Chapter 3 Chapter two

The Manchus retreated, and the braids disappeared.Toss the logo for an even messier look and messier hairstyle.There are bald, parted, dorsal.After the old people cut their braids, they let their hair scatter behind their heads and became half-haired. One morning after autumn, the Zhou family's Tonghe Dyeing Workshop had a completely new look.The facade has been newly renovated, and the black paint on the door panels is shining.The old signboard at the beginning has also become a gold lettering, and there are pairs on both sides of the store: "Calling for the beauty of the south and the sea, benefiting the neighbors in the neighborhood." The green lettering on the black background is from the hands of shopkeeper Zhou.After years of honing, the strokes really have the meaning of Sun Guoting.

Today is the first day of opening, people come and go, business is booming.Shopkeeper Zhou stood by the door, bowing to everyone, smiling and elated.Shopkeeper Zhou has a smooth complexion. He wears a mandarin jacket lined with tussah silk on his upper body, a long slit "cross-horse skirt" on his lower body, and point-toe shoes with leather soles in the dress. Shouting stood outside the counter in the center of the store to entertain business.He wears a Persian blue double-breasted muslin casual jacket on his upper body, and white-soled gangster "Kick the Dead Cow" cloth shoes on his feet. "One cut" short hair, with clear eyebrows, clean and neat, very energetic.

Zhuzi roared loudly in the dyeing workshop, directing production.The guys were running around, not knowing what to do.Zhu Zi was in a hurry, so he came over and grabbed a job from a fellow, and demonstrated it himself. "Do this, will you?" "Yes, the second treasurer." The column steps back a few steps, to be viewed from a new vantage point. In front of the door is a signboard about half the height of a person, with yellow and black characters: "Refurbish and open, patronize all over the world. Dyeing three and one, new pulp every day." The firecrackers sounded and the children laughed.After the green smoke dissipated, the children rushed over to pick up the firecrackers that didn't go off.

On the other side of the street, some spectators were standing. Facing the scene, they were full of envy and chattered: "The ancestral grave of the Zhou family is good, let's make this fortune together!" "What kind of ancestral grave is good? It's not because of Chen Liuzi. This kid is so clever, he doesn't laugh or talk when he sees people. It's strange to say, what comes out of his mouth is very pleasant." The person who said this was a middle-aged man year women. "He's talking and laughing to his customers. You've never seen him swearing. If the guys do their job poorly, they'll be scolded by motherfuckers in the future."

"According to your point of view, you should be praised for doing poor work? Really." This is a middle-aged man. Another old man intervened and said, "No matter how good he is, Liuzi Chen, if I hadn't let him warm up in the furnace that night, he would have died countless times! Hmph!" The middle-aged woman who praised the birthday pavilion just now was unwilling: "Uncle Ba, what you said is wrong. Have you forgotten the night you kept the birthday pavilion warm? August 15th is a five-color gift, and it is the end of the year. , I’ll give you the whole back elbow. Uncle Ba, don’t say that, let Shouting hear what he thinks!”

The old man stepped back a little, and said again and again: "Yes, yes." The middle-aged man came over to make fun of him: "Uncle Ba, if you had brought Shouting into the house back then, the current situation would have been yours. Uncle Ba, you've done your best, but you haven't made it home yet!" The old man said to himself: "I'm selling water, it's useless if the six sons go." After finishing speaking, he gradually withdrew from the ranks of commentators, walked towards the tea stove, shaking his head as he walked. Shopkeeper Wang from Dachang Dyeing Workshop came over, everyone stopped discussing, and subconsciously turned their eyes to the bustling place opposite.

Shopkeeper Wang felt that he was bored, so he didn't lean towards this side, and stopped to watch from a distance.He stared at the price reduction sign, sighed helplessly, and shook his head with a look of disappointment.The liveliness here made him even more lonely.He looked up at the sky, heaved a sigh of relief, and walked towards his shop... Shopkeeper Wang entered the store, and his wife stretched out her face and asked, "You said the price was reduced again?" Shopkeeper Wang lowered his head: "Yes." Seeing his complexion, his wife hurriedly handed over the purple clay teapot.Shopkeeper Wang was absent-minded, and drank it as soon as he took it. He just took a sip and jumped up.He stared fiercely: "You want to burn me to death!"

The wife backed away in horror. Shopkeeper Wang turned around in a circle, lifted the teapot, and threw it to the ground with all his might. Wang's wife covered her face subconsciously, then looked at her husband, and squatted down to pick up the pieces of the teapot on the ground... In the afternoon, there was a banquet at Shopkeeper Wang's house.The food delivery box in the restaurant was put aside.Although shopkeeper Wang's house is not luxurious, it is also a well-off household. The Eight Immortals table is set against the mountain, and a clock is placed in the center of the table. On each side is a pastel hat tube produced by Duanjia Kiln in Boshan. The pattern is Yingying listening to the piano and the like.Inside the hat shaft was a feather duster and a large tickle.The full-character Zhongtang was newly hung during the Chinese New Year, and in the middle is Su Shi's "Tixi Linbi": "Looking horizontally, it looks like mountains and peaks on the sides, with different heights and distances. I don't know the true face of Lushan Mountain, only because I am in this mountain." Museum The body of the pavilion is upright.The pair on both sides is an old sentence of Feng Menglong, which also reflects the situation of the shopkeeper Wang in business in one aspect: "Let the waves turn upside down, and the boat will be able to sail through the middle."

