Chapter 20: Encountering the God of Wealth?

Seeing such a large sum of money, Zhang Yan stood rooted to the spot, unable to utter a word for a long time.

As she counted the cash again, her heart fluttered with nervous excitement.

"You two must have bumped into a God of Wealth!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dong could not hold back any longer. "Sister! This is nothing! You didn't see Yangzi—he makes huge moves, he..."

The rest of his words were stifled by Zhang Yang’s palm pressed firmly over his mouth. Zhang Yang glared at him, and Zhao Dong instantly fell silent.

"Sister, city folk have money, and things went very smoothly. Just rest easy and keep the money safe. It’s getting late, so go back and get some sleep," Zhang Yang said with a yawn.

Zhang Yan still had questions, but she had checked twice and confirmed that both her brother and Zhao Dong were unharmed. Besides, they were tired, and there was no urgent need to get to the bottom of everything right this second. After tucking the money away, she returned to the room next door to sleep.

As soon as she left, Zhang Yang landed two solid punches on Zhao Dong.

"If you can't keep your mouth shut, don't expect me to teach you how to shoot!"

Zhao Dong was so terrified he nearly cried out for his father. "Yangzi! You're my brother! My own flesh and blood! I promise I won't run my mouth again! I’ll keep it shut, I swear!"

Zhang Yang gave him two more jabs. "Learn your lesson!"

The black market was a den of wolves, fraught with danger at every turn. Could he let Zhang Yan know about such things? If she found out, wouldn't she be waking up from nightmares every single night? Having finally saved his family, Zhang Yang could not bear to let them suffer even the slightest hardship.

"Listen well, Dongzi! From now on, our family only needs to know that we can hunt meat in the mountains and keep them well-fed. That is enough! Don't let them worry about anything else!"

"Got it!"

...

The next day, Zhang Yang had only just risen when he saw Li Huifang, who had been out visiting, hurrying back.

"Yangzi, a few educated youths have come to our house; they say they have something to ask you."

Educated youths?

Zhang Yang was still wondering why they were there when he heard someone outside ask, "Is this Zhang Yang’s house?"

"Yes, that’s me. What’s up?"

Zhang Yang opened the door to welcome them. Five people stood there—three men and two women—all fixing him with intense, scorching gazes.

Zhao Dong darted out from behind Zhang Yang and shouted at the girl wearing a military-style overcoat: "Du Shujun! Why are you here?"

A male youth standing nearby teased, "We’re all here, why are you only asking about Du Shujun?"

Du Shujun gave a light snort and hid behind her female companion. "We’re here to ask a few questions. Is that not allowed?"

"Allowed! Of course it is!"

Zhao Dong hadn't even finished getting dressed properly; he hurriedly fumbled with his buttons while trying to usher them inside. Zhang Yang was not as enthusiastic. He didn't even step aside to let them pass.

"My house is small, and the kids are still asleep. If you have something to say, just say it at the door."

"Yangzi, it's fine, your sisters are already up!" Li Huifang gave him a nudge. "They’re guests; there’s no reason to make them stand at the doorstep and talk."

"Many thanks, Auntie!"

The group of youths slipped past Zhang Yang like loaches, darting into the warm room in a flash. It was rare for so many people to visit, and Li Huifang and Zhang Yan were soon bustling about, with Feifei and Wenwen trailing behind them.

"Auntie, don't go to any trouble. We’re just here to say a couple of words and then we’ll leave!"

The leader of the group introduced himself. "Hello, Zhang Yang. I’m Shen Yiming. We heard from the team leader yesterday that the village is reorganizing the militia squad, so we’ve come specifically to sign up!"

The four hunting rifles the team leader had brought were sitting on the floor of the room, not intentionally hidden. Once the youths entered, their eyes were glued to the guns, each one shining with excitement.

Shen Yiming continued to promote himself: "My grandfather used to take me hunting for birds in the wild, so I have a bit of experience!"

Zhang Yang replied, "Understood. I will register your name, and once things are finalized, we will notify everyone." He then scanned the other four. "Are they here to sign up too?"

"Oh, Xiao Liu and Xiao Gong are interested," Shen Yiming said, gesturing to the two other men.

"And them..."

Before Shen Yiming could finish, Du Shujun cut him off. She sneered, "You’re certainly bold, aren't you? Expecting us two girls to go kill wolves? It’s not as if the village has run out of men."

Zhang Yang frowned. This Du Shujun was far too abrasive. How could Zhao Dong like someone like her? Before the thought even fully formed, he heard her ask again: "I heard you killed three wolves the night before last. Where are they? Bring them out and let us see!"

Zhao Dong answered her without hesitation, "We dragged them off to sell yesterday! The money we got went toward buying these guns for the militia squad to use."

"Sold them?!" Du Shujun’s eyes were wide with shock. "I've heard of the supply and marketing cooperative buying pigs, but never wolves!"

Her eyes darted around quickly. She looked at Zhao Dong, then at Zhang Yang, as if she had suddenly realized something.

"Sold wolves to buy guns? Both of those things sound highly suspicious! Don't tell me... you didn't go through proper channels and went profiteering instead?!"

The color drained from everyone's faces in the room. Another female youth arched her eyebrows sharply. "Profiteering is a criminal offense! Do you even know what you're doing?!"

Zhang Yang let out a cold laugh. "Which eye saw us doing that? You throw around baseless accusations without a shred of evidence—what are your intentions? If you came to my house just to slander me, then please leave at once!"

Shen Yiming quickly tried to mediate. "Zhang Yang, Shujun and the others didn't mean it like that... They have good intentions, they just didn't phrase it well."

Zhao Dong tried to smooth things over too, but Du Shujun wouldn't back down.

"People in the countryside have a weak grasp of the law. I was just worried you were going down the wrong path, which is why I asked—what are you being so fierce for!"

She straightened her back and even threw out another challenge.

"Three wolves only got you four guns? You were cheated, weren't you?"

*I actually got five guns, you fool,* Zhang Yang thought to himself. However, since Du Shujun was being insolent, he had no interest in befriending her and certainly didn't care to waste his breath explaining.

Du Shujun didn't notice Zhang Yang; she was too busy voicing her own thoughts. "In my opinion, two wolves would have been enough to trade for these things. That third wolf clearly should have been kept for everyone to share as meat..."

She muttered that last part under her breath, but Zhang Yang heard it. He couldn't help but scoff. "Did you kill the wolf? Or did you put in any effort during the hunt or the transport?"

Du Shujun let out a huff. "I’m not just asking for myself! These wolves belong to the mountain, and things from the mountain belong to the public! You didn't consult with anyone and took it upon yourself to trade them for guns—and I can't even ask a few questions? Are people not allowed to ask?"

Zhang Yang’s gaze turned grim. He swept his eyes over the five youths again and asked, "Is that what all of you think?"

"No, no, no!" Shen Yiming hurriedly denied it. He then pulled Du Shujun aside. "What is wrong with you? Didn't we agree to just ask a few questions? If you keep speaking with that attitude, don't say we came here together!"

"Brother Yiming, it’s not for me! Everyone hasn't seen meat in ages!" Du Shujun felt wronged.

Shen Yiming felt terrible too, but he looked at the rifles piled in the corner and decided he wouldn't coddle Du Shujun any further.

"If you want to eat meat, you have to earn it with your own ability, not just run your mouth! I will do my best to join the militia squad, and once I do, as long as I have a haul, every educated youth will have meat to eat."

With that, Shen Yiming told the other female youth to take Du Shujun back. Once they were gone, Shen Yiming offered a sheepish smile and began to explain to Zhang Yang.