There was something heavy in Zhao Rang's baggage.
He put it in seriously after returning from Mrs. Liu's cloth shop.
He was filled with doubts and shock.
This thing actually appeared in his hand.
The size and shape of the token were almost the same as the one from the Investigation Department in his bag.
However, there are significant differences between the two.
The token of the Cha Ji Department is engraved with a mighty tiger head on the front, and the word "Cha Ji" in regular script below it represents its authority and identity.
But this token has the three characters "City Lord's Mansion" written neatly on the front. The font is powerful and powerful, conveying an undeniable feeling.
Zhao Rang looked at the token repeatedly, feeling overwhelmed with emotion.
He clearly remembered that in the cloth village, Mrs. Liu secretly stuffed the token into his pocket while he was whispering.
At that time, her eyes were firm and mysterious, as if she had some important entrustment. Coupled with what she said before... Zhao Rang felt that his head was about to explode.
He couldn't describe his mood at this time, whether he was surprised or frightened, excited or uneasy.
This shock of transcending cognition caused him to fall into an indescribable state of numbness.
But with the appearance of this token, it means that Zhenhai City will undergo earth-shaking changes again.
After Zhao Rang lingered in the room for a while, he hurried out the door.
Unconsciously, he actually walked to Hanshi's territory.
As dusk approaches, the evening breeze begins to rise.
Vendors in the street market are busy preparing for the excitement of the evening.
Zhao Rang seemed to be in another world, turning a blind eye and hearing everything around him.
Just then, he saw a familiar figure.
The man, like him, was walking quietly, as if looking for something.
Although he was far away and could not see his face clearly, Zhao Rang had already recognized the figure and posture of this man.
That was Lan Shizi, a Taoist priest from Baihe Mountain, and his only friend in Zhenhai City.
"Taoist Master Lan!"
Zhao Rang shouted loudly.
His voice seemed a bit abrupt in the noisy street market, but it was full of joy and kindness.
Lan Shizi had very good ears. When he heard Zhao Rang's voice, he turned his head and nodded to him. Then he quickened his pace and walked this way.
"Are you feeling better? Lan Shizi walked up to Zhao Rang and asked with a smile.
"It's completely healed, thanks to the elixir from Baihe Mountain."
Zhao Rang said gratefully.
Lan Shizi smiled and waved his hand, saying there was no need to be so polite. He looked Zhao Rang up and down and praised:
"Yes, you look much better than last time. It seems that you have fully recovered."
Zhao Rang also noticed that Lan Shizi was a little different today. Although he was still as tall as a pine tree and his eyes were bright, he gave people a feeling of indifference.
This indifference is not directed at him personally, but is a kind of detachment and freedom from worldly affairs.
Zhao Rang didn't know what Lan Shizi had gone through, but he could feel that some kind of change had occurred in Lan Shizi.
The two walked side by side and continued to walk forward.
None of them spoke, they were all enjoying this rare peace and tranquility.
The hustle and bustle of the street gradually faded away, leaving only the sound of their footsteps and breathing echoing in the air.
This silence did not make Zhao Rang feel embarrassed or uneasy, but made him feel more at ease and comfortable.
Sometimes, silence can express inner emotions better than words.
After walking for a while, Zhao Rang suddenly sighed and broke the silence. He said:
"I don't know where the land deed my uncle gave me is."
There was a hint of helplessness and confusion in his tone.
Lan Shizi smiled when he heard this and asked:
"Why, do you want to take a look now?"
Zhao Rang neither confirmed nor denied.
He was indeed full of curiosity and expectation about the land deed, but at the same time he also felt a little confused and uneasy.
Seeing that Zhao Rang didn't answer, Lan Shizi continued:
"I was originally a blacksmith in the city. I had my own shop and my business was pretty good. It was a coincidence that I came to Baihe Mountain. The land deed that my uncle gave you is actually where my shop and ancestral home are located."
The tone was calm and natural, as if he was talking about something that had nothing to do with him.
