Wuxi, in the south of Jiangsu, used to be called "Youxi".
Within its territory, there is a tin mountain, which is rich in lead and tin.
Legend has it that when Wang Jian was conquering Chu, he passed by Wuxi and found a stone tablet with twelve words on it:
"If there are tin soldiers, the world will fight; if Wuxi is peaceful, the world will be clear!"
At this point, Wang Jian changed "Youxi" to "Wuxi".
It's nothing more than a legend.
Wuxi is a land of fish and rice, with beautiful mountains and clear waters.
The most famous one is a peninsula located in the northwest of Taihu Lake in Wuxi. Because the huge boulder protruding into the lake looks like a turtle with its head raised, it was named "Yuantouzhu".
Others, such as Meiyuan, Jichang Garden, and Liyuan, have countless beautiful scenery.
"There are four hundred and eighty temples in the Southern Dynasty, and many towers are in the mist and rain."
There are many people who know these two poems, but a few people know that Nanchan Temple in Wuxi is the largest of the 480 temples.
In the past, Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty dug the Grand Canal, and Wuxi was able to pass through it. It was precisely because of this canal that Wuxi later developed and prospered.
Wuxi Ximenqiao Wharf is an important waterway hub connecting Shanghai, Nanjing and Wuhan. It is bustling with ships coming and going every day.
There are so many people making a living, including boatmen, coolies, pickpockets... Ximen Bridge is crowded with people every day.
Boatmen are called "boatmen", coolies are called "hard-working people", and pickpockets are called "thieves with bones". There are gangs in each line, and on weekdays, there is no conflict between the well and the river.
Meng Shaoyuan took his team to the Ximen Bridge Pier and saw people coming and going. It was very lively, and everyone felt new and curious.
Then I heard a melodious cry:
"Shave-shave...shave-Old Hushua..."
"What do you mean?" There were so many people that it was impossible to see where the stall was. Zhu Yanni asked curiously, "What are you selling there?"
Yuan Zhonghe came to Wuxi on several missions and said with a smile: "It's called 'Shave your head, shave your beard'. People in Wuxi like to use the word "old" in their speech. People with beards are called Lao Huzi, older people are called Lao Xiao, and people with arrogant personalities Called Lao Ruan... In Wuxi, Shanghai and other places, all the people who have their heads shaved are from northern Jiangsu, and there are absolutely no people from other places. The master takes apprentices and only accepts local people. He has to bring three years of rice for himself. Foreigners are determined not to receive."
"Old Yuan, she looks very familiar." Meng Shaoyuan also laughed. Although his aunt is from Wuxi, he has never been here before: "Let's go find that restaurant."
There are many restaurants of various sizes at Ximenqiao Pier, but it’s not easy to find one without a signboard.
After searching for almost half an hour, I finally found it at the entrance of an alley near the small wooden bridge.
There was no signboard, but there was only one broken lantern hanging at the door.
This is the mark.
The business in the store was just okay, with three tables of customers eating there.
As soon as Meng Shaoyuan and the others entered, there was a small square table inside, which was quite crowded for six people.
The best thing is that although the restaurant is small, there is actually a waiter.
Generally, a small restaurant like this is either a mom-and-pop shop, or the owner is a waiter and a chef.
The waiter came over lazily and opened his mouth: "There are pickles and mixed fish, gluten meat slices, Big Six..."
There is no menu, so the waiter just tells you the names of the dishes.
When he finished singing, Meng Shaoyuan smiled: "I want a Wuxi spare ribs with two Wuxi famous meat gluten in it and more green onions."
Upon hearing this, the guy's expression changed and his voice lowered: "Wait."
After saying that, he hurried into the kitchen.
"It seems that this guy is also one of ours." Mu Dekai said in a low voice.
Not long after, a young man, estimated to be in his twenties or seventies, wearing a greasy apron, walked out and came to Meng Shaoyuan:
"The place is small and there are many of you. Please take a seat inside."
The so-called private seats are nothing more than a place where the boss and the waiters rest.
As soon as the man entered, he immediately closed the door: "The place is a little small, please bear with me, it's in Shimodian Qi."
Tian Qi!
This is the person Dai Li was specifically talking about!
Meng Shaoyuan looked up and down: "Why is your name the same as the medicinal material?"
Tian Qiyi was startled: "My surname is Tian. I have many brothers and sisters in my family. I am the youngest and seventh child. My parents are illiterate, so they gave me such a name at random."
"My name is Meng Shaoyuan." Meng Shaoyuan briefly introduced himself and this mission.
Tian Qi listened very seriously, and his brows gradually wrinkled: "I know that the Luo family's affairs are difficult to deal with. Yang Xinli is a tyrant in Wuxi and a native of Shitangwan. He has influence everywhere in Wuxi. He is The residence in Shibawan is filled with guests every day, and they are all well-known people in Wuxi.
It's definitely not that easy to get him to let him go. The first is that his backer is Ji Yunqing. Ji Yunqing knows many people, including all kinds of dignitaries. Second, our power here is weak, Wuxi does not have any particularly important strategic value, and the superiors do not pay special attention to it. "
Meng Shaoyuan had already considered these difficulties before coming.
If it was a simple task, Dai Li would never send himself here.
"Brother Tian..."
"Call me Lao Qi, everyone who knows me calls me that."
"Sure, Lao Qi."
Meng Shaoyuan was not polite: "I need to pay a personal visit to Yang Xinli. Let's pay homage first and then attack. Is there anything you can do about this?"
"Yes!" Tian Qi answered very definitely: "I have been in Wuxi for three years, not just to open a restaurant. Huo Mazi, the boss of the ship people, is familiar with me. He is in charge of all the people on the ship in Wuxi, and Yang Xinli also wants to help him A bit of face.”
"Okay, you arrange for me to meet with Yang Xinli tomorrow." Meng Shaoyuan pondered there: "Also, I need all the information about Yang Xinli, especially about his family members. The more detailed the better."
"This is simple." Tian Qi agreed: "I will give it to you tomorrow."
Meng Shaoyuan felt slightly relieved: "Lao Qi, apart from this matter, I have something else to do this time. You have been lurking in Wuxi for three years and your mission has been completed. When this matter is completed, you can return to Nanjing with us."
Tian Qi was silent.
After a while, he said: "I am from Hangzhou. I was recruited into the Secret Service in the 20th year of the Republic of China and trained in Nanjing for one year. In the 23rd year of the Republic of China, I was ordered to enter Wuxi and stayed there for three years.
I cook good food, and the taste of local food in Wuxi is similar to that in Hangzhou. They are all on the sweet side, and I have gradually adapted to it. Originally, I thought I would marry a local wife in Wuxi and live here forever. "
For an agent who has been lurking outside for a long time, once he knows that he can finally go back, there is no need to explain the emotion in his heart.
Not only in Wuxi, there is not only one Tianqi.
In every city in China, there may be an unknown person who is usually a secret agent, but he is actually a secret agent.
Tian Qi stood up: "You haven't eaten yet? I told you, I'm pretty good at cooking. I'll prepare some of my specialty dishes for you to eat. Tomorrow, hey... Yang Xinli is really hard to deal with."
