On the drive back to the Wooden Cabin, the Jeep felt noticeably heavier. Even Sun Jiaqiang noticed.
Once Li Long got out, he could not help asking:
"Brother Long, those two robbers stole quite a lot, didn't they?"
"They did." Li Long nodded. "Not just fritillaria, but other things too. I'm waiting for Bolati to come so I can give them back to him."
"All of it? Wouldn't you lose out?" Sun Jiaqiang could not help saying. "Without you, they wouldn't have caught those two!"
"Some of it," Li Long said honestly. "I can't give him everything. If I did, wouldn't I have made that trip for nothing? More people are coming."
Li Long pointed south. Two people were approaching with sacks.
They looked familiar to Li Long, but he paid them no mind. He turned back and sat on the threshold, planning to rest before gathering some more morels.
He had originally come to gather morels, only to run into this business and fail to get his actual work done.
Sun Jiaqiang had finished his work, so he went to meet the two as they approached.
Normally, he did not go out to meet people. He had his worries, and more importantly, it was a seller's market now, so he had no need to cater to them.
With Li Long here, he felt more confident. Of course, he also hoped to trade for more fritillaria and earn more money.
But the two merely nodded to Sun Jiaqiang before heading straight for Li Long.
That left Sun Jiaqiang feeling very awkward.
Li Long stood up rather reluctantly. These two were set on dealing with him. Though his mood and expression looked poor, they still steeled themselves and told him what they wanted.
Money, dried noodles, and rubber shoes.
Li Long