Chapter 491 - 406: That Black Dog is the Lead Dog (Part 2)

"Okay!" Zhu Aiguo agreed. He took the canteen from Zhu Jiang and started drinking.

Zhu Jiang then asked Zhu Dashan, "Grandpa, if we manage to cut out this Black Bear’s gall, we have to give a share to Zhao Jun, right?"

"Of course," Zhu Dashan lifted his gun. "We not only have to give some to Zhao Jun, but to Chen Dalai and Big Pants as well."

"Then what’s left for us?" Zhu Jiang felt it wasn’t worth it. The three of them had toiled all night, and now they had to give away three shares of the Black Bear gall.

"We won’t give them too much," Zhu Dashan said. "If the gall sells for one thousand yuan, we’ll set aside two hundred for them to split. If it sells for two thousand, we’ll set aside..."

"Dad!" Seeing the two of them already discussing how to split the money, Zhu Aiguo quickly cut in. "Let’s figure out how to split it when we get back. We should keep chasing it for now. I’m exhausted after a full day of work. Let’s just get this over with so I can go home and sleep."

At Zhu Aiguo’s words, Zhu Dashan and Zhu Jiang both got to their feet. They grabbed their weapons and flashlights and continued along the trail the Black Bear had blazed.

But by this time, Black Tiger, Big Fatty, and San Pang had already returned to Zhao Jun’s home and were sleeping in the yard.

Dogs are loyal to their homes, especially hunting dogs.

That was why, after bringing home Big Fatty and the three other dogs, Zhao Jun had kept them at his house for over half a month before daring to take them out hunting.

If Zhu Dashan had just listened to Zhao Jun and brought Little Bear and White Dragon, pairing them with Big Fatty and the others.

Once they led the dogs into the cornfield, Little Bear would have caught the scent of a Black Bear or wild boar. He’d have started baying, leading the Dog Gang to chase down the prey and engage it. Then, Big Fatty and San Pang would never have run off.

But no, Zhu Dashan, with his supposedly keen eye for dogs, had rejected Little Bear and White Dragon, insisting instead on drafting Black Tiger.

And so, of the three dogs he’d taken, one was treacherous and the other two were slackers. It would have been a miracle if they’d actually done any work for him.

But the trio of grandfather, father, and son had no idea the three dogs had already run home. They scoured the entire two-mu field until daybreak but found neither the Black Bear nor the dogs.

"It’s over!" On the way home, Zhu Dashan’s face was a mask of despair. "I’ve lost his dogs," he said, mortified. "How am I ever going to face him?"

As he spoke, Zhu Dashan remembered patting his chest and guaranteeing to Zhao Jun, right before leaving his house, that he absolutely would not lose the dogs.

This was a real slap in the face—and to an old man’s face, at that.

Meanwhile, Zhao Jun had also woken up. Even though he trusted Black Tiger, Big Fatty, and the others, he couldn’t sleep soundly with his dogs out with someone else.

The first thing he felt upon waking was the need to use the outhouse. Zhao Jun climbed off his bed, slipped on his shoes, and headed outside.

The moment he pushed the door open, Black Tiger nearly knocked him flat.

"You’re back!" A happy grin spread across Zhao Jun’s face. He threw one arm around Black Tiger and ruffled its head with the other, but the dog just pushed up with its paws, trying to lick his face.

Zhao Jun pushed him away and glanced to the side. Seeing Big Fatty and San Pang approaching as well, he felt a profound sense of relief.

Zhao Jun sat in the doorway and played with the three dogs for a bit. Then he grabbed Black Tiger by the scruff of its neck, dragged it over to its doghouse, and fastened its chain.

’Two chains. Double security. Can’t be too careful.’

Once Black Tiger was secured, Zhao Jun led Big Fatty and San Pang toward their own doghouses.

But halfway there, Zhao Jun suddenly remembered something. He hurried to the storeroom door and pulled it open.

The door opened and both Cyan Dragon and Black Dragon shot out. Cyan Dragon was already about half a meter long, while Black Dragon, a female, was a little smaller.

Zhao Jun ignored the two dogs pawing at his legs and craned his neck to peek inside the storeroom. He didn’t relax until he saw a large rooster and an old hen perched on a dilapidated stool.

It wasn’t that he distrusted Cyan Dragon and Black Dragon. The two dogs had grown up with the three goats and two chickens, so they didn’t bother the chickens or the goats.

The one Zhao Jun worried about was Black Tiger. That one was no saint.

Seeing that both chickens were accounted for and that the chicks in the nearby pen were lively, Zhao Jun finally closed the storeroom door with peace of mind. He then chained up Big Fatty and San Pang before heading out with Cyan Dragon and Black Dragon.

When they reached the outhouse, Zhao Jun pointed to the base of a nearby poplar tree and commanded Cyan Dragon and Black Dragon, "Sit!"

At his command, the two dogs obediently sat beneath the tree, watching as he entered the outhouse and waiting for him to emerge.

Zhao Jun didn’t stay long. He took care of his business as quickly as possible and came back out.

It wasn’t that Zhao Jun was worried Cyan Dragon and Black Dragon would run off. He knew they would never leave until he came out. In fact, they would stand guard outside the outhouse like sentinels.

With them standing guard, no one else—no matter who it was—could even think of getting into that outhouse.

Once he was out, Zhao Jun led the two dogs toward the west side of the village, heading straight for Zhu Dashan’s house.

As soon as he reached the gate to their yard, Zhao Jun caught a delicious aroma wafting from the Zhu Family’s house. It was the smell of stewed chicken.

Zhao Jun paused. ’They’re living well,’ he muttered to himself, ’eating chicken this early in the morning.’

With that, Zhao Jun raised his hand, pointed to the entrance of the Zhu Family’s yard, and said, "Sit!"

At the command, Cyan Dragon and Black Dragon ran to the Zhu Family’s gate. They both spun around, their backs to the yard, and sat down on either side of the entrance like a pair of door gods.

Zhao Jun walked into the Zhu Family’s yard and called out, "Anyone home?"

Before the words were even out of his mouth, Wang Juan emerged from the house.

When Wang Juan saw it was Zhao Jun, she immediately broke into a smile. "Xiaojun! You’re up bright and early."

"Auntie," Zhao Jun greeted her, and was promptly pulled into the house by Wang Juan.

As soon as he entered the main room and saw the big, steaming pot, Zhao Jun grinned. "Auntie, why kill a chicken so early in the morning?"