On the ninth day of the winter solstice, the north wind is like a knife and the flying snow is like an arrow.
In the early morning of this day, it started to snow lightly. In the morning, the sky was still chaotic, and it seemed bright but not bright, but the snow became heavier and heavier. Finger-sized snowflakes flew wildly, beating the grass and breaking the ground, and all living things were alive. Can't hold my head up.
In the north of Dongshan County, in front of Jiugao Mountain, we have reached the borderland.
The official roads of the imperial court were built as far as Shannan and Chuncheng. Further north, there were no official roads, only muddy roads. It is used for the communication between the mountain people who come out of the mountain and the traders who enter the mountain.
There is an inn beside a dirt road at the mountain pass.
In this mountainous place, this inn is not small in scale. It has two floors and five rooms in the front, with all the food and drinks. There are two sets of courtyards in the back. One is used as an inn for pedestrians to stay, and the other is used as a goods store for merchants to unload their goods on the spot. , buy and sell, make a transfer. An inn is equivalent to the market of a small town.
It is unusual for this business to be able to maintain such a large business in a mountainous area. The three gold letters "Yuhai Hao" are clearly hanging on the inn, which is very impressive. However, the signboard is old and the handwriting is no longer the brilliant gold of the past. Obviously This business is not prosperous, it is just barely maintained.
In the heavy snow, two horses were riding on the road. The passengers on the horses were one tall and one short. They were wearing hats and cloaks, and their whole bodies were wrapped in the wind and snow. The horses' hoofs crushed the slush, making every step difficult.
Seeing the inn in sight, the tall man said: "Let's take a rest today. We can't go up the mountain in this weather."
The short man agreed, his voice was tender and childlike.
The two of them got off their horses in front of the inn. An old man, a waiter at the inn, came out to welcome them. He took the horse tremblingly and said, "Please come in, sir. There are private seats inside."
The two opened the cotton curtain, and a wave of heat hit their faces. The snow on the hat melted when heated, turning into water droplets and flowing down the edge.
There was also a waiter in the lobby of the inn, but she was a middle-aged woman. Although her clothes were made of coarse cloth, she was washed very clean and looked neat. She stepped forward to take off the hats and cloaks for the two of them, and said with a smile: "My lord, Is it a tip-off or a hotel stay?"
Taking off their cloaks, the two of them revealed their faces. The tall one was a heroic young man, while the short one was really a child, about twelve or thirteen years old. He had red lips and white teeth, and was polite and somewhat bookish.
The young man said: "First get some hot rice wine and ginger soup, and then put on the noodles. Local wild game and fresh local game will be served. It depends on the situation and whether you can live in the night. Azhao, is there anything else you want to eat?"
The young man shook his head and said: "It's nothing. I don't want the ginger soup, it's too spicy. I'll have some wine too."
The young man chuckled and said, "I don't want ginger soup, but some fruit tea."
The old woman responded one by one, took the two of them to the stairs, and said, "You two, there are private seats upstairs."
The two of them were about to go upstairs when suddenly someone behind them said, "Are you two from Heyang?"
The young man was stunned. Although he didn't say anything, his face showed it: "How do you know?"
The young man said nonchalantly: "Brother, do you have a fortune teller in your store? He will tell fortunes to anyone who comes. This service is very thoughtful."
The speaker was a middle-aged man sitting at the front desk. He was wearing a fur coat and squinting his eyes to warm up to the fire. Then he stood up and said respectfully: "This little man is the shopkeeper of the store, his surname is Liu. Forgive me for being presumptuous. Please come to the elegant room of Tianzihao. The food and drinks will be here in a moment."
The young man was still a little confused, but the young man had already turned around and went upstairs.
There is a row of elegant rooms upstairs. Although the decoration is old, it is elegant, but it is not popular. Only the one by the window is occupied, and the door is closed and no one knows where it comes from. The old woman ushered them into the innermost private room with a Tianzi name. The windows were bright and clean, and the decoration was decent. It didn't look like a mountain village shop, but rather like a high-end restaurant in a big city.
After the waiter made hot tea and closed the door to exit, the young man said angrily: "Mr. Xing, did I miss the mark?"
The young man, naturally Xing Ji, smiled and said: "This is a tactic used by Jianghu to deceive people. It is very common, but it does not mean that you can prevent it if you know it. The four words 'calmly' are what Lao Jianghu means. Not everyone can do it, otherwise there is a saying that the boat capsizes in the gutter. You know what you are doing, and you will be able to practice it slowly and eventually. It doesn't matter this time, Shopkeeper Liu doesn't mean it maliciously. "
After a while, the waiter brought the dishes, not to mention hot wine and fruit tea, as well as several large bowls full of dishes. There are roasted deer legs, braised deer tendons, smoked hare and pig trotters, and stewed white fungus hericium. Roasted nuts include pine nuts and chestnuts, and candied fruits include wild dates and wild grapes. There is also a pot of Feilong hazel mushroom casserole that is still steaming.
Tang Zhao was secretly surprised when he saw the waiter leaving. Shopkeeper Liu, neatly dressed, walked into the room, closed the door, and said seriously: "You two, do you still remember the dungeon of Black Spider Villa?"
Tang Zhao said "Ah" and thought of the time when he followed Xing Ji, who was pretending to be a judge, to go to the dungeon to level Jiang Qiu, and released several people from the dungeon. Among them, Shopkeeper Liu was the one who he personally lowered from the torture rack.
Xing Ji smiled and said, "Shopkeeper Liu is fine. He's not at Jinshan in Heyang. Why did he come to the mountains to make a fortune?"
Liu Qiguang no longer had any doubts, and immediately said: "I couldn't thank my two benefactors that day, so I would like to pay my respects to you anyway." After saying that, he bowed down.
