Li Long planned to make four of the five wild goats into dried meat, two cooked and two raw.
A high fire was set up in the two stoves in front of the wooden house, and water was poured into the pot. One was cooking wild goat meat, and the other was cooking various offal.
Naturally, the offal of the five sheep could not be cooked all at once. The stove in the house was also lit, mainly used for roasting the meat.
The total of the five wild goats' nets was only a basin. Li Long cut the nets and cut some meat and put them in the pot to simmer. The cabin would have no shortage of meat this summer.
The meat and offal cooked in the big pot have a strong smell that floats far away. Li Long also asked Li Long to cut the meat of two sheep into pieces, rub them with salt, and hang them up on iron hooks to be dried into air-dried meat.
He has also finished processing the last remaining wild goat. He has trimmed the meat, separated the ribs, meat and bones, and rubbed some internal organs with salt, ready to take it back.
The five sheepskins had been spread with salt and spread out on the turf to dry.
Large swarms of flies and ants were flying around, and then they would lie down on the grass to feast on the blood flowing down.
As for the meat, although flies and wasps also like it, they don't dare to land on it because of the layer of salt on it.
Sun Jiaqiang took action at this time. There were indeed two people in the middle who came to exchange the fritillaries, so Li Long wiped his hands and exchanged with them.
Of these two people, one of them exchanged money, and the other, as Sun Jiaqiang said, saw the meat, so he exchanged two pieces of meat, and the rest exchanged matches, salt and other supplies, as well as some rice.
To survive in the mountains, rice seems to be easier to handle than white flour.
This was just an episode in the middle of processing the meat. Li Long had been processing the meat all afternoon.
After finishing processing the meat, he let out a sigh of relief and felt so tired for a long time.
The meat cooked in the pot was already cooked, and the fire was still causing the broth to boil. A small amount of gray-white foam floated on it. From time to time, it would be stirred up by the boiling broth and hit the meat exposed outside the soup.
There is also some foam on the edge of the pot, the upper layer has dried, and the ones close to the broth are still rising and falling with the tumbling of the broth.
Sun Jiaqiang picked up a bone stick and took a few bites. It felt great.
Then he fished out another one and put it in an enamel basin and gave it to Li Long.
Li Long was also hungry at this time. He took the enamel basin and put it on the case. After washing his hands, he picked up the bone stick and started to chew it. Although it was still a little hot, it was within the tolerable limit.
The meat on these boiled bones has not been removed. After all, most of them are intended to be exchanged, and they cannot be exchanged for dry bones.
So every bone is covered with thick meat. Wild goat meat is not very fatty, and some of it tastes a bit woody, but as long as the meat is available, there is no need to choose.
While they were eating, Polati trotted over on horseback.
"Is there meat? That's great!" Polati looked at the meat rolling in the pot and smiled happily.
Sun Jiaqiang looked at the two large bags on his horse and was very envious.
It's a pity that these must be given to Li Long.
"Would you like a piece?" Li Long pointed to the pot, "If you want to eat it, you can get it yourself."
This Polati was not friendly at first, but after he became a friend, he was still very helpful.
This win-win transaction method not only benefited Li Long a lot, but also benefited Bolati.
Polati was not polite. He took his chopsticks to the pot and fished out a piece of leg bone. He blew on it after holding it in his hand for a while and started eating it.
Sun Jiaqiang asked curiously while eating:
"Bolati, there are a lot of grazing over there, aren't there a lot of cattle and sheep? You should be able to eat meat every day, right?"
"Haha, are you dreaming?" Polati looked at him speechlessly, "Who can eat meat every day these days? There are a lot of cattle and sheep. If you want to eat them every day, then the herdsmen will only eat meat every day. How will we live in the future?”
"Then what do you usually eat?" Sun Jiaqiang was quite interested in this. After all, they are from different ethnic groups. Although they are in the same place now, he really doesn't know and is really curious.
"Eat naan, drink milk tea, and eat stir-fried vegetables." Polati explained a few words to Li Long for Li Long's sake, and then turned to go to Manali, holding a bone stick in one hand and gnawing on it with the other to untie the rope, and pulled the two Put down the bag.
