20 years of the Republic of China

Chapter 601 A mess [6K]

Nanfeng and Xifeng’s houses are not far from the Jiang family. They were both properties bought for them by their eldest sister-in-law.

The two families lived in the same alley, and their houses were similar in style, with two courtyards and doors diagonally opposite each other. They often visited each other and never became estranged because they each had their own families.

The snow had not stopped yet when a figure suddenly appeared in the alley.

Looking closely at this man, he looked to be no more than twenty years old, with unkempt hair, a bruised face and a skinny body. He didn't even have a butt, and looked like a matchstick.

He wore a felt hat askew on his head, a tattered jacket, with two strands of Ula grass sticking out from under his armpits, and a pair of single trousers, which fluttered back and forth like flags in the wind as he walked.

After stumbling and rushing all the way, he finally arrived at the gate of Li's house.

"Bang, bang, bang! Bang, bang, bang!"

After banging on the door a few times, there was finally movement in the yard.

However, the people who came out to answer the door were not servants, but two little beggars.

The little fan-sitter was sniffing his nose as he looked the visitor up and down and asked, "Are you here... to look for my third brother?"

"Get out of here, little brat!"

Matchstick was quite impatient. He raised his hand to push the two people away and rushed into the gate on his own. Then, under the gaze of a group of little beggars, he quickly ran to the main house in the backyard.

Just after passing the middle door, his expression suddenly changed, and he put on a bitter face. With a thud, he knelt on the ground and opened his mouth to howl:
"Third brother, you have to save me, Third brother!"

There were several consecutive howlings of ghosts and wolves, and before Li Zhengxi showed up, he attracted all the beggars in the yard.

A quick look showed that there were at least forty or fifty people, all wearing newly made cotton-padded jackets, gathered near the middle door, craning their necks and standing on tiptoe, watching the fun.

Matchstick was still crying loudly, but it was just thunder without rain. He just stood there and tried hard to hold back tears.

Soon, the door of the room clanged, and Li Zhengxi opened the cotton curtain, frowned and rushed out, cursing: "Who the hell is yelling and announcing a death here?"

When Matchstick saw him coming, he screamed even louder, and immediately crawled over, grabbed Xifeng's trouser leg, and wailed on his back.

"Third brother, I'm done! I have no way to survive, you have to save me!"

Li Zhengxi looked down and saw that his face was bruised and swollen. He was immediately furious and asked hurriedly, "Who beat him?"

Matchstick didn't say who it was, but just shook the west wind as hard as he could, and shouted loudly: "Third brother, hitting me is a small matter, the most important thing is that I hit you in the face!"

"You useless thing, stop yelling!" Li Zhengxi raised his legs to break free from him and said sternly, "I'm asking you a question, who hit you?"

Matchstick didn't dare to hide it anymore. He thought for a moment and muttered, "Third brother, Master Gao...he hates you!"

"Who?"

"Mr. Gao..."

Li Zhengxi's eyes froze, and he was furious. He raised his hand and slapped him in the face, cursing, "Are you fucking playing with money again?"

The sudden crisp sound not only knocked down the matchstick, but also scared the little fans so much that they shrank their heads.

"A dog will always eat shit!" Li Zhengxi stepped forward and kicked him twice. "I just paid you back, but you still don't learn your lesson. You might as well die in the casino tomorrow!"

Xifeng recognized Mr. Gao Erye, who was also an online businessman. His family specialized in money lending business, and he was a well-known figure in Xiaoheyan area.

Although he does not own any gambling dens, he is one of the shareholders of several underground casinos.

Matchstick was originally Xifeng's subordinate, and in the past two years he has been helping to manage the street vendor business in Xiaoheyan.

This man is addicted to gambling and never changes his ways. After losing money at an underground stall, he naturally had to go to Mr. Gao to borrow money. If a person is burdened with usury, it is like carrying a grave on his back. The interest will compound and the debt will increase. The salary he has is not even enough to feed himself, so how can he pay off the debt?

Over time, money debt becomes life debt.

