Chapter 22: A Sensation Throughout the Village!
“Brother Zhang, we did it! We really did it! Haha! You’re not hurt, are you?”
Li Yuanjing, though elated, didn’t forget to check Zhang Kun’s condition.
Zhang Kun’s legs were so weak he collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily. “Master, I’m alright. Are you alright?”
Li Yuanjing carefully examined Zhang Kun from head to toe and, seeing he was indeed unscathed, burst into excited laughter. He promptly called out to Yu Niang and the other two young women, “Yu Niang, the three of you, hurry and find the old village chief! Have him bring some people over! We’re about to strike it rich today! Hahaha!”
“Yes, right away!”
…
It wasn’t long before the old village chief arrived, bringing over twenty strong young men. When everyone saw the three large wolves and the young wolf trapped in the pit, including the old village chief, they were all dumbfounded.
Wild game and furs fetched a high price these days—everyone knew it. Even if the villagers didn’t know the exact figures, they had a rough idea. These four wolves would be worth at least a dozen taels of silver.
What did that mean? The looks cast at Li Yuanjing were full of envy and jealousy.
The old village chief repeatedly sighed and praised, “Yuanjing, Yuanjing, it really pays to be educated—scholars truly have clever minds.”
Li Yuanjing stood in the midst of the crowd, as if he were the moon surrounded by stars.
Meanwhile, Yu Niang’s cheeks were flushed, her gaze at Li Yuanjing brimming with adoration and sweet affection.
Her brother had really succeeded, and even the old village chief now respected him.
Li Yuanjing, accustomed to such scenes, immediately promised that once the wolves were sold tomorrow, everyone who helped tonight would get a reward, no less than one hundred coins each.
The crowd grew even more excited.
Especially after learning that Zhang Kun was now Li Yuanjing’s permanent hired hand, the young men treated Li Yuanjing with utmost respect, as if he were already a local gentry.
However, just as Li Yuanjing was about to instruct everyone to finish off the four wolves still clinging to life in the pit, the old village chief stopped him.
He pulled Li Yuanjing aside and whispered, “Yuanjing, you can’t just kill these wolves outright. If you damage their pelts, they’ll drop in value. It wasn’t easy to catch them—you mustn’t waste such precious goods.”
Li Yuanjing immediately understood—the old village chief was absolutely right.
Especially the gray-white wolf king! Though its leg was lame and it whimpered lik