Chapter 30 third quarter

In addition to the performances on the stage, there are also dozens of famous courtesans in the capital walking back and forth in the venue. In fact, they are prostitutes who are held by someone on the stage. Beside him, winking and winking, extremely attentive.Most of these courtesans are the prostitutes in Bada Hutong, how powerful Duan Shizhang is in the underworld, just ask these prostitutes, who runs the brothel in Bada Hutong?Duan Shizhang!Whoever Duan Shizhang makes popular will become popular, and whoever makes Duan Shizhang unable to get along will not be able to get along.So these prostitutes were recruited by Duan Shizhang to accompany their guests, and they all wanted to do their best, and they didn't dare to be negligent at all. If they offended someone, if others yelled, they would be in bad luck.

Merchants who have come here have seen this kind of scene, and they have long understood that once their buttocks are stuck to a chair, five hundred oceans will be indispensable; for a sip of tea, at least another five hundred will be donated; Otherwise, it would not be easy to get out of this gate. The venue was lively and lively, these guests were people who had seen the world, knew the rules, would not make loud noises, and walked around at will, so the order was in good order, and soon the time was approaching, and everyone was here. On each table, It was full of people. Butler Liu waved his hand to let Chen Guo accept the jugglers on the stage, and he went up to the high stage and said in a loud voice: "Masters! This is Steward Liu from Duan Shizhang's residence. You are very polite. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule. Let me represent Duan, thank you all!"

Everyone in the audience returned the salute in unison, saying that they dare not take it seriously. Butler Liu cleared his throat, and said loudly to the side: "Please Duan Shizhang, Lord Duan!" After saying that, he ran down the stage, and greeted Duan Shizhang from the side of the stage. Duan Shizhang had a smiling face, and looked kindly.Duan Shizhang was wearing a gown and mandarin jacket made of fine lake silk, with a thick gold pocket watch chain pinned to his chest, and holding a snow-white civilized stick. He nodded repeatedly to the guests in the field and walked up steadily.

Some flatterers in the venue hurriedly stood up and shouted: "Master Duan is good! Master Duan greets you!" For a while, the voices of greeting Duan Shizhang in the venue became one. Duan Shizhang waved his hands to express his gratitude, walked steadily to the middle of the stage, pressed his palms, and signaled everyone not to speak.Everyone hurriedly shut up and sat down one after another. No one dared to speak at this time, they were silent, waiting for Duan Shizhang to speak.Duan Shizhang clasped his hands on the civilized stick, and said with a smile: "It seems like a long time, I have never met so many friends, so many brothers! So I am very happy to see everyone today!"

The audience burst into applause. What Duan Shizhang said was all about the scene, and there was nothing to say. Anyway, no one was stingy with the applause. Duan Shizhang smiled and said: "My friends, bosses, and celebrities, it is not easy to gather together today! You may also know that warlords from all over the world are eyeing the Beiyang government, and they are also very serious about our Beiping city." One day I don’t want to take it for myself! The old thief Yan Xishan in the west, the bandit Zhang Zuolin in the north, and Jiang Guangtou and others in the south are messing around with the Northern Expedition. The war is tight, and Peking is tight! Our government is not rich, and the army’s equipment They are not good enough. Many soldiers can’t wear cotton-padded clothes or quilts in winter. Sometimes they can’t eat enough to eat. In the army, there is a shortage of bullets and cannons. I see it in my eyes and it hurts in my heart. I believe everyone I also feel the same way! Peking is prosperous, everyone is prosperous, Peiping is defeated, everyone is dead! So I invite everyone to come here today, I hope that everyone will donate generously, and those who have money will contribute money to help the Beiyang government prepare for war as much as we can! Do our best Power! Do you agree with me?"

"Master Duan said it well! Master Duan said it well! Listen to Master Duan!" There was a lot of shouting from the audience, it sounded really passionate, and I don't know if it was true or false. Duan Shizhang waved for everyone to be quiet, pointed to the long table under the stage, on which the pledge book and pens and ink had been placed, and said: "Everyone can come up and write the amount of money they pledged on it, but I have a suggestion, we These people usually save money, but they can't save at this time, so I suggest that the minimum is 1,000 yuan! Do you agree?"

