1983, Northeast China

Chapter 41 Chen Xiulan's Craftsmanship

This sable was handled by Chen Xiulan.

Chen Shi originally wanted to handle it himself, but the sable was really expensive, and because he was inexperienced, he lost money by lowering the price.

Just as he was staring at the sack, wondering whether he should ask Old Wei for help, the curtain in the inner room was lifted.

Chen Xiulan stepped forward and said, "Let me handle this. Sable fur is thin; if the knife cuts it, even the best fur will lose its value."

He almost forgot that his sister had just told him a couple of days ago that she knew how to tan.

He only thought his sister could help clean rabbit and roe deer skins, and didn't think much of it. Now that she's offering to clean sable, he knows she's no ordinary person.

"Are you physically capable?" Chen Shi asked. "You tell me, I can do it too."

"You want to?" Chen Xiulan completely ignored his question. "You can dissect a rabbit's hind leg, and you can even dissect a sable's tail?"

This question stumped Chen Shi.

Even if it would damage his entire body, he wouldn't have any problems. But when it comes to the leather-making skills in the mountains, they are developed by feeding the animals one piece at a time.

Besides, the sable isn't a rabbit, and he can't afford to suffer any more trouble right now.

Chen Xiulan was fiddling with the wick of the oil lamp, raising the flame a little higher without burning the hair.

She then asked Chen Shi to bring half a basin of water, washed her hands, and then took the sable from him.

Chen Xiulan's hands were thin, with prominent joints.

Chen Shi watched as she stroked her fur, turned her paws, pinched her neck, and then stroked the inside of her hind legs twice.

He felt like he had seen this technique before.

That kind of effort was really similar; when Lao Wei taught him how to skin a rabbit and scrape off the fat, he did it in the same slow and deliberate way.

Don't be fooled by its slow speed; it actually makes every cut count.

Chen Xiulan's hands actually look a bit like Lao Wei's.

This was truly unexpected, but thinking about it, it made sense. Chen Mancang and Lao Wei were partners, so their methods would be somewhat similar.

Chen Xiulan's skill in tanning was taught by Chen Mancang.

Chen Xiulan was handling things over there, while Chen Shi was beside her, handing her the cloth, watching the light, and helping out.

She occasionally offered reminders, such as, "Don't touch here, be careful when cutting here," and "Be very careful when turning the skin over."

He spoke each sentence with much more patience and meticulousness than Lao Wei.

Finally, the knife was used to peel off the entire sable pelt, with all four claws intact and the tail fur smooth. Looking at the pelt in front of her, Chen Xiulan finally let out a soft breath.

"It's been too long since I've done this," she said. "My hands are tired from doing this little bit of work."

"I didn't put it down. Anyone who sees this work I've done will praise me," Chen Shi said.

"If this leather is ruined," she said, head bowed, "the little bit of what our father passed down will be lost in my hands."

"It's not over yet," Chen Shi said. "What you taught me in one night is more effective than what I could figure out on my own in a year."

He pushed the heated water over.

Chen Xiulan took it and sipped it casually.

"Your hide can't stay at home for long. Right now, scrape off the oil, press the leather down with cold snow to prevent it from smelling bad and to avoid damaging the fur. As for when and how to sell it, I can't help you with that," Chen Xiulan said.

"Understood. I'll get it out as soon as possible."

The sable pelts that had been skinned were wrapped in burlap sacks and pressed at the bottom of the basket overnight.

Chen Shi wrapped the old burlap sack under the kang mat with another layer of snow, and then covered it with another layer of snow.

In the morning, the yellow fungus in the yard was still smelling. It circled around the bottom of the basket with its nose, then sat down again to look at Chen Shi.

"What are you looking at?" Chen Shi tapped Huang Er on the head. "You've got a good nose, haven't you?"

Yellow Ear twitched its ears and slipped away.

Chen Shi didn't intend to keep this thing at home forever; it was a hot potato, so he had to ask Lao Wei for help.

Without hesitation, he picked up a basket, said goodbye to his family, and went out.

When he got to the snowdrift, he stood outside for a while.

He knocked on the door. Three times, paused, then knocked twice more.

There was a moment of silence inside, followed by the sound of Old Wei's leg moving on the steps—his right leg was half a beat slower than his left, just like last time. But today, that half beat was a little faster than last time.

