Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 603 The task of earning a living

It took Lando more than half a year to get used to life in this time and space - he can speak Italian fluently, and he can also pretend to be aristocratic. He quietly hired a boat and returned to Dongsha island.The fishing boat was unharmed, and he managed to sneak in and retrieve some of his own guns and ammunition, as well as a couple of emergency kits - containing invaluable modern medicines.

Change is a disaster, but also a new opportunity.After Lando settled down, he began to think about his future.

In this strange time and space, it is always no problem for me to rely on my skills and the firearms in my hand to make a living without worrying about food and clothing.But he was a little unwilling to continue like this.

How about going to Europe?Lando quickly dismissed the idea: he was an American and had no idea of ​​Europe.After traveling all the way back, what do you do for a living?The United States does not yet exist. It is of course possible to become an immigrant by yourself, but it is too painful.

Lando thought about floating the ship. Relying on these guns and motorized boats, he might as well be a pirate. The galleons in Manila bring in a lot of silver every year, and a considerable part of the silver arrives in Macau and is used to send money to China. People buy various goods.The Jesuits were also actively involved, and Lando had seen too much.

If you can build a boat, the South China Sea will be full of gold!The Portuguese ship, the Spanish ship, the Dutch ship, which one is not full of silver and going to China.As long as you rob one, you will be developed!With money, you can recruit desperadoes, buy boats and guns——Landu is very different from Chinese traversers.He has never used his brain to make anything by himself. He is used to using all ready-made weapons. Now he is very good at playing with arquebus and flintlock, and he is also one of the top ten masters in swordsmanship in the local area.

When you have enough looting, and you have the capital and people, you can directly set up a small independent country and become the king: there are so many unopened wastelands!Tie up a few attractive Portuguese women, and sneak off to Australia or New Zealand to be a colonist.It didn't take long for him to realize that he had nowhere to go to refuel, let alone have any of his men.To be a colonist alone is to be eaten by the Maori.

In addition, he did not have the technical means to salvage the boat.Disappointed, Lando decided to hang out in Macau for the time being, and then try to gather a group of reliable people.

But he was quickly disappointed: in Macau, a city full of adventurers, everyone talks about money, and only missionaries have ideals.After more than a year, he didn't even make a real friend - there were quite a few friends who drank and gambled.

As for his backers and patrons: Jesuit priests, how many of their smiles can see through the soul contain so much content that makes him afraid.

He began to miss his old friends, and their lives and deaths were unknown.If one or two people are still alive, there will always be mutual help, which will definitely open up a small situation.

If there is anyone in this time and space that he can trust, it is his black slave-he won it from the gambling table.In order to commemorate the third part of a certain movie that he wanted to watch but didn't see, he named this black man Shlick.

Shrek is a melancholy black man with few words.He is loyal enough to Lando——Lando at least upholds the basic human rights concept of modern people in the 21st century: give him enough food, don't whip him, and won't lose him as a bet at any time.

Every morning, Shrek would respectfully prepare washing water and clothes for him.The communication between master and servant is basically based on eye contact, gestures and a strange dialogue: Shlick speaks a strange Spanish, and Lando speaks a broken Portuguese.

The difference between Spanish and Portuguese is very small, and their language communication can barely understand each other.

"I'm going to run out of money again." He muttered, turned and walked from the pier to the small inn where he lived.Narrowly escaped from Zheng Zhilong's hands, Liu Xiang generously gave him [-] Spanish pesos—and tried to recruit him to serve him. This tall and strong man fought one hundred against one on the big ship, obviously he was not an ordinary person. He needs a fierce general like this.

Lando refused, the experience of this kind of life hanging by a thread once is enough.

After returning to Macau, Jalanzani rewarded him with another hundred pesos.Just like all things have a beginning and an end.The four hundred pesos finally came to an end.He ate, drank, gambled, and occasionally provoked women—Lando once hooked up the wife of a well-known local Portuguese businessman, and then almost beat his jealous husband to death.He was notorious for this, and if he hadn't thought that Jesus would have died and Jesus would have ended it, he would have had to run away.

These enjoyments quickly emptied his money bag. In fact, Gelanzani still took good care of him, giving him a little work from time to time, but he was very stingy.Never more than fifty pesos.

He was short of money and struggling to make ends meet.If this continues, I'm afraid I will have to live as a thing.At the Jesuits, if there is no task, they will not give them any money, and they welcome free meals at any time-if bread, bean soup and sour wine mixed with cold water are considered a meal.

He began to seriously consider whether to work for Liu Xiang—this person’s agent in Macau welcomes desperadoes from all over the world to serve him at any time—Europeans are especially good, he needs people to control European guns for himself, The terms of the offer are not bad, four hundred Spanish pesos a year for the gunner.Lando reckoned that he should be worth a thousand per year.

