Jiang Le followed Yu Hezhong inside, and the two set down their baskets before explaining, “Big bro, what you smelled earlier is this.”  

He smiled sheepishly. “I came to ask if you’d like to try it.”  

As he spoke, Jiang Le lifted the leaves covering the meat. Instantly, a rich, steaming aroma of braised meat filled the air. Yu Hezhong had mastered Granny Jiang’s braising technique perfectly—the smell alone was so intoxicating that even Jiang Le, who had already eaten his fill earlier, couldn’t help but salivate.  

Sure enough, the moment the burly man saw and smelled the meat, he knew it had to be delicious. He didn’t have many hobbies, but he was a glutton through and through. Just looking at the meat made him want to take a bite right then and there.  

Jiang Le took out a small knife he carried with him, generously sliced off a piece, and wrapped it in a clean leaf. “Big bro, want to try?”  

The man wasn’t one for formalities. He eagerly grabbed the meat and stuffed it into his mouth. The large chunk disappeared in just two or three bites. After tasting it, his eyes lit up—no imagination could compare to the real thing. Only when the flavors hit his tongue did he truly understand the sheer satisfaction it brought.  

Before Jiang Le could even speak, the burly man declared, “Little bro, I’ll take this meat.”  

Jiang Le’s heart leapt with joy, though he kept his composure, still smiling. He had been confident the man would want it—after all, the meat was undeniably delicious—but he’d still worried something might go wrong. Now, hearing those words, he finally relaxed.  

“Great! How many pounds do you want, big bro?”  

If not for his pride, the man might have licked his fingers clean. Without hesitation, he asked, “How much do you have?”  

Jiang Le exchanged a glance with Yu Hezhong, suppressing his excitement. “Around fifty or sixty pounds, big bro.”  

The man waved a hand. “Fine. Since you call me ‘big bro,’ I’ll trust you. Wait here—I’ll get the money.”  

The burly man was truly hooked. The meat was so good he could already imagine how amazing it would taste with a couple shots of liquor. In a flash, he hurried back into the house.  

The moment he was gone, Jiang Le’s carefully maintained calm shattered. His eyes sparkled as he grabbed Yu Hezhong’s arm, shaking it excitedly. “Hezhong! We’re rich!”  

Yu Hezhong watched as Jiang Le’s cheeks flushed with excitement, reverting to the lively, familiar version of himself. “You’re amazing,” he said.  

Jiang Le smirked—Damn right I am.

He was practically floating on cloud nine.  

Before long, the burly man returned, clutching a handful of cash. “Here.”  

Since the man trusted him so openly, Jiang Le felt it would be rude to count the money in front of him. Still, he kindly reminded him, “Big bro, there’s a lot of meat here. With the hot weather, it might not stay fresh past tomorrow.”  

The man waved him off. “Kid, you’re too honest—what if I backed out now? Don’t worry. It’s not just me—I’ve got a bunch of brothers who eat like starved ghosts. And there’s always Third Bro!”

Since the man had his own plans, Jiang Le felt relieved. Yu Hezhong had already packed up the emptied baskets, and just as they were about to leave, Jiang Le suddenly remembered something. “Big bro, can I ask you something?”  

The burly man waved a hand. “Just ask—no need to beat around the bush.”  

Jiang Le went straight to the point. “If I had mushrooms, would you want them?”  

“Ain’t mushrooms out of season now?” The man eyed Jiang Le, looking intrigued. “You got some? If you do, bring ’em. Third Bro’s been talkin’ about the ones you gave him last time. If you’ve got more, he’ll definitely take ’em.”  

The man had already given Jiang Le almost all his spare cash, but he still regretted missing out on those mushrooms before. If there was a chance now, he didn’t want to pass it up.  

Worst case, I’ll borrow some money from the guys.  

Seeing the man’s reaction, Jiang Le felt even more confident about the mushroom venture—at least there was a market for them. He scratched his head sheepishly. “Well… not right now.”  

The man gave him a strange look but didn’t press further. Finally, he said, “If you really get some, remember your big bro here. Name’s Zhang Biao. Next time you come and I’m not around, just go seven houses down—that’s where my brother lives.”  

Jiang Le nodded. “I’m Jiang Le. Don’t worry, Brother Biao—if I get any, you’ll be the first to know.”  

Once they left Zhang Biao’s place, Jiang Le immediately dragged Yu Hezhong to a quiet spot to count the money.  

Zhang Biao had handed over several ten-yuan bills along with some ones, twos, and fives.  

The more Jiang Le counted, the brighter his eyes grew. Finally, he gasped. “Eighty-two yuan!”  

He sighed. “Brother Biao gave way too much. Pork’s only seven mao a pound raw.”  

Yu Hezhong’s eyes gleamed too. “That’s for raw pork. Braised meat sells for one yuan twenty per pound, and it doesn’t even taste as good as ours.”  

“True.” Jiang Le’s excitement settled a little, but Zhang Biao’s generosity still exceeded his expectations. What a solid guy. 

Eighty-two yuan was no small sum—enough to get Yu Hezhong comfortably through the New Year.  

With a grin, he placed the money in Yu Hezhong’s hands. “Hold onto this. We’ll buy some grain for you later.”  

Yu Hezhong froze, about to hand it back, but Jiang Le scowled playfully. “Hezhong, did you forget what I said?”  

Yu Hezhong’s fingers tightened around the cash. “I remember.”  

Jiang Le took the chance to ruffle his hair. “Good boy~”  

Yu Hezhong’s frustration melted away, leaving only the warmth creeping up his ears.  

“Oh, right—come with me to the bookstore later.” Jiang Le had just learned that Xinhua Bookstore already existed. He’d been itching to research mushroom cultivation and wanted to check if they had any relevant books.  

Yu Hezhong nodded. He carried both baskets himself, refusing to let Jiang Le shoulder any of the load. Since they were empty, Jiang Le didn’t argue.  

Mostly because my shoulders feel like they’re about to bleed after hauling over ten pounds of meat for miles. It hurts… but I’d be too embarrassed to admit it. QAQ

When they arrived at Xinhua Bookstore, the clerk glanced at them but didn’t approach—probably assuming they weren’t there to buy anything.

Jiang Le, on the other hand, was perfectly fine with being left alone. He never liked having salespeople hover over him—it made him feel guilty if he didn’t end up buying anything. Usually, in those situations, he’d just flee in embarrassment.  

With a mix of hope and nervousness, he scanned the bookstore’s shelves. At this time, books weren’t allowed to be flipped through before purchase—you had to buy them outright.  

But Jiang Le didn’t even need to open them. A glance at the covers was enough. Not because he was some genius, but because none of these books had anything to do with agriculture.  

By the end, his disappointment was crushing. Ignoring the clerk’s judgmental stare, he grabbed Yu Hezhong’s sleeve and left.  

Yu Hezhong looked at him with concern. “Couldn’t find the book you wanted?”  

Jiang Le sighed. “Yeah. Let’s try the scrap station next.”  

The scrap station didn’t have any books on cultivation either, though they did dig up a few middle and high school textbooks. Jiang Le bought them anyway—at least the trip wouldn’t be a total waste.