A few years later, Li Gui graduated from junior high school. He did not enter high school and did not want to repeat the studies. He only thought about hunting every day. During the summer and winter vacations before finishing his studies, he often helped Liu Duanping with housework in order to please him. Of course Liu Duanping did not treat Li Gui badly. Knowing that he wanted to learn hunting, he often took him to the mountains for internship and shot many birds with a shotgun. However, he never avenged him because the old stork that pecked his head never appeared again. Many birds thus became scapegoats. Despite this, Liu Duanping still did not let Li Gui hold a shotgun alone. Only when Liu Duanping was present and there was a target, such as an unsuspecting bird resting on a tree, did he teach him how to aim, trigger the gun, and then Count the loot.
Now Li Gui found Liu Duanping again. Liu Duanping kept his promise and was going to lend him the shotgun. But then he thought that it was a dangerous instrument. If something happened, he, Liu Duanping, would still be involved.
So, he came up with a foolproof plan, asked Li Gui to sign a contract, and asked his parents to sign as well. Whatever unpleasant things happened had nothing to do with Liu Duanping. But Li Gui signed the contract, but his parents did not sign it. They all opposed it, saying that hunting was dangerous. This way Liu Duanping couldn't force himself, so Li Gui didn't blame him and gave up on borrowing the shotgun.
Without studying, Li Gui still thought about hunting. He planned to save up enough money to buy a shotgun, and he already knew how to use it. But he found many stores in the market, but none of them had shotguns for sale. When asked why, some shop owners said there was no place to supply the goods, and some said the government did not allow them to sell. He was puzzled and asked Liu Duanping again. The answer was that the hunting rifle was handed down from his ancestors. At that time, the government was not strict and had not yet issued laws banning hunting. After hearing this, Li Gui felt that he had no choice but to look dejected and even reached out to touch the back of his head.
Seeing this, Liu Duanping approached him and whispered: Li Gui, I will introduce you to get a shotgun outside the village.
There are no shotguns for sale in the market. Is there anyone selling shotguns outside the village? Li Gui asked in a serious tone.
That's not what I meant, and I know it's hard to get shotguns anywhere. Liu Duanping lowered his voice: Do you know? Last month, Wu Yun, the only hunter in Wujiawan, went hunting in the mountains and died suddenly. He was later found by a woodcutter.
What does his death have to do with me? Li Gui asked inexplicably.
Oops, your brain is not working. Wu Yun is dead, but his shotgun is not dead and can still be used as usual. Can't you ask his family to buy the shotgun with money?
Oops! Why didn't I think of that? Okay, as you said, let’s settle the matter like this! Li Gui said, very excited, holding Liu Duanping's hand tightly.
Liu Duanping said: As for whether the matter can be denied, it is not entirely up to you. Wu Yun's family must agree to sell the shotgun to you. It depends on you to do the work and negotiate the price.
Li Gui immediately rushed to Wujiawan, ten kilometers away, to find Wu Yun's family members to ask about the matter. Wu Yi, Wu Yun's son, received Li Gui. He said that he was also a hunter and learned from his father. According to reports, this shotgun is a family heirloom and is not for sale.
Li Gui felt confused when he heard this and frowned.
Wu Yi continued: "However, my father told me before he died that he should stop hunting. This can be regarded as his last words."
So what do you do for a living?
I kill pigs for a living.
Oh, to be a butcher.
The two exchanged words for a while, then talked about shotguns. Li Gui said: Since you don’t use the shotgun at home, you might as well sell it to me. I'm addicted to hunting.
After saying this, he felt a little regretful, because he showed a strong desire to buy, would others take advantage of this to raise the price? He originally wanted to say that you should make a price, but now he carefully changed his mind: Wu Yi, you see, I am not a rich man. I just want to make a living by hunting. Can you please make an appropriate price so that we don't suffer any loss?
Wu Yi took a look at the main room and said that his father's shotgun was originally hanging on the wall of the main room, but now it is stored in the main room.
Li Gui said: I want to ask you, your father's shotgun is for sale, what price are you prepared to pay?
The price won't be very high, but I don't want to sell it now. Wu Yi talked like he was selling off, but Li Gui broke the casserole pattern and asked: Why not sell it? Are you afraid that I can't afford the price?
No, neither. Wu Yi said that his family had a rule that things commonly used by the deceased must be sold to outsiders, and outsiders must kowtow in front of the deceased's grave. My father has passed away, so of course the rules set by the family cannot be broken.
willing! I am willing to kowtow in front of your father's grave. Can you tell me how many times to kowtow?
It doesn’t matter how many times you kowtow!
Li Gui thought that if he kowtowed, he could seal the deal. Unexpectedly, Wu Yi made his words clearer: I don't think most people can do it. There is no restriction on how many times you can kowtow once, but the problem is that you have to kowtow for 7,749 days, not even one day less, and it is stipulated that you kowtow in the evening every day, whether it is sunny or rainy.
Hearing this, Li Gui felt a little hesitant. Two days a day was enough, but there was no guarantee that one evening in the forty-nine days would be okay. He said: Just kowtow, why do you insist on setting it in the evening?
Yes, you must kowtow in the evening. Of course, you can kowtow later. However, you cannot kowtow during the day because the yang energy is strong during the day. Wu Yi was firm: If you are willing to accept this condition, my father's shotgun can be sold to you.
Let me think about it. Can I answer you tomorrow?
Of course.
The two faced each other but remained silent.
In the evening of the next day, someone suddenly called Wu Yi. Wu Yi looked back and saw that it was Li Gui coming from the field. Li Gui met face to face and asked: Where is your father's tomb? Take me to kowtow!
On that mountain. Wu Yi pointed to the north. There were several dusk crows flying on the north mountain. When he saw the crows, Li Gui suddenly felt hatred. He had been pecked by crows before. He thought: If he had a shotgun, he would shoot crows whenever he saw them.
When he arrived at the tomb of Wu Yi's deceased father, Li Gui bowed his head and muttered: "Sir, Li Gui is polite." Today I plan to buy the shotgun you used during your lifetime to hunt for a living. If you have a spirit in heaven, please fulfill the wish of the younger generation.
Seeing that Li Gui was so sincere, Wu Yi of course knelt down and kowtowed with him, and said: Father, you saw it. Li Gui planned to buy your shotgun. His son couldn't make up his mind, so he went to your tomb to report. He only waited for Li Gui. Brother, according to the clan rules set by our ancestors, I have completed the seventy-seven and forty-nine days of worshiping you. I will then decide to sell him the shotgun you used during your lifetime. I am sure you will agree! Wu Yi stood up, but Li Gui was still kowtowing, and his forehead was stained with a little brown soil from the grave.
As he was getting up, he suddenly heard a bird chirping faintly across the sky, and saw something white falling down, landing just on the fur collar of the black jacket Li Gui was wearing. He took a closer look and saw that it was a piece of bird excrement.
Wu Yi immediately took out a piece of paper from his body and said to him: Come, I will wipe it off for you. Li Gui was a little nervous. When he kowtowed for the first time, a piece of bird droppings fell on him. Is this auspicious or not? He was a little sullen and looked up at the sky: Damn it, damn the bird, when I have a shotgun, I will shoot the bird whenever I see it.
Li Gui took the piece of paper from Wu Yi's hand and wiped it himself, but it was still not very clean. There was a faint mark on it, like an eraser erasing a wrong word and leaving fur on the paper. mark.
