Where have these bumpkins from the Taishang River seen such a battle? Seeing that the arrogant and domineering second brother was like a clay doll in the hands of Zhao Rang and Ximen Dazhuang, they were so frightened that no one said a word.
Zhao Rang had to repeat the words again, and the young man who looked smart came back to his senses, nodded, and told the others to leave quickly.
Although I have never seen the world, I still understand the principle of a good man not taking immediate losses.
Zhao Rang and Ximen Dazhuang are so confident that they can take action as soon as they are told. This must be a serious problem in this city. They cannot do whatever they want just by relying on the large number of people. You must go back and tell the second brother's eldest brother, who is the leader of the Nujiang Gang.
After this rabble walked away in despair, Ximen Dazhuang picked up his second brother by his collar and threw him into the shade.
The sun was very bright today, and he was knocked unconscious by Zhao Rang again. Don't wait. Before the Nujiang Gang came, he was suffering from heat stroke again.
A fainted person is like a piece of rotten wood and has no meaning. Letting him stay in the cool air is Ximen Dazhuang's greatest kindness.
"Shopkeeper, I have a favor to ask of you."
As soon as they left, the shopkeeper of Luo Yuelou came around again.
Although he is not afraid of these gangsters from the Nujiang Gang, it is better to do less than to do more. Business people, unless they are like the Ximen family, should try to avoid disputes. Not to mention that he is just a shopkeeper who manages Luoyue Tower for his employer, not the boss.
"Master Zhao, please tell me!"
"Lend me some money."
The shopkeeper didn't expect that Zhao Rang's request for help turned out to be this kind of thing.
It was extremely unusual for the word "borrowing money" to come out of Zhao Rang's mouth, not to mention that Ximen Dazhuang was standing next to him.
"May I?"
The shopkeeper stood there blankly and hesitated to respond. Zhao Rang couldn't help but urge.
"Ah, yes, yes, of course! I wonder how much Mr. Zhao wants to borrow."
Zhao Rang turned around and looked at the barbecue seller.
He already knew from his second brother and others that his surname was Guang, so he also called him Lao Guang.
"Lao Guang, how much do these cost in total?"
Lao Guang took a deep look at Zhao Rang. Previously, he only thought that Zhao Rang and the Nujiang Gang were the same thing. But after observing for a while, I found that there were still some differences.
In particular, the attitude of shopkeeper Luo Yuelou towards him was completely different from that of the Nujiang Gang.
Lao Guang had just arrived in the city not long ago, but he also knew that Luoyue Tower was undoubtedly the first-class restaurant in the city, and the people who came in and out were either rich or noble. To be treated so kindly by the shopkeeper, his status must be even more transcendent.
"Three taels."
Lao Guang thought for a while and stretched out three fingers.
He spoke with a thick accent and he knew it. So when I say the price, I always use my hands to make gestures, for fear that customers won’t understand.
"Okay, shopkeeper, I'll lend you three taels."
Zhao Rang said.
The shopkeeper Luo Yuelou immediately called for a clerk, asked him to take three taels of silver from the counter, and told him to record it in his account.
"Thank you, shopkeeper. I'll ask Yu Xi to deliver it to you later."
The shopkeeper cupped his hands and said:
"Master Zhao, aren't you scolding me! What else do I need for three taels of silver? You are Luo Yue Lou's most die-hard customer. We have become friends. Is this what friends need?"
Zhao Rang smiled and nodded in agreement.
There is really no need to pay back the three taels of silver. It will be worth it if I give you a little more reward when I come next time.
However, this shopkeeper is really good at climbing the ladder, so I asked him to do a small favor and immediately struck up a friendship and became friends.
He said yes, Zhao Rang and Ximen Dazhuang already knew half of the people in the city. If they could all be considered friends, it would be a big deal, not even one of his shopkeepers.
After paying the money, Lao Guang asked:
"Do you need to wrap it up?"
His accent is indeed too strong...I can't express this sentence with my fingers. Even though he spoke very slowly, Zhao Rang had to listen twice before he could barely understand.
"No need to wrap it up, just eat it here. Just cut it into smaller pieces for me."
Lao Guang nodded and took out a wooden block from under the countertop.
There was a thick iron anchor nailed to the pier, with a chain tied to the end, and a machete with a broad blade attached to it.
This knife and the attached chains and nails don't look like they are used by people making a living. Instead, they look like...
"Once you're used to it, you can use it for everything. It's easy to use."
Lao Guang noticed that Zhao Rang's attention was on the knife in his hand.