"Well, this time I'm going to exchange for meat. Yes, I also need to exchange for some wine, and just give me some money." Polati said while eating, "These are all exchanged for others. Their patrol area is relatively small. It’s far away and it’s not easy to get here.”
The rangers of today are different from those of tomorrow. In the future, there will not be so many rangers in the forestry team, and most of those rangers will be part-time. They rarely patrol their defense areas every day like Polati and the others do now. They only need to take a look occasionally to see if there are no wildfires and stop illegal logging.
Now that the forestry team has just been established, it still attaches great importance to the care of the forest area, and is gradually protecting various resources in the mountains.
These fritillaries are also one of the resources to be protected, but there have been fritillary diggers in this mountain over the years, and they have to be stopped step by step. At present, the population policy is not very clear. There will still be a large number of mainlanders coming to settle in northern Xinjiang. The treatment of these people is still in a relatively contradictory state.
Therefore, the treatment of drug diggers is also quite contradictory. Some are deported, some are detained for a period of time and then released, etc.
When things become more formalized later, and the forestry team no longer needs so many people, these people will be dispersed to forestry bureaus in various places or to state-owned timber mills, etc.
This is also a stage for individuals to accumulate wealth.
Li Long gnawed off the meat and put the bones aside. After washing his hands, he started loading supplies for Bolla.
“Want raw meat or cooked meat?”
"Cooked meat." Polati pointed at the meat in the pot and said, "This is what it looks like."
"If you cook the meat, you will need less." Li Long declared in advance, "This will shrink."
"I know, I know." How could Bolati, who had come from a herdsman background, not know this?
Li Long found a clean bag to put the meat in for him, and gave him half a box of wine in exchange for it, and asked him to tie it up on the horse, and finally gave him the money.
Polati waved his hand to Li Long, got on his horse and left while chewing on the bones. It's not close to where their forestry team is staying from here. Unlike Li Long, he doesn't have a jeep that can drive there quickly.
After Sun Jiaqiang finished chewing the bones, he quickly put the fritillaries brought by Bolati into the basket and washed them in the water. While washing, he said:
"Li Long, this Bolati is really nice to you."
"Well, it's not bad." Li Long started to load things into the car and said while loading, "It's okay. Once you get to know him and become friends, he will treat you well."
Sun Jiaqiang smiled and said nothing. He had been to Northern Xinjiang for more than a year or two. He knew that it was not easy for people of these ethnic groups to recognize someone as their friend.
He didn't have any more expectations.
But seeing Bolati bringing dozens of kilograms of fritillaries to Li Long from time to time, he was really envious.
Before leaving, Li Long weighed the Fritillaria that Sun Jiaqiang collected today, which weighed 21 kilograms. He gave him 10 yuan and 50 cents in cash. Sun Jiaqiang said with a smile:
"I have meat to eat, a house to sleep in, and a lot of money every day. It's really a good life."
Li Long smiled and asked him to pack up the meat hanging on the wire outside and put it into the house as soon as possible, then lock the door and pay attention to safety.
Sun Jiaqiang patted his chest to reassure Li Long.
Li Long drove the jeep and went back before the sun set.
He had to go back as soon as possible to properly deal with this wild goat.
Although there is help from Sister Yang at home, it would probably be twelve o'clock if I want to finish it.
After all, cooking meat alone takes a long time.
No matter it was Gu Xiaoxia, Sister Yang or Gu Boyuan, it was no surprise that Li Long brought back another wild goat from the mountains. Han Fang was very happy, and the little black dog was also very happy, holding the bone stick that Li Long gave it. Nibbling there.
Although it can't be chewed.
After dinner, Sister Yang was processing the meat in the kitchen. Li Long wanted to help, but Sister Yang refused and asked him to spend more time with Gu Xiaoxia.
Li Long washed away the smell of blood, changed his clothes, and watched TV with Gu Xiaoxia, telling stories about the mountains.
Gu Xiaoxia was always surprised to know that Li Long faced a bear and got six wild goats.
Li Long also told her about the rock paintings and caves in the mountains, and the stories in those rock paintings. "I really want to see it..." Gu Xiaoxia touched her bulging belly and simulated the scenes Li Long talked about in her mind.
