Chapter 14 Chapter Fourteen

But Xiong Jie and Shu Xianglin rushed into the city from Maple Ridge, and then stayed at the Yudai Bridge Inn outside the east gate.The two tied up the horse, ordered the shopkeeper to feed the horse, and then came to Zhige Pavilion in the south of the city.It was close to noon, when Zhige Pavilion's business was slow, when I entered the hall, I saw it was overcrowded, it turned out that Zhang Xianfan from yesterday was spitting and telling stories again, thus attracting many people. The two sat down in a quiet place, Xiong Jie whispered to Shu Xianglin, "This is the man." Shu Xianglin understood, looked up at the main podium, and whispered: "Looking at him like this, I'm afraid he won't be able to finish his speech in a while."

Xiong Jie also raised his head, but saw a man at the next table peeking at him with a very strange look on his face.Xiong Jie felt that this person looked familiar, and suddenly remembered that this man was the owner of the horse last night!It is not suitable to stay here for a long time, Xiong Jie gave Shu Xianglin a wink and left the seat. Xiong Jie walked out of the Zhige Pavilion, and walked like flying, until he reached the Yudai Bridge Inn, he was relieved when he saw that the man did not follow.He returned to the room and waited for about an hour, and finally someone knocked on the door. He peeped through the crack of the door and saw that it was Shu Xianglin who led Zhang Xianfan back, so he opened the door.Zhang Xianfan recognized Xiong Jie at a glance and got away to leave, but Shu Xianglin caught him and stuffed him into the room with quick eyesight and quick hands.

Xiong Jie had a smile on his face: "Old Zhang, why are you so anxious to leave just now?" Zhang Xianfan squeezed out a blunt smile: "No, don't go, I, I'm going to visit Brother Xiong." Xiong Jie gave up his chair and sat down on the edge of the bed: "It's great that you want to visit me, I'm right here." Zhang Xianfan saw that these two people didn't seem to be looking for him, so his fear disappeared, and he asked cautiously: "The two heroes came to me, do they also want to hear the ending of the story? I really know that much—— Jiang Yilang was taken away by Xiao Ziyu before he finished telling the story."

Shu Xianglin said: "Brother Xiong didn't come here to listen to the story. Many people don't know the story you told, how did you hear it?" Zhang Xianfan understood now, and said with a bitter face: "I know, the two heroes will definitely think that I have a deep friendship with Jiang Yilang, otherwise they wouldn't have heard the story behind... He is not familiar with Jiang Yilang, and he doesn't even know my last name or anyone." Xiong Jie suppressed his smile: "You have no friendship with him? Why do you hear stories that others can't hear?"

Zhang Xianfan looked nervously at Xiong Jie, then at Shu Xianglin, then gritted his teeth and said, "I can tell the two heroes what happened, but you must keep it a secret for me." Xiong Jie nodded: "Tell me, we will keep a big secret for you." Before Zhang Xianfan could speak, he blushed: "To be honest, this is my privacy. The shopkeeper Qian is over sixty, and his house-filling wife Xia Mei is only in her twenties, and she looks beautiful. I like to show off on weekdays. He is a frequent visitor to Zhige Pavilion, so there are many opportunities to flirt with Xia Yan. As time goes by, we get on well, and we only keep money shopkeeper in the dark. Jiang Yilang has been telling stories for the past few days, and his position has been blocked. The police station was full and no one else could go in, so Xia Yan hid me in the closet, and in this way, I listened to the story without missing a single verse."

Xiong Jie was very disappointed after hearing this, and spat: "I said, what an earth-shattering secret, it turned out to be a trivial male thief and female prostitute!" Zhang Xianfan was still nervous and said: "To the two heroes, it is the most common thing, but to me it is a big deal. Once Old Man Qian finds out, I will be unlucky if I divorce Xia Yan." Shu Xianglin said: "Isn't this better? You adulterers and prostitutes just make up a couple. I'm thinking of fulfilling you. I want to make things clear to Qian Jincai, so that you can change from a secret couple to a bright couple!"

Zhang Xianfan was so anxious that he plopped down on his knees: "Hero, spare your life, this must not be the case! Xia Yan said that if the Dong Chuang incident happens, she will marry me - this is the last thing I want! I can be proud of my skills in bed , others have no skills, and they can't even support themselves on weekdays. How can they support their wives? Spend a penny, and there will always be relief from that woman." Xiong Jie said, "It turns out he's a softie!" Zhang Xianfan said proudly: "It's not easy to eat soft food. If it's someone else, she can't eat it. What a lady, there is no time to satisfy her. I can't do anything else, but I'm a genius to do this. Every time It made her want to be immortal and die, and ecstasy."

