20 years of the Republic of China

Chapter 14 Human sacrifice
After Gong Baonan left, only Jiang Xiaodao and Lao Cui were left in the city gate.

The two met for the first time and became master and disciple in a daze. They looked at each other and were both quite embarrassed.

Jiang Xiaodao crossed his arms, hesitated for a moment, then squatted down next to Lao Cui, looking around blankly.

Lao Cui just giggled and didn't take the initiative to speak.

"Uh... Master?"

"No, no, no, we don't dare to take it seriously."

"Then...uncle?"

"Just call me Lao Cui, don't worry."

"My name is Jiang Xiaodao."

"Good name, good name."

Lao Cui looked at Jiang Xiaodao's hand and hesitated to speak, as if he was somewhat afraid of him.

Jiang Xiaodao thought to himself, wasn't this man quite eloquent just now? Why has he become mute now?

It was not an option to stare blankly like this, so he took the initiative to start a conversation and asked: "How much money can you charge in a day?"

Lao Cui laughed twice and said: "This man is quite confused when he asks me questions. I won't hide it from you. Business has not been easy these days. I am here waiting to make money by beating the gods!"

"What is the top god Minato?"

Lao Cui forgot that Jiang Xiaodao was an unexplored opportunity, and quickly explained: "It means rushing to the temple fair. There were many people that day, and when everyone went out, they all had money in their pockets. If the idea is right, the business will be easy. It will turn the fire point around!"

Jiang Xiaodao frowned: "Does this count as business?"

"Why not?"

Probably because these words offended Lao Cui, he immediately started talking.

"There is a way of saying that in a world, there are both civil and military forces making a living, three religions and nine streams, five elements and eight works, 36 sales and 72 business. If one thing is missing, it is not called a market, and if one thing is missing, it is not a temple fair!"

Jiang Xiaodao still showed disdain on his face: "In business, people learn skills from their masters and have real skills."

But Lao Cui was very proud: "No matter how hard you are, if you can't get money, what's the use? Do you think anyone can enter the temple fair and do business?"

"Otherwise?" Jiang Xiaodao was stunned.

After careful questioning, I found out that if you want to do business in the market and temple fairs, you must first obtain the approval of local business leaders, then report to the local Jianghu Changchun Association, and finally be selected by the sponsors. , can enter the market to do business.

The financial owner temporarily rents the land at the Yamen and provides it to the entertainers. This is called "landing"; the entertainers discuss the location with the landowner and make a deposit or commission. This is called "land acquisition"; and so on. Only after going through a set of procedures can you enter the temple fair and do business "on the ground".

Only in this way, on the day when the temple fair begins, all walks of life can proceed step by step, and civil and military business can not interfere with each other, otherwise chaos will inevitably occur.

For those who set up the temple, they must not only ensure that the temple fair is rich and colorful, but also must be familiar with the world, and ensure that the artists entering the venue have the ability to make cakes on the ground. Only in this way can they earn more commissions.

Therefore, even if they are beggars, as long as they can get money, they will deliberately put in a few, it is harmless, and they can also take a commission.

Jiang Xiaodao followed Jiang Chenghai's instructions and silently kept Lao Cui's words in mind.

"Then how much money do you want to get today?"

Lao Cui raised the piece of Longyang that Gong Baonan had just thrown to him.

"What about this?" Jiang Xiaodao asked.

Lao Cui stood up and curled his lips: "You have also seen that with such heavy snow, there is no one on the street? I see, we should find a place to rest quickly."

"Where are you going?"

"Aren't you going home?"

Jiang Xiaodao also stood up: "I'm not done yet! Besides, my father won't let me go home, so he asked me to learn my skills from you."

Lao Cui thought for a while and suddenly realized something: "That's it! No wonder that boy Gong Baonan asked me to keep an eye on you. Xiaodao, it's snowing. It seems that you have to go with me to stay with Mrs. Feng for a night." ”

"What does that old lady do? She's so mysterious!" Jiang Xiaodao was curious.

Lao Cui just shook his head: "Xiaodao, if you think highly of me, just listen to my advice, keep your mouth shut, and don't regret it! Stop asking about other people's business, just know that she runs an inn."

After saying that, Lao Cui stood up and left.

Jiang Xiaodao followed closely, wondering in his heart what he couldn't say about opening an inn.

It turns out that there is a separate kind of hotel in Jianghu, which is not open to outsiders and only accepts old friends from Jianghu. The price is cheap, there is a mixture of good and bad, and the shopkeepers are mostly ruthless people with good connections and connections.Lao Cui led Jiang Xiaodao through many twists and turns, and finally came to a small courtyard.

