I was forced to cultivate immortality when I just wanted to lie down

Chapter 180 Bullying the Powerful, After-Sales Service and Warranty

A poor family's road to wealth.

Xu Qing carried a million incense offerings to the capital to take the imperial examination, and only then did he pass the imperial examination and escape five hundred years of calamity.

Now that he's returning to Linjiang, he naturally can't go back empty-handed.

As the saying goes, "Never leave home empty-handed, and never return home empty-handed."

After catching a few spirit fish and obtaining a few peculiar scales that looked perfect for stewing soup, Xu Qing still felt something was missing.

Arriving at the riverside street, watching the vendors hawking their wares, Xu Qing suddenly had an idea.

Luoyang is where the nation's fortunes converge. Even though the current Great Yong Dynasty's fortunes are not as strong as before, it is still a place where extraordinary people gather.

Although Xu Qing said he was going to Luoyang to "take the imperial examination," he didn't actually go into the capital. He wasn't familiar with that place, and he didn't care to go there.

Walking along the riverside street, Xu Qing bought a lot of "Beijing specialties" in large and small bags. When she came across a breakfast stall, she saw the steaming hot steam from the steamer and the fish porridge stall where the stall owner kept stirring to prevent it from burning.

Xu Qing suddenly perked up!
This aroma of cooking is something that ordinary zombies living in remote mountain valleys can't smell.

When you arrive at the restaurant, you can order fried dough rings and fermented bean juice, sweet and savory tofu pudding, fried dough sticks and steamed buns!
Anyone who didn't know better would think some starving ghost had wandered into the street.

"Sir, please enjoy your fried dough rings and soy milk!"

What is a fried dough ring? The Compendium of Materia Medica states that a small amount of salt is added, and the dough is twisted and rolled into a ring shape before being fried in oil. This is what is called a fried dough ring.

Although both fried dough rings and fried dough sticks are deep-fried, they are distinctly different. Fried dough sticks are large and soft, while fried dough rings are small and crispy, like bracelets, and can be stored for ten days to half a month without changing their quality or remaining as crisp as ever.

It is a delicacy that Tianjin people have loved for thousands of years.

Douzhi (fermented mung bean juice) is also a Beijing-Tianjin specialty that has been passed down for thousands of years. People who like it love it, but people who don't like it see it as no different from swill.

Soy milk is good for the stomach, detoxifies, and clears heat. It was also a popular court drink in the imperial city of Luoyang. Now, Xu Qing is dipping a fried dough ring in soy milk. After taking a bite, he wouldn't trade it for the throne even if the emperor gave it to him.

They started eating on the street, sampling the food along the way. Whenever they found something they liked, they would pack a portion to take back to the funeral parlor for everyone to try.

Xu Qing arrived at a noodle stall and had just bought a few bowls of river crab noodles. Before he could even finish eating, a sheathed sword was suddenly slammed onto the table next to him.

Xu Qing glanced to the side and saw a handsome and elegant young man in white sitting at the table.

As soon as the man sat down, his gaze subconsciously swept around. When he saw the bowls of noodles piled up more than a foot high in front of Xu Qing, his gaze clearly paused for a moment.

This noodle stall is delicious, but I've never seen anyone eat this much in one meal. How long has it been since they last ate?

The young man in white ordered a bowl of river crab noodles and ate it slowly and deliberately.

Xu Qing barely managed to eat half a meal and was about to drink a bowl of noodle soup before heading home when a disheveled woman with bruises on her face suddenly appeared in front of the noodle stall.

The woman glanced at Xu Qing and the white-robed young man for a moment, but when she saw the mountain of bowls of noodles piled up in front of Xu Qing, she chose the white-robed young man who looked wealthier.

"Young master, could you spare a meal?"

The woman asked the question timidly, like a shy kitten or puppy on the street who, when it was extremely hungry, mustered up the courage to approach someone.

