Big Purchasing

　In order to encourage the people to hunt tigers and prevent local officials from forcing them to buy and sell, the court stipulated that the county government had to pay the bounty for hunting tigers, but could not buy tiger corpses.

　　Cutting off the tiger's tongue was to prevent people from receiving rewards again after buying the tiger.

　　After receiving the reward, they still had to find a buyer themselves.

　　Pulling the cart out of the county office, he was surrounded by a few leather goods merchants who had rushed over after hearing the news.

　　"Old Sixth Chen, you're not bad. You actually killed a tiger! Tell me, how much is it!"

　　Every year, hunters would come to the county government to sell animal skins. Soon, someone recognized him and asked for an inquiry.

　　Killing a tiger was big news in Haijiao Village, but Jinchuan County had sixteen towns and hundreds of villages, all of which were mountainous areas. There were too many tigers. On average, two or three tigers were killed every year. The hunters had seen several tiger auctions and knew the approximate price.

　　A tiger could usually be sold for about twenty-five strings of money.

　　But the hunter stretched out four fingers and said,"Forty strings of money!" 

　　" Old Sixth Chen, you must be f * cking deluded. Don't you know how much a tiger costs?"

　　A fur merchant cursed.

　　"Old Zhou, are our tigers the same as the ones sent by other villages?"

　　The hunter didn't give in either." Which tiger they send over wasn't surrounded and stabbed to death by a group of people? They've long been cut into big holes and small eyes. Look at this one. There are only a few small holes on its body. It's also big and has good fur color. Can they compare?"

　　"That's not worth forty strings!"

　　"Such a good tiger, you can't even find it once in a few decades, how is it not worth it? I won't sell it if it's less than forty strings!"

　　...

　　After an hour of bargaining, the tiger was finally sold to Old Zhou for 32 strings of coins.

　　Together with the three strings of money from the government, the tiger had earned a total of thirty-five strings of money.

　　One thousand copper coins, thirty-five strings of copper coins, filled half the sack.

　　The copper coins in Great Kang were still very valuable. One copper coin could buy a meat bun.

　　With this sum of money, Qin Feng would not have to worry about taxes and food for the next few years.

　　"Let's go eat!"

　　With money in hand, Qin Feng felt more confident. When he saw that the sky was getting dark, he waved his hand heroically and led the few of them to find a restaurant.

　　Since morning, they had run dozens of miles on the mountain road without eating. Zhang Liang and the others were also hungry. They laughed and followed.

　　There were no stir-fried dishes in Da Kang, and the food was mainly steamed. They found a relatively clean inn by the roadside and ordered a bowl of meat soup for everyone. They also served a basin of white-flour buns.

　　These things were already the best food in the inn.

　　Zhang Liang spent a total of 70 copper coins on food and accommodation. He felt sorry for Qin Feng for half the night and felt that Qin Feng was too prodigal.

　　Seventy copper coins for coarse grain and some wild vegetables would be enough for their family to eat for a month.

　　But the next morning, Zhang Liang finally understood what it meant to squander.

　　When he woke up in the morning, Qin Feng gave each of them a red packet. Zhang Liang opened it and saw that it was a total of 200 copper coins.

　　"Qin Feng, it's too much. I can't accept it."

　　This red packet was too big. Even the village chief felt that it was a little hot.

　　"Not much, not much. You put down your work and followed me so far. I can't let you run away for nothing, right?"

　　"A useless scholar. If it weren't for you guys, I wouldn't even be able to touch the door of the county government, let alone sell the tiger for such a high price," said Qin Feng.

　　Qin Feng wasn't being modest. If the hunters and village chief hadn't bargained with the merchants, this tiger would have been sold for a few strings less.

　　That was several thousand copper coins.

　　"We're all from the same village. This is what we should do."

　　" Yesterday, you treated us to meat and buns," the village chief said." We've already spent a lot of money. Just give us two copper coins as a token of appreciation today."

　　"The ancient people are still so simple and honest."

　　 Qin Feng sighed in his heart. He deliberately put on a straight face and said," I, Qin Feng, am a scholar. My words are like water that has been poured out. If you don't accept it, then throw it away."

　　"You!"

　　The village chief saw that Qin Feng had the stubborn temper of a scholar, so he had no choice but to stuff the red packet into his pocket.

　　"That's right."

　　Qin Feng nodded his head in satisfaction and began to purchase.

　　In the morning, Qin Feng spent eight strings of copper coins. Not only did he buy daily necessities such as grains and salt, but he also bought many things that Zhang Liang didn't recognize or thought were useless.

　　Initially, he wanted to buy a set of clothes for Guan Hanyan, but he couldn't find any ready-made clothes in the entire county government. He could only pull two rolls of cloth and go back to find someone to make a set.

　　After the purchase, there were still more than twenty strings of copper coins left, which filled half the bag. Qin Feng found it troublesome, so he exchanged twenty strings of copper coins for silver ingots that were easier to carry.

　　After treating everyone to a meal, they started their journey back.

　　Qin Feng and the others had just left the city gate when the bailiff brought a young man in armor into the inn where Qin Feng stayed last night.

　　"Masters, are you going to the queue or stay in the hotel?"

　　The waiter quickly went up to him.

　　"I'm not going to queue or stay in a hotel. I'm just asking you about someone."

　　"Did the people who sold the tiger live here yesterday?" asked the bailiff.

　　"A tiger seller?"

　　The waiter was stunned.

　　He was very busy yesterday and didn't have time to watch the show. He only heard that someone was selling tigers, but he didn't see it.

　　"There are five of them. The leader is an old man, a refined scholar, and a one-armed man."

　　" Yes, yes. They stayed here yesterday, but they checked out early in the morning." The waiter immediately remembered.

　　"Do you know where they went?"

　　"I don't know."

　　The waiter could not help but ask," Sir, why are you looking for them? Did they commit some crime?"

　　"Don't ask what you shouldn't ask."

　　The bailiff scolded in a deep voice. The waiter was so scared that his neck shrank and he did not dare to ask anymore.

　　" They didn't do anything wrong. I saw the tiger last night and found that the person who killed the tiger had excellent archery skills, so I wanted to get to know him. I don't mean any harm."

　　"If you see them again, come to Qingfeng Courtyard in the south of the city and inform them. You will be rewarded," said the young man in armor with a smile.

　　"Yes, sir!"

　　When the waiter heard the words Qingfeng Courtyard, his attitude immediately became even more respectful.

　　He had heard that it was the residence of a great general.

　　After leaving the inn, the bailiff saw the young man's disappointed face. He comforted him." Young Master, our county kills a few tigers every year. If you like tiger heroes, I'll find you a few tomorrow."

　　"It's different."

　　The young man in armor said," Both of the tiger's legs were pierced by arrows, and the arrow on its forehead was half a foot deep. This means that the person who killed this tiger was an archer with great strength. The war in the north is tense, and we urgently need such talents!"

　　"Constable Zhang, help me keep an eye out. If you find any news of this person, please inform me."

　　"Young Master Qing is too polite. It's just a small matter."

　　The bailiff bowed and agreed.