Mr. Gao sent people to arrest him, hung him on the beam and beat him all night, and he almost died on the spot.

After Li Zhengxi learned about it, he went there personally to rescue people.

When Master Gao Er heard that this matchstick was the brother of Master San of the Jiang family, he was so frightened that he hurriedly untied the man and let him go. He then personally came forward to apologize to Xifeng, claiming that the old debt was written off and hoped that Master San would show mercy and let the matter go.

However, Li Zhengxi was also very particular and did not want to bully others by taking advantage of his power, so he insisted on paying back the money for his brother.

The two of them couldn't reach an agreement, so they finally decided to go for the middle ground - the principal was returned and all interest was waived.

Although it cannot be said to be the best of both worlds, it does take into account the face of both parties, and both sides have a way out, without leaving any hatred.

Actually, this happened before autumn.

Li Zhengxi refused to tell the truth, because he didn't want to make his brother feel guilty. After rescuing the man, he just told him earnestly not to gamble anymore and told him not to worry about other things.

Matchstick only knew that he was saved, but he didn't know the agreement between the two elder brothers. He took it for granted that Master Gao must be afraid of the power of the third brother. He owed him a few hundred dollars in cash, so it was just a matter of a word, right?
So, after he recovered from his injuries, he immediately ran to the underground stall and continued to play cards and make money as usual.

Not only is he playing around with money, he's also becoming arrogant.

He gambled more and more at the gambling table, and when he lost everything, he went to Mr. Gao to borrow money.

Mr. Gao didn't want to offend Li Zhengxi, and he didn't dare to offend the Jiang family behind Li Zhengxi. Seeing Matchstick's fearless character, although he was itching with hatred, he had to bite the bullet and waved his hand, saying impatiently, "Lend it to him, just let him play here for free, he can't win any money anyway."

I'll lend it to you, but Matchstick just has a bad mouth.

Others asked him where he got so much money.
He pouted and said, "What money? This is the gift from Master Gao to me!"
No one believes it, why should Mr. Gao respect you?

Matchstick got anxious and said with his eyes wide open, "I am Xifeng's man. Do you know who Xifeng is? He is the Third Master of the Jiang family. I am the Third Master's man. I am also a member of the Jiang family, inside and out!" What is this little money? How dare Gao Laoer challenge the Jiang family? Twist his head off!

Everyone tried to persuade him to stop talking.

But Matchstick lost the whole night and was feeling angry. He had to say, let alone borrowing some money from Gao Laoer, I just wanted to sleep with his wife. Would that old guy dare to say no to me?

Mr. Gao is also a man who makes a living online. How could he endure such humiliation?

So, taking advantage of the heavy snow today and the few people on the street, he took people to the alley to pick up matchsticks and started sharpening them until the human brains were sharpened into dog brains, and only then did he stop in anger.

Mr. Gao really didn't dare to offend the Jiang family, but he also knew that this kid was just a fake. If it weren't for Li Zhengxi's face, he would have killed him.

Before leaving, he angrily scolded Matchstick and gave him three days to pay back the principal, otherwise if he was caught again, he would cut off his hands and feet on the spot and the interest would be considered as giving it to the dog.

Matchstick thought he was smart and hurried to his third brother to complain, but he was exposed by Li Zhengxi on the spot and was beaten again. Now he had to act according to the circumstances and admitted that he was in debt and had played around with money, but he did not mention a word about his previous outrageous remarks.

Li Zhengxi was still furious, and he cursed, "You lied to me, and you still want me to help you?"

Matchstick pretended to wake up, sat on the ground, and immediately began to slap himself wildly. While slapping himself, he cried, kowtowed, and begged for mercy.

"Third brother, I was wrong. I didn't learn my lesson. I have no face. I deserve to die. I deserve to die!"

"I haven't eaten yet, try harder!"

"I'll try harder, I'll try harder!"

Unexpectedly, when Matchstick slapped himself, he was really decisive. In less than half a minute, his face was swollen and red blood appeared in the whites of his eyes.