In the yard, shopkeeper Wang's eldest son was sitting on a small mat and writing imitations, and the desk was a stool.He looked seven or eight years old.The youngest son is five or six years old, and he is constantly spinning tops. Shouting entered the courtyard, came to the eldest son who was writing, and patted his head: "Brother, write hard and read hard. Your sixth brother just suffered from not being able to read." The eldest son stopped writing and raised his head and said, "Sixth brother, my father said that you almost drove him to death." Shouting smiled: "Your father is angry with me, thinking that I didn't freeze and faint at the door of your house. Brother, when you grow up, you will understand that this is the fate of the previous life. Write it."

Shopkeeper Wang came out to greet him, and Shouting hurried forward: "Uncle, why are you still treating me to dinner?" Shopkeeper Wang smiled: "If I don't invite you to dinner, you won't let me eat!" As he spoke, he raised the curtain, and Shouting entered the room with a smile. Shopkeeper Wang sat upright on the right, and stretched out his hand for Shouting to sit on the lower chair. Shouting smiled: "Uncle, we are a generation behind, I will sit in front of you, so I can pour you wine." He took a stool and sat at the corner of the table, next to the shopkeeper Wang.

Shopkeeper Wang stretched out his hand to grab the jug, but Shouting snatched it in front of him, and pressed down on Shopkeeper Wang's hand: "Uncle, I've been so busy all day, it's rare for me to pour you a drink." Humble, like a page. Shopkeeper Wang said: "You are also full." Shouting smiled: "Uncle, father and son sit at different tables, and uncles and nephews don't drink together. This rule cannot be broken. Besides, I also put the urinal on the table—not the guy who holds the wine. You drink, uncle, I will give it to you." Pick it up." He picked up the wine as he spoke.Shopkeeper Wang glanced at Shouting, sighed, and drank it all in one gulp. Shouting then poured wine for Shopkeeper Wang. Shopkeeper Wang took a sip of his wine and sighed: "Shouting, we guys have been getting along for almost ten years. Before you came, I was the largest dyeing workshop in Zhoucun City. Zhou Changfu doesn't know which life he has accumulated Desperate, let you faint at his door. You are obviously a beggar, and you don’t know a single word, so I don’t understand where you come from!” After saying that, he shook his head and sighed. Shouting smiled: "Uncle, I can't talk about my skills. A little dyer, what skills are you talking about! As for my father's life, I don't know, I only know that he is an old man. That's why I worked hard Do it." Shouting's words were sonorous. Shopkeeper Wang smiled wryly: "Well, you did it with your life, I can't take it anymore. Before you came, the dyeing workshop of the Zhou family wanted to sell it to me. But you came, this is fate!" Shouting said aggrievedly, "Uncle, do you dislike me?" Shopkeeper Wang said: "I don't dislike you, Shouting, you're going to crush your uncle!" Shouting was so stupid: "Uncle, look at what you said! How can I have such a great ability? It's very lively over there. I'm busy, and I don't make money." Shopkeeper Wang said: "How else do you want to make money? In the past few years, the Zhou family has added eighteen dye vats, and bought three shops in a row. Shouldn't it be time to buy my Dachang dyeing workshop?" Shouting poured wine for shopkeeper Wang again. He didn't intend to move his chopsticks at all, as if he came here to wait on people: "Uncle, our door is close to the door. Zhouji and Dachang are the same thing. In the past, it was about 'the family is poor and hopeful. Neighbor Fu', my business is done, and there are many people coming and going, and you will also get rich here." Shopkeeper Wang glared: "Shou Ting, are you playing with your uncle? Your price is so low, what do you want me to do? Still get rich? Tell me something sweet and satisfying." At this time, Shopkeeper Wang Already feeling a little drunk. Shouting pulled back the stool, pretending to be dazed and said, "It's not low, uncle. Where did you say that?" "You are not cheap. You have a lot of business there, and a pot of paint is used to dye more than a dozen bolts of cloth. The colors used are German colors, which are bright and do not fade." "Uncle, what you said is wrong. The German paint is not only sold to the Zhou family, but not to you. You can use it too. If your guys don't know how to use it, send two clever people to my place. I told them what to do." Shopkeeper Wang snorted: "Shou Ting, I don't need you to teach me. I'm using a pot of paint for half a month now, that's it, and I still lose money. I can't spend the night in Germany. You have a lot of business, of course. A dozen pieces of cloth together It's cheap and beautiful. Do I dare? The German material changes color the next day after being left on for a day. You let me dye a piece of cloth with a vat of material?" Shouting restrained his smile, and said seriously: "Uncle, I can't blame me. I can't