Shu Xianglin said: "One hour is not a little time. Aren't you afraid of making money and getting rich?" Zhang Xianfan said: "We never do that in Zhige Pavilion, we don't tell lies in front of real people, our comfortable nest is in this Yudai Bridge Inn, the owner here is called Huang Yuanfu, he is my good friend, if you don't believe me, you can ask him." Xiong Jie said: "I don't bother with this kind of gossip and robbery. Anyway, your secret is already in my hands. If you don't listen to me, report it to Old Man Qian!" Zhang Xianfan kowtowed like garlic: "A good man, don't do this. Whatever you need me to do, as long as you don't tell me to die, I will do it."

While talking in the room, a horse neighed from behind the store, Xiong Jie said in surprise, "It's my horse that is barking, who is moving it?" Then Huang Yuanfu, the owner of the store, came to report in a hurry: "Two guest officers, there is a man who wants to lead a horse. I can't persuade him. He also said that this matter has nothing to do with me. I said the owner of the horse is here. How could he talk to me?" It doesn't matter, but he just doesn't listen." Xiong Jie went out first, followed by Shu Xianglin and Zhang Xianfan. When they came to the manger behind the store, they saw a man leading a horse. Fortunately, the horse was not willing to accept it, otherwise it would have been taken away. Xiong Jie recognized that it was the lost man from last night. The man on the horse shouted loudly: "You are so bold, how dare you steal a horse in broad daylight!"

Seeing that Xiong Jie and his gang were coming fiercely, the man abandoned his horse and ran away, but Xiong Jie didn't chase after him. He re-tied the horse and told Huang Yuanfu to take care of it.The three returned to the room, Zhang Xianfan said: "I know the horse thief just now, he is the farmer of Xiao Ziyu's family, his name is Xiao Jinping." Shu Xianglin immediately reacted, and ordered: "You find a way to coax this Xiao Jinping here, and we can guarantee that your secret will not be leaked." Zhang Xianfan was overjoyed: "Really? Then we make a deal!"

