Chapter 27: Sharing Bear Meat

Lin Yuexi shook her head and said, “Brother Zhao, you have an old mother to take care of. You take all the bear meat back to give her some nourishment. I dug up a lot of Gastrodia elata today, and it’s enough for me to exchange for some money. As for the bear gall and bear paws, I’ll just take a little bit. Consider it my share.” Zhao Gang quickly waved his hand, “No, no. You put in so much effort.

If it weren’t for you, I would have died in the bear’s mouth today. You should have more.” The two of them argued for a while, and finally, Lin Yuexi couldn’t refuse Zhao Gang, so she agreed to his suggestion. Zhao Gang found some vines and tied up the black bear, preparing to drag it down the mountain. Seeing this, Lin Yuexi said, “Brother Zhao, I’ll help you. This bear is too heavy. It’s difficult for you to drag it down the mountain by yourself.” Zhao Gang wanted to refuse, but seeing Lin Yuexi’s determined look, he nodded. The two of them worked together to drag the black bear down the mountain.

Along the way, Zhao Gang curiously asked Lin Yuexi how she came to the mountain alone and why she knew so much. Lin Yuexi told him that she wanted to improve her life, so she went up the mountain to find valuable things to sell. She just hid the fact that she had a space. After listening, Zhao Gang was quite impressed by Lin Yuexi’s courage and insight.

He said, “Third wife, you are really a resourceful person, unlike ordinary women.” When they were close to the village, Zhao Gang suddenly stopped and said seriously to Lin Yuexi, “Third wife, I know you’re not having an easy time at the Lu family. If you have any difficulties in the future, just come to me. If I can help, I won’t hesitate.” Lin Yuexi felt a warmth in her heart and nodded, “Brother Zhao, thank you.

 I feel relieved knowing that you said that.” After they parted ways, Lin Yuexi hurried home with her backpack. She had to go back and check on her two children and make plans to go to the county to sell the Gastrodia elata tomorrow. That night, Zhao Gang found a few people to butcher the bear. As they had agreed on the mountain, he brought half of the meat to Lin Yuexi. Lin Yuexi was instantly stunned! Zhao Gang was so kind. The bear paws and bear gall could be sold at the Chinese medicine shop along with the Gastrodia elata tomorrow. But she really couldn’t handle this half of the bear meat.

 It would probably make the Lu family jealous. But since Zhao Gang had already sent it, she couldn’t refuse. Lin Yuexi carefully cut up the bear meat and carefully selected the two fattest pieces. She wrapped the piece for Captain Li’s family in clean coarse cloth, then took Lu Ziyan and Lu Xiyun to Captain Li’s house.

 When she arrived at Captain Li’s door, Lin Yuexi gently knocked. Captain Li opened the door and saw Lin Yuexi and her two children. He looked a little confused. Lin Yuexi smiled and said, “Captain Li, I was lucky on the mountain today and hunted a black bear. I brought some bear meat for your family to try. You’ve been working hard for the village. This is a little token of our appreciation.” Captain Li widened his eyes and looked surprised. He quickly said, “Oh, how can I accept this? It’s not easy to hunt a bear. Keep it for yourselves.” Lin Yuexi insisted on giving it to him, saying, “Captain Li, please accept it.

If it weren’t for you upholding justice for me before, I don’t know what would have happened to me and the children. This is just a way for us to express our gratitude.” Captain Li couldn’t refuse, so he accepted the bear meat. His eyes were filled with warmth. He said, “Lin Yuexi, you’re such a thoughtful child. Come to me if you need anything.” Then, Lin Yuexi took the other piece of bear meat and went to Wang Lijuan’s house. Wang Lijuan was feeding chickens in the yard. When she saw Lin Yuexi coming, she quickly put down her work and came to greet her. Lin Yuexi smiled and said, “Second sister-in-law, this is some bear meat for your family.

 I borrowed your sewing machine before. Thanks to your help. This is a little gift from me.” Wang Lijuan looked at the bear meat and covered her mouth in surprise. She said, “Yuexi, you’re really amazing. Bear meat is rare. You’re so polite. It’s just a sewing machine. You already gave me a shirt last time…” Lu Jianmin also came out of the house and said, “Sister-in-law, you’re being too polite. It must have taken a lot of effort to get this bear meat.

” Lin Yuexi smiled and replied, “Second brother and second sister-in-law, please accept it. We’re family, no need to be so polite.” Wang Lijuan and Lu Jianmin looked at each other, then smiled and accepted the bear meat, saying, “We’ll take it then. If you need any help in the future, don’t be polite.” “Second sister-in-law, don’t worry. I’ll need your help a lot in the future.” After saying goodbye to Wang Lijuan, she went home.

That night, Lin Yuexi took out some hot pot base from her space and made a bear meat hot pot. The mother and children enjoyed their meal. The hot pot was bubbling and rolling, and the rich aroma filled the air, wafting out of the windows and cracks in the door of Lin Yuexi’s house. It drifted into the old Lu family house not far away. Liu Cuifang, Lu Zhendong, Lu Jian Guo, Li Xiuyin, and Lu Wei, a family of three, were sitting at a somewhat dilapidated table. There were only a few simple dishes of pickled vegetables and coarse grain cakes, a pot of white rice porridge, and a few steamed buns.

The aroma of the bear meat hot pot, like a mischievous spirit, followed the breeze and went straight into their nostrils. Lu Jian Guo sniffed hard, his face full of greed and longing. His stomach also grumbled inopportunely. Liu Cuifang was even more exaggerated. Her saliva uncontrollably slipped from the corner of her mouth, dripping onto her patched clothes. Her eyes flashed with envious anger, and she muttered, “Humph, that Lin Yuexi, that prodigal daughter-in-law, she’s eating meat again. She probably spent all of San’er’s thirty yuan allowance! We can’t let her get her hands on next month’s allowance…” Lu Zhendong didn’t say anything, but Lu Jian Guo sniffed and said, “Mom, that’s not right. That’s not pork, it’s bear meat…”

 “What? It’s not pork, it’s bear meat? Where did that bitch get bear meat? Big brother, is it true or not…?” Liu Cuifang was startled. Lu Jian Guo sniffed again and said confidently, “Mom, it’s definitely bear meat. The smell is unmistakable. No one in our village has hunted a bear for years. How did she get it? There must be something wrong.”

 A flash of malice appeared in Liu Cuifang’s eyes. She slapped the table and shouted, “That Lin Yuexi, she must have done something wrong. Maybe she stole it or used some improper means to exchange it from some man. Big brother, go find out tomorrow. If she really did something illegal, we can’t let her get away with it. We have to go to the captain and report her. We have to make her lose face in front of the Lu family.

” Seeing that Liu Cuifang was talking nonsense, Lu Zhendong said loudly, “What are you talking about? Lin Yuexi’s grandfather was a very famous martial artist decades ago. It’s normal for her to know martial arts. Besides, I heard that she went to the back mountain today. Maybe she accidentally killed a bear on the mountain? Let’s not wrongly accuse someone.”