Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

"So you are an official." Shi Qian looked at the man with a yellow complexion with some surprise.

"What's the point of being an official? It's just dirty and tiring work." Yang Xiong said indifferently, but he smiled happily and patted Shi Qian's shoulder: "Okay, I still have things to do. You eat something and go find a job. Although Jizhou is not big, there are always people living there."

Shi Qian's face showed joy, and he immediately thanked Yang Xiong profusely. He watched Yang Xiong turn around and walk away. When he could no longer see that figure, he let out a breath, said "tsk!", picked up two pieces of silver, threw them, and then turned and left.

Shi Qian's frail body was squeezed in the crowd, and he would stretch out his hand to touch something from time to time. He walked half of the street and turned into an alley. He found a hidden place, took out his purse and put it on the ground. The colorful purse was very eye-catching in the shadow, making this thief squat on the ground with his hands folded in a daze.

As he walked along, he touched the purses of twelve people without missing a single one.

"...I saw a ghost." Shi Qian scratched his hair and rubbed his face vigorously: "There is nothing wrong with my skills...How did that guy catch me? It doesn't make sense..."

He stared at the money bag blankly for a while, and then "Pa——" Shi Qian raised his hand and slapped his thigh fiercely: "It must be the problem that I stepped out with my left leg first when I went out this morning. In the past, I always stepped out with my right foot first. Damn it, if it wasn't for the fat woman next door splashing water on me, I wouldn't be so unlucky..."

He acted quickly and collected the copper coins and silver change in the purse. Shi Qian stood up, kicked the dirt twice and buried the purse, then walked outside with an expressionless face.

After what Yang Xiong had done, he was really hungry and decided to find a place to eat something.

……

the other side.

Yang Lin and Ma Lin were walking on the road, leading their horses. Their horses were obtained by Lu Bu after he conquered Liaodong. They were tall and strong. If they were in Song Dynasty, someone would come to ask for their price. Unfortunately, this is Jizhou of Liao Dynasty. Although not everyone in the city walks with a horse, it is not uncommon. They don't know much about horses, but looking at the horses coming and going within their sight, they are much taller than them.

Amid the noisy crowd, the two walked past several shops and stopped in front of them, looking at the tall wine sign. The two-story hotel hung the sign of Jishun Store. On the side, several guests took the reins from the shop assistants and left with satisfaction amid the words of "Goodbye, guests." and "Come again next time."

"Let's just stay in this restaurant." Ma Lin rubbed his stomach and laughed at himself: "If I don't eat something, I'm going to faint."

"That's good. With so many guests, I'm sure they know a lot. I can also collect some intelligence so that I don't end up being clueless."

Yang Lin nodded and went over with Ma Lin. The waiter had just seen off a group of people and was immediately delighted to see them coming straight over: "Guest, since you are here, do you want to stop by or stay the night?"

"Let's get some delicious food to relieve our hunger first." Ma Lin smiled and said, "It would be better if we also have some good wine. As for whether to stay in a hotel, let's talk about it after we finish eating."

"Okay." The shop assistant nodded quickly, bowed and held out his hand to the two of them: "Guests, please give me the reins. We have the best fine feed, and we will definitely not let your mounts down."

"Then I'll trouble you, buddy." Yang Lin took out a few copper coins and handed them over: "Get some more clean water. Don't use the water from the well. It's too cold."

The clerk was delighted: "Don't worry, I'll keep it safe." Then he took the reins and shouted to the store door: "Dear guests."

Yang Lin and Ma Lin entrusted the horses to Tie Dixian, who followed with his bag on his back. The two walked into the restaurant. Instantly, a loud noise entered their eardrums. The waiter waiting at the counter came over and said, "You two, please come in—"

……

"Where can I eat..."

Shi Qian stood not far from the restaurant and looked at the snack stand on the side. Four bamboo poles supported a roof. A sturdy woman holding a wooden tray was walking among a group of rough men serving food. A coolie, wearing coarse cloth clothes with wet chests and backs, was eating his food with a slurp. Waves of eye-staining sweat drifted in the wind, making him take two steps back.

Touching a handful of silver and money in his arms, Shi Qian looked at the vendor and couldn't help curling his lips. He thought that whenever Shi Qian wanted to eat, he would either eat delicacies from land and sea, or even if he wanted to eat simple meals, he would find a temple or Taoist temple to have a vegetarian meal, and he would never squeeze with people.

"Zhuangyuanlou... Tsk, the only thing about this place is the wine, the food is not as good as Gaosheng Restaurant. Huayuelou is not bad, but I am tired of it. Wengchu... the restaurant is full of people."

Shi Qian walked while counting the restaurants and eateries he had visited during this period. Unconsciously, he walked far away. When his stomach started to growl, the short and thin man couldn't help but cover his mouth. He stopped and looked around, then saw a tall wine sign and hurried over.

"Jishun Store... Oh, that's fine, let's just leave it like that."

He walked in briskly, chattering. The waiter next to him came over to greet him. Before he could say anything, Shi Qian stretched out his hand, signaling him to shut up, and said quickly, "Let's find a quiet place, preferably with our backs against the wall. Bring me a pot of good wine, a portion of yellow mutton, stewed until soft, a roasted chicken, two plates of today's seasonal vegetables, a bone soup, and a steamed bun. Come on, I'm starving."