Li Zhengxi saw this and gradually couldn't bear it anymore, so he waved his hands and said, "Alright, alright, if you want to slap yourself, go home and slap yourself, don't annoy me here, get out!"

Matchstick stopped as he was told, and this time tears welled up in his eyes. He rushed over, but did not ask for help. Instead, he kowtowed for no apparent reason.

"Brother San, you deserve to die. I just lied to you. How can I still have the nerve to beg you? I...I'll just say goodbye to you here. Please help me say hello to my sister-in-law later!"

After saying that, he stood up, wiped his body and was about to leave.

"Stop!" As expected, Li Zhengxi called him, "Where are you going?"

Matchstick stood in the middle of the yard, without looking back, but shouted loudly: "Third brother, don't ask, I will figure it out myself!"

"What the hell can you do? Steal, rob, do you have that ability?"

"I don't steal or rob. At worst I can chop off my hands and feet and give them back to that Gao Lao Er!"

"Don't fucking mess with me. Stand there. I want to ask you something."

"Brother San, please don't stop me. Please really don't stop me. I would rather not have these hands and feet than to hold you back any longer."

As he was talking, Matchstick's shoulders began to tremble. He suddenly lowered his head and muttered, "What a pity, I don't have a wife yet. Now I don't even have hands... Alas, what's the point of living... Third brother, I will repay you in the next life!"

After saying that, he took a few steps and headed towards the gate of the house.

Li Zhengxi was anxious. He knew that this kid couldn't control himself, but he was still worried that he wouldn't be able to figure it out for a while, so he couldn't help but blurt out, "Stop him!"

At the command, dozens of little fans swarmed in, blocked the middle door, and pushed the matchstick back.

Matchstick struggled for a moment, then sighed, "Third brother, what are you doing? Don't stop me, no one can stop me!"

Li Zhengxi walked over and slapped him on the head, snorting, "Stop acting like a jerk. How much money do you owe? Speak."

"Well, it's just over 500 yuan." Matchstick turned his head away and sighed faintly, "Third brother, don't ask anymore. It has nothing to do with you."

"Bullshit, it's okay why you come to me?"

Li Zhengxi glared at him fiercely, hesitated for a long time, pointed his finger at his nose and warned: "I'm going to advise you one last time, don't play with money anymore, I've told you so many times, those are just 'luanba points', you still want to win? Don't gamble anymore, remember!"

"late!"

Matchstick wiped his face, tilted his head, and looked up, fearing that his few tears would fall. Suddenly he sighed and said, "Third brother, it's too late! I should have listened to you earlier. What's the point of saying all this now?"

Li Zhengxi sighed and said, "It's good to know. It's not too late now..."

After a moment of silence, he said "Wait for me here" and then turned and left. Matchstick pretended to be prudent and hurriedly followed him, muttering, "Third brother, I really don't need your help. Let me suffer a loss once, and I will remember it!"

Li Zhengxi ignored him and ran to the inner room. Matchstick was so anxious that he immediately knelt down and shouted.

"Third brother, forget it, don't make things difficult for Third Sister-in-law. If you two quarrel because of me again, I will feel even more uncomfortable, Third Brother!"

I just heard him talk, but didn't see him leave.

Matchstick had already thoroughly understood Third Brother's temper, and this situation was exactly what he wanted.

Xifeng hated to see his brothers being wronged, so even though he knew that the other party's words were false, he still didn't dare to take the risk.

Whenever a brother came to him for help, he could never bear to do it, and he always couldn't help but think in his mind - what if?
What if Matchstick really couldn't get over it and committed suicide on impulse? Before he died, he clearly begged me for help, but I didn't save him? Wouldn't I feel guilty and worried for the rest of my life?

I walked and thought, and when I looked up again, I had already entered the inner room.

Guyu sat on the kang, his face pale with anger, staring at Xifeng intently, complaining, "You know he's lying to you!"

"Oh, don't worry about it." Li Zhengxi was rummaging through the boxes and cabinets.

"You know he's cheating you, but you still give him money? He's just a gambler. He comes to our house when he has no money. He comes to our house when he has no money. What does he think of our house?"

