20 years of the Republic of China

Chapter 234 A string of beads again and again

Xiaoxiguan, Huifangli.

When the lanterns first came on, the brothel was already closed for business.

In fact, not only "Huifangli" but the entire Xiaoxiguan Street looked much deserted than usual.

The Lunar New Year is approaching, and the Little New Year has passed. There are only a few pedestrians on the streets, and the shops only hang lanterns on the beams and are closed.

"Huifangli" also took this opportunity to close down for rectification, and only allowed his family to spend time here when they had nothing to do.

There was a slight "rustling" sound.

Jiang Xiaodao walked out of the shadows at the corner and looked up at the bright window on the second floor, his face expressionless.

The laughter slowly floated out from the window lattice and wandered on the empty stone road, reflecting the distorted echo.

Even so, Jiang Xiaodao easily recognized that it was Uncle Liu's voice, and then stepped forward...

…………

In the private room, the huge round table was filled with all kinds of delicacies.

The electric lamp on the ceiling shines on the white porcelain plates on the table, making it even more bright and dazzling.

Zhao Guoyan, Han Xinyuan, Zhong Yushan, and the four or five drinking girls were playing with the wine cups in their hands and listening quietly to Guan Wei's spoken words.

"At that time, I told him, 'Brother, let's partner up. You go in to look out, and I'll go in to touch the fortune.' I complimented him a few times, and this guy really believed me. When I climbed over the wall, I clicked, and this guy fell straight down. Go down. Good guy, the whole yard is full of chickens and dogs! This kid is so scared! It’s all bubbled up! Hahaha..."

Guan Wei hugged the two girls on the left and right, his eyes were red, he was obviously very drunk, and he talked without any taboos.

The children of Jianghu have no home. The closer the holidays come, the more the brothers get together to look back on the past and look forward to the future.

However, there was no one of his own generation at the table, so Guan Wei was nostalgic and seemed to be talking to himself.

The girls took it as a joke and were so happy that their branches trembled with joy.

Zhao Guoyan and others did not dare to laugh. They looked at each other and just drank.

"Master Liu, when did this happen?" A girl asked with a smile while pouring wine for Lao Liu, "I didn't expect that our Taoist brother would make a fool of himself sometimes!"

Guan Wei tilted his head, rolled his eyelids, and muttered: "Let me calculate... the twenty-eighth year of Guangxu, a full ten years!"

"How old was he then?"

"Thirteen or fourteen years old!" Guan Wei shook his head and exclaimed, "Hey! Don't laugh either. He was still a free agent at that time! Who hasn't been humiliated when they were young? If you don't believe it, ask them!"

Zhao Guoyan and others quickly nodded in agreement: "That's right, that's right."

"Oh! Time flies so fast! It's been ten years now. The trail is about to open a mountain cabinet, and I'm about to reach my forties. It's time to get a wife and enjoy myself."

"That is, that is."

"I'm talking about me!" Guan Wei burped and reminded, "You guys are still young, so you have to help the trail and work hard! Don't let me catch you with ulterior motives. If I am sorry for Xiaodao, I, as an uncle, will not agree! With three swords and six holes, I will be the first to say ugly things!"

Everyone was speechless and nodded silently.

Guan Wei asked again: "Huh? Why haven't Xiaodao and Lao Qi come yet?"

Zhao Guoyan took the lead and replied: "Brother Dao is currently busy looking for people to renovate the old house. Su Wenqi also wants to attract him to join the Chamber of Commerce, saying he will come later."

"What about Lao Qi?"

Everyone looked at each other: "This - let's wait until Brother Dao comes over and tell you in person."

Just as he was talking, there was a burst of heavy footsteps outside the door.

Looking up, he saw the big teapot Fulong leading Jiang Xiaodao to open the door.

"Brother Dao!" Zhao Guoyan and others stood up one after another.

Jiang Xiaodao glanced around the private room, frowned involuntarily, and waved to the girls: "You guys go out first!"

"Yes."

The girls immediately stopped smiling, raised their butts and walked towards the door.

