It was not cheap, but it was worth it.
Li Long knew something about these herders. Their saddles had all been in use for quite a while; several decades was normal.
The saddles had wooden frames, supplemented with hide, copper and iron fittings, and woolen fabric. The materials were all sturdy, and they did not wear down easily on horseback.
The herders could repair some of the easily damaged parts themselves. So in those days, it was normal for a saddle to last several decades.
Some families even had saddles that had been handed down through generations.
So buying a complete set of tack might cost a little more, but spread over the years, it was actually quite a bargain.
"I'll take all eight saddles, each with a whip, reins, a halter, and a pad," Li Long said. "Can you lower the price?"
"No bargaining, no bargaining." Old Grandfather smiled. "This has always been the price. You get what you pay for. You saw for yourself-they're all made with the finest hide. Good stuff! Use them without worry. If you're not satisfied, come find me! I've been making saddles for fifty or sixty years. Don't you worry!"
Then he would buy them. The eight sets came to nearly six hundred yuan and packed Li Long's Jeep full.
Old Grandfather was delighted. Li Long had cleared out the stock he had spent so long making, and the old man suddenly felt motivated again.
Li Long drove away from the shop, but he made a note of its location.
While examining the saddles, Li Long had also compared them. He found that the old man's saddles were better quality than those at the shop in the county seat, and looked more comfortable too. Both the feel and the materials were different.
He