Chapter 54: The Tian Family Sells Skins; Lord Tian Desires Tiger Whiskers

He knew all along that the old fellow wasn’t to be trusted. The prey they’d hunted before were just pigs, sheep, mole crabs, and toads. What kind of profit could those bring? There was no reason for Liu Wenliang to play mind games with him. But bears were a different matter altogether. The profit inside that was substantial. Just a single bear paw, made into a dish, could easily fetch ten to twenty taels of silver per plate. That sum could be more than a farming family might earn in a lifetime. A bear had four paws, so that alone amounted to about eighty taels. Adding the rest, a hundred taels would be a bargain. So Chu Feng tried to test the other party a bit. Unexpectedly, he really managed to get the upper hand. The price climbed all the way to one hundred and fifty taels of silver. One bear for one hundred and fifty taels — ten bears would be one thousand five hundred taels! Wouldn’t that make Chu Feng truly wealthy? Of course, such thoughts were just that—thoughts. Not to mention the danger of hunting a bear, it was questionable whether there were even any bears left on Jade Dragon Mountain. Besides, bear meat was expensive precisely because it was rare and precious. If Chu Feng really hunted ten bears, bear meat would lose its value. Wang Wei and Sun Can felt their hearts pounding wildly. They looked at Chu Feng in disbelief, unable to understand why he remained so composed upon hearing the price of one hundred taels and even engaged in psychological bargaining with Liu Wenliang. "You kid, you don’t look old but you’re hard to fool. Come, here’s your money. The bear meat is mine now." "By the way, Brother Liang, you mentioned introducing a buyer—who is it?" "The Tian family." "Ah?" Chu Feng was a little surprised. "Our restaurant definitely doesn’t want the bear pelts. They’re not edible, but the Tian family needs them. Bear pelts can be made into coats or decorative items, and most importantly, they’re very valuable. You won’t get a good price elsewhere." "Thanks for pointing me in the right direction, Brother Liang." "No need. Next time you bring such precious items, be sure to keep them covered. Just say you’re heading to the kitchen; I’ll understand right away." "I got it, Brother Liang." Chu Feng behaved very obediently, much to Liu Wenliang’s satisfaction. After settling the payment with Chu Feng, he went on with his business. But he didn’t let the three of them leave immediately. This was a restaurant, and food was plentiful. He prepared a generous breakfast for the three of them, and only after they finished eating did they depart. "Let’s go to the Tian family," Chu Feng said.

Wang Wei and Sun Can were still in a daze. They had never known what a hundred taels meant in their lives. Yet just now, Chu Feng had placed a full one hundred and fifty taels of silver notes into the backpack they carried. Now Wang Wei was carrying it and felt as if he bore a burning coal on his back, constantly checking it, terrified of losing the money. If he lost it, he would have no excuse to live. The Tian family resided at the west end of town, a bustling and affluent area in Xueling Town. Wealthy families were few here, and the Tian family was nearly all-powerful, even the government had to bow to them. Their wealth was not only due to their assets but also their connections; the grand general of Xietie City also bore the surname Tian. When they arrived at the Tian family estate, white banners hung above the gate. The two gatekeepers wore white clothes as well. Chu Feng guessed it was probably because of Tian Zhuang. "What are you here for?" the two servants asked immediately as Chu Feng tried to approach. "Please inform the steward that I have a bear pelt. Does the Tian family need it?" "Bear pelt?" The two servants were momentarily stunned. Ordinary people knew how precious bear pelts were. One hurried off to notify the steward while the other kept watch over the three. Wang Wei and Sun Can were once again amazed by Chu Feng. Why had his tone suddenly become so refined, like a scholar? Weren’t they all raised rough and bare? Soon, the servant who had gone to notify the steward respectfully invited Chu Feng inside. A man who looked like a steward appeared and asked, "So you want to sell the bear pelt?" Chu Feng opened his sack, revealing a large bear pelt, fresh with blood stains. The steward glanced at it and led them toward the main hall. As they reached the hall, Chu Feng saw a familiar figure. "Is that you?" Tian Xin was surprised to see Chu Feng. Chu Feng nodded. "Greetings, Miss Tian." Then an elderly man at the head of the room tapped his cane and asked, "Are you the mountain ranger of Jade Dragon Mountain?" He did not inquire about the bear pelt. "Yes." "You accompanied my grandson to Jade Dragon Mountain, right?" "Correct. Lord Tian is very trustworthy and took good care of us servants. If not for him, we might have died on the second peak. I came not only to sell the bear pelt but also to pay my respects to Lord Tian." Chu Feng looked intently into the old man’s eyes. Sure enough, the old man’s eyes grew moist and misty. The solemn atmosphere turned sorrowful. It worked! Chu Feng rubbed his eyes until they were red. "I wonder if Lord Tian has a wife or children. If possible, please allow me to visit." Chu Feng spoke sincerely. This sudden development left Sun Can and Wang Wei utterly confused. If they remembered correctly, Chu Feng and Tian Zhuang were at odds. "You have a good heart, but my grandson is still unmarried. Since you want to pay respects, go ahead. The mourning hall is next door." "Thank you, Lord Tian. Please accept my condolences. By the way, do you want the bear pelt?" Chu Feng asked. "How about fifty taels of silver?" "That’s acceptable." Chu Feng agreed without bargaining. Then, he took Wang Wei and Sun Can to the mourning hall and performed a solemn tribute. Just as the three were about to leave, Lord Tian suddenly asked, "Young man, did you hunt this bear?" "Yes, I did." Lord Tian’s eyes brightened. "Young man, can you help me hunt something? If you succeed, I’ll pay you a large sum of silver!" Chu Feng was immediately interested. Though Lord Tian did not specify the amount, a large sum certainly meant no less than a hundred taels. "Lord Tian, no need to be so formal. Please tell me." Lord Tian sighed, "The Tian family has only one heir. Tian Zhuang’s father passed away early, leaving only him. That scoundrel refuses to marry and look what happened to him. Our family’s great legacy cannot be left to outsiders. We need to continue the lineage, but alas..." Lord Tian looked helpless, then asked eagerly, "Young brother, how are your hunting skills?" "Not bad..." "Are there tigers on Jade Dragon Mountain?" "Naturally..." Chu Feng replied. "The doctor says using tiger whiskers as a medicinal ingredient can restore my vigor. Can you bring me a tiger’s whisker?" Chu Feng: "..."