"Alas, he can't pay back the money, and I can't possibly break up with Mr. Gao over this. After all, he is the one who owes him the money."

"You are sick! He owes money, what does it have to do with our family?"

"Then tell me, I can't just watch him get his hands chopped off and his feet stomped on, right?"

"He deserves it!"

"Don't say that. We are all brothers. If there is any problem at home, they will come too."

"Come here to eat and drink for free!" Guyu shed tears and complained in a trembling voice, "Feeding these dozens of children every day is hard enough, but you pay for the banquet for Laizi's wedding and provide the capital for Shitou's small business. In the past two years, I haven't seen them take any money back."

"Well, they are in trouble, and we have the energy to help them!" Li Zhengxi closed the drawer. "Besides, we were just like them before, so don't be so stingy."

"Who is stingy? I didn't say I won't help them, but how can you be like this? They eat whatever we eat, and I even made a cotton jacket for each of them. I didn't even use the two pieces of cloth my sister-in-law gave me in the fall. I gave them all. How much money do you have to be so harmful? Do you think you are as rich as my brother and sister-in-law?"

"Okay, okay, let's talk about it later. Where did you put the money?"

"No, I have no money!"

"Impossible, my sister-in-law just gave me money a few days ago, where did you hide it?"

"Don't you think about how much you've spent these days?" Guyu hugged her legs and cried, "No, you're not allowed to help him today!"

"Don't make a fuss. I'll move first. It's not like you'll have to worry about food and drink."

As he spoke, Li Zhengxi walked towards the large suitcase on the head of the kang.

Guyu suddenly got anxious, threw himself over, pressed on the lid of the box and shouted: "Li Zhengxi, what are you doing? How can you live like this? Why don't you tear down this house too!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard Matchstick shouting in the yard.

"Third brother, don't make things difficult for your sister-in-law. Now that I'm gone, just pretend I never happened!"

"Stop making a fuss and wait there!" Li Zhengxi cursed a few times, then turned to comfort Guyu, "Wife, he has changed his ways. Let's help him this time and give him a chance. It's not like the family is broke. Be obedient and come."

Gu Yu refused to give in and shrilly accused him, "He just provoked you on purpose. Are you stupid?"

"Third brother, I said I will solve it myself, please don't make it difficult for me, I, I will chop off these hands right now!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the yard was suddenly filled with the sound of clanging and banging.

The little fan boy outside the window reported loudly and in real time, saying that he went into the warehouse, and then picked up the hatchet. Li Zhengxi was confused by the noise. Finally, he pushed Guyu away, took out a bag of money from the suitcase, and rushed out in a hurry regardless of Guyu's sobbing.

As soon as he opened the door curtain, he happened to see Matchstick kneeling in the snow, holding a hatchet high, eager to try.

"Stop making trouble and put the knife down immediately!" Li Zhengxi stepped forward quickly.

When Matchstick saw Xifeng holding the purse, he immediately closed his eyes, as if he couldn't bear it, and the hatchet in his hand slipped and fell on the snow.

"Hey, Third Brother, you...how can I behave like this? Third Sister-in-law..."

"You don't need to worry about it. Take the money. I'll talk to Master Gao later."

"Third brother, I can't take this money!"

"Don't pretend. You're here just for this matter. If you don't take it, I'll personally deliver it to Master Gao."

When Matchstick heard this, he was afraid that Mr. Gao would complain to Xifeng, so he pretended to refuse a few words, then suppressed his joy and took the money.

"But there is one thing!" Li Zhengxi warned coldly, "Don't play around with money anymore. If I catch you in the future, I'll show you how I'll deal with you!"

"No, don't worry, Third Brother, I will never do it again!"

Matchstick nodded repeatedly, but in fact he didn't care at all, or he didn't hear what Xifeng said at all.

He took the purse and ran out of the house happily. He originally wanted to return the money to Master Gao as soon as possible to avoid further physical pain. But as he walked, his heart gradually began to itch. From the look of his face, it seemed that his addiction to smoking was just as bad as his.

hiss!
There are five hundred yuan here. Take out fifty yuan first and bet on him twice. If he wins, not only can I pay off my debts, but I can also have enough food and clothing for the New Year.

