The whole mountain is my hunting ground.

Chapter 1899 The Zhao Family Gang Expands Its Power

Zhao Jun got up, dragged Ma Sheng to the table, and pressed him down onto a four-legged stool.

Faced with his brother-in-law's urging to stay, Ma Sheng did not insist on leaving and tacitly allowed Ma Yang to have dinner at the Zhao family's house.

"Brother," Zhao Jun slurped up a couple of mouthfuls of noodles to fill his stomach, then asked Ma Sheng, "How's your business at the venue?"

"Things are alright these days, nothing much to do every day." After saying this, Ma Sheng looked at Li Dazhi and smiled, "We'll be busy in August or September."

Li Dazhi smiled and nodded in response. After the New Year, Li Dazhi transferred Ma Sheng, one of his own people, to the forestry camp.

The work of the forest farm is mainly divided into two parts: production and forest management.

To put it simply, production is logging, while forestry is planting.

The work of forest management is further divided into pruning and clearing, light penetration and tending, and digging pits for planting trees.

Ma Sheng said they are busy in August and September because they are preparing to plant trees.

Tree planting in forest areas is done in two periods: the first is from mid-April to early May each year. At this time, the soil has just thawed and the sap has not yet started to sprout, resulting in a high survival rate for the seedlings.

In addition, some cold-resistant saplings, such as Scots pine and larch, will be planted in late September to early October, which is conducive to their recovery.

Zhao Jun was very familiar with these work processes. His question was merely a prelude to the following topic.

"Brother," Zhao Jun then asked Ma Sheng, "I'm thinking of writing a report to the higher-ups these next couple of days to ask the farm to add two more forest rangers for me. Do you think you could come and work for me?"

The events of the past two days made Zhao Jun realize that the Zhao family gang was short-handed.

This manpower shortage is not only in forestry and security, but also particularly severe in the ginseng-raising area.

Like this old village, the days Zhao Jun and his group spent there weren't during the grazing season. If they had gone to Honglangtou City, there would definitely have been many fourth-grade leaves and lampstands around the large ginseng kings and snake dragons. As for second-grade, third-grade, and palm-sized ones, there would be even more.

If that's the case, Zhao Jun, Zhang Yuanmin, and the other main force will carry the large goods, while the smaller items will be carried by Li Baoyu, Xie Chen, and the others.

Even so, Zhao Jun and his group still had to stay in this old village for a few days.

In this situation, Zhao Jun was relatively safe in the Yong'an forest area. After all, it was his own territory, and Zhao Jun had powerful backers. While he might not be able to control everything, he certainly wouldn't be bullied.

But things are different outside, especially since Zhao Jun is not carrying ordinary ginseng, but a few ginseng seedlings that are worth a thousand pieces of gold.

Money can be a powerful motivator. If the local herders saw this, they would definitely come after the Zhao family gang.

This caused conflict, and the local forestry farm certainly wouldn't side with Zhao Jun.

Even if Zhao Jun was invited by the local forestry farm, it wouldn't change the outcome. After all, they were all fellow villagers of the same generation, while the Zhao family was just an outsider.

When it really came down to the local forestry farm needing to resolve the conflict between the two sides, the local forestry farm's actions of mediating the dispute were considered a favor to Zhao Jun.

Therefore, Zhao Jun needs to strengthen his Zhao family faction.

Firstly, more people means more strength, which can speed up the process of carrying ginseng out of the mountains, allowing them to get out of the mountains and retreat as soon as possible, thus minimizing the chance of being discovered.

Secondly, there's strength in numbers, so at least we won't suffer losses in a conflict. Even if we win and run, it's better than being defeated.

The second point is quite important, especially when Zhao Jun went to Fusong and chatted with the leaders of those ginseng gangs. I heard that those ginseng gangs had a dozen or twenty people.

His Zhao family gang, including Xing San, Li Ruhai, and Ma Yangcai, consisted of only nine people.

Xing San is getting old, and Zhao Jun can't take him out every day.

