five years ago.
Bai Shuyu, who still has a childish look on his face, looks more mature than a man of his age. He is in a good mood at the moment. He has been holding it in at home for a long time and can finally take a breath. Although Mr. Qin kept talking about "how to establish an intelligence network" and "how to place hidden stakes" around him, Bai Shuyu didn't pay attention at all. He had heard these words so many times that his ears were calloused.
"Third Young Master, Third Young Master!" He called Bai Shuyu twice, but Bai Shuyu didn't respond. Knowing that he was deserting, Mr. Qin directly used his loud voice.
Bai Shuyu trembled in fright and said helplessly: "Mr. Qin, you're almost done. You don't have to keep repeating it in my ears every day. I remember all this."
"I'm afraid you've forgotten," Mr. Qin said with a serious face, "Isn't it for your Bai family that I'm telling you this?"
"I understand everything you said."
"Then what are your plans? You are already fourteen this year."
"Only fourteen, I'm still a child."
"You are not an ordinary child!"
Mr. Qin looked angry again, so Bai Shuyu hurriedly said: "I know, I have already started to arrange it."
Mr. Qin was a little confused: "Arrangement? I didn't see any action from you?"
"Didn't I get beaten by my sister the day before yesterday?"
"Because you visited a brothel?"
"Yes, but I'm not looking for a girl."
Mr. Qin lowered his voice: "Do you want to take over this Baihua Building?"
"It's been done."
The expression on Mr. Qin's face became happy: "So fast?"
"Of course...a blacksmith in the north of the city died a few days ago. His son wanted to go back to his hometown after sending him away, but he had no money. I asked him to do something for me and asked him to help me buy the Baihua Building. I used someone else’s name, but the land deed and house deed are with me. The madam didn’t even know I was the boss behind the scenes.”
"Aren't you afraid that he will leak the secret?"
"Don't be afraid. I know his name and where he lives. Besides, I gave him a lot of money. He also knows that our family is very powerful and he doesn't dare to make any mistakes."
"Where did you get the money?"
"Lending."
"That costs money, not to mention you don't even have anyone."
"I have a few dogs and collect money for me secretly. The capital is all pocket money given by my sister. Boss Qi from Chengnan, do you know? His son doesn't learn well and loves to gamble. He borrowed money from me and entrusted him with it. Thanks to my blessing, I can take back more than a thousand taels in half a year."
"Third Young Master, this life won't last long."
"It has stopped. Now Guangbaihualou can make a lot of money every month."
Mr. Qin pondered for a while and said, "Do you want to build a secret stronghold in Baihua Tower?"
"Yes... I know my sister's plan. In the past few years, I have secretly spent money to support many dead soldiers, but they are not enough. The Bai family relies on intelligence and will continue to eat in the future. The people in the brothel are mixed. There are people from the world of martial arts and business, just in time to get some information."
"If that's the case, you'll have to stay in there for a long time."
"Just wait. Anyway, the fact that the third son of the Bai family went to a brothel at the age of fourteen has been widely spread, so it doesn't matter."
"It seems that I have to teach you some tips on visiting brothels."
"Don't teach me this, I'm not interested in those vulgar fans."
"You have to pretend to be a playboy. It's best to find a lover in a brothel."
The two of them were talking when they heard rustling in the grass on the river bank next to them. Mr. Qin asked Bai Shuyu to be silent and walked over quietly. When he saw the person behind the grass clearly, Mr. Qin was shocked.
Bai Shuyu hurriedly ran over and saw a woman lying in the grass. Judging from her age, she must be seventeen or eighteen years old. She was not in good condition. She had several stab wounds on her body and her face was covered with blood. The most terrible thing was that her left leg was severed from the knee down, and the incision was very neat. Looking at the stream of blood on the ground, Bai Shuyu speculated that the girl might have crawled so far with injuries.
Mr. Qin turned around and said to Bai Shuyu: "Third Young Master, let's go."
"Leave her alone and she'll die."
"Just die, it has nothing to do with us."
After all, Bai Shuyu is a child with a soft heart. Just as he was about to persuade Mr. Qin to save the girl, he suddenly heard the sound of horse hooves in the distance. He looked up and saw a group of men in black riding horses heading in this direction. It seemed that he was here for this woman.
Bai Shuyu didn't have time to think too much, he took out a white handkerchief from his arms, dipped it in the woman's blood, threw the handkerchief to the river, then picked up a big stone and threw it into the water. The river flows rapidly, and further down is a waterfall more than six meters high.
After throwing the stone in, Bai Shuyu shouted: "Hey! Girl! Don't do anything stupid!"
The group of men in black on horseback heard the words and rushed to the river. They saw the bloody handkerchief on the ground, and the anxious-looking young man and old man standing on the bank. One of the men in black clasped his fists and asked: "This Sir, have you seen a girl passing by here?"
Bai Shuyu pointed at the river and said loudly: "See you! He jumped into the river! He has been washed under the waterfall!"
The people in black looked at each other, and the leader said to Bai Shuyu: "Thank you, sir... let's chase him!"
Seeing the man in black walking away along the river, Bai Shuyu breathed a sigh of relief.