take care of you by dyeing the cloth so black. Not only can I not take care of you, but even Zhou Ji will be ruined. There are few businesses, so let's find out why. Why is there less business, we found the reason and found the root of the disease, we tried to cure it, if you don’t have lung disease on your side, I have to cough too.” Seeing Shouting's eyebrows raised, shopkeeper Wang softened his tone again: "Okay, you use your German ingredients, uncle won't talk about it. You raise the price, it's okay, Shouting?" "Uncle, you know, I used to be a beggar. My father accepted me, that is, as a laborer. I just followed the work and couldn't be the master. How can there be a guy on the cabinet?" In the yard, the eldest son who was writing the imitation stopped his pen, moved the stool towards the door, and rolled his eyes wildly, wanting to hear what was said in the room. Shopkeeper Wang took the jug himself, poured the jug into a tea bowl, picked it up, and drank it all in one gulp.Then he put the bowl on the table, stared at Shouting and said, "Shouting, uncle sees that you are a sensible person, I have something to tell you. So, uncle, don't tell you unnecessary things." He body Stretch back, "If you raise the price, use less or no German materials, you will have 20% of the money earned by Dachang at the end of the year. Is this feasible?" Shouting shook his head in amazement, and then raised his eyebrows: "Uncle, I, Chen Liuzi, am a beggar. I was starving to death, and I never stole a stick from anyone; my feet were frozen in winter, so I went to beg for food. Those cotton shoes were drying on the window sill, and I didn't steal them to wear them. I live an upright life, and Chen Liuzi won't do this kind of stuff in this life!" After saying that, Shouting pulled out the stool from his crotch and put it back to its original place, stood up and left.In the courtyard, when he saw the eldest son of shopkeeper Wang looking at him, he said loudly: "Brother, study hard, study well, and be a man upright!" Shopkeeper Wang watched Shouting leave through the curtain. When Shouting returned to Zhou's house, the meal was all set, and the whole family was waiting for him to come back.Seeing the anger on his face, everyone was somewhat frightened.Zhu Zhu stood up and wanted to leave: "I'll eat with the guys." Shouting shouted, "Eat here!" Zhu Zi glanced at him timidly, and sat back where he was. Shopkeeper Zhou whispered, "Old Wang is mad at you? Don't be like him." Caiqin is not afraid of him: "Others are angry with you, don't go home to vent your anger! Have a drink." As she spoke, she touched Shouting. Shouting's anger subsided a little, and his eyebrows also dropped. Mrs. Zhou hurriedly took the wine: "Pour it up quickly, and pour it out for the pillar too. The three of you have a drink." Shouting said: "Neighbors live in the same neighborhood. They didn't squeeze you to death. They just saved face. Damn, they even pressed flies in my mouth!" Zhu Zi picked up the wine and didn't know what to do. Shouting looked at him and was so frightened that he poured the wine in all of a sudden. Caiqin looked at Zhuzi and smiled.Shouting asked, "What are you laughing at?" Caiqin said: "What am I laughing at? I laugh at Zhuzi. It's not easy in my life. I met you." Shouting also laughed, and put a piece of egg in the pillar bowl. Shopkeeper Wang's brother-in-law lifted the curtain and came out from the back room.This man was thirty-five or sixteen years old, his head was divided, and his face was full of bones but little flesh.Although it's late autumn now, I'm still wearing a gown of fragrant cloud gauze.This fragrant cloud gauze looks like black oilcloth, but it is actually a very thin silk fabric, also called gauze. "This dick begs for food, and it's fucking hard to deal with." Shopkeeper Wang shook his head discouragedly: "Oh! We will never meet such a person, so let's just sit here and wait to die. This week, there are nineteen dyeing workshops in the village and city, sooner or later, sooner or later. He must be killed." The brother-in-law took the wine bottle, poured the wine into the jug, poured it for brother-in-law first, then filled a cup himself, and threw it at the shopkeeper Wang, and poured it down. "Tsk!" He grinned, "Brother-in-law, it's that Faerling I said, tied him up and see how hard he is." "Third," Shopkeeper Wang stared, "It's against the law to collude with bandits!" Mrs. Wang came over to pour water, and added embellishments: "This is better than waiting to die. San'er is right. Let's tie him up, scare him, let him know that he is afraid, and we won't hurt him. Hiring bandits is also expensive." Not a few dollars." Mrs. Wang is wearing a scorpion braid, but she is quite tall, which seems uncoordinated.Seeing her eldest son at the door, she hurried out: "Go to the Westinghouse to write. At home, the children only listen to the adults." The eldest son didn't dare to look up, and walked towards the west room with his set of belongings. Mrs. Wang put down the curtain: "Father, I think that's the way to go. Saner, don't