Banxian'er couldn't stand it and retorted, "Brother, don't say that. If it were just rabbits and pheasants, it would be fine. But the brown bear and Siberian leopard we hunted this time are definitely good things! Even if the Min and Wu families have more money, they can't buy them!"
"Your family just gave it away as a gift. You wouldn't want to give it to someone else's family! The Min and Wu families would be delighted to receive such a thank-you gift. How could they dislike it?"
The old man sighed, "If it were any other day, it would be natural. But in times of crisis, when people can take the initiative to lend a hand, this kindness is so great. Our family has done our best to send a thank you gift, but it still feels like it's not enough to repay even a fraction of this kindness."
"Your family is really like what is written in the book, a drop of water is repaid with a spring of gratitude!" Banxianer shook his head, but in his heart he was extremely fortunate to have met the Tai family.
When you hang out with people like this, you never have to worry about your efforts going unrewarded, or about betrayal or exploitation.
After receiving his father's instructions, Tai Jiye quickly started to make arrangements.
By the time everyone had finished their meal, one cart was already neatly packed with wooden tripods, and the other cart was filled with game furs and caged rabbits, pheasants, and the like.
The old man specially changed into a silk jacket and trousers, and even put on a new pipe bought by his grandchildren. Since it had never been used, it looked very clean and elegant.
As for the old pipe that he had replaced, he solemnly entrusted it to his granddaughter.
"Zhuzhu, Grandpa is going into the city. I can't take you with me this time because it's very cold on the way back and forth. But Grandpa has an important task for you, which is to help Grandpa keep this pipe. You must not lose it, and you can't give it to anyone. Return it to Grandpa when Grandpa comes back, okay?"
Zhuzhu was a little depressed at first because she couldn't go to the city to play with her grandfather, but when she heard that her grandfather had given her an important task, she immediately straightened her chest and nodded like a little chicken.
"Grandpa, don't worry. Zhuzhu will protect your pipe. No one is allowed to touch it!" She hesitated for a moment and added, "That includes Daddy, Mommy, and my brothers!"
Everyone was amused by the fat girl and thought that the old man was trying to coax his granddaughter.
The old man rubbed his chubby granddaughter's braids and got in the car and set off.
Two cars and six veterans are not very impressive, but they are enough to deal with any problems.
The journey was smooth and we soon arrived at the county town.
The two old soldiers followed Banxianer to unload firewood, and the others followed the old man to deliver gifts. The first stop was the Min family.
Mr. Min met the old man in person, drank tea with him and chatted for a while. When he found out that the thank-you gift from the Tai family was a Siberian leopard skin, he couldn't help but be surprised.
"This is too expensive, Mr. Tai. I just sent a few people to help, it's just a small favor. I don't deserve such a valuable thank you!"
Master Min said this, but his hands kept touching the smooth and shiny leopard skin.
The furs from the north have always been famous throughout the Wei Dynasty, but it is extremely difficult to come across such good stuff.
Unexpectedly, for a small farmyard, the wolf skins they sent before were already good enough, but now they even sent leopard skins!
Old Master Tai didn't hide it and said with a smile, "If it were any other day, even if I wanted to give it to you, I wouldn't be able to get such a fine fur. But this time, as soon as I went up the mountain, I saw a leopard fighting a brown bear. I was lucky enough to pick up a bargain. Of course, this leopard fur is destined for you, Old Master Tai. You can't refuse it! Otherwise, you'll waste this good luck!"
A leopard and a brown bear fighting?
Master Min immediately asked, "What about the brown bear? Is he dead too?"
Obviously, he was thinking about the brown bear skin again.
This was really greedy, and caused the steward serving at the door to secretly glance at the master.
Fortunately, Mrs. Min showed up in time with her maid. She prepared two boxes of snacks for Zhuzhu and two boxes of fine embroidery threads for Yang Lihua, and asked Mr. Tai to help take them back.
Mr. Tai did not refuse. He smiled and chatted for a few minutes before leaving.
After Mr. Tai left, Mrs. Min couldn't help but scold her husband, "I've never seen anyone as greedy as you. It's just a small favor, and you haven't even repaid the favor of corn seeds. And they gave us such a good leopard skin. We've already taken advantage of it. And you're still thinking about their other brown bear skin!"
Mr. Min was a little embarrassed and replied, "I was thinking that good things are hard to come by, and I'm about to prepare the New Year gifts. Wouldn't it be nice to have an extra brown bear skin to send to the ancestral home?"
Madam Min rolled her eyes at him and said angrily, "The Tai family has a carriage parked outside the gate, and there are some cages loaded on it. It's obvious that Mr. Tai is going to visit someone else's house. If I'm guessing correctly, it should be the Wu family."
The Wu family also sent a lot of people before. How could the Tai family not go to express their gratitude?
"That brown bear skin must be for the Wu family. Leopard skin is much better than brown bear skin. If you continue to be greedy, you will make things difficult for the Tai family."
Master Min suddenly realized and laughed dryly, "Thanks to my wife, otherwise I would have made a fool of myself today. With a virtuous wife at home, I, as a husband, can worry much less. So, I got a box of pearls a few days ago, and I'll have someone send it to you soon. You and your daughter can make some new jewelry!"
Mrs. Min didn't really want to blame her husband, so she knew when to stop and went back happily.
Mr. Min marveled at the leopard skin for a while, then found a set of books in the study and had them and the pearls sent to the backyard.
The pearls were naturally for the lady, but the book was to be included in the New Year gift and given to the Tai family.
The boy from the Tai family who studied at the Wu family is now a scholar. It is said that he is very diligent and intelligent.
This set of books was annotated by a university scholar in Kyoto. Giving it to Mr. Tai was like giving him timely help, adding more depth to the friendship between the two families!
Old man Tai didn't know that his leopard skin could be exchanged for a set of good books for his grandson.
He left the Min family and went directly to the Wu family.
Perhaps because Mr. Wu has an easygoing personality and treats Yongning sincerely, the old man is more casual when coming and going in the Wu family.
When he saw Mr. Wu, his first words were, "Sir, I, an old man, am here again to ask for a drink. But I won't drink for nothing. I've brought you something good!"
Mr. Wu also laughed heartily and responded curiously, "Oh? Uncle, you are very knowledgeable. It's not often that you can praise something as a good thing. Come on, show me! I have a thirty-year-old pear blossom white hidden at home!"
The two of them walked into the yard chatting and laughing, and Mrs. Wu also came out to greet them with her child.
The old man didn't want to delay the teacher's teaching, so he came here at this time, when the school was already closed for lunch. Even Yongning didn't know that his grandfather was visiting!
Madam Wu bowed with a smile and said, "I haven't seen Zhuzhu for several days. I thought the old man would bring her over! Although this girl has only been home for two days, my brother is so happy. He has been talking about Sister Zhuzhu and Brother Ruiyang these days."
The old man looked at the little boy from the Wu family hiding behind his mother, shy and quiet, and he liked him. He motioned him to come forward, then took out a wolf tooth chain from his arms.
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