Chapter Summaries

Li Long returned to the Big Courtyard with ten harvesters, then prepared to deliver meat to contacts in Wu City and Beiting after getting his Jeep serviced. He found the Agricultural College closed for the holiday, but reached Engineer Liu at the Jade Carving Factory.

• Factory Director Du planned to wait until spring to research whether the Farm Machinery Factory should make tricycles or wheelbarrows.
• Li Long and Song Ming returned to Ma County with ten harvesters, and Li Long unloaded and covered them at the Big Courtyard.
• Li Long and Gu Xiaoxia agreed that he should have the Jeep serviced before traveling to Wu City and Beiting, so he gave a leg of lamb to the Transport Company team leader and had the vehicle checked.
• Li Long drove to the Agricultural College to deliver meat to Professor Wu and Professor Luo, but found that they had left for the holiday and their addresses were unknown.
• Li Long went to the Jade Carving Factory with a leg of lamb, waited for Engineer Liu to pause his carving, and was invited inside.

Li Long visited Engineer Liu with mutton, bought jade carvings, and delivered meat to Director Qian, who saw promise in Li Long’s livestock business. After purchasing saddles and arranging to have a Mongolian gazelle hide softened, Li Long drove home, considering expanding his sheep-fattening operation next year.

• Li Long brought Engineer Liu mutton, accepted a jade piece as a gift, and bought four carvings for 110 yuan.
• Engineer Liu told Xiao Ma to collect more good jade materials after Li Long left.
• Li Long bought New Year supplies, then gave Director Qian and Xiao Si beef, venison, and mutton.
• Director Qian praised Li Long’s fattened livestock and said the Federation could buy meat from him the following year.
• Li Long bought the tack shop’s three remaining saddles and left his Mongolian gazelle hide with the old man to soften.
• Li Long drove back toward the Big Courtyard, planning to discuss preparing pens for another livestock batch.

After the County Seat Purchasing Station closed, Niu Dajun worried that he could not sell his rabbit skins, while Li Long found a way to help him and other local sellers. Li Long bought a stranded farmer’s water rat skins and pointed out their value, leaving the farmer with a fair sale and a possible new buyer.

• Niu Dajun learned that the County Seat Purchasing Station had been abolished and asked Lu Yingming how he could sell his rabbit skins; Lu Yingming suggested he consult Li Long when he returned for the pig slaughter.
• Niu Dajun brought three rabbits to Li Jianguo’s home and arranged to ask Li Long about selling skins when Li Long came back for the feast.
• Li Long had a fur vest and gloves made from a Mongolian gazelle hide, bought saddle gear, and delivered it to Harimu, who gave him two wolf pelts and told him red deer fawns would soon be available.
• Li Long saw sellers waiting outside the closed Purchasing Station and spoke with a man who had three water rat skins he could no longer sell.
• Li Long bought the man’s water rat skins for fifteen yuan each and told him the musk sacs beneath the animals’ bellies were valuable too.

After buying hides from a stranded villager, Li Long decided to open his own purchasing station and worked through the plan with Gu Xiaoxia. He rented the former Purchasing Station courtyard and went to ask Li Xiangqian about obtaining a business license, where he found the section chief in unusually good spirits.

• Li Long bought three water rat hides from a villager and left when other villagers gathered to offer their goods.
• Li Long considered opening a purchasing station, and Gu Xiaoxia helped him assess the rules, buyers, storage, and license he would need.
• Li Long checked the courtyard’s ownership and rented it from the Housing Management Office for three years at one hundred and fifty yuan a year.
• Li Long told Gu Xiaoxia about the rental and planned to replace the courtyard notice and ask Li Xiangqian about a business license.
• Li Long visited Li Xiangqian, who offered him fine tea and hinted that something good had happened.

Li Long obtained a business license and reopened the former Purchasing Station as a private agricultural and sideline products buying point, purchasing several goods while turning away an expensive vase. He then drove his family and guests to Li Jianguo’s pig slaughter gathering, where Niu Dajun learned about the station.

• Li Xiangqian advised Li Long to apply for an Agricultural and Sideline Products Business License and helped him secure approval.
• Li Long got the license, posted a notice that the Purchasing Station would reopen, and bought red deer antlers and other goods from local sellers.
• Li Long refused to buy a man’s Meiping Vase, then returned home with the goods he had purchased and gave Gu Xiaoxia leather gloves.
• Li Long drove Gu Xiaoxia, Sister Yang, Han Fang, Mingming, and Haohao to Li Jianguo’s home for the pig slaughter gathering.
• Li Long told Niu Dajun and Jia Weidong to bring hides to his Purchasing Station when it reopened, surprising Niu Dajun.

