Chapter 29: Every Part of the Black Bear is a Treasure

The crowd buzzed with chatter, yet no one stepped forward to ask the price of the black bears. Everyone knew they couldn't afford them, so they gathered merely to satisfy their curiosity.

Soon, the proprietors of the town’s two largest pharmacies arrived, beads of sweat glistening on their foreheads.

"I’ll take all eight bear paws for one hundred and sixty taels!" Xue Dingshan, the owner of Renji Hall, pushed through the crowd first. Before Gu Qingbai could respond, he thrust the silver notes toward him.

Wang Boren, the owner of Renhe Hall, who had pushed through right behind him, quickly pulled him back and addressed Gu Qingbai: "Brother, I want all eight paws as well—I offer two hundred taels! And not just the paws; I’ll take the gallbladders, bones, hides, and meat as well. I offer three hundred taels in total. Do we have a deal?"

A collective gasp rippled through the onlookers. Three hundred taels! That was no small sum.

"Wang Boren! Do you know nothing of first-come-first-served? I have already bought these paws; I wouldn't sell them to you for any price!" Xue Dingshan’s face turned bright red, and he nearly jumped with rage.

"You can eat whatever you like, but you shouldn't spout such nonsense. So many eyes are watching! You say you bought them, but has this gentleman agreed? Where is the contract? Show it to me." Wang Boren was not about to back down. Xue Dingshan was a man of little medical ethics who used his status to bully the poor, and Wang had long despised him. He was determined to win these black bears today!

Xue Dingshan stopped arguing with him and turned to Gu Qingbai. "Young man, I offer three hundred and twenty taels. How about you sell these two black bears to me?"

Wang Boren rolled his eyes heavenward. The man had only wanted the paws a moment ago, and now he was trying to snatch the entire bear!

Xue Dingshan was doing it on purpose. He had only intended to buy the paws, but Wang’s provocation had made him change his mind. Black bears were treasures from head to toe; he wouldn't lose money by buying the whole thing to refine into medicine.

Gu Qingbai was taken aback by their public squabble. He had estimated the value of the bears on the road and made inquiries upon arrival, so he already had a figure in mind. As the two men refused to yield, a group of yamen runners arrived and broke up the crowd. The man at the front was an acquaintance—Uncle Quan, who had shared the dilapidated temple with him during the rainstorm.

Uncle Quan was equally surprised to find that the man selling the bears was Gu Qingbai. He stepped forward and said quietly, "Young Master Gu, the Magistrate would like a word."

Suspecting the Magistrate wanted the bears, Gu Qingbai followed without hesitation. The yamen runners loaded the bears onto the cart, which trailed behind them. The onlookers stared in confusion, while Wang Boren and Xue Dingshan dared not interfere any further.

Gu Qingbai entered the county office with Uncle Quan. Having already dealt with the Magistrate when he bought the crabs, Gu wasn't worried about them seizing the bears by force. They reached the study, and Uncle Quan knocked, announcing, "My Lord, I have brought him here."

Inside, Lin Zhengkang rubbed his temples; he was exhausted from a long day of official duties. "Come in." He didn't look up, his brow furrowed as he pulled a navigational analysis map of the Grand Canal from under a stack of documents. He had been secretly dredging the river for days, but while he found plenty of fish, there was no sign of the white turtle. Had the old man been mistaken?

"Greetings, my Lord," Gu Qingbai said, bowing to the man behind the desk.

"It is you?" Lin Zhengkang was surprised. Uncle Quan stepped forward: "My Lord, this is the young man selling the black bears."

"Oh?" Lin Zhengkang stood up and looked Gu Qingbai over. "I must be blind; I didn't realize you were a man of martial prowess."

Gu Qingbai shook his head. "I dare not deceive you, my Lord. Those two bears were hunted by my third younger brother."

"Gu Tingzhi?"

"Indeed."

"He knows martial arts?"

Gu Qingbai wasn't sure himself, but remembering his brother's display of skill earlier that day, he nodded.

Lin Zhengkang clapped his hands and smiled. "Is he recovered?"

"Not yet."

The study fell silent. After a long moment, Lin Zhengkang sighed. "Such a talented young man, both in literature and martial arts—it would be a pity to miss this year's imperial examinations and have to wait another three years. After the New Year, the county office will announce the dates for the county examination. Will your brother be registering?"

"My family has discussed it, and we have decided to register him. There is a month and a half until the exam; whether he recovers is up to fate."

"That is excellent. Bring the relevant documents to Uncle Quan after the New Year."

"I thank you, my Lord."

As the day grew late, Lin Zhengkang told Uncle Quan, "Take him to the accounting office to settle the payment. And you mentioned one was still alive? See that it is well cared for."

Uncle Quan led Gu Qingbai to the accountant, where he received three hundred and twenty taels. After tucking the silver away and bidding Uncle Quan farewell, Gu Qingbai hurried to Renhe Hall. He sold the old ginseng and lingzhi to Wang Boren for another one hundred taels.

Seeing the hour, he would normally have stayed the night, but the thrill of the windfall made him decide to head back to Maoping Village immediately. By the time he reached the town, the sky was dimming. Remembering they would soon be moving, he decided they would need a cart for business, so he went to the agency and bought the one he had rented for thirty taels.

He seized the chance to buy salt, oil, rice, vinegar, and flour before the shops closed. He also picked up some pastries, snacks for the women, and ten catties of wine. After a final check, he drove the cart home in haste.

At the Gu household, everyone was busy in the kitchen with the sweet potatoes. The meal was already prepared, keeping warm on the stove. Gu Qingsong had spent the afternoon filling the water vat, and he and Gu Lizong were now washing the potatoes. Gu Qinghe threw them into the iron pot, covered it, and then uncovered the other pot to retrieve a batch that had been boiling for two quarters of an hour, soaking them in cold water.

Zhen Mi'er and Su Hehua peeled the potatoes, placing them on the board for their mother-in-law to slice. Madam Zhou’s knife skills were excellent, and she cut them quickly and evenly. Lin Huiniang then laid the slices out on bamboo trays, spacing them out so they would dry properly and not stick together.