The inn was in full swing, it was an inn owned by Portuguese Jews.This kind of small inn should have everything: a warm proprietress, a chubby boss, a noisy dining room, and barely a comfortable room.Lando thought it was relatively clean—Jews were the most hygienic compared to Europeans in this time and space—and the food was good. Although the price was a bit expensive, he still chose this place as a long-term place to stay.

In a blink of an eye, he has been here for more than two years.As usual, there will be some discounts if you live for a long time - such as debts.When he saw the proprietress, he realized that he owed the rent and rent here for almost three months.

The landlady's complexion was very ugly, and the candles on the candlesticks he gave him were also the kind that were almost out of light.

"Good night." She didn't even say the word "sir".

"Good night, ma'am." He gave the most charming smile of an Italian man, and not many women could resist it, but Jewish women were obviously indifferent to him.Turn around and go greet the guests who can pay.

He quickly slipped back to his room, a small room above the third floor—officially called a "loft."Shrek was sleeping on a straw bunk in front of the door.Seeing him coming, he quickly got up.

"Go to sleep, go to sleep. You nigger." Lando muttered and opened the door and walked in.

The furnishings in the room were extremely simple. He hung the clothes behind the door and carefully brushed them twice.Then he sat down and took out half of the bread from the drawer - the other half was given to Shlick before he left.If the situation is good, the man will bring him food when he comes back.Now of course I don't have to think about it.

He unholstered his ever-present pistol from his body and put it under the pillow.The stiff Chinese-style pillow also hides some of the modern possessions he salvaged from the boat: a medical kit, an atlas of East and Southeast Asia, a pocket compass and a wallet containing a few hundred dollars, now Just some flower paper.

Lando ate his bread with cold water, and thought about his future by the way.

As a pirate, he is weak and weak, so it is impossible for the time being.He was unwilling to be a mercenary for Liu Xiang—it was too dangerous, and he would not be able to play his role at sea. Unless he went to the gang himself, the VZ68 was useless at all, and the bullets were limited...

And then he thought again of those strange Australians--though he never saw them again after that.But Lando is still [-]% sure: this is a group of people from the same time and space as him.Judging by the ridiculous way they call themselves "Aussies".

Australians, you are a bunch of Chinamen!

As for how these Chinese guys got to this time and space, I am afraid only God knows.

But the Chinese are clearly far better off than themselves.They were well dressed and looking good.And it's still selling various items.His jaw almost dropped when he first saw the "crystal mirrors" that rich Chinese were vying to show off.

Isn't this a plastic mirror!He's been seen in many thrift stores around the world.

Then more and more news spread to Macau, such as the Australians built a castle on the big island in southern China, they have an iron ship that is bigger than the largest Galen ship, and there are many strange things .Also, firearms are very powerful.

After comprehensive analysis, Lando came to three conclusions: the so-called Australians are Chinese from the 21st century; they have modern ships and weapons; they have many people.

As for the big island in southern China, of course it is Hainan Island.

He checked his atlas and found an unfamiliar place name on the map: Lingao.

Lingao.He remembered that Father Comange told him that he was transferred from Lingao to Macau by the Chinese government.He also recalled being escorted onto the boat by a group of ragged Chinese soldiers with spears and knives when he was almost naked. It seemed like a desolate place.
Lando had a vague feeling that his coming here had a great relationship with them.

What do these Chinese people want to do when they come to Lingao?
As more and more goods poured in from Lingao, and Australian goods became a well-known brand, and many goods showed obvious signs of being produced in this time and space, Lando revised his judgment to: this group of people The Chinese still have machinery and equipment, engineers and qualified skilled workers.

Even the so-called "Australian product" changed his life: there was paper on the market specially used to wipe buttocks in the toilet, and the price was surprisingly low, so that Lando's excretion was no longer an economic burden.

The Chinese even began to supply Macau with matches, cigarettes, rum and soda in oak barrels. There are many such vendors on the streets of Macau, carrying two small wine barrels with taps on their backs, one is sweet and sour One is soda and one is rum.You can buy them alone or as a mix, and in the summer they can even add grated mint leaves for you.Lando thought, isn't this just a cocktail?
God, Lando thought, at least the Chinese made it easier for him in this time and space.

News of Lingao's "Australian-style" lifestyle has gradually spread to Macau, including their good streets, perfect municipal management, and bright lights like stars every night...

Now, for the first time, Lando, who was desperate for starting a new business, seriously considered the idea of ​​defecting to the Australians, or the Chinese.At least - they have plenty of toilet paper and clean toilets.In addition, he still likes Chinese food in the 21st century.