I don’t play big, one dollar a hand, no no no, fifty cents a hand, that way I can play it a hundred times, and win three out of ten, even if I win two times, I’ve made my money back!

As luck would have it, while I was thinking about it, I had already walked to an underground gambling den.

"How about I just throw it heads and tails, and leave it all to God's will. If it comes to heads, I'll go in, but if it comes to tails, I won't go in!"

After saying that, he threw the silver dollar into the air, caught it and looked at it - the reverse side!
"Hiss, it seems this one won't work, I have to go to the one in the east of the city..."

When you toss a silver dollar, there will always be a front side.

Not long after, Matchstick was "given the mission by heaven" and happily went into an underground stall.

I had planned to play a few rounds and then stop, but once I sat down at the card table, all thoughts disappeared from my mind. I just felt the sky was dark and time stood still.

After losing several games in a row, the stakes kept getting bigger and bigger. The noise around never stopped, making it impossible to tell the difference between day and night, and not even feeling tired.

I don’t know how long it took, maybe just a moment, maybe half a while, three pitch-black shadows suddenly loomed from behind.

The person who came had bad intentions. The gamblers at the neighboring table were the first to notice and then fell silent.

The entire gambling den gradually became quiet.

More and more gamblers began to notice something was wrong, and many of the timid ones immediately gave up their gambling, stood up, and walked away along the wall.

Matchstick was so absorbed in the game that he was having a great time. He was completely absorbed in the game. With a forehead full of sweat, he just kept urging his opponent to come forward and shouted with a thick neck, "Go ahead, I'll kill you all with this gun. No one can run away. Go!"

However, the opponent had already stood up and was looking at the opposite side tremblingly.

It was not until the three shadows slowly climbed onto the card table that Matchstick realized what was happening. He immediately woke up and turned around, only to see three unfamiliar faces.

"You, you are... Mr. Gao's men?"

The visitor did not comment, raised his hand to signal the gambler next to him to get out of the way, then slowly sat down, staring at the matchstick man and sneering.

The atmosphere was somewhat chilly, and strangely, no fire general stepped forward to question the situation.

Matchstick weighed the dwindling money in his bag and asked in a trembling voice, "I...I'll pay you back two hundred yuan first...is that ok?"

The visitor looked down and didn't answer. Instead, he asked, "What's the matter? Do you owe Lao Gao money?"

"You...are not Mr. Gao's men?"

"I know him. We drank together. If you mention me to him, he will remember me."

"Who are you, brother?"

"My last name is Yang. I won't tell you anything else because I'm afraid you'll retaliate against me in the future."

The visitor made a few casual jokes, which caused the two followers behind him to laugh awkwardly.

Matchstick was scared, but for no reason. He could only smile bitterly and said, "Brother, I, I don't know you. Why should I take revenge on you?"

"You really don't know me, but you are so arrogant!" The man patted Matchstick on the shoulder, "Aren't you from the Jiang family? You are new here, right? I want to tell you why I don't know you. Explain yourself."

Hearing this, Matchstick's feet bent and shivered twice, and he immediately understood.

There is nothing wrong with pretending to be a member of the Jiang family, but it is a bit ungentlemanly for him to expect the Jiang family to cover up for his boasting.

"Come on, let's finish this game first!"

Yang Lazi raised his hand to invite the gambler to sit down again, and said carelessly: "Come on, open the cards, let's see who wins!"

The cards of Pai Gow were spread out one by one, and before Luan could even start playing, Matchstick won by sheer luck.

"Oh my, hahaha!" Yang Lazi clapped his hands and cheered, "Great, brother. You're so lucky, but I opened this for you. I'd like to ask you to treat me to a meal. Isn't that too much?"

After saying that, without waiting for Matchstick to make any statement, he stood up with a cold face and walked towards the door.

"Bring this kid out."

(End of this chapter)