hurt anyone. Now that the Zhou family has become a big business, even if we sue him, we can't beat him. Remember it?" The brother-in-law smiled coldly: "I must let him call him daddy." Shopkeeper Wang sighed, took the wine in front of him, drank it down, and threw the cup away, which rolled on the table. In the morning, at the gate of Zhouji Ranfang, Shouting put his saddle on his shoulders, and smiled happily at Caiqin: "Caiqin, I will be back before dark. Wait for me with some tofu." Caiqin said: "Yeah. You go to collect the bill. If they can't pay you at that time, don't worry, let alone swear. You can swear whatever you want in our house, but you must not go out. Write it down?" Her tone like a mother. Shouting scratched his head: "I'm scolding our guys. They do something that makes people anxious. I never scolded you anyway." Caiqin smiled: "He waits on you all day long, and you scold him for earning more money? Really! Go away. Zhuzi and the others will take it easy for a day when you leave, so that you don't have to listen to scolding. If I knew you had this problem, I wouldn't Let me accept you. Come back early after collecting the bill!" "Just go and collect a few, all of which are big households. Small households don't need to urge them, they will send them automatically when they have money." "Then go and come back quickly." Shouting agreed, and looked up at the sky: "Yeah. It's going to be cold this day. Uncle Suozi and Auntie Blind's cotton clothes, you have to hurry up. Maybe it will be cold when it rains." Caiqin said: "I have finished dismantling and washing. It is all new cotton from last year. It is just as good as it is made." Shouting said: "Oh! People are old and can't stand the cold. You can put another layer on them." "You don't need to worry about that! Our father has a friend outside the mouth. He wrote a letter a few days ago, saying that he wanted to buy a leather tube of Xikoutan sheep for Uncle Suozi so that he could make a leather jacket and buy one for the blind aunt. Leather jacket shoulders, maybe I can bring them in a few days. My father said that when people get old, they will not be warm without leather clothes, and they will not be full without meat. You can turn a corner first and cut some meat to send to Uncle Suozi. " Shouting was very grateful: "Oh, it's still our father who knows how to handle things. I only think about Suo Zishu in my heart." Caiqin was afraid that Shouting would be sad, so she deliberately said: "Don't miss me?" Shouting turned sad and smiled: "Read! Read! Go back." Shouting walked, Caiqin stood outside the door watching him, Shouting followed him and waved his hands back. In the city of Zhoucun, at the Guangyuan Grain Shop, there are coarse cloth bags for grain standing upright at the door, with the mouths of the bags on a handle, displaying the grain inside. Shouting came to the gate of Lianghao.The shopkeeper was sitting on the stool at the door looking elsewhere, when he saw Shouting in front of him, he ran down quickly: "Shopkeeper Chen, here you go, sit inside." The shopkeeper is in his thirties, chubby and kind. Shouting smiled: "I won't go in, has my Uncle Suozi delivered the food?" "Give it away, shopkeeper Chen. Fifty catties of Sanhe noodles and twenty catties of white noodles. It's not that I don't do what you want. Shopkeeper Chen, you still left five catties of noodles, and the rest will be given away." I'm back. Shopkeeper Chen, you are a filial person, and everyone in the village knows about it. But you asked me to make noodles three times, and the noodles were so fine, Uncle Suozi sent them back to me. Who am I selling them to? Go? Who can afford it?" He said, pulling Shouting into the shop, "I said, shopkeeper Chen, wait a while, don't worry, take a turn and go to your Uncle Suozi's house, let He gave me an exact number every month, how much noodles I want. Look, this is the fifteen catties I sent back last month, and this month’s. I can’t hold it!" Shouting sat down and said, "There's nothing you can't hold on to. You can sell the noodles at Luo's double price. The difference in the middle is mine." "Thank you, Shopkeeper Chen. Gouzi, pour some tea!" He yelled inward. Shouting stopped him: "I can't sit still. Brother Li, there are seven or eight food shops on your street. I didn't look for anyone else, but I saw your sincerity. It doesn't matter if you ask three times or twice, the boss Two money is fine, you must give it enough scale. Uncle Suozi wants face, if he doesn't eat enough, he won't tell me. Brother Li, please remember, Uncle Suozi treats me well. The grace of life!" The shopkeeper was a little flustered: "Shopkeeper Chen, do I dare? Even if I dare, I can't do that, it's a lack of virtue!" He stamped his feet anxiously. Shouting stood up and said, "Okay, okay, here's what I told you. From now on, after the food is delivered the day before, you can pay at my cabinet the next day. You know I can't read, and I forgot after a long time." Saying that, Shouting came out. The shopkeeper chased after him to deliver. Guangji Pharmacy, a