The Wang family is the most prominent family in Yunlan Town. Even the county government offices must be courteous. But in fact, the Wang family was originally just a small local family, doing some medicinal materials and pawnshop business, with little strength or background. But later, the son of the current head of the Wang family was accepted as a disciple by the Shuiyun Sect thousands of miles away. The Wang family suddenly rose to fame and became one of the most prominent families in Tianlan Prefecture. The status and ability of the monks are evident from this.
It is said that the son of the head of the family has reached the cultivation level of Qingyou Realm, and several of the Wang family's children who followed him also have the cultivation level of the third and fourth levels. But the strange thing is that the Wang family has always kept a low profile, living in such a remote place as Yunlan Town. Their business has not expanded too much, and they have few contacts with other families. They only have more private soldiers than before.
The Wang family's mansion is located in the center of the town, a deep courtyard with three entrances and three exits. The two strong men guarding the door stood opposite each other, silent.
On the street not far away, Ye Ling and Wu Qing each carried a wooden box, which contained thirty newly made steel knives. Although two months was not a long time, the three of them were very skilled and worked day and night to complete the project on time.
The two came to the gate of the palace, reported their reasons, and were led into the palace by a concierge. After several twists and turns along the corridor, they arrived at a school grounds. Weapon racks stand on both sides of the school grounds, with a dazzling array of weapons. More than a dozen strong men were practicing and boxing on the sidelines.
The concierge who led the way came forward and explained the reason to a leader. The man came over and said to the two of them: "Examine the knife first."
Ye Ling and Wu Qing put down the wooden box, opened it, and revealed thirty brand-new steel knives.
Ye Ling took out a handful and handed it over.
"Thirty of them are here, keep them for blowing hair and cutting off hair, and cutting iron like clay."
The man took the knife, took out the blade and looked at it carefully, then struck a stone pier beside him with his backhand, splitting the stone pier into two.
"What a knife!" The man praised sincerely.
Ye Ling and Wu Qing looked at each other and smiled. The eldest brother's craftsmanship was naturally impressive.
The man sheathed the knife, asked someone to move the knife in the box into the house, and asked the concierge to lead the two of them to the steward to settle the bill.
The two of them picked up the empty wooden box again and followed the concierge to the steward's office.
The steward with a mustache calculated quickly, "The price we agreed on before was nine taels for a knife, a total of two hundred and seventy taels. After excluding the deposit of one hundred taels, there is still one hundred and seventy taels left."
The steward took the banknote and handed it to the two of them, and said with a smile: "Commander Han is very satisfied with your sword. I will come to you again if I need anything in the future."
"Then thank you steward and Commander Han. I hope you will take care of me in the future. We will say goodbye."
Ye Ling collected the banknotes and followed the concierge out of the palace with Wu Qing.
"This business is enough for us to spend for a year. When we get back, we will ask our eldest brother to go to Dongshun Building to have a good meal." Wu Qing said with a grin.
Ye Ling nodded and said, "It goes without saying that I haven't drunk Dongshunlou's wine for several days. I must have been suffocated. I won't be able to make up for it today."
The two of them had not walked a few steps when they suddenly heard a noise at the door of the palace.
Two strong men carried an old man in ragged clothes and unkempt hair, dragged him out to the door, and threw him directly under the steps. Then a man who looked like a housekeeper threw out a broken bamboo basket, and the contents were scattered on the floor.
"A stinky beggar dares to come to our Wang family and cheat. If our master hadn't been kind, I would have dealt with you today! Old man, take your rags and get away as far away as possible. Don't let me see you again!"
After the steward finished speaking, he and his servant turned back to the house and closed the door. The old beggar was left lying on the ground moaning.
"If you don't want to buy it, don't buy it. Who are you going to hit? Oops, it's my waist!"
"Old man, are you okay?" Wu Qing helped the old beggar after returning. Ye Ling on the side helped pack up the things scattered on the ground, including swords and jewelry, which were all ordinary.
"What is this?" Ye Ling suddenly picked up a piece of khaki cloth and was lost in thought.
"Oh, you really treat me like a beggar. Business cannot be done with justice. Young man, you can judge me and see if what I said is right."
"Yes, yes," Wu Qing nodded hurriedly: "But no one can tell that you are a businessman with the way you dress!"
"Huh, that's because they are blind. Besides, I'm so old, I can't just throw it away." The old beggar helped Wu Qing stand up slowly, regardless of the newly added dust on his body, and patted Wu Qing's cheek. Shoulder said: "Thank you young man for today. I still have to find business, so I'll leave first."
With that said, the old beggar took the bamboo basket packed by Ye Ling, carried it behind his back, and was about to leave.
