468: Chapter 163_1 468: Chapter 163_1 “What happened to that old man who was supposed to co and check on his lons in the bamboo forest yesterday?
If he doesn’t co soon, his lons will be overripe!” Xu Xiaoyan, pushing her bike with Yan Chao aboard, passed by the bamboo forest.
That’s when she rembered his promise to save her a few of his sweet lons.
Yan Fei, carrying a big basket of vegetables on his back, guessed: “I suppose his grandson has left.
Seems like his plan to persuade his grandson didn’t work, so he may not have the heart to co for his sweet lons.
I had been thinking all along that he was a lonely old man!
Turns out he has a son and a grandson…
And if they don’t co, it’s just as well.
You should go pick those lons later.”
Xu Xiaoyan glanced at the bamboo forest subconsciously: “Let them be!
What if his grandson hasn’t left yet!”
This made Yan Chao throw a tantrum: “I want to eat a sweet lon.
I’m not going…”
The little fellow really didn’t want to go ho and go to school.
He was loath to leave when his parents left, and he’s still reluctant.
He was unhappy early in the morning, but now that he’s found a reason, he’s even more determined not to leave.
Yan Fei turned his head and shouted to the back: “Heizi, pick a couple of sweet lons and bring them over.”
The mischievous little guy who was crying and causing a fuss suddenly froze.
The girl, holding back a laugh, consoled him: “We’ve already agreed that we’ll co back and play together in the sumr, didn’t we?
Don’t forget, you’ve learned so much and played with the big tiger and the little black bear.
When you go back to school, you can show off to your friends.
They’ve never seen a big tiger or a little black bear, and they certainly don’t know as much as you do.”
The little guy’s vanity is pretty strong, and hearing that he could show off to his friends made him hesitate.
Just then, Heizi picked the sweet lons and brought them over.
With no more excuses to be feisty, a few words from Xu Xiaoyan and he obediently began to eat his sweet lon.
Yan Fei seized the opportunity to remind Heizi again: “When sobody else cos, tell them my younger brother has started school, so we won’t be allowing people to co and see these animals anymore.
Don’t forget on purpose, okay?”
Heizi nodded: “Don’t worry!
We’ll be busy in the future.
I’ll prioritize things!”
Yan Fei was finally at ease.
The three of them got to the cattle farm, picked up a basket of eggs, two jars of wine, parked their bicycle at the cattle farm, waited on the side of the road for the bus, and headed straight to the Provincial City.
The bus may have been slow at this ti, but it was not without its advantages.
When they reached the front of Fifth Brother’s Beef Shop in the county seat, they were only one intersection away from the station.
For this short distance, Yan Fei called for a stop, and the driver imdiately did so, which was really convenient.
After the New Year, Fifth Brother’s family of three had all gained a lot of weight, including the father.
Fifth Sister-in-law no longer sat in front of the restaurant, as the year hadn’t ended and business was slow.
Plus, with the baby due soon, it was becoming increasingly inconvenient for her to move around.
So she mostly stayed in the backyard and didn’t co out anymore.
After a brief chat, Yan Fei casually asked the old man about classification of beef, but the latter was oblivious to that.
On the upside, he knew exactly which part of the at would taste the best when cooked, the texture of the different cuts, and so on — he could tell you everything without a blink.
Yan Fei wasn’t disappointed though, as he had brought it up just in passing and hadn’t expected the old man to understand in the first place.
As for the things the old man did ntion, Yan Fei took note of them all, planning to try those cuts when it was ti to butcher their own cattle.
Yan Fei enquired about the Forestry Bureau’s location, left a jar of wine and so vegetables, and then said goodbye.
After they left, Xu Xiaoyan asked him: “Why didn’t you tell Fifth Brother about our plan to butcher our own cattle and let Pang Fa sell the at?
Isn’t he operating a beef business here?”
“Fifth Brother’s beef cos from half-grown calves that he slaughters himself.
He doesn’t sell anything but the hide—all of the at is utilized.
Didn’t you notice that he has every part of beef you could want?
He never needs to buy beef from outside.” Yan Fei explained.
Yan Fei knew about the huge price gap between selling a live cow and selling butchered at.
He also understood now why Fifth Brother slaughtered his own cattle.
Even though a half-grown heifer wouldn’t yield as much at as a fattened cow, the economics of the whole thing still worked out better than buying butchered at.
As such, he hadn’t brought up selling his own cows to Fifth Brother in the first place.
Xu Xiaoyan understood imdiately and didn’t say anything more.
On the way, the couple had already agreed that Yan Fei’s parents would be at work in the morning, so they had to take Yan Chao with them to the Forestry Bureau.
As soon as they arrived at the Forestry Bureau, Yan Fei raised an objection: “Why would they install such a big, brand-new iron gate, but only open a little door in it?
Are they trying to keep people out?”
It wasn’t surprising to hear him complain.
Even though they were carrying less cargo now, the basket was still the sa size.
The gate of the Forestry Bureau was an old-fashioned double-leafed iron one, with a small door left in one of the leaves.
When they arrived, the large gate was shut, and only the small one was open.
Yan Fei’s basket could just about fit through, but anything larger would’ve been impossible.
The couple, with Yan Chao in tow, entered through the gate.
There was a small security booth at the entrance, but no one was inside.
They walked along the walkway into the courtyard, where a young man was walking back and forth.
Before Yan Fei could address him, the young man spotted them and imdiately jogged over: “What do you guys want?
Who let you in?
Do you know where this is?
You didn’t co here just to look around, did you?
Get out of here, quick.”
Seeing Yan Fei’s attire and the fact that he was accompanied by a child, the young man assud that they were not here for business.
In his eyes, they were rely curious tourists who had wandered into the premises; hence the abruptness.
Given his attitude, Yan Fei would have lost his temper had he not been accompanied by his wife and younger brother.
Instead, keeping his temper in check, he explained: “This is the Forestry Bureau, isn’t it?
I’m here to see your leaders.”
The young man looked him up and down: “Why do you need to see our leaders?
Who do you want to see?
Do you have a letter of introduction?”
Yan Fei struggled to keep himself patient as he replied: “Whoever’s in charge, I need to see them!
Before, your Forestry Bureau put several protected wild animals into my care.
I’m here to figure out what you plan on doing next.”
The young man still looked suspicious: “Protected wild animals?
What kind of animals?
Why am I not aware of this?”
Yan Fei went into more detail: “This happened right before New Year’s Day last year.
There were tigers, black bears, golden eagles, and several young sable.”
“Ha…
ha…,” the man said.
He wasn’t completely incredulous — that is until Yan Fei went on to explain.
Upon hearing Yan Fei’s explanation, he erupted in laughter.
“Are you joking?
Our Forestry Bureau putting tigers and black bears into your care?
Do you have any idea how much at a tiger consus in a day?
What do you feed them?
Get out of here!
This isn’t a public park; move on.”
Didn’t they say three strikes and you’re out?
Yan Fei had managed to exercise patience and explain things three tis, a courtesy extended only because they were at the county Forestry Bureau.
However, upon hearing the young man’s disbelief and rejection, he imdiately lost his temper.
He turned to Xu Xiaoyan: “Cover your ears.”
He then hugged Yan Chao closer and covered his ears too.
He took a deep breath, faced the young man, and let out a mighty roar: “Roar!”
The ferocious roar resounded like a tiger calling from the wilderness, echoing throughout the small courtyard.
The roar Yan Fei had painstakingly learned was much more ferocious than a genuine tiger’s.
The young man imdiately beca dizzy and stumbled backward, eventually sitting down on the ground with a thump.
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