"Don't worry, there is a chance. You can see the hot springs, wild mushrooms, caves, and rock paintings there."
The mountains are like Li Long's territory. He can come and go at will, and naturally he can take his family in and out at will.
Unlike in the future, everything is circled.
After the meat matter was settled, the pressure on Li Long's side suddenly became much lighter. He planned to move step by step. He would collect a handful of meat every six or seven days at Qingshui River, once every two or three days at Xiaobaiyanggou, and every day in between. Go to the cabin and hunt once every three or two days, well, perfect.
By the way, I want to show Sun Jiaqiang those mushrooms... mushrooms?
Li Long reacted immediately, told Gu Xiaoxia, and then ran out quickly.
In his backpack were morels that he picked up while hunting, but he brought the wild goat back and started skinning it, forgetting to show it to Sun Jiaqiang.
When I took it out of my backpack, half of the mushrooms were crushed.
Fortunately, when Li Long picked this mushroom, he was accustomed to removing the soiled areas of the pole, so it was relatively easy to clean.
Sister Yang was processing the mutton, cooking part of it and burning it. Li Long took a basin, soaked the mushrooms, washed them three times, and told Sister Yang that he could use the mushrooms to make soup tomorrow.
Although morel mushroom stew in chicken soup is the most classic method, it does not prevent Li Long from making it casually.
There is no mistake in every song, one post, one content, one 6 one, one book, one book, take a look!
As for showing it to Sun Jiaqiang, we can pick it up later.
Without the pressure, Li Long had a sudden idea the next day. After sending Gu Xiaoxia to the Education Bureau, he went to the department store to buy something, and then drove east until he reached the west bank of the Taxi River.
Didn't Polati say there's a steamed bun mountain over there? Since there were legends about treasures there, Li Long planned to go there and see if there was a Mantou Mountain there and if there were any treasures there.
It’s like the psychology of buying lottery tickets in later generations, what if you win?
What if there is one?
The water of the Taxi River is not as big as the Ma River, but at the turn of spring and summer, when the snowmelt floods come down, the water of the river is still much larger than that of later generations.
There are roads on the west coast, but they are not very obvious and not suitable for cars.
Fortunately, before entering the mountain, the terrain was relatively flat, with roads trodden by cattle and sheep. Li Long's jeep sometimes drove on the Gobi Desert, sometimes on grass, and sometimes even in knee-high shrubs. pass through.
The car had just been maintained, so Li Long dared to drive in such an environment with confidence.
Driving into the mountain pass, there is a gentle slope beside the river for cars to pass by. You can see the hoof prints and dung of horses, cattle and sheep, and occasionally you can see human footprints.
However, the steamed bun-shaped mountain cannot be seen from the mountain pass.
It's normal to think about it. If the burial place of the treasure could be discovered casually, it would have been dug up long ago, and there is no way there is no news until now.
Li Long drove the jeep into the mountains. The first two floors of the mountain were the same as the entrance to the mountain from the Qingshui River. There was no vegetation. Stones and soil were scattered all over the mountain. The brown stones seemed to have been roasted by fire.
The jeep made a screeching sound as it ran over the gravel.
It sounds quite uncomfortable.
Li Long stepped on the accelerator, and the jeep roared and drove down the slope of the ravine.
After passing two more ravines, Li Long slowed down. The mountains were now becoming more complicated, and the space for driving by the river was much smaller. He was hesitating whether to turn into a wider ravine and take a look.
Otherwise, if he went further, he would have no choice but to turn around because he was worried that he would not be able to continue driving by the river.
Going further, I found a ditch to the west that was very wide and could accommodate at least two or three cars. Although there were some shrubs in the ditch, there were no big trees. Li Long decisively turned a corner and drove the car in.
After driving the jeep for more than a kilometer into the ditch, Li Long was a little surprised. The ditch was open on both sides, and there was another north-south ravine on the other side. This ravine was wider, or it didn't look like a ravine. It should look like a dry land. There are some small trees growing on the river bed, and some dry river beds with exposed rocks.
You can also drive here, but you have to drive slowly, otherwise it will easily turn over and get stuck on stones or wooden blocks.
Li Long drove to the opposite side and stopped.
