Entrepreneurship in the Late Tang Dynasty

Chapter 31: Corner
As soon as the sun rose, Zhao Huaian was awakened by the noise outside the tent.

Damn it! Zhao Huaian wrapped the sheepskin blanket around his head and yelled:

"Sixth Brother, go out and take a look."

Last night, Zhao Huaian talked with everyone about pre-war preparations until midnight, so Zhao Liu was also sleeping wrapped in a blanket.

When Zhao Huaian shouted, he didn't move at all, like a salted fish, and ignored Zhao Da at all.

But the next moment, a cushion fell on Zhao Liu's head, followed by Zhao Huaian's violent roar:

"Sixth Brother, you must be thinking about eating my fist, right?"

Zhao Liu stood up suddenly, glanced at Zhao Da who was still sleeping, and muttered something.

But then, Zhao Huaian's voice came again:

"Sixth Brother, if you keep scolding me, I'm really going to beat you to death."

The situation was worse than the people, so Zhao Liu had no choice but to get up. Then he saw the four five-inch boys that Zhao Huaian had recruited standing guard by the tent. With a quick glance, he waved and called the four boys over:

"Go, go out and see what's going on."

Zhao Wenzhong, Zhao Wenying, Zhao Wenhui and Zhao Wenxun, four five-inch men, took turns to keep watch last night. Now their eyes were red. After hearing what Zhao Liu said, they ran out of the tent without hesitation.

As the curtain opened, a cold wind blew in. Zhao Liu shuddered and cursed, "A bunch of cowards!" Then he wrapped himself in a sheepskin blanket and continued to sleep.

But just as they lay down, Zhao Wenzhong and his men opened the tent and shouted:

"Godfather, the fight has started, the fight has started."

Zhao Huaian, who was still wrapped in a sheepskin blanket, suddenly jumped up and shouted:

"Quick, put on your armor."

After saying that, Zhao Huaian kicked Zhao Liu, who was dawdling, and cursed:

"You bastard! Wenzhong and the others are so young, how could you, as their uncle, bear to let them go out and freeze? You have such a dirty mind."

Zhao Liu was kicked and didn't dare to talk back. He began to stuff hay into Zhao Huaian's cloth boots skillfully.

On the other side, Zhao Wenzhong and four others carried the wooden frame and took off the Ming Guang armor on it. One of them put on the breastplate, one put on the shoulder guard, one put on the armor skirt, and one tied the leg hangings.

Zhao Huaian took out his belt, wrapped the belly guard around it, then took off his helmet and put it on his head.

Then Zhao Huaian shouted at Zhao Liu:

"Go wake everyone up, you bastard! The enemy is here to kill you, and you're still sleeping."

As he spoke, Zhao Huaian put on his cloth boots and looked around, but he didn't find Sun Tai and Zhao Hu. But he didn't have time to think about it now. He carried his Mo Dao and strode out of the tent.

Behind him, Zhao Liu and four five-inch men followed closely with swords in their hands.

……

When Zhao Huaian rushed out of the tent wearing helmet and armor, he was stunned by the scene in front of him.

The camp was crowded with people and cheers were deafening, but these people didn't look like they were going to a war. It was more like they were watching a big show.

The center of the camp has been surrounded by three layers of walls, and any higher place is now crowded with people.

The local militiamen crowded into the baggage cart, standing on wooden boxes with their feet raised. One young man was even more outrageous, having two of his strong men lift him on their shoulders.

Everyone was so excited that they raised their arms and shouted.

Zhao Huaian's tent was a little higher, and he could vaguely see two shirtless men wrestling in the circle.

At this time, he didn't understand that he had misunderstood. What Wen Zhong and his friends meant by "fighting" was actually this.

Zhao Huaian, feeling rather embarrassed, glared at Lao Liu, then walked over to Fatty Dou as if nothing had happened.

Although Zhao Huaian wearing a helmet and armor was eye-catching enough, everyone present was immersed in the fight on the field. Although a few of them took a look, they turned back after a while.

When Zhao Huaian came over, Fatty Dou had his eyes crossed, veins popped out on his forehead, and he shouted with one arm:
"Fuck him!"

"Fuck him!"

Beside him, several men wearing black futou and green round-necked tight-fitting robes were also shouting:
"Come to me if you want red ones."

"Come to me if you want to buy black ones."

Amid the shouting, from time to time, some enthusiastic locals would run over and take out their coins to bet on their favorite players.

Zhao Huaian looked at it curiously. This was the first time he saw the ancestors of the Tang Dynasty gathering together to gamble. Those peasants who couldn't even afford straw sandals actually took out a handful of copper coins to gamble.

What a bunch of gamblers!

Seeing Fatty Dou was so excited, he probably bet a lot, so he came up and joked:

"Fatty Bean, let me help you check whether you bet on red or black."

Dou Lufeng, who was roaring and cheering, was wondering which turtle was so rude when he heard this, and then he saw Zhao Da coming over.

Fatty Dou gave Zhao Huaian a simple smile, and quickly gave up his seat to Zhao Huaian, saying:
"Zhao Da, your disciple is really amazing."

ha?
Zhao Huaian was completely baffled. It wasn't until he stood in Fatty Dou's position that he realized, damn it, the person fighting on the field was actually his man. And damn it, it was two of them.

Sun Tai and Zhao Hu were seen wrestling with each other on the field. In addition to using some traditional wrestling routines, they also used Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from time to time.

At this time, Zhao Huaian's face turned green with anger. Did he teach the two of them martial arts for the purpose of betting?