Tang Zhao stood up and was not greeted. Xing Ji received a courtesy and asked Tang Zhao to help him up, saying: "It's all in the past, there's no need to worry about it. Shopkeeper Liu, please sit down."
Tang Zhao gave up his seat to shopkeeper Liu, and Liu Qiguang repeatedly declined, sat down, and poured wine for Xing Ji.
The three of them were no longer polite, and started to eat and drink. Although these local products were not expensive and top-quality, they were better because they were fresh. You can eat from the mountains, but you can't find this authentic bite no matter how much money you spend outside.
After eating for a while, Liu Qiguang said: "I made my benefactor laugh. Liu came out of the dungeon and planned to return to his original number, but things changed. Heyang Jinshan has a new boss, and he has all my familiar confidants. Sent. Although the shopkeeper later died in an accident, the chief helmsman would rather send a new person than use me. After many shirks, he sent me to the edge of Dongshan County. "
Xing Ji said: "I see, this place is indeed not as grand as Jinshan Hao. I heard that the person who mainly receives goods in Jinyu Hall is called Yuhai Hao, and the person who mainly sells goods is called Jinshan Hao. The business here is from Jiugao Mountain. Are you a slut?"
Liu Qiguang said: "Yes, this place... doesn't have any good goods to collect, and there are few people around it all year round. But think about it, no matter how bad it is, can it be worse than the dungeon of Black Spider Villa? I am not young, and I have also been injured. , my health is getting worse, the air in the mountains is fresh, except that it is a bit colder in winter, the scenery is not bad, so I think of it as a retirement."
Xing Ji smiled and said: "Shopkeeper Liu can just look at it. In fact, the air in the mountains is not only good, but also leisurely, there is no smell of blood, and the business is clean. From now on, Shopkeeper Liu will be a good and friendly man who makes money, and will not get involved in those dirty things. , it’s not in vain that our little soup put you out.”
Shopkeeper Liu solemnly said: "I will always remember what this little benefactor said to me in the dungeon." He was not being perfunctory. In that situation, Tang Zhao said that he would save him in order to have a bottom line. It’s really unforgettable. After I came out, my temperament changed. I no longer used unscrupulous means. When I was fighting for power, I was naturally suppressed everywhere. Later, I became really discouraged and retired to the mountains. It was a bit smooth.
He sighed: "At that time, I thought that I would never see my two benefactors again in my life, so it would be difficult to repay my kindness. Only my little benefactor gave me two kind words, so I will stick to these two kind words. I will not be unfaithful for the rest of my life, even if I can repay my kindness." I didn't expect that fate would be so wonderful that I would see you two again. No other words, if there is any place where I can be used, just ask. Also, some of the specialties in this place are quite rare, so you must take more with you when you leave. .”
Xing Ji praised: "Well said. Don't say you can do it, just think this way. Tang Zhao saved you right. This is his merit. Azhao, you can take care of Shopkeeper Liu's business in the mountains from now on." .”
Tang Zhao said: "Of course, the shopkeeper's food is so delicious, why don't I come?"
He really thinks Shopkeeper Liu is good. Regardless of whether he has really changed his mind, even in the past, at least he still has a bottom line of not engaging in human trafficking. Although this bottom line is low, it still hurts my skin to give up.
However, it is good for people in this world to judge others after suffering. The white-haired man himself has been a sword slave, and once he becomes powerful, he will create sword slaves. Although Liu Qiguang is not a swordsman, he is more human than the white-haired man.
Liu Qiguang asked curiously: "My little benefactor wants to go up the mountain? Is there any place on the mountain?"
Xing Ji said: "Shopkeeper Liu has been at the foot of the mountain for a long time, doesn't he know this?"
Liu Qiguang said cautiously: "Could it be... jade..."
Xing Ji nodded slightly, and Liu Qiguang's heart beat rapidly.
The most powerful in the world are swordsmen, and the richest are swordsmiths. All businesses dream of establishing relationships with swordsmiths. Jin Yutang opened such a large business in a place where birds don't lay eggs, and his original intention is to see if he can establish relationships with the legendary Zhuoyu Villa.
But Zhuoyu Villa, like all swordsman forces, is aloof and mysterious. It is just a legend in the mountains. Most casual people have heard the name and have no idea where it is. How can we get in touch with the secular merchants of Jin Yu Tang? If you lose your mind after going back and forth, you won't be very focused on business.
However, Liu Qiguang got such an opportunity today. If he grasped it, wouldn't he be able to show off his skills and return to the top?
In an instant, his ambition burst into flames.
But then, he suddenly felt bored again: he worked as a bully for the Jinshan Company in the first half of his life and made all the dirty money. What will happen now? Now that I have escaped from that rotten mud pond, if I don't take good care of myself, why should I go back to the smelly ditch?
Grand plans? Show your fart.
Thinking of this, he felt relaxed and whispered: "I know, my little benefactor wants to be a Talisman Swordsman? That's great, I think a Talisman Swordsman is better than a swordsman. A Talisman Swordsman is noble, decent and safe, how can it be different?" A swordsman's life is precarious and he never knows when he will die."
Xingji:...
Xingji just revealed the news deliberately, but we want to see what Shopkeeper Liu is thinking? Either way, he can handle it easily.
It seems like he's doing okay now, except for saying bad things about him in person, there's nothing serious wrong with him.
As for whether it will change in the future, Tang Zhao will handle it. Children will eventually grow up.
Tang Zhao was also wondering at this time whether shopkeeper Liu was tired of Jin Yutang and wanted to change jobs?
Is it time to start my own group company?
Just as he was thinking about it, Shopkeeper Liu suddenly realized and said, "Could it be that those people next door are also going to Zhuoyu Villa?"
