Knife splashing

Chapter 272 The Bustling Jianghu Market

"Hanyang City was called Mianzhou City in the Tang Dynasty. It was destroyed in war during the Daxing period. In the year after the founding of this dynasty, Governor Lu Zhikai ordered its reconstruction..."

"After a hundred years of development, the circumference of the city wall has now reached 800 meters, with four gates in the east, west, south and north: Chaozong, Fengshan, Nanji and Chaoyuan..."

Mr. Tian introduced everything along the way and was very enthusiastic.

Li Yan and Sha Lifei were also quite interested and asked about the local customs and practices from time to time. After all, this pier was very famous in the underworld.

Because of the developed trade, even after noon, there was still a long queue at the city gate, including both traveling merchants and people from the surrounding areas, with the sound of mules and horses neighing and the sound of people bustling about.

The soldiers guarding the city checked carefully and were very cautious.

Tian Yuanwai saw this and shook his head and explained, "Due to the war in the southwest, it is a bit more complicated to enter the city. Please be patient."

Li Yan was not in a hurry. He glanced at the reward notice posted at the city gate.

This look is amazing.

There are dozens of reward notices.

"Good guy!"

Sharifei said happily: "As expected of Hanyang, it's quite lively."

Li Yan also nodded in agreement.

In the underworld, it is common for those who walk between the black and white lines to cheat and deceive, and those who walk between the green forests to kill and rob, violating the laws of the court.

But not every case can be considered a wanted case.

None of those who can get up there are simple people.

Li Yan squinted his eyes and looked at it carefully, and soon found something strange.

The cases on the list are mainly divided into three categories.

One is to rob merchant ships and commit bloody crimes on the Yangtze River. Names like "Dragon of the River" and "Ghost at Night" are really water bandits.

The second is fraud. Business is prosperous here, and there are all kinds of scammers, including bees, hemp, swallows and sparrows, and most of them only have names, without specific portraits.

The third group consists of lone travelers. Some of them steal from the houses of officials and merchants, while others kill people in the streets. They are of a very bad nature. There are even two flower-stealing thieves.

Li Yan looked at it and shook his head.

Outsiders watch the excitement, while insiders watch the door.

From the wanted notices covering the wall, he could tell that in Hanyang City, all kinds of forces mixed together, and when there were too many people, the rules would naturally become chaotic.

After waiting for an incense stick of time, it was finally their turn.

Originally, Li Yan and his group were quite conspicuous and were the focus of search, but when he took out the black pass and showed the pass given by the Duwei Division, he was immediately out of trouble.

The flag officer guarding the city even asked in a flattering manner if they needed someone to lead the way for them.

After all, whether it is the black Taoist certificate representing the orthodox Xuanmen or the documents from the Duwei Office, the local government can be asked to send people to assist.

Li Yan naturally declined repeatedly.

When everyone entered the city, they saw bluestone roads under their feet, a wide street with shops and houses lined up on both sides.

Perhaps it was because the city was rebuilt after the establishment of the Daxuan Dynasty, and because of the developed commerce, most of the shops here have spacious storefronts, high hanging signs, open doors, and mountains of goods inside.

Silks, satins, porcelains, antiques, writing brushes, inks, paper and inkstones... the dazzling array is overwhelming.

There are many teahouses and restaurants along the street.

“Three-fresh bean curd skin, very filling!”

"Mianwo, mianwo, they smell so good!"

"Happy, sweet but not greasy!"

"Osmanthus sugar - steamed cake!"

Li Yan and others had not eaten lunch, so they felt very hungry when they heard this.

Mr. Tian was a smart man. Seeing this, he smiled and said, "Everyone, the mansion has prepared a banquet to welcome you. My new house is just two blocks away."

Just then, there was a sudden commotion ahead.

"Hey, look, there's something exciting going on!"

"Who is it? The bastard Third Master is helping others to settle things again!"

The surge of people soon blocked the street.

Tian Yuanwai saw this, a trace of helplessness flashed in his eyes, and he smiled at the few people and said: "This is the custom of Hanyang people, they like to watch the excitement and can't stand seeing trouble."

Sharifei asked, "Who is this bastard Third Master?"

Tian Yuanwai stroked his beard and said, "This man is a common hero. His surname is Jian, and because he is the third child, he is called 'Jane Third Master'."

"Originally, his family was considered wealthy. He was proficient in both literature and martial arts when he was young. Later, his family fell into poverty and he became a gangster. He joined the Gelaohui and liked to help people fight for justice. He was also very skilled and well-connected, and was well-known as a chivalrous man in Hanyang City."

As they were talking, everyone had already arrived.

Li Yan and others were all riding tall horses, so even though the crowd was surrounded in three layers, they could still see the situation inside clearly.

I saw two gangs confronting each other outside a restaurant.

A group of people stood on the steps of the tavern. They were all burly men with fierce brows and a fierce look, full of imposing manner.

