Chapter 30 Chapter Four
The story is divided into two parts, and it is said that after Ma Rong left the White Crane Tower, he enjoyed watching and entertaining in the bustling places of the market.All the beautified girls in the streets and alleys made gestures at him one by one, but Ma Rong only winked in return, thinking about Di Gong's words in his heart.Don't dare to make mistakes.Touching the two taels of silver at his waist, he wanted to try his luck in the gambling game.
Turning the corner of the street, I saw a "Hengfengzhuang" gambling game.The bronzing signboard hangs high, and there is a pair of pairs on both sides. "Small world of gambling, big gambling of the world".
——Business is booming, a large group of gamblers gather to play roulette in the game, and there are also four people at a table rolling dice and handing out leaves.
Ma Rong was overjoyed, he first tried his luck in the roulette game, bet two treasures, and actually won a lottery, winning four taels of silver.Ji Liu retreated bravely, quickly withdrew his troops, and wanted to distribute the leaves.
Fa Yezi's four seats are full.Ma Rong looked over one by one, wanting to get a seat.No one left for half a day.Normal boredom, don't see two people coming forward to say hello.One is short and thick, with a face full of flesh; the other is a shriveled elf, who looks like a thin chicken.
"The guest officer is waiting to fight the leaves." The thin chicken opened his mouth first, with a pleasant expression.
Ma Rong nodded, not wanting to join Shanshan.
"I don't know how much money the guest officer has on his body?" Skinny Chicken asked again.
Ma Rong was displeased: "You two can gamble if you want, and ask me what I want to do with the money. Oh, Luo Mo."
"There has always been a rule here, the win and loss are settled, and there is no harm to each other. If you don't bring enough money, you are not allowed to start."
Ma Rong said angrily: "Is six taels of silver enough for me? There are still three ingots and two ingots of fine silk. When you lose, you still have two ingots of gold. Do you want to look at it? You look down on people.
"The guest officer calm down, listen to the guest officer's words and actions like a military officer."
"It's the officer. The magistrate Di of the Zhengtang of Puyang County is accompanying him personally. ——I might as well tell you two that the magistrate Luo has handed over the golden seal to my lord Di."
"The strong man speaks quickly, and I admire him very much. One, my name is Xiao Xia, and this guy is called Da Xie. The two of us are the cadres of Feng Lichang. They are dedicated to governing Leyuan Jing'an, not gamblers. Just interrogated, how many Offended, the strong man begs forgiveness."
Ma Rong smiled and said, "My name is Jiang Vinegar Salt, and I specialize in cooking shrimp and crab."
Xiao Xia said: "Don't make fun of the strong man. County Magistrate Di's name is like thunder, and the world respects him. Now that he really took over the Jinhua Yamen Office, Chief Feng here has to obey orders."
Ma Rong said: "Exactly. Since you two are in charge of Leyuan Jing'an, you must know about Mr. Li Lian's suicide."
"Of course it's clear."
Ma Rong was overjoyed: "I just won four taels of silver here, why don't you invite the two of you to a restaurant to get together and make friends. I just made fun of you, but my real name is Ma Rong."
The big crab seems dull, and he is overjoyed to hear that he is drinking.
The three of them left Hengfeng Manor and ordered a table of wine and food in a nearby tavern.Gobble it up and have a good time.Ma Ronghui accounts.
Xiao Xia narrated Li Lian's story and said: "Ten days ago, that is, on July 18th, Mr. Li and some friends came here from the capital on a big boat. They drank wine and recited poems on the boat, and had a good time. The boatman and the fireman All of them were drunk like clay figurines. There was heavy fog on the river that night, and their boat happened to crash into our boat. Lichang Feng’s daughter, Yuhuan, was in the boat. OK. Li Lian heard the news, so he had to pay thirty taels of silver for compensation. His boat also docked on the river bank, and several friends stayed in the Yongle Inn, and Li Lian himself lived in the red pavilion."
"Red Pavilion?" Ma Rong exclaimed in shock, "Now my master, County Magistrate Di, is living in that Red Pavilion. Could it be that Li Lian committed suicide in that Red Pavilion?"
Xiao Xia said seriously, "Li Lian died in that red pavilion. However, it seems that he did not commit suicide."
"How did you see that?" Ma Rong was surprised.
Xiao Xia proudly said: "This is my own theory, and it's just speculation. Brother Daxie and I were in Hengfeng Manor as usual to film business affairs and monitor the gamblers. I saw Li Lian winning big and losing big at the gambling table, and I was always indifferent , without stinginess. Once I saw him lose a thousand taels of silver, and he was still talking and laughing, calm and composed. With such an education in the city, how could he be a foolish, rampant and suicidal person?"