Mr. Qin angrily lectured: "Third Young Master! How can you be so reckless?!"
"Why are you so reckless?"
"Can't you understand? This is obviously a vendetta! The current Bai family cannot afford such a cause and effect!"
"Everyone has been rescued. It's useless to say this...Mr. Qin, go back and find a carriage. Let's rescue this girl."
Qin Lao couldn't defeat Bai Shuyu, so he had to go back to Luoyang to find a carriage. When he drove the carriage back, Bai Shuyu had already bandaged the girl's wound. Mr. Qin was a little shocked. He had watched Bai Shuyu grow up and basically taught him everything he knew. Mr. Qin didn't remember telling him how to bandage wounds.
The Bai family owns several properties in Luoyang. This small house located in the northeast corner of the city is the most secluded, with very few people passing by.
Putting the woman here, Mr. Qin is proficient in medical skills and is good at treating bruises and injuries.
It's just that this woman lost too much blood. According to Mr. Qin's words, whether she can survive or not depends entirely on her luck.
The girl was lucky enough to open her eyes after being comatose in bed for two days. What was unusual was that the woman had no doubts about the situation she was in. She just kept her mouth tightly closed and did not speak once except to eat. For ten days in a row, Bai Shuyu personally brought food here, and the woman accepted this kindness without any gratitude or guilt.
Finally, a month later, the woman spoke.
"Who are you?" This was her first sentence.
Bai Shuyu replied: "The third son of the Bai family in Luoyang, Bai Shuyu."
"I know you."
"Our Bai family is quite famous in the world. Sister, who are you? And why are you being hunted down?"
The woman kept silent.
Bai Shuyu asked again: "Can you at least tell me what your name is?"
"Chen Ling'er."
"I've never heard of it... Don't think too much about it. I saved you just out of good intentions. Girl, after you recover from your injuries, if you can move easily, you can leave on your own. But, I still want to ask you one thing. Our Bai family has been with Jianghu over the years. The dispute is very small. No matter who you offend, please don't tell anyone that I saved you."
"I know."
"Then I won't bother you."
Chen Ling'er looked at the leaving figure of this child with a somewhat precocious behavior, her eyes full of doubts and wariness. She really couldn't figure out why anyone dared to save her?
After the wound on her leg healed, Chen Ling'er already wanted to leave Luoyang and continue her life on the run. Unfortunately, she only had one leg now, and daily life was a problem. Bai Shuyu has been coming to this yard frequently since she started talking. He was very interested in Chen Ling'er. This girl had a story and was very mysterious, which aroused the boy's desire to explore.
After more than two months of contact, Chen Linger had a certain understanding of Bai Shuyu. Although the third son of the Bai family looks carefree, he doesn't have any evil intentions, and he is very smart. You can tell him everything in detail. Gradually, Chen Linger began to like chatting with Bai Shuyu, and a smile appeared on her face.
"I really can't figure out what's so good about visiting a brothel. Why do those people like to go to such a place? They can't make much money a year, but they have to spend a lot of money on those women."
Chen Linger was sitting in the patio, with the warm sunshine shining on her body. She had not had such a comfortable life for a long time. The young man beside him was sitting on the steps, chattering incessantly.
Chen Ling'er looked at Bai Shuyu and said with a smile: "Third Young Master, everyone has their own preferences. Some people love money, some love women. It makes sense that they like visiting brothels."
Bai Shuyu said: "When you go to a brothel, you have to look for a girl. When you find a girl, you have to drink. When you drink, you will talk more. When you talk too much, you will easily say the wrong thing."
Chen Ling'er heard something from Bai Shuyu's mouth, which was revealed by the young man unintentionally.
She said: "The Bai family is in the intelligence business. Over the years, they have only collected superficial intelligence from the world and made newspapers and sold them to various sects. Your Bai family seems to be dissatisfied with this."
Bai Shuyu was a little shocked and asked, "How did you know?"
"I was just guessing, but after you said this, I'm sure I guessed it right."
Bai Shuyu patted his head in annoyance and said frustratedly: "I can't control this mouth... Miss Ling'er, please keep this matter a secret."
"Well..." Chen Ling'er looked up at the sky and thought for a while, "I can't leave here now. I want to tell people, but no one listens... We might as well speak more thoroughly. Third Young Master wants to Do you rely on brothels to collect information?”
"You also guessed this?"
"Yes, your method is good. But you are too young, so you probably won't be able to take care of it. I heard people say that Miss Bai has an upright temper. Knowing that you are involved in a brothel, I am afraid that you will not have peace at home."
"You really guessed it right. I went to a brothel once, and my sister almost beat my back to pieces. Well, you guessed it anyway, I have taken over Luoyang Baihua Building. I did tell you that. Same, I'm too young and don't have time to take care of it, and there's no one I can trust there. I haven't had any useful information for such a long time."
Chen Ling'er felt that something deep in her heart was about to stir. She asked tentatively: "Third Young Master, it would be better for a woman to take care of this place."
Bai Shuyu smiled: "You let my sister take care of the brothel? You might as well kill me directly... Wait, Miss Ling'er, don't you mean that?"