Under the stage, a fat businessman stood up and shouted loudly: "Master Duan! You are very good! I am Wang Jiafu from Hongbaozhai, and I pledge three thousand yuan!" People have come forward, picked up a pen to sign the pledge book. Some people secretly scolded that Wang Jiafu of Hongbaozhai is really a bastard. He didn't wait for everyone to answer Duan Shizhang, so he showed off first. Immediately someone stood up and shouted loudly: "An Guo Trading Company Ma Anguo pledged five thousand oceans!" It was a disaster all of a sudden, and those who wanted to donate more to show the limelight stood up and pledged to donate. From 5,000, some people reported to 20,000 oceans. Of course, there were still those who could not afford more than 5,000, so they had to ride the chaos. Come forward, sign your name on the pledge book, and indicate the amount pledged.Butler Liu stood at the table and greeted everyone. Some people wanted to donate one thousand. Seeing Butler Liu was there, he didn’t dare to write it down. He bit the bullet and wrote two thousand. Therefore, Duan Shizhang suggested that everyone should donate at least one thousand. In fact, everyone should donate at least one thousand. two thousand.

Duan Shizhang knew that some businessmen who stood up and loudly reported the amount of donations were all arranged by Butler Liu. Seeing that they had collected nearly one million oceans at once, he was happy, nodded to Steward Liu, and walked off the stage. He was led the way by people shouting from front to back, and sat down at the biggest round table facing the stage.The people sitting on this round table were all the richest and most powerful people in Beiping city. When they saw Duan Shizhang coming, they all stood up and said hello to Duan Shizhang. Duan Shizhang didn't say much, he was in a good mood, and greeted him with a smile.

Seeing that everyone present had pledged their donations, Steward Liu returned to the stage, said a word of thanks, arranged for a performance, and ordered the restaurant to serve food. The gongs and drums were beating together, playing and singing, and all the actors on the stage appeared one after another, which was very lively. Delicious food was served one after another, and a jar of fine wine was opened, and everyone settled down. Anyway, the money has already been spent, so it is better to relax and have fun here, get to know more people, and maybe lead to some good business. . In the venue, drinking cups and cups, eating and drinking together, singing and dancing, it was a scene of extravagant and lewd pleasure.

Duan Shizhang was sitting at the guest of honor, and there was an endless stream of people who came to toast him, hoping to have a good relationship with Duan Shizhang.Duan Shizhang was a very good drinker, and he never refused to come. When he drank happily, his voice became thicker, he laughed and spoke unscrupulously. Someone came to toast again, Duan Shizhang didn't lift his head, just hummed: "Good! Good!" He raised his glass. The person toasting said: "Master Duan, my name is Zhang Xian, I wonder if you like magic?" Duan Shizhang was a little weird when he heard this sentence, turned his head to look around, and there was a strange man standing beside him, wearing a neat suit, holding a glass wine glass, and smiling slightly at himself.

