Reborn in 72, I hunt to support my family and spoil my younger sister rotten.

The conditions offered by Ma Laosan were too tempting, and Li Xiangyang's heart stirred.

Five hundred yuan, that's a huge sum of money.

If we can get this money, we can live a more decent life when Li Xiaoyun's parents come.

But this price is abnormally high.

“Mr. Ma, this…” Li Xiangyang hesitated before speaking.

“No need to rush to answer.” Ma Laosan picked up his teacup, a knowing glint in his eyes. “You should focus on recovering. Even if I’m in a hurry, it’s not something that can be resolved in a short time.”

Li's mother and Li Xiaoyun listened from the side, their faces showing worry.

Seeing this, Li Xiangyang quickly changed the subject: "Please have some tea."

Old Ma picked up his teacup, took a sip, glanced around the room, and said with a smile, "Alright, Brother Li, you can consider it. I'll take my leave now and visit again another day."

"Then I'll see Mr. Ma off," Li Xiangyang said, getting up to stand up.

"No, no, no!" Old Ma waved his hand hurriedly. Although he said this, he did not move his body, obviously waiting for Li Xiangyang to take him away.

After all, there are some things that are really hard to say in front of family members.

Li Xiangyang understood immediately and turned to Li Xiaoyun, saying, "Xiaoyun, it's so cold, I can see you off by myself. I'll just take you to the door. You and Mom can wait inside."

Old Ma chimed in, "Yes, it's cold outside, don't be so polite."

After leaving the courtyard and walking a short distance, Li Xiangyang finally spoke, asking, "Mr. Ma, I'm afraid this matter isn't as simple as it seems?"

Ma Laosan paused, turned to look at Li Xiangyang, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes: "Brother Li is indeed a discerning man."

"The main problem is that your price is too high. Even for bear hunting, it shouldn't cost that much."

"Brother Li, to be honest, I suspect someone is plotting against me."

"How to say?"

"After those three people died, things started to get unsettled. First, weasels cried at the graves, then when I was cutting down trees, the heartwood bled..."

Li Xiangyang frowned: "So eerie?"

“Indeed,” sighed Ma Laosan, “I’ve lived in the mountains for so many years and I’ve never seen anything like this before. If you call it a coincidence, it just so happens that they all happened at the same time. But if you say it’s not a coincidence, I can’t quite put my finger on it.”

You mean...?

"I don't believe in ghosts or gods. If you ask me, it must be man-made."

"After all, many people are envious of my timber processing plant. Now, the workers are afraid to go into the mountains, which has already delayed business..."

Li Xiangyang frowned and pondered for a moment, then said, "Boss Ma, this is indeed strange. The tree heartwood bleeding—if it were man-made, I could understand it. But that weasel crying at the grave…"

He paused, his gaze fixed intently on Ma Laosan: "A wild weasel isn't something anyone can make cry at will."

“That’s exactly right.” Old Ma nodded approvingly. “Brother Li, you’ve hit the nail on the head. That’s the strange thing. I’ve seen weasels several times with my own eyes. Every dark and windy night, they appear and circle around the graves. If it’s human doing, then the person’s skill in taming animals is truly remarkable.”

The cold wind howled, and Li Xiangyang wrapped his cotton-padded coat tighter.

Ma Laosan took a cloth bag out of his sleeve and handed it to Li Xiangyang.

He understood this young man's character at first glance when he entered the courtyard today.

Unlike others who are timid or pretend to be calm when they see her.

When Li Xiangyang looked at himself, there was a fierce look in his eyes.

Such people are either stubborn or have real skills.

Judging from Li Xiangyang's reputation for hunting in the mountains, it is clearly the latter.

For the situation we're facing right now, this kind of person is the most suitable.

He has both courage and ability, and he's willing to risk his life in critical moments.

Having been around for so many years, Ma Laosan knows better than anyone how valuable this kind of person is.

No matter how much money an ordinary person is offered, they will back down when faced with evil deeds.

But people like Li Xiangyang can get things done as long as they have the money.

Coincidentally, Li Xiangyang needed money to change his family's situation.

The timing couldn't be more perfect.

“Brother Li, I’m always straightforward. I see you have a happy occasion coming up, and that’s the time when you need money. Take this money first. If you encounter any trouble and don’t want to get involved, just pay me back. But if you agree to it, you have to get it done properly.”

Li Xiangyang looked down at the cloth bag that was handed to him, and felt that it was so heavy that it made him feel uneasy.

Ma Laosan's attempt to win people's hearts was not clever.

But this money...

He gripped the cloth bag tightly; it was indeed what he needed most right now.

This money is like an invisible rope, unknowingly binding him firmly to this matter.

“Boss Ma,” Li Xiangyang took a deep breath, “I’ll take this job. I’m not sure I can figure out the strange things on your end, but I’ll definitely show you what I’m capable of with that bear.”

"Good, well said! Brother Li, you've got guts. I, Ma Laosan, admire straightforward people like you the most."

After Ma Laosan finished speaking, he patted Li Xiangyang on the shoulder: "Alright, it's settled then. You focus on recovering from your injuries, and I'll send someone to pick you up later."

After saying that, Ma Laosan turned and left, his figure quickly disappearing from sight.

Li Xiangyang opened the cloth bag and counted the money.

He understood the saying that people die for wealth and birds die for food, but he still gritted his teeth and accepted the offer.

After all, there are always some things in life worth taking the risk for.

Just as Li Xiangyang finished counting the money, he saw Li Xiaoyun anxiously looking around at the door.

"Xiangyang, did you say yes?"

"Yes. Look, the money's already been paid."

"Are you crazy?" Li Xiaoyun exclaimed, "He just gave me five hundred yuan like that? There must be something fishy going on!"

"Don't worry, he just told me everything, so I know what I'm doing," Li Xiangyang said softly. "Besides, Ma Laosan said there are other people helping."

"You know what he's doing?" Li Xiaoyun's eyes reddened with anxiety. "You say you know what he's doing, then tell me, why did he give you the money so readily?"

Li Xiangyang was stunned for a moment. Ma Laosan had obviously told him to give the money so readily, but he couldn't tell Li Xiaoyun.

Seeing that Li Xiaoyun would burst into tears without a reason, Li Xiangyang had a sudden inspiration: "Well, five hundred yuan is a lot of money for us, but it's not much for Ma Laosan. I've seen through him; he's just a pure businessman. Giving me this money first is simply his way of trying to get me on his side."

"Can......"

“Don’t worry,” Li Xiangyang said, holding her hand. “Don’t you know me? If things go wrong, I can just return the money to him. Besides, I have a gun; shooting a bear is a piece of cake for me.”

“That’s too dangerous,” Li Xiaoyun gripped his sleeve, her eyes filled with anxiety, “At this time of year, black bears…”

"Oh dear, you two children, come in quickly!" Li's mother called out. "Aren't you cold standing outside in this freezing weather?"

Upon entering the house, Li's mother noticed the two men's troubled expressions and sighed, "I heard you talking. Xiangyang, we can't touch the money Ma Laosan gave us, or else..."