How can an ordinary person, immersed in work, have time to observe the eyes of others?
A machete like this is pretty much used for chopping trees and wood. It is indeed a bit inconvenient to use for cutting roasted meat.
Lao Guang's cutting speed was slow and slow. Every time he cut a piece, he pushed back a little with his other hand. The roasted meats are cut neatly, with the same size and shape. Such skill with a sword, which is both heavy and light, cannot be acquired overnight.
The cut roast pork was neatly stacked on the oil paper. Ximen Dazhuang looked at it and couldn't help it. He reached out and grabbed a duck leg and ate most of it in one bite.
Another group of people came to the street, making a lot of noise, and the whole atmosphere suddenly became lively.
Zhao Rang recognized that the person walking in the middle was Jiang Lang, the leader of the Nujiang Gang.
Jiang Lang is several years older than Zhao Rang and Ximen, and is the nephew of the old gang leader.
The old gang leader had a wife and no children, so he had been training him as his successor. However, it is difficult to carve out rotten wood. Jiang Lang is very competent as a playboy, but it is too difficult for him to carry the banner of a gang.
If the old gang leader hadn't saved some money, the Nujiang Gang, which was riddled with holes, would have been wiped out long ago.
Zhao Rang had never looked at Jiang Lang directly, but this time he looked at it extremely seriously.
There are two things in Suluo city that no one can compare to.
The gold and silver of the Ximen family and the sword of the Zhao family.
Jiang Lang was actually wearing a murex purple coat, which was almost the same as the one Ximen Dazhuang took off just now.
And hanging on his waist was a sword with a sharkskin scabbard.
For an expert like Zhao Rang, just by looking at the scabbard and handle, one can know what the knife is like even if it is not unsheathed.
The sword on Jiang Lang's waist is definitely a treasured sword!
A leader of an unpopular gang could suddenly wear murex purple and hold a sword. Not only did Zhao Rang find it strange, but even Ximen Dazhuang put down his duck legs and took a serious look.
"The knife is real, but where are the clothes?"
"The clothes are real too."
Zhao Rang and Ximen Dazhuang looked at the knife and the clothes, both trying to get some clues to support their original understanding of Jiang Lang.
Unfortunately, they both failed...
Jiang Lang slowed down his pace intentionally or unintentionally, as if just to give Zhao Rang and Ximen Dazhuang a clear look.
"Nouveau riche...so disgusting!"
Ximen Dazhuang said contemptuously.
This kind of person with no brains and only money will only cause trouble and show off everywhere, making people annoying.
Naturally, Jiang Lang's little thoughts couldn't be hidden from the two of them, and in fact, he didn't want to hide it.
After all, no one would be stupid enough to show off his wealth in front of Ximen Dazhuang or fight in front of Zhao Rang.
What he did means that he had already thought about doing this and had the confidence to do so.
Zhao Rang took a deep breath and felt that things suddenly became a little complicated.
He just came back from the Western Regions.
In other words, he just got out of a very complicated big trouble, and he just wanted to eat, drink, and tease girls, and didn't want to fall into another complicated thing so soon.
But things went counterproductive, God can be so bad sometimes!
The more you talk about what you don’t want in your mind, the more he will give you something. Likewise, the more you want something, the farther away it will be from you.
It's like everyone says that God has a temper, the more he wants to prove it.
Therefore, people cannot keep talking or thinking about one thing, and they can even do the opposite and play tricks on God.
But most people cannot resist their inner desires, so they cannot escape this barrier and cannot break the situation.
After exhaling the air he breathed into his lungs, Jiang Lang happened to walk in front of him.
"Master Zhao, Master Ximen, I heard that you two went to the Western Regions?"
Ximen Dazhuang had a cold face and didn't even look at him.
Zhao Rang replied politely:
"I just came back. I should have arrived on the same day as your brother."
When Jiang Lang saw his unconscious brother under the corner, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly and said:
"My younger brother is new here and doesn't understand. I ask you two adults not to remember the faults of villains."
Ximen Dazhuang threw the clean duck leg in front of Jiang Lang and said:
"You also know that you are a villain? Don't go out on the main road, villain, and don't go out in broad daylight. It's an eyesore and makes me sick!"
Jiang Lang smiled softly and said in a neither humble nor arrogant tone:
"My brother-in-law doesn't know the rules, so I'll educate him myself. But Mr. Ximen shouldn't speak so harshly. We're all in the same city, and we can't see each other without looking up."
"What did you say?"
Ximen Dazhuang was confused by Jiang Lang's words.
It sounds awkward, but I can't tell what exactly is awkward.