golden signboard.The pairs on both sides are: "The authentic medicinal materials from Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan and Zhejiang, and the pills and ointments are processed according to the ancient times." As soon as Shouting arrived at the door, the curtain-raiser had already opened the door: "Master Chen." Shouting nodded. As soon as the shopkeeper of the pharmacy saw Shouting, he greeted him from the counter: "Rare customer, rare customer. Shopkeeper Chen, please sit down." This man was in his forties, with a black double-breasted jacket and a melon skin hat on his head.There was a semi-circular table by the wall, and Shouting sat down, and the shopkeeper ordered tea to be made.Shouting said: "Shopkeeper Liu, I can't sit still, I'm busy. Is this cough medicine good?" "Your Uncle Suozi is coughing?" "It's cold this day, I'm afraid he'll suffer from hunger again, so I'll take some medicine to nourish him first." The shopkeeper bowed his head and sighed endlessly: "Oh, shopkeeper Chen, if you can't make a fortune, then there is no reason for you. You know how to repay your kindness, and anyone who sees it will be half shorter than you. Sigh! Mr. Du——" He Shouting at the counter, Mr. Du quickly came to the counter, "Ten bottles of Chen Liji's loquat cream are coming, and you can make a Liuhua bag, so shopkeeper Chen can carry it." Mr. Du agreed to go.The shopkeeper turned to Shouting: "Shopkeeper Chen, this medicine is newly imported from Guangdong. It is the best medicine for your Uncle Suozi's disease. It is peaceful. Shopkeeper Chen, I earn other people's money. How much did I get for this medicine?" How much money will I give you, just for your consideration." Mr. Du handed the medicine to Shouting. "Shopkeeper Liu, I've taken your wish. You can pay as much as you want, and send a clerk to my cabinet to pay the bill. Farewell!" Shouting stood up as he said. A few old men were sitting in the sun chatting. Uncle Suozi was leaning against the wall with his head down, probably asleep. With a medicine bag in one hand and a piece of pawn meat in the other, Shouting strode towards this side in stride.The piece of meat weighed about five catties. An old man pushed Uncle Suozi's knee with his hand: "Suozi, wake up, you are here, Liuzi Chen, shopkeeper Chen." Uncle Suozi opened his eyes to search, "Where is it?" Shouting saw Uncle Suo Zi, walked up in three steps and two steps, and greeted the old men first: "How are you, Uncle!" "well!" Shouting bent down and took up Uncle Suozi: "Uncle Suozi, didn't I not let you take a nap outside?" Uncle Suozi smiled, and looked at Shouting with dizzy eyes: "Come on, Liu Zi. Let's go home." Shouting helped him, and he walked with the Maza in his hand. Those old men watched the father and son walk away enviously, nodded approvingly, and sighed with emotion. The house where Uncle Suozi lived was originally a wealthy family, but now it has run down.Although it is made of blue bricks and large tiles, the lintel is already worn out. The blind aunt was washing clothes, rubbing her hands on the washboard, but when she heard Shouting's movement, she stopped and listened carefully. Shouting helped Uncle Suo into the courtyard, and the blind aunt hurriedly wiped her hands on the lapel, stretched out her hand and said, "Is my son here?" Shouting put down Uncle Zi, and hurried up to meet him: "Auntie, it's me!" As he spoke, he stretched out his face for the blind aunt to touch. The blind aunt touched: "My son has lost weight." "Not thin. Auntie, come, let's go inside." Shouting helped the blind aunt into the room. The furnishings in the room are very simple, there are beds, two boxes, and a table and chairs by the door. Shouting helped the two elders to sit down, and sat on the stool by himself. "Uncle Suozi, how many times have I told you, you should hire a girl and stop letting my aunt serve you." Uncle Suo Zi shook his head: "This—everyone in Zhou Village said that I stumbled and picked up a gold ingot. If I hire a girl again, I will be laughed at." Shouting didn't take it seriously: "Who is making fun of whom? Don't worry about that. I'm in charge of this matter, and I'll do it tomorrow." The blind aunt became anxious: "Liu Zi, this is absolutely unacceptable! If that is the case, you are deliberately killing your Uncle Suo Zi's life. No, no!" When the landlord heard Shouting coming, he came out of the north room and walked this way.He was in his thirties, with a yellow and thin face, and his clothes were of good material, but they were all torn. He came in with a smile and bowed to Shouting: "Shopkeeper Chen, I haven't come here for a while." Shouting turned around, put the stool on its side, and the landlord sat on the edge of the bed. "I've been busy all day, and I can't stay today. I'll come and see Uncle Suozi, and I have to go out to press for the debt." When the landlord heard that Shouting couldn't sit still, he rubbed his hands with a playful smile: "Hey, hey." Shouting was a little impatient: "Do you have something to do?" "Hey, shopkeeper Chen, can you