Zhao Rang was shocked when he heard this.
He always thought that Lan Shizi was a Taoist priest sent to Zhenhai City from Baihe Mountain, but he did not expect that he was actually a native of the local area.
What surprised him even more was that the land deed had such a deep connection with Lan Shizi.
"Why is the title deed of your ancestral home in the hands of your great uncle?"
Zhao Rang couldn't help but ask.
Lan Shizi suddenly stopped and looked directly into Zhao Rang's eyes.
He said: "When we first met, you told me that monks should be polite. I did not do enough in this regard. But for many hypocritical monks, I think I did it more thoroughly. Since I have chosen to become a monk, then What’s the point of keeping the ancestral home? So from the day I went up the mountain, I distributed all my money to the poor people nearby, and donated the title deed of the ancestral home to the mountain gate.”
Zhao Rang was shocked when he heard this. He did not expect that Lan Shizi would be so free and open-minded that he donated his ancestral home and money.
"I was the one who made a mistake."
Zhao Rang said sincerely.
My previous evaluation of Lan Shizi was a bit one-sided and extreme, but now that I think about it, I really shouldn't have.
Lan Shizi waved his hand, saying not to worry.
"Everyone has their own opinions and ideas, as long as they don't violate morality and conscience."
The two continued to walk forward, but the atmosphere was much more relaxed than before. Zhao Rang felt lucky that he could make such friends.
The next fork in the road was not far away, and Zhao Rang could feel Lan Shizi slowing down.
"Taoist Master Lan, I still have something to do, so I'll just say goodbye today!"
Zhao Rang said with cupped fists.
Lan Shizi bowed his hands politely, said "good" and turned to leave.
After Zhao Rang turned around, he looked back and saw Lan Shizi still walking forward with his hands behind his back and his head held high. he
His figure appeared taller and taller in the afterglow of the setting sun, like a mountain that would never fall.
The scene in the dry market is always more lively than outside.
Zhao Rang looked up and saw that there were lights on Mrs. Liu's small building.
She had clearly said before that she would be at the Cloth Village these two days, so who was in the small building?
Zhao Rang thought about it, and when he came back to his senses, he found that he had stepped into the small courtyard downstairs.
I have no choice but to go in and have a look.
The door was ajar, and through the crack, you could see the light outside gradually dimming.
Zhao Rang gently opened the door, and a breeze blew into the room, bringing a little coolness.
He walked into the house and saw Mrs. Liu sitting quietly at the table, looking motionlessly at the street market below.
"I've given you the token. If you don't go to the City Lord's Mansion, what are you doing here?"
Mrs. Liu did not look back, but asked lightly.
Zhao Rang did not answer, but pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down.
He looked at Mrs. Liu's profile and found a hint of exhaustion and helplessness in her eyes.
"Is what you said earlier related to the letter you sent to Boss Hu that day?"
Zhao Rang asked.
When Mrs. Liu heard this, her body trembled slightly.
After a moment of silence, he said sadly:
"In the beginning, I only had enough money to buy this small building. At that time, the dry market was far less prosperous than it is now. It was a mess and was occupied by rogues."
Her voice was trembling a little, and Zhao Rang listened quietly without interrupting her words.
"Later, one by one, I bought all the shops here and set rules for them. That's how we got what you see now."
Mrs. Liu continued, with a deep emotion in her tone.
Mrs. Liu is a person with firm will and strong beliefs, but at this moment, her heart is full of powerlessness and pain...
"What does this have to do with that letter?"
Zhao Rang couldn't help but ask.
At this point, he already knew that Mrs. Liu's change must be absolutely related to that letter, but he really didn't have the patience to listen to her talk from the past to the present, he just wanted her to tell him the answer straightforwardly.
Mrs. Liu took a deep breath, as if to suppress all the emotions in her heart.
She turned her head, looked into Zhao Rang's eyes, and said slowly:
"That letter is actually not a letter, but a business contract."