"Okay, please come in--"

The waiter listened and remembered what Shi Qian said. After he finished speaking, he quickly led the guests inside to sit down, and then hurriedly ran to inform the kitchen about the dishes.

After a while, a shop assistant came over with a wooden tray.

……

"Sir, this is roasted venison. All the other dishes are ready."

As the last dish was placed on the table, Yang Lin and Ma Lin couldn't help but salivate with anticipation. As they toasted each other, they finished most of the food on the plates.

"Hey, buddy!" The two men who were full raised their hands and called out.

"Guest, what are your orders?"

Yang Lin took out a few copper coins and put them on the table. Ma Lin said, "I want to ask you something." "Ouch." The waiter smiled and wrinkled his eyes. His hand slipped and the copper coins disappeared from the table. He nodded and bowed to the two of them and said, "If you have something to ask, I will tell you what I know."

"We have a friend who is a general in the army. We came to Jizhou this time to look for him, but unfortunately he was told that he has not returned from the expedition. Do you know where the army in this city has gone?"

"Oh..." The shop assistant was somewhat stunned, and his voice was unconsciously lowered: "Then you may not be able to find him. A few months ago, this city was ordered to lead the Northern Expedition and took the army to Liaodong. Your friend may be..." He felt something was wrong halfway through, and quickly changed the topic: "Maybe he is still in Liaodong and hasn't returned yet. You should go over there to take a look."

Yang Lin and Ma Lin looked at each other, both smiling. The former said, "Why, hasn't the governor come back yet? I don't think the city is in chaos. It's obvious that the person in charge is doing a good job."

"This is also because the new governor has not made many changes." The shop assistant smiled and said, "It's a pity that Governor Yelu can't come back."

"Oh? Where did he go?"

"That's not something I can know." The waiter shook his head and then couldn't help but say, "But I heard a few officials talking about it. Yelu Taishou went to Shangjing. I guess he got a promotion."

Yang Lin smiled and waved his hand: "Okay, thank you, we will go to Liaodong to have a look."

"Hey, if you have anything to say, just call me."

Ma Lin watched the man leave and grinned, "It seems that Yelu Dezhong has been dismissed from his post. I wonder if he has been imprisoned."

"Even if he is not a governor, he is still a member of the Liao royal family. I guess it's nothing serious." Yang Lin raised his wine glass and swung it twice: "You and I should stop thinking about it. We can just go back and deliver this information. It's better to hand the letter to the Lu family first."

"makes sense."

The two of them immediately finished the remaining food and wine, and Ma Lin stood up with his bag.

……

"The total is two strings of cash, four hundred and fifty-seven coins. Just give me two strings of cash, four hundred and fifty coins."

In front of the counter, Shi Qian took out some change and handed it over with a bit of pain in his heart, then he touched his stomach. The food tasted good, but it was quite expensive.

Turning his head to look at the hotel lobby, it was packed with people. The diners were talking loudly while eating and drinking. Two people stood up, and the one behind them was carrying a bag. Shi Qian looked a little strange, lowered his head and muttered silently: "When have I ever paid for a meal..."

The thief's eyes turned and he said to the person behind the counter, "Maybe you drank too much. Can I use the toilet?"

The shopkeeper had no doubts: "Please go straight into the backyard and turn left."

Shi Qian turned around and walked inside. When he passed by the two people, he kicked the heel of his front foot with his back foot and fell forward towards the two people.

"Be careful." Ma Lin subconsciously bent down and held Shi Qian, "Are you okay?"

"No... sorry." The flea on the drum looked embarrassed and scratched his head: "Thanks for the help."

"It's okay." Ma Lin smiled, helped the man up, watched the short and thin man pass him by, then turned around and nodded at Yang Lin. The two walked to the counter, Jin Baozi paid the bill, and the two turned and walked out.

The shopkeeper smiled and looked up to see the guest off, his eyes slightly widened: "Sir, your bag is torn, be careful that things fall out."

"What?"

The two men paused and turned their heads sharply.

……

The noisy sounds died down, and Shi Qian walked on the road in the backyard, tossing a cloth bag he had just obtained. There was the sound of silver and coins inside, and one hand was holding a letter sealed with wax.

"Tsk, you're drunk and your hands aren't steady, how come you brought an extra thing out?"

He casually looked at it. There was no signature or name on the envelope. Perhaps because he had drunk some wine, his curiosity was aroused. He looked around to see if there was anyone. He jumped up along the pillar and went up to the second floor of the backyard. He sat on the ground and reached out to open the wax seal of the envelope: "Let me see what this shady thing is."

……

"What do you mean?"

Ma Lin took the bag off and saw a gap. He exchanged glances with Yang Lin and they both said in unison, "The drunkard just now!"

After saying that, he turned around and walked inside.

"Where are the guests going?"

The shopkeeper cried out, and also felt something was wrong, and said to the clerk beside him: "Go and take a look." (End of this chapter)