Outer city, Bianhe Street.
There are many shops here, covering various industries.
Although most of the people in the outer city are poor, their number is so large that in terms of prosperity, they are even much better than the inner city.
Cao An walked in front, looking left and right at these unique features of the Song Dynasty.
Arhat, on the other hand, followed behind him in a bunt and acted as a follower dutifully.
"That's it?"
Cao An pointed to the shop selling pork.
Arhat nodded: "Pork Rong is from out of town. He is often bullied by idle men on the street. I helped him out last time and earned two hundred coins."
Two hundred coins is not much, and for an idle rogue like Arhat, all he needs is a drink.
Cao An nodded and went in with his hands behind his back.
He was wearing a plain-colored gown today, and coupled with his thin, elegant face, he didn't look like a gangster.
Arhat was worried that something was wrong with him, so he followed him closely.
"Hey, isn't this Brother Arhat? What kind of wind has brought you here?"
People who do small business are afraid of people like this, so Zhu Rong put on a smile as soon as he saw Arhat.
"Five hundred coins a month, I will ensure your business is safe."
Cao An stood in front of the murder case and said these words calmly.
"……Who is this?"
Zhu Zhurong frowned at first, then looked at Luo Han with a smile.
Arhat replied more simply: "The eldest brother of a certain family, so-and-so is working under him now."
"..."
Zhu Zhurong was stunned for a moment, and looked at Cao An again in disbelief, with a trace of contempt flashing in his eyes.
thin!
It only weighs about a hundred pounds, right?
Are you trying to imitate others and become the boss?
Is the threshold for gangsters so low nowadays?
Arhat took a step forward, his eyes widened with anger, and he said in a cold voice: "Put away those eyes of yours, otherwise don't blame me for being rude!"
Zhu Zhurong was not afraid of Cao An, but he had to be afraid of Arhat. He quickly put a smile on his face and took out a handful of money from the frame at the back.
About half a dozen more.
"Brother Arhat, don't be ridiculous. If you are short of wine money, you can take these. The lunch box is a small courtesy to you."
Zhu Zhurong gave the money, but never mentioned the protection fee.
It was obvious that he was not interested in what Cao An said.
This little money can be regarded as saving money and avoiding disaster...
Cao An looked at the money on the case and said calmly: "You have been making a living here for two years, right? You were robbed by this person today, and you were robbed by that person tomorrow. How much money can you save in a year?"
"hehe."
Zhu Zhurong didn't say anything, and just let out a polite 'hehe'.
Cao An was not angry and continued: "With five hundred coins per month, I can guarantee that you will never be bullied by anyone again! You can go about your business in peace and quiet, and you don't have to worry about these things anymore."
Seeing that Zhu Zhurong was still unmoved, Arhat immediately said angrily: "Damn it, I gave you face, didn't I?"
This is the most direct and effective way for gangsters to intimidate honest people.
However, this approach treats the symptoms rather than the root cause and cannot completely convince people.
"Be quiet."
Cao An frowned slightly, without any fluctuation in his eyes.
But just at this glance, Arhat subconsciously silenced himself and stood behind Cao An with his head lowered, not daring to say more.
Zhu Zhurong was also shocked, and then he looked at Cao An again.
"You must be aware of how much you have been blackmailed in the past two years."
Cao An ignored his look and continued: "Five hundred cash per month may seem like a lot, but it's only six or seven cash per year."
"I've learned about your shop. The annual net income is at least forty or fifty guan. Six or seven guan is nothing to you. It's not as much as what people like Arhat usually extort."
Zhu Zhurong looked at Cao An with a shiny face, and said hesitantly: "But how can you guarantee... There are more than just Arhats on this street..."
"My name is Cao An."
Zhu Zhurong was confused by these meaningless words. It took him a long time to realize, and he asked tentatively: "Cao Jiazi? The young man of Mr. Cao's family?"
"Five hundred coins a month, I'll keep you safe."
Cao An did not deny it and continued: "If you are bullied, I can help you deal with it!"
"If it's the Cao family..."
Zhu Rong subconsciously showed a flattering smile.
He picked up the money on the case and stuffed it into Arhat's hand: "Although I don't know what difficulties the young man has encountered, the Cao family is still trustworthy."
The down-and-out powerful are also powerful.
Even though the tiger dies, its power still remains!
It’s only five hundred coins inside and out, but the Cao family’s name is worth that price no matter what!
After leaving the butcher shop, Cao An ran to the next house.
Arhat followed behind, looking hesitant.
Cao An turned around and said with a slight smile: "You want to ask me why I want to move out of the Cao family's name?"
"yes."
"I have my plan. You don't need to know too much. This is for your own good."
Arhat suddenly understood.
Yesterday's Cao An got in through a dog hole!
What kind of experience could make a once powerful man debase himself so much?
He didn't want to know this, let alone know it.
…
Walking down Bianhe Street, the copper coins in Luo Han's arms piled up into a hill.
But Cao An didn't let him put it into the bag, and instead exposed it in front of passers-by.
It was evening now, and there were many people walking on the street.
Especially further ahead is Zhouqiao, which is a famous night market in Bianliang. Soon, Cao An and his wife were surrounded.
"Ah, isn't this Arhat?"
At this time, several gangster-looking men came over and stared at the pile of copper coins in Arhat's arms with a smile on his face.
"There must be dozens of strings, right?"
"Haha, it's just a few small coins."
Luo Han obviously knew these people and replied with a slight smile.
"Is this still small money? It seems like you, Arhat, are really shaking!"
In one day, Cao An swept nearly a hundred shops on Bianhe Street, and the reputation of the Cao family spread.
Firstly, these scoundrels were jealous of the protection money, and secondly, they must have been instructed by others, otherwise they would not have blocked the road so blatantly.
"Cao Jiazi?"
Sure enough, the leader stared at Cao An unkindly.
"how?"
When the rogue was asked this question, he immediately sneered and said: "Haha, the momentum is quite strong. Don't you think that the Cao family today is still the Cao family before?"
"Can an ant shake an elephant?"
Cao An met his gaze without fear and said coldly: "Even if Cao is down and out, you can't make fun of him."
"Haha, okay!"
The rogue was yelled at, and his face suddenly felt dull.
Bang!
Without any warning, the big man raised his hand and punched him.
"Li San'er, what do you want to do!"
Arhat quickly withstood the punch with quick eyes and hands, and the coins in his arms were scattered on the floor.
The crowd of onlookers suddenly became commotion, with many brave people bending down to pick up the money, and the scene became a bit chaotic.
This punch, at least, cost Cao An two pieces of money!
Cao An, who had always been calm as water, finally became angry.
He took a step back and said coldly: "You'd better pick it up for me, otherwise..."
"Damn it, you're so pretentious!"
Li San'er suddenly became angry and punched Cao An again.
"Everyone stop it!"
