Aoyama

Chapter 244 Buying a Shop

Chen Ji listened to Xiaoman's hurried footsteps getting farther and farther away until they disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Sometimes he couldn't understand this maid, who was sometimes stupid and sometimes smart, and her moral level was erratic.

Say she is a bad person? But she has never done anything to let Chen Ji down. She has secretly picked up the Buddhist Tongbao many times and put it down many times.

You say she's a good person? But she wants to kill people to sell information...

It was as if someone was missing some pieces when teaching her the truth. Or maybe the person teaching her was just like that, and Xiaoman was just following suit.

Now, what Chen Ji couldn't understand the most was that the other party was obviously an official, so why was she willing to stay in the Chen Mansion as a maid?

The curtain in the room was opened, and Zhang Xia came out dressed neatly, smiling and asking, "The princess said that you are greedy and angry, and only foolishness is left. It is true. I will give you more than one thousand taels of silver as soon as I asked."

Just at this moment, there was a knock on the door.

Chen Ji gave Zhang Xia a wink, walked to the door alone with the whale knife in hand, and opened the door a crack.

The shopkeeper, dressed in a black cloth shirt, stood outside the door, smiling and bowing, saying, "Good morning, sir. When will you go to open the altar? I have asked the waiter to reserve a table for you and prepare some snacks and preserves."

Chen Ji calmly put the Whale Knife aside, then opened the door and replied with a smile: "Thank you for your trouble, shopkeeper. We will go down later."

The shopkeeper changed the subject and said, "Sir, have you decided where to go after the ceremony? Fengshengzhou in Xijing Road, Jingchao is a good place to go."

Chen Ji thought of the screams coming from the secret passage and immediately replied, "I haven't decided where to go yet. I'm afraid I'll have to stay for a few more days, just in case there's an opportunity to do business in Guyuan City."

The shopkeeper said sincerely, "Sir, you are a stranger and you don't know that this Guyuan city is very chaotic, especially when my Longmen Inn opens, it will be a time of chaos. At that time, there will be many powerful people who covet the huge fortune in your hands."

Chen Ji asked back: "Do they dare to break into Longmen Inn?"

The shopkeeper narrowed his eyes slightly: "Of course they don't dare to break into the Dragon Gate Inn... Well, since you plan to stay for a few more days, I won't persuade you anymore, otherwise you will think I have other thoughts."

Chen Ji responded politely: "How could that be? I will always remember the shopkeeper's kindness."

The shopkeeper clasped his hands and said, "If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."

"Boss, take care." Chen Ji closed the door slowly. The moment the wooden door was completely closed, the two people inside and outside the door, each with their own thoughts, looked cold in the same breath.

The shopkeeper stood in front of the door and thought for a moment, then turned and went downstairs, waving to Xiaowu who was sweeping the floor.

Xiao Wu limped over with a broom in his hand: "What's wrong, boss?"

The shopkeeper instructed: "Spread the news that someone is holding a ceremony outside, and let all the powerful people on the street gather here, so that this guest can know what kind of place Guyuan is."

Xiao Wu asked in confusion, "Didn't you say that some of them were carrying lanterns and copper coins? And they are the people that Third Master is targeting, so we can't touch them, right?"

The shopkeeper said calmly, "Of course we can't move, but if others move, we can pick up what's ready. It doesn't count as breaking the rules, right?"

Xiao Wu muttered quietly, "If the governor knew about this, he would definitely dislike you even more."

The shopkeeper looked at him coldly and said, "Do you think I'm doing this for myself? How much of the money earned by the inn over the years have I spent on myself? So many people are waiting for food and clothes. If we don't make money, what will they eat and drink?"

Xiao Wu shrank his neck and said, "I know, I know. I'll go right away!"

The shopkeeper returned to the main hall of the inn.

In less than an incense stick of time, the cotton curtain of the inn was lifted, and six bearded men filed in and found a table in the corner to sit down. The six men had short knives on their belts, and the handles of the knives were inlaid with sapphires, which were shiny and glossy.