"Business contract?" he asked doubtfully.
He didn't understand why Mrs. Liu asked him to send this thing to Boss Hu.
I don't even understand what this matter has to do with her current state.
"Why did you give the business contract to Boss Hu?"
He couldn't help but ask.
Mrs. Liu took a deep breath again and closed her mouth in time to prevent her emotions from getting out of control.
"Three hours later, it won't be me sitting here. As for whether he will see it like me..."
Mrs. Liu suddenly choked up as she spoke.
Zhao Rang looked at her trembling shoulders and crystal eyes, and his heart palpitated.
"Who will be sitting here in three hours?"
Mrs. Liu tugged at the corners of her mouth, trying to smile easily.
"What do you think?"
she asked rhetorically.
Zhao Rang's heart moved and he asked tentatively:
"Boss Hu?"
Mrs. Liu nodded and said nothing.
"Why are you doing this?"
He couldn't help but ask.
Mrs. Liu smiled bitterly and said:
"Because I had no choice. He took a fancy to Hanshi and told me to either sell Hanshi to him or watch him destroy everything I care about little by little."
"According to the agreement, I will transfer the ownership of Hanshi to Boss Hu, and Boss Hu will need to pay me a huge sum of money."
Mrs. Liu continued.
"Why don't you choose to fight him to the end?"
"You are not a person who gives in so easily. You established Hanshi by yourself, why don't you choose to fight him to the end?"
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Liu changed her tone and said:
"Fight? Why fight? All my trump cards have been revealed, but Boss Hu has more back-ups. I can't fight him, so I can only choose to compromise."
For those who have no backup plan or retreat, the world is always extremely cruel.
"You don't have a family, do you?"
Mrs. Liu suddenly asked.
Zhao Rang was stunned when asked. Then he nodded and said:
"of course not!"
Mrs. Liu already knew this was the case, so she said calmly:
"Of course you don't understand why I can't fight to the end if you don't have a family."
When Zhao Rang heard this, his heart moved and he asked:
"Did you get married?"
In his opinion, there is no man in the world who can control women like Madam Liu and Ye Sanniang.
Mrs. Liu looked at Zhao Rang's young face and said:
"You are very smart, but you are still too young."
"I have a son who just turned ten this year."
"If I didn't have children, I might fight to the end with Boss Hu, even if the fight is to the death. But after having children, I become more fragile and stronger. I will give up a lot of things for him, and I will also give up a lot of things for him. To do a lot of things I never thought about.”
"Boss Hu took a fancy to Hanshi and my weakness. He knew I couldn't give up my children, so he threatened me with them. What other choice do I have?"
"So you chose to compromise for the sake of your children."
Zhao Rang said.
Mrs. Liu nodded and said nothing.
She had buried all her hopes and dreams deep inside.
"I have already thought about it. After the transaction is completed, I will take the money and take my son to a safe place and never come back."
"I created this place with my own hands, and it is one of the most important things in my heart. But now I want to destroy it with my own hands..."
"Do you need my help?"
Zhao Rang asked suddenly.
"There is one thing I really hope you can help me with." Mrs. Liu said in a sincere tone.
Zhao Rang nodded and said:
"you say."
"I hope you'll be there when they come to trade in three hours."
Mrs. Liu said slowly.
"I don't know what tricks Boss Hu will play, but your presence can at least ensure that the transaction is fair and safe."
Zhao Rang was moved when he heard this. He knew that this matter also had certain risks for himself, but he agreed without hesitation.
Mrs. Liu's eyes flashed with gratitude when she heard this, but she didn't say any more words of thanks.
She knew that Zhao Rang was a person who did not need to thank him. He would only do what he should do silently.
The next time seemed to pass very slowly.
Zhao Rang and Mrs. Liu sat quietly waiting for the transaction to arrive.
Finally three hours have arrived.
Boss Hu swaggered into the dry market with a group of his men, with a proud and arrogant smile on his face, as if he had already secured victory.