Guan Wei quickly stretched out his hand to grab a kiln girl and said, "Eh? Xiaodao, please don't bother me! You're celebrating the New Year, just be happy!"

Jiang Xiaodao didn't speak anymore, but walked into the private room on his own. He didn't care about who was in charge or not, and just sat down next to Lao Liu.

When the girls saw this, they were a little embarrassed and stood there in a daze, not knowing whether to stay or go.

Fulong stood at the door, winked at the girls, gestured, and said softly: "Tsk! Why are you still standing there! Let's go!"

The kiln sisters hurriedly left.

Guan Wei was stunned, then smiled awkwardly, and said to himself: "Uh... right, right! The trail has been busy for a day, so please stop making trouble here and go back. Let's talk about it next time."

Fulong was still the same, with a smile on his face, nodding and bending, opening his arms, holding the two door panels, closing the door and exiting.

"Master, just drink and call me anytime if you need anything."

"Wait a minute!"

Jiang Xiaodao turned his back to the door and suddenly said: "Fulong, everyone is my family, you come in and sit down too!"

Han Xinyuan and Zhong Yushan frowned, looking a little confused.

Fulong was also stunned. He instinctively took a step forward, but suddenly retracted.

"Master, with my status, I am not qualified to serve on the table! I will just wait for the bureau."

Jiang Xiaodao said: "You have been working here with my aunt for more than ten years, why are you not qualified? Come on!"

When Fulong heard this, he was deeply moved. After being a teapot for many years, he was finally looked at seriously.

But at the same time, he became increasingly uneasy when he remembered what he had told Zhou Yunfu.

Jiang Xiaodao was also at a loss. Xu Ruqing had good times and bad times, and someone had to take care of the business of "Huifangli".

These people in his hands are all vigorous, easy to do things, and they can see the situation well, but they are simply not capable of doing this kind of work of flattery.

Before finding a suitable candidate to succeed "Chuan'erhong", we can only rely on Fulong and Han Xinyuan, one soft and one tough, and then choose a sensible one from the kiln sisters to support the business.

"Come, come!"

Jiang Xiaodao picked up the wine cup, nodded at Han Xinyuan deliberately, and said, "Fulong has made great contributions over the years. It was all done by his own people."

Han Xinyuan understood. Although he was biased in his heart, he did not dare to show it. He hurriedly said: "Okay! Fulong, the two of us must cooperate well in the future!"

Fulong held the wine glass with both hands, stood up, and responded repeatedly, clinking glasses and toasting.

After all, Big Teapot is not a treacherous person. He earns a lot and all he wants is respect.

Now that Jiang Xiaodao was willing to give him face, he naturally did not dare to have second thoughts.

Drunk.

Jiang Xiaodao added: "Now that my aunt is not here, you two have to help me choose a person and keep an eye on the business first. Once you have chosen a person, remember to take it to the old house and let my wife have a look before talking about it."

Han Xinyuan and Fulong looked at each other and nodded heavily.

"Clap clap clap!"

Guan Wei clapped his hands aside and said with a pleased smile: "That's OK, nephew! These two sentences make you look more and more like a master!"

Hearing the sound, Jiang Xiaodao turned his head, his face sinking like water.

"Uncle Six, it's not easy to be the boss!"

"That's not true!" Guan Wei leaned back in his chair, "How can it be easy to open a mountain cabinet? However, you are lucky enough to take advantage of two families, which saves a lot of effort. Moreover, there is also a small Yan is helping you from behind, you can’t go wrong!”

"really."

"Hey! I have to say that you have good eyesight. Although Xiaoyan has lost two legs, she has two extra orifices in her heart. How come you have caught up with her!"

Jiang Xiaodao nodded: "My wife also misses you often!"

"There's still this matter!" Guan Wei's eyes were full of joy.

"Yes! When she lived in Lao Cui's house in Daxiguan, didn't you help fetch water and take care of her?"

"Hahaha! It happened many years ago. If you don't mention it, I will forget it!"