Li Long helped with the Li family’s pig slaughter and heard Old Mr. Tian recount a local history that differed from Li Juan’s school lessons. The pork-killing feast brought the village together, while Li Long wondered whether his presence had made this warmth arrive earlier than it otherwise would have.

• Li Long and Niu Dajun agreed to take the saved rabbit skins to the Purchasing Station when Niu brought his sheepskins to the Leather Factory.
• Li Jianguo’s family slaughtered two pigs, with Li Long helping scald and scrape the carcasses as villagers prepared meat for sale and the feast.
• Old Mr. Tian described the region’s past violence, and Li Juan challenged his account with what she had learned in history class.
• The villagers gathered for the pork-killing feast, and Sister Yang began to recognize the warmth of ordinary rural relationships.
• As laughter and conversation filled the courtyards, Li Long wondered if his presence had brought this atmosphere earlier.

Li Long reopened the purchasing station ahead of schedule to prepare for spring, and buyers began arriving almost immediately. After a busy first day, he realized the station had become popular even before its official opening.

• Li Long declined drinks at Li Jianguo's gathering, then took home meat, pig liver, and sauerkraut that Li Jianguo and Liang Yuemei gave him.
• Han Fang asked Li Long when she could return to play, while Sister Yang stayed quiet because she knew Han Fang's mother would not agree to a longer visit.
• Li Long and Gu Xiaoxia discussed securing buyers before reopening the purchasing station and decided he would ask the Leather Factory about hides.
• Li Long went to clean and heat the purchasing station, where a hunter arrived with wolf, gazelle, and badger hides and sold them for one hundred yuan.
• Seven groups came to sell goods during the morning, and more people continued arriving throughout the afternoon.

Li Long’s Purchasing Station courtyard drew a growing stream of sellers, and he bought more goods than he could comfortably store while planning how to sell them. He paused buying, took Han Fang to the Fourth Team, and brought a trailer-load of sheepskins and rabbit skins to the Leather Factory, where the gatekeeper turned away another seller with too few hides.

• Li Long bought hides, medicinal herbs, and other goods from people at the Purchasing Station, then decided to pause purchases while he sorted out where to sell them.
• Li Long promised Han Fang a trip to the Fourth Team, and the next day he bought Li Qiang a soccer ball before taking her to Li Jianguo’s home.
• Li Long and Li Jianguo started the frozen tractor and loaded more than a hundred sheepskins and over thirty rabbit skins at Old Ma’s Place.
• Li Long drove the tractor to the Leather Factory, where the gatekeeper refused to buy a dozen sheepskins from a man on a bicycle.

Li Long sold his hides to the Leather Factory for a good price and learned its rates for wild animal pelts, then visited Harimu’s Winter Camp to thank him and found Talihaal badly injured. The chapter ended with Talihaal explaining that wild boars had chased him.

• Li Long sold 168 sheepskins, four cattle hides, and 34 rabbit skins to the Leather Factory, earning 2,828 yuan and forty fen in total.
• Old Zhang praised Li Long’s hides, shared prices for wild animal pelts, and invited him to bring future lots to the factory.
• Li Long gave Niu Dajun the 119 yuan from selling his rabbit skins and told him the Leather Factory required at least a hundred rabbit skins per lot.
• Li Long stayed home with his children for several days, then drove to Harimu’s Winter Camp with supplies to thank Harimu and the others for their careful skinning.
• Li Long found Talihaal with serious wounds, and Talihaal told him that a herd of wild boars had chased him.

Li Long took the badly injured Talihaal from the mountains to Stone City No. 2 Hospital, where doctors treated his infected wounds and admitted him. He left Harimu to care for Talihaal and drove back toward Southern Mountain.

• Li Long examined Talihaal's infected arm and leg, and Harimu's mother advised that he go to a hospital.
• Li Long and Harimu drove Talihaal to Stone City No. 2 Hospital, where doctors cleaned his wounds, treated him, and admitted him as Bed Forty-Three.
• Li Long bought supplies and food, arranged for Harimu to stay as Talihaal's attendant, and showed him around the hospital.
• Harimu and Talihaal settled in, planned to wash and brush their teeth, and learned that Talihaal's injuries might have been much worse without hospital care.
• Li Long left the hospital and drove back toward Southern Mountain.

Li Long informed Harimu's family that Talihaal had been hospitalized after a wild boar gored him, then cared for him with daily chicken soup and noodles. Talihaal recovered and was discharged, and Li Long drove him and Harimu away from the hospital for nang and milk tea.

• Li Long told Harimu's wife that Talihaal was hospitalized and promised to visit him and keep the family informed.
• Meng Hai gave Li Long four chickens, and Li Long brought them home, where Han Fang made a shuttlecock from the rooster's feathers.
• Li Long prepared chicken soup and noodles for Talihaal and warned Gu Xiaoxia that he would be more careful while hunting.
• Harimu and Talihaal adjusted to hospital routines, learned to brush their teeth and wash their socks, and received help from other patients and nurses.
• Li Long brought Talihaal chicken soup each day until the doctor discharged him after about a week.
• Li Long drove Talihaal and Harimu away from the hospital, and Talihaal asked for nang and milk tea.