give me some rent first?" Shouting's eyebrows were raised at that time: "I gave you all the money for this year, so what the hell are you going to pay for the rent?" "This year's is given, it is given. I mean shopkeeper Chen will help me, and I will pay for next year's first." Shouting said seriously: "Lao Li, I originally wanted to buy your house. One is that I, Uncle Suo, and the old couple can't live in it. Besides, if I give you the money all at once, you can smoke it in a month. It’s all gone. Look at your ugly face now! What’s left for you to sell a good house? You don’t know how many people have failed to smoke opium. If I give you the rent for next year, You smoked clean in a few days, so how will you eat next year? Go out, I have to talk to Uncle Suozi." Lao Li stood up, but the smile on his face was still there: "Quit, quit. Hehe, shopkeeper Chen, you can give me a dollar." "One piece?" Shouting caught sight of the clothes basin in front of the door, "Call your wife over." "What are you calling her for?" "Go!" Lao Li was so frightened that he ran to his room. Shouting said to Uncle Suozi: "Uncle Suozi, my aunt is also old, and her eyesight is bad. You two live in peace, and I have lost a part of my mind. I will let Lao Li and his wife wash it for you. , live in the same courtyard, it’s convenient. I think that girl is still in the right way, but she married the wrong man. A very good person, her whole life will be ruined like this.” Uncle Suo Zi hurriedly said: "No, no, he is the landlord, and the Li family was also a big family back then, and a well-known rich family in Zhoucun City." Shouting smiled: "Fucking rich! One moment, another moment. Let's let this rich family wait on us first." Lao Li led his wife in. Shouting quickly stood up, let the woman sit down, then leaned forward and said, "Sister-in-law, I have something to entrust to you. My uncle is old, and my aunt can't see. It’s hard. I think you’re free, so you just help the old couple wash and cook, and you’ve got a job to earn money. Now it’s eight yuan per acre Land, one ocean to buy two maids. Even if you don’t spend money on food, there are people rushing to come. I won’t bargain with you, so I will give you one ocean in three months, if you take good care of my two elders , At the end of the year, maybe I will pay more. Take it, the wages for these three months have been paid off." He took out a piece of ocean and handed it to the woman, without giving the other a chance to breathe, just an order. The woman was overjoyed, held Dayang in her hands, and bowed again and again: "Don't worry, shopkeeper Chen, don't worry, I will make your uncle and aunt clean, and I will cook their meals. After finishing theirs, I will Then make your own. Shopkeeper Chen can rest assured." Lao Li stared at the piece of ocean in his wife's hand, his eyes straightened.Shouting looked stern: "Old Li, let me get to the point first. It's not that I, Chen Liuzi, have money and no place to spend it, but because my uncle lives here. I gave my sister-in-law a piece of ocean to serve my uncle, isn't it? Let you smoke opium! Sister-in-law, you can’t give him the money. You can’t take it, Lao Li. If you mess around, let me know, and I’ll kick you to death! Do you hear me?” "I know, I know." The two said and went out. Uncle Suozi said, "Hmph, he's leaving soon." Shouting smiled: "Then we don't care, as long as she takes good care of you two! Uncle, aunt, I have to go." The blind aunt stood up: "When will we get married?" Shouting held his aunt's hand: "Auntie, hurry up, just wait. When the time comes, I will let you and my Uncle Suozi sit on the first big table, and your nephew and daughter-in-law will come over and give you a big gift." When Shouting went out, Lao Li's wife had already started washing the clothes... Outside the city, there was a field of unharvested crops, and it was getting late, Shouting walked back with his saddle on his back, holding a willow stick in his hand. He passed by a dirt cliff, at this moment, two people jumped down from the top, one hit him on the head with a sack, and the other put a sack on his head... A dilapidated Guandi Temple, with a torch in front of the door, stood With a few bandits. With the help of the torch, the pair on the temple door can still be seen clearly, the red paint has long since faded, and the handwriting is also somewhat mottled.The horizontal batch is "one person from ancient times", the first couplet is "write the Spring and Autumn and read the Spring and Autumn Period", and the second couplet is "brother Xuande, brother Yi Dede, brother Dede".The golden body of Guan Yu rushing to the door was worn out; Zhou Cang next to him had no blade in his hand and was only holding a stick; Guan Ping's upper body was gone, only half of his legs. The bandits knew that Shouting couldn't escape, so they didn't tie him up. They just used a rope to loosely tie him to Guan Ping's half of his leg.Shouting looked calm and looked at those people with a smile. Seven or eight torches were burning blazingly, and there were many people in