There are thirteen main streets in Yongchuan City, divided into two halves. Seven of them are owned by Tang Yan, the sword master of Bai Lang's sword shop. The other half is guarded by Lin Yue, who is also a swordsman.
Therefore, there are two sword shops in Yongchuan City. But at the same time, they are all under the control of the city lord's government office. The two sides had many bumps and bruises, but they did not dare to disobey the Yamen and fight.
The boundary that separates the spheres of influence of the two sword houses is this Yuhua Street.
Yuhua Street is close to the city center and slightly to the west gate. Both sides are full of gorgeously decorated three- to five-story buildings, and there are even two six-story cloud buildings.
These high-rise buildings are naturally not ordinary inns or restaurants, but gold-selling caves where skin and flesh are traded.
It is recorded in the Yamen's records that there are a total of 19 flower houses registered in the City Lord's Mansion. Such a large volume benefits from the special geographical location of Yongchuan City. Although it is not a major city, it is stuck on the main land and water route. Many merchants building warehouses here serve as land and water transit.
With more wealthy people, there will naturally be more demand for nightlife. Those obscene activities on the street naturally do not show one's identity and are not clean. The flower house is where the men go to spend time.
So even if the local girls in Yongchuan City cannot support such a large flower house community, but there is money to be made, who cares if it was moved from other places?
The City Lord's Mansion even regards the flower house business as a "dessert" for its own enjoyment and firmly controls it in its own hands. Neither Tang Zuo Dao nor Lin Zuo Dao is qualified to get involved.
Without a knife shop, there will naturally be more flies and mosquitoes to fill the dark corners under the yamen's influence. That's why gangsters like Ma Liu appeared in groups. Only in areas like Yuhua Street where the two sword shops don't care can there be room for gangsters to survive.
Yuhua Street is controlled by the Yamen, but that does not mean that the Yamen will take care of everything that happens here. There are many things that I can't take care of, and I don't want to take care of them.
For example, in addition to the flower buildings, those scattered outside, in small broken buildings or those that can be opened in the darkness on the street corners for business, are not things that the Yamen wants to take care of.
Firstly, there is trouble, and secondly, the yamen relies on gangsters like Ma Liu as a support, and he hides in secret and reaps the benefits. This is disgraceful and unfair to the flower houses that normally pay high taxes. If he starts to take care of it, won't the interests involved involve him and make him unable to get up or down? So turning a blind eye and closing one eye became the best option.
But turning a blind eye doesn't prevent all trouble. Especially when the gangsters can't be solved, relying on behind-the-scenes connections isn't enough, and the yamen can't come forward, who should handle the trouble?
Naturally, it had to be thrown on the heads of the knife shops on both sides. Either Lin Zuodao will deal with it, or Tang Zuodao will send someone there. The two sides formed a tacit understanding, one side took turns once, and the two sides never saw each other.
Naturally, the knife shop is reluctant to do this. So I have always been perfunctory. Only when we really can't push it away will we send someone to take a look. If we can, we'll push it away. Most of the troubles end up being resolved.
When Bailang followed Zhou Dong to Yuhua Street, the street was closed for rest. There won't be anyone hanging around here before noon. So it seemed particularly deserted.
Two oily-faced gangsters at the street corner saw Zhou Dong and Bai Lang approaching and hurriedly greeted them. They nodded and bowed and led them to Ma Liu's house behind the street.
"Brother Dong! You have to help me this time! I can't live this life!"
The gangsters are all self-aware. I know that my reputation in my own circle is limited to this circle. When I go out, especially in front of people in the knife studio, no matter if I am a street wanderer or a swordsman, don't make any noise, let alone show off, otherwise I will only suffer the loss. . Not to mention that at this time, he was asking for help from others, and his attitude was as low as possible. Anyway, the gangster didn't have the face to say it.
Zhou Dong smiled and said: "Ma Liu, you can cover such a big scene and still suffer? Don't be miserable, just say it, I've been here, naturally I won't play tricks on you when it comes to what needs to be done. But Chou Dong Let’s talk about it first, I, a street wanderer, can’t decide how the situation will be dealt with in the end. You have to figure this out first.”
"Hey, hello, Brother Dong, if you send a few more words to me, it would be of great help to me. Brother, I will never forget Brother Dong's kindness!" As he said this, a letter of money was about to be sent to Zhou Dong. Stuffed in hands. Looking at the portion, I'm afraid it costs three taels!
That's quite generous! Bai Lang, who was watching from the side, thought to himself. At the same time, I also gained a new understanding of the groveling "Ma Liu" in front of me. It seems that this maniac is no ordinary gangster.
But what surprised Bailang was that Zhou Dong didn't accept the money Ma Liu handed over at all. After pushing away, he said: "No, don't do this first, I'm scared. Let's do things first. How can you thank me afterwards? You Ma Liu is a better person than me."
After saying that, Zhou Dong led Bailang into the house. Ma Liu didn't feel dissatisfied and continued to greet Zhou Dong with a smile all the way into the house and started to introduce the trouble to Zhou Dong.
"Brother Dong, this time the trouble is not small..."
Zhou Dong interrupted: "How many died?"
"Including those who died last night, there are five dead in total."
"Huh? Someone died yesterday? Don't you guys care?" Zhou Dong frowned.
"There's nothing we can do. We can't stop all business, right? I wanted to, but it doesn't count even if I say it. So if you don't pay attention, the person will disappear. I searched all night, and just before dawn, I found myself at the North Alley. Found in an abandoned house. Very miserable."
"Where are you now?"
"They are all laid out in the woodshed in the backyard. Brother Dong wants to go and see them?"
"Well, let's go and have a look." After Zhou Dong finished speaking, he turned to Bai Lang and said: "Xiao Bai, the scene this time is not good-looking. People are all broken, and some even stink. Do you want to follow or stay here?" Are you waiting for me to come back?"
Bailang felt nervous, but still said he wanted to follow him to gain more knowledge. As a person in a mixed knife studio, he couldn't avoid bloody scenes. Instead of making a fool of yourself later, it's better to practice your courage now.
Zhou Dong smiled, didn't say much, turned around and followed Ma Liu to the backyard of the house.
After passing through the corridor, Bailang actually smelled the odor that he tried his best to cover up and overflowed.
Corpse stench!
Finally, I saw five thin wooden coffins placed in a row off the ground on a bench. There were some cracks in the coffin boards, and the corpse odor came out from inside.
He took the scallion and ginger bun from a few gangsters nearby and covered his mouth and nose. Taking a closer look, Bai Lang almost spit it out. He originally thought that the "broken corpses" were piece by piece, but in fact they looked like "leftovers", which were obviously leftovers after violent bites and devouring...
"Are these the sisters you found?"
"right."
"Where did it come from?"
"This...Brother Dong, to be honest, these ladies are all new arrivals. From out of town. You also know that I don't do Yakou business. I only pick up people and do business. As for these people, they are Yakou business." I didn’t ask anything about it.”