"Okay, then please give Gang Leader Jiang more education."
Zhao Rang took over and said.
Jiang Lang replied:
"Of course, Mr. Zhao, don't worry!"
After that, he ordered his men to pick up his fainted brother, bowed his hands to Zhao Rang and Ximen Dazhuang, and turned around to leave.
"Wait a moment!"
Zhao Rang shouted.
Jiang Lang was about to turn around.
There was a clumsy wind sound in my ears, and I immediately blocked it with a knife.
The greasy roasted meat fell all over the place, staining several pieces of his murex-purple clothes.
"I told you that I would treat you to a barbecue, but you didn't eat it, so I helped you eat it with my clothes!"
Zhao Rang said with a smile.
Jiang Lang clenched his molars, patted each other's sleeves, and replied:
"I understand!"
"Fuck you, what are you pretending to be?"
Ximen Dazhuang yelled at Jiang Lang's response.
"Okay, stop talking."
Zhao Rang stopped Ximen Dazhuang from cursing.
He obviously felt that Jiang Lang was very different today.
This difference made Zhao Rang very cautious.
His travels in the Western Regions made him more youthful and keen. Especially for these once inconspicuous little characters.
Zhao Rang and Ximen Dazhuang already have a deep understanding of the consequences of being rich beyond money and having power above all else, and looking down on others.
Jiang Lang and others had already walked out of the long street. Zhao Rang looked back at the barbecue shop. Lao Guang had packed and tied everything Zhao Rang bought together.
"You can close your stall early today."
Lao Guang said slowly:
"I still need to prepare things for tomorrow."
Zhao Rang picked up the packaged roast meat and said:
“It’s delicious. I will come again.”
Lao Guang still didn't feel any joy, and still said slowly:
"It must be delicious."
Zhao Rang smiled and said nothing more.
Talking to a piece of wood is really boring.
Lao Guang is even more like a piece of wood than the second brother who was knocked unconscious by him! Even when he is awake, he still talks.
After all this fuss, it was almost evening in the blink of an eye.
Ximen Dazhuang saw that some merchants had begun to prepare lights, so he couldn't help but winked at Zhao Rang and said:
"Brother Rang, let's go?"
Zhao Rang was still thinking about what happened to Jiang Lang just now, always feeling strange.
"After you returned home, did your family tell you what happened in the city recently?"
Ximen Dazhuang shook his head and said:
"No, my grandma didn't say anything. She just asked me to stay at home, eat on time, and go to bed on time."
Zhao Rang asked:
"Your father didn't say anything either?"
Ximen Dazhuang thought for a while and replied:
"No, he didn't say anything."
Zhao Rang nodded, his doubts temporarily dispelled, and said:
"Let's go."
The tacit understanding between him and Ximen Dazhuang has reached the point where he knows where to go without even mentioning the place.
Just now, when Ximen Dazhuang saw that the lights were about to turn on on the street, he winked at him, indicating where they were going.
In addition to Luo Yue Tower in Suluo City, there is another place where the two of them often go, called Changchun Garden.
Changchun, taken from the synonym of spring-like all seasons. It also means that spring always comes.
Spring in the north is very blurry, always slipping from winter to summer. Therefore, spring is very precious to the North, and everyone is eager to appreciate the unique, elegant, vibrant and a bit smart spring in poetry, music, and poetry.
Changchun Garden makes up for people's regrets about spring in Suluo City.
No matter when you come, the garden is filled with the mild warmth of spring. A little too much makes you feel dry, a little too little makes you feel cold. This feeling is indescribable and can only be understood by those who have been there.
It's not a first-class wine, and you can't drink it in Changchun Garden. She is not a first-class girl, and she cannot be found in Changchun Garden.
Everything in Changchun Garden is first-class, and these countless first-class things, when gathered together, become first-class enjoyment.
Of course, first-class enjoyment comes with money.
Therefore, those who are not the first-class people in Suluo City cannot appreciate the beauty of Changchun Garden.
Zhao Rang and Yuan Mingkong are naturally the top few among Su Luocheng.
It is natural that top people deserve first-class enjoyment. Therefore, Changchun Garden is their second most frequent place.
"Haha, Brother Rang, do you still remember what I told you when I saw you in the Western Region?"
Zhao Rang was absent-minded and hummed casually.
"Remember, you didn't buy a gift for Qingqing? I'm crying because I miss you so much!"
Zhao Rang still said absently:
"This is not a barbecue!"
Ximen Dazhuang thought for a while and said:
"Brother Rang, you are still awesome! I admire you, otherwise you would be my brother!"
