Under the sky

Chapter 86 Side Story: Toast and drink as punishment

Xiao Wuzhi has no name. He makes a living by working in Anchunge, the best brothel in Chang'an. He is a decent person, but his job is not respectable.He only has one job. The girls in Anchung Pavilion are all beauties with delicate bodies and delicate bodies, and their fingers are not wet with spring water. Xiaozizi's job is to help these girls wash menstrual cloths.

Because of this, he was despised. Even the servants who ran errands for the girl thought he was unlucky and unclean.

Probably not many people were willing to talk to him, and he spoke very little.Every morning I went to the Anchunge courtyard to wait for the girl to call me, and took the menstrual cloth handed out inside.Then take it to the headless alley outside Anchun Pavilion to wash it.This kind of thing had to be done secretly, although he didn't quite understand.There is something that every girl has, but why everyone avoids talking about it and keeps it secret.Like something dirty.If you take it out on the street, you won't make a fuss. Men will laugh and women will be shy.It’s as if my mother never taught me anything.

But a piece of cloth with some blood on it is worth such a fuss?
The end of the alley is also his home. He lives in the deepest part of the alley. The wooden eaves are placed at both ends of the alley and are covered with thatch. When it rains, he has to sleep with his feet bent to avoid getting wet from the rain.Inside were piles of neatly folded clothes and a quilt.There is also a wooden bucket and soap.He will use this wooden bucket to take a bath, but he will not use soap. He only uses soap for work.He would wash the girl's menstrual cloth with soap and dry it.Throw water in front of the alley.Sometimes he could smell a faint smell of blood.But he never minded.When it was time to rest, he would take off his servant's clothes and neatly fold them on the side of the room.sleep after.

When he wakes up the next day, he will fold his clothes and quilts neatly.The square pieces were piled up under the thatched eaves like tofu cubes.Then take the girl's menstrual cloth back to Anchun Pavilion and give it to the girl.Waiting for the next work.

He doesn't earn much money. He lives on the daily reward of as little as a dozen cash and as many as twenty or thirty cash. He has three meals a day, winter clothes and summer trousers. He can't save much money, and there is not much left after daily expenses. , besides, he didn’t know where to hide the money.House prices in Chang'an are the most expensive in Huashan, and he can't afford to wash [-] menstrual cloths.When he had some extra money in the day, he would buy some food for the paparazzi.

Paparazzi is not called Paparazzi because of Coyotito. On the contrary, it is because of Paparazzi that Coyotito gets the name.No one knew where he came from or who his parents were. One winter, he collapsed outside Anchun Pavilion from the cold. A kind-hearted girl rescued him. The girl had a sudden idea and gave him the job of washing menstrual cloths.He settled here.He didn't have a name at that time, and you wouldn't tell him if you asked him.

A year later, he met a puppy in the snow that was about to starve to death just like him.He spent a little money to buy a vegetable slag to save it. After that, the dog often followed him.He didn’t even give the dog a name, so he just called him Paparazzi.So everyone called him Coyotito. He was only nine years old this year.

Paparazzi is a very ordinary wild dog, except a little taller.There are some mottled black spots on the face, the edges of the ears, and the thighs.The rest of the area is covered with short yellow hair that feels rough and prickly.There are also several patches of skin that are bald due to the disease.Some people say that the paparazzi must be of a good breed, otherwise they would not be so vicious.

Coyotito always said that Paparazzi was not his dog, but every time Paparazzi came to him, he would always get something to feed him. On the contrary, the girl who rescued him was afraid that he would be lonely and pitiful, so she recognized Paparazzi for him, so as to avoid being raped. People nearby were killed.In fact, I didn't take care of it a few times.They are all fed by little dogs.Later, when Coyotito had enough money, he bought some minced meat and bones to give to the paparazzi as a tooth sacrifice.It's better for him than for yourself.

No one would bully Coyotito.Maybe when he was younger, but not later.He was taciturn at first, and after the girl who saved him was rehabilitated, he hardly interacted with others.Secondly, he was so unlucky that he was afraid to get too close.Thirdly, the paparazzi are very fierce.When Coyotito first rescued it, it was only about the size of an arm and skinny. Now it is over three feet long. It only hangs around the alley every day and bites anyone who comes near its territory.Except for Coyotito, he is not close to anyone.

When nothing happens, Coyotito will sit in the alley, not at the entrance of the alley, where it is an eyesore and can easily be driven away.It was about two feet away from the entrance of the alley, watching the pedestrians coming and going, the girls greeting guests, and the high-ranking officials and nobles.No one knew what he was thinking.Until the age of 13.

That day he walked out of Anchunge carrying a sack, and a boy of fifteen or sixteen came towards him with a red face.He instinctively turned to the side to let him go, but the young man blocked his way.Blushing, he said, "Yes... I'm sorry!" He didn't understand what the young man meant. With a "pop!", he had already received a slap on the face, which was not very painful!A voice came from behind the boy: "I can't hear it from here!"

The young man suddenly slapped him again. He was prepared and raised his hands to block. The young man kept slapping him. He kept dodging and resisting, and was hit several times on his face and body.The voice behind still shouted: "Can't hear it! Can't hear it!"

The boy panicked and shouted, "I can't hit him if he dodges like this."

"Go up and catch him!" the voice behind shouted.

Coyotito broke free from the young man's entanglement, turned around and ran away. Before he could get around the young man behind him, a strong man twisted his arm, and he struggled to break free.He was about to run again, but someone grabbed his wrist and held him back.It hurt when he struggled.

"Okay, hold on tight!" He looked up and saw that the young man behind him was about seventeen or eighteen years old.Wearing yellow brocade clothes, which he saw many times in brothels, this is the clothes of the upper class.

The young man who had just beaten him walked up to him. He was wearing a sky blue silk robe, which was made of better material than the young man in yellow.The boy in blue robe apologized: "I'm sorry!"

"Pah!" The slap was very loud, and Coyotito's face felt hot.

"Still can't hear it! It's too quiet!" The boy in yellow laughed.

The young man in blue robe gritted his teeth and hit Coyotito Zi hard on the face with all his strength, causing his body to tilt. Coyotito Zi first heard a huge slap, and then his ears kept ringing.I actually felt a little dizzy.I couldn't help but let go of the sack in my hand.Revealing the blue fabric underneath.

"What is that?" The boy in yellow leaned over to look with interest. "Fuck! It's the mooncloth from the girl's house. Hahaha, why did you steal the mooncloth from the girl's house? Do you want to sew clothes?" He picked up a piece of mooncloth and laughed.The strong man on the side said: "Master, don't touch it, it's bad luck!"

"Fuck you!" The boy in yellow wiped the mooncloth on Coyotito's face and rubbed it vigorously.Coyotito smelled a faint smell of blood.

Suddenly, a dog barked and the boy in yellow screamed.The paparazzi appeared out of nowhere and bit the boy in yellow's calf.The strong man holding Coyotito quickly let go and went to save his master.Paparazzi are very obedient.As soon as he saw someone coming, he turned around and ran away.Two strong men hurriedly supported the young master, and the young man in yellow cursed: "Your dog bit me!"

