Carrying a Jurassic on me
Chapter 477 - 172: I am Going to Deliver the Dishes_1

Chapter 477: Chapter 172: I am Going to Deliver the Dishes_1

At the break of dawn, Tian Dafu quietly got out of bed and tiptoed out of the house.

As he was about to leave, he cast a glance at the cattle shed door and couldn’t help but return. Stepping into the shed, he began to feed the cows. Seeing the warm brazier still in the corner, he couldn’t help but marvel: How on earth does Brother Xiao Fei come up with all these ideas? Who else would think of using dung to stoke the fire? Absolutely brilliant!

Once he had expertly fed the cows, he patted the heads of the two beasts. Letting out a chuckle, he prepared to leave the shed, only to notice a figure in the courtyard. Instantly, he froze.

Stunned, he finally said, "Gran, why... why are you up so early! I said I’d feed the cows, you could have slept in..."

His gran said nothing, just stared at him until he looked away guiltily. It was then she spoke: "Paying back what you owe is commendable. If you want to go, then go openly. What’s the need for all this skulking about? Are you afraid we’d stop you? Once there, do as Boss Yan instructs, you hear?"

Tian Dafu was taken aback and pleasantly surprised. At a loss for words, he nodded emphatically, grunted in agreement, and prepared to leave. Just as he was going out, the door to the main room opened and his father, leaning on a crutch in the doorway, scolded him: "Are you going empty-handed? Isn’t there some cabbage left in the kitchen? Bundle it up and carry it on a stick."

Tian Dafu froze again. Then he hesitated: "Just that bit of cabbage, would Brother Xiao Fei care for it?"

His Gran smiled and admonished him: "Silly boy, listen to your father. Go bundle up the cabbage!"

Once Tian Dafu had bundled the few cabbages, he saw his Gran at the door handing him a stick over a meter long: "Use this to carry them. Remember to bring it back, it will be useful to plant corn in the future!"

Planting corn is what they called seeding corn. Tian Dafu noticed it wasn’t a stick, it was the tool they used to plant corn. He was nonplussed: "Just these two cabbages, I can carry them just fine."

It was still dark, so he couldn’t tell if his Gran had glared at him or not as she said, "Just take it. And don’t forget it."

Reluctantly, Tian Dafu took the tool, hung the small bundle of cabbage on it, and walked out the door.

The village was quiet, a few dogs barked, startled by his movement, but quieted down once they recognized him.

Though the weather was cold, Tian Dafu’s heart was warm with resolve: Brother Xiao Fei had asked the villagers to help rear cows for the community, leading them on the path to wealth. Those despicable residents of Houfang Village, causing trouble in the county, were only hurting Brother Xiao Fei. He wanted to show Brother Xiao Fei that he, Tian Dafu, was not ungrateful... No, that his entire family was not ungrateful...

As soon as he left the village, he spotted two figures. Instantly alert, he said, "Who’s there?"

The two figures, hearing his voice, replied out of confusion: "Dafu? What are you doing up so early?"

Recognizing their voices, Tian Dafu’s anxiety abated: "Big Brother Zhuang? I thought you were thieves! I’m up early to go to the market, to deliver some vegetables to Brother Xiao Fei."

As he approached, he saw that each of them was carrying a spade. On seeing him and his corn planter, they began to laugh: "You’re delivering vegetables with that thing? Are you preparing for a fight? That’s more like a deadly weapon!"

Tian Dafu was taken aback, and then it hit him: this was why his Gran and father had insisted on him carrying this tool – they were afraid that if a fight broke out in town, he would be empty-handed and at a disadvantage!

Upon this realization, he looked again at his tool and broke into a grin.

Even though every household grew corn, not everyone had a corn planter. His Gran made it when he wasn’t at home, so she wouldn’t have to bother others when planting the fields.

This tool was actually a metal pipe, one end of which was like the point of a pike, but concave, similar to a three-edged dagger with one edge missing, attached to a footrest.

Planting corn was easier with this tool. Push down the footrest and it penetrated the soil. Give the handle a nudge and a small hole was made. Insert two or three corn seeds through the hollow end and they’d roll down the pipe into the hole. Pull the tool out and the dug-up soil covered the seeds.

Usually, when planting corn, two people were needed: one to dig a hole and the other to drop in the corn seeds and cover them. But with this tool, his Gran could plant corn by herself easily.

But it truly was a ’weapon’. It resembled an ancient halberd, with a concave blade like a dagger. It even had a hollow staff. If it came to a fight, no one would dare to approach him – If anyone is hit by it, it would lead to severe bleeding.