Disturbed, Shang Shaoyang frowned and said somewhat unhappily, "There are more than just me in this noodle shop. Why are you asking me for it? Do I look like a good person?"

The beggar girl glanced at Xu Qing, who was happily drinking his soup, and whispered, "Young master and the other guests all have good appearances, but they don't look like wealthy people. They look like poor people who have experienced hardship and have never eaten good food."

"."

Xu Qing paused in his soup-drinking motion, wondering if the poor man was referring to him.

Shang Shaoyang glanced at the pile of bowls in front of Xu Qing and nodded, saying, "You are indeed very meticulous."

"But you're not a good person, you've definitely come to the wrong person!"

The beggar girl glanced at the handsome face of the young man in white, and mustered her courage to say, "If you give me food, I can sleep with you."

"."

This time, it was Xu Qing's turn to look over.

Shang Shaoyang took a deep breath and suddenly turned his head, saying, "Shopkeeper, give her a bowl of noodles!"

When the noodles were ready, the beggar woman didn't come to the table. She just leaned against the doorway and wolfed down her noodles, then licked the rim of the bowl with a lingering sense of satisfaction.

Just as Shang Shaoyang was about to eat his noodles, he picked up his chopsticks, then put them down again. Only after the woman finished eating did he speak up, saying, "Shopkeeper, please make her another bowl."

"Thank you, young master! You are truly a kind person!"

Shang Shaoyang's eyelids twitched. There was a delicious bowl of river crab noodles right in front of him, but he couldn't bring himself to eat another bite.

"Where are you from? Why are you here all alone?"

The woman stared blankly at the empty bowl in her hand, remained silent for a while, and then spoke.

"My home is in Yaozhou. My hometown was hit by a locust plague, and we couldn't harvest any grain. The government demanded taxes, but my family couldn't pay, so we had to give up our land as payment. Later, bandits and robbers harassed me. I couldn't get married; no one was willing to give even a grain of rice as a dowry. So my parents gave me to a wealthy man, but he sold me off not long after."

At this point, the beggar woman stopped, because the noodle seller's noodles were ready.

When the woman ate her second bowl of noodles, she was even more eager than when she ate the first, perhaps because of what she had said.

Seeing that the other person was choking, Shang Shaoyang frowned and said, "Eat slowly. Shopkeeper, bring me another bowl of noodle soup."

After finishing the noodles, the beggar woman's eyes were filled with tears, and her voice was excited yet tinged with restraint and pleading:
“I haven’t eaten for three days. It was you, young master, who gave me a full meal. You are truly a kind person.”

Shang Shaoyang's expression stiffened, and his hand, which was handing over the noodle soup, paused. Just as he was about to say something, he heard the beggar woman continue, "But don't worry, young master, if I eat two bowls of your noodles, I'll definitely sleep with you twice."

The soup splashed out, and Shang Shaoyang's hand, which he had been holding a sword for years, couldn't help but tremble.

Seeing the sincerity in the other person's gaze, Shang Shaoyang quickly looked away, avoiding the beggar woman's eyes.

At the next table, the shopkeeper took away Xu Qing's bowl of noodles and sighed.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, the beggar girl stood up and earnestly said, "Young master, please come with me."

At this moment, the shopkeeper, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up to warn, "Young master, you must not go there. This woman has a pretty face and a tattoo on her neck, so she has obviously escaped from a trafficker."

"If you, young master, go, it's a minor matter if you're caught by traffickers and they try to extort money from you; what's more, what if this woman has some kind of illness?"

Upon hearing this, the beggar woman could no longer contain herself and covered her face, weeping, "Even if I'm starving, I would never harm my benefactor. It's true that I was sold by traffickers, and it's also true that I escaped, but I have absolutely no intention of harming anyone. If you don't mind, young master, I naturally have some secret techniques to serve you well. At that time, you will be able to relax your body and mind without getting tainted by my broken body."

Xu Qing, standing nearby, frowned as she listened.

When did human traffickers arrive in Linjiang? Do Master Li and the human trafficking ring know about this?

