Chapter 284 Damn It (asking for monthly ticket)
Just as the Ninth Mountain was recruiting soldiers, causing a stir in the city,
Dusk was falling.
A boy of about fifteen or sixteen, with sparse beard at the corners of his mouth and a clever look in his eyes, wearing a workman's linen cloth, carrying things wrapped in oil paper and a pot of wine, rushed excitedly into an alley in Ping'anfang, Dongcheng District.
The alley is filled with slightly dilapidated houses and no decent buildings. Those who live here are all people at the bottom of society.
The public security there is chaotic, and there are often some ruffians hanging around, doing things like blocking people on the road and stealing things.
However, these days, with the return of the much-praised General Zhonglang to the city, and the news that he was catching gangsters everywhere, the hooligans in this alley have obviously become much more honest.
However, after entering the alley, the boy still stuffed the oil paper bag and the pot of wine, one into his arms and the other into his sleeve, then bent his body slightly and walked quickly towards his destination.
About half a cup of tea later, the boy finally arrived at his destination.
A mud yard with a fence covered with lush vines, two adobe houses with thatched sheds on top.
There were cracks as thick as fingers on the walls of the house, but the yard was generally very clean.
"Old sir!"
"Old sir!"
"See what I brought?"
As soon as the boy entered the yard, he excitedly took out the things he had brought from his arms and sleeves.
As a result, I saw that there was another person in the yard besides the old man.
A person who obviously did not fit in with the surroundings of the courtyard. He was wearing a blue cloud-embroidered robe that looked expensive, with a jade belt hanging around his waist. He was tall, had a mustache, ink-black hair, and there seemed to be some texture at the corners of his eyes.
This person was bowing and clasping to the "old gentleman" who was sitting on a stone bench under a tree.
When the young man looked at the scene in front of him curiously, he saw the man lowering his eyebrows and glancing in his direction. His eyes were full of arrogance and a chill that made his soul seem to be frozen.
The young man shuddered and his body was about to go limp.
When he worked in a restaurant on the street, he also felt this kind of gaze on those "big shots".
It was as if seeing something dirty, full of disgust, disdain, and contempt as if someone had the power of life and death.
In the past half month, many people came to Jinguan City, so he got a hard-earned job, serving tea and water in a restaurant a few streets away, doing odd jobs, doing everything. It was there that he saw many important people.
It’s just that most of those “big shots” are not easy to get along with. When I first went there, I caused a lot of trouble because I was not quick enough. Actually, it wasn’t that much trouble. It’s just that in the eyes of those big shots, who even had to smile apologetically at their bosses, what I did was wrong.
But I know I can't afford to offend these people, so I can only kneel like a dog. I don't know how many times I have done this, and I have become accustomed to it.
His parents died one after another two years ago, and he lived like this in the days that followed.
Anyway, the boy is living on shamelessly, and he believes that life will get better slowly!
Just when he was about to be unable to bear the gaze of the man in fancy clothes, the "old gentleman" he mentioned looked over, spoke, and said with a slight smile:
"Oh, little one, what did you bring?"
The "old gentleman" had gray hair that was combed meticulously and neatly, with a hairpin made of some kind of black jade inserted in his hair. He wore a white robe, and his eyebrows were sharp, but his eyes were smiling.
As soon as the old man opened his mouth, the young man felt the pressure around him suddenly dissipate into nothingness.
The "old gentleman" didn't seem to be an ordinary person, and the "big shot" next to him was very respectful to the old man.
He met this old gentleman in a restaurant just a few days ago. When the old gentleman came to the restaurant to stay overnight, there were no rooms available. In order to earn some money and fulfill his dream as soon as possible, he led the old gentleman to his residence and charged some accommodation fees. Unexpectedly, the old gentleman agreed so readily.
The boy suddenly became a little timid, feeling that he was too lucky to present the oil-paper bag and wine in his hands.
He wanted to share his happiness with the old man who lived in his house. "It's roast chicken and wine!"
He felt a little embarrassed and raised the things in his hands.
"Give me something to eat?" asked the old man.
"Yeah." The boy nodded woodenly.
The old gentleman was very interested and waved his hand to pass the pot of wine over to him. The young man was surprised, and then his eyes showed longing and envy.
But he reacted quickly, ran to an earthen house inside, took out a porcelain bowl with several corners missing, ran to the old gentleman, then quickly wiped it with the corner of his clothes and put it in front of the old gentleman, appearing somewhat hasty and nervous.
The old gentleman saw this, his lips curved, poured a glass of wine, and said with interest:
"I remember you said you were saving money and wanted to go to a martial arts school to learn martial arts. Why are you willing to buy roast chicken and wine for me? Did something happy happen to you?"
When the young man heard this, his nervous face could not hide the joy and happiness on his face, and he kept talking.
"Old sir, don't you know that the Ninth Mountain Expedition Army is recruiting soldiers throughout the city? I went with my boss to see it. Many people, even children of many big families, signed up to join the army. The scene was very lively."
"I'm so jealous!"
"I want to learn martial arts and become famous in the future, so that I can join the Ninth Mountain and follow the respected General!"
The young man became excited as he spoke, unable to suppress his youthful nature. His brows raised, his fists clenched, he made martial arts moves, and spoke of his beautiful wishes for the future.
But as soon as the young man said this, the old man's hand holding the bowl stopped in mid-air, and the smile on his lips slowly disappeared.
The man in blue clothes next to the old man suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing coldly.
The young man sensed that the atmosphere was not right. With a look of residual excitement on his face, he raised his eyebrows, looked at the old gentleman whose smile had disappeared and whose face was expressionless, then met the pair of cold eyes next to him. He couldn't help but tremble and stepped back.
"Boy, did you say something wrong?"
The old man raised his hand, took a sip of the wine in the bowl, and then said expressionlessly:
"Master Qian, this little guy is a problem for you. He is a good kid, but he chose the wrong path. Please don't let him suffer."
The tall man in blue clothes bowed his head and said respectfully, "As you wish, senior!"
Then he raised his head and looked at the farm boy with "pity". Then he leaped up, grabbed with one hand, and rushed into one of the earthen houses with a gust of wind.
The boy disappeared at the spot.
As the dilapidated wooden door moved, a roast chicken wrapped in oil paper rolled to the threshold, and the kindness and dreams of the young man disappeared.
Then, the man in fancy clothes came out and flashed in front of the old gentleman.
The old man poured out the remaining wine in the bowl.
"What a pity! I wanted to leave a good relationship!"
"But, young man, why did you mention that Lieutenant General?"
"I still have to seek revenge on him for my Li family's vengeance."
"What you said is right, senior. Jiu Zhonglang has forced our Qian family to resist. Several families are now discussing countermeasures. I hope the senior can help. Our Qian family will definitely reward you handsomely!" The tall man in blue clothes clasped his fists with a fierce look on his face.
(End of this chapter)
