The literary giants of the late Ming Dynasty began by copying books

Chapter 13 The Inventor of Mahjong

Seeing a group of people grabbing Wang Wenlong and leaving, Mrs. Zhang said worriedly: "Why did this child get into trouble with the Shibo Bureau? I'm afraid it wasn't the scholars in the county who said a few days ago that they wanted to write a letter to sue the eunuch, and this child also went to get involved. foot?"

When Wang Jingui heard this, he immediately became nervous and sighed: "Good boy, why are you getting involved in this stupid thing?"

He thought for a while and hurriedly went out to find Yu Xiangdou to ask what happened to Wang Wenlong.
Wang Wenlong was dragged out of the door by several big men. After walking for a while, the few followers saw that Wang Wenlong didn't resist much, so they let him go.

Wang Wenlong didn't know what the situation was, but seeing that everyone's attitude wasn't too bad, he could only follow him honestly.

The group of people quickly boarded the ferry by the river. Before boarding the boat, Wang Wenlong took the initiative to buy wine and meat for everyone to eat and drink, and everyone naturally tolerated it.

After boarding the ship, everyone was quarreling with each other. Wang Wenlong then dared to ask: "May I ask some of you, what on earth did I commit? Are the laborers coming from Zhangzhou to arrest me?"

Most of these Gao Yin's followers were rogues in the market before. They were promoted by Gao Yin and had the opportunity to pretend to be powerful, but their social status was still not high. But just now Wang Wenlong respected them very much and even took the initiative to buy things. It was almost All the gangsters have a good impression of Wang Wenlong.

One of them smiled and said: "Mr. Wang, don't worry, our Eunuch Gao wants to see you. My father-in-law is in Fuzhou now, not Zhangzhou."

"Eunuch Gao?"

Another rogue explained: "Eunuch Gao liked your novel very much after reading it, so he wanted to ask you to be an aide in the house..."

Is there anyone who hires someone to be an aide like this?

After some questioning and finding out the whole story, Wang Wenlong couldn't help but laugh or cry. He thought to himself that no wonder everyone hated eunuchs. Even he couldn't help but want to curse Gao Yin hundreds of dirty words.

Fortunately, he is safe. Wang Wenlong also experienced many twists and turns in his previous life, and his psychological quality is still online.

Gao Yin's instructions for this mission were urgent. These followers and Lin Shiqing did not dare to neglect at all after inviting Wang Wenlong and rushed back immediately.

Wang Wenlong saw the six followers of Gao Yin gambling on the boat with leaf cards. He was depressed while sailing, but playing cards seemed to be boring to these rogues.

He thought for a while, then approached and said, "Everyone, I know a Western way of playing leaves. I wonder if you are interested."

"Do Western countries also have leaf cards?"

"They were all brought by us people from the Ming Dynasty, so of course there are some." Wang Wenlong took the initiative to get close to the six rogues, put four decks of leaf cards together, and took a pen to write spring, summer, autumn and winter on the deck. Plum blossoms, orchids, bamboos and chrysanthemums, southeast, northwest, red in the middle and white in the middle.

Then he put the four decks of leaf cards together and said:
"This style of play is called Mahjong, also called Ma Diao. It's extremely interesting. Let me tell you the rules..."

Leaf tiles were originally the predecessor of Mahjong. By the end of the Ming Dynasty, they already had a configuration of ten thousand cakes. After adding flower tiles, they could be played as Mahjong.

Although the rules of mahjong are complicated, the few gangsters here are all experienced gamblers. After Wang Wenlong’s explanation, they got started and quickly got into the game.

The gangsters shouted happily, and Wang Wenlong took the opportunity to ask the gangster leader: "May I ask what your brother's name is?"

Hearing Wang Wenlong call him brother, the rogue was quite pleased and said with a smile: "That's the one who calls me Li Bajin."

After playing two games, a few rogues were attracted by the mahjong that was far more complex and exciting than the leaf tiles.

"bump!"

"eat!"

"Mr. Wang, please don't play my card..."

"Do you want Dongfeng to..."

These six guys had just learned how to play mahjong, and their skills were very unfamiliar. Wang Wenlong fed the cards a little and made several people enjoy the game. They soon pulled Wang Wenlong away from the table, and the remaining people took turns to play. .

Everyone was shouting and making a lot of noise.

At this time, Lin Shiqing, who was sitting on the bow of the boat and studying, frowned and said, "Why are you so unruly when you go out to do things? Put away the leaf cards and don't hit them!"

