After three drinks and five dishes, the yellow-faced man introduced everyone in the Fuyuan escort agency to Gu Xiao and Jiang Ningxue one by one. Then he picked up the wine bowl and said to Jiang Ningxue: "Brothers and sisters, I haven't introduced myself yet, our name is Xiong. Feng is the chief escort of Fuyuan Escort Bureau. I respect you, but you must take good care of my brother."
Gu Xiao thought that Xiong Feng had forgotten this matter, so when he saw that he mentioned it again, there was a misunderstanding, so he spoke to Xiong Feng in a low voice: "Brother Xiong, I didn't have time to explain just now, this girl is not my wife, we are just because We need to check some things, so we go together."
When Xiong Feng heard Gu Xiao's words, he realized that he had misunderstood all along. Although the children of the world did not pay as much attention to fame and honor as ordinary women, he called him "younger brother, younger brother, younger brother, younger sister", and the girl was not angry at all. , having given himself enough face, he patted his head and quickly apologized to Jiang Ningxue.
Jiang Ningxue already knew that these men were all gentlemen, so she nodded to Xiong Feng and didn't pay attention.
Then Xiong Feng turned to Gu Xiao and asked, "Brother Mu, you said you were here to investigate something. I don't know what you came to Zang Beicheng to investigate. If you need our help, don't be polite."
Gu Xiao thought for a while, whether it was to find Qingsi Luan, the murder weapon of Liu Piaopiao, or to find a way to enter Murong Valley to see the Chongyang Brush, he had to go to He's house first. He made up his mind and said, "Let's not hide this from Brother Xiong. , Miss Jiang and I came to Zangbeicheng this time and wanted to go to the He family. I wonder how much Brother Xiong knows about the He family."
Hearing Gu Xiao mention the He family, Xiong Feng's brows immediately frowned. Seeing that the brothers on the side were in high spirits, he signaled to Gu Xiao and Jiang Ningxue, then stood up and led the two of them to the main hall. outside.
Gu Xiao followed Xiong Feng out of the main hall. When he saw this bold man, he rubbed his hands and frowned, as if he had something to hide, and asked curiously: "Brother Xiong, why did the He family behave like this?"
Xiong Feng glanced at the brothers eating and drinking in the hall again, and as if he had made up his mind, he persuaded Gu Xiao: "Brother Mu, listen to my elder brother's advice. This He family is not like what you saw. This He family is not like what you saw." , it’s okay if you don’t go.”
Gu Xiao saw that Xiong Feng's expression changed drastically when he heard about the He family. There must be something inside that he didn't know, so he asked: "Brother Xiong, why did you say this? Why is the He family so scary to the eldest brother?"
"The officials and people in Zangbeicheng all say that the He family is good, but they have forgotten that the He family is not from Zangbeicheng, but they gradually became rich a few years ago. The He family's mansion in the city was built later. , and the He Family Villa outside the city was called Feng Family Castle a few years ago." Xiong Feng said in a deep voice.
Gu Xiao and Jiang Ningxue looked at each other, knowing that Brother Xiong must have known some unknown secret when he said this, so they asked, "What did Brother Xiong mean?"
"A few years ago, there was no He family anywhere in Zangbeicheng. At that time, Zangbeicheng only knew the Feng family. The Feng family did not live in the city, but always lived in the Fengjia Fort in the mountains outside the city. But somehow, Overnight, Fengjia Fort changed its owner, and there was no news about the Feng family since that night. The He family subsequently took over the Feng family’s position in Zangbeicheng, especially in the past few years, the He family’s villa has become more and more popular every year. The performance is even more impressive." Xiong Feng said to Gu and Xiao.
Gu Xiao experienced the incident in Liuzhuang and listened to Xiong Feng's tone. He followed Xiong Feng's words and asked: "Brother Xiong means that the He family used some shady means to seize it from the Feng family. Took away everything in the Feng family?"
"We don't know the inside story, and we don't dare to tell you. But after all, we have been working as escorts for many years and have seen all kinds of people. We can be sure that the people of the He family are not as harmonious as the people say. Be kind to others. Brother Mu, do you still remember those snow ginsengs from two years ago?"
"Of course I remember. That day, when I was traveling and passing by, I saw Brother Xiong with a sad face." Gu Xiao recalled a little and remembered the feelings of that day.
