Chapter 612: Having Nothing Better to Do

Meeting Wang Qiang’s gaze, Zhao Youcai smiled and said, “Her name is Er Hei. I just came up with it.”

At this, Zhao Youcai got a little carried away and added, “The two at home—the big one’s called Da Hei, and the little one is San Hei.”

“San Hei?” Wang Qiang frowned, staring at Zhao Youcai for two seconds before asking tentatively, “Brother-in-law, where are these ‘big one’ and ‘little one’ you’re talking about?”

“The big one is Black Tiger!” Zhao Youcai said with a laugh. “And the little one is Black Dragon.”

When Wang Qiang heard this, he couldn’t help but say, “Aren’t those my nephew’s dogs?”

“His are mine, aren’t they?” Zhao Youcai looked up with a dreamy expression and chuckled. “In a couple of years, when San Hei gets a little bigger, I’ll have him breed with Er Hei. Then we’ll have Si Hei, Wu Hei… and before you know it, my Dog Gang will be established!”

Wang Qiang: “…”

At that moment, Wang Qiang was at a loss for words. From his perspective, his brother-in-law’s behavior was what they’d call in the Northeast dialect “all hot air.” To put it in plain terms anyone in the country would understand, it was just plain shameless.

“Brother!” Just then, Xing San returned from outside. The old man was carrying a mesh bag full of small hazel mushrooms in his right hand.

These were the first hazel mushrooms of the season. Xing San had picked them from the mountain, and taking advantage of the good weather, he had dried and stored them in the mesh bag.

In his left hand, he carried two plucked wild ducks.

He had boiled water earlier, and after using some for the black dog, there was still plenty left. Xing San had used the remaining half-kettle of hot water to pluck the wild ducks he’d shot today.

Xing San raised both hands toward Zhao Youcai and Wang Qiang and said with a smile, “You two said you wouldn’t be eating here, so I’ll have you take these back with you.”

“Oh, we can’t do that,” Zhao Youcai quickly replied. “Old brother, you should keep them for yourself.”

“What’s this?” Xing San’s expression changed instantly, and he asked, displeased, “Are you looking down on me?”

“No, no.” Zhao Youcai was holding down the black dog and couldn’t wave his hands, so he just shook his head repeatedly. “We’ve already caused you enough trouble…”

“None of that!” Xing San cut Zhao Youcai off bluntly. “Because of Zhao Jun, we’re not strangers.”

As he spoke, his hands were full, so he just gestured with his chin. “That basin you used just now, the scissors, the baijiu, and all that—Zhao Jun brought them all to me.”

“Ah,” Wang Qiang chimed in. “In that case, old brother, we won’t be polite.”

“There you go!” Hearing this, Xing San beamed. “Now that’s my brother.”

With that, he hung his things on a nail behind the door, walked to the edge of the kang bed, and glanced at the black dog. “Is the dog going to be okay?”

“It’s nothing serious anymore,” Zhao Youcai said. “Now she just needs to recover slowly.”

“Ah,” Xing San nodded. “You’ll take her back and give her an anti-inflammatory shot? I heard Zhao Jun say that shots work fast.”

“Well…” Zhao Youcai hesitated for a moment before saying to Xing San, “Old brother, could I ask you for a favor?”

“Brother, what are you saying?” Xing San said to Zhao Youcai with great loyalty, “Your business is my business. If there’s anything I can do to help, I’d be less than human if I even blinked.”

Hearing Xing San’s words, Zhao Youcai was overjoyed. He patted the black dog’s neck and said, “I was hoping to leave the dog here in your hut and have you look after her for a while.”

“Huh?” Xing San was taken aback. “Brother, you’re not taking the dog back with you?”

Zhao Youcai shook his head. “I can’t. Zhao Jun is getting married after the New Year, so things are hectic at home. And damn it, his mother went to Lingnan yesterday and bought a ton of stuff. Our house is a mess inside and out right now, there’s no room for her.”

“Alright then!” Hearing the reason, Xing San agreed at once. “Leave her here. I’ll take care of her for you.”

“Thanks, old brother,” Zhao Youcai quickly said, thanking him.

“Ah, no need for thanks between us.” Xing San waved his hand. “I just butchered the ducks and took out a bunch of intestines and stuff. I’ll go get them and feed them to the dog.”

“Old brother, no need,” Zhao Youcai quickly stopped him. “The dog’s just been injured, she won’t eat anything. She’ll only drink some water for the next few days.”