Chen Ling'er said: "You save my life, and I will help you with things."
Bai Shuyu shook his head and said, "It's a brothel there, forget it."
Chen Ling'er patted her broken leg, her eyes a little sad: "To be honest, Third Young Master, my life experience is a bit complicated, and I have a lot of experience in intelligence. Now, my body is so broken, I am still a useless person... …I am a person who repays kindness, so if I can do anything for you, it would be an honor for me.”
"Don't think so, I saved you just for the sake of convenience."
"I know you have concerns. You don't know my life experience, so naturally you don't dare to use me."
"That's not true."
Chen Ling'er held on to the handle of the chair and pushed her body up. She couldn't control the balance on one leg and fell to the ground as soon as she stood up. Both knees, together with the broken one, hit the bluestone bricks heavily. The unhealed wound touched the ground, and a heartbreaking pain surged up. But she gritted her teeth hard to prevent herself from crying.
Bai Shuyu hurriedly stepped forward to help, but Chen Ling'er pushed him away.
Bai Shuyu was a young man with endless strength, but in front of Chen Ling'er, he found that he couldn't use any strength at all.
Chen Ling'er knelt on the ground, with big beads of sweat on her forehead. She said tremblingly: "Third Young Master, since you don't want me to repay your kindness, then I will kowtow to you. I will definitely repay this kindness if I have the opportunity in the future." Bai family."
Bai Shuyu stepped forward to help Chen Ling'er again, but this time Chen Ling'er did not push him away.
Bai Shuyu said: "Look what you are doing...To be serious, you are not repaying a favor. A woman of your age should be carefree. The people who chased you that day should have thought that you were dead. You are here." Stay here for a while, wait for the storm to pass, and change your identity and live again."
Chen Ling'er smiled miserably and shook her head: "Some people are destined to be unable to be unrestrained, and I am that kind of person. The karma in me is no less than that of the Bai family. Let me put it another way, I can help your Bai family regain its status in the world, and you Bai What I want to do... is to protect me."
Bai Shuyu sighed: "You should insist...it doesn't matter, I don't want to be beaten to death by my sister. Let's wait for some time and let you try it then."
Tears flashed in Chen Ling'er's eyes: "Thank you, Third Young Master."
Chen Ling'er is, of course, a fake name, and Bai Shuyu knows this very well. Her identity is a mystery, and there are no rumors in the world that a girl of seventeen or eighteen years old is being hunted. But people who are in desperate situations don’t have much time to lie. After struggling for a few days, Bai Shuyu chose to believe Chen Ling'er. He hired a skilled craftsman to build a wooden man according to Chen Ling'er's figure, and secretly removed the wooden man's lower legs to use as prosthetic limbs for Chen Ling'er.
Chen Ling'er had good martial arts skills before the accident, and it didn't take long for her to adapt to the wooden leg. Normally hidden under her skirt, she walks like a normal person. It's impossible to tell that she has a prosthetic leg.
A year later, a girl named Chen Ling'er came to Baihualou in Luoyang and became an oiran as soon as she appeared. Her face is covered with white sand, her eyes are lively, and she plays the piano well. Within a few days of arriving at Baihua Tower, Third Young Master Bai became obsessed with him. From then on, Third Young Master Bai wandered around Qin Tower and Chu Pavilion every night and became a famous playboy in the world.
A few years later, Mr. Bai, who was becoming more and more exaggerated, actually took the Ling'er girl back home. This matter could be regarded as a joke.
…
After listening to Bai Shuyu's words, Jade remained silent.
Bai Shuyu added: "That's all. I still don't know her inheritance, life experience, and even her real name, and I haven't asked about it yet."
Jade said: "But you must have guessed something."
Bai Shuyu nodded: "The biggest thing in the world that year was that a group of martial arts people besieged the facade of Yeyu Xiaozhu in Luzhou, and military advisor Han Kui was hacked to death. Not long after that, I rescued Chengwai in Luoyang Chen Ling'er, over the years I have always felt that... Miss Ling'er has something to do with Ye Yu Xiaozhu. Those who are chasing her may be Ye Yu Xiaozhu's killers. "
Jade sighed: "Why is Ye Yu Xiaozhu everywhere? His ghost is still there."
Bai Shuyu did not answer the question. He moved closer to Jade and asked with a smile: "Jade, when can I go to Chaolan Valley?"
"What are you doing in Chaolan Valley?"
"Meet your father and your mother."
Jade rolled her eyes at him: "Not so fast, let's talk about it later."
"Last time your mother came to my house, what impression did she have of me?"
"not good."
"not good?"
"My mother has never liked young men from rich families. She was very beautiful when she was young, and there were always people approaching her because of her wealth and power."
"Didn't you say that your mother likes Taoist Zhu very much? Taoist Zhu is also a rich man."
"People see life in their eyes, and my mother likes diligent people."
"Me too! Ask the men around my age outside who know how to cook? Which one knows how to wash clothes?"
"Mu Yun will too."
Bai Shuyu suddenly laughed, shook his head and said, "You three sisters really enjoy a blessed life."
