Chapter 16: Python Tendons

According to the usual practice, the managers of the mining site conduct two daily inspections – once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

It was morning now, and Han Du was leading Xu Lian around for the inspection. “Brother Xu, once we’re done, how about we head over to the Lichun Brothel in town for some fun?” he suggested.

As the saying goes, there are three ways to forge an unbreakable bond in life: carrying a gun together, sharing a classroom, and visiting brothels. It seemed that Han Du wanted to strengthen their relationship through the latter.

However, daylight didn’t seem appropriate, and Xu Lian was also afraid of getting sick. “This… might not be a good idea,” he hesitated.

Han Du laughed, “There’s no shortage of women in our family. I’m not interested in those wilted flowers anyway. Just some drinks and music – nothing more. As managers, we don’t have to stay at the construction site all the time. As long as there’s no trouble, we can make our own schedule.

Xu Lian nodded. “Alright then. I’ve never been to a place like this before. I might as well broaden my horizon.”

Han Du seemed a little regretful. “Our Green Bamboo Town is a backwater with only the Lichun Brothel. It’s not much. I heard that those in Pingyang County are much more extravagant.”

Xu Lian chuckled. “Don’t worry. When we make it big someday, we’ll go see for ourselves.”

The two exchanged glances and burst into hearty laughter, feeling like kindred spirits.

The whip-wielding guards and laboring miners watched Xu Lian and Han Du chatting and laughing. Their expressions were dazed. Who would’ve thought that this 16-year-old, who was just a lowly stone hauler a few days ago, would rise so quickly?

“Brother Han, do you know where I can find python tendons?”

Xu Lian hadn’t forgotten his priorities. He knew that strength was the foundation of everything, so he brought up the materials he needed for his advancement.

Han Du paused. “Python tendons? From a python? What do you need that for?”

“I want to make a bow for self-defense and hunting in the mountains,” Xu Lian explained.

Han Du waved his hand. “It’s just a bow. I can give you one.”

“No need,” Xu Lian replied quickly. “I prefer to make my own bow – it feels more comfortable to use.”

Han Du thought for a moment. “Green Bamboo Town has plenty of green snakes, but not many pythons. Everyone’s short on food, so even if someone finds a python, they’d kill it and eat it, tendons and all. It might be hard to find.”

Xu Lian frowned. This was annoying. Without materials, he couldn’t advance even with a progression point.

Han Du added, “There are a few families in town who specialize in catching snakes. We can ask them when we head to town later.”

Xu Lian’s eyes lit up. Snake catchers – how had he not thought of that?

After a quick inspection of the mining site, the two of them left for the city.

Han Du had two horses brought to them. “Brother Xu, I’ve noticed that you usually ride that little black donkey to work. It’s not very comfortable. These horses are kept at the mine for emergencies, but they’re rarely used. Take one for now.”

Xu Lian didn’t stand on ceremony. He immediately mounted the horse. Playing aloof wouldn’t help him bond with Han Du, and he wasn’t the type to be overly modest. In times like these, you took whatever advantage you could.

The two of them galloped into town, covering the short distance quickly.

Even during the day, most households in the city kept their doors shut tight. Only men could be seen outside, busy with their livelihoods. Women were nowhere to be seen.

“Brother Han, I’ll look for the snake catchers first to get the python tendon. Then we can go to Lichun Brothel,” Xu Lian said.

“It’s just a bow. Why the rush?” Han Du sighed but followed.

Xu Lian started asking around for information.

The town wasn’t large, and it didn’t take long to locate a few snake catchers’ homes. He and Han Du rode over to one of them.

“Manager Han, can I work in your mine to earn some food?”

“Manager Han, me too. My family can’t make ends meet. Please give me a chance…”

On the way, several raggedly dressed men humbly greeted Han Du, their desperation obvious.

As a manager of a mine, Han Du was something of a local celebrity in Green Bamboo Town. Although Xu Lian’s promotion to deputy manager had spread, few people still recognized him.

Han Du, who was riding his horse, remained indifferent, not sparing a glance at the men.

At the snake catcher’s house, Xu Lian dismounted and knocked on the door. “Is anyone home?”

“Who is it?” came the voice of a middle-aged woman.

“I’m here to buy some python tendon. Do you have any?” Xu Lian asked.

There was a brief silence before the wooden door creaked open slightly. Two gaunt middle-aged women stood behind it, both tense, holding kitchen knives and wooden sticks, their eyes wary.

“I mean no harm. I really just want to buy a python tendon,” Xu Lian reassured them.

That was the way it was these days – men showing up at someone’s house uninvited often raised suspicions of bad intentions, like stealing food or kidnapping women.

The women looked him over, noting his young, handsome appearance and the horse he held. Their tension eased. A man with a horse was unlikely to lack food or women, making him less of a threat than a drifter.

The two middle-aged women quickly noticed Han Du standing behind Xu Lian. Their eyes lit up and they immediately opened the door wider.

“Manager Han?”

“Come in and sit down.”

Xu Lian felt a little helpless. As someone who managed a mining site and controlled a significant amount of food, Han Du was akin to a benefactor in Green Bamboo Town, welcomed wherever he went.

“No need,” Han Du replied, pointing at Xu Lian. “This is Assistant Manager Xu from the mine. You can discuss with him.”

He deliberately emphasized Xu Lian’s position.

The two women looked at Xu Lian in surprise.

“So you’re Assistant Manager Xu?”

“You’re so young!”

Xu Lian didn’t want to waste any time. “Do you have python tendons?”

“Yes.”

The taller of the two women quickly went to a clay stove in the corner and rummaged through her belongings. “A few months ago my husband got lucky and caught a python. The meat is long gone, but we dried the skin and tendons to cook later.”

She brought over a white rope-like object.

Xu Lian took it and sniffed it. The faint fishy smell confirmed that it was indeed python tendon. “How much?”

The woman hesitated and spoke carefully. “It’s not worth much. If you need it, just take it. But… my son is of age and can’t stay at home anymore. He needs to move out, set up a household of his own, and find a wife. Could he work at your mine to earn some food?”

In Green Bamboo Town, the Night Patrolmen demanded blood tribute based on the number of adult males in a household. Once a boy came of age, he couldn’t stay with his family, or the household would owe an additional blood tribute. The burden would fall on the women, who often couldn’t bear it.

So when the boys grew up, they had to leave, start their own families, and live with a partner.

Xu Lian accepted the tendon and asked curiously, “Your husband is a snake catcher. Why not let your son inherit the trade?”

The woman smiled bitterly. “Catching snakes isn’t easy. My husband’s family has been snake catchers for generations, but every one of them has been bitten to death by snakes. None of them had a happy end. I don’t want my son to follow in those footsteps. Working at the mine is steadier – at least he can earn food”.

Mining was far from safe. An unlucky worker might end up as a blood sacrifice. But Xu Lian didn’t voice his thoughts. Out of gratitude for the tendon, he decided to make some efforts for her son.

“Alright. Have your son come to the mine tomorrow and find me. I’ll arrange something for him.”

The woman was overjoyed. Bowing repeatedly, she expressed her gratitude profusely. “Thank you so much! Thank you so much!”

Xu Lian waved dismissively, mounted his horse, and rode off with Han Du toward the Lichun Brothel.