The gangsters were stunned for a moment. Wang Wenlong secretly saw that everyone was shaking their legs and ignoring him, with no intention of playing cards.

Just listen to a rogue gossip: "A poor old man who can't even get into the county school. He's like a dog. How can he pretend to be a senior in front of us?" Wang Wenlong understood. This scholar seemed to be unable to convince the public.

Li Bajin explained to Wang Wenlong on the side: "We are all the long class under Eunuch Gao." He then pointed to Lin Shiqing, who was dozing in the bow of the boat with his eyes closed, "That guy is just a low-ranking student in Fuzhou County School. , relying on his reputation as a scholar, he really thinks of himself as Zhuge Liang, which is very annoying."

"Actually, Eunuch Gao doesn't pay much attention to him at all. We can all help Eunuch Gao collect taxes, but that guy has been in the house for so long, and he hasn't come up with any tax collection methods for Eunuch Gao."

Wang Wenlong understood the situation instantly and knew that the people in Gao Yin's house were not of the same mind.

When he arrived in a new place, he naturally wanted to grab the people close to him, so he immediately lined up.

He complimented: "It turns out that these few are my father-in-law's cronies. They are so loyal. I think they will be able to do great things in the future by following Eunuch Gao, and they will all make a fortune."

This group of ruffians became happy when they heard this.

"Sir, do you think we can really make a fortune by following Eunuch Gao?"

Wang Wenlong nodded and flattered: "That's natural. Now that Eunuch Gao has been reused by the emperor, how can those rumors affect Eunuch Gao's position? Everyone will have a bright future if they follow Eunuch Gao."

Li Bajin nodded happily and said: "Sir, you are right. Now that my father-in-law is in power, who can do anything to him? My father-in-law should not take that nonsense to heart. Making more money is the right thing to do. Unfortunately, my father-in-law is still too kind. .”

The other rogues also echoed one after another: "That's right, what Mr. Wang said makes sense. He is much smarter than Mr. Lin! He also pretends all day long. Mr. Wang is what a knowledgeable master says!"

Lin Shiqing was dozing off at the bow of the boat, but his ears were kept perked. Hearing these words, he suddenly became angry.

He turned back to find fault and said, "Why are you still playing cards?"

The gangsters crossed their legs and ignored him.

Lin Shiqing was angry, but there was nothing he could do.

He was an old scholar who had failed to pass the examination for more than ten years. When Gao Yin arrived in Fujian, he stepped forward to seek refuge with him as soon as he gritted his teeth.

However, he didn't have much reputation among the scholars in Fujian. He could only help Gao Yin with some crooked ideas and rely on flattery to stay by Gao Yin's side.

Lin Shiqing was quite unhappy because of this. He thought of himself as a strategist, but he had no chance to display his talents.

Compared with him, these rogues who could become Gao Yin's personal followers were all famous idlers in Fujian.

Gao Yin relied on Li Bajin and the others to collect taxes, and he treated them more highly than Lin Shiqing. Although Lin Shiqing was dissatisfied, he did not dare to argue too much with them.

Now Lin Shiqing could only think about waiting for an opportunity to help Eunuch Gao get a large sum of money, and then he could establish his prestige in the Shipping Department.

When the boat left Jianshui, Yu Xiangdou and Deng Zhimo led several bookstore clerks to catch up with the official boat, and anxiously asked Wang Wenlong what happened?
Wang Wenlong could only say: "Eunuch Gao said he liked my article and wanted me to go to Fuzhou to meet him."

Yu Xiangdou and Deng Zhimo were stunned when they heard this.

Lin Shiqing on the side looked at the sky and said impatiently: "Has the matter been made clear? Eunuch Gao is still waiting in Fuzhou!"

The two of them didn't know what to say, so Yu Xiangdou could only give the gold and silver he had prepared to Wang Wenlong.

Lin Shiqing glanced at the wallet with greed on his face.

Then he waved his hand: "Row!"

The majestic official boatman was arrogant and stuck his big bamboo pole into the string of other people's boats. Then the official boat ran rampant on the river and almost capsized Yu Xiangdou's small boat.

Yu Xiangdou and Deng Zhimo were scared to death, but Lin Shiqing and others felt nothing.

When the ship was gone, Lin Shiqing could be heard in the distance scolding the other ships on the water: "Go away, the Shipping Department is doing business, are you looking for death?"

Deng Zhimo couldn't help but curse: "These bastards..."

(End of this chapter)