Coyotito only replied: "That's not my dog!" After saying that, he picked up the mooncloth and sack that fell on the ground.Just walked away.

When he returned to his residence, his body ached and the corner of his mouth was broken. He stuck out his tongue and licked it.

It smells like the moon cloth.

He went to fetch water and started his day's work. The paparazzi came back from nowhere and jumped in front of him as if asking for credit.Coyotito took out a small piece of dry and hard bun from the nest and threw it to him.The paparazzi swallowed it in one gulp.Walk up to him, lower your head and rub his hand.He found it disturbing the work.Use your arms to hold the paparazzi away.

The paparazzi suddenly became alert and barked.

"Fuck! I found it." The boy in yellow was limping, his trousers were torn, and the wound was only briefly bandaged.In addition to the two strong men before him, there was another servant behind him, leading a large dog that was three feet tall. "You still say it's not your dog? It bit me. How do you pay for it?"

"He's not my dog!" Coyotito still replied.

The boy in yellow pointed at the paparazzi and shouted, "Lai Wang, bite him to death!" The servant behind him let go of the iron lock.The giant dog immediately pounced on the paparazzi.

The paparazzi jumped to the side, then pounced on the dog named Lai Wang.However, the opponent was much taller than him.With a flick of the neck, the paparazzi was thrown away.The boy in yellow and his men kept shouting.Let Laiwang launch the offensive.

Lai Wang couldn't help but pounce on the paparazzi, although the paparazzi was a little smaller.But he has a ferocious personality. He has been through many battles on the streets over the years, dodging countless legs and feet, and biting countless wild dogs.Jumping vertically and horizontally, extremely flexible.The two dogs started fighting like this.

Then Lai Wang may have eaten too well, or he may have had too few fights.At first, relying on his size advantage, the paparazzi couldn't help but dodge.After waiting for a long time, I started to pant.The boy in yellow kept urging him to bite the paparazzi.The paparazzi seemed to realize that the opponent was weak and just dodged.After a while, the paparazzi suddenly jumped up and bit Lai Wang on the nose.Lai Wang couldn't dodge and was bitten, but he couldn't help shaking his head.I want to get away from the paparazzi.The paparazzi bit her with fierce force and refused to let go.Not long after, Lai Wang let out a sad cry, turned around and ran towards his master.The paparazzi then let go.He looked at the boy in yellow fiercely.He suddenly slipped towards the entrance of the alley.Those men could not stop him and could only watch him run away.

Coyotito never said a word from beginning to end.Just washing the cloth.

"Fuck! Useless beast!" The boy in yellow became even more angry.Laiwang kicked him, walked up to Coyotito, and kicked the barrel over. The dirty Coyotito was all over his face.He saw that Coyotito showed no sign of anger.He picked up the barrel again and smashed it to pieces.After cursing a few words, he turned around and left.

Coyotito silently picked up the pieces of the water basin.Just sitting there, this is going to be troublesome.This was his livelihood tool, and he didn't have much spare money to buy a basin.What to do?

Maybe you can borrow a barrel from a nearby neighbor, but the neighbor will definitely not borrow it. No one wants to borrow their own basin to wash the moon cloth for another girl, which will bring bad luck.

He thought for a long time and couldn't think of a way.

"I'm sorry!" Coyotito heard the voice. This was the third time he heard it today.The accent is familiar.

He raised his head and saw the young man in blue robe, his head lowered, looking very ashamed.Stand in front of him.

"I...I saw them leaving, and that's why I came here. I...I'm sorry, I didn't mean it."

Coyotito ignored him.He was worried about the barrel.

"Should I pay you a bucket?" said the blue-robed young man, "You still need to see a doctor. Did those few blows I gave you hurt?"

Coyotito still ignored him.The boy in blue robe was about to speak when he suddenly heard a low bark behind him.

The paparazzi are back.He was barking at the blue-robed boy, ready to attack him at any time.The boy in blue was a little scared and couldn't help but take a few steps back.Waving his hands, he said: "I mean no harm, I'm not a bad person, I'm sorry, I'm really sorry."

The paparazzi stared at him, slowly walked around him, and came to Coyotito again.

"Your dog is injured!" The boy in blue robe lowered his head and said, "If you don't want to relieve your anger, can I let you slap your mouth a few times?"

The puppy glanced at the paparazzi. There was blood on the paparazzi's body. It was from injuries sustained during the fight with Lai Wang.The fur is all stuck together.

"You buy two pieces of meat." Coyotito finally said: "And a wooden barrel."

The young man in blue was overjoyed and immediately ran out of the street. Soon after, he brought a wooden bucket with a large oil paper bag inside.The oil paper was stamped with the seal "Lao Yu Ji".That's the best restaurant in town.It's near Anchun Pavilion, and girls often call it Lao Yuji's foreign spot.Of course, Coyotito couldn't afford even one tael.

The young man in blue robe brought not only two pieces of sauced pork, but also roasted chicken and a bag of steamed buns.

Coyotito only took two pieces of sauced meat, threw one to the paparazzi, and gnawed the other one.The other stuff was returned to the boy in blue robe.

"Give it all to you!" said the young man in blue robe.

"I only want two pieces of meat and a wooden barrel."

"Are you not angry anymore?" The boy in blue robe asked tentatively.

"I'm not angry." Coyotito replied.

"Why?" The boy in blue robe was surprised: "I...we...bully you like this."

"This is how we live our lives." Xiao Xiaozi gnawed on the sauced meat at his mouth, taking small bites. He didn't know whether to savor it carefully or to cherish the hard-earned food: "Humans and dogs are the same. Living a day is a long time." One day. After today, tomorrow will be the same."

The boy in blue robe was shocked by his answer. He was speechless for a moment. He looked at the wood chips scattered on the floor and asked, "How much money can you make doing this?"

"Two cents a piece. Sometimes there's a bounty."

"So few." He whispered, feeling offended by Coyotito again, so he hurriedly raised his eyes to look at him.

"You have to work to get paid. My work is only worth this money." He didn't show any offense, but his answer made the blue-robed boy feel that he had embarrassed the boy.Even more ashamed.

"I'm sorry!" The boy in blue robe bowed, turned around and ran away.

Coyotito had only taken a few bites of the piece of sauce meat at his mouth, but the paparazzi had already eaten it all and was circling around in front of him, wagging his tail.He threw most of the remaining piece to the paparazzi.He packed up the wood pieces and stuffed them into the corner of the house.When winter comes, these woods are used as heating materials.Don't waste it.Then he got up and went to fetch water again.

※ ※ ※

A few days later, the injury on Coyotito’s face healed.Still doing his job, it seemed like everything was business as usual.But the head nurse of Anchung Pavilion called him over.

"I heard that your paparazzi bit someone?" the nursing home manager asked.

"That's not my dog." Coyotito replied.