This flat ditch can go quite a long way into the mountain, but we can't see the end yet. He had no intention of continuing to run. He just wanted to find a higher place to see if there was Mantou Mountain and if there was a way to Xiaobaiyanggou.
If not, then we have to drive out of the mountain and follow the national defense highway outside the mountain in the direction of Xiaobaiyanggou.
That is the famous S101 highway in later generations.
Of course, it is not as good as it will be in later generations, it is still a sandy dirt road.
Li Long carried the gunman's feet and climbed up the west mountain, which is the highest mountain nearby.
After looking around, he couldn't see the Mantou Mountain anywhere. He was a little suspicious that Bolati pointed him to the wrong place, or that the location he mentioned was some distance away from here?
When Li Long was about to come down with his gun on his back, he suddenly found three people walking in the direction of the jeep in the southeast direction.
Li Long immediately ran down the mountain with his gun in hand. Although the door of the jeep was locked, he was not at ease.
This barren mountain is not the area he was in before. He was considered a landowner there and knew very well which areas were populated and where almost no one went.
He is completely unfamiliar with this place - although they are all in the Nanshan Mountains of Ma County, this area is relatively large and he cannot cover it.
Li Long arrived at the jeep before those people arrived. He looked at the three people warily.
One is in his fifties and two are in their twenties and thirties.
The man in his fifties was wearing a Chinese tunic suit. Although he looked sweaty, he was not embarrassed, indicating that he was in good physical condition.
The two men in their twenties and thirties were both dressed in jeans. Both of them were carrying double-barreled shotguns and had backpacks on their backs.
They are also wearing thick-soled mid-rise hiking shoes, obviously they climb mountains frequently.
Seeing that Li Long was holding five or six halves, the three people stopped six or seven meters away.
"Comrade, are you in charge of mountain patrol in the forestry team?" asked the man in his fifties, with gray hair and a peaked cap.
"No. I'm here to do something," Li Long replied, "What about you?"
"We? We are going into the mountains to look for something, and we need a guide who is familiar with the local area."
"I'm not familiar with them, and it's my first time in the mountains." Li Long shook his head. These three people gave him a bad feeling. He didn't want to team up with them.
"Hahaha, little comrade is very vigilant." The peaked cap smiled, "Don't be so nervous, we are not bad people. My ancestors used to be from here. Later, they died of illness and were buried in the mountains. We haven't been here for many years, and now Want to find the place where someone is buried..."
This seems to be an explanation, but in Li Long's case, it feels a bit superfluous and trying to cover up.
He guessed that these three people came here to look for Sheng Shicai's treasure.
But it had nothing to do with him. He was not familiar with this area and had no intention of taking the treasure as his own, so he stopped talking.
The peaked cap was a little disappointed when Li Long didn't answer anything. He didn't expect Li Long to be so calm, so he thought about it and said:
"Little comrade, do you think this will work? You can show us the way today, or you can help us find someone who is familiar with the surrounding area. How about I give you a hundred yuan?
If you can drive a jeep, you must have status. It's easier to find such a person than it is for us. It’s really difficult for us outsiders to do something here. ”
"It can't be done. I told you. I'm not familiar with this place. I don't even know where it is governed. Naturally, I can't find anyone. Okay, you can go. I'm here to do some work and I'll be leaving soon."< br>
Li Long's right index finger was always pressed on the guard ring of the gun intentionally or unintentionally. The safety was also on, and he could fire at will.
The two young men on the other side were holding shotguns, and they were obviously not good friends.
He could see the eye contact between the three other people, so he was more vigilant.
Maybe it was because Li Long had a gun, maybe it was because of the effect of the jeep, so although the three people were a little reluctant, they finally left.
Li Long guessed that the reason why the peaked cap wanted him to show the way was because he most likely guessed that he could drive a jeep for official reasons. What was he doing here? Will it mess up their plans?
After the three people left, Li Long was also hesitating. Should he continue searching, or should he go out of the mountain and go to Xiaobaiyanggou along the National Defense Highway?
Just when he was having trouble making a decision, someone came riding a horse from the northwest.
His jeep target was too big and the opponent saw it early. (End of chapter)