The leader was a one-eyed old man, dressed in luxurious clothes, playing with a walnut in his hand, with a gloomy face.

Opposite them, on the street outside the tavern, stood two people.

One of them was wearing a coarse warrior robe, with his arms folded, standing slouched. He had funny scowls and a reed hanging from his mouth, looking nonchalant.

Next to him stood a lame young man, dressed in tattered clothes and with a bitter face. He looked at the people on the steps with fear in his eyes.

"The third master."

The one-eyed man bowed slightly, obviously suppressing his anger, and said in a cold voice: "We are all fellow warriors. It's a bit unkind of you to come and block my door for a small matter, isn't it?"

The one holding the thin reed in his mouth is obviously "Jian San Ye".

He raised his eyebrows and said jokingly, "Blind Wang, you still have the nerve to say the word 'authentic'. Besides, this batch of old wine is a small matter for you, but it is a matter of life and death for others."

"Taking something and not paying for it is unkind!"

The one-eyed man said calmly, "Why didn't you pay? There's a written document in black and white. If you have the guts, go to the government office and sue me."

"Jian Sanye" joked, "Do you really need to go to the government office? Your tricks may deceive others, but not me. I used the worm juice 'hidden word method', and it will disappear after wiping it with some yellow wine."

"The court is very strict on forgeries of documents. Besides, you can be tough on them. How many of these scumbags under your command can withstand the punishment?"

The one-eyed man's face froze, and he became angry. "Stop talking nonsense. What do you want to do?"

"Jack Third Master" spread his hands and said, "Since I'm here, what else can I do? Of course, I'll follow the rules of the underworld. Come at me with both civil and military tactics. If you can't get me to obey, not only will you have to pay for the wine, but you'll also have to pay for the medical expenses for the assault!"

"it is good!"

The one-eyed man snorted, looked around, and when he saw the couplet on the door, he sneered, "I only have the first line of this couplet. Anyone who can come up with a matching line will be exempted from paying for the wine. It has been hanging for a long time, and no one can come up with the second line."

"I heard you've been to school for a few days, why not give it a try?"

"I bother!"

"The Third Master" laughed and scolded, "Wenjin Academy is nearby, and the cultural heritage is thriving. How can a broken couplet stump others? But everyone knows that your trick, no matter how good or bad it is, will not work. It is despicable to trick people into coming to your house for a drink!"

"But since you said it, I'll convince you."

"it is good!"

"Show him some of my power, Mr. San!"

The people around immediately started to make a noise.

Li Yan and his companions looked up and saw the first couplet read "White dragon crossing the river, with a red sun overhead". Tian Yuanwai whispered, "This guy is from the White Dragon Gang. He deliberately posted this couplet. Those who know the business don't want to provoke him, and those who get fooled are all outsiders."

In the field, Master Jian San also took a look, raised his eyebrows, and said, "Listen carefully, 'A black dragon lying on the wall, covered with thousands of golden stars', how about it?"

The one-eyed man was about to deny it, but Master Jian San said impatiently, "Don't play dirty with me. If you think it's not possible, come with me to Wenjin Academy to ask for justice."

The one-eyed man snorted, looked at the limp young man next to Master Jian San, and sneered, "Lame chicken, jump over the winnowing basket, the winnowing basket will cover the lame chicken."

Master Jian San spat and said, "One-eyed dragon, light the lantern, and shine the lantern on the one-eyed dragon."

Outside the crowd, Sharifi was amused, "This Hanyang Jianghu is all about playing tricks. Instead of fighting with fists and feet, they're playing with pairs."

"I can't even beat you with fists and feet."

Li Yan shook his head and laughed, "Look at that bitch's feet."

When Sharifei saw it, he gasped.

But I saw that the bastard was standing there in a nonchalant manner, but there was a crack in the bricks and stones under his feet. It was obvious that he used advanced hidden power kung fu to warn the other party.

This is because they don't want to fall out or have a fight.

Sure enough, the one-eyed man had also seen it, his face turned ugly, but he still said stubbornly: "Give me money! Don't let this unlucky guy block the door and affect business."

After saying that, he snorted and turned to enter the restaurant.

Soon, the shopkeeper ran out with a few banknotes, stuffed them into the hands of the cheap Third Master, clasped his fists and said flatteringly: "Third Master, you are generous, we still need to open the door to do business."

"it is good!"

"it is good!"

The people around kept cheering.

This store has had a bad reputation for a long time. Although the people who were deceived are all foreign merchants, they are still fed up with it.

Master Jian San smiled and shook his head, saying, "This is a business that will fail sooner or later if you continue to do things this way, and it will also ruin the reputation of Hanyang."

Having said that, he did not argue any further and stuffed all the banknotes into the lame young man's hand.

The young man was surprised and was about to take out half of it, but was pushed away by the third master. "It's just a small matter, no need."

"Third Master, this..."

The young man was not good at speaking and was suddenly at a loss.

"Eh~"

The third master blinked and said, "I heard that your father left a jar of old wine. If you feel bad about it..."