Li Ruhai's skills all came from his mouth. A few days ago, he went to fight in Yongshengtun with Wang Meilan, but he couldn't even beat a child two years younger than him. He was incredibly weak.

As for Ma Yang... Zhao Jun didn't have high hopes for him either.

The Ginseng Gang is different from the Hunting Gang. The Ginseng Gang requires its members to be relatives or friends of the gang leader.

The relatives and friends of the Zhao and Wang families are already in this house, so it will be difficult for Zhao Jun to recruit more people.

Zhao Jun knew his brother-in-law was reliable, so he said directly to Ma Sheng, "Brother, if you come, I can't say much more. What we've lost this year on the mountain will definitely be more than your salary."

After saying this, Zhao Jun paused slightly and then added, "Besides, your salary won't be delayed even if you're transferred here."

Zhao Jun's words were conservative, but one shouldn't speak too definitively. After all, no one can predict what will happen, and what if everything goes wrong this year?

Hearing Zhao Jun's words, Ma Sheng blinked and then said to Zhao Jun, "Jun, do you think I'm good enough? I'm afraid I'll cause you trouble."

Ma Sheng was happy to go up the mountain; he had even participated in the spring hunt before. He knew the Zhao family gang made money, but the Ma family members were proud, and Ma Sheng feared that Zhao Jun had only invited him to join the Zhao family gang to take care of him. If that was the case, Ma Sheng didn't want to participate.

“Brother, the main money-making job for us this year is ginseng transport,” Zhao Jun said. “In a while, I have to go to Lushuihe Forest Farm in Fusong. After Lushuihe, I think I also have to go to Liming in Liaoning Province. There’s a lot to do. Brother, go home and discuss it with my sister-in-law. If it’s feasible, you can come and help me.”

“Jun, if that’s what you’re saying, then I can agree to help you right now.” Hearing Zhao Jun say that he needed help, Ma Sheng said without hesitation, “We’re all family. If you’re in trouble, I have to help.”

After saying this, Ma Sheng looked at Li Dazhi beside him. His job transfer required Li Dazhi's approval.

Seeing Ma Sheng looking at him, Li Dazhi smiled and said, "Shengzi, you don't need to look at me. Do you think I would stop you?"

Hearing Li Dazhi say this, Ma Sheng also smiled.

Seeing this, Ma Ling was very happy. She knew how much money the Zhao family gang made, and naturally hoped that her eldest brother could also get involved.

In comparison, Ma Yang wasn't so happy. He did hope that Ma Sheng could make money too, but he wasn't so comfortable if Ma Sheng joined the Zhao family gang.

Sure enough, Ma Yang was taken away by Ma Sheng right after he finished eating. After seeing Ma Sheng and Ma Yang off, Zhao Jun and Ma Ling returned to their room to find the other diners preparing to leave.

"Second Brother," Zhao Jun called out to Lin Xiangshun, "How about... you transfer over here too?"

"What?" Lin Xiangshun was taken aback, then heard Zhao Jun say, "I need people here. If you come over, you can earn more money, right?"

Lin Xiangshun's family consists of three people: one works, one goes to school, and the other lives with Wang Meilan.

Although the Lin family owns shares in the Zhao family's business association, their share is small, so their dividends won't be much.

The Wang, Zhang, Xie, Zhao, and two Li families all have people working for the Zhao family. Their annual income from working with Zhao Jun far exceeds the Lin family's dividends from the Zhao family's chamber of commerce.

Zhao Jun and Lin Xiangshun had a very deep brotherly bond; the title of "Second Brother" wasn't given lightly. During Zhao Jun's two periods of hardship in his previous life—before his marriage and after returning to his hometown—Lin Xiangshun took good care of him.

Now that there's an opportunity to make money, Zhao Jun wants to bring Lin Xiangshun along.

Lin Xiangshun hesitated to accept Zhao Jun's invitation. He knew the Zhao family was good at making money, but he was already the captain of the convoy.