The cotton curtain was opened again, and a fragrant breeze blew in. The old procuress next door, with red sleeves and still charming, waved a silk handkerchief, twisted her waist and walked through the tables, smiling sweetly and greeting everyone.

A man took advantage of her passing by and tried to take her into his arms by force, but the madam just chuckled, turned her body slightly and dodged like a flying butterfly.

The moment the two touched each other, the blade hidden in the madam's fingertips cut a long gash on the man's wrist, and blood flowed out. The man suffered a great loss but dared not speak out, so he could only cover his wrist and run away.

Someone sitting at the table laughed out loud: "How dare you, you fool, take advantage of the black widow!"

All kinds of local tyrants from Guyuan swarmed in, and within a stick of incense, the main hall of the inn was already packed with people, leaving only two tables empty.

The originally deserted main hall of the inn was suddenly as hot as a stove, with the greasy smell of leather jackets, the smell of sweat, and the smell of spices mixed together.

At this time, the door curtain was lifted again, and a man with a blind left eye walked in indifferently. He was wearing a lambskin coat with leopard sleeves and a long sword hanging from his waist.

In an instant, everyone in the main hall stood up and said in surprise: "Third Master!"

"When did the Third Master return to Guyuan?"

"How is Third Master doing these days?"

The Third Master did not answer. He scanned the crowd with his remaining good eye, then walked past the eight-immortal tables as if no one was around, walked up to the counter and calmly asked the shopkeeper, "Is anyone opening a banquet today?"

Seeing that the Third Master had no interest in dealing with them, the guests did not get angry but sat down and whispered to each other.

Seeing that the shopkeeper didn't answer, the third master said in a more serious tone: "I'm asking you a question!"

The shopkeeper didn't even raise his eyelids: "I haven't seen you for two days. How come even you were alarmed by such a small matter as opening a temple?"

The Third Master sneered, "Who opened the altar?"

The shopkeeper said nonchalantly, "That's the one you're staring at."

The third master's expression changed: "Is it him?"

The shopkeeper stared at the Third Master: "Why are you reacting like this? Who is he?"

The third master glanced at the shopkeeper and said, "Don't ask questions that you shouldn't ask."

The shopkeeper sneered, "Don't you trust me?"

The third master sneered and said, "Why should I believe you? Second brother, take off the mask on your face and look in the mirror, then tell me whether I should believe you or not." The shopkeeper lowered his voice and gritted his teeth and said angrily, "How many times do you want me to tell you that it was the general who asked me to pretend to surrender to the Jing Dynasty. If it weren't for me, Guyuan would have been broken in the 25th year of Jianing! The governor said he believed me, why don't you believe me?"

The Third Master looked at him deeply, turned around and sat down at the empty table in the middle of the main hall.

The madam of Hongxiuzhao waved the silk handkerchief in her hand and asked the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, didn't you say someone was going to open the altar? Everyone has put down what they are doing and come over. Why is there no movement?"

The shopkeeper was silent for a moment, then turned to the waiter beside him and said, "Go upstairs to urge the customers."

In the room on the third floor, Chen Ji waited from early morning till noon, but Xiaoman never came back.

The waiter went upstairs to urge him three times in a row, but seeing that the guests downstairs were waiting impatiently, Chen Ji still had no intention of coming down.

When the waiter came to urge him for the fourth time, he found an excuse to send the waiter away and closed the door.

Zhang Xia asked in confusion: "Where on earth has Xiaoman been? Why hasn't she come back yet?"

Chen Ji smiled and said, "Maybe he really ran away?"

However, just as he finished speaking, Zhang Zheng on the side suddenly said: "She won't run away."

"Oh?" Chen Ji looked at Zhang Zheng: "You are the one who usually quarrels with her the most, why are you starting to speak up for her?"

Zhang Zheng laughed, "I usually quarrel with her to kill time, but I know she doesn't have bad intentions. Although she always scolds me, she helped me stop the thief when we met him on the road. I was awake when she tried to touch Chenji's clothes last night, and I saw her take out the Buddhist Tongbao and put it back. If she really wanted to run away, she should have run away last night, and she wouldn't have waited until now."

Chen Ji looked Zhang Zheng up and down: "Will you quarrel with her again in the future?"

