So, Tao Dabao had made a deal with Zhao Jun: before October 1st, he would send word for Zhao Jun to bring a gun and visit his village for a few days. Then, after the equipment inspection, Zhao Jun could carry the gun back.
At this thought, Zhao Jun said to Zhou Jianjun, "Brother-in-law, is anyone coming to inspect the equipment at our Forest Farm before October 1st? If it's convenient, could you get me a semi-automatic rifle and plenty of bullets?"
"Whoa!" Zhou Jianjun was taken aback. He'd only been thinking about gifts for the Mid-Autumn Festival and had completely forgotten that National Day was also coming up.
"Xiaojun," Zhou Jianjun said at once. "Don't hang up. Hold on, let me go ask Zhou Chengguo."
"Alright, sure."
With Zhou Jianjun gone from the other end of the line, Zhao Jun held the receiver and turned to Zhao Guofeng, making small talk. "Uncle Zhao, have you eaten?"
Zhao Guofeng didn't answer the question. Instead, he smiled at Zhao Jun and said, "Zhao Jun, you don't need to get a gun from your brother-in-law. I'll get you one."
"Huh?" Zhao Jun was stunned. He never expected to receive such treatment.
After all, the guns at the Yong'an Village Office could, by custom, only be borrowed by Zhao Youcai. He was the only one with enough clout to get them.
Seeing Zhao Jun's silence, Zhao Guofeng quickly added, "Don't you need a gun? We have them right here at the Village Office, so why bother your brother-in-law? A big operation like theirs will definitely have an inspection before October 1st. Our village doesn't. Our equipment inspection isn't until the end of the year."
"Ah…" Zhao Jun looked at Zhao Guofeng skeptically. "Uncle Zhao, are you offering me a gun because you want me to hunt something for you?"
"Yep, that's right!" Zhao Guofeng nodded emphatically. He then pointed at Zhao Jun and said to Zhao Jinshan, who was standing beside him, "See? Your Brother Jun is a sharp one!"
After speaking, Zhao Guofeng turned back to Zhao Jun. "And I won't be asking for a handout; I'll make sure you're well compensated. Besides, I'm not picky. You can get me anything—a roe deer, a wild boar, a big fella, anything works."
Zhao Guofeng's request wasn't demanding, but Zhao Jun didn't dare agree to it.
He had to prioritize his brother-in-law's request, and that might cause a delay for Zhao Guofeng.
So, Zhao Jun told Zhao Guofeng frankly, "Uncle Zhao, my brother-in-law has asked me to get four roe deer and four wild boars in the two weeks before the Mid-Autumn Festival. It's a pretty heavy workload. As for your request… I'm afraid I won't have enough time."
Afraid he might offend Zhao Guofeng, Zhao Jun quickly explained, "I just don't want to end up delaying your plans. That wouldn't be good."
"No problem!" Zhao Guofeng said with a wave of his hand. "I'm not trying to compete with your brother-in-law. You're starting to hunt tomorrow, right?"
"Right!" Hearing this, Zhao Jun sensed an opening and nodded. "I'm taking the dogs up the mountain tomorrow to get them warmed up."
"Perfect! Just hunt for me after you've exercised the dogs, as long as it doesn't get in the way of your brother-in-law's business." As he spoke, Zhao Guofeng raised his right hand, palm facing Zhao Jun, then tucked in his thumb. "Roe deer, wild boar, or a big fella—any of the three will do. Just get me a total of four!"
"Deal!" Zhao Jun grinned. "Uncle, with roe deer, the size is what it is. But for the wild boars, I'll do my best to get you ones over two hundred pounds!"
"Alright, deal!" Zhao Guofeng gave Zhao Jun a thumbs-up. "Xiaojun, you're famous throughout the township now. I won't lie, every time I go to the township for a meeting, the director brings you up."
He then added, "Just last Friday, in fact, I ran into the director, and he was singing your praises."
Zhao Guofeng wasn't just flattering Zhao Jun. He was the head of the village, after all. Even if he needed a favor, he wouldn't stoop to kissing Zhao Jun's ass.
It all started early last month, when Elder Jiang and Tao Dasheng were mauled by that black bear.
An incident that serious naturally required the township director's attention. But when Zhao Guofeng told him the black bear had been dealt with by someone from their village the day after Tao Dasheng's death, the director immediately asked if it was the work of the tiger-slaying hero, Zhao Jun.
