for one more day and leave the following morning. However, they met those two big fellows unexpectedly, so the trio headed straight home.
He still had two days of leave which he should be able to cancel.
They had already separated the meat and placed them in a sack which they carried in rotation. When the sky darkened, they went to a rather recluse house that Mo Beihan prepared long ago.
The next day, the three of them traded these items through their individual channels.
On the evening of the fourth day, everyone gathered in Lin Dongxu's house.
The two wild boars were quite large and just their meat weighed over six hundred catties. In addition, there were many chickens, rabbits, deers, and silly roe deers which would total to a considerable weight.
However, Nancheng was prosperous and the prices of goods were relatively high. But even so, there were comparatively sufficient resources here, so the prices in the black market were not especially high.
Nonetheless, the demand was high.
It was rather fast to sell goods due to the big market, thus they were able to trade for a total of about 6,600 yuan and some old articles.
The old articles in Nancheng were exquisite and Mo Beihan liked them a lot as he knew that his Yao Yao definitely liked such articles.
Lin Dongxu and Ji Mingzhe did not know much about that, thus they only traded for money. Mo Beihan had the most channels and so traded the most quantity.
Chapter 305: Hanging Out With Big Boss Will Never Be Too Bad (2)
With Ji Mingzhe around, Mo Beihan would surely want to split the money equally. They were all trustworthy people and Mo Beihan did not mind such stuff.
But Ji Mingzhe was embarrassed to receive it.
Truthfully speaking, this hunting experience was beyond his ken. Apart from using some strength, he seemed to have not provided much help.
He glanced at Lin Dongxu.
Lin Dongxu replied with a silly smile, "I don't have that capability. I'm very grateful that Elder Brother Mo is willing to bring me along. I'll just take that six hundred-over yuan. I don't dare to take the remaining."
Whenever he worked with Mo Beihan, he always took the remainder most of the time.
He was very aware of his own capabilities. Even if it was just the remainder, it was much higher than his salary. Six hundred-over yuan would amount to his salary of two years.
Without Mo Beihan, he would not have such a chance. Thus, if Mo Beihan ate meat, Lin Dongxu would be glad as long as he could follow Mo Beihan but have soup.
Lin Dongxu was very content.
Ji Mingzhe took 1,000 yuan.
"Keep that five thousand yuan and those old articles for yourself! I did not help much either. Everything was almost your..."
"But you..."
"Don't. We'll settle it this way this time!" Ji Mingzhe slapped the table. "We are all brothers. I will feel ashamed if I take advantage of you. I have never gotten so much stuff before. Furthermore, I don't have so many channels to sell these away in such a short time.
"I'll take only that amount. I'll take the rice and flour that I traded. Also five catties of the remaining pork, one chicken and two fishes. I'll bring them back for my family to have something good to eat.
"Brother! I'm already embarrassed to take so much. You must not dislike me for splitting your loots and not bring me along next time!"
Mo Beihan thought it was funny. "Do you think we will have such good luck every time? Also, do you really think those preys in the mountains will be endless in supply? I only go there once in a while. We only got so many things because our luck was good this time. Usually, there aren't so many."
He caught fishes most of the time.
There were many wealthy people in Nancheng, but the supplies every month were simply insufficient. Thus, everyone did not care much about the high prices in the black market.
Despite this, Ji Mingzhe was still delighted.
"It's all right even if there isn't a lot. I understand. If we really caught so many every day, wouldn't we be rich already?"
He looked at the old articles that Mo Beihan traded. There were some antiques and some pearls and jewels that were worthless now.
"Beihan. Will this item be useful in the future?"
Mo Beihan laughed. "Who knows? I just felt that it might be a treasure with the past thousand years of history so it shouldn't be worthless now."
"It is indeed quite chaotic now, but who can be sure that this won't pass?"
Ji Mingzhe was taken aback.
Mo Beihan patted his shoulder with a laugh. "Listen to me and collect some of these if you have a chance. Anyway, these items are worthless now and it's quite easy to obtain them if you really want to.
"If the days return to normal and these items regain their original worth, think about how difficult it would be to obtain these items by then!"
Ji Mingzhe was silent.
Although the Ji family was considered a superior family, it did not have any rich foundation and merely achieved some success in recent years through hard work. It was seriously lacking as compared to those well-established families.
If the times really returned to normal in the future, the Ji family would definitely lose out to those families and by then, the effects of the family's foundation would be clear.
If he could prepare some now, in the future...