Li Long helped Talihaal and Harimu return home with new clothes and toiletries, inspiring their families and the Jade Mountain River Family to begin brushing their teeth. Later, Li Long joined Li Qingxia and Li Jianguo on a trip north to look for Mongolian gazelles, and they spotted a herd of animals on the way.

• Li Long drove Harimu and Talihaal to the Winter Camp after taking them shopping, and Talihaal later rode home with his purchases.
• Talihaal showed his family how to use toothbrushes and toothpaste, while Harimu's children taught the adults in their home; the habit spread to other households.
• Li Long and Gu Xiaoxia discussed finding someone to help run the Purchasing Station but made no decision.
• Li Long visited his family with Han Fang, where Li Qingxia proposed searching for Mongolian gazelles in the sandy country to the north.
• Li Jianguo said he knew the area from his time in the Corps, so he, Li Qingxia, and Li Long set off by Jeep.
• As they drove through increasingly sparse settlements and desert terrain, Li Long and the others spotted a herd of running animals.

Li Long, Li Jianguo, and Li Qingxia drove to the Company where Li Jianguo had once worked, then hunted gazelles and wolves in the nearby dunes. They returned with three gazelles and a wolf, and found several people waiting on the road near the Company.

• Li Jianguo pointed out the farmland and apple orchard from his years as the Company’s Quartermaster, while Li Qingxia reflected on why he had called his eldest son home.
• Li Jianguo chose to pass the Company and continue into the dunes, while workers there watched the Jeep and prepared a meal for its occupants.
• Li Long and his companions spotted a herd of Mongolian gazelles and a pack of wolves; Li Long and Li Jianguo shot several animals as the herds scattered.
• Li Jianguo slit the throat of a wounded gazelle, and Li Long killed a wolf that sprang at him before the three men carried their game back to the Jeep.
• After gutting and bagging the animals, the three drove back toward the Company and saw several people standing in their path.

Li Jianguo reunited with his former comrades Wang Mingjun and Big Old Chen, shared a meal at their company headquarters, and revisited the company’s vegetable cellar. Li Long bought the company’s gazelle and wolf hides at favorable prices, and the group prepared to return home with supplies and a profitable deal behind them.

• Li Jianguo recognized Wang Mingjun and Big Old Chen, and the former colleagues excitedly reunited after nearly twenty years apart.
• At company headquarters, Wang Mingjun and Big Old Chen welcomed Li Jianguo and his family with a lavish meal and discussed their old company and how their lives had changed.
• Li Long offered to buy the company’s gazelle hides, and Wang Mingjun agreed to sell them after hearing his prices were better than those offered by middlemen.
• Li Jianguo inspected the company’s vegetable cellar, where Wang Mingjun and Big Old Chen loaded the Jeep with fruit, honey, and liquor for the family.
• Li Long bought more than fifty gazelle hides, nine wolf pelts, and two wild donkey hides for 1,990 yuan, while Big Old Chen invited them to stay overnight.
• Li Jianguo declined to stay, saying he was clear-headed and wanted to go home, as Wang Mingjun and Big Old Chen laughed at their abandoned plan to keep drinking with him.

Li Long returned from the northern Company with Li Jianguo, who reminisced about his years there, and brought home hides and food. While Li Long and Gu Xiaoxia went to the Fourth Team for New Year, Sister Yang and Han Fang stayed in the County Seat and prepared their former courtyard for the holiday, leaving Sister Yang feeling more at ease there.

• Li Long left a wolf and a Mongolian gazelle with the Company, received ammunition, and drove away with Li Jianguo and Li Qingxia as Wang Mingjun and Big Old Chen discussed the hide trade and a possible hunt.
• On the return journey, Li Jianguo recalled his work at the Company, his old colleagues, and the border residents' rebellion, while Li Long listened to his stories.
• Li Long brought fruit, honey, liquor, and a gazelle to the Li Family Courtyard, then returned to the Big Courtyard with Han Fang and told Gu Xiaoxia about the trip.
• Gu Xiaoxia invited Sister Yang and Han Fang to celebrate New Year at the Fourth Team, but Sister Yang chose to stay in the County Seat and visit their former courtyard.
• On New Year's Eve, Sister Yang and Han Fang cleared the snow, cleaned the courtyard, and set up an offering for Han Fang's late father before returning to the Big Courtyard later.
• Sister Yang found comfort in the familiar kitchen and considered that they might live in the courtyard full-time the following year.