In the months since he left Linjiang, it seems like the things happening underground in Linjiang are no longer his responsibility.

Shang Shaoyang was silent for a while, then took out ten taels of silver from his money bag and said, "I believe you. You can use this silver for travel expenses, start a small business in the future, or just for personal expenses. In short, don't demean yourself anymore."

The beggar woman refused, but Shang Shaoyang forced it on her.

"If you don't want this money, I'll throw it on the street and let anyone pick it up. But even if you starve to death on the street, I won't look at you again!"

The beggar girl accepted the money, sobbing, "I am of lowly birth, why must you treat me like this, sir?"

Shang Shaoyang narrowed his eyes slightly and said in an enigmatic tone, "Consider it an obligation I owe you, and an obligation that everyone in the world owes you."

"What is your name, young master? I will remember it. Even if I cannot repay you, I will pray for you from time to time."

"I"

Just as Shang Shaoyang was about to reply, four or five fierce-looking thugs suddenly rushed into the street. The leader was a businessman wearing a tall hat and a long robe. "You wretched wretch! You dare to run away now that you're in my hands, Jia Shigui! Take her back to me and send her on a boat to travel along the river. Don't let her disembark until she's had enough customers!"

Prostitutes traveling on boats or carriages were the most common type of itinerant prostitutes in the city. These people were generally called "traveling prostitutes" or "traveling heads". Those who bought and sold such people were mostly human traffickers.

If a suitable buyer cannot be found, the slave trader will send the person to work as a prostitute temporarily. In short, one cannot eat for free; one must make a profit for the slave trader at all times.

Those official prostitutes were better off; many were the female relatives of disgraced officials. Apart from being sent to the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment institution) and never being able to leave the institution for life, they did not face the same difficulties as other prostitutes.

Then there are private prostitutes. These women either volunteer or were trafficked. They are skilled in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and often serve as "pure courtesans." They choose their clients carefully. Although they are not as well-off as official prostitutes, they still enjoy a comfortable life.

Below that are the common prostitutes and itinerant prostitutes. These people are the lowest class of people in the city. They serve customers at all times. If the vendor asks you to serve a customer, you have to serve him. Even if you get sick, he may not treat you.

Such people are often trapped in poverty and illness, their fate largely in the hands of others. Not to mention being destitute in old age, even their life and death are entirely in the control of others.

Xu Qing has been running the funeral business for so long, and he has also taken orders from prostitutes and entertainers. He has both private and official prostitutes, but he has never taken orders from market prostitutes or traveling prostitutes.

Because human traffickers would only throw these prostitutes who died from illness or torture into mass graves to be fed to dogs, and would never have a change of heart and prepare coffins for them.

Those who work in vehicles, boats, shops, and even as laborers, should be killed even if they are innocent, and there's a reason for that.

Xu Qing sat at the table, the Fetal Dark Pearl already turned out of his hand.

However, before he could make a move, the young man in white drew his long sword and blocked the beggar woman's path.

"Are you brokers?"

"Who's the broker? Can't you speak properly? This man was bought by us, there's a contract of indenture. Even if we go to the authorities, we'll be in the right. Don't meddle!"

Shang Shaoyang narrowed his eyes and said, "The government? Do you know who I am?"

"The merchants of Qianxi are my clan, and I am even a direct descendant. Who do you think the title of 'official' is for?"

After saying that, Shang Shaoyang put his sword-wielding hand behind his back, and then, with just one hand, casually knocked down four or five ruffians.

The sound of bones and fascia breaking and dislocating was incredibly crisp. Xu Qing raised an eyebrow as he watched Shang Shaoyang make his move.

The opponent's skill in dislocating tendons and bones wasn't particularly exquisite, but it was certainly pleasing to the eye.

Even after doing all this, the other person still had the leisure to take out a handkerchief and wipe their own hand that had hurt them.

"You're abusing your power! I'm going to report you to the authorities!"

