Chapter 29: Third Brother’s Prey

Chapter 29

All the children at the dilapidated temple perked up in spirit.

Heaven knows how long they had been waiting for this day, the shepherd's purse leaves at the gate had already withered.

Jiang Sheng rushed to the leeward side of the dilapidated temple, faced the bare-chested Fang Heng and yelled, “Third brother, third brother, there’s a big tiger!”

Even though they didn’t often buy meat to eat, they knew the value of a tiger.

From the fur to the bones and then to the head and tail, they were all expensive.

Fang Heng had practiced martial arts since he was little, and could be considered a man of resolute character. Wandering to the dilapidated temple and eating chaff had not caused him too much emotional fluctuation. At one point, he thought he had achieved his father’s words of having an unchanging expression even if Mount Tai collapsed in front of him.

Until this moment, when he had finally obtained the fruits of his labor through enormous effort, a feeling of joy arose from the bottom of his heart.

Fang Heng immediately threw away his wooden stick, put on his cotton jacket, and followed Jiang Sheng to the front of the dilapidated temple, “Is it really a big tiger?”

Zhang Qiquan was stunned, not knowing how to explain.

Fortunately, Zheng Ruqian's glib tongue came in handy, “Jiang Sheng, this fool, got it wrong. It's a big guy, not a big tiger.”

Fang Heng's expression changed visibly, clearly disappointed.

Even if it was a wild boar, its value couldn't be compared with a tiger's.

"We don't know for sure what it is yet." Zhang Qiquan comforted the nimble little boy, "Let's go take a look first."

Fang Heng nodded, carrying the wooden stick and sitting cross-legged on the donkey cart.

Jiang Sheng instinctively lifted her feet to follow along. Nêww chapters will be fully updated at novelhall.com

The other children looked at each other, still young at heart, unable to restrain their curiosity, and all climbed onto the flatbed cart.

It only took them an hour to get from the dilapidated temple to the mountainside, a journey that normally took two hours.

Zhang Qiquan was clearing away the camouflage covering the trap.

Irritated ramming sounds came from the one-person deep pit, it should be the prey trying to escape.

Fang Heng's eyes were sharp, he clearly saw a patch of black and yellow striped fur under the fallen leaves, and his heart suddenly rose to his throat.

Until a weak tiger's roar sounded.

Fang Heng's heart settled back into his chest, he tried hard to restrain his excitement, both hands dangling aimlessly at his sides.

"It really is a tiger." Jiang Sheng exclaimed in astonishment.

For such a ferocious big creature, she had only heard about it in storybooks. It was said that its mouth could bite a person to death, and even four or five adults were no match for it when it went into a violent frenzy.

"It's a tiger." Zhang Qiquan's voice also trembled.

As long as they could sell this tiger, they would be able to get by this year.

Perhaps tiger blood didn't actually have any effect, but those who thirst for strength would never miss an ounce of possibility.

After Fang Heng drank a bowl, the usually silent Chang Yan actually took two steps forward as well, and drank half a bowl with knitted brows.

Zhang Qiquan looked at these two boys with new respect. He patted Fang Heng's shoulder, "Watch closely, how to skin and debone."

As he spoke, he swung his arms forcefully.

Just watch as the dark sharp knife swung back and forth, and the tiger skin separated from the tiger meat, the tiger bones broke apart easily as well, even the internal organs were sliced open in one motion.

"It's very important for the knife's edge to be sharp, this knife of mine has been sharpened over and over who knows how many times." Zhang Qiquan really liked Fang Heng, and didn't hold anything back in his explanation, "But knowing the breakdown of every inch of flesh and bone is even more important. For example, it takes three to five cuts on the joints to chop the bones, but entering from the fascia, one simple cut will snap it apart."

If practicing martial arts was to enhance one's endurance, explosive power, and tolerance.

Then dissecting now was to analyze the enemy's weaknesses, and how to incapacitate the enemy in the most effortless way.

Fang Heng watched without moving his eyes, his brain operating nonstop, this kind of thing could not be taught on the battlefield, his father couldn't give it to him, it was a chance encounter for him.

It was also the key for him to become stronger than others.

As pieces of flesh and bone fell to the ground, only the most important head remained.

If the head skin was peeled well, and the pelt was intact, the price could be raised several fold.

Zhang Qiquan didn't dare speak again, he held his breath and slowly peeled off the skin, delicately carving away.

Only when the whole pelt came off did he let out a breath, "Done."

The tiger skin processed and dried could sell for at least twenty taels of silver.

The tiger whip cut off separately was also very valuable.

Although the meat, blood and organs weren't as valuable as the skin and whip, they could still exchange for a few taels of silver...

Zhang Qiquan was pondering.

Fang Heng, having come back to his senses from studying the body structure, picked up a tiger leg, "Let's have meat for dinner tonight."

They had finally caught meat, the fur was peeled off, the remaining meat should at least allow his sister to cut some teeth.

Unexpectedly this remark immediately set Jiang Sheng off.

"Third brother, what nonsense are you talking about?" The seven year old girl had her hands on her hips, her face full of accusation, "You actually want to eat tiger meat, this is tiger meat!"

Fang Heng was at a loss.

Hunting was for eating meat after all.

Chang Yan's brows were also furrowed, looking over puzzled.

Why couldn't they eat it?