Jiaohua

Chapter 252: No Money
Song Qingtang ate a few bites of the pastry, thought it was not bad, and took out a few copper coins: "One more, wrap it well."

"Okay!" the peddler said happily.

Song Qingtang took the cake and left, ready to find his subordinates, but stopped a few steps away, looking at the bulletin board not far away.

There is also a portrait of the girl posted on the bulletin board, and she can be seen wherever she goes these few days, causing disturbances all over the city.

These days, Song Qingtang went to Xiancai's inn to look for her from time to time, but she never came back.

Now that the streets and alleys are covered with her portraits, it is estimated that she is even more unlikely to come back.

This girl, I don't know where to hide.

Song Qingtang frowned, looking down at the hot pastry in his palm.

The younger sisters in the family like dessert the most, and I don't know if this girl likes it or not.

………………

As soon as it entered late autumn, the weather became colder and faster, and it dropped sharply day by day, falling straight into severe winter.

In just seven or eight days, many layers of clothes have been added, and the sky is getting dark very quickly. Before You hour, there are pieces of lamps on the street, reflecting the long street brightly.

A line of guards passed by, glanced at the portrait of a girl on the bulletin board, and ignored it.

A gust of wind blew, the drawing paper shook, flew down and floated away.

In the dark alley at the back door of Jinyutang, Quan Jiuwei clasped his hands and huddled in the corner.

The drawing paper was blown, Quan Jiuwei looked down and frowned, it was her again.

Stepping on it, dirty footprints landed on the face of the portrait.

Feeling that it was not enough, Quan Jiuwei leaned over to pick it up, crumpled it into a ball, tore it up and threw it on the ground, blown away by the wind.

The back door was opened at this time, and a cook looked around, came over and said in a low voice: "It just won't work, I can't find a chance."

"Young lady, please help me out," Quan Jiuwei took out a copper plate from his sleeve, "I'll do it once I see him, and I can talk about the rest."

The cook took the copper plate and smiled with reluctance on her face.

Quan Jiuwei gritted his teeth, and took out two more copper coins: "Miss, please help."

The cook lowered her head and looked at it, not concealing her disgust, she put it away and said, "Then I'll go and show you, or I'll have nothing to do."

"Okay, thank you, madam." Quan Jiuwei said.

The cook turned around and went back, reached out and weighed the three copper plates in her hand, plus the ones she received from him before, the total was less than twenty cash, what a poor ghost.

After entering, the cook found an excuse to send the others away, then walked around from the other side, and stretched out her hand to beckon Quan Jiuwei to go over.

"Don't sell me after you go in, or I won't help you in the future." The cook hurriedly led the way in front and said in a low voice.

"No, I won't say it." Quan Jiuwei said.

The corridor lamp in the hallway was very dark, and the cold wind swayed, hitting them, blurring their faces with dizziness.

When we got to the garden gate, the cook pointed to the inside: "You can just go up here. I don't care if the shopkeeper tells someone to beat you out or report to the officials."

"I know." Quan Jiuwei said with downcast eyes.

The cook turned and left. Quan Jiuwei also lowered his head and walked up from this side.

Shopkeeper Liu's bedroom is in a separate small courtyard on the other side. There are two rows on the front and one on the right. The row on the right is where Shopkeeper Liu's son and daughter sleep. There is still a vacant room. He has always wanted to find a concubine for himself to live in.

Shopkeeper Liu is now doing accounts in the bedroom, typing on the abacus while shaking his head and lamenting that life is getting worse and worse.

Quan Jiuwei didn't knock on the door, but hid in the corner outside.

The wind was very cold, and he shrank slightly, looking at the small yard.

Vaguely judging the movement, shopkeeper Liu's daughter-in-law He Shi is now in her daughter's bedroom.

Quan Jiuwei looked at the bedroom over there with gloomy eyes, and his face hidden in the darkness was stained with a layer of gloom.

After a long time, the candlelight in the room where Mrs. He was staying was extinguished. It seemed that she was sleeping in her daughter's bedroom tonight.

This is difficult.

Quan Jiuwei looked away and looked at the bedroom where shopkeeper Liu's son was.

Shopkeeper Liu felt more and more headaches as he calculated the bills. He couldn't keep counting, so he put down his pen.

Several shopkeepers he knew said that the business could not be done, and some even wanted to pack up and go to Jiangnan.

He has fired quite a few guys, but if this continues, he may have to close in three months.

The water in the teapot was cold, he took a sip, got up and went to the door.

"Lian Mazi, bring me a pot of hot tea." Shopkeeper Liu opened the door and called.

"Okay, shopkeeper." The clerk on duty in the front hall responded loudly.

Shopkeeper Liu was about to close the door and turn around.

"Do you want your son's life?" a voice whispered.

Shopkeeper Liu turned his head when he heard the sound, and was startled when he saw it clearly: "What are you doing!"

"Shut up!" Quan Jiuwei lowered his voice, the dagger in his hand was on the neck of the frightened boy, "Get in!"

The boy's mouth was stuffed with a ball of cloth, and a shallow gash had been cut in his neck, and the bloodshot eyes were particularly glaring.

"Don't act recklessly!" Shopkeeper Liu said in surprise.

"Go in!" Quan Jiuwei said angrily, "Otherwise I will kill him now!"

There were two candles in the room, and the one in front of the desk was about to run out. Shopkeeper Liu was forced to the desk by Quan Jiuwei, and he said angrily with a pale face, "It's not that I didn't help you, how much money I gave you before?" Yes, but I’m not doing business right now! Look at my bills, they’re all here, I’m out of money!”

"Give me as much as you want," Quan Jiuwei's hands trembled, "I won't talk nonsense with you."

"I really have no money!" Shopkeeper Liu was about to cry.

"Your mother-in-law's jewelry box," Quan Jiuwei looked over there, "Go get it!"

Shopkeeper Liu also looked, not daring to move.

"Go!" Quan Jiuwei suddenly shouted angrily.

"Hmm..." The boy faltered and couldn't cry, and began to cry in a low voice.

"Don't cry!" Quan Jiuwei hit him on the head.

"Don't hit my son!" Liu Zhang hurriedly shouted, "I'll get it for you! Can't I go get it for you?"

He turned and walked towards the dressing table.

The candlelight fell on the copper mirror, slightly dazzling.

He walked slowly, wondering what to do.

At this moment, the light and shadow flickered in the bronze mirror, he was shocked, and hurriedly turned his head, his back suddenly hurt, and at the same time his mouth was tightly covered.

The icy blade pierced his body and left quickly, but then stabbed back again.

One knife, two knives, three knives...

The opponent moved very fast, stabbing him frantically.

Blood gushed out of his mouth, his body softened, he couldn't stand up, and was thrown to the ground by the other party.

He wanted to struggle to get up, but he saw the bloody blade raised high, and stabbed towards his neck with the last knife.

Shopkeeper Liu was completely out of breath, his eyes opened unwillingly.

Quan Jiuwei gasped for breath, half of his body was covered with splashed blood.

The boy behind him was terrified and leaned against the desk, already wet his pants.

Quan Jiuwei pulled out his dagger and walked towards him.

(End of this chapter)