"If it wasn't your dog, I would have to catch it and kill it. Or else I would have to drive it away!" The director of the nursing home said: "This paparazzi is vicious, and many guests have complained. What if it disturbs the guests one day?"

"You don't admit it. But everyone thinks you are the master of the paparazzi. If you want to raise him, you have to muzzle him!" The director of the nursing home said: "Either you move away. Otherwise, I'll beat him to death."

Coyotito left silently, made a trap with a barrel and wire, and called the paparazzi over.Put the muzzle on the paparazzi's mouth. The paparazzi struggled desperately at first, but found that he couldn't get away, so he lay on the ground and whined.Coyotito just ignored him and untied him until he was eating.Before going out the next day, I put the muzzle on again.

A few days later, as soon as he turned into the alley, he was restrained by several strong men.

"Fuck you! I'm finally back." It was the boy in yellow that day.He also brought the one to Laiwang.There are more bodyguards.

"Press him in."

He was pushed to the bottom of the alley, in front of his shabby house.When the paparazzi saw their enemy and saw their master being restrained, they lowered their bodies and barked.But his mouth was muzzled and he couldn't bark.

"Bite him to death!" the boy in yellow ordered, and Lai Wang immediately pounced out.Bite the paparazzi hard.The paparazzi ducked away and tried to fight back, but was trapped by the muzzle.He had to dodge desperately.When it comes to prosperity, it can't help but bite.He could only roll and struggle on the ground.Want to get rid of the muzzle and challenge.But I couldn't get rid of it.He wanted to escape, but the only way out was guarded by the bodyguards of the young man in yellow.There is no escape.

Coyotito was crushed to the ground and could only watch helplessly as the paparazzi was bitten and bruised all over his body.Not long after, Lai Wang bit the paparazzi's neck and threw him to the ground.He opened his big mouth and chewed it.

The paparazzi's whimpers gradually became quieter and eventually became inaudible.

The boy in yellow laughed loudly and kicked Coyotito in the stomach, which was so painful that he almost vomited out sour water.The young man in yellow cursed: "Tell your dog to do evil again. Damn it!" After speaking, he spat on Coyotito's face.He led his men away laughing.

The paparazzi was covered in blood and lay motionless on the ground. One of his weak hind legs had been bitten off.Only a trace of flesh and blood was left on the other front paw, and the bones and organs inside were vaguely visible in the split belly.The paparazzi looked at Coyotito helplessly with distracted eyes.

Coyotito unmuzzled him.Wanting it to take a breather.Unexpectedly, as soon as the dog harness was taken off, the paparazzi suddenly opened its mouth wide and bit the palm of the dog's hand so hard that the tiger's mouth drew blood. It bit so hard that it seemed as if it had exhausted all its strength before dying.Biting Coyotito's hand tightly and not letting go.At the same time, he glared at Coyotito fiercely.This was the only time the paparazzi attacked him.Coyotito didn't free his hand and let it bite him. He just carried the dog to the nearest hospital.

"Both legs are broken, and they will be disabled when we save them." The doctor said, "It will cost a lot of money. If you have money, you might as well treat the injuries on your hands first."

He didn't heal the wound on his hand. It was too expensive and he couldn't afford it.He ignored the pity look in the paparazzi's eyes and silently carried the paparazzi back to where he lived. The paparazzi could only moan slightly, his chest kept rising and falling, his mouth was bleeding, and his body was twitching slightly.

He took out the knife he used to cut groceries from the hut that was not really a house.He touched the paparazzi's heart and stabbed it in hard.With a whimper, the paparazzi's pupils quickly dilated.Blood splattered on him.

It smells like the moon cloth.

He then used the knife to cut open the paparazzi's belly.I got a bucket of water and started washing, scraping the skin and taking out the meat.Then he used the fragments of the previously smashed wooden basin and some picked dead branches for firewood.A fire started in the alley, cutting the paparazzi apart.

This is enough for several meals.

"Don't come here anymore." When he came to the brothel, the nursing home manager said to him: "You have offended Master Kang. He is a regular customer and has a little bully character. If I see you again, you will be in trouble, and we will be in trouble too."

The manager's move naturally aroused protests from all the girls, but Coyotito was diligent in his work.The menstrual cloths he washed were clean and comfortable for the girls to use. Besides, although he had an eccentric temperament, he was familiar with the girls.Not embarrassing either.

Someone said: "The prodigal son and Xiaoshuang are the best. Just let Xiaoshuang give him a few words of advice."

But the girl named Xiaoshuang said: "No, he is the most stingy person. The more you persuade him, the more he will make things difficult for others."

Another girl said: "Let him make trouble. There are so many nobles in Anchung Pavilion. Who is he? Is he bigger than the head of the family? Let the third son deal with him."

"How can the third young master have time to meddle in such nosy matters?" someone else said.

The general manager of the nursing home: "This is all gossip. Which of you is really not afraid of offending Master Kang and is willing to speak for him? Come on, open your mouth up and down. It's all trying to make people tired. Who wants to take this matter? Don't Just stand up and speak out."

All the girls shut up. After all, Coyotito was just a mooncloth washer, not even a friend.Shouldn't the menstrual cloth be washed by someone else?
Xiaoxiaozi didn't say much and returned each girl's mooncloth one by one.Just like he always did, except this time he left with an empty sack.However, he seemed to have no temper.As usual, his entrance and exit attracted no one's attention.

When he walked out of the hall, there was a loud "bang" sound, which startled all the clients, prostitutes, and nurses in the hall. Everyone could not help but look sideways, and saw a clear footprint printed on the redwood door. The person who just walked out of the door was the little Coyotito who had never seen such a bad temper before?
Some nursing homes have already rushed to investigate.Was persuaded by an informed prostitute.

He no longer even had a living job.If you are unlucky, you won’t even have a place to live.When he returned to his residence, he was surprised to find that the young man in blue robe had arrived again. At this time, he was wearing a white wave-trimmed silver-edged coat, the same style of robe, and a light blue belt.

The young man asked: "You... where is your dog?"

Coyotito ignored him and went into his "hut" to get some dog meat and gnaw on it.The young man recognized that it was a leg and said in surprise: "You...you ate it? You...how could you do this? You have raised it for several years, you..."

"It's dead." Coyotito's reply stunned the boy.

"I...I heard about it, and I want to see if I can take the puppy to see the doctor." He hugged his face, looking extremely guilty, and almost cried: "I'm sorry!"

Coyotito still didn't reply, and he didn't know whether he accepted the apology or not.

"What's your name?" the boy asked.

"They call me Coyotito."

"This is not your real name." The boy shook his head: "I want to know your real name."

"Whatever people bark, just follow them." Coyotito wrapped the remaining dog meat into an oilcloth bag.He was also thinking about how to make a living in the future.

"My name is Qin Ziyao." The young man said, "The Qin family from Qinfu Zhifang."

Xiaoxiaozi has naturally heard of Qinfu Weaving Workshop, which is one of the largest weaving workshops in Chang'an. The fabrics they produce may not be the best, but they are the most affordable and high-quality.He can be regarded as a rich man in Chang'an.