Amidst the cries of pain, the head broker spoke up angrily.

"Abusing power and bullying others, should we report this to the authorities?"

Shang Shaoyang seemed to have heard something extremely funny.

"Have you ever done anything illegal?" Shang Shaoyang laughed. "Regardless of whether you have done anything illegal or not, even if you haven't done anything illegal, someone in my Shang family will still frame you. Even if I take your lives today, the officials will not only not blame me, but will also praise me for eliminating a notorious bandit and reward me with money to make a name for me."

Do you believe it or not?

The slave trader said angrily, "I don't believe it! I just don't believe you have connections to the heavens!"

"Don't believe me? Then let's give it a try."

Shang Shaoyang grinned, and the next moment he stepped on Ya Shang's neck and broke it!
Upon seeing this, the other thugs, who were wailing in pain, all fell silent.

However, Shang Shaoyang clearly did not intend to let the matter rest. He stepped forward to another person and repeated the same words.

"And you, do you believe it or not?"

The thug nodded frantically: "I believe you, I believe you!"

"Trust me? Then can I take your life without worry?"

After he finished speaking, another corpse was added to the list of those standing in front of the noodle stall.

When the third person approached, the rogue begged for mercy frantically, but to no avail.

"When you commit heinous crimes, and others beg for mercy, will you forgive them?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a third body appeared in front of the noodle stall.

Then came the fourth and fifth bodies.
Xu Qing's eyes gleamed as she watched Shang Shaoyang unleash his killing spree.

This young man is wonderful. If there were more people like him in the world, his mortuary would never have to worry about not getting any bodies.

Looking at Shang Shaoyang's outstanding business skills, Xu Qing couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for his talent.

"What are you doing?"

After killing someone, Shang Shaoyang neither panicked nor ran away. He simply sat down at the dining table and began to rest with his eyes closed.

However, before he could even sit down properly, he saw the young man who had been reincarnated from the starving ghost come closer and take the pulses of the corpses.

When asked, Xu Qing took the pulse and replied, "I have a basic understanding of medicine and want to see if there are any survivors among these people."

"You actually think you can heal these scoundrels?"

Shang Shaoyang glared at him, as if he would curse the other party if he gave even the slightest incorrect answer.

Xu Qing retorted, "If there are survivors, that's your problem, what does it have to do with me? Why should I treat them?"

Shang Shaoyang raised an eyebrow and said, "What do you mean by that? How did it become my problem again?"

"Your goal is to kill. If anyone survives, then it's your problem, not mine."

"."

Shang Shaoyang stared wide-eyed, speechless for a long time.

After Xu Qing finished examining all the corpses, Shang Shaoyang couldn't help but ask, "How was it?"

"So-so, but if you can kill the Holy Master of the Heavenly Heart Sect, I'll definitely give you a thumbs up!"

"."

Shang Shaoyang snorted coldly and did not respond.

Xu Qing sat down to the side and said with a grin, "Aren't you afraid the officials will arrest you?"

"Not afraid!"

Seeing Shang Shaoyang's calm and collected demeanor, Xu Qing really thought he had powerful connections.

Unfortunately, in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the man was escorted back to the yamen by the constables.

When Zhao Zhonghe arrived at the scene, he chatted with Xu Qing for a while, so much so that Shang Shaoyang asked as he was leaving, "Are you one of the officials?"

Xu Qing shook his head upon hearing this.

"I am the owner of the coroner's shop on Jingxia Street. I have just returned from studying abroad today."

After responding, Xu Qing looked at the onlookers again, cupped his hands and said, "If you need anything, please come to the coffin shop to find me. Whether it's lifting the coffin, moving the body, or encoffining and burial, you'll get a 50% discount!"

"If it's a referral from a friend or relative, we also offer lifetime after-sales service. No matter if the grave is damaged or the coffin is exposed, or if the tombstone is cracked or collapsed, we can provide warranty service!"

(End of this chapter)