When Zhao Rang came back to his senses, he heard something powerful, but he didn't know what Ximen Dazhuang was feeling.
It’s a bit far to walk from Luoyue Tower to Changchun Garden.
Ximen Dazhuang had already consumed the duck legs he had just eaten, so he began to think about the oil paper bag in Zhao Rang's hand.
But Zhao Rang just said that this was a gift for Miss Qingqing, so he couldn't say it openly.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he had this idea, Zhao Rang opened the gift himself, took out a duck leg and ate it.
"Can you eat it?"
Of course Ximen Dazhuang would not refuse. He took it directly and ate it with big mouthfuls. His mouth was full of oil and his heart was full of roast meat. He completely forgot about the girls.
As a result, when the two of them walked to the gate of Changchun Garden, they had already eaten all the roast meat they had packed, and there was no trace left...
Ximen Dazhuang had finished digesting it before he reacted and immediately screamed, "It's over, Qingqing's gift!"
Zhao Rang asked doubtfully:
"what gift?"
Ximen Dazhuang pointed at the oil paper bag that Zhao Rang was about to throw away and said:
"Aren't you going to give Qingqing roast meat to eat?"
Zhao Rang frowned and said:
"When did I say that?"
"How did you come up with the idea of giving barbecued meat to the girl here? I think you should not call her Ximen, but Xiemen!"
Ximen Dazhuang's kind reminder hit a snag, but he couldn't figure out why.
But these are not important. What is important is that they have already reached the gate of Changchun Garden, and the steward has already trotted out from inside to greet them.
In the small shop diagonally across the street that had been calling girls since the afternoon, the girls sitting on the attic saw this scene and started to get angry.
"Okay, okay, why are you complaining! Isn't it almost time now? Cheer up!"
Knowing that he was in the wrong, the old madam of the family could only pretend to be angry. Otherwise, tonight's business may be ruined by these girls.
"Master Zhao! Master Ximen!"
Changchun Garden is indeed a great place to visit.
A great place has a great atmosphere.
The person in charge, Zhao Rang and Ximen Dazhuang, both called her Aunt Shu. She was a beautiful woman with a graceful figure and elegant temperament.
Compared with Ye Sanniang, she is less decisive and more tender, but more feminine.
Just like the pineapple cakes produced in Nannan, you will definitely get tired of it if you eat too much, but it has a unique flavor that makes people miss it for a day, as if it had been three autumns.
Zhao Rang's trip to the Western Regions lasted more than one day. If you think about it this way, he might not have seen Aunt Shu for several years.
"When I heard that you two were back, I was still thinking that it's been three days and I still haven't seen anyone. Could it be that I'm tired of it?"
A woman like Aunt Shu is irresistible as soon as she opens her mouth.
The words clearly came from her mouth, but her smart eyes, exquisite nose, and clear collarbone seemed to be speaking.
Zhao Rang and Ximen Dazhuang only have two mouths, how can they stand up to each other?
Even if you give them a few more mouths, their faces will not be clear, and they will not be able to be so free and easy.
Therefore, when it comes to speaking, men have never been able to compete with women, so they can only remain silent.
Fortunately, they were regular customers, so Aunt Shu didn't tease her too much. After exchanging a few words, she led the two of them inside.
The feel of the yard hasn't changed at all.
In the Western Region, I have seen a lot of the vastness of the desert, and then I look at the dense flowers in the garden, but it has a different feeling.
There are many new things, and you need to compare them to appreciate them.
Aunt Shu saw that Zhao Rang had stopped and was looking at the flowers, so she couldn't help but say:
"Mr. Zhao, this is the first time you have looked at this garden in such detail!"
"Really? I watch it every time I come here!"
Zhao Rang didn't even notice this himself.
"It's true every time I watch it, but it's just a quick glance! I don't want to be like this now, stop and appreciate it carefully."
Zhao Rang said with a smile:
"The main reason is that the Western Region is too desolate. I feel like I haven't seen so many colors in a long time, so I just wanted to see it for a while longer!"
Aunt Shu raised the corners of her lips and said passionately:
"The colors in the garden are rigid! Mr. Zhao wants to see the colors. Can Aunt Shu make arrangements for you when you come?"
"Haha, it seems that Aunt Shu's business is getting more and more prosperous!"
Aunt Shu said modestly:
"Hey! I'll be satisfied if I can eat half a bowl! But the colors haven't been regularized yet, Mr. Zhao, don't think it hurts your hands!"