These days, drivers are in high demand, and a fleet captain is no ordinary cadre. Lin Xiangshun really couldn't bear to give up this lucrative position.

"You're talking nonsense! Your second brother has such a good job, why would he work for you?" Before Lin Xiangshun could say anything, Zhao Youcai objected.

Zhao Youcai's words largely reflected his true feelings. However, he also harbored a slight ulterior motive.

His Zhao Family Hunting Gang now consists of only one official member: himself. There are three unofficial members: Zhao Weipeng, Li Dayong, and Lin Xiangshun.

Although Zhao Weipeng has moved his family here, he still has to travel back to Hebei every few days. When he's here, he also has to go down the mountain from time to time to check on Yong'an Supermarket.

Another issue is that Zhao Weipeng struggles to climb the mountain and his marksmanship is terrible. For the Zhao family hunting gang, having Zhao Weipeng is like having a man in his fifties, but not having him is like having a man in his forties.

Besides Zhao Weipeng, Li Dayong and Lin Xiangshun can be considered Zhao Youcai's right-hand men. Although they have to work, they rarely have the opportunity to go up the mountain with Zhao Youcai.

But for Zhao Youcai, this was at least something to look forward to, which was better than Lin Xiangshun submitting to the Zhao family gang.

Hearing Zhao Youcai's words, Zhao Jun glanced at him and then asked Zhao Youcai, "Dad, how many more years do you think these trees in our forest area can last?"

"Well..." Zhao Youcai was stunned as soon as he opened his mouth. Not only was he stunned, but Li Dazhi and the others also looked at Zhao Jun in surprise.

Seeing that everyone was looking at him, Zhao Jun asked Li Dazhi, "Sixth Uncle, you're the forestry chief, do you think we can plant trees as fast as we cut them down?"

"That's nonsense." Li Dazhi said with a wry smile. As the head of the forestry farm, he knew that the number of mature trees in the Yong'an forest area would be enough to last for twenty years.

Twenty years later, the trees planted for afforestation still do not meet the standards for mature timber harvesting.

Compared to Li Dazhi's estimate, Zhao Jun knew clearly that the entire Shanhe Forestry Bureau had stopped commercial logging of natural forests at the beginning of 2014.

Since then, although the forestry workers have not been laid off, their treatment has deteriorated significantly.

Besides, even if the forest farm doesn't stop production, the benefits for employees in this company will only be average in twenty years. Zhao Jun remembers that Lin Xiangshun's monthly pension was only 3,800 yuan when he retired.

That's why Zhao Jun wanted to help Lin Xiangshun.

"Second Brother," Zhao Jun said bluntly, "We haven't even opened that giant ginseng we carried today to show you yet. Let me tell you, the money we make from selling just this one ginseng is more than we could earn in a lifetime with our wages."

Zhao Jun's words were quite hurtful, but Lin Xiangshun knew his brother meant well. However, the job transfer was a big deal for him, and Lin Xiangshun needed to think it over carefully.

"Shunzi," Wang Qiang said to Lin Xiangshun, "this is a big deal. Don't rush to make a decision. After you're done, go home and discuss it with Chunyan."

At this point, Wang Qiang suddenly changed the subject and said, "But I think you should come. Why? Well, look, these families all have representatives who came up the mountain with my nephew. If you don't come, Xiao Bao and his mother can't either."

Hearing Wang Qiang say that, everyone chuckled.

Amid the laughter, Li Dazhi said, "That's right, out of all these families, only my family and Shunzi's family didn't go up the mountain with Xiaojun to make a fortune."

"Dad!" Li Tongyun chimed in as soon as Li Dazhi finished speaking, "I can go up the mountain, it's just that my brother Jun won't take me!"

After saying this, Li Tongyun darted up to Zhao Jun and volunteered, "Brother Jun, if you go up the mountain with me again, I'll be your bodyguard, that'll be more than enough!"