Li Long spent Lunar New Year’s Eve with his family before driving to the County Seat to pick up Li Anguo and his family. At the bus station, he stopped a knife-wielding pickpocket and his accomplices, then reunited with Li Anguo, who warned him to be more careful.

• Li Long and Gu Xiaoxia visited Li Jianguo’s courtyard, where Li Juan came to see the children and learned Han Fang would spend New Year in the County Seat.
• Li Jianguo told Li Long that Li Anguo would arrive that afternoon, and Li Long agreed to pick him up and host his family.
• Li Long drove to the County Seat and waited at the bus station, where a young pickpocket reached into his pocket and drew a knife.
• Li Long seized the thief, slapped him, and held him while station staff and passengers surrounded the two armed accomplices.
• Li Anguo arrived with Chen Lirong, Xueping, and Xueqin, found Li Long giving a statement to Public Security officers, and warned him to be careful; Li Long privately thought his second brother lacked guts.

The author reported recovering from a bowel obstruction and thanked readers for their support. After describing the hospital and its patients, the author said regular story updates would resume the next day.

• The author explained that doctors treated the bowel obstruction with a stomach tube and IV fluids, and discharged the author on the fourth day.
• The author described meeting a Hui woman, Kazakh patients, a helpful young man, and a talkative patient who had caused a serious drunk-driving crash.
• The Uyghur caregiver took the young man to the emergency department after he developed a high fever, and the young man recovered by the next day.
• The author thanked readers for their support and said they would resume regular updates tomorrow.

Li Long celebrated the New Year with his family and watched the children collect candy and lucky money on their village visits. Jia Tianlong called to ask him to supply snow lotus for a medicinal liquor business, and Li Long agreed to arrange at least five hundred flowers, leaving Xu Chengjun and the others eager to buy some too.

• Li Long brought Li Anguo and his family home, where everyone reunited and shared a festive dinner.
• On New Year's Day, Li Juan led Li Qiang, Xueping, and Xueqin to visit village elders, who gave them candy and lucky money.
• The children compared their New Year treats, while Li Jianguo told them to keep the lucky money and not discuss it outside.
• Mingwa brought word of a phone call, and Li Long went to Xu Chengjun's home to speak with Jia Tianlong.
• Jia Tianlong asked Li Long to supply at least five hundred snow lotus flowers for medicinal liquor, and Li Long agreed to sell them for six yuan each.
• Xu Chengjun, Xu Haijun, and the others heard about the deal and became interested in buying snow lotus for its supposed effects.

Li Long left Xu Chengjun’s New Year gathering after confronting Xu Jianjun, then advised Xu Haijun on ways to earn money and discussed farming and business plans with his friends. The next day, Gu Xiaoxia reunited with old acquaintances, whose envy eased when they reflected that Wu Shufen had once had the chance to share Gu Xiaoxia’s present life but gave it up.

• Xu Jianjun insulted Li Long over the promised snow lotus flowers, and Li Long rebuked him before leaving Xu Chengjun’s home.
• Xu Haijun caught up with Li Long, who described snow lotus gathering and suggested hunting Mongolian gazelles for their valuable hides.
• Li Long celebrated New Year with Xie Yundong, Tao Daqiang, Jia Weidong, and Liang Dacheng, and they discussed crops, harvesting, and plans for the Purchasing Station.
• Li Long visited Uncle Lao Luo and his comrades, then returned home to Gu Xiaoxia and their children.
• Li Long brought Gu Xiaoxia and the children to Gu Boyuan’s courtyard, where Qin Hongyan and Ning Yonghong visited and spoke enviously of Gu Xiaoxia’s life.
• Qin Hongyan and Ning Yonghong comforted themselves by noting that Wu Shufen had once had a chance to share Gu Xiaoxia’s circumstances but had given it up.

Xu Haijun borrowed Xu Chengjun’s Tractor and guns to hunt Mongolian Gazelles, while Li Jianguo and Liang Wenyu discussed farming and work with the Liang family. Xu Haijun later brought Li Long seventeen hides and two gazelles, eager to sell the hides and share the proceeds.

• After Xu Jianjun disrupted the New Year gathering, Xu Haijun told Xu Chengjun about Li Long’s hunting idea, and the brothers planned a trip north with two other men.
• Xu Chengjun arranged guns and ammunition, while Xu Haijun asked Lao Tian about the northern sandbanks and the group prepared for the hunt.
• At the Liang family gathering, Li Jianguo explained that watermelon seeds would be hard to sell, and Liang Wenyu and Liang Donglou decided to plant flower sunflowers instead.
• Li Jianguo drove his relatives to the Bus Station, and Li Long later returned home with his family.
• On the sixth day of the New Year, Xu Haijun arrived at Li Long’s home with seventeen Mongolian Gazelle hides and two gazelles, offering the animals to Li Long in gratitude.