"Yeah, I haven't forgotten it." Jiang Xiaodao looked forward and said a little lost in thought, "I have a good memory, but I also divide things. I may not remember the good things I did; but whoever wants to trick me , harmed me, I can really remember what happened many years ago. For example - when someone treated me like a meat bun and threw me into the prince's house in Nancheng, Liaoyang."

Guan Wei laughed loudly: "You kid, you still remember this grudge! Come on, come on, Uncle Six will respect you and make amends to you, can that be done?"

Jiang Xiaodao raised his head and finished his drink, grinned, and said, "I remember to fight but not to eat. Back then, my father told me on the mountain: In this world, those who can gain wisdom from every bite are considered People are smart, most people only care about eating and not about fighting."

At this point, he paused, glanced at Lao Liu, and asked, "Uncle Liu, do you think I should remember eating or beating?"

Guan Wei pondered for a while and then said in deep thought: "The world is dangerous, if you have to choose one, then just remember to fight!"

If you remember to fight but not to eat, you will be regarded as a white-eyed wolf at most.

If you remember to eat but not to fight, then it’s just a stick!

"Then I'm relieved." Jiang Xiaodao nodded, "Uncle Six, I suddenly remembered something."

"What's the matter?" Guan Wei picked up a peanut.

Jiang Xiaodao looked up at the dazzling light bulb on the roof of the shed and said quietly: "Do you still remember that ten years ago, when I first came to Fengtian, before I met Zhou Yunfu, Lao Deng seemed to already know about my father. It’s a matter of accepting me as your son in Liaoyang.”

Guan Wei was stunned. The peanut on the head of his chopsticks paused in mid-air for a while and then he put it into the plate in front of him.

"Is there such a thing?"

"Isn't this the case?"

Jiang Xiaodao reminded: "When I came back from Liaoyang, my father was always suspicious and felt that Zhou Yunfu had sent a trick to keep an eye on him."

"Ten years ago, I can't remember clearly." Guan Wei laughed hoarsely, and his eyes suddenly lit up again, "Hey! I remembered, it was Hook! Back then, Hook sent Zhao Lingchun here, and he Your aunt mentioned you. Maybe—someone heard about it!"

"Uncle Sixth is right. It is indeed possible."

"It's about Chen Zhizhi and rotten millet. Why bring it up? By the way, where is Lao Qi?"

Jiang Xiaodao raised his hand and brought the topic back: "Tell me - who was the most important person in the hole we dug for the Changfeng Escort Bureau back then?"

Guan Wei shook his head and smiled bitterly: "You still need to ask? Of course it's you!"

"No! In fact, no matter who I changed to my original role, as long as there is a loophole, it will not delay things!"

"Who else could it be?" Guan Wei asked.

Jiang Xiaodao stared at Uncle Liu's face and said word by word: "Master Zhang Jiu!"

Guan Wei was startled, and Jiu Jin suddenly woke up.

On the table, Zhao Guoyan and others had never experienced it before, so they didn't know why.

Just listen to Jiang Xiaodao continue to explain: "Zhang Jiuye is the Great Buddha, the leader of the Rong family in Liaoyang City. According to the rules, if he doesn't agree, you can't steal the prince's house back then; at the temple fair, We have to rely on Mr. Zhang Jiu to frame him to successfully identify Mr. Hu."

Guan Wei was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said: "Okay, okay, you're right! But why are you nagging about such nonsense! Come on, come on, have a drink!"

Jiang Xiaodao held down Lao Liu's arm: "Don't worry, I haven't finished speaking yet."

"Xiaodao, what do you want to say?"

"Uncle Six, don't you think it's strange? Mr. Zhang Jiu is in his thirties and can be the boss of the Rong family in Liaoyang. He is also a figure. However, after the Russo-Japanese War, how could he not be successful? , is not working? I can only come to Fengtian in frustration and follow Zhou Yunfu to make a living. Eh? Do you think it’s strange? It happened that in those two years, Zhou Yunfu started to decline. "

Guan Wei was already half awake from drinking.

"Xiaodao, you are going too far!"