Just when Zhao Huaian was thinking about how to deal with them, their fight had already ended.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Hu, who had worse skills, fought back. He took advantage of Sun Tai's trance and threw him to the ground, then pinned Sun Tai under him, completing the strongman lock-up move.

After a stalemate of half a breath, the fight ended with Sun Tai slamming the ball to the ground.

The wrestling match ended so quickly that the local groups who were cheering were stunned for a moment, and then they started to curse loudly.

Most of them bet at halftime. At that time, Sun Tai was in high spirits, stronger, and had better skills. Everyone could see that he had the advantage.

I thought I was going to pick up money, but now you tell me that I lost?

The members of the local organizations were furious and cursing, and were about to find the fat man Dou who ran the gambling to ask for an explanation, but they found that they couldn't find him at all.

Everyone made a fuss, but in the end they accepted defeat and slowly dispersed.

……

In Zhao Huaian's tent, Zhao Hu and Sun Tai were kneeling on the ground, Zhao Huaian was sitting on a stool, and four five-inch men were helping him take off his armor.

On the other side, Fatty Dou and the others in green round robes were smiling happily and counting the copper coins in their hands skillfully. At their feet, a large basket was piled full of copper coins.

Zhao Huaian never expected that this fat guy would actually challenge his disciples to a bet and a fake match.

This... is truly a talent.

He originally thought that Fatty Dou was just a loser, a mere comedian, and would only be used as a pawn on the battlefield, but he didn't expect he had this skill.

Zhao Huaian coughed and said solemnly to Sun Tai and Zhao Hu:
"You two have really grown in skill. I taught you the art of killing, but you're just juggling it."

Sun Tai and Zhao Hu lowered their heads and dared not say a word.

But Lao Liu was a little embarrassed, hesitatingly said:

"You can't blame them for this. I was the one who complained yesterday about not having enough money in the camp, but they went out to earn some money today. It's not nice, but they meant well."

It would have been fine if Zhao Liu didn't say anything, but when he did, Zhao Huaian became even angrier.

Zhao Liu was also sitting on a stool at this time, but Zhao Da kicked Zhao Liu's stool over, causing Zhao Liu to fall flat on his face.

Seeing this, the four five-inch men behind Zhao Huaian grinned.

Zhao Liu was also annoyed, and he started to make a scene while lying on the ground, shouting:
"I'm going to die, you coward. You don't know how expensive firewood and rice are if you don't manage the household. Now we can't even afford firewood in the camp. It's all because of that brat Niu Li who took everyone to the mountains to cut firewood. His hands are frozen like steamed buns. If you hadn't given all the money to Fei Da and the others, how could this happen? Ah? How could this happen?"

Zhao Huaian was also embarrassed when he heard this. He was indeed used to spending money lavishly, but Niu Li was a good guy and did a lot of things quietly.

Feeling a little guilty, Zhao Huaian smiled and straightened up the fallen stool, then pulled Zhao Liu to sit on it again, begging for mercy:

"Make money. I promise to make money. I'll start today."

This time Zhao Liu stopped crying and sat back on the mat, smiling happily.

After dealing with Zhao Liu, Zhao Huaian finally had time to punish Sun Tai and Zhao Hu:

"You two go help Niu Li chop wood. Cut as much as Niu Li and his men chop."

Sun Tai and Zhao Hu then breathed a sigh of relief, nodded respectfully, and were about to leave the tent when they were stopped by Zhao Huaian.

Zhao Huaian walked to the back of the tent, took out three sheepskin coats and three pairs of woolen gloves, and handed them to Sun Tai:
"These are the coats and gloves I just asked the leatherworker Zhang to make. Each of you can take one, and give some to Niu Li as well."

Sun Tai and Zhao Hu couldn't stand this. Tears were about to well up in their eyes, but Zhao Huaian came up and kicked them again, cursing:

"What are you still standing there for? If you dare to slack off, I'll beat you to death."

The two men blew their noses and smiled, then put on their sheepskin coats and woolen gloves on the spot and left respectfully.

As soon as they left, Zhao Huaian looked at Fatty Dou.

He was wondering whether he should mend his relationship with Fatty Dou. Fatty Dou looked like he deserved a beating, but unexpectedly he was actually a good money-maker.

He took a look at the basket of copper coins. There were probably at least twenty or thirty strings of coins. Although it was not a lot of money, it was enough for one person to live for ten years. If converted into the money of later generations, it would be three or four hundred thousand.

He is short of money right now, so he might as well cooperate with Fatty Dou. He doesn't have to have a fake match, he can do other things.

But Zhao Huaian didn't know that when he looked Fatty Bean up and down like this, Fatty Bean's back was already wet.

He reluctantly put the copper coins in his hand into the basket, then said with a wry smile:

"Zhao Da, this is all thanks to your two disciples. I just set up the situation, I didn't do much. Oh, by the way, I remember I have something else to do, so I won't bother you for now."

As he spoke, Fatty Dou stood up. Seeing that several servants around him were still standing there in a daze, he kicked them one by one and dragged them out of the tent.

Zhao Huaian was confused by Fatty Dou and had no idea what was going on.

It wasn't until he saw Zhao Liu's thieving smile that he realized:
"Huh? This Fatty Bean doesn't think I'm playing a double act with Lao Liu? He wants to cheat him out of money, right? This is really unfair!"

Damn Lao Liu, my Zhao Da’s reputation will be ruined by you sooner or later!
(End of this chapter)