the temple. The bandit leader came over. He was twenty-seven or eighteen years old, with a bald head and thick eyebrows, and missing front teeth. "Brother, do you know why?" Shouting smiled: "Dachang Dyeing Workshop. If you have something to say, just say it. If you can promise me, then promise it. If I can't promise it, it's useless if you kill me." The bandit followed him further: "Okay, have fun! Let me tell you, how do you know it was the 'lot' issued by Dachang Dyeing Factory?" Shouting laughed: "Hey, it's not easy? I'm just a dyer. I have no money, no land, and no offense. Who is it but Dachang? Brother, if you have something to say, just say it." The bandit was very happy: "Brother, at first glance, you are a sensible person. Our brothers are also entrusted by others, and the matter is very simple. If you raise your price up, don't use any German dyes. As long as you agree to these, I will Let you go. You are happy, and I am happy too. How is it?" Shouting pretended to be stupid: "Brother, the treasurer Wang of Dachang Dyeing Workshop approached me about this matter. They are trying to give you a problem. Think about it, I'm a guy, can I be the master of this matter?" The bandit glared: "Then tie up your shopkeeper!" At home, Caiqin stood on the side of the street looking out, looking through her eyes. Shopkeeper Zhou was so anxious that he walked back and forth in the room. The rice on the table was ready, and Shouting's bowl of tofu was cold.Mrs. Zhou showed anxiety, but tried not to show it.She tried to say: "Her father, shouldn't the bandits kidnap me?" Shopkeeper Zhou stopped suddenly and looked back at his wife.He thought for a while, then shook his head: "No. The bandits asked for money for the kidnapping, but we didn't receive the 'ticket'? No, no. Maybe I met an acquaintance. Caiqin said that he still went to his Uncle Suozi today. Go, can we still eat at Brother Suozi's place?" Mrs. Zhou shook her head: "No, he won't eat at Brother Suozi's. Even if he eats there, he has to send someone to deliver the letter. Or, let Zhuzi go to Brother Suozi's place to have a look?" Shopkeeper Zhou hurriedly said: "No! If you don't see it at first glance, Brother Suozi knows that Shouting has not returned here, why don't you die in a hurry? Don't blind sister-in-law go crazy? It doesn't matter, just wait, wait, maybe we As long as you talk, you can step forward." Shopkeeper Wang of Dachang Dyeing Workshop looked out through the crack of the door, and he saw Caiqin standing anxiously in the middle of the street. Wang's wife came over and whispered, "Are you back?" Shopkeeper Wang waved his hand: "It's all your brother's idea! If anything goes wrong, it will all be in trouble." "It's okay, isn't it good or frightening?" "That's a bandit! Do you know? A bandit who kills without blinking an eye! The sixth son has a strong temperament, he would rather bend than bend. If the two sides start a fire, the bandit won't kill him? You go back, I will just watch here." In the ruined temple, the bandit leader washed the knife with wine, and then held the knife to shine under the lamp. Shouting sat there watching, as if expecting the bandits to attack. Seeing his calm face, the bandit leader was a little embarrassed: "Brother, I am Zou Pingshan Liuzi Gang, and I often come to your Zhoucun to do errands. Since I have declared my family name, I am not afraid of you suing the officials. I dare to blow up the situation in Changshan. Brother , since I started this line of work, I have never thought of being a dead body in this life. We have no grievances, no enmity, we know each other, we can talk and break up, and the family is waiting for you. In this way, you can raise the price , and earn more money, you will suffer less. Don't force brother to do it, it's a good luck. Why bother in this barren slope?" Shouting relieved his worries: "Brother, I used to be a beggar. I have seen your line of business. Back then we almost became colleagues - because I was young and couldn't keep up, and they didn't want me. Brother, Let's put it this way, each industry has its own rules, so you can stab me twice. I don't blame you, brother, this is also a business." The bandit was a little anxious: "Hey, it's interesting! See you for the first time." Shopkeeper Wang's younger brother-in-law, the third, couldn't hold back anymore, and rushed in from the door: "Damn it, I just tore up the ticket and made you a fucking tough guy!" The bandit leader rolled his eyes and said, "Third brother, killing people and tearing up tickets is not the price. If you want to kill him, I will let him go, and you can kill him yourself." The third child stepped aside muttering. The bandit said: "Brother, let's do this! I think you are a man, I can't bear to do it, and I want to make you a friend. Listen to me and raise the price!" Shouting said: "Brother, I asked the shopkeeper to drop this price. Everyone in Zhouzhou knows it. If I lift it up again, will anyone trust me, Chen Liuzi? Brother, a breath of life is what the Buddha asks for." Fragrance. Second Master Guan is