Jiang Xiaodao ignored him and continued to talk to himself. "I just don't understand! Why does Zhang Jiuye, a Liaoyang native, have to unite with outsiders to deal with the Changfeng Escort Bureau? Just for a piece of jade? This is too inconsistent with the style of Laobaozi, right? As soon as Zhang Jiuye arrived in Fengtian, So I paid homage to Zhou Yunfu’s dock. Tell me - is there a possibility that Zhang Jiuye was the one who supported Zhou Yunfu when he was at his peak?"

"Yes, what does it have to do with us?"

"I think it has something to do with it," Jiang Xiaodao said, "If I'm right, then maybe it was Zhang Jiuye who told Zhou Yunfu about me in the first place, but how did Zhang Jiuye know about it?"

Guan Wei could no longer pretend to be deaf and dumb: "Xiaodao, do you doubt me?"

"It's not suspicion. Uncle Six - you are Zhou Yunfu's trick back then!"

Guan Wei's face turned red instantly, and Zhao Guoyan and others lowered their heads to avoid Mr. Liu's eyes.

"Nonsense! As we said just now, the hook might have spread accidentally. Fulong, did you know about the trail at the beginning?"

Fulong trembled and said stutteringly: "No, I don't know. Back then... Sister Hong never told anyone about this."

"That could be someone else!" Guan Wei argued, "For example - for example, Aunt Zhao, Xiaodao, do you remember that old lady? She later died during the Russo-Japanese War."

"It is possible." Jiang Xiaodao did not deny it, "but I think Zhang Jiuye's line is more reliable. After clearing the Changfeng Escort Bureau, we stayed at Wangguihe Mountain for almost a month. He has plenty of time to send someone to deliver a message to Zhou Yunfu."

"At the end of the day, you're still guessing."

"Yes! But there is one more thing."

"what happened again?"

"Back then, when I was staying in the secret house in the east of the city, I tied up Zhao Guoyan. One night, Zhang Jiuye came over to win over him, and I happened to bump into him. I was thinking at the beginning, how did he know that I lived there? ? At that time, the house had not been exposed, and only my father and Xiaoyan knew about it. However, you were the leader that night when Zhao Guoyan was kidnapped. Uncle Six, you seem to have been to that house. "

"How could I have been to that house? When you met Zhang Jiuye, he might have followed you, maybe!"

"Eh? Wait!" Jiang Xiaodao's eyes turned sharp, "Uncle Six, how did you know that I met Zhang Jiuye every day back then?"

Finished.

Guan Wei felt like he was struck by five thunders. He sat stiffly on the chair. He only felt that his fingertips were cold and his whole body seemed to be about to freeze.

He was so drunk that he suddenly woke up.

Three years ago, Jiang Xiaodao was ordered by Zhou Yunfu to open a secret hall.

There are very few people who know about this matter, and even Si Fengkou, who is among them, does not know his identity very well.

Jiang Xiaodao pressed forward step by step and continued: "Uncle Six, during that time, every time I met Zhang Jiuye, I would wander on the street for a long time before going home, just to shake my tail clean. Zhao Guoyan is very good at it. , I didn’t get rid of him, but I could still sense that he was following me. I dare not tell him from a distance, but in Fengtian, the only person who can follow me without being discovered by me is Uncle Liu who taught me how to do it!"

Guan Wei swallowed his saliva: "Xiaodao, there are people outside the world, and there is a sky outside the sky - this matter is not necessarily certain."

"Uncle Sixth, Zhou Yunfu and Han Ce's babies are all in my hands now. I know how much they weigh. Only you can do this."

Jiang Xiaodao's expression suddenly darkened: "After Zhou Yunfu became weak, Zhang Jiuye came to Fengtian, and the two of you have been eating together at the Rong family. You are so close for no reason. I'm afraid it doesn't make sense to say that we had no friendship before, right?"

"You are all guessing!"

"Uncle Sixth, Master Zhang Jiu - I killed him." Jiang Xiaodao said lightly, "I asked him before killing him."

Everyone just woke up from a dream!

It was from the night after Zhang Jiuye's death that Jiang Xiaodao's attitude towards Guan Wei changed drastically.