"It's just a few snow ginseng trees. Although they are precious, if they are really lost, my Fuyuan Escort Bureau can afford to pay the compensation. Brother Mu, do you know why I was so worried that day? It was not only for the loss of the escort, but also for me, Fuyuan The lives of more than a hundred people in the escort agency."
After thinking about it for a while, Xiong Feng decided to tell the truth, just because he didn't want his little benefactor to have anything to do with the He family.
Gu Xiao didn't expect that there was a hidden secret in this, so he asked Xiong Feng, "Is it possible that the owner of the cargo would kill someone just for a few snow ginsengs?"
Xiong Feng looked around and made sure that no one in the escort agency could hear him. He lowered his voice a little and said to Gu Xiao: "These snow ginsengs are from the He family who came to escort the escorts. The current head of the He family came to our escort agency that day." The younger brother, He Zhong, the second son among the three sons of the ancestor of the He family."
"That day, we packed up the escort's things as usual and told Lao Chen and the others to set off. Just before departure, a servant came to report that He Zhong was visiting, so we followed the rules of the escort agency and met in the study. With He Zhong, this is our first time meeting such a big shot, so we were naturally very careful with him, but we didn't expect that what He Zhong said next would make us sweat." Xiong Feng said with lingering fear.
Gu Xiao asked hurriedly: "What did He Zhong say?"
Xiong Feng said solemnly: "He said that the goods were lost, so he killed hundreds of people in my Fuyuan Escort Bureau."
Gu Xiaowei said angrily: "Even if his He family is from a famous family in Zang Beicheng, how can he be so arrogant? What's more, Brother Xiong has not accepted this job yet."
Xiong Feng replied: "What Brother Mu said was exactly what I was thinking that day. Since this escort trip has such a high risk, we are naturally unwilling to take it. But after He Zhong said this, he put down his pretense. After I had a brocade box with snow ginseng and a piece of gold, I got up and left. I caught up with him and said all the good things to him, but we didn't pay any attention to him. I didn't say another word until I got on my horse and left."
"What happened later?"
"We didn't dare to offend the He family, so we had no choice but to accept the escort. In order to prevent everyone from worrying, we didn't tell everyone what He Zhong said."
After saying this, Xiong Feng looked worried and said to Gu Xiao: "Brother Mu, listen to my brother's advice. If the He family is involved in the investigation you want to investigate, it's better not to provoke it. The He family is definitely not like the common people. It’s definitely not a good thing to say that.”
Only then did Gu Xiao understand why Xiong Feng was so lost when he lost the snow ginseng that day.
But Lin'er and Uncle Li have been missing so far, and there is no clue. There is also the green silk thread of the owner of Mikou Liu Village. To investigate these, you must go to the He family.
Looking back at Jiang Ningxue who was listening quietly, he saw that she still had a cold and indifferent expression. After thinking about it for a moment, he comforted Xiong Feng and said, "Brother Xiong, I know you think about my little brother's safety, but the person I'm looking for is , can only be found through the He family, I wonder if Brother Xiong can give me some pointers."
After thinking for a while, Xiong Feng said: "Tomorrow is the day for the He family to start the competition. In the past few years, the He family has relied on this arena to recruit many good players. In order to retain these people for the He family, not only Gold and silver offerings are provided, and all requests are answered. With Brother Mu's skills, it is not difficult to take down the top three positions. But at that time, it would be much easier to check anything."
"Brother Xiong, if I want to go to the He Family Arena, how do I participate?" Gu Xiao thought about it, and this was the safest way at the moment, so he asked Xiong Feng for advice on how to participate in the He Family Arena.
"As far as I know, in front of the He family's mansion in the city, there is a wooden pole several feet high. On the top of the pole, there is a basket made of gold wire. All martial arts masters who want to participate in the He family's arena , you only need to report your name in front of the He family's house, and the servants of the He family will write the name of the applicant on the iron plate with cinnabar. The applicant needs to put the iron plate into the gold silk basket according to his own ability. Even if you are qualified to participate in the ring, even if you sign up, I heard that the He family will classify you into three, six or nine based on your skills, but we really don't know the specifics. "
After hearing this method, Gu Xiao and Jiang Ningxue secretly sighed that the method that the He family came up with was really good. It was a pole several feet high. If you want to put the iron plate into it, you must have a strong internal force of Qinggong to do it. Using this method, those who want to fish in troubled waters will naturally be blocked from the first hurdle.