Instead of working for Liu Xiang, it is better to go to the Chinese.As people from the same time and space, everyone should have a common language.Speaking of which, when I saw them in Gelanzani's mansion, there was also a European among them-a very beautiful chick who seemed to be Latino.

Now that there are Europeans, there will be no rejection of another European.Talandu doesn't have a homeland in this time and space, so the other party definitely doesn't have to worry about him in this regard.

I have been a volunteer soldier, so I should be a professional talent they urgently need. I will definitely have food there, and my status will be very high-how can Liu Xiang understand his value?But the Chinese in the 21st century must understand.

Thinking of this, he suddenly felt that going to Lingao was a bright road - he even wondered why he didn't think of it earlier, at least he would lose a year of fasting.

And he has a big gift!Lando thought that the weapons and ammunition sunk on the reef of Dongsha Island are a huge fortune.Relying on this, I can get a good position in Lingao's group.

He began to plan his "fleeing for freedom", and he didn't even bother to eat bread.Getting to Lingao is easy, and the Australians, like all sea powers in the region, have semi-public agents here.From time to time, there are ships traveling between the two places.And there are no travel restrictions on the side of Lingao, anyone can go as long as they want to.

Suddenly he thought of a question: Are these modern Chinese in Lingao under the command of their government?Could the Chinese government have mastered some secrets of traveling through time and space, and is planning some amazing conspiracy in this time and space?

If this is the case, if I rush to reveal my identity, I am afraid that I will be silenced immediately!

Lando's enthusiasm immediately cooled down.No matter how clean the toilet and delicious food, the premise is that you can live freely.If they were locked up or simply shot, it would be meaningless.

He couldn't bear to think about it, and then he thought that if the other party wanted to know if there were other Americans in this time and space besides himself, their mission would be endangered, and he might torture himself...

He shuddered at the thought, and began to eat bread again.

That night, Lando had a strange dream.After a while he arrived in Lingao, put on the "people's costume", and sat in a magnificent auditorium for a meeting; after a while he became an agent of the U.S. government, responding to the SEALs in the wilderness, and said loudly: "Lingao Just in that direction"; after a while he was tied to a chair again, and in the dark secret room, several Chinese people in training uniforms looked at him coldly, as if they wanted to torture him. He also found out that it was Gelanzani who was interrogating him.He said, "You heretic! Prepare to atone."

Then he found himself standing on a stake piled high with firewood.

Lando yelled, rolled out of bed, and woke up.

He touched his forehead, it was sweaty.

"God!" he cried, and it was terrible.

"Master, how are you?" Shrek poked a head in from the door.

"I'm fine!" Lando said. "Pour me some water to wash my face."

Lando was not served any breakfast in the dining room.The proprietress just reminded him with a smiling face: he still has three months' outstanding bills to pay.

Lando and Shrek, the master and servant, had no choice but to wander the streets. Lando wanted to see if he could meet some acquaintances who could have a meal together. If not, he had to go to the Jesuit church for dinner.

A short black woman in cotton clothes suddenly leaned forward, her appearance made him lose his appetite for breakfast.

"Mr. Lando! Mr. Lando!" she yelled in Portuguese.

"What's the matter?" He looked at the black woman, it seemed that she should be some rich man's slave girl or something.Her appearance was not much like that of African slaves, her eyes were yellow and slanted.No matter what time and space is used to look at his appearance, he can be called ugly.

"Please come here." The black female slave signaled him to a Chinese tea stall on the side of the road.

"I'm sorry, I don't have time." Lando said carelessly, he was too lazy to talk to such an ugly woman.

"If there is this?" The black female slave untied a money bag from her waist, and the silver coins made a pleasant rubbing sound.

"Okay. I'm never one to refuse a woman."

The black female slave asked for a pot of tea, as if she wanted to say something to him.But he looked at the Chinese stall owner frying something in the pot with vague eyes-he vaguely remembered that this thing could be eaten in Chinatown, it seemed to be called fried dough sticks.

The smell of fried dough sticks made him ecstatic.

The black female slave gave him a helpless look, took out some Chinese copper coins, and asked the stall owner to bring fried dough sticks and sesame seed cakes.

Lando picked up the sesame seed cakes with a gentlemanly reserved and arrogant attitude, and followed the example of other Chinese people, folded the fried dough sticks and rolled them up.I ate it in big mouthfuls.

"Give me another serving for my servant." He said to the stall owner in Chinese.

So Shrek also got a fried dough stick.

"I want to ask Mr. Lando, are you free recently?"

(End of this chapter)