At first, everyone thought that Jiang Xiaodao was tired of Guan Wei always treating himself as an uncle, always treating him like a child, and always exposing other people's shortcomings when he had nothing to do, so he turned a cold shoulder towards his former sixth uncle.

Looking back now, it turns out that everything was traceable!

Jiang Xiaodao didn't become arrogant after he became big. He had never been like this towards his seventh uncle.

It is true that "one day's kindness fades into ashes", but "a thousand days of friendship will last a thousand days" is definitely not a lie.

After all, he is an uncle and nephew of ten years!

After all, he is his mentor!

How could there be unreasonable dislike?

By this time, Guan Wei's drunkenness had all sobered up.

He raised his head with a frown on his face, looked at Zhao Guoyan and others, cleared his throat, and said: "Uh... well, you guys go out first, I have a few words to say to Xiaodao."

Everyone looked at Jiang Xiaodao until he nodded in agreement, then stood up and left with a rumble.

The door opened and closed, and only the uncle and nephew were left in the private room, as well as an already cold banquet table.

Jiang Xiaodao poured a glass of wine by himself, drank it, and looked out the window.

Guan Wei pursed his lips and said in a low voice: "Uh... Xiaodao, since we have reached this point, I will tell you the truth. I did help Zhou Yunfu keep an eye on everyone."

"This is what I found out, not what you said." Jiang Xiaodao corrected, "These are completely different things. If you had said it earlier, things would have been different."

"It's a joke, but I can swear! I have never! Never! I have never been sorry to my brother or you!"

"I know. Otherwise, why do you think you can still sit here and drink?"

Jiang Xiaodao asked Zhang Jiuye that Guan Wei did not inform Zhou Yunfu when he visited the secret house in the south of the city, but that the old fox was too shrewd.

Guan Wei breathed a sigh of relief: "No matter what, I will always stand by your brother's side!"

"Then why do you want to be Zhou Yunfu's recruiter?" Jiang Xiaodao asked.

"Hey! You also know about this. Your second uncle - and not just your second uncle - don't they always persuade your father to rebel? One moment they say that he wants to go up to the mountains to be a beard, and the next moment he says that he will start his own business. Your father Although he is cruel and ruthless, he has always been protective of his brothers and always kept silent. Of course the old man is worried, he has to send someone to keep an eye on him. "

"It seems that Fourth Uncle was right."

"Xiaodao, you can't say that! Fourth brother died to save me, and I feel more uncomfortable than anyone else! From then on, I didn't have much contact with Zhang Jiuye. However, before that, I gave Zhou Yunfu Being a trickster is actually to protect your father, which is the same as opening up a covert secret! Later, your father asked me to check the spot, and I guessed that the old man was going to be touched, so I would definitely be on the side of the eldest brother, so I No snitching.”

Jiang Xiaodao turned around and suddenly asked: "Uncle Six, if I hadn't found out about this matter, would you have told me on your own initiative?"

Guan Wei was stunned for a moment. At this time, he wanted to be honest.

"Xiaodao, Zhou Yunfu and the others are all dead. What can we do if we don't talk about these nonsense? I have never harmed your father, let alone you! I treat you as my nephew!"

Jiang Xiaodao nodded inexplicably, as if he had made some kind of determination.

"Uncle Six, have you ever thought that if I didn't happen to meet Zhang Jiuye coming out of the secret house that day? Or if Zhao Guoyan didn't confess to me, I wouldn't have known that the secret house had been exposed."

"Then...what happened?"

"I will not go to Falun Temple, and Xiaoyan will not go to Zhongcun Photo Studio. We will definitely return to the house in the east of the city. In that case, when Zhou Yunfu sells me to the Bai family, Xiaoyan and I will Could have been ambushed and died there."

Guan Wei didn't turn around for a moment, so he asked: "But, wasn't there explosives in that house? I remember that the bundle of explosives we had at Falun Temple was not taken out by Lao Qi and Li Zheng from the secret house. .”

