Chapter 056 – Making Progress
By early morning the next day, a soft spring breeze swept through Gemhill County, stirring the blossoming trees and flowers. Mountain streams trickled musically, and the once-dry creek beds were now flowing again. Creatures from deep in the hills crept out to drink at the water’s edge.
At dawn, the four Qian brothers were already up and ready, each holding a valid hunting permit. With so many local men gone, the permits from a few households had become all but useless.
Qian Da, knowing better than to just snatch them up, had bought them fairly. His younger brothers couldn’t grasp why he went to such trouble, so he explained that if you want to work for a big shot in the long run, you had to keep your hands clean and avoid nicking petty gains here and there.
“If you want to act without restraint,” he’d said, “you need to understand the rules first. And if you want to ride the coattails of someone important, you don’t drag them down with shady behavior.”
Qian Er and the other two did not fully understand the reasoning. But they did know that without their eldest brother, the Qian Family wouldn’t stand a chance. In the past, as long as Qian Da was around, the family thrived. But once he left, Qian San had been killed and Qian Er was conscripted into the army.
Sure enough, that morning when Li Yuan arrived and learned how they’d acquired the four permits, he offered Qian Da an approving nod. “Good work.”
Though they’d only interacted a couple of times, Li Yuan could already tell Qian Da was on a different level from his brothers—more clear-headed, with a better grasp of the bigger picture. Of course, real trust would take time.
For now, Li Yuan simply planned to have the Qian brothers transport his catches. He’d know exactly how much those goods sold for, and if they ever tried anything shady, at worst he’d only lose a bit of money.
The five of them headed into the mountains. Li Yuan deliberately walked in front, his back turned to the brothers, but they never gave him cause for concern.
Soon after, Li Yuan led Qian Da deeper into the hills, leaving the other three brothers at the entrance with two handcarts.
The scenery felt much the same as before. But the tiger Li Yuan had once named Calico never showed up. That dampened his spirits a bit.
Without lingering, he swiftly brought down a wild boar, two deer, and some smaller game before deciding to call it a day.