Chapter 8

I am hiding below, what should I do if someone is making a fire above?

Lin Fangzhou initially thought that capturing the tiger would take some time, but to her surprise, she was awakened the next morning by the loud banging on the door from outside

It is better to be dead; being alive serves no purpose... Where are they?

Cough, our county does not particularly value tiger bones

This statement struck a chord with the county magistrate. Who among those in public office does not desire a good reputation? Having a favorable standing among the people can also be beneficial for future promotions

The county magistrate cast a glance at Lin Fangzhou and sneered: "What scheme are you up to this time?"

Wait a moment, my lord, there is no need to rush

It is easy to say... My sister-in-law is a modest woman, is it alright for her to assist you?

The butcher Chen was very touched: "Good brother, you are very loyal"

The entire city was in an uproar, with everyone coming to see it, creating a crowd that was packed both inside and out. Many vendors selling snacks such as sunflower seed ice, sweet water, and mung bean soup were weaving through the throngs. Such a large-scale event is certainly worthy of being recorded in the county annals

Indeed! Last night, the tiger came to feast on flesh, and the people in the cage were all asleep and unaware. This morning, upon waking, they saw the tiger outside sleeping soundly!

She stood on the stove, clumsily digging out the pot and placing it aside, revealing a large, dark round hole. She jumped into that round hole, not knowing what she was fiddling with. After a while, her body sank, and she completely disappeared.

Lin Fangzhou patted his chest and said, "Why not, sister-in-law, just throw it away directly."

"Like a cat, eating mice"

In the future, when purchasing sheep, just invite butcher Chen to slaughter them

This matter indeed exists. The county magistrate sent someone to invite them, but they all claimed to be ill and did not come. It is human nature to fear death, which is understandable; however, understanding does not mean that it brings them comfort in their hearts

Chen the butcher and his companions. Chen the butcher was worried that the tiger would wake up, so he stabbed it twice in the neck with a butcher's knife, letting it bleed. The tiger must have already died.

The butcher's wife suppressed her disgust and shook out everything from the tiger's stomach

Lin Fangzhou did not understand: "What does it mean?"

Alright

"This is a fallacy." The county magistrate shook his head, yet ultimately said nothing.

As Xiao Yuanbao's face changed dramatically in shock, Lin Fangzhou laughed heartily and tossed the little mouse into the birdcage. Its body rolled once, and before it could escape, it was caught in the beak of the owl

You think, my lord. The tiger has caused a great uproar in the city and has even taken many lives. We have exerted so much effort to capture this tiger, and it must be publicly displayed, so that all the citizens know that you, my lord, have eliminated this calamity for them

Wang Dadao and the messenger flattered Lin Fangzhou to the point of feeling a bit lightheaded. Upon arriving at the county office, the magistrate also wore a joyful expression and had already changed into his official attire. Lin Fangzhou thought to himself that the old tiger truly had a grand sense of importance, even requiring the magistrate to don his official robes to welcome him

However, the common people all wish to see it, and they love to see it. Your Excellency, please graciously grant this request!

What happened to the tiger whip

Good skill

I saw a mouse fall in, so I covered it to prevent it from escaping

The people around are all praising it

The butcher Chen, looking somewhat spirited, put down his knife and said to Lin Fangzhou: "Just take it directly and let her wash it."

... ...

Lin Fangzhou, while eating the pastries from the old master’s house, said to the county magistrate: "Master, the weather is hot these days, and since the tiger is already dead, it will likely start to rot within a day if we bring it back. We need to skin it as soon as possible."

They are still on the way, sending a few fast runners back to report. Dawang, you actually predicted this correctly this time; I will never mock your paper lion again!

Lin Fangzhou bent down, grasping the tail of the small mouse from the pot, and lifted it out. The little mouse was probably just weaned, very small in size, with a light-colored fur. Being held by its tail, it struggled desperately, squeaking loudly.