"I see you... life is very hard." Qin Ziyao said, "I have some money..."

"I don't want any silver, I want to find a job." Xiao Xiaozi said, "Anchunge said I offended your friend and wouldn't let me work."

Qin Ziyao was even more ashamed. Suddenly he thought of something and said, "Why don't I take you home and help you find a job. Let you have a place to live."

"You want to pick me up and take me back?" Coyotito asked.It was as if Qin Ziyao, out of guilt and sympathy, treated himself like a dog and picked him up and raised him at home.

"No, it's not like that." Qin Ziyao waved his hand quickly: "If you continue to stay here, Kang Jingwu might come to trouble you." He lowered his head: "I hurt you. I have to take responsibility."

"You don't have to be responsible. After today, tomorrow will be the same." Coyotito still answered like this: "Is your family doing anything?"

"My family is always short of people." Qin Ziyao said.

Coyotito had no other choice. He packed up all his belongings without leaving even a piece of wood behind.Follow Qin Ziyao away.On the way, Qin Ziyao asked Xiaozizi: "You didn't even ask me why I hit you that day?"

"It's not important." Coyotito replied.

Qin Ziyao said it anyway.

The Qin family is a wealthy family in Chang'an. Grandpa started from scratch and established the Qinfu Weaving Workshop.By my father's generation, there were more than a thousand workers, needless to say, they had no worries about food and clothing.However, getting rich makes you rich, and in the end you will only be a rich householder. Qin's father said that rich people cannot compete with powerful people. Only by being rich and noble can you maintain long-term peace and stability.Look at the richest man in Henan, Monk Zide. He is able to achieve such a great family and business, all because of the support of his status.

If you want to get rich, start with a few ways.He hoped that his son could learn martial arts, take over a small sect, or receive a ministry, especially if he could join the Huashan sect.In this way, we will have a wider base of people, and this will help us preserve our family business.

Chang'an was under the direct jurisdiction of the Huashan sect, and the local sects had little power.Kang Xiaosheng, the former head of the Kang family of the Iron Gate Gang, was outstanding and held an important position in Huashan. Although the head of this generation has mediocre qualifications and a somewhat rundown family, his popularity from the past is still there.Kang Jingwu is the son of the leader.The Qin family wants to cling to the powerful, and the Kang family is short of money, so the two families have contacts.Qin's father asked Qin Ziyao to be Kang Jingwu's playmate and not to offend him easily.

However, Qin Ziyao did not like Kang Jingwu. Kang Jingwu was overbearing and often bullied Qin Ziyao.That day, Kang Jingwu invited Qin Ziyao out, and it turned out that he was taking him to visit brothels and brothels. Qin Ziyao was only sixteen years old. Although he knew about the affairs of men and women, he was still a young boy.He quickly refused, and Kang Jingwu asked him a difficult question. The two had a bet and guessed the numbers. If they lost, they had to be obedient. Qin Ziyao lost and refused to go to the brothel, so Kang Jingwu pointed at someone casually.Ask Qin Ziyao to go up and slap him.That person happened to be Coyotito who had just walked out of the brothel.

Qin Ziyao had no choice but to make amends afterwards, so he had no choice but to step forward and slap Coyotito. He did not expect that he would cause so many things later, causing the paparazzi to die tragically, and Coyotito to lose his livelihood.

After he finished telling the story, he also arrived at Qin's house. It was a four-indoor courtyard, and its grandeur was not inferior to that of Anchung Pavilion. Qin Ziyao said proudly: "My house is beautiful!"

Xiao Wuzhi ignored him, and Qin Ziyao also felt out of character. He called the servant to open the door, took him to a pavilion in the yard, and sent someone to pass the tea.Qin Ziyao asked Xiaozizi, "What do you know?"

Coyotito replied: "Wash clothes."

Qin Ziyao shook his head: "Is there nothing else?"

Coyotito asked: "What else do you think I have learned?"

Qin Ziyao was questioned by him again and saw that he was thin and young, and he would definitely not be able to do strenuous work well.As for laundry, there is a washerwoman at home.He definitely doesn't know any of those things like carpentry, flowers and plants.I couldn't help but feel embarrassed.The two sat in the garden in silence for a long time, and were actually relatively speechless.

Is there any job that I know nothing about but am capable of doing?Qin Ziyao couldn't help but feel distressed.

"Brother!" came a voice, and Coyotito turned his head to look.A middle-aged man approached with a little girl behind him.

Qin Ziyao quickly stood up and shouted respectfully: "Dad! Brocade!"

Qin's father was about forty years old, with a well-built figure and thick cheeks that looked like two dog ears hanging down.He asked Qin Ziyao: "Is he the person you mentioned?"

The little girl named Zhijin has freckles on her face and two pigtails. She is about ten years old. She has a bag of meat buns in her hand and is eating it. She has the same figure as her father. Although she is younger, her waistline is smaller than that of her brother. It was even bigger. She looked at Coyotito, her eyes widened, and couldn't help but say, "You are so thin."

Coyotito is indeed thin. He is young and is still gaining weight. When buying clothes, he deliberately bought them a few inches too big.In order to wear it longer, this ill-fitting clothes on his body seemed to be hung up, and he could shake them off at any time as long as he shook them.

"Brocade, be polite." Qin's father scolded the little girl, walked up to Xiao Wuzhi, bowed, and said, "Qin Zi offended you, I will order someone to send you some money later to express my apology."

Xiaozizi still shook his head: "I don't want it." He saluted and said to Qin Ziyao: "You have no life here, I'm leaving." After saying that, he was about to leave, Qin Ziyao stopped him quickly. He finally figured out this kid The idea is that he doesn’t want rewards, he just wants to work.So he turned around and said, "Dad, can't the Qin family find anyone to support them?"

Qin's father frowned and said, "If you leave him in the house, Mr. Kang will see you. Aren't you going to cause trouble?"

Qin Ziyao said: "The house is so big, can't we hide away? Dad, you always say that benevolence brings blessings, but you have caused people so much misery, so you have no point in sending people away with a few taels of silver. What kind of benevolence is the blessing?"

Qin's father seemed to be moved by his persuasion. After a while, he asked, "What kind of work do you want him to do?"

"Dad wants me to learn martial arts, but I need a training partner." Qin Ziyao said, "Let him practice martial arts with me!"

Father Qin thought for a while, nodded and said, "Okay, you are good at practicing. If you can't practice, this kid doesn't have to stay in the house." He knew his son's character, and if he threatened him with this young man, his son would definitely be more serious.

Qin Ziyao was overjoyed, grabbed Coyotito's hand and said, "Follow me!"

"Wait!" Qin Zhijin quickly caught up and gave Xiaozizi the bag of meat buns in his hand: "Eat more and you will grow fat."

Qin Ziyao took Xiao Wuzhi to the servant's room in the Qin Mansion, pointed to a small room and said, "You will live here from now on!"