The young man said quickly, "I'll ask my wife to cook two dishes. Please follow me, Third Master."

"Hahaha, okay."

Mr. Jian San laughed, put his arm around the young man's shoulder, and strode away.

"Tsk, tsk, what a good man."

Sharifei's eyes lit up, "I'll come over some other day to make friends with you."

Mr. Tian pondered for a moment, "This bastard Third Master likes to fight for the poor and has offended many people in the city, but his network of contacts is also wide. If you want to know about the affairs of the underworld, you can find him."

As he was talking, the crowd had dispersed.

Li Yan and others continued to move forward, bypassing two streets, and suddenly a street with unique scenery appeared in front of them.

A small river runs through it, with wooden railings built on both sides. The street is lined with tall houses and courtyards, shaded by green trees. Under the setting sun, it looks quite peaceful.

After passing two houses, we arrived at Mr. Tian's house.

What Mr. Tian said was obviously too modest.

The walls of his house are made of large stone slabs.

Judging from its appearance, it is a clever combination of Huizhou architectural style and Jingchu architectural features. The pink walls and horse-head walls are rebuilt above the main gate, like a mythical beast guarding the house, so it is called the animal-head wall.

The gable roof, upturned eaves and lintel are painted in exquisite colors.

Wang Daoxuan also took out the compass at this time, took a few glances, stroked his beard and said: "This place faces south and is surrounded by a jade belt in front of the door. It is obvious that it was laid out by a master. The feng shui should be fine."

"Who says it isn't?"

Mr. Tian shook his head and said, "I have invited several people to take a look, and they all said there is no problem, but my family members have been sick one after another, and even I feel chest tightness for no reason when I sleep at night."

"I've only been able to sleep peacefully since I was away for so long. There must be something wrong!"

"Don't worry, Taoist priest. Let's settle down first and then we can see what happens later."

As they were talking, they had arrived at the gate of the mansion.

There were already servants waiting outside the door, busy moving boxes of all sizes into the yard prepared for Li Yan and others.

Entering the house, you can see its wealth even more clearly.

The front hall, central hall and back house are clearly laid out. There is also a small garden and a library. Even the bricks and stones on the ground were carved with exquisite details.

Of course, I still didn't see anything.

Li Yan pinched the magic formula, took a deep breath, and immediately shook his head slightly at Wang Daoxuan, indicating that he had not discovered anything.

This situation was already expected by everyone.

If it were easy to see, how could Mr. Tian not be able to hire people?

For wealthy families, the banquets are naturally extraordinary.

The dishes are local Chu cuisine, with delicate knife skills and particular attention to the timing of cooking.

There is steamed Wuchang fish, only with scallions and ginger, cooked over high heat, the fish is tender and delicate, and melts in your mouth...

There is pork ribs and lotus root soup, slow-cooked in a clay pot, the soup is rich as amber...

There are Huangpi Three Fresh Dishes and Mianyang Three Steamed Dishes, both of which are local specialties.

As for the wine, it was "Mulan Jade Liquor". According to Mr. Tian, ​​it was from General Hua Mulan who joined the army to replace her father and returned home in glory after fighting for twelve years.

In order to commend him for his contribution, the imperial court changed the name of the original Huangpi tribute wine "Panlong Zaofang" to "Mulan Yuye".

It tastes mellow and soft, with a strong wine aroma.

Mr. Tian accompanied them and everyone enjoyed themselves with wine and meat.

Sha Lifei was a little tipsy and couldn't help looking around. He said, "Mr. Tian, ​​don't blame me for being too talkative. Your house is so big, but it's not very popular."

Mr. Tian sighed, motioned the servant to leave, and then said, "I'm not afraid of being laughed at by you. My Tian family was originally considered a big family, but after my father passed away, the brothers fell out over business matters."

"I have a younger brother who lives in Hankou. He has given me trouble several times, and now we are like strangers. We don't even communicate during the Chinese New Year."

"I do have two sons, but the eldest son is studying at Wenjin Academy. He often travels around with his classmates. It's time for him to start a family, but he hides away and won't come back."

"This second son is even more infuriating. He has been interested in Buddhist philosophy since he was a child, but he never said a word. He went to a temple to become a monk, which made his mother so angry that she became seriously ill."

"Only my daughter comes to visit me from time to time, but after all, she is married, so how can she always be by my side? In this huge house..."

"Alas, I have a fortune, but I still look like this. I don't know what sin I have committed!"

"Every family has its own sutras that are difficult to recite."

Several people tried to comfort him, but Mr. Tian sighed and drank a few more glasses. Soon he was drunk.

As for Li Yan and others, they were led back to the courtyard by servants, washed up, and went back to their rooms to rest.

Although Li Yan felt a little tired, he felt much more energetic after concentrating. He simply lit a candle and took out a booklet to look at it.

It was the secret experience of "Living Yin Messenger" given by Liu Gang...

(End of this chapter)