Late Ming sea owl

Chapter 15 Eavesdropping
After dinner, Lin Hai came to the third floor to play chess with Huang Cheng.He learned about Huang Cheng's hobbies from Cheng's accountant, so he went upstairs to play with him from time to time.However, Huang Cheng was a little absent-minded that night, and Lin Hai gave him a few moves without leaving any trace. The old boy failed to grasp it, and ended up losing two games in a row.

When Lin Hai saw this, he didn't stay long. He said goodbye to Huang Cheng and went downstairs to teach Zhu Niang and Qizai how to read.This was an unforgettable repertoire every day after coming to Macau. For this reason, Lin Hai bought three hundred thousand enlightenment textbooks, as well as paper, pens and oil lamps.

Zhu Niang heard Lin Hai say that he wanted to open a mom-and-pop shop that day, and she became furious from then on.Qizai would be woken up from his sleep early every morning, and Lin Hai would take him to review hard when he went out.

It's a pity that such hard work has little effect on Qizai. So far, Douda can't read a basket of words, so he can only make [-] solitary crutches every day, plus [-] flowers on his back for the night.However, Zhu Niang herself is making rapid progress and is not far away from mastering a thousand common words.

Qizai is so regretful that his intestines are blue: If he hadn't gotten into trouble in the first place, he wouldn't have used this damn Haojing. Wouldn't it be nice to catch fish and frogs every day?You can also listen to the story of Straw Hat...

It was the third watch of the night, and while Qizai was riding the wind and waves on a pirate ship in his sleep, Lin Hai went out alone.

He took out an object the size of a grain of rice from his sleeve. It was a detachable micro bug installed in his watch. He had stuck it in Huang Cheng's study not long ago, where Huang Cheng met with guests and discussed matters. At the same time, It was also the place where Lin Hai played chess with him.

Originally, Lin Hai had no intention of retrieving it so early, but today Zheng Zhihu came unexpectedly, and he thought he might try his luck to see if he could get some useful information.

Lin Hai put the bug back into his watch and squatted in the latrine outside for a long time. It was already the fourth watch when he returned to the room.

The next morning, he went to Chen Kee Shipyard with dark circles under his eyes, and immediately asked shopkeeper Chen if he knew where Li Guozhu was staying.After receiving a positive reply, Lin Hai hurriedly applied for leave to his employer and went straight to the residence of Li Guozhu mentioned by shopkeeper Chen.

Shopkeeper Chen told him that Li Guozhu would come to Macau by the monsoon every February. He would stay here for more than half a month before going to Annan, Cambodia, Siam and other countries. When he returned, it would be June or July when the southwest wind blows.Every year when they go to Macau, Li Guozhu and his men stay at the Wu Ji Inn run by a fellow from Quanzhou.

Lin Hai followed the path pointed by shopkeeper Chen and came to the door of Wu Ji Inn. This inn was not far from the seaside where the shipyard was located, and at the foot of the mountain where the famous A-Ma Temple was located.

This area is the first stop for most overseas visitors when they come to Macau. Regardless of what they are doing here, the first priority for all Chinese who come by sea is to go to A-Ma Temple to offer incense.The Chinese who travel to the sea these days are very superstitious, and Mazu belief is spread east of the Strait of Malacca.

Even Zheng Zhilong, who was baptized into Catholicism, actually worshiped God in front of foreigners, and still worshiped Mazu and Buddha when he returned home.Anyway, the gods in the East are not exclusive, and there is no harm in paying more obeisances. There are many benefits to joining a religion and dealing with foreigners.

Thanks to the glory of the A-Ma Temple, the business of Wu Ji Inn is naturally very large. It occupies a large area with mountains and sea at its back. Lin Hai estimates that it has hundreds of rooms.Due to being corroded by the sea breeze all year round, the windows of the inn are not papered, but covered with thin shell slices, shining in the sun from a distance.

This is the Li shell window that was popular in Jiangnan in the Ming Dynasty. This kind of shell pieces are all ground by hand. The process is cumbersome and only wealthy people can afford it.I am afraid that only a trading city like Macau, where the air is full of the smell of copper, can do such a luxury as using laminated windows in hotels.

