Chapter 7 - 7 Chapter 7 Seizure_1 (1/2)

7 Chapter 7 Seizure_1

Translator: 549690339

This enormous wolf carcass couldn’t possibly be consumed in a short period, so it was necessary to think of a way to preserve some of it for a gradual consumption.

In the ancient world, there were no refrigerators, although it was possible to artificially create ice with saltpeter, it was not something common folks could even dream of.

Applying an even coating of salt to the meat also served as an excellent preservative.

However, the price of salt was exorbitant.

Even the official salt nearly cost eight wen money per catty. The private salt, being half the price, cost only four wen money per catty.

But getting caught buying illicit salt would lead to extreme punishment.

The authorities enforced this very strictly.

After all, the salt tax was the second-largest source of tax revenue, second only to the land tax.

It clearly wasn’t a wise choice to use salting as the method to preserve such a large wolf carcass. He simply didn’t have that much salt.

Among the many preservation options, such as salting, immersing in oil, curing, air drying, sun drying, and smoking, curing was the preferred method for dealing with this wolf carcass.

He first suspended it by a rope from the ceiling beam, then hung it by the wolf’s neck, carefully skinning the entire wolf skin with a knife.

This process wasn’t easy.

A good wolf skin could be sold for more than five pieces of silver money, which was quite valuable. This wolf skin suffered minor damage, and the fur quality was poor, but selling it for 1.5 pieces of silver money was totally feasible.

If he encountered a generous buyer, he might even sell it for two pieces of silver money.

For the destitute Qin Niu, this was an enormous sum.

After securing the wolf skin, he chopped off one of the best hind legs, hoisted it up, and walked out the door.

He went straight to the residence of Wang Furen and forcefully knocked on the red-painted door with the brass ring.

According to etiquette, when paying a visit one normally knocked three times.

If there was no response, one would wait for a while and then knock another three times.

“Who is it?”

The door opened, and it was a stout woman with rough hands and feet who answered.

This was a servant from the Wang Family, Mother Wu.

“For Wang Furen!”

Qin Niu handed the wolf leg to Mother Wu, uttered just one sentence, then turned and left.

“Master, master, Ah Niu from next door has brought over a wolf leg for you!” Mother Wu reported to Wang Furen.

“Oh! The kid is quite thoughtful!”

Upon hearing this, Wang Furen emerged from the main room on the east side and smiled at the sight of such a large wolf leg.

“Take it to the kitchen, carve one or two catties off for cooking; it’s a rare tonic, just what Wan Yan needs to nourish her health.”

After delivering the wolf leg, Qin Niu began processing the remaining meat by cutting it into pieces and deboning it.

The innards were temporarily set aside, unprocessed.

At noon, he had the rare luxury of a meal with meat.

Because it was from an old wolf, the meat was a bit tough, hardly chewable.

But the broth it produced was pleasingly sticky, certainly very nutritious.

Checking his personal attributes, he noticed his cultivation had risen again.

It had increased to Onefold 21.2/100 of the commoner level.

This rate of progress was truly astonishing.

He was busy until evening, but at last, all of the wolf meat and innards were fully processed.

He was considering making a trip into the city tomorrow, to sell the wolf skin and then to buy a commonly found Basic Cultivation Technique to bring back.

Raising insects, training beasts, cultivation; these were all external matters, pursued to earn money, to assist in cultivating.

Only the improvement of one’s own cultivation level was fundamental.

To emphasize external matters while neglecting oneself was to confuse the means with the end.

He had a lifespan of only 51 years, and no matter how high he lived or how much money he earned, after 51 years he would be just a handful of yellow earth.

Only through cultivation could he achieve longevity.

Previously, when he was poor, he had no money to buy Cultivation Techniques. Even if he had, it would have been pointless without enough food to eat; how could he cultivate?

Now, with his cultivation skills able to improve quickly, he felt a great deal more confident.

He could buy a Cultivation Technique and start practicing.

As for finding a famous master, let alone joining a Cultivation Sect to learn superior Cultivation Techniques, he did not even consider it.

How many wealthy noble offspring, with resources piled high and guided by famous teachers, found it difficult to join a Cultivation Sect?

He was just a commoner, poor and possessing nothing. It wasn’t just about joining a Sect; even joining a martial arts school affiliated with a Sect was extremely difficult.

Bang bang bang!

A rude banging sound came from outside the door.

It was the thud of a palm striking the wooden door.

The person outside had a strong force behind their knocks, and they lacked manners; their arrival boded ill.

In his mind, Qin Niu rapidly considered his options.

There was nothing in his home to incite greed, except perhaps the wolf carcass.

It appeared he had underestimated the greed of human nature.

Qin hurriedly threw the best pieces of wolf meat into the stove, covering them with ashes.