Coyotito looked around the room.A very simple hut with a kang, a table, and two chairs.He put down his belongings.

"You can't call you Xiaozizi anymore." Qin Ziyao said: "If you want to stay, you must have a real name. Even if you don't say it, at least give it a surname. I can call you Xiaozizi, but I won't call you Xiaozizi."

Coyotito looked at him and said after a long time: "My surname is Fang, and my name is Fang Ji."

Qin Ziyao smiled and said: "Okay, I will call you Fang Ji from now on, and you will practice martial arts with me."

Every day after that, Qin Ziyao came to him to practice martial arts.Let him fight with Qin Ziyao with a wooden stick.For this job, he would be a sparring partner for an hour every day, and he would earn five qian a month, which was about the same as what he earned in Anchun Pavilion. The win was that he had food and shelter.

I don't know whether it was out of guilt or sympathy, but Qin Ziyao's brother and sister treated him very well. Qin Ziyao often talked to him, and sometimes Qin Zhijin would sit by and watch when he practiced martial arts.Qin Ziyao often gave him some daily necessities.But Francis would not accept any gift, no matter how big or small.Only salary is collected every month.This made Qin Ziyao look at him with admiration even more.I want to get closer to him more and more.It's just that this person is really difficult to get close to. Sometimes Qin Ziyao talks for a long time, and Fang Ji only replies, "Yeah." Qin Ziyao doesn't take it seriously either.

The kung fu that Qin Ziyao learned was very special, it was a long and short sword.Transportation is very difficult.This Kung Fu is called "Zuo Long Snake" and is a direct line of Kung Fu from Huashan.Qin Ziyao explained to Francis.

Walking Dragon and Snake is a unique skill of the direct lineage of Huashan. Everyone in the Huashan sect has heard of it, but not many people have learned it, not even the master knows how to do it.Because this swordsmanship is not only complicated to change.It is even more important to use both long and short swords at the same time.Not only that, but it also has to be fast and slow, sometimes the long sword is fast, and sometimes the short sword is fast.

Martial arts, in addition to understanding, pays more attention to adaptability.And the more special the skill, the more emphasis is placed on adaptability.If person A fails to master a kung fu after ten years of practice, person B may achieve great success in one year. However, if he changes to another martial arts, person B may fail to achieve it in ten years, while person A may achieve great success in one year.

The walking dragon snake is very adaptable, and only one successor is produced almost every 20 years. If the person who practices it makes no progress in one year, he will know that he has missed the chance. If he has not made any small achievements in three years, he can give up.Therefore, Huashan disciples have many practitioners, but very few masters.There is only one person in this generation who can walk dragons and snakes, his name is Lei Zhen, and his nickname in martial arts is Lightning Sword.In terms of seniority, he is the senior brother of the current leader of Huashan.He is 56 years old this year.Although this person is very capable, he is also a muddle-headed person and a drunkard, so he has a nickname called "Untouchable".It means that this person can only be mediocre if he only takes one step at a time.Once you are drunk, you are unstoppable.Therefore, I did not receive any deacons.

Five years ago, he started to recruit disciples. With the reputation of Lightning Sword, he attracted many disciples. Although he learned how to move the dragon and snake, he was not good at all other martial arts in Huashan.I can only teach this Kung Fu, and the entry fee is two taels per month.At least half of the students in the first year returned without success.If students learn how to get started and teach in depth, they will receive ten taels of tuition per month.This is not a small sum of money. As for those who have really learned how to use dragons and snakes, there is no one so far.Usually after paying tuition for a year, students scratch their noses and think they have been taken advantage of.

However, the tuition fee of two taels a month is probably not affordable by poor families.

Qin's father didn't think that his son was extremely talented, so he sent him to learn the dragon and snake walking. In fact, this skill comes from the direct lineage of Huashan. Once he masters it, he will be a disciple of Huashan. It is equivalent to blending into the nine major families and climbing the dragon and the phoenix. It is far better than following some insignificant people. The sect has quite a lot of contacts.

However, I don’t know if Qin Ziyao is a martial arts student, but he is certainly not a martial arts student.Seeing that half a year had passed and there was still no progress, I took two long and short wooden swords and twisted them left and right, almost tying my hands in knots.

On this day, Fang Ji came to the pavilion and was going to accompany Qin Ziyao to practice martial arts. Qin Zhijin was sitting in the pavilion, looking at a box of rose mirror cakes in front of him with a sad face. Fang Ji never talked much.Qin Zhijin saw him and hurriedly asked him to come over and sit down.Francis also sat down.

"Why do you talk so little?" Qin Zhijin asked.

Francis was silent for a long time before replying: "There is nothing to say."

"Eating mirror cake?" Qin Zhijin pushed the rose mirror cake in front of him.This is luxury food for him.Francis shook his head, he didn't even accept this.

"My aunt gave this to me. They said I was still young and needed to eat more. They forced me to eat." Qin Zhijin frowned and said, "I am so fat. If I continue to eat, my husband will dislike it in the future."

"It's good to be fat!" Francis replied.

"Where's the fat one?"

“Lots of meat!”

"Where's the meat?"

"You can go hungry," Francis replied.

Qin Zhijin burst out laughing and said: "Then you eat, you are fatter and I am thinner, that's good."

Francis still shook his head: "You can give it to others."

Qin Zhijin pursed his lips and said, "Grandma and aunt forced me to eat one by one. They refused to give up until I finished the meal and gave it to the servants. If it leaked out, I would be scolded again. I had to eat a double portion."

For Francis, this is an unreasonable complaint.But he didn't say it.

"Help me keep the secret." Qin Zhijin chuckled: "Dad said no one can pry your mouth open."

Francis still shook his head, he was really hard to convince.

Qin Zhijin could only say: "Then help me take it and throw it away. I don't know where to throw it, and others can't believe it."

This is another kind of incomprehension for Francis.So he picked up the rose cake and ate it. Qin Zhijin shook Benzi and said happily: "This is great. From now on, I will give you whatever I can't finish."

Before Fang Ji could refuse, Qin Ziyao walked in with a sad head. Qin Zhijin saw his brother frustrated and asked, "Brother, why are you being bullied again with your tail between your legs?"

Kang Jingwu would come to Qin's house occasionally. Although Qin Ziyao hated it, he couldn't refuse. However, when he came, he would specifically ask Fang Ji to avoid him, and Fang Ji almost never left the house.I haven't bumped into it for more than half a year.

But Qin Ziyao is not worried about this matter.

"I can't learn anymore." Qin Ziyao said: "It's been almost a year, and I've only been able to scare the snakes away from the grass. When I hit them, the snakes ran away and the dragon disappeared."

"Forget it if you can't learn it. You don't like learning anyway." Qin Zhijin obviously disagreed.

"Then dad wants to ask me to learn other kung fu. And he has to interact with Kang Jingwu often."

Qin's father said more than once, "Being rich without being noble is the way to get into trouble." Their family did not have enough backers, but they were wealthy. They were always on pins and needles and were very careful when entering and exiting.