“Ah.” Xing San nodded upon hearing this. ‘If Zhao Youcai is saying this,’ he thought, ‘he probably won’t leave the dog here for too long and will likely take her back in a few days.’

But Zhao Youcai immediately followed up, “Old brother, in a little while, I’ll bring you some more cornmeal.”

Hearing this, Xing San realized something was off. His immediate reaction was to refuse, shaking his head. “No, brother. If you bring that, you’re looking down on me.”

“It’s not about that!” As he spoke, Wang Qiang finished stitching the black dog’s wound. Zhao Youcai removed his hands from the dog, and without a care, reached into his pocket, pulled out a pack of cigarettes, and offered them to Xing San and Wang Qiang.

Seeing Wang Qiang take out a match to light Xing San’s cigarette, Zhao Youcai said to him, “Old brother, this dog will have to stay with you for a while. We’ll only have room to take her back after Zhao Jun moves into his new house.

“We’ll have to trouble you during this time. Your brother here works at our Forest Farm’s cafeteria, so I can get my hands on grain and stuff.”

“Ah…” Hearing Zhao Youcai’s explanation, Xing San finally said, “Brother, I have cornmeal. I cleared a patch of land north of the hut and the corn I grow is enough. Since you’re at the cafeteria, could you get me some sorghum rice?”

“Easy!” Zhao Youcai slapped his chest, making a guarantee. “Don’t worry, big brother. I’ll bring it to you in a couple of days.”

Xing San smiled and invited Zhao Youcai and Wang Qiang to come up onto the kang bed for some water, but it was already almost five o’clock, so Zhao Youcai was eager to leave.

When Xing San heard they were leaving, he took down the ducks and hazel mushrooms and handed them to Wang Qiang to carry.

The old man saw the two of them out of the hut. Zhao Youcai suddenly remembered something and quickly asked Xing San, “Old brother, did my son Zhao Jun say when he’s coming to see you next?”

“Probably not until it snows heavily,” Xing San said. “A few days ago, he had Mr. Li come by to bring me fifty jin of liquor and some medicine. I heard from Mr. Li that Zhao Jun went to some Logging Camp to inspect lumber and won’t be back for a while.”

Before going to the New Logging Camp, Zhao Jun hadn’t expected to take down Dou Baoguo so quickly. He had thought he might be stuck there until winter.

That was why he had arranged for Li Baoyu to visit Xing San.

Hearing this, Zhao Youcai’s mind raced. ‘Zhao Jun will probably only come see Xing San after he figures the fifty jin of liquor is gone,’ he thought.

And fifty jin of high-proof grain alcohol would take even a heavy drinker a couple of months to get through.

At this thought, Zhao Youcai was finally relieved. He and Wang Qiang said their goodbyes to Xing San and left.

After leaving Xing San’s hut, with the sky growing dark, Zhao Youcai and Wang Qiang walked quickly. Wang Qiang still found a moment to say, “Brother-in-law, I don’t want these ducks. You take them.”

Zhao Youcai shot Wang Qiang a harsh glare. The kid was clearly doing it on purpose. ‘If I bring those ducks home,’ he thought, ‘his sister will definitely interrogate me.’

“No!” At this thought, Zhao Youcai said irritably, “You take them back and eat them. Stew them for your kids.”

Wang Qiang chuckled, but then he heard Zhao Youcai say, “In a bit, you can take these two guns back to your place too. We’ll meet at the village entrance at seven tomorrow morning.”

“Huh?” Wang Qiang was stunned. “Why so early?”

Zhao Youcai subconsciously glanced back. Xing San’s dugout was no longer visible, but he said, “To buy some food for that old brother. He’s a good man.”

Hearing this, Wang Qiang blinked a couple of times before saying, “Brother-in-law, honestly. You pick up a stray dog, dump it on someone else, and now not only do you owe him a favor, but you’re also throwing in grain and other stuff.”

“What do you know?” Zhao Youcai shot Wang Qiang a look.

“You’re right, I don’t get it.” Wang Qiang pursed his lips, channeling the Wang Family’s signature passive-aggressive sarcasm. “But as for you, brother-in-law, you’ve either eaten too much or had too much to drink.”

“Huh?” Zhao Youcai froze for a second, but then it clicked. He roared at Wang Qiang, “You’re the one who’s got nothing better to do!”