Xiong Jie nodded seriously: "It's a deal." Zhang Xianfan said: "You two wait, I will come as soon as I go." After Zhang Xianfan left, Xiong Jie was a little worried and said, "Can he really call Xiao Jinping? I suspect that he is Huang He." Shu Xianglin said: "I believe he has the ability to deceive Xiao Jinping, and most people who do not have a proper job have this ability." Shu Xianglin's words were correct. Less than an hour after Zhang Xianfan left, Xiao Jinping followed him back to the Yudai Bridge Inn with his head drooping. Xiong Jie patted Zhang Xianfan's shoulder approvingly: "That's right, how did you get him back?" "Soldiers never tire of cheating." Zhang Xianfan was very proud, and then said to Xiao Jinping, "Actually, I didn't lie to you. If you don't come back and offend these two heroes, the people in Maple Ridge will really kill your whole family!" Seeing that Xiao Jinping was shaking with fear, Xiong Jie comforted him: "Don't be afraid, as long as you answer the questions honestly, I will not only not kill your whole family, but I will return the horse to you." Only then did Xiao Jinping relax. Seeing Xiong Jie's kind attitude, he said: "The horse belongs to the owner. If I lose it and sell all my property, I can't afford it. I dare not go back day and night. If the good man takes the horse Give it back to me, as long as I know, I will tell you." Xiong Jie slapped Xiao Jinping on the shoulder: "Okay, that's what I want!" But Xiao Ziyu threatened to kill Tan Xiaoku with a gun in order to ask Zhu Zixiang to reveal the tomb site of Concubine Xia.Zhu Zixiang never expected that such a despicable method would be used by a dignified police chief, so he said: "Why do you want to implicate the innocent in the matter between you and me?" Xiao Ziyu said unabashedly: "I found that this is your only weakness. You have character and conscience. You will never watch a poor orphan die for nothing because of you. Master Zhu, don't you think so?" Zhu Zixiang glared at Xiao Ziyu: "What if I don't want to give in?" "It doesn't matter, I will lose a fortune at the worst, but you will have to bear the debt of conscience for the rest of your life. How about it, do you want to try who is more ruthless between us?" Xiao Ziyu's eyes were fierce, and he began to push the bullets into the chamber. "Slow..." Zhu Zixiang squeezed out a few words with trembling lips, "Yes...you...ruthless...I admit defeat..." Xiao Ziyu looked up to the sky and laughed loudly. After laughing enough, he patted Zhu Zixiang on the shoulder and said, "I told you that you are a man of virtue, and you will never bear the heart of your apprentice dying at a young age. Let's go, for the sake of our cooperation." Enjoy a few drinks first!" Zhu Zixiang shook his head: "Drinking is free, and now I only have one request - don't make plans for my family's other ancestral graves after the matter is completed." Xiao Ziyu said: "It's easy to say. People's hearts are not enough to swallow elephants - I understand this rule." Someone knocked on the door outside, and then the old housekeeper Xiao Zhong called anxiously: "Second Young Master, is Second Young Master there?" Xiao Ziyu opened the door, Xiao Zhong saw many people in the room, he hesitated to speak, Xiao Ziyu said: "It's all my own people, there's nothing hard to say." Only then did Xiao Zhong step in, holding the hem of his gown, and said in a hasty tone: "These two days there has been a lot of trouble in the public, and everyone is talking about Jin Tou and Tang Bohu's "Four Seasons of Joy"." Xiao Ziyu was taken aback: "How did this news get out?" Xiao Zhongdao: "It was said by an idler named Zhang Xianfan. He hid in the latrine of Zhige Pavilion and eavesdropped on Jiang Yilang's story." Xiao Ziyu frowned: "It's impossible, we checked the latrine and kitchen beforehand." Xiao Zhong said, "Or I just heard from Mr. Qian or the shop assistant." Xiao Ziyu said: "It's even more impossible, I sealed their mouths, they don't have the guts! What about Xiao Jinping, call him here!" Xiao Zhong, who had been speaking in a hurry just now, refused to speak now, and hesitantly said after Xiao Ziyu's repeated urging: "He, he didn't come home last night..." The muscles on Xiao Ziyu's face twitched: "Why hasn't he returned all night?" Seeing that he couldn't hide it, Xiao Zhong said: "I heard that he lost his horse and dared not come back to face you...he has always been timid." "If you can't find a horse, you won't come back for the rest of your life?" Xiao Ziyu turned to Jiang Yilang, "Mr. Jiang, do whatever you want, Master Zhu and I have something to do." Jiang Yilang said: "Boss, you guys go now." Xiao Ziyu and Zhu Zixiang left the study, Xiao Zhong followed closely, Xiao Ziyu said all the way: "Old housekeeper, you are my elder, you can decide many things, this Xiao Jinping is too shameful, I sent him outside Inquiring about the rumors among the people, he actually lost his horse! You said he didn’t come back overnight, how did the news come back?” Xiao Zhong took a few strides to catch up with Xiao Ziyu: "This matter has become a household name, as long as you go out of the gate. Everywhere, men, women and children are talking about it—the news is not from Xiao Jinping, but from me." Xiao Ziyu asked: "Are they talking about me? How are they talking about me?" Xiao Zhong said: "They said that the second young master is 'Sima Zhaozhi's heart is well known', and they also said that your blocking of news was an act of 'no money here', and it was the result of 'trying to cover up'... They said that you want Tang Bohu's "" Four Seasons Carnival" and Zhu Qifeng's golden skull." Xiao Ziyu sneered and said, "They really know a lot! Old housekeeper, you go and arrange for someone to bring Xiao Jinping back. I'll