Chapter 1: Early Spring (No. 7)

While talking. The three of them walked outside the market. Passing by a stall selling charcoal. Zhao Tianlong squatted and stopped. Picked up the nearest half bag of charcoal and weighed it in his hand. Smiled and asked, "Bald. How much. I'll want all of this half bag."

"Brother Long, you can use it well. What money is not money." The bald peddler raised his head. A smile on his face. Without waiting for Zhao Tianlong to shake his head and refuse. I quickly changed my tone again." Of course. If you really want to give. These are two of your pieces. The bag is yours too. Counts as an additive."

This fight is dead. Hear this. Zhang Shouling was the first to change his face. As an old merchant who often goes to Cyprus to sell goods. What should be the price of charcoal on the prairie. He knew it in his heart. It's almost summer. How can there be charcoal that is about to be smashed in the hand. Instead, it sells for twice the price in winter.

Really. Zhao Tianlong was enraged by the treacherous behavior of the peddlers. Loud threats with shaking fists." Okay, you grandson. It's itchy skin, isn't it? This thing only sells for five cents a pound in the winter. It's only a dozen pounds in total. How dare you ask me for a two."

What's even more surprising is that. The peddler was not afraid of Zhao Tianlong's fist at all. Dodged backwards. The hippie smiled and explained: "Brother Long. Brother Long. You don't know. There are a lot of people in the wilderness these days. This charcoal is running out of steam. That's why the price has risen again and again. Unbelief. If you don't believe it, go to someone's house and ask. If anyone is less than eight cents. I'll give you this bag of carbon for free."

"Then you're selling it too expensive. Such a little bit of carbon. How could it be fifteen pounds of weight." Zhao Tianlong put away his fist. Continue to haggle with charcoal vendors regardless of their status.

Zhang Shouling, who was standing next to him, listened. I can't help but widen my eyes again. Previously, the peddler dared to deliberately take Zhao Tianlong as a wronged boss. He was already amazed. And the famous Iruyun Dragon actually had the patience to bargain with the hawkers. It completely subverted his previous cognition. Legendary heroes. It's not time to throw a few pieces of the ocean. Do you just leave with your things? How can you even calculate the account of a few cents? Could it be that this cloud dragon is a fake. But the younger brother didn't know he was looking for him beforehand. How could he just pull out a person and dare to pretend to be a dragon in the clouds...

I'm confused. Then I heard the bald peddler laugh and say, "My charcoal is all made of the best cypress. Of course it's a little more expensive than all of them. I don't believe you take a piece out and smell it. Isn't it with the peculiar fragrance of cypress?"

"What about Kashiwagi. Lao Tzu didn't believe it. It's almost summer. Charcoal is worth more than it does in winter. Keep it for yourself. Lao Tzu asked someone else." Zhao Tianlong finally lost his patience to continue to entangle with the hawker. Pulling out the legs and trying to go.

"Master Long. Master Long." The bald peddler quickly grabbed him by the sleeve. Whisper apologies." Don't leave. Don't go. Such. I'll give you a 7% discount. Eight cents. Eight cents. The bag is yours too.."

"That's pretty much it." Zhao Tianlong's "plan" succeeded. With a smile, he took out a piece of ocean from his pocket. Throw it in each other's arms." The remaining two cents were also replaced with charcoal. You send it to the little ones in the management office. When it comes to duty at night. Let them light a brazier. It's neat. Dare to short the pound less than two words. I'll peel you off."

"Hey. Ay. I'll go now. Here it goes." The bald peddler nodded in agreement. Put away the ocean. Then I shoveled a full tuft of charcoal from another bag. Smiled and sent it to the management office.

"This grandson is bald. Doing business is the most cunning. You have to be a little careless. I'm going to have to be cheated by him." Zhao Tianlong counted at the other party's back. Carrying half a bag of charcoal. Continue to the guest in the direction of the lake.

On the way, I came across a stall selling alcohol. He bought two large jars of soju. When it comes to bargaining. I didn't forget to borrow a few porcelain bowls from the stall owner to greet the guests for wine tasting. Then I bought sauce meat, cheese, fried rice and milk chews at a stall selling delicatessen. By the way, I spent money to rent a big iron pot for cooking things. Put all the food you eat in a pot. Let Zhang Songling walk with his hands.

Zhang Shouling watched all this in his eyes on the side. I couldn't help but feel another wave rolling in my heart. What kind of friends did my brother make? How is it not the same as I imagined. They're guns-bearers, too. This has been around since ancient times. There is only the truth of blackmailing peddlers who carry guns. Who has ever seen a peddler take the initiative to fool a gun-carrying person? Is it in the eyes of local traders. Eighth Route Army guerrillas. Just like ordinary people, you can fool around? If that's the case. Where is the prestige of the guerrillas? Who wants to risk being killed by a bullet at any time. Ran into the guerrillas and carried a gun...

This question is too complicated. So he can't figure it out anyway. In a daze, he walked behind Zhao Tianlong and Zhang Songling. In a daze, I came to the shore of Crescent Lake. Zhao Tianlong found a place with a wide field of vision and stopped. Then I found a few big pale red rocks by the lake. It was built in the shape of a stove.

Zhang Songling is obviously also familiar with the road. Pour the charcoal into the stove. Squat down and start a fire with hay that he had collected casually on the road. With the charcoal is not burned through. Zhao Tianlong jumped onto a large rock half a person high. Put your hands together at your mouth. Shouted at the grass farther away, "Hey. Whose sheep is that? Pick up the thick meat and send it over. Lao Tzu is going to entertain guests today."

"Got it," the shepherd on a horse on the grass replied with his throat ripped open. Stoop down and pick up a sheep. Clamped under the armpits. Rush towards the lake.

A few of the people on the lake who were boating heard it. They also leaned to the shore. Loudly solicit business for your own family." Do you want fish? Brother Long. I've got the one just typed here. It's still fluttering in the cabin."

"You are greater than any other. Pick up the biggest one and send one." Zhao Tianlong nodded. Boldly agreed. I added another sentence in passing. Who carries wild onions on board. Send me a handful, too. There are also peppercorns and spices. It's all an additive. I'm not going to give any more money."

"Look at what you said. A handful of peppercorns, who is embarrassed to ask for money." The boatmen agreed. Took a grass carp nearly three feet long. Together with wild onions, peppercorns and other essential seasonings for grilled fish. They were all sent ashore.

Zhao Tianlong took out the money from his pocket. Settle the accounts with the owners of the sheep and the fish one by one. Then he took out the dagger he carried with him from his waist. Begin to slaughter sheep and fish. His movements are very neat. At first glance, you can tell that it is an expert in fiddling with these foods. In the blink of an eye. One peeled off the skin. Removal of internal organs. and the sheep that have been washed clean with the water of the lake. It was set on a red charcoal fire.

Alcoholic's Note: Cold. Terrible headache. Less and more today. Continued tomorrow.