Xiong Feng continued: "After the competition starts tomorrow, the He family will open the Hejiabao mountain gate. As long as your name is on this iron plate, you can go to Hejiabao outside the city to participate in the competition."
"I see, I wonder if I still have time to register today." Gu Xiao looked up and saw that it was already noon. If the competition was to start tomorrow, he would still have to rush to register today.
"Brother Mu, don't worry. As long as today is not over, someone from the He family will still be at the registration place. After dinner, we will guide Brother Mu to the He family to register..."
Before Xiong Feng finished speaking, he saw someone running out of the hall holding a wine jar, shouting as he walked: "Brother Mu, why can't I find you? It turns out that you and the boss are chatting here, come on, let's Have a few more drinks.”
The person who came was none other than Chen Dongzhi. He had been having fun in the hall for a long time, but when his little benefactor was nowhere to be seen, he went out to look for him. Seeing that the master was chatting happily with his little benefactor, he stepped forward and took Gu Xiao's arm, asking him to Go back to the hall and have a few more drinks.
Seeing the sad look on the head's face, Chen Dongzhi secretly thought with doubts in his tipsy eyes, what's going on? Could it be that the little benefactor has some request to embarrass the head? That's not right. With the head's temperament, even if the little benefactor has any instructions, , the head of the house will also do as he is told.
Although Chen Dongzhi was fat, he had a sharp mind. When he was thinking about how to speak, he saw a woman bypassing the screen wall of the escort office and coming into the escort office.
This woman was about twenty-four or five years old. She was dressed in a dark fur coat and covered with black gauze. Looking from a distance, she looked elegant and graceful. Her black hair was tied up with a jade hairpin, and she walked in front of everyone.
A pair of smart eyes lightly glanced at Xiong Feng, Gu Xiao and the others. Finally, her eyes stopped on Xiong Feng and she spoke softly to Xiong Feng, who had a confused look on his face.
"I want to escort you."
Although Gu Xiao was a little curious about this masked woman, he had heard Brother Xiong mention the rules of the escort business before, so he couldn't listen more. It happened that Chen Dongzhi was also there, so Gu Xiao grabbed Chen Dongzhi's fat body and said: "Brother Chen, don't you want to drink a few more bowls with me? Let's go."
When Jiang Ningxue saw Gu Xiao winking at her, she naturally understood his intention and retreated.
In previous years, the New Year's Day is approaching, and this businessman should return to his hometown. Logically speaking, there are almost no escort customers. Although he is a little confused, he opens the door to run the escort agency and there are escorts, so he naturally wants to take it. This business.
"This madam, I am Xiong Feng, the chief escort of the Fuyuan Escort Bureau. If it's inconvenient here, madam, you can tell me in the back hall." When Xiong Feng saw the woman holding up her black hair, he naturally thought that she was married. , seeing that her temperament suggested that she belonged to a well-known family, he did not dare to neglect her, so he asked the woman to come and talk in detail after the meeting.
"No need. This thing of mine is quite simple. I would like to ask the chief escort today to escort it to Hejiabao outside the city." The woman in fur clothes said.
"Oh? Since we are just leaving the city, Madam only needs to hire some coolies to send her there. Why does the escort agency need to come forward? This can save a lot of money..."
Xiong Feng said this, but he thought in his heart, something strange happened one after another today. First, the little benefactor was going to He's house, and then this woman who came from nowhere was escorting the escort to He's house. Why did they all rush there? On this day of the He family's arena before the Yuan Day Festival, things were extremely strange.
And hiring some coolies to send them is much cheaper than escorting them, and the security in Zangbeicheng has always been good. Since it belongs to the He family, naturally no one would dare to disturb Tai Sui. Xiong Feng thought that the woman did not leave the house all year round. If you don’t understand these things, you can ask them to remind you kindly.
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw the woman's slender hand take out from her sleeve, and then she threw a deerskin pouch towards him. Xiong Feng subconsciously reached out to catch it. The deerskin pouch was heavy in his hand. It contains a lot of silver.
With curiosity, Xiong Feng opened the deerskin pouch and looked down. Unexpectedly, the bag contained several ingots of gold ingots, each of which was twelve taels in size.