It is said to be an inn, but there is no plaque on the door.

Before knocking on the door, Lao Cui whispered: "Xiaodao, your father has asked me to take you well. When you go in later, no matter what others ask, you just don't speak. Do you understand?"

Jiang Xiaodao nodded in agreement, and then Lao Cui patted the mottled red door twice.

After a while, footsteps approached, and a bloated woman in her forties or fifty pushed the door open.

The woman glanced at them and suddenly giggled: "Oh, Lao Cui, where did this little boy come from? When did you change your career to planting rice seedlings?"

Lao Cui chuckled and said: "It's not Yangzi, the apprentice I recently accepted. My name is Shopkeeper Feng!"

Jiang Xiaodao followed the instructions and stayed on the spot without saying a word.

I thought: So this is Mrs. Feng, probably because she is too fat and has no wrinkles on her face, so she doesn’t look very old!
"Boy, talk to someone in front of someone! You're a dead thing!" Lao Cui pretended to curse, and turned to Mrs. Feng with a smile and said, "You little brat, you are a coward, you have never seen the world!"

Mrs. Feng's outfit is indeed intimidating.

Gold rings, gold earrings, gold bracelets, gold necklaces, she is wearing silk and satin, and she is wearing white fox fur on her shoulders.

Jiang Xiaodao couldn't help but think to himself: I'm afraid the old Buddha in the palace is nothing more than this!
Old Mrs. Feng was quite warm-hearted: "Okay, Old Cui, look at the devil, I'll let you stay for two more nights in vain."

"No, Shopkeeper Feng, I brought money today, settled all the debts I owed before, and gave us both a bowl of noodle soup."

Lao Cui handed over Long Yang that Gong Baonan gave him.

Old Mrs. Feng grabbed Long Yang, kicked it into her arms, and said with a smile: "That's great, Lao Cui. You haven't even started the game yet, but you are making money first? Come and rest inside!"

Lao Cui led Jiang Xiaodao into the courtyard and opened the door to the west wing.

Inside the house is a Datong shop, where at least eight or nine entertainers sit on the kang and chat to relieve their boredom.

Lao Cui entered the room and clasped his fists: "Brothers, thank you for your hard work!"

"Old Cui, thank you for your hard work!"

The people in the room chatted about mountains and rivers, talked about business, and listened to all kinds of anecdotes and deeds in the green forest, which made him fascinated and fascinated.

When it was time for dinner, Mrs. Feng didn't care about etiquette, she just pushed the door into the room with a man and served everyone the food they ordered.

"Hook! Those two bowls of noodle soup belong to Lao Cui and his apprentice. Take them over quickly to save yourself a lot of trouble!"

This man has a sallow complexion, a thin body, and his eyes are mostly white and black, and are extremely turbid.

Jiang Xiaodao just looked at him and couldn't help but shiver all over his body.

However, except for this man named Hook, he was still very satisfied with everything here.

Old Mrs. Feng said with a smile: "Let's have fun and eat, there is more! We are in the world, and it is convenient for each other!"

"Okay! Thank you so much, Shopkeeper Feng!" Everyone laughed in unison.

The lively atmosphere in the room made Jiang Xiaodao feel like home.

After Mrs. Feng left, she took the hook and another bowl of food to the east wing.

Jiang Xiaodao couldn't help but sigh: "Who would have thought that the most popular hotel in the city doesn't even have a sign!"

After dinner, as the sun set, everyone joked for a while, then turned off the lights and went to bed.

Jiang Xiaodao was walking on the road during the day, choked by the cold wind, and began to have stomach upset in the middle of the night.

I opened the door and threw a mountain into the hut in the backyard. When I was about to get up, I suddenly heard a faint cry from not far away. It sounded neither male nor female, and it was very scary.

Pulling up his pants, he stood on tiptoe and took a look, only to see a faint candlelight flickering behind the east wing.

Jiang Xiaodao was confused. The more scared he became, the more curious he became. After hesitating for a while, he tiptoed over.

Opening the crack in the window and looking inside, Jiang Xiaodao's pupils suddenly trembled.

But he saw Mrs. Feng standing opposite the window like a ghost with a whip in her hand.

Inside the house, there were seven or eight children, the oldest was twelve or thirteen years old, and the youngest was six or seven years old. Some had broken arms and legs, or their faces were disfigured. They were lying on the ground with a hemp rope tied around their necks, following the animals. Same, crawling around on the ground.

It’s really a relief from hell on earth!
(End of this chapter)