Lin Hai entered the inn lobby and asked about Li Guozhu's room. Shopkeeper Wu heard that he was looking for Mr. Li, so he was very polite and went upstairs to inform him personally.

After a while, Li Guozhu followed shopkeeper Wu and walked out. He raised his hands and said with a smile, "It turns out to be Mr. Lin. What can I do for you, brother?"

Lin Hai hurriedly clasped his fists in response and replied: "Brother, I have a rare treasure from overseas. I came here specifically to ask Mr. Li to hold his eyes."

Li Guoshu brought Lin Hai to his Tianzi No. [-] room and poured him a bowl of tea. He also held the teacup and sat crookedly on the wicker chair and said with a smile: "What kind of rare treasure is it? Mr. Lei specially brought it to me." Brother, open your eyes.”

Lin Hai rolled up his sleeves, exposed the watch on his left wrist and said, "Brother, do you recognize this?"

Li Guozhu blew the tea leaves floating in the teacup and said, "It looks like a bracelet. It's neither gold nor stone. I wonder what it's made of?" Lin Hai did a few quick operations, and suddenly, a recording came out from his watch: "It looks like a bracelet. , neither gold nor stone, I wonder what it is made of?"

"This...this is...what I just said?" Li Guoshu raised his head in surprise.He glanced at Lin Hai's belly suspiciously. Could it be that this kid knew ventriloquism and could imitate his voice?

Lin Hai smiled and said: "Yes, this is what I said. This thing is called a treasure bracelet with a voice. It can record the sounds you hear and repeat them exactly as they are. I have traveled overseas, have you ever seen such a treasure? ?”

Li Guozhu recalled that the sound was indeed coming from the "treasure bracelet".After all, he had seen the world. He was surprised at first, mainly because he suddenly heard the same voice as his, and he soon calmed down.

In his opinion, there are many strange things in the world, such as Fo Langji's telescope, which has the miraculous effect of seeing far away.Since this bracelet is a treasure, it is not surprising that it has some magical powers.

Li Guozhu guessed Lin Hai's purpose of coming, most likely to trick him into buying this bracelet.Don't tell me, he is really tempted by this treasure. If the price is right, he might as well buy it.

If ordinary people had such thoughts, they might just talk nonsense and say that they have seen this thing a lot.But Li Guozhu didn't bother to do this and said calmly: "Brother, I have little knowledge. I have never heard of such treasures."

Lin Hai said with a smile: "It's not that you have little knowledge, it's that this treasure is the only one in the world. Three years ago, Xiao Ke was guided by the Heavenly Concubine in his dream and found it in the far north of Western Europe."

Li Guozhu smiled when he heard this: "Sir, if you want to sell this thing, you might as well make a clear statement first, brother, listen."

Lin Hai said sternly: "How dare I sell the things given by the Heavenly Concubine? I want to keep them for future generations. When I come here, I just want you to listen to a sound recorded by this treasure."

Only then did Li Guozhu realize that he had made a mistake and could no longer guess what kind of medicine Lin Hai was selling in his gourd, so he said, "In that case, brothers are all ears."

Lin Hai operated the watch a few more times, and a new recording was played:

"What are you trying to do? Are you talking to your aunt?"

"That's the thing. My aunt was eating fast and chanting Buddha's name at Zhenri's house. I'm afraid she wouldn't be able to bear it."

Li Guozhu frowned. The voice of the second sentence was all too familiar to him. Zheng Yiguan's eldest brother, Zheng Zhihu, also known as Erguan.

The recording is still playing:

"Is the official going to take action? Hongmao's medicine really works?"

"I tried several people, and I met the King of Hell in a year. All in all, the old captain will return to the west in at least half a year, which is when Li Yiguan returns to Haojing."

Li Guo helped Huo Di stand up, and the Jun kiln porcelain cup in his hand fell to the ground with a clang, shattering into pieces, and the fragrant tea brewed by the best Maojian flowed all over the floor.

(End of this chapter)