Ma Rong couldn't help nodding, showing respect.
"Jia Yubo, a sour scholar, is not the case. He becomes impatient when he loses in twos and threes, and gets angry when he loses in twos and eights. A few days ago, I saw him lose all his money, and he gradually lost his temper. This kind of person is not good at all. Temperance, there is light life."
Ma Rong said: "I heard that Li Lian fell in love with a firework girl here. After receiving the indifference, shame and indignation, he thought of abandoning the world."
Daxie interjected at this moment: "This Mr. Li is cold-faced and has a sharp mind. How could he let that bitch go so easily and seek his own death."
"So, Li Lian was murdered!" Ma Rongwu said.
Big Xie argued anxiously: "Xiao Xia is a witness, I never said that Mr. Li was murdered."
Ma Rong asked with a smile: "Who is the prostitute that Li Lian is obsessed with? She is so charming, and if she doesn't take advantage of her, she can easily put her to death."
Xiao Xia replied: "Young Master Li, the oiranian lady Qiuyue of this Le Yuan is what Mr. Li wants to piss off. However, he often hangs out with women such as Peony, Hongliu, Bailan and so on. He stayed in Le Yuan for seven or eight days in total. "
"What will happen after seven or eight days?" Ma Rong pressed down and asked.
"Three days ago, that is, Ganwu in July. His friends went back to the capital by boat first, and he stayed alone. That day he ate dinner in the red pavilion and kept the door closed. For an hour Then he died in the red pavilion."
"Amitabha, sin, sin." Big Crab read.
Xiao Xia said again: "Most of the above words are heard, not true. I personally saw that the antique dealer Wen Wenyuan went to the Yongle Inn not long after dinner that day."
"Could it be that he was looking for Li Lian at that time." Ma Rong was alert.
"I don't dare to speculate on this. But, Brother Ma Rong is trustworthy, so I might as well let you in on a little more information: Twenty years ago, Tao Kuangshi, Tao De's father, also committed suicide in the Red Pavilion. Wen Wenyuan entered the Yongle Inn that day. It was such a coincidence, the news during that time, brother Ma Rong is a smart man, you can figure it out for yourself."
Ma Rong took out another tael of silver from his waist, and thanked Xiao Xia and Da Xie.The two resigned firmly, only saying that they were performing official duties and did not want to be rewarded.
Ma Rong said in a low voice: "I'd like to ask another private matter, please don't say it. I'll talk about it after you two have received the money."
Xiao Xia smiled slyly and asked, "I don't know which kind Ma Rong likes, so we can offer advice."
Ma Rong was obedient and speculative, and said with a sneer: "I only look for someone who grew up between the Jianghuai River and the Huaihe River, and the fellow villagers will find it interesting."
Xiao Xia said, "There is a girl in Cangchun Pavilion, named Yinxian, who is from Linhuai County, Sizhou, or a fellow villager. She is a good character, good-looking, skilled in singing, dancing and playing music.—— But at this time, I am serving a banquet at the White Crane Tower, so you can find her before midnight."
Ma Rong grinned, and stuffed a tael of silver into Xiao Xia's skirt.
"I don't know where the two good brothers, shrimp and crab, live tonight?"
"We are located at the foot of a barren slope in the southwestern corner of Leyuan, near the Jinhua River, and it is very secluded. We have to go back to guard the pumpkin field at night to prevent people from stealing."
"You two also grow pumpkins yourself?" Ma Rong asked curiously.
Big Crab smiled: "Everyone has their own preferences, so you can't force it. By the way, Brother Ma Rong, when talking about guarding the pumpkin fields, I remembered one thing. That day we saw Ji Lian's big ship moored at the wharf of the Jinhua River Above, the pier is opposite the pumpkin field. Wen Wenyuan and Li Lian were whispering under a big tree by the pier. ——In the early years, Li Lian’s father, Mr. Li Jingwei, often bought Wen Wenyuan’s Zhong Ding Zunjue and the like Yin and Zhou bronze wares, but the two of them may not have been talking about antique business that day, they looked so secretive and sneaky."
Ma Rong admired: "The two virtuous brothers are so dedicated, it is admirable."
Xiao Xia said: "We have always been loyal to Feng Lichang, and we have held his job for more than ten years. It is still early now, and we have to go back to Hengfeng Manor for a walk."
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