Francis picked up the wooden sticks they used for practice and said, "Let's practice."

Qin Ziyao knew that he was the most diligent in his work.Although he had no intention of doing it, he still practiced with two wooden swords, a long and a short one.The two stood still in the pavilion. Qin Ziyao struck down with his long sword and thrust out with his dagger.After a few moves.Fang Ji said: "Wrong." He continued: "This time the dagger came out first."

Francis actually took the initiative to speak and corrected his skills.Qin Ziyao was quite surprised, and then he remembered that he had indeed made the wrong move just now.So he started again, and after a few more moves, Francis called out again: "Move your left foot forward."

"Francis talked a lot today." Zhijin laughed and said, "Brother, you have to be serious."

Qin Ziyao was also surprised and said: "Fang Ji, have you said everything for a month today?"

"If you can't learn well, I'll have no work to do." Francis replied.

Qin Ziyao laughed loudly, and the two continued to practice. Fang Ji always got it right when he made mistakes. Qin Ziyao asked in surprise: "Why do you know this?"

Francis replied: "You told me before practice."

Before Qin Ziyao fought with him, he would indeed explain to him what he had learned today, but he also remembered it too clearly.So he asked: "Do you remember these moves?"

Francis shook his head: "I just think you are doing something wrong."

Qin Ziyao was suspicious and handed him the long and short wooden swords.Said: "Please demonstrate it!"

Fang Ji took the long and short swords, imitated the walking dragon and snake that Qin Ziyao had used, and used each move to make the sword come out. Qin Ziyao couldn't help but be stunned.Although Fang Ji's moves were incomplete and often made mistakes, he was able to use both the long and short swords smoothly without any hesitation.Especially the transition between moves, such as an antelope hanging its horns.There is no sluggishness at all. I have been learning it for almost a year, but I am far less comfortable using it than he is.

"Okay!" Qin Ziyao grabbed his arm and was almost hit on the head by the sword: "Come with me to see dad!"

Qin Ziyao persuaded his father to let Fang Ji learn how to walk the dragon and snake with him.His reason is that after Francis learns, he can serve as a bodyguard to protect the courtyard internally, and externally, he may also be able to have a close relationship with Huashan.

To Qin's father, Fang Ji was an outsider and had only been in the family for half a year.He also has a weird temperament. According to his son, he can even eat his own dog, which shows that he is a very unlucky person.A coldhearted person will be ungrateful.Originally wanting to refuse, Qin Ziyao said that Francis was not unlucky, but pragmatic. He did not accept extra money and was abstinent.If he was allowed to learn skills, the worst would not be repaying kindness with enmity.And he learned it and could teach himself.

Father Qin finally agreed. He could afford it for two taels of silver a month.

Fang Ji originally wanted to refuse, but Qin Ziyao said: "This is also your job. Learn to teach me, and you are also a sparring partner."

So Francis went.

And he is indeed the chosen one.Even Lei Zhen was surprised by his qualifications.Even though he had not learned Kung Fu for a day, in less than three months, he had already caught up with the progress of other disciples who had just started for one year.

"You have to eat more to have strength!" Qin Zhijin hid all the leftovers and stuffed them into his room.Even so, she still didn't lose weight, at most she just didn't get fatter.Some people are destined to just not be able to lose weight.

Perhaps because of eating well, Francis began to grow taller, five inches taller than when he first came to Qin Mansion.No longer a thin and short man.The next year it was three inches taller.

Qin Ziyao has been practicing for more than a year and has barely got started. He has made rapid progress in the past few months, and Qin's father also feels that it is thanks to Fang Ji.He also increased his monthly salary to eight yuan.But by the second year, Qin's father no longer wanted to pay for his tuition. Qin Ziyao begged, and Qin's father asked Francis to sign a deed of sale and be a slave in the Qin family for 20 years, otherwise he would have to pay back the tuition.

Rarely, Francis agreed without saying anything.Qin's father was also quite happy.He also adjusted his salary to one tael.This is for him who is alone.Completely enough to cover living expenses.

Qin Ziyao has not made any progress since then. Not only is he not good at learning how to walk a dragon or a snake, he is not even good at practicing martial arts.Although Francis progressed faster than him, he would practice with him when he went home, but he was more like a teacher.

Two more years later, the Qin family's business gradually declined. They had no unique skills and relied on low prices, high quality, and small profits but quick turnover.The harvest in Shaanxi was not good this year, and the price of mulberry and hemp increased, resulting in a loss of capital.In addition to his contacts with powerful people, he spent a lot of money.Qin Ziyao wants to help his father take care of the business.Simply give up learning martial arts.Save a fortune.

Fang Ji had already learned all the introductory skills of walking the dragon and the snake. Lei Zhen said that if he wanted to continue learning, he would have to learn the essentials, which would cost him ten taels of silver a month.This is a sky-high price, and Francis cannot afford it.So give up.That night, Qin Ziyao came to see him.

"Do you want to learn how to walk the dragon and snake?" Qin Ziyao asked him.

Francis thought for a moment and nodded.

"You usually don't have any ideas." Qin Ziyao asked, "Why do you suddenly want to learn martial arts?"

"It's easy to find a job if you have a skill." Francis replied, and this answer was completely in character with him.Qin Ziyao smiled.

"This amount of money is too big, and dad won't agree to it. I have saved my personal money over the years. That's all." He took out 80 taels of banknotes and said, "You can learn from it. I will find a way to save the rest."

Francis was silent for a moment, then he bent down and took out a package from under the kang. It was full of scattered silver, a large package.

"I still have these."

Qin Ziyao weighed it and found that there were about 50 taels at the end, and he couldn't stop talking.Asked: "Have you not spent any money in the past few years?"

"You can eat and sleep here without spending any money." Francis replied. After getting along with each other for several years, Francis finally talked more.It’s no longer a question-and-answer type of thing.

Qin Ziyao simply doubted that he could make a fortune as a servant.

Another year passed, and Francis was already eighteen. One day he returned to the Qin Mansion and saw Qin Zhijin lying on the table in the pavilion crying.Qin Ziyao stroked his back to comfort him.

"Dad betrothed my sister to Kang Jingwu." Qin Ziyao said.

The Qin family hopes to be taken care of by powerful people, but the Kang family is short of money.It's not surprising that such a marriage can give each other what they need, and Qin Ziyao had expected it.

"Every time he sees me, he thinks I'm fat and ugly! He says all the maids in the brothel are prettier than me." Qin Jinzhi pulled Fang Ji's sleeves and cried: "Go and help me kill him. This way I There’s no need to get married.”

"Don't talk nonsense!" Qin Ziyao scolded his sister.

"Is this life?" Francis asked.

The Qin brothers and sisters were stunned.Qin Ziyao said hurriedly: "Don't take it seriously, the girl is just fooling around."

Francis thought for a moment and nodded.Said: "Don't put food in my room from now on. If you get fat, he will dislike you and won't marry you."

