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.
This wasn't all; he had also mixed some ashes and dirt into the big wooden tub filled with marinating meat.
This trick was somewhat similar to when, during a meal, someone would spit into a bowl of food.
By spitting into it, others would find it disgusting and no longer compete for that bowl.
"Open the door!"
The sound of beating on the wooden door grew fiercer; it wasn't a knock but an attempt to break the door down.
"Coming, coming!"
Qin Niu concealed a dagger-like knife in his sleeve and, holding the firewood cutter that had slain the old wolf in his hand, he then went to open the door.
"Damn it, you open the door so slowly, what the hell are you dawdling for, kid?"
The visitor cursed and barged in, burly and broad-waisted.
His face was adorned with a thick beard.
A pair of yellowing eyes emitted nothing but ferocity, and his whole demeanor was extremely violent.
This person was the notorious village bully, Wang Haikun.
Arrogant, vicious, and exceedingly brutal, he would resort to fists and kicks at the slightest disagreement. As a tax collector, he was always the one called upon by the grain officers to do their bidding.
Those who dared not pay would suffer his rage and violence.
The villagers all feared him.
It was said that he had a brother working for the Black Tiger Gang, which was likely not unfounded.
Because Wang Haikun knew a set of boxing skills, though not very impressive, it was more than enough to intimidate the ordinary villagers in the town.
"Qin Niu, I heard you picked up a wolf carcass in the mountains, where is it?"
Without any simple courtesy, he went straight to the point.
This was outright plunder.
Whomever had the stronger fist had the power to bully others.
"Wow, that's a huge wolf skin!"
Wang Haikun immediately spotted the pinned up wolf skin.
After skinning, the raw hide needed to be nailed onto a wooden board and stretched out as much as possible. Otherwise, if the hide was not properly handled, its price would be greatly reduced.
"You lucky brat, your luck isn't bad! Recently, Kun Ye's been craving wild game and hasn't caught any. I've heard wolf meat is very nourishing; just hand it all over to me! If anything happens in the future, Kun Ye will cover for you, making sure no one in the village dares to pick on you."
Wang Haikun unceremoniously took down the wolf skin and held it in his hand.
"Kun Ye, I offer this wolf skin as a token of my respect. The wolf meat is a bit spoiled though, and I made it somewhat dirty. If I find any fresh game later on, I will bring it to you."
Qin Niu's right hand gripped the firewood cutter tightly as he calculated the odds of winning if he fought.
Unfortunately, his mastery of the Slash Martial Skill was only just beginning. If he could reach a higher realm, his chances of winning would be much greater.
However, Wang Haikun's brother held a position in the Black Tiger Gang. Killing Wang Haikun could bring endless trouble.
Although he was reluctant to give up the wolf skin, if it could quell this disaster, he could accept it.
With his farming skills and the Ant Queen, Qin Niu would turn the tables sooner or later.
He planned to get back what he gave, with interest.
At the moment, patience was key.
"Damn it, such a waste of all this wolf meat, ruined by your stupidity. Oh well, let it be, consider the wolf meat a gift for you to enjoy from Kun Ye. Remember, the next time you find any game, you bring it straight to my house, got it?"
Wang Haikun, seeing the wolf meat soaking in a basin of dirty water, immediately lost interest in seizing the meat.
Furthermore, he noticed that Qin Niu always had a grip on his firewood cutter, apparently submissive on the surface, but if pushed too far, he was certainly capable of fighting back fiercely.
For a basin of wolf meat that turned one's stomach, it was not worth it.
The most valuable part of the wolf was its skin.
"It's etched in my heart! Have a safe trip, Kun Ye!"
Qin Niu patted the region over his heart.
He had recorded this grudge deep in his heart, just waiting for the day when he had enough strength to force Wang Haikun to kneel and spit it all back out.
Weak as he was now, he could only feign obedience on the surface.
"Heh heh, you're quite sensible, kid. Damn, it's just such a shame to see that wolf meat ruined like that; I haven't had the pleasure of eating it in a long time."
Wang Haikun left, cursing and mumbling as he carried away the wolf skin.
There were too many in the village whom he had bullied. Rumor had it that he fancied the wife of a pushover who was somewhat attractive. He took her right in front of her husband, pushing her down inside their house and having his way with her.
The local authorities were in cahoots with the Black Tiger Gang, so complaining was useless.
Because Wang Haikun's brother worked for the Black Tiger Gang.
However, Wang Haikun wasn't entirely senseless in his actions. He wouldn't dare to provoke people like Wang Furen, who had a certain reputation and connections.
When Wang Furen encountered Wang Haikun, he would usually be quite polite, occasionally offering some 'tips' to maintain their 'friendship.'
After sending away this calamity, Qin Niu closed the door, his eyes brimming with ice-cold killing intent.
Preserving the wolf meat was of utmost importance to him.
Because it could help him quickly improve his Cultivation Technique.
Ordinary meat had no such effect.
To keep the wolf skin, too, there were only two possible outcomes in the end: either he would be injured by Wang Haikun while having the skin stolen, or he would kill Wang Haikun and then be wanted by the authorities.
Both outcomes were unacceptable to him.
Offering up the wolf skin willingly proved to be the wise choice.
Moreover, with the 'favor' of the wolf skin, perhaps Wang Haikun might show some leniency the next time he collected taxes and grain.