Jiang Xiaodao said: "It was because he discovered that the secret house had been exposed that my father deliberately left a bundle of explosives there."

"But...if that's the case, I will definitely remind you."

"What if we don't have time? Human lives are at stake. They just think that my revenge is too smooth and seems to be a big bargain. In fact, if there is any slight mistake in this, Xiaoyan and I have already explained it."

The implication is that unless Guan Wei takes the initiative to confess; otherwise, life and death are only on a thin line.

"Xiaodao, listen to me..."

"Needless to say." Jiang Xiaodao raised his hand and interrupted, "Uncle Six, please retreat!"

Loyalty is not absolute, which is absolutely not loyal!

It is a taboo in the world to go past the eldest brother at the entrance and ventilate directly with the ladle handle.

As Guan Wei said just now, it is not an exaggeration to have two minds and three swords and six holes.

Now just asking him to step down is already an open policy. Even if he doesn't step back, he will definitely not be able to participate in business decisions.

Guan Wei was stunned for a while. He wanted to defend himself, but it was difficult for him to speak. After hesitating for a moment, he had to smile bitterly.

"Okay! Xiaodao, I understand. Compassion does not lead soldiers, justice does not control wealth, and emotions do not establish affairs. Since you want to be the boss, you can't be emotional. This is actually good. From now on, I will just eat, drink, and live my life. ...Well...why don't you have a drink before you go?"

"Okay!" Jiang Xiaodao raised the wine cup.

The uncle and nephew drank their last glass of wine.

Then, Guan Wei stood up, rubbed his hands on his front, and looked around without even landing. He didn't know what he was looking for - maybe he was looking for his former brothers!

"By the way, Xiaodao, isn't Lao Qi coming?"

Jiang Xiaodao sat and shook his head: "Uncle Qi is gone."

"Oh, I heard that he wants to quit. He's leaving now! Ouch! This guy didn't even say a word to me! Okay, then I'll leave too!"

"Yeah!" Jiang Xiaodao sat there and replied in a low voice.

"Okay, let me go then! Let's go!" Guan Wei took two steps forward, suddenly turned around, looked at Xiaodao's back, and reminded, "What, Xiaodao, it's time to trim your braids!"

"Well, here it goes."

Guan Wei nodded silently, closed the door angrily, and walked down the stairs.

"Master Six!"

Zhao Guoyan walked over and said with some embarrassment: "Um - hand over the gun."

"Huh?" Guan Wei was stunned, "Hey! I can get a gun at any time. Is this necessary?"

"Sixth Master, don't make things difficult for me."

"Okay, okay, it should be, it should be."

Guan Wei nodded absently, took out the cannon box from his arms, then turned around and took a deep look at the door of the private room on the second floor.

"Let's go!"

Everyone clasped their fists and shouted in unison: "Sixth Master, let's go!"

Pushing open the door, a gust of cold wind blew into my face.

Guan Wei couldn't help but shrink his head, walked hurriedly, turned a corner south, and walked in the direction of Daxiguan.

In the cold streets and alleys, the north wind whimpered all winter long.

The ice and snow outside the customs seem to never melt.

At the entrance of the alley, figures suddenly moved, one, two, three, four...

Quietly, as if it was just an illusion.

Guan Wei narrowed his eyes and subconsciously touched the gun in his arms, but it was empty.

In the darkness, Lao Liu took a step back guiltily, but when he turned his head, he saw several more figures shaking...

The two groups of people in front and behind all straightened their right arms and slowly approached Guan Wei silently. The moonlight was clear, and there were sharp blades, shining with silver light...

"Cha-"

The scene changed and Jiang Xiaodao was holding a sharp dagger in his hand and slashed the back of his neck.

"Pfft!"

A shiny, two-finger-thick braid was carelessly discarded on the wine table, knocking over several wine cups with a clanking sound.

Jiang Xiaodao felt relieved and watched quietly for a while, then turned around, opened the door, and walked down the stairs.

Don't lean too much, but listen to the crisp sound of "pop".

The electric light on the roof went out, and everything in the private room returned to darkness...

----

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(End of this chapter)