Fang Ji's words are really incredible to the Qin family brothers and sisters.Maybe you only hear it once every three to five years.

In the winter of this year, Qin's father walked out of the house one day and suddenly fell ill with wind.He was completely paralyzed and took care of him for several months. He spent a lot of money in vain, but in the end he was not saved.Brother and sister Qin Ziyao cried so hard.Francis just burned incense and said no more.

In the past few years, the Qin family has taken care of Fang Ji's food, clothing, and housing, allowed him to learn martial arts, and given him a salary.Seeing that he didn't shed a single tear, the servants lamented that the master had raised a white-eyed wolf.Francis clearly heard it, but did not argue.

Although the Qin family was declining day by day, Qin Ziyao still paid Francis' tuition for this year.Lei Zhen told Francis that in another year, he would definitely be successful in his career.But he still has a set of martial arts that he can teach him, which is the "Dragon-Snake Transformation".The other students are useless, and Lei Zhen plans to fire all the students.Take Francis back to his hometown in Hanzhong to cultivate.

"You tell Qin Ziyao." Fang Ji replied, "I have no money."

"500 taels." Lei Zhen approached Qin Ziyao seriously and said, "I still suffered a big loss. I opened a school in Chang'an and earned more than this amount."

This is the truth. There are many people who want to learn this martial arts.With two taels of silver per month, ten people have an income of 240 taels a year.Lei Zhen really wanted to teach this apprentice well.

Qin Ziyao gritted his teeth, sold all the antiques, calligraphy and paintings at home, and paid the money.Let Lei Zhen take Francis away.Once he left, there was no news.

Someone asked Qin Ziyao, why on earth should he be so good to Francis?

"I read ancient books and saw the friendship between Guan and Bao. I don't admire Guan Zhong, but I admire Bao Shuya the most." Qin Ziyao said: "If he has the ability, I will be Bao Shuya."

"He doesn't know a few Chinese characters, how can he be better than Guan Zhong?" Everyone laughed at Qin Ziyao, who almost lost all his family property for an outsider. Some people knew about Fang Ji's origins and said that he helped prostitutes wash mooncloths, and everyone looked down upon him.Even the servants of the Qin family said that Fang Ji was taken care of by his master in this way. Not only did he never say thank you, but he always put on a straight face and showed no sign of gratitude.Even if he completes his studies, he will not return to the Qin family.

When Fang Ji arrived at Lei Zhen's hometown in Hanzhong, he realized that even Lei Zhen hadn't learned the Dragon Snake Transformation well.Lei Zhen introduced him, and the two of them continued to break down and practice moves according to the sword manual, and pondered the subtle changes.

In the blink of an eye, three years have passed.Lei Zhen said to Francis: "I have nothing to teach you. But there is one thing I want to remind you. You have never killed anyone, and you have never used force with anyone. You will be afraid when you really kill people, and your courage still needs to be tempered."

Francis nodded, but did not say goodbye to his teacher - the teacher's kindness was paid for with a discount of two cents.Go back to Chang'an.

He had no place to go. When he returned to Chang'an, he naturally returned to Qin's house. He knocked on the door, but no one answered.After knocking for a long time, the person who opened the door was an old servant of the Qin family. When he saw him, he cried loudly: "Why are you back at this time?"

"Looking for a job!" Fang Ji answered without even thinking about it.He walked right in.Instead of asking, just look.

The Qin Mansion has really declined. The neglected garden is overgrown with weeds, all the calligraphy and painting decorations in the house are gone, and even the tables and chairs have been patched.

He saw Qin Ziyao in the hall with his face propped up and tears in his eyes.

Should he say: "I'm back?" he was thinking.

Qin Ziyao was surprised and happy when he saw him. He grabbed his arms and shouted, "Are you back?" After saying this, he burst into tears.

"What happened?" he asked.

It turned out that after Francis left, Qin Ziyao supported Qinfu Weaving Factory, whose business was declining. He was not a man who was good at business and suffered losses every year, so he cut back on expenses.Most of the servants and maids in the house were sent away, but he had a kind-hearted personality, and each one who left was given a large settlement allowance.This expense dispersed most of the family property.

Two years later, in the winter when Qin Ziyao was 23 years old, something big happened in Huashan. Fenyang attacked at night, and Huashan's power in Taiyuan was wiped out overnight. When the news came, there was a tremor, and Chang'an was frightened all night, and rumors spread everywhere.Some say that the leader ordered to send troops into Taiyuan, while others say that Shaolin deployed heavy troops at the border to prepare for war.There were workers in the weaving factory who were causing trouble and were snatching fabrics and fleeing.Broken tools again.This undoubtedly adds insult to injury.Qin Ziyao sued the sect. At this time of trouble in Huashan, who had time to deal with him?

Qin Ziyao had no choice but to close the weaving factory.Guarding the Qin family compound and living peacefully.The Qin family was completely ruined.Qin Ziyao was deeply troubled, saying that he could only be rich for three generations, and he really couldn't hold on to the family business.Perhaps it is true as his father said, if the Qin family could make friends with powerful people, they would not be in such a dilapidated state today.

However, the dignitaries they wanted to make friends with not only failed to help, but instead defeated Qin Ziyao. Qin Ziyao had already reached the age of marriage, but was only delayed due to the death of his father. After the period of filial piety was over, he was about to find a daughter-in-law. Kang Jingwu first came to Qin Zhijin with a marriage certificate and asked him to marry him. Asked for 1000 taels of betrothal silver.

"If you miss one article, I will kill your sister when she comes through." Kang Jingwu was a straightforward threat.Qin Zhijin was so frightened that she didn't dare to leave the room to see him.

Qin Ziyao was furious: "Kang Jingwu, we have been together for ten years, and you treat my sister like this?"

"Your father is also interested in my family's family background." Kang Jingwu sneered: "If it is less than 1000 taels, your sister will not live to be twenty. The marriage certificate is here, you can't rely on it even if you want."

Obviously, Kang Jingwu planned to squeeze out the last profit and water while the Qin family still had three pounds of nails, but he was afraid that it would be too late and the Qin family would be worthless.Even if there is a lawsuit, the relationship between the Kang family is much better than that of his family.A marriage certificate written in black and white cannot be denied.

"I sold all my belongings and only got 1000 taels. I just want to get the marriage certificate back. My girl won't marry him." Qin Ziyao said, "I didn't expect him to insist on marrying Zhijin."

Qin Ziyao understood that this was a clear intention to continue blackmail.

"Zhijin doesn't want to suffer. He just hanged himself in the room last night. He finally saved her. Now she is resting in the room." Qin Ziyao said, "Go and see her."

Fang Ji went to see Qin Zhijin. She was really obedient and had gained a lot of weight in the past three years.Qin Zhijin's face was pale, and when he saw Fang Ji, he kept crying and complaining.Francis sat by her bed and said nothing.Qin Zhijin complained that he didn't speak, seemed to not care about him, and was a white-eyed wolf.Francis had no choice but to ask: "Would you like some water?"