Zhang Zheng laughed cheerfully and said, "Why not quarrel? You are free anyway..."

Before he finished speaking, the door of the house suddenly opened. Xiaoman stood at the door panting, glared at Zhang Zheng fiercely, and then said to Chen Ji: "Master, I'm back."

Chen Ji smiled and asked, "What have you been doing? Why are you panting like this?"

"Aren't you in a hurry to come back?" Xiaoman took out a land deed from his sleeve and handed it to Chen Ji.

Chen Ji unfolded it and asked in confusion: "You bought a shop?"

Xiaoman explained, "Seeing that the Jing Dynasty was about to besiege the city, I bought a grain and oil shop in advance, as well as 2,100 dan of grain in the shop. When the Jing Dynasty army arrives, the price of grain will rise three times! How about this business, is it profitable?"

Chen Ji didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "It's already this time. If you have the life to make money, you have to have the life to spend it."

Xiaoman paused for a moment, and then said, "There is a cellar hidden in the well in the backyard of this grain and oil shop. Even if we don't sell the grain, it will be enough for us to store in the cellar for a long, long time."

Chen Ji was slightly startled: "How did you know?"

Xiaoman lowered her head and whispered, "Don't worry about it. Anyway, if the Jing Dynasty really besieges Guyuan, that will be your retreat."

At this time, there was another knock on the door, and the waiter shouted outside the door: "Sir, the shopkeeper asked me to ask you again, when will you go down?"

Chen Ji put the deed into his sleeve and answered loudly, "Here it comes."

……

……

In Qiuci Street, Li Xuan, Qi Chenzhuo and four Yulin soldiers changed into casual clothes, put on bamboo hats, and looked around quietly.

When a few people passed by, the silk handkerchiefs on the upper floor fell like snow, and the chirping of orioles and swallows could be heard.

Qi Chenzhuo whispered, "Brother-in-law, why did you bring me to the brothel? Aren't you afraid that I will tell my sister when I go back?"

Li Xuan glared at him fiercely: "What are you thinking about? It is said that this Longmen Inn on Qiuci Street is a gathering place for brokers, and information is frequently exchanged. I brought you here to buy information, not to visit a brothel!"

Qi Chenzhuo breathed a sigh of relief: "So that's how it is."

Li Xuan let the silk handkerchief fall beside him, but he did not look away: "You and I serve His Highness, but we were previously overshadowed by the Chen family's bastard. If we don't do something, I'm afraid His Highness will think we are useless."

Qi Chenzhuo became interested: "Yes, if Chen Ji can get information in Guyuan City, then we can too... We are not much worse than him."

At this time, several passers-by hurried past, muttering: "Go faster, I'm afraid we'll be late."

Qi Chenzhuo grabbed one of them and asked, "Brother, where are you going?"

The man who was being held shook him off: "Someone is holding a ceremony at the Dragon Gate Inn, so of course we have to go to the Dragon Gate Inn."

Qi Zhuozhu was confused: "What does opening the altar mean?"

The man sneered, "A layman from outside the area, opening a forum means someone wants to sell a piece of important news that concerns the safety of the entire city."

Li Xuan and Qi Chenzhuo looked at each other, and a hint of joy flashed in their eyes.

Qi Chenzhuo whispered, "Brother-in-law, such a good opportunity, we just caught it when we got here!"

Li Xuan lowered the brim of his hat and quickened his pace: "Go quickly, and report to His Highness as soon as you get the news."

A few people followed the passers-by and hurried to the front of Longmen Inn, lifted the cotton curtain and lowered their heads to go in.

The inn was bustling with people and extremely lively.

Qi Chenzhuo looked around after entering the room and said excitedly, "Brother-in-law, we have come to the right place this time. His Highness went back last night and kept talking about Chen Ji, praising him for his intelligence, courage and strategy. This time we should show our faces."

As they were talking, the inn suddenly became quiet.

There was a sound of footsteps, and someone was walking down the stairs.

Qi Zhuozhu looked up the stairs. When he saw the identity of the person coming, his expression suddenly froze and he muttered, "You f*cking bastard..."

(End of this chapter)