standing here——Back when Cao Cao offered horses gold, sold horses silver, and twelve beauties, he was not tempted by the old man. I, Chen Liuzi, would rather let the shopkeeper come to collect the corpse than ruin his business." The bandit was in a hurry: "Okay, boy! You have opened my eyes! Come on, give him a stick of incense first!" His men had already lit the incense, the stick of incense was as thick as a chimney, and the tip of the incense was burning, shining brightly.The guy blew with his mouth and burst into flames.He walked towards Shouting with his hands clasped. The bandit raised his hand upwards: "Take off his clothes, let me see the stick of incense, what are you talking about!" Shouting's clothes were stripped off, and the rope was loosened. With his upper body bare, Shouting said, "Okay, brother, I promise you that I will raise the price up and I will not use German materials any more. When Guan Erye surrendered to Cao, Tushan had three appointments, but he was forced to do so. You put that Pass the incense to me, and let me tell Erye Guan, it's not that I, Chen Liuzi, don't want to suffer, it's because I'm afraid that my family will worry about it, and I want to go back early." The bandit was happy: "That's right, what is knowledge? This is knowledge, and a good man doesn't suffer from immediate losses." Then he motioned his subordinates to pass the incense to Shouting. Shouting took the incense and blew two breaths on the head of the incense, making the incense more intense.He leaned on Second Master Guan's feet, smiled slightly, and pressed the incense on his chest with his hand back, "Hiss—" a puff of yellow smoke rose.Then he kept his posture and turned to face Second Master Guan: "Second Master Guan, am I a man? Say something, old man!" After that, he turned around again, and the bandits began to retreat.He asked kindly, "Is that all right, brother?" The bandits were dumbfounded, and those who held the torches didn't dare to look any more, turned their faces away, and some of them closed their eyes. Shouting stepped forward and asked, "Brother, if you don't feel satisfied, can I try again?" He said as he took the incense away, some of the incense heads were still sticking to the flesh on his chest, and there were thin strands of smoke.He was about to move the place, but the bandit leader rushed forward and grabbed it with both hands: "Brother, good job! Quickly, quickly get the sesame oil, you fucking hurry up! " Seeing that something was wrong, the third child ran away. Shouting lay on the kang, and Caiqin sat beside her, weeping in distress.Shouting held her hand and smiled wryly at her: "In the past begging for food, being bitten by a dog every three days was much more painful than this. At that time, no one cared about the dog's biting. Seeing this, there are still people who feel distressed." Caiqin's tears fell on those holding hands: "It hurts me, why is this Wang family so bad?" 寿亭笑着：“妹子，这人生下来就是受苦，我这还算命好的，遇见咱爹咱妈，还遇见你。唉，这不比那天冻煞强？” 采芹把头伏在寿亭的脸上，泪如雨下，嘤嘤有声，身体抽搐着…… 早上，织染街西头，两头毛色放光的骡子飞驰而来，两个人骑在骡子上，旁若无人，风掀衣襟，能看见腰里的盒子炮。 骡子停在了通和染坊门口，街上的人都驻足观看，小声议论。 二人下了骡子，从骡子上拿下一个油罐子和一根带蹄子的猪腿，抬头看看招牌，推门而入。 周掌柜和太太都在，一见这二人，知道来了土匪，面有惊色。其中没拿东西的那一个对周掌柜一抱拳：“周掌柜吧？” 周掌柜忙还礼：“是是是！” 土匪把东西放在柜台上：“我是常山柳子帮的王志武，昨天得罪了陈六哥，我大哥打发我来赔个不是。” 周掌柜不知道说什么好，周太太赶紧倒茶，让着那人坐下。 王志武坐下之后说：“六哥这样的人，我们没见过。我们回到客栈之后，就打听这陈六子是个什么人。客栈里的人都熟悉六哥，说当年一个老头子给了六哥半块饼，六哥至今不忘，现在六哥发了财，供了十年的白面。我大哥听得都掉了泪，大骂自己绑错了人。他佩服六哥的人性，又不好意思来，就让俺兄弟来了。这罐子是獾油，一个肘子。周掌柜，你进去问六哥一声，只要六哥一句话，我们就把老三宰了，给六哥出气。” 周掌柜慌了：“不用问，不用问，香是你六哥自己摁的，不碍老三的事。二位英雄，咱是买卖人，图个安生。我求二位了。”说着就下跪，土匪赶紧搀住。 “那好，就按你的意思办，放了老三这个下三滥。我大哥回常山了，他说了，等六哥好了，他在周村最大馆子摆席，要和六哥喝几碗，交下这个朋友。好，告辞。”说罢，抱拳而去。 周掌柜赶紧送出来，二人再抱拳，土匪扬长而去。 站在街对面的人目送着…… 掌灯时分，街上的人少了，王掌柜先探头看看街上有没有人，然后迈脚出门，手里提着礼物。 寿亭躺在床上，刚吃完饭，采芹正给他擦嘴。 周掌柜进来了，采芹忙躲开。周掌柜小声问：“寿亭，老王来看你，见不？” “见。”他挣扎着想起来。采芹忙按住：“他绑了咱，他还有理了？” 柱子在一旁怒目而视，双拳紧握，咬牙切齿，腮后槽牙肌肉绷动。 王掌柜提着点心盒子进来，一见寿亭就扑来：“寿亭哪——大侄子！都是那个吃喝嫖赌的东西干的。大侄子，你让老叔怎么说。”王掌柜顿足捶胸。 寿亭伸手拉他坐下：“叔，您坐，三舅是为你着急，这不是什么大事，您老就放心吧。这街坊邻居地住着，又是同行，有点争执不算什么。” 王掌柜拉着寿亭的手，热泪盈眶：“大侄子，叔老了，你兄弟还小，我进了局子，这一家子就托付给你了。”说着要下跪，周掌柜提住他。 寿亭说：“叔，您老这是什么话！这好好的，怎么出来局子了？没事。我是和柳子帮开个玩笑。没事，叔，我说没事就没事。你让三舅回来吧，这事过去了。香是我自己摁的，怨不着三舅。” 王掌柜说：“大侄子，这染坊我是不干了，你好了，就盘过来吧。” 寿亭收敛笑容，正色道：“叔，你这是成心往我头上扣屎盆子！你把我看成什么人了？借着这点儿事，抢人家的买卖。你还让我在周村城里做人不？”王掌柜相当意外，用另一种眼光看着寿亭。 寿亭接着说：“叔，以后呀，该怎么干还怎么干，就当没这事。我这回见了土匪，也算长了见识。咱们门挨着门，远亲不如近邻呢。你放心，叔，不仅干，以后我还得帮着你干。回头你打发两个伙计来，我教他这里头的窍门。” 王掌柜回到家里，一头大汗，妻子赶紧递过手巾，然后忙着倒水。 王太太问：“他告局子吗？” 王掌柜一拍大腿，接着又松下来：“唉！没想到呀，人家一句难听的都没说。这是干的什么事儿。让老三回来吧，人家不追究。这小子，将来准能成大事。” 王太太冲着菩萨合掌膜拜，口中念念有词，菩萨无动于衷。 王掌柜喝口水，气急败坏地把茶碗一扔：“我就是不明白，我也是初一十五地烧香，咱怎么就拾不着这样的伙计呢？” 柱子愤愤不平：“六哥，你也忒好心了。告了他，让官府拿了这个老王八。” 寿亭淡淡一笑：“兴他不仁，不兴咱不义。就这样吧。咱不告，满城的人都为咱传名。这一城的人都说他不仁义，他那买卖还能有个好？哼！土匪也算知道我陈六子是什么人了，谁再想雇土匪绑咱，那就得先想好了。这不是什么坏事。柱子，这两天我动不了，柜上的买卖你多盯着。” 柱子答应着出去了。刚到门口，寿亭又喊住他：“你嘱咐咱那些伙计，这事千万不能让锁子叔知道。” 柱子答应着去了。 采芹给寿亭擦脸，说：“周村城里都传遍了，锁子叔能不知道？我看还是我明天早晨去一趟，省得他乱着急。” “好好，这主意好。” 采芹说：“你咋对老王家那么好，气死我了。” 他拉住她的手：“我——”他的声音很小，装着有气无力，采芹赶紧把耳朵凑上去：“你怎么着？” “我操他祖宗！” 采芹打他一下：“又骂人！真是！” 寿亭不笑了，他攥着采芹的手说：“采芹，你记着，周村城里这些开染坊的，谁离得咱近，谁就得先关门。王家是头一个。我陈六子就是他灭门的灾星。早早晚晚，周村城里就只剩下咱通和。” 采芹低下头：“六哥，咱过平安的日子吧。咱的买卖已经够好了，钱多了没用。我这想起来，咱那小的时候多好呀，也没有心烦的事儿。现在咱的买卖是大了，可你倒是让我整天揪着心。” 寿亭说：“妹子，开弓就没有回头的箭，这买卖不是干大了，就是干没了。这也由不得我呀！”