Qin Zhijin knew his character and was amused by this sentence.

Wait until Qin Zhijin falls asleep.Qin Ziyao called Fang Ji to the hall again.

"You have never been talkative. But you are willing to come back, which shows that you still value me as a friend." Qin Ziyao put a stack of banknotes in front of him: "I will deliver the girl to you. You take her to escape. The woman eloped, and this matter will be investigated. It can’t reach my head. Kang Jingwu can’t do anything to me.”

"You are not my friend." Fang Ji replied. Qin Ziyao did not expect him to say this.I couldn't help but be stunned. Over the years, he had never treated Francis as a servant, and he had cultivated him carefully.Is it true, as my father said, that those who are cold will be ungrateful?

"It's time to get to work." Francis stood up and said.

The next night, Kang Jingwu and five guards came to Qin's house again to blackmail them. As soon as they entered, the old servant closed the door.

As soon as Kang Jingwu walked into the hall, he saw a pair of long and short swords hanging from Fang Ji's waist.Then he heard the old servant beating gongs and drums outside the door, and Qin Ziyao shouted loudly: "There are robbers! There are robbers!" Kang Jingwu's face changed drastically. He did not recognize Fang Ji and asked, "What do you want to do?"
Francis didn't reply. He took a step forward and drew both long and short swords. A bodyguard quickly drew his sword to resist.As soon as the knife blocked the broom, I felt a chill in my waist.

After all, Kang Jingwu was a disciple of the sect and had learned martial arts. He hurriedly drew his sword to protect himself and retreated hastily.Francis killed one person, and the guards on both sides slashed at him with swords. He was short and turned around to avoid it. The long sword hit one person's neck, and the dagger stabbed into the waist of another person.

It was his first time to kill someone, but there was no flutter in his heart.It was as calm as if he were doing an ordinary job.

The remaining three people were running away. He rushed forward and stabbed one of the guards in the back with his long sword.The dagger plunged into the waist of the last guard.After catching up with Kang Jingwu, Kang Jingwu swung his sword to fight back. Fangji turned around twice in a row, dodged to his side, and stabbed out with his long sword. Kang Jingwu just avoided it.There was a sharp pain in the abdomen.

Francis has put his face against her, getting very close.

"You...you are..." Kang Jingwu recognized him and said tremblingly.

Fang Ji drew out his dagger and Kang Jingwu fell.There were six corpses lying in the hall and courtyard, and there was a strong smell of blood in the air.

"It smells like the moon cloth." Francis thought.

This incident caused a great deal of commotion, and there were robbers and murderers in the bustling city of Chang'an.Moreover, the young master of the Iron Gate Gang was killed.Huashan wants to arrest people.Fang Ji did not resist and was taken to the Xingtang Yamen together with Qin Ziyao.The case was heard personally by the head of the Chang'an Punishment Hall.

The master of the execution hall is a middle-aged man in his forties. On the right side of the court, there is a young man in his thirties sitting, wearing a traveling crown and a black robe.His face was as cold as frost.Neither of them recognized him.

"I am the guardian of the Qin family." Fang Ji's defense was simple: "They were very vicious. They broke into the hall at night, and I was guarding there. I thought they were bandits."

"You won't listen to their explanation?" Xingtang asked.

"They ran away." Francis shook his head: "They were all dead before I could hear them."

Qin Ziyao defended Fang Ji, saying that Kang Jingwu had a grudge against Fang Ji and mistakenly thought he was seeking revenge, so he turned around and ran away. He was not there at the time, and Fang Ji took action too quickly, killing them all before he could defend himself.

"How can it be so fast?" Xingtang roared: "You can't even defend yourself in time? It's obviously nonsense!"

"That's it!" Qin Ziyao replied affirmatively.

"You can be so fast. I will sentence you to manslaughter." The young man in black robe sitting aside spoke.The master of the execution hall quickly stood up respectfully: "Third Young Master."

Qin Ziyao was surprised. It turned out that this person was Yan Feixi, the third son of the current head of the Yan family.

"Give him two wooden swords and find six guards." Yan Feixi ordered.The tone leaves no room for doubt.

※ ※ ※

Fang Ji was finally convicted of manslaughter. Considering that Kang Jingwu entered the house at night, although it was not unprovoked, it caused an accident, and the crime was reduced.Francis was sentenced to tattoos, forty canes, and two years in prison, which could be used to offset the fine.Qin Ziyao used his servants to do evil, and even if he had twenty sticks, he could redeem them with gold.The Kang family complained and still upheld the original verdict.

Francis asked about the price of the ransom and only replied: "It's too expensive."

Qin Ziyao understood that this was because Fang Ji had considered that the Qin family was already ruined and that if he paid the ransom, there would be little left except the big courtyard.So he said that if he was not around, the Kang family would definitely take revenge, so he accepted the atonement.But he was still tortured with tattoos and a cane.

On the day Francis received his tattoo, Yan Feixi also came.

"If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be guilty of this."

Francis ignored him.

"You have learned how to walk as a dragon and snake, and you can be considered a branch of Huashan." Yan Feixi said, "Help me, how about that?"

Fenyang's night attack made Huashan know that they were not strong enough to compete with Shaolin, and they were about to recruit talents.

"I'm alive." Fang Ji replied, "I still owe the Qin family 15 years."

"Boy, don't toast me and you'll be fined with wine!" the execution hall master behind Yan Feixi scolded angrily.Yan Feixi waved his hand to stop him: "I can redeem you with the Qin family and give you your freedom."

"What's the most your men can receive?" he asked.

"30 taels." Yan Feixi replied.

"360 taels a year. 15 years, 400 taels." Francis replied: "This is my ransom price."

Everyone started making noises, and Yan Feixi's face twitched: "Are you worth this price?"

"You can try." Francis replied.

When Francis came back, he had a dragon tattooed on his mouth. The bright dragon looked like it had been bitten off by him.He said that this was Yan Feixi's order. He didn't want to use a tattooed subordinate, and he didn't want to violate the law.So he tattooed the word on his cheek and covered it up with a dragon-shaped tattoo.

Then Yan Feixi paid 400 taels to Qin Ziyao to redeem Fang Ji.A huge sum of money that Qin Ziyao had never imagined.

Fang Ji changed his name to Fang Jingjiu, and Qin Ziyao asked why.Francis only replied: "I don't like the previous name." As for why he was called Fang Jingjiu.

"I heard that sentence when I wanted to change my name." Fang Ji said: "If you don't drink a toast, you will have to drink a fine wine." He asked again: "Or do you think it sounds better to call me Fang a fine wine?"

This is the first time in the past few years that Francis has asked him for his opinion.Qin Ziyao's eyes turned red again.

Qinfu Weaving Workshop reopened, and Qin's father's wish to be "rich and noble" finally came true.Qin Ziyao had well-connected people on the business routes in Shaanxi.

After all, he is the brother-in-law of Huashan General "Dragon-Slaying Sword" Fang Jingjiu.

(End of this chapter)