I am a temporary worker in Jinyiwei, how did I become a powerful official?

Chapter 43 Pigeon Liu

Mr. Hong asked Lin Shisan why he came to Diaobeng Street.

Lin Shisan became more cautious.

In the past two months since the dangerous encounter in the mountains, Lin Shisan always felt something was wrong: Mr. Hong returned to Shuntian Prefecture in the evening that day, and there were assassins who wanted to kill me at night?
It would be strange if there was nothing fishy going on here.

Lin Shisan has a close relationship with the pigeon Liu he is looking for. If he wants to find out something from the pigeon Liu, he doesn't need Mr. Hong to be the middleman.

So Lin Shisan lied and said, "I have some spare money, so I came to buy some good bugs."

Master Hong said, "Oh, you hooked up with Doctor Luo Longwen, and you really made a fortune."

Lin Shisan was stunned: "How do you know?"

Master Hong replied: "Who in the entire city of Beijing's insect fighting industry doesn't know that Doctor Luo has taken you as his master?"

"You better be careful when you come to Clam Street. I don't know how many fighting insect dealers want to kill you."

Lin Shisan asked: "What do you mean?"

Master Hong sneered and began to coax Lin Shisan: "Ha. In the eyes of the insect dealers, those high-ranking officials of the Luo Mansion Insect Appreciation Association are just fools with a lot of money."

"But after your advice, the shoutou are now very smart. They know which are good insects and which are bad insects. They also know the bottom price of good insects."

"I don't know how much money the fighting insect dealers have lost. Since ancient times, cutting off someone's financial resources is like killing their parents!"

"So, if you come to Diaoclam Street, it's best if I accompany you. That way you won't get hit by someone."

Lin Shisan is a hairy man who is more cunning than a monkey. How could he fall into Mr. Hong's trap?
He thought to himself: How strange. Master Hong wants to follow me so much? He even made up such a plausible but actually ridiculous reason?
Thinking of this, Lin Shisan pretended to be arrogant and said, "Today I want to see who in the Flower, Bird, Fish and Insect Market is brave enough to hit a registered lieutenant of the Jinyiwei with a club!"

"The registered captains of the Jinyiwei are the Royal Guards. Attacking the Royal Guards is tantamount to treason! Anyone who is tired of living can stand up!"

Master Hong chuckled and said, "Oh, it's true that when you've been away for three days, you should look at people with new eyes. You've been promoted to the top of the list, and your temper has also become worse."

Sun Yue chimed in, "Our Thirteenth Master is a distinguished guest of Doctor Luo of the Inspectorate! If he makes the slightest mistake in Diaobeng Street, the Imperial Guards and the Ministry of Justice might join forces to overthrow the Flower, Bird, Fish and Insect Market!"

Mr. Hong gave a thumbs up: "Great, great."

Lin Shisan turned around and asked Mr. Hong: "How is the investigation of the murder of the dog-riding Wang Laochuan going in Shuntian Prefecture?"

Mr. Hong said perfunctorily, "The person who lost the dog took revenge and killed the dog thief. There are too many cases like this. No matter how much we investigate, there is no conclusion."

Lin Shisan asked, "Oh? You were the first detective to discover that Wang Laochuan was murdered. The murder case was not solved, and you were not punished. How did you get promoted to the lucrative Diaobeng Street?"

Mr. Hong was afraid that if Lin Shisan asked more, he would reveal his true colors. So he said, "Ah, stop talking nonsense. I have official business. You should go buy your worms as well."

The three of them parted ways. Lin Shisan and his apprentice walked into the flower, bird, fish and insect market.

Sun Yue was a little puzzled: "Master, Pigeon Liu's store is on the east side. How can we go west?"

Lin Shisan lowered his voice and said, "Look back quietly. Is there anyone following us thirty steps away?"

Sun Yue obeyed, turned his head, and then said: "Master, you are really amazing. That old man Hong Ye is poking his head out, and he is only thirty steps behind us."

Lin Shisan said, "You know there are two alleys ahead? The left one is Rouhulu Hutong, and the right one is Lizideng Hutong. I'll go left, and you go right. Once you enter the alley, walk quickly and leave Mr. Hong behind, and meet at the entrance of Pipian Hutong."

