Tao Hehua's words cut right to the heart of the matter.
That's right. The key was the Bear Gall.
Because the Bear Gall meant money.
That one Bear Gall was worth at least six hundred yuan, maybe more. That was a huge sum of money these days.
Even if she couldn't get a fifty-fifty split with Zhao Jun, Tao Hehua would be more than satisfied if she could get just one hundred yuan at the very least.
Tao Hehua had three brothers back in her maiden family. Tao Dasheng and Tao Ersheng were already married with children. But the youngest, Tao Sansheng, was already twenty-five and still didn't have the money to get married.
If they could get one hundred yuan from the Bear Gall, arranging Tao Sansheng's marriage would no longer be a problem.
So, Tao Hehua asked Qin Qiang if, according to the rules of the hunt, their family was entitled to a share of the Bear Gall.
"Why wouldn't you?" Before Qin Qiang could speak, Bai Xiuyun, who was standing to the side, interjected. "Those two kids, Zhao Jun and Li Baoyu, have they ever hunted before? They'd probably struggle even if you told them to press the gun against the bear's head and pull the trigger."
"Wasn't it my three brothers who wore that bear down, letting them just swoop in and take the prize? Besides, our family lost three dogs! The Zhao family has to give us a share!"
Bai Xiuyun kept saying "our" and "us," his tone filled with such righteous indignation you'd think it was his own Bear Gall that had been stolen.
It was for this very reason that Tao Hehua, hearing Bai Xiuyun's words, began to regret her earlier attitude toward him.
"Brother Elder Bai, you're right! My Qiangzi was even mauled by the Black Bear. The Zhao family absolutely has to give us a share!"
"Exactly," Bai Xiuyun continued, fanning the flames. "Mountain Wealth can't be kept all to oneself. My three brothers fired the shots, and our family lost three dogs. Even if they gave us half the Bear Gall, the Zhao family would still be getting off easy."
"Brother Elder Bai, please, have a seat. I'm going to get my brothers." The more Tao Hehua listened to Bai Xiuyun, the more sense he made. She was about to head to her maiden home to find her three brothers right then and there.
Qin Qiang didn't stop her. Only after Tao Hehua had left did he tilt his head, look at Bai Xiuyun, and ask, "Brother, what's your angle here?"
"Brother, what are you talking about..." Bai Xiuyun started, then abruptly changed his tune. "If you manage to get the money from the Bear Gall, shouldn't you be thanking your big brother?"
Qin Qiang glanced at Bai Xiuyun's face. Seeing him remain perfectly composed, Qin Qiang felt a surge of contempt. He said, "Brother, you know my family's situation. My wife has three brothers back home."
"My wife and I arranged the marriages for the eldest and the second one a few years back. Now only Elder San is left, and he's waiting on this money to get a wife."
"So, I'm telling you right now, brother, even if we get the money, there won't be a share for you."
Bai Xiuyun was no saint, but was Qin Qiang any better?
In Qin Qiang's mind, now that Bai Xiuyun had laid everything out, he was of no more use. 'How ridiculous. He wants a cut of my money? Dream on.'
Hearing this, Bai Xiuyun's expression still didn't change. He just said, "Brother, you're getting ahead of yourself. Would I ask you for money? It's just that my leg has been acting up today, and I was wondering if you could get me one of that Black Bear's kneecaps."
This time, Qin Qiang was generous. He raised his hand and pointed to the west wall. "Brother, go feel around in that bag over there."
Following Qin Qiang's gesture, Bai Xiuyun went to the canvas bag hanging on the wall. He reached into the outer pocket and pulled out a yellow paper package.
Bai Xiuyun didn't even need to open it. He could tell by the feel that it was a pair of a Black Bear's kneecaps.
"Brother, is this for me?"
"Take it." Qin Qiang waved his hand dismissively, the very picture of someone casting aside a tool that had served its purpose.
Bai Xiuyun didn't say thanks. He just stuffed the yellow paper package into his pocket and walked out without another word.
Just as Bai Xiuyun was leaving Qin Qiang's house, he happened to see Tao Hehua and the three Tao Brothers—a group of four—walking back from the south. Seeing Bai Xiuyun come out of the yard, Tao Hehua called out to him a couple of times.
But Bai Xiuyun acted as if he hadn't heard, walking off toward the west with his hands clasped behind his back.
"That shifty old bastard!" Tao Dasheng shouted upon seeing this.
"Don't shout," Tao Hehua said, her eyes fixed on Bai Xiuyun's retreating back with an unreadable expression. "He's just pretending not to hear."
"He's quite the actor," Tao Ersheng scoffed from the side.
Once the four Tao Family Siblings were inside, Tao Hehua's first question to Qin Qiang was, "Qiangzi, why did that shifty old bastard leave?"
"Sent him packing," Qin Qiang replied casually, gesturing with his finger. He said to his brothers-in-law, "Sit down, let's talk."
Regardless of how Qin Qiang conducted himself with outsiders, one thing was undeniable: he was truly good to his wife, and to her family as well.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have helped arrange marriages for all three of his brothers-in-law.
Because of this, the Tao Brothers held Qin Qiang in particularly high esteem.
At this moment, Tao Dasheng spoke up, "Brother-in-law, my sister told us everything. Should we be getting half of that gall?"
"Mhm," Qin Qiang, lying on the kang, couldn't nod, so he just spoke. "We should get a share of the Bear Gall, but that Zhao Youcai is not to be trifled with."
"Who the hell does he think he is?" Aside from his own family, Tao Ersheng was disdainful of everyone. "If the three of us brothers just stand in his yard, you think he'd dare refuse?"
"Shut your mouth."
The words had barely left Tao Ersheng's mouth when Tao Hehua shot him down. "Listen to your brother-in-law."
Qin Qiang said, "Zhao Jun and Li Baoyu brought back the Bear Gall, but if we want to ask them for it, we'll have to go through Zhao Youcai."
"This evening, when Zhao Youcai gets off work, you all will carry me, and we'll go to his house."
At this, Qin Qiang turned his head with great effort to look at Tao Ersheng and said, "Ersheng, don't act rashly. This isn't just about the Zhao family. The Li Family is likely involved too."
"Yeah," said Tao Dasheng. "That Li Dayong is as thick as thieves with Zhao Youcai. Brute force definitely won't work."
Only then did Tao Ersheng realize that while Zhao Jun's family was just a father and son, what about Li Dayong's family, with its three men?
Tao Ersheng had no doubt that if they started a conflict with Zhao Jun's family, the Li Family absolutely would not stand by and do nothing.
"Alright, all of you go home for now." At this, Qin Qiang made the final decision. "Zhao Youcai should be getting people to haul the Black Bear back today. When they return, there are bound to be a lot of villagers going for a share of the meat. You'll carry me over then, and we'll see if he dares to refuse."
"That's a good plan." Hearing this, Tao Hehua turned to her three brothers and said, "Just do as your brother-in-law says."
Truly, husband and wife were of one mind. Tao Hehua understood Qin Qiang's intentions immediately.
The plan was simple: in the evening, when all the villagers were gathered at Zhao Jun's place to get their share of the meat, they would carry the heavily injured Qin Qiang to his doorstep.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, they believed that no matter how unwilling Zhao Youcai might be, he would have to agree to give them some of the Bear Gall money when faced with Qin Qiang's miserable condition.