Madmen don't keep diaries

Chapter 73 073 Ni Shicai

The shopkeeper was so frightened that his whole body was shaking. He knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Feng Xiuhu and Ni Shicai, begging for mercy. The two men couldn't pull him away for a long time.

Ni Shicai glanced at Feng Xiuhu's expression.

But Feng Xiuhu was watching the show with no reaction.

Ni Shicai couldn't help but frown - he thought Feng Xiuhu would be soft-hearted and say a few nice words, so he would let the man go and the matter would be over.

Who would have thought that Feng Xiuhu was such a heartless person?

Ni Shicai thought he had a better understanding of Feng Xiuhu.

Instead, Shunzi couldn't bear to watch it anymore.

He whispered to Feng Xiuhu: "Brother, it's not that serious..."

Feng Xiuhu looked at him blankly: "Not to what extent?"

Shunzi pointed at the shopkeeper and said, "I'm talking about him. We don't have that much hatred against him."

Ni Shicai felt a little relieved. He coughed lightly and was about to speak to take advantage of the situation.

But then Feng Xiuhu started talking.

"I didn't say I had any grudges. Isn't this good?"

"Is it good for him to sell out others, but not for others to sell out him?"

After saying that, Feng Xiuhu waved his hands enthusiastically to cheer him on: "Hurry up and weigh him. I want to know how much he's worth."

Now the shopkeeper was so scared that he was paralyzed.

The two men who were pretending to be good were at their wit's end and cast inquiring glances at Ni Shicai.

Ni Shicai couldn't pretend any longer and had to speak up: "Well... Deacon Feng, this cheap stuff is nothing to look at. Why don't I take you to the shop over there to see something better."

Feng Xiuhu raised his eyebrows: "Can it be better than this?"

Ni Shicai patted his chest and assured: "Of course we have it. I'm sure you'll be spoiled for choice."

After some coaxing and deception, Ni Shicai led Feng Xiuhu out of the house and turned into the Xianggu Pavilion opposite.

He introduced, "The Xianggu Pavilion is also my business. If customers coming to Shengren Street can't find satisfactory goods in the Xianggu Pavilion, then they certainly won't be able to find them on this street either."

You know what, this Xianggu Pavilion looks extraordinary at first glance.

Not to mention the ridiculously spacious shop, the height of the three-story attic alone makes it stand out like a crane among chickens compared to other shops on Shengren Street.

There were not many guests walking around in the hall on the first floor. Cages were lined up against the wall, with shiny iron bars. Even the human sacrifices in the cages were deliberately dressed up.

The young and strong ones are shirtless with their muscles exposed, looking very powerful; the pretty ones are dressed coolly, looking very charming and pitiful.

There are also several separate display stands in the center of the hall. The stands are not cages, but cabinets enclosed with transparent glass. The human sacrifices in the cabinets are in different postures, some waving to the guests with a smile, and some standing with their hands behind their backs, pretending to be deep.

It was in stark contrast to the lifeless appearance of the other sacrifices.

Feng Xiuhu pointed at a beautiful woman in a glass cabinet who was winking at him and asked, "Hey! Is she happy?"

Ni Shicai glared at the woman: "Didn't you hear me? Deacon Feng doesn't like to be happy. Come on, cry!"

The woman's expression immediately changed. She covered half of her face with a handkerchief and sobbed softly with tears in her eyes.

"Yo ho!"

Feng Xiuhu was curious and shouted, "Do the splits for me!"

The woman's expression froze. She gave Feng Xiuhu two dry laughs and gestured with her hand to indicate the width of the glass cabinet - meaning that the cabinet was too narrow and she couldn't move around.

Feng Xiuhu felt bored, so he turned to Ni Shicai and said, "Then do the splits." Ni Shicai's mouth twitched, and he smiled apologetically, "Don't make it difficult for me, Deacon Feng. These animals are all divided into different categories. They can't do it if it's not their job."

Feng Xiuhu asked in surprise, "Are the ones in these glass cabinets also animals?"

Ni Shicai nodded: "Of course."

Feng Xiuhu asked curiously, "Why are they different from the other animals? I mean, they all seem quite happy about it."

In these cabinets, there are beautiful women wearing cheongsams with exposed legs, as well as handsome men dressed in scholar's clothes, but it is obvious that both their appearance and dress are of much higher quality than the other people around them.

Ni Shicai explained with a smile, "Deacon Feng, you don't know that the animals in these glass cabinets are all carefully selected high-end goods, and the prices are not bad. Those who can afford to buy them are either rich or noble."

"So these animals themselves understand. Even though they're lowly after being bought, they still live a life of luxury. So why wouldn't they be unwilling? Didn't you see that Xianggu Pavilion didn't put them in cages? It's because they're not worried about them escaping."

Feng Xiuhu suddenly realized and asked, "How much is one pound of these high-end goods?"

Ni Shicai laughed dryly and said, "That's not true, Deacon Feng. If I liked anyone, I would just send someone to my house. How could I dare to accept money?"

Free gift?
Feng Xiuhu's eyes rolled: "Is there any better stuff than these?"

Ni Shicai hesitated for only half a second before Feng Xiuhu's eyes fell on him: "Are you making up a lie?"

Ni Shicai quickly apologized with a smile: "No, no, of course there are."

He pointed to the top of his head: "The better ones are hidden upstairs, so they are not exposed outside."

Ni Shicai led Feng Xiuhu upstairs, and Shunzi secretly pulled Feng Xiuhu from behind.

Shunzi was clear-headed. How could Feng Xiuhu, a church deacon, really get involved with Ni Shicai, a temple tax collector? The Xianggu Pavilion was filled with Ni Shicai's thugs. If they really entered a den of thieves, it would be too late if something happened.

He lowered his voice and said to Feng Xiuhu, "Brother, you can't go."

Feng Xiuhu understood Shunzi's thoughts, and just then Ni Shicai stood on the stairs and looked back.

Feng Xiuhu suddenly attacked. He took out his hand axe and put the axe blade against the tip of Ni Shicai's nose.

Sweat broke out on Ni Shicai's forehead. "Deacon Feng, what do you mean?"

Feng Xiuhu laughed and said, "My brother was worried that you would trick me into killing me, so I thought I'd strike first."

The atmosphere was tense, and the thugs and guards around him all held down their weapons and approached with bated breath.

After a few seconds of dead silence, Ni Shicai forced a smile. "What a huge misunderstanding... You are a legitimate church deacon. Although I have the title of tax collector, I am ultimately just a small figure like an ant. I wouldn't dare to bare my teeth to Deacon Feng. Brother, you have wronged me."

Feng Xiuhu thought it made sense, as his identity was indeed different now.

Just as Guard Officer Morgan reminded him not to touch Ni Shicai, Ni Shicai did not dare to touch him easily.

Feng Xiuhu put away his hand axe and patted Ni Shicai's shoulder apologetically: "I'm just trying to scare you. What if you tell me the truth?"

Ni Shicai laughed dryly and wiped his sweat. He didn't dare to walk in front of Feng Xiuhu anymore. He stepped aside and extended his hand to invite him: "Deacon Feng, please."

Feng Xiuhu was not afraid and walked forward.

Shunzi was still worried, so he pushed Ni Shicai aside and quickly chased after him.

Ni Shicai said nothing, turned around and waved to the guards below: "Disperse, you unruly people, what are you making a fuss about?"

Feng Xiuhu, who was walking in front, heard it and nodded imperceptibly.

Ni Shicai is a character.

PS: Those who are considered important by Feng Xiuhu never seem to have a good ending. Dear gentlemen, please help Feng Xiuhu spread the word.

(End of this chapter)