Ximen Dazhuang rushed to say:
"Aunt Shu, just let me do the hard work. Brother Rang only likes Qingqing, so he can handle this!"
Uncharacteristically, Aunt Shu didn't answer the call. With his right hand, he invited the two of them into the building.
There was no one in the hall yet, Zhao Rang and Ximen Dazhuang came too early today. In the past, they had to wait at least two hours to get here.
However, they never play in the hall. Every time they come, they always dive into their own private room.
The elegant rooms in Changchun Garden are all the same, so as not to let regular customers compare with each other.
It's nothing for these young masters and old men to compete with each other.
In a place like this, money is everything. If no one has a deep pocket, his confidence will naturally be low.
But in the end, the most difficult thing to do was Aunt Shu.
She must come forward to pacify anyone she offends. If she favors a noble person, then the inferior ones will not come back to patronize her. If she does the opposite, she will cause trouble again.
So I simply made all the private rooms exactly the same. As for how to play behind closed doors, no one else can see it, which saves a lot of trouble.
The private room was spotlessly clean, and the shelves on the candlesticks were covered with a layer of gauze, making the light hazy and soft, and the atmosphere of revelry and wealth was immediately highlighted. 1
In this kind of atmosphere, even a decent person will be confused, because people are easily affected by the environment.
Aunt Shu poured a cup of tea for the two of them first.
The temperature of the tea is just right to drink.
In a place like this, there is no need to ask, and it will naturally be the most comfortable.
Zhao Rang drank tea and looked through the name cards brought by Aunt Shu.
Sure enough, there were many unfamiliar names on it, which must be the "new colors" she just mentioned.
These come in a variety of colors and are even divided into categories, with descriptions written on them one by one so that customers can understand them thoroughly at a glance.
Of course, these introductions cannot be too detailed. Men, what they cannot see through is what they want most. They only need to point out the things they want to see most.
Ximen Dazhuang took the pen, circled all these unfamiliar names from beginning to end, and said:
"Tell all the girls to come and have a drink, so that Brother Rang and I can be happy!"
After hearing this, Aunt Shu asked:
"Why, is there anyone else who can make you two angry?"
Zhao Rang knew that Ximen Dazhuang was talking about Jiang Lang of the Nujiang Gang. He always felt weird about this matter, so he interjected:
"Aren't you too tired after traveling around the Western Region? I didn't get up until noon today, and I slept for almost three days!"
Aunt Shu said:
"That's really a good thing! But being able to sit back and relax like Mr. Zhao is not a blessing for everyone. The girl will be here soon. I'll have a few drinks with you two first!"
Zhao Rang never dared to drink with Aunt Shu openly.
If his drinking capacity can be said to be very good, Aunt Shu's drinking capacity can only be described as bottomless.
No bottom means no bottom.
No matter how deep the ravine is, as long as you persevere, it can be filled one day, but Aunt Shu's drinking capacity is not good enough.
Zhao Rang saw with his own eyes that she drank from the thirty-six private rooms in Changchun Garden one night. All the people inside were carried out horizontally, but she walked out vertically.
From that moment on, Zhao Rang and Ximen Dazhuang set a rule. You can come to Changchun Garden to play in any way you want, but you can't have a drinking contest with Aunt Shu!
Because neither of them wanted to be carried out.
Especially Ximen Dazhuang.
His figure carried the door that made it impossible to get out of the private room.
"You just came back from the Western Regions, why don't you drink the Spring of the Western Regions?"
This is one of the few places in Suluo City that has the spring of the Western Regions.
Aunt Shu is also one of the few people who knows that Zhao Rang likes to drink Xiyu Chun.
Normally, you don't need to ask, just go straight up.
But today is different from the past. For those who have just returned from the Western Regions, the attraction of Spring in the Western Regions is definitely not as strong as before.
But Zhao Ran still said:
"It's still Spring in the Western Region!"
Drinking a kind of wine in different places will have different moods.
Zhao Rang wanted to see what it would be like to drink Western Spring after he went to the Western Regions and came back.
"By the way, Aunt Shu, I just said Qingqing, why didn't you answer?"
Ximen Dazhuang's brain will become particularly useful in this place and at this time!
"Haha, aren't the new colors enough for you two?"
This is the second time Aunt Shu has avoided this issue.
Zhao Rang didn't have to ask Qing Qing to come, but he was most familiar with Qing Qing here.
On the contrary, Aunt Shu's two avoidances made him feel very strange.
Somehow, Zhao Rang connected two unrelated things in his mind, Aunt Shu's abnormality and Jiang Lang's abnormality.