The door opened a crack.

Old Wei squinted at him, then looked at the basket on his back.

"You came by yourself?"

"Do it yourself."

"What happened to that kid from last time?"

"I'm staying home."

Old Wei stepped aside. Chen Shi slipped inside, and as soon as he lifted the curtain, the familiar smell of smoke and tarpaulin wafted up. The hearth was still lit; the firewood had been freshly added.

"Uncle Wei," Chen Shi placed the basket by the hearth and squatted down, "let's look at your leg first."

Old Wei didn't move.

"Did you apply that coarse salt last time?"

"Apply it."

"How many times?"

"...three times."

Chen Shi shook his head and smiled helplessly.

Three times isn't a lot, but hearing Lao Wei say "apply" felt like a huge concession.

"I'll apply it again today. I brought mugwort leaves."

"What brings you here today? You didn't just come to deliver mugwort, did you? What's in the basket?"

"It's just a piece of leather, nothing urgent." Chen Shi slowly untied the hemp rope from the basket. "What's urgent is your leg. If you drag it out another winter, you won't be able to get down into the ditch in the spring."

Chen Shi lifted half of the sack.

That patch of glossy black and purple fur came into Old Wei's view.

Old Wei stared at the leather for a long time.

So long that Chen Shi thought he hadn't heard what he had just said.

Finally, Old Wei reached out and gently touched the leather piece.

"...Did you do this?"

"Well, it was quite a coincidence."

"Four years old or older," Old Wei said, "five years old or younger. There's a wire mark around his throat, but the skin isn't broken."

"I used the cable you provided."

Old Wei didn't respond to that. He pulled his hand back, wiped it on his cotton trousers, as if he hadn't touched it at all.

"How do you plan to spend it?"

"I don't know, so I came to ask you."

"The commune's purchasing station," Old Wei said. "You'll get a bicycle, plus six months' worth of grain coupons. They'll write 'first-class' on your record."

"……Then what?"

"Then the next day, people in the village knew you'd hunted a mink. The third day, Tian Youshan came to your house. The fourth day, I don't know who came." Old Wei's eyelids twitched slightly. "You want to go to the commune's purchasing station?"

Chen Shi shook his head.

Old Wei pulled a small iron box out from under the kang mat.

The edges of the box were rusted, and the lid was held together with a thin wire.

He pried open the wire and took something out.

It's half a copper cigarette holder. The bottom part broke off at some point, and it looks like someone deliberately ground it down.

"Go into the county. Go into Pihuo Alley, and it's the third house at the end. The one with half a piece of old deerskin hanging at the door," Old Wei said.

"Who should I look for?"

"Old man, you're so listless."

"Old and listless..." Chen Shi muttered these two words to himself.

"We buy mountain products without revealing our names. You can put this on the shelf, and he'll see it himself."

"Does this thing even work?"

"He admits it," Old Wei said.

Chen Shi reached out to grab the broken copper cigarette holder.

Old Wei suddenly grabbed his hand.

"This thing," Old Wei said without looking at him, "was the one your dad gave me back then."

Chen Shi was a little surprised, "...My father went to Old Nian's place?"

"I've been there."

"Are you selling things too?"

Old Wei didn't answer, and Chen Shi didn't press the matter further.

He knew Lao Wei's temper; if he didn't want to talk, no matter how you asked, he wouldn't say.

Old Wei loosened his grip.

Chen Shi tucked the broken copper cigarette holder into the inner pocket of his coat, which was close to his skin.

"I'll repeat the rules for entering the city to you once, and you'll remember them." Old Wei pushed the firewood in the hearth further in, "Goods don't go into the shop."

"Test first, discuss later."

"The price isn't agreed upon on the spot. If he makes his first offer and you don't agree, he'll have to make a second offer later."

"For a piece of leather of this quality, in case he can't come up with that much cash right away, let him hold onto it for a few days. Holding it is better for you."

Chen Shi nodded.

"And one more thing," Old Wei paused, "If he asks you what your relationship is with Chen Mancang, just tell him the truth."

"Tell the truth?"

"Hmm." Old Wei looked at the fire. "Your father's name is more effective in that alley than this half-burnt copper cigarette holder."

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