Chapter 26 chapter eight

Shen Ba, the head of the beggar group, is located in a dilapidated small mud alley behind the General Temple. The shop is full of noisy beggars, rascals, idlers, and scumbags. odor.With great difficulty, Hong Canjun squeezed his way to the cashier at the back of the store.Two menacing men were yelling loudly at each other. Shen Ba stood leaning against the cashier with his arms crossed, as thick and strong as an iron pillar.He was dressed sloppily, with his jacket on top of his jacket, the buttons were unbuttoned, and his big belly was exposed.A dirty cloth was tied on his forehead, a lock of long curly hair hung down, and a greasy beard hung in sticky strands on his chest.

Shen Ba frowned, and looked angrily at the two quarreling men for a while.Suddenly, he put down his hand and pulled up the trousers, lightly grabbed the nape of their necks, and bumped their heads hard twice. Hong Liang looked at the two fierce men with aggrieved faces.They were standing there in bewilderment rubbing their aching heads.He stepped forward, bowed and saluted, and said: "Mr. Shen Baxiang has not seen him for a long time, so you must be very busy with the affairs of the brothers?" "Oh, Commander Hong, I've always been generous, and I haven't come here for a long time. I don't feel sorry for me when I'm sick like this? Forgive my brother for neglecting etiquette. Come, sit down, and have a drink!"

Shen Bayin sat down on an empty seat in the corner of the shop, and the young man brought out two bowls of steaming fragrant wine. Hong Liang smiled and said: "Thank you for your hospitality, brother, I dare not waste a lot of time. I am here today but I have something to worry about, please don't push me away." Shen Badao: "Officer Hong has something to say, but it's okay to say it." "My dear brother, do you know that there are two scholars in the county school, one named Dong Mei and the other named Xia Guang?" Shen Ba scratched his exposed belly. After a long silence, he said angrily: "Scholar? Officer Hong laughed at me. My younger brother never dealt with scholars. Dong Mei and Xia Guang really don't know either. Scholars know books and etiquette, but they are more Dirty and mean tricks, ten times worse than the average gangster. It's just retribution that they've caused a lot of trouble themselves, so why should your lord be alarmed?"

"Brother, I don't know, one of them is already dead—there was an accident during the dragon boat race, haven't you heard about it?" "I didn't go to the dragon boat race. The bet is unbearable!" Shen Ba shook his head. "A few copper coins, my brother can't afford to gamble?" "How many copper coins? Sir, do you know how much bets the people on the No. 9 ship have bet? Poor Dr. Bian, if he really loses, it will be really miserable! I know he has a very difficult time recently." Shen Ba stared blankly at the wine glass in his hand, and said: "If the bet is high, accidents will happen!"

Hong Liang was startled, and hurriedly asked: "Doctor Bian's boat lost, who won the big money?" Shen Ba raised his eyes, hesitated for a long time, and slowly replied: "This question is a bit mysterious, and the answer is lengthy, I'm afraid the officer doesn't bother to listen. In short, there are all kinds of traps behind the betting. Before the boat race Someone has already pulled insiders and bribed joints. God knows who will get rich and who will suffer in the end. The sir is honest and can't see through all kinds of evil activities in the world." "Master Di wants to know this very much, because it is related to a murder case he is investigating."

"Excuse me, Chief Hong, but I really don't know the inside story." Shen Ba was obviously a little impatient. Hong Liang boldly lied: "Master Di will reward anyone who tells him this." Shen Ba's eyes widened. "Master Di, he... You know that I, Shen Ba, never deal with the government, but, Chief Hong, you and I have friendship after all, come here tomorrow by the way, maybe I will get some information to tell you." Hong Liang replied with a smile: "Needless to say, Master Di also thinks highly of my virtuous brother." Shen Ba suddenly thought of something.With a dry laugh, he said, "My little brother also has something to ask. I wonder if the chief will help you?"

"It doesn't matter what you say, Brother Yu, you can do what you can, and you will never shirk it." "My little brother has a woman in his heart, who is extremely elite in the world. She was selected into the harem in the early years..." Hong Liang's ears perked up, his heart was vigilant, and he hurriedly asked, "Is she related to a bead?" Shen Ba replied: "Wonderful, wonderful, sir's words are so precise. She is just a shining pearl, the most eye-catching pearl among thousands of women. ——I would like to ask you to go and see her, By the way, I would like to say a few good words for my younger brother. Be careful not to bump into her!"

Hong Canjun was at a loss.Shen Ba didn't know about Yuzhu at all, and he really didn't know the inside story of Dong Mei and Hu Po's transaction.There is no need to ask about Xia Guang's whereabouts.He hesitated for a moment, then asked Shen Badao: "Did my virtuous brother entrust me to be a matchmaker to propose marriage to that woman?" "Oh! No! How could it be so fast? The officer knows the situation of my younger brother, let alone I have—" Hong Liang said: "Then, what exactly does my brother want me to do?" "I just ask Officer Hong to go to her and say a few good words for my younger brother, that's all. The officer decides how much to say."

"It's not difficult to think about it. Brother Yu should try his best. I just don't know who that woman is and where to find her." "Sir, I went to the General Temple to inquire about Miss Zilan. I don't know anything about it. It's not far from here. It's best to go there tomorrow morning, sir. Oh, I remembered, those two guys, Dong Mei, Xia Guang—I didn't Remember their names wrong, and I often go to Miss Zilan, you can ask her about those two scholars. Officer Hong, you must remember to be gentle and refined. She is a very charming woman , but offended her..."

"Okay, okay, don't worry, Brother Xian. I'll come here to find you again tomorrow."