wait for your news in the study." After Xiao Ziyu and Xiao Zhong parted ways in the courtyard, before he and Zhu Zixiang had time to enter the reception room, someone came to report: "Second Master, Xiao Jinping is back, and the horse has been found." Xiao Ziyu listened carefully, and sure enough there was the sound of horseshoes. He turned his head and saw Xiao Jinping leading a bay red horse through the gate and walking towards him. Xiao Zhong was still following behind the horse.Zhu Zixiang recognized at a glance that Xiao Jinping was the big man who carried him here with a sack. At this moment, he was no longer as majestic as that day, as if he was hit by a frost.He walked up to Xiao Ziyu and lowered his head, not daring to make a sound, as if waiting to be scolded. Xiao Ziyu didn't look at Xiao Jinping, but only paid attention to the horse: "This horse is not my one, what's going on?" Xiao Jinping remained silent for a while, and Xiao Zhong, who had caught up, replied on his behalf: "That's how it happened. Yesterday he followed your instructions to keep an eye on the discussions among the people. In the evening, he passed Zhige Pavilion and found that many people were crowded in the hall listening to stories." He tied the horse to the porch pillar and walked in. Before he heard a few words, he heard the horse making noise. Looking back, it turned out that a big man was stealing the horse. He ran up to stop it. Who would have thought that the horse thief would not take it easy He got on his horse and swung his whip and left. Jinping was so anxious that he burst into tears, and the storytellers in the hall came out to watch tricks around him, talking about it, and Jinping finally understood, it turned out that the big black man It's Xiong Jie, the bandit leader from Maple Ridge. He just escaped from prison. He snatched his horse because he was in a hurry to get back. Jin Ping lost his horse so he can't come back to do business with you. He was out last night. One night." Hearing this, Xiao Ziyu interrupted Xiao Zhong and said: "Don't spoil them, the old steward. You must be strict when you should be strict. Xiao Jinping lost your horse, and now you brought someone else's back. This horse is Where did it come from?" Xiao Jinping blushed, and summoned up his courage to say, "This horse was not stolen, it was paid to me by that Xiong Jie." Xiao Ziyu asked suspiciously, "Is Xiong Jie so good?" Now Xiao Jinping found the "feeling", and his speech became fluent: "That's the thing, I dare not come back to see you after I lost my horse, and I don't know what to do, so I wasted my life in the Zhige Pavilion hall. Unexpectedly, at noon today, I found a diner sitting next to me who looked very familiar. He was very similar to Xiong Jie who stole the horse, but he shaved off his beard. When he saw me looking at him, he left with a guilty conscience. Doubtful. I didn’t follow him directly. I knew he had another accomplice. When Zhang Xianfan came down from the main podium, this accomplice walked over and whispered a few words to him before leaving the Zhige Pavilion. This time I quickly followed, following all the way When I arrived at the Yudai Bridge Inn, I knew they lived there. After Xiong Jie’s accomplices accompanied Zhang Xianfan upstairs, I asked the store owner, Huang Yuanfu, where the horses of the two guests were. I took a look and found that there was no one from my family. I didn't think about it, so I wanted to lead the horse. Huang Yuanfu was not allowed, so he told Xiong Jie. Xiong Jie went downstairs and recognized me. His attitude was very arrogant. You must hit me." Xiao Ziyu nodded: "This is his character, did he hit you later?" Xiao Jinping said: "I was punched twice, and I held back the pain and told him my difficulties. As soon as Xiong Jie heard that the horse belonged to the second master, he immediately became polite to me, even apologized to me, and asked me Speak good words for him in front of you." Xiao Ziyu said angrily: "It's nonsense! I know Xiong Jie's character, he won't humble himself to anyone!" Sweat broke out on Xiao Jinping's forehead in a hurry: "I'm not talking nonsense, it's true. Xiong Jie himself said that you are a brother, and he helped him a lot." Only then did Xiao Ziyu nod his head: "That's pretty much the same, like what he said, but this matter must not be spread to the outside world. If it gets out, people will think that Xiong Jie was really let go by me." Xiao Jinping heaved a sigh of relief, and finally made the lie come true.But the latter words are true: "Xiong Jie said that if the master wants to get back the original horse, he will bring it someday." Xiao Ziyu waved his hands, as if disgusted: "This kind of person will not want to see him for thousands of years, and this matter will stop here, and he cannot be mentioned again in the future." Xiao Ziyu turned to Xiao Zhong, "Old housekeeper, call the young master to my study." Xiao Ziyu led Zhu Zixiang and Xiao Jinping into the guest room and sat there for a while, then Xiao Zhong brought Xiao Peng over, Xiao Peng glanced around, and said: "Father, so many people are here, are you going to do something today?" Xiao Ziyu said: "Leave Zhu Qifeng's tomb aside for the time being. The tomb is too large, and the conditions are not yet ready. Master Zhu has provided a new tomb. Let's go and have a look today." Xiao Peng said happily: "Another tomb? Great, my family has made a fortune!" Xiao Ziyu looked at Zhu Zixiang: "I'll leave this to you. Let's go and have a look today and study how to do it on the spot. I will definitely mean what I say. Apart from keeping my promise, I will thank you very much after it is done!" Zhu Zixiang said: "Then let's go, there is still a long way to go, we have to arrive at the