But when he saw Zhao Rang also present, the smile on his face froze.
"How will you be here?"
Boss Hu asked coldly.
Zhao Rang did not answer his question, but just glanced at him lightly.
"Boss Hu, you're here, let's get started."
Boss Hu nodded when he heard this, took a suitcase from his subordinate and placed it on the table.
"This is the money you want, count it."
Mrs. Liu didn't move and just glanced at the box lightly.
"No need to count, I believe you."
When Boss Hu heard this, a trace of surprise and confusion flashed in his eyes. , he didn’t expect Mrs. Liu to trust him so much.
But he quickly reacted and said with a proud smile:
"Okay, since you trust me so much, I can't live up to this trust. I'll count it in front of you and show it to you!"
After saying that, he opened the box and began to count the money. Mrs. Liu stood aside quietly, watching Boss Hu count the money.
Even if my heart is full of helplessness and bitterness, I must hold it back at this moment and never show it.
After Boss Hu counted the money, he nodded with satisfaction:
"Yes, every penny counts."
Then, he took out the business contract that Zhao Rang gave him in the envelope that day:
"Mrs. Liu, it's your turn to sign."
Mrs. Liu took the business contract and signed her name without hesitation.
Boss Hu glanced at the signature above, and the smile on his face became more and more generous:
"Okay, from now on, Hanshi is mine."
After saying that, he began to look around the small building, his eyes roaming around Mrs. Liu's figure unabashedly.
The look in Boss Hu's eyes made Mrs. Liu feel sick and disgusted, but she suppressed the attack.
She knew that now was not the time to fall out with Boss Hu.
"Boss Hu, according to the agreement, I should be able to leave now, right?"
Mrs. Liu said coldly.
When Boss Hu heard this, he turned around and looked at Mrs. Liu with a half-smile:
"Of course, Mrs. Liu, please do."
Mrs. Liu didn't say anything more, turned around and walked out the door.
Zhao Rang saw this and was ready to follow.
"stop!"
Boss Hu suddenly shouted.
Zhao Rang stopped and looked at Boss Hu coldly:
"What else do you want?"
Boss Hu did not answer Zhao Rang's question, but said to Mrs. Liu:
"Mrs. Liu, you can leave, but he has to stay for a while."
"Boss Hu, what do you mean?"
Mrs. Liu asked coldly.
"It's not interesting, I just want to chat with him."
Boss Hu said with a smile.
"What if I don't agree?"
Zhao Rang suddenly spoke.
"Do you remember what I told you when you sent the letter?"
At that time, Boss Hu told Zhao Rang that if this huge fortune really came true, he would be indispensable.
Zhao Rang just listened politely and said a few words casually.
Now it seems that the business contract that Po Tianfugui is talking about is this.
However, Zhao Rang did not believe that Boss Hu would be willing to give up the benefits he had obtained.
Until now, he has not figured out what role this person played.
"Sir, let's go!"
Mrs. Liu spoke at the right time, which prevented Zhao Rang from entangled with Boss Hu too much.
As soon as the two of them walked downstairs, they heard a burst of hearty laughter from upstairs.
After leaving the small courtyard, Mrs. Liu didn't say hello to Zhao Rang, and walked straight towards the deeper part of Hanshi.
The night was falling, and the cold wind was raging on the streets, bringing with it a biting chill.
She walked to the end of the dry market, and then stood alone under a lantern in front of a store, her figure stretched very long.
The long black dress on her body fluttered gently in the wind, like a silent sigh.
None of the hurried passers-by stopped, and no one cast even a glance.
The cold wind kept blowing, blowing away the hair on her head and blowing away the last hope in her heart.
Mrs. Liu closed her eyes and allowed the cold wind to rage, taking away her remaining warmth.
At this moment, she seemed to be isolated from the whole world, leaving only endless sadness and loneliness to accompany him
But not long after, looking at the suitcase in her hand, Mrs. Liu's heart gradually became warm again.