Lin Shisan and Sun Yue were both young men in their twenties. Mr. Hong was old and his legs were not strong enough.

A moment later, the two of them successfully got rid of Mr. Hong and reunited.

Sun Yue panted: "I am so tired! Master, why is Master Hong watching us?"

Lin Shisan said meaningfully: "Mr. Hong is the old sparrow of Dongting Lake; the old fox of Xishan; the old rabbit after a year, the old Chen man." "That night at Tiaoji Mountain, I felt that he was strange. Today, it is true."

Sun Yue said: "Master, you are full of jingles. You want to take the exam for the scholar. I understand. There is something wrong with this old guy."

Lin Shisan said, "Forget it. Anyway, we have already gotten rid of that old fox. Let's go find Pigeon Liu."

At the northernmost end of Diaobeng Hutong there is a large shop with a sign on it that reads "All Kinds of Flying Slaves from All Over the World".

Feinu is an elegant name for pigeons. Zhang Jiuling, a Tang Dynasty poet, loved raising pigeons and called his own pigeons "Feinu".

The owner of this pigeon shop is Pigeon Liu, a famous tycoon in South City.

The ruffians in the capital city are divided into three types: the big pot gang, the visiting gang, and the fighting gang.

The big pot group is mostly made up of northerners. It means eating from the same pot. If they cheat, rob or steal money, they will give it to the pot owner, and everyone in the pot will have a share.

The visiting group and the fighting group were composed of southerners who came to Beijing.

The liars often use deceptive tricks, or collude with lawyers and government officials to get the people into lawsuits and blackmail them.

As the name suggests, the "daxing" makes a living by beating people. On weekdays, they collect "peace money" from small vendors.

The hooligans in Beijing who “wrapped pigeons” could wrap up other people’s good pigeons, but they needed a place to sell the stolen goods.

Liu, a tycoon in the fighting industry, opened this slave shop to help his peers sell stolen goods and earn a huge profit from the difference.

Since ancient times, officials and thieves have always been one family. This is also true under the emperor. Pigeon Liu's Feinu Shop has shares from the Shuntian Prefecture governor. Although he is engaged in the business of selling stolen goods, he can open a shop in the flower, bird, fish and insect market.

Lin Shisan and his apprentice came to the store entrance. There stood eight burly men. They were all dressed in shorts, with their trouser legs wrapped in black cloth, bulging and revealing that they were hiding "daggers".

Those who know it think it is a pigeon shop, while those who don’t think it is a gambling house.

As soon as Lin Shisan raised his leg and stepped into the store door, eight strong men pinched their throats and whispered in unison: "Welcome, sir! I hope you will be satisfied."

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "Satisfied, satisfied."

The smell in Feinu's shop was not very pleasant. There were hundreds of pigeon cages packed tightly together inside. The smell of pigeon droppings was overwhelming.

A gentleman at the counter asked, "Hey, isn't this Master Thirteen from the elephant training school? Are you here to exchange for some good pigeons?"

Lin Shisan took out his badge and waved it in front of the cashier.

The cashier was surprised: "Oh, Master Thirteen has been promoted! He has been given the badge of the Imperial Guard. Congratulations."

Lin Shisan said, "Ask your shopkeeper to come out. I have something to ask him."

The man at the counter nodded, went to the backyard, and found Liu the pigeon.

Soon, Pigeon Liu came up to the two of them. He was about thirty years old, and looked like a small bean, but his eyes were bright and sharp.

Pigeon Liu said in a thick Songjiang accent: "Thirteen, pus roar, pus roar."

Lin Shisan said with a smile: "My Lord Liu, can you please stop talking nonsense? Can you please speak Mandarin?"

Pigeon Liu smiled awkwardly: "I just entertained two buyers from my hometown. I haven't changed my accent. Sorry."

Lin Shisan and Pigeon Liu were close friends. He got straight to the point: "A pigeon was lost at Xianliang Temple. I came to your place to look for it."

Pigeon Liu agreed immediately: "Okay. Come with me to the backyard."

(End of this chapter)