Upon hearing Zhao Guofeng's confirmation, the director couldn't stop praising Zhao Jun.
Furthermore, whether it was a case of hero worship or some other unspoken reason, the director kept hinting to Zhao Guofeng that when it came time to hunt for specimens in the winter, he'd prefer it if the game delivered to him was all hunted by Zhao Jun.
Zhao Guofeng wouldn't dare deceive his direct superior. So, he had already decided that this year, Yong'an Village's designated hunter for specimens would be switched from Zhao Youcai to Zhao Jun.
He had already discussed this with Zhao Youcai. Though Zhao Youcai hadn't said anything at the time, Zhao Guofeng took his silence as tacit approval.
After all, in Zhao Guofeng's eyes, the father and son were family. It made no difference which of them did the job.
And just now, as Zhao Jun was on the phone, Zhao Guofeng had gleaned a useful piece of information from just a few of his words.
Traditionally, hunting for specimens was done in the winter because the cold helped preserve the game. 'But,' he thought, 'who ever said it couldn't be done in the fall?'
Autumn was the harvest season, precisely when wild boars were at their fattest. The meat from a two-hundred-pound sow at this time of year was every bit as good as a domestic pig's.
At this thought, the corners of Zhao Guofeng's mouth turned up slightly as he pictured how delighted the township director would be to see wild boars and roe deer hunted by the tiger-slaying hero himself.
Just then, Zhou Jianjun's voice came back over the line. "Xiaojun, looks like the gun's a no-go. But I spoke to Brother Zhou. Doesn't he have a semi-automatic at his place? I told him to let you borrow it for now. We'll figure out the rest after the inspection."
"No need, brother-in-law," Zhao Jun said, glancing at Zhao Guofeng. He told Zhou Jianjun, "I've already got a gun sorted out."
"Oh? Alright then." Zhou Jianjun was amazed at how resourceful his little brother-in-law was becoming. He laughed. "In that case, I'll leave you to it. Just let me know if you need anything else."
"Brother-in-law, get me two drums of gasoline and have Baoyu bring them back." Zhao Jun asked Zhou Jianjun for some supplies, and after a few more words, they ended the call. When he hung up, he saw that Zhao Guofeng had already retrieved a semi-automatic rifle for him, along with one hundred rounds of ammunition.
"Xiaojun!" Zhao Guofeng said amiably. "Take this rifle and the bullets. If you run out of ammo, just come back to me for more."
"You got it!" Zhao Jun didn't stand on ceremony. He took the rifle and ammunition, then made another request to Zhao Guofeng. "Uncle Zhao, could I make a phone call?"
"Of course, what's the big deal!" Zhao Guofeng was now granting Zhao Jun's every request. He asked for the number and personally cranked the phone to get the operator on the line.
After he explained the destination to the operator, the call was connected. But it was more than half an hour before a voice finally came from the other end. "Brother Jun!"
"Jie Chen!" Zhao Jun said into the receiver. "We're going hunting, heading into the mountains. You in?"
"I'm in!" Jie Chen replied. "I've been waiting forever for your call. I was starting to think you'd forgotten about me."
"How could I do that?" Zhao Jun chuckled. "Things were busy at the farm for a few days, or I would've called you sooner."
"No worries!" Jie Chen said. "So, I'll head over first thing tomorrow morning?"
Zhao Jun thought for a moment before asking, "Are you busy right now?"
"Not at all," Jie Chen answered. "I've got plenty of relatives and friends at home, so there's always someone else to do the work."
Hearing this, Zhao Jun said, "In that case, pack your things. When you're done, drive over today. You can just stay at my place from now on."
"Alright! Brother Jun, wait for me!" Jie Chen was decisive. He said his piece and hung up the phone.
Zhao Jun said, "Hello? Hello?" into the receiver. Hearing only a dial tone, he hung up.
After saying goodbye to Zhao Guofeng and his son, Zhao Jinshan, Zhao Jun slung the rifle over his back, pocketed the ammunition, and left the Village Office to head home.
Just as he was reaching his front door, Zhao Jun heard someone calling his name.
"Brother! Brother!"
Zhao Jun recognized the voice immediately. He found it a little funny. 'I've been really busy today,' he thought. 'Seems like everyone's looking for me.'