"Old man," Ye Ling held the piece of khaki cloth in his hand and said to the old beggar, "I want to buy this cloth. Please give me a price."
As soon as he finished speaking, Wu Qing rushed over, picked up the cloth and looked at it carefully, and said, "Second brother, why did you buy a rag?"
Ye Ling took back the cloth and smiled without saying a word, looking at the old beggar.
The old beggar looked at the cloth and then at Ye Ling. He stepped forward with a smile and said, "Young man is really discerning. This piece of cloth was left by the ancient gods. I was lucky enough to get it. It is said that it contains countless treasures." Immortal Qi, as for the price..."
The old beggar gritted his teeth with a face full of pain and said: "Because we are destined to be together today, I will sell you one hundred taels."
"One hundred taels! Why don't you go and grab it." Wu Qing grabbed the cloth and shouted: "Who believes the nonsense you said? It's just such a piece of rag. What kind of rag is it left by the immortal? A few cents will give you an advantage, but the lion Open wide.”
"Young man, I am the most honest person in business, how could I lie to you. This is indeed a legacy from the immortals..."
"Okay, stop arguing." Ye Ling interrupted the two of them and said, "I can only give you this number." As he said that, Ye Ling stretched out a finger.
"One or two." Ye Ling raised the corner of his mouth and looked at the old beggar.
"One tael? No, no, no, at least eighty taels."
Ye Ling shook his head, "Three liang."
"Sixty taels"
"five taels"
…
"Twelve"
"Deal!" Ye Ling took out ten taels of silver and handed it to the old beggar, put away the cloth, turned and left.
"It's an advantage for you." Wu Qing grunted and left.
The old beggar looked at the backs of the two of them, with the corners of his mouth slightly curved into a crescent moon.
The bright moon is in the sky and the night is hazy. Ye Ling and Wu Qing carried the drunk and unconscious Xu Zheng out of Dongshun Building and returned to the blacksmith shop.
"Second brother, I don't understand why you spent ten taels of silver to buy a rag today? But I believe you have your reasons, so I didn't tell the eldest brother." Wu Qing turned to look at the drunk Xu Zheng , couldn't help laughing and said: "If my eldest brother finds out about this, I will scold you to death."
Ye Ling smiled slightly and said: "Second brother, I would also like to thank you for keeping this secret for me. Don't let the eldest brother know about this matter. If he finds out, he will call me a young man and feel sorry for the money. He also has to take on more business and is exhausted." It’s big!”
Ye Ling paused and continued: "Actually, the second brother can't explain why I want to buy a rag. It's just that I feel that I should do this, just like I should come to this world. It's all destined. of."
Wu Qing remained silent, then smiled and said, "I believe that the eldest brother and the second brother are doing the right things."
"I-I'm not drunk. If you like wine, drink again." Xu Zheng interrupted the conversation with a drunken remark.
The two looked at each other, smiled, and continued on their way.
Although it is summer, the nights in the town are quite cool. The silence of the streets replaced the hustle and bustle of the day, and some shops had blended into the summer night, dark. The few remaining ones are scattered and bright, just like the stars dotting the sky.
The small teahouse on the roadside fell silent, and the waiter lay on the table breathing heavily, feeling sleepy. Storyteller He and the fat shopkeeper were sipping fragrant tea, feeling very uncomfortable.
Not long after, an old beggar with unkempt hair and ragged clothes walked into the store.
The old beggar put his basket on the ground, sat down in front of the three of them, got himself a bowl of tea, and drank it all in one gulp.
"What's so delicious about this crap? I really don't know how you can taste it." The old beggar put down the tea bowl with a sad face and asked the waiter to get a bowl of water.
"If you can taste it like this, I won't drink tea anymore!" Storyteller He curled his lips disdainfully, and then said in a deep voice: "How?"
"The old blind man said that he is in Yunlan Town. Counting his age, they are the only two people in the town who have no life experience. Who are they?" The old beggar rolled his eyes, took the water brought by the waiter, and took a sip. His expression softened.
"God's will is unpredictable, and the theory of reincarnation is confusing. Even an old blind man can't guarantee that everything will go as planned."
"Under the great road, the law has no definite method and no shape. If there is cause and effect in the world, and destiny has constants, why should everything be done by humans?" The old beggar finished drinking the water, picked up the basket on his back, and floated away.
The fat shopkeeper squinted, stared at the tea in the bowl, nodded and said to himself: "Seeking immortality and enlightenment is basically a boat against the current, and there are no invisible obstacles. If you could have known everything earlier, wouldn't it be other people's playthings, struggling and applauding, and you will eventually be controlled by others."
The storyteller Lao He looked out the door, the night was still hazy and deep.