"Hahaha..." Li Tongyun's words made everyone laugh, but Li Baoyu had a bitter smile on his face. It was one thing for his sister to want to join the Zhao family gang, but the key was that his sister wanted to take his position.

Just as Li Baoyu was about to speak, he heard Xie Sunshi shout, "I can be a bodyguard too!"

As she spoke, Xie Sunshi walked to Li Tongyun's side, tapped Li Tongyun's arm with the back of her hand, and said, "Xiaoyun and I, mother and daughter, work together so well. If Zhao Jun is to lead us, who dares to whine to us? We'll sit on the ground and beat him out."

Sun's words were too crude, and Liu Lanying pulled at her from behind.

Seeing Li Tongyun nodding repeatedly, Zhao Jun smiled wryly and said to her, "Alright, Xiaoyun, you should hurry up and find a boyfriend. Then I'll bring him up the mountain, isn't that the same thing?"

The Li family of three has made up their minds to find a son-in-law to live with them. When the son-in-law makes money with Zhao Jun, he will also join the Li family.

Hearing Zhao Jun's words, Li Tongyun wasn't embarrassed; she just sighed heavily.

Logically speaking, given Li Dazhi's family's circumstances and Li Tongyun's appearance, finding a son-in-law to live with them shouldn't have been difficult at all. Even with Li Tongyun's notorious reputation, there were plenty of young men from impoverished families willing to marry into her family.

But Li Tongyun is quite picky; she insists on finding someone tall and good-looking.

That's a bit difficult.

As the diners gradually left, the Zhao family prepared to rest.

Zhao Jun and Ma Ling, the young couple, hadn't seen each other for many days, so naturally they had a lot to talk about. And so, the couple chatted away and ended up talking about everything.

The young couple finished their fussing around very late, and all four members of the Dongda House were already fast asleep.

These past few days, Zhao Youcai hasn't been having good dreams.

Today was no exception. In his dream, Zhao Youcai heard a loudspeaker in the village announcing that a Siberian tiger had attacked people in the northeast of the village, and the forest farm was calling on the best artillerymen in the forest area to go and hunt the tiger.

The person who kills the Siberian tiger will not only be awarded a bonus and a certificate by the forestry farm, but will also be appointed as the head of the forestry protection team, and will be responsible for forming the forestry protection team.

Upon receiving the news, Zhao Youcai dressed in his mountain clothes, slung his hunting rifle over his shoulder, and left home alone.

As soon as Zhao Youcai stepped outside, he saw a lot of vehicles, a dozen people, and more than a dozen dogs.

"Second Uncle, where are you going with your gun?" Lin Xiangshun was putting armor on Black Tiger when Zhao Youcai saw him and subconsciously asked, "Shunzi, why aren't you at work?"

"Second Uncle, have you forgotten?" Lin Xiangshun asked Zhao Youcai with a smile, "If I don't join the Zhao family gang, will I still be following my brothers?"

"You..." Zhao Youcai was about to say something when he saw Ma Sheng carrying a gun coming over and saying to Zhao Youcai, "Uncle, why don't you come with us too? Let's take the dogs to kowtow to the big paws."

"Leading the dog?" Zhao Youcai seemed to remember something upon hearing this. He glanced to the side and saw Erhei being led by Zhao Jun.

"Erhei." Zhao Youcai called out, and Erhei pulled on the rope to come to him, but Zhao Jun grabbed Erhei and said, "Erhei, we're not going, you come with me."

Seeing this, Zhao Youcai was immediately enraged. He rushed over, grabbed the rope that was binding Erhei, and pulled at Zhao Jun, saying, "Let go of me!"

As he spoke, Zhao Youcai forcefully twisted his arm and snatched the rope from Zhao Jun's hand.

At the same time, Wang Meilan, still asleep, was struck hard in the chest by an elbow...

The birth of the Ginseng King is not a fantasy. I have heard that there are unusual phenomena associated with the birth of the Ginseng King. When the ginseng was carried out of the Great Hall of the People, a storm broke out and it was dark for half a day.