As Tian Dafu pondered silently, Big Zhuang laughed and scolded him: "You little rascal! You think you can fool me? I know exactly what you’re up to. Always secretive, but now I know where those two cows of yours came from! How come you never told us about your connection with Boss Yan? That’s so unlike you!"

Tian Dafu defended himself: "It’s not like that. My grandma went to buy his medicinal wine. Brother Xiao Fei came to our home to see how my dad was benefiting from the wine, and having seen our situation, decided to help us."

Another person with Big Zhuang clicked his tongue: "Did you just stumble on a heap of good luck? There are even poorer families in our village, yet your family just happened to hit the jackpot..."

Tian Dafu considered this, then burst into laughter. Only after he finished laughing did he ask them:"Brother Big Zhuang, Brother Xiaozhuang, what are you two up to?"

The two of them laughed together: "We’re doing the same thing as you. You’ve already got your cow, we haven’t yet! We can’t let those devious villagers cause trouble and ruin everything..."

While they were speaking, three more people came over from afar and called out: "Big Zhuang, is that you?"

Big Zhuang responded, and several people gathered together, chatting and heading into town.

Only then did Tian Dafu remember that Big Zhuang was a militiaman. Those three who came earlier were from Heap Hillock, with the one leading them also being a militiaman. Because Tian had spent a few years traveling with his mother when he was young, he didn’t recognize them well until Big Zhuang introduced them, and he recalled who they were.

The six of them walked together, with five of them carrying shovels and nothing else. Only Tian Dafu was carrying a few black and white cabbages, which instantly drew laughter from the others: "You’re quite resourceful, aren’t you! You even know to bring a couple of veggies to cover up."

Another person said: "What’s the need for covering up? We’re just going to deal with those wicked ones. Besides, these are farming tools, do you understand? The police station can’t control us, but you, little guy, you’re carrying something too dangerous! If this thing stabs someone, it’s all over..."

All of these people were under the age of twenty, an age where they feared nothing, so when it came to brawling, they weren’t frightened at all. On the contrary, they were quite thrilled.

It was that militiaman who was ’experienced’, instructing Tian Dafu: "If a fight does break out, stand behind us, watch our backs. The moment you show this tool, others won’t dare charge at you. Just wave it around a few times, this thing is dangerous, we can’t really stab anyone with it..."

Tian Dafu nodded, his heart full of fervor.

Heap Hillock and Huangtuwa were the farthest northeast villages of the Sancha River area, hence they set off the earliest. On the way, they ran into villagers also carrying ’farming tools’.

Each group was led by a militiaman, and everyone knew one another. They all laughed at each other’s attempts to sneak off and do good deeds without telling each other. In their view, as wealthy as Boss Yan might be, he couldn’t possibly gift a cow to every household. Since the number of cows was limited, whoever showed up now had a greater chance of receiving a cow, maybe even two!

They weren’t strangers to Houfang Village, the easternmost village of Sancha River area, which wasn’t far from them. In the case of Heap Hillock and Huangtuwa, having a larger combined population certainly gave them an air of dominance. They weren’t afraid of Houfang Village at all.

As they walked, the group grew to about a dozen young men, making it a lively procession, especially when they learned that Tian Dafu had already received two cows from Boss Yan. He became the center of attention. Everyone asked Tian Dafu, were there any stringent conditions when Yan gifted them the cow?

Tian Dafu repeatedly explained that Brother Xiao Fei saw that their family was poor and wanted to help. After raising the two cows, they would split the money equally. There really were no other conditions.

Upon hearing this, everyone was veined with envy, some even worrying whether this good fortune would cease due to the current troubles.

As soon as this topic was raised, the atmosphere heated up even more. Those who had not received any cows wished they could march into Houfang Village immediately.

As they proceeded, someone with sharp ears suddenly shouted: "Everybody be quiet, stop, stop..."

"What’s wrong?" Everyone looked at him, startled.

"Be quiet, there’s some movement up ahead!" the man warned anxiously.

In the winter, the mornings are dark and the dawn comes late. The visibility wasn’t much at the moment. Nevertheless, everyone heard the faint growling coming from the front and the clanging of iron chains.

The group was instantly on alert.

"Tian Dafu, it’s me! Yan Fei, from the cattle ranch. Don’t be scared, the tigers are all chained up!"

Hearing this voice, Tian Dafu was instantly excited: "Brother Xiao Fei, it’s me..."