"We're lucky today, we caught a black bear!" Uncle Mu said proudly. This black bear is not something an ordinary person can hunt.
Mulberry was astonished to hear the black bear exclaim, "The whole thing?"
Uncle Mu nodded excitedly: "It's the whole bear, but unfortunately you're a little late. We've already butchered it."
Mulberry didn't care about that: "Are the bear skin and bear paws still there?"
"Yes, are you interested?" Uncle Mu was a shrewd man and understood the unspoken meaning immediately: "I'll go get it for you right away."
Sangshen was very satisfied. After Uncle Mu left the courtyard, Sangshen put away his reserved young master demeanor and leaned close to Buling: "Once the black bear skin is processed, I'll make you a mattress. It'll be very warm to lay on it in winter."
"Okay, okay." Buling didn't mince words; she was a country bumpkin who had never even seen a real bear skin before.
Uncle Mu didn't keep anyone waiting for long. He returned shortly and placed the bamboo basket in front of Sangshen: "This is a black bear skin and two bear paws. Is there anything else you need?"
Sangshen looked at Buling, who immediately understood: "Uncle Mu, do you have any vegetables?"
"Yes, what do you need?" Uncle Mu immediately turned around.
After considering it for a moment, Bling said, "Let's have a little of everything."
Uncle Mu didn't mind the trouble and went out again to get some seasonal vegetables for Buling. After Buling checked them, Sangshen paid for them, including the bear skin and bear paws.
After the money was exchanged, the two left the black market and headed towards the courtyard without delay. On the way, Buling asked curiously, "Aren't you the owner of the black market? Why do I have to pay?"
Sangshen explained to her, "This way it'll be easier to settle accounts at the end of the year."
Buling gave a knowing "Oh".
That evening, Sangshen cooked both bear paws, one steamed and the other braised. The moment they came out of the pot, the sound of children being beaten rang out in the yard again. The parents who were beating their children were also very hungry, drooling as they beat their children.
Buling stared intently at the two large bowls on the table, her mouth watering. No wonder she was so naive; these were wild bear paws.
Eating bear paws was a happy thing, but what followed was not so happy. In the next few days, news of the situation in the villages below gradually came back.
This heavy rain has severely affected rural areas. Some villages are doing relatively well, managing to harvest some grain despite the rain, preventing a complete crop failure. However, other villages are in dire straits, with their crops rotting in the fields.
On the third day after the rain stopped, Xia Qingmei came to the city and told Buling that business was suspended. Everyone in her village, from the very old to the very young, was busy harvesting grain, trying to salvage whatever little they could.
Starting from a single point, the same scene unfolded in other villages. Not only were people busy in the villages, but everyone in the city also got involved.
Given the current situation, anyone who isn't a fool can tell that the second half of the year will be tough. Everyone is starting to use all their resources to buy grain, and even the county government officials are not idle. The leaders above are actively applying for relief grain at meetings large and small.
The cadres at the lower levels went to the villages three times a day to understand the disaster situation. The lowest-ranking cadres, like Sangshen, had to set an example and help the villagers harvest their grain.
These past few days, Sangshen has been leaving early and returning late, and in a short time, he has become much darker. Buling felt sorry for him when she saw him like this, so she could only use her limited skills to cook different delicious meals for Sangshen every day.
Although she didn't cook it very well, she was willing to use oil, so it was edible. This went on for half a month before Sangshen finally had some free time. When people have free time, they like to think about other things.
For example, visiting your brother-in-law?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