When Duan Shizhang saw this wine glass, he knew it was not the utensils of Huixian Restaurant. He entertained these guests with all the porcelain from Jingdezhen official kiln. How could someone come to toast with a glass wine glass?Duan Shizhang had a vague feeling that he had heard the name Zhang Xian somewhere before, but he couldn't remember it all at once, his heart became vigilant, his face changed, his eyes let out a murderous look, he stared at Zhang Xian and said, "Who are you?" The gentleman sitting at the same table as Duan Shizhang didn't take it seriously at first, but when he heard Duan Shizhang's voice, he knew that something was wrong, and immediately looked at Duan Shizhang and Zhang Xian, and there was no sound at all.Not only the people at Duan Shizhang's table, but all the people in the room felt that the atmosphere was not right, they looked over one after another, and someone whispered: "What's going on?" Stand on stage. Zhang Xian still smiled, and replied to Duan Shizhang: "My name is Zhang Xian, and I am the magician of Tianqiao. I came here uninvited. Please forgive me." A business card was pulled out from Zhang Xian's hand and handed to Duan Shizhang.The people sitting around Duan Shizhang exclaimed for a while. Some people thought that Zhang Xian was an assassin. The glass wine cup suddenly disappeared. They didn't know whether it was a knife or something in his hand. Several people stood up abruptly. Duan Shizhang was startled when he saw that Zhang Xian suddenly lost his glass cup, but he had been through the battlefield for a long time, and he didn't show any panic at all, and he didn't even look at the business card in Zhang Xian's hand. Uninvited? How dare you! How did you get in here?" Zhang Xian put the business card on the table and said with a smile: "I want to come in, it's easy, don't you believe it?" A burly man had already run out from the side, held a pistol in his hand, and surrounded him, but Zhang Xian was too close to Duan Shizhang, and he was afraid that if he did anything indiscriminately, it would be detrimental to Duan Shizhang. Zhang Xian held it down. Duan Shizhang was sitting and Zhang Xian was standing. Countless people in Duan Shizhang's life wanted to kill him. Knowing that Zhang Xian wanted to take his life, it was time to do so.Duan Shizhang squinted at Zhang Xian and said, "Okay! I believe you can come in easily. What are you doing here? Make it clear and step aside, I promise to spare your life." Zhang Xian smiled and said, "Master Duan, I'm here to perform magic tricks for you, and I have no other intentions." Duan Shizhang snorted, "Performing magic tricks? Do you think this is a fun place?" Zhang Xian said: "Master Duan, I promise I won't disappoint you! Just give me a little time, and I will perform in the courtyard." Duan Shizhang said: "Okay! You take a step back, and I will see your magic tricks!" Zhang Xian said: "Master Duan said a lot, and Zhang Xian made a fool of himself." Zhang Xian bowed slightly, and took two steps back. Before he could speak, a group of big men had already rushed forward, immediately pushed Zhang Xian to the ground, and put four or five pistols on Zhang Xian's forehead. Zhang Xian couldn't resist, but he still had a slight smile on his face, he didn't move, and was dragged up from the ground. Butler Liu ran forward and scolded: "You are so brave! Today is the day of your death for the lifeless thing, take him down and lock him up!" Zhang Xian was in pain, but he still looked at Duan Shizhang and said, "Master Duan, you talk so well, why are you still afraid of me, a defenseless person?" Butler Liu didn't care at all, and hummed, "Take it away!" All the big men are going to take Zhang Xian down. "Wait!" Duan Shizhang suddenly shouted. After listening to Duan Shizhang's order, all the big men dared not take Zhang Xian down again. Duan Shizhang stood up, took two steps with his hands behind his back, glanced up and down at Zhang Xian, and said, "He's a man, let him go!" The big fellows were stunned, not knowing what to do, Steward Liu took a step forward, moved closer to Duan Shizhang and said, "Master Duan, this person is dangerous, can't we let him go?" Duan Shizhang hummed: "Let go of him! He's not afraid, should I be afraid? I want to see his magic tricks!" Steward Liu gave the big men a wink, and the big men slowly let go of Zhang Xian, and slowly backed away a few steps, as long as Zhang Xian had any abnormal behavior, they would definitely pounce on him again. Zhang Xian straightened up, straightened his clothes, and said to Duan Shizhang, "Thank you Duan!" Duan Shizhang told Steward Liu: "Butler Liu, bring the stool." Needle dropping could be heard in the whole yard, and it was quiet. No one knew what was going to happen in the future. Steward Liu hurriedly moved the chair, asked Duan Shizhang to sit down, facing Zhang Xian, several big men ran from the side, guarding Duan Shizhang's side, in case of accidents. Duan Shizhang pointed to Zhang Xian and said, "You can perform it! If the magic trick you perform is something I have seen before, cheat the world and steal your name, play tricks, let us present see the flaws, and you will know the consequences yourself!" Steward Liu waved his hands again and again, signaling the panicked guests to sit down.Seeing that Zhang Xian was under control, everyone felt that Zhang Xian was audacious, and they became a little curious about this man. They all sat down after listening to Butler Liu talking about it.For a moment, all eyes were on Zhang Xian. Chen Guo slipped out from behind the stage and caught a glimpse of Zhang Xian standing in the middle of the courtyard.Chen Guo has seen this Zhang Xian's ability, but no matter how great Zhang Xian's ability is, in this critical situation, walking on thin ice, and life-threatening situations, he is still surrounded by people, so he can ensure that he will not miss and will not be seen. Is there a flaw?Chen Guozi thought that he would never dare to try. Zhang Xian bowed to the businessmen and celebrities surrounded by him, stretched out his hands to indicate that there was nothing in his hands, then raised one hand above his head, grabbed twice out of thin air, and suddenly clenched his fists , as if caught something.Everyone held Zhang Xian's hands, and they were unwilling to blink, wondering what would be released when they loosened their fists.