Alas, it is pitiful

The county magistrate coldly snorted: "Don't think I don't know what you're up to. You are neighbors with him, and with such good fortune, you must be trying every means to take advantage of him. What benefits has he given you?"

Lin Fangzhou: "Are you out of your mind? Why prevent it from escaping? Shouldn't we let it roll as far away as possible?"

... ...

That tiger does not have eight horns and six legs, and is quite similar to pigs, cattle, and sheep, so why can't Chen the butcher kill it

Lin Fangzhou patted his shoulder and said, "Brother Chen, take this opportunity to make a good impression; from now on, you will be the number one knife in Yongzhou."

At this moment, when Lin Fangzhou mentioned this matter, the county magistrate felt somewhat perturbed in his heart, yet he maintained a calm demeanor on the surface

Lin Fangzhou praised, "So tender! How about stewing it with half a radish tonight to nourish your body?"

It turns out that Lin Fangzhou's mother always believed she could become wealthy. Before striking it rich, she had already thought of a place to hide her silver—digging a hole under the stove, covered with stone slabs. While cooking and making fire, it would truly be a place that even the gods could not find

The people around her were also unsure of their mindset; clearly disgusted, yet they insisted on watching until the end. Seeing her do this, they all gave her a thumbs up, praising her as a "heroine among women"

Then you shall be called a beggar's chicken

The tiger has not yet fully digested the pork it ate last night, with bloody pieces of meat scattered around, emitting a foul stench.

Lin Fangzhou : `` ... ... ''

The scene of the owl eating the mouse is somewhat ... ... difficult to describe in words, and neither Lin Fangzhou nor Xiao Yuanbao wanted to watch. Then Lin Fangzhou pointed at the pot and said: "Let me show you something interesting"

When Chen the butcher returned with the tiger, he heard that the county magistrate had appointed him to demonstrate the tiger in front of all the townspeople. In that moment, he felt both honored and excited, yet also nervous and uneasy

Hmm? How did resolving the tiger become a good thing?

Thus, the county magistrate finally nodded with some difficulty, and the topic returned to the earlier discussion. He asked Lin Fangzhou: "If not a hunter, who else can we find? A butcher?"

Lin Fangzhou thought to himself, you really know how to bring up the most inappropriate topics

The butcher's wife discovered that among the pile of foul-smelling, gushing blood and other substances, there was unexpectedly a white, flat, round object that did not resemble meat or bone. Curiously, she pinched it out and found that it was actually a piece of jade pendant

This is the reasoning behind it

Is it just skin? The county magistrate shook his head and smiled, saying, Not just the skin; this tiger is a treasure all over. Tiger meat is edible, and tiger bones, tiger stomach, and so on can all be used in medicine, as well as tiger whip

Good brother, I know that you must have taken care of this matter thoroughly. I won't bother with pleasantries, let's have a drink at my place when you have time

Chen the butcher and his companions carried the tiger, and their pace was inevitably slow; however, the old master was not in a hurry to leave.

Lin Fangzhou continued, "They do not show respect to the elder, so why should the elder show them respect? This opportunity to resolve the issue must not fall into their hands"

Lin Fangzhou put on her clothes and ran out, "Really???"

The county magistrate discovered that Lin Fangzhou was quite cunning, contrary to his initial impression of him as a simpleton

Many people who were originally vomiting curiously looked over and, seeing the piece of jade pendant in her hand, asked, "What is going on?"

What were you doing in the past

Welcome the triumphant return of the tiger-hunting team. Would you like to change your clothes?

The old master, Chen the butcher has a very good reputation, his knife skills are excellent, and moreover, this tiger was caught by him. Such a good fortune rightfully belongs to him

Xiao Yuanbao got off the bed and led Lin Fangzhou to the kitchen, pointing at the stove. Lin Fangzhou curiously lifted the lid of the pot and saw a small mouse lying in the dark pot.

Master, there are so many resources available on the tiger, so we need to find a capable person to deal with it.

Everyone was discussing the poor victim, yet no one noticed that Lin Fangzhou turned her face away and gently curled her lips into a smile

Most people prefer to watch the peeling and deboning, while those who cannot get in choose to watch the cleaning of the internal organs

I believe that Chen the butcher is quite good; he has been a butcher for many years and has slaughtered pigs, sheep, and cattle.

I have heard that you are neighbors with that butcher Chen

Chen the butcher picked up another knife, just about to hand it to Lin Fangzhou. However, thinking of his unworthy wife and worrying that she might cut her hand, he instead held the knife and gently made a quick slash across his own abdomen, executing the motion smoothly and swiftly, leaving a fine cut.

Do tigers also eat jade? Is it a case of mistaken ingestion

Lin Fangzhou was taken aback, "Hehe, heheh..."

Who discovered it

Da Lang! Caught it! That tiger has really been caught!

Xiao Yuanbao was startled and hurriedly leaned closer to take a look, only to see her lying at the bottom of the hole, gazing up at him with a smiling face.

Lin Fangzhou squatted at the bottom of the cave and said to Xiao Yuanbao, "This cave is quite spacious; in times of danger, you can still take refuge here."

The elder is, after all, reserved

"How can you not be called foolish!" Lin Fangzhou crawled out from inside, shaking off the soot from the black pot, and said, "As long as the chimney is blocked, even if the true fire of Samadhi comes, it won't catch fire."

I find it not simple; it must be that during the time of devouring humans, this jade pendant was accidentally swallowed. Jade is merely a stone, which cannot be digested, thus it remains in the stomach

Children are all interested in small animals. Xiao Yuanbao looked at the owl in the birdcage and asked Lin Fangzhou, "What does this owl eat?"

The butcher Chen skinned the tiger, first pulling out all the internal organs and tossing them aside, then he began to skin and debone it. Lin Fangzhou stood by, assisting the butcher's wife in collecting a basin of internal organs and carrying it to the riverbank to wash.

She becomes shy when there are many people around, and there is nothing I can do about it. However, simply asking her to wash and rinse should not lead to any mistakes

That is the tiger's stomach, which can be used in medicine

It must be so! Your Excellency's insight is commendable

In the afternoon, Chen the butcher prepared several items and set up a table by the riverside to dissect a tiger. The area was spacious, making it convenient for people to gather and watch.

The little ingot's eyebrows twitched

"Although his words are not without merit, he is after all just a butcher; how could he have ever killed a tiger?"

Xiao Yuanbao lowered his head and pursed his lips, remaining silent

Oh, should the sister-in-law cut it open herself? Which knife should she use

Lin Fangzhou tightened his clothes and shook his head, saying, "No need, I have no clothes to change into. Let's go."

"Ah, I might as well be a good person to the end," Lin Fangzhou patted his shoulder, "Anyway, I have nothing to do, so I will lend you a hand when the time comes, depending on the situation."

That is also true. I will send someone to invite the hunter right away

Good knife

There is indeed another world beneath this stove

Great Master, I have heard that you previously summoned hunters to the mountain to hunt tigers, yet so many hunters declined your invitation, and only one hunter accepted.

Lin Fangzhou carried a basin and came over to collect the entrails. She rolled up her sleeves and placed a round object into the basin, nearly filling it to the brim. She asked the butcher Chen, "What is this?"

Ah! She exclaimed, drawing the attention of those around her

Two people were conversing when they saw Wang Dadao, the head constable, running over in a hurry. Upon seeing Lin Fangzhou, he waved and said: "Dalang! The master is calling for you."

However, the county magistrate, possessing the pretentiousness common among scholars, shook his head and said: "This is inappropriate; I am not one to seek the limelight."

I have a mouse

Lin Fangzhou handed the tiger's stomach to the butcher's wife and sat beside her watching her wash it. As soon as she opened the tiger's stomach, everyone around vomited

I dare not presume, it is merely a deduction based on common reasoning. The most urgent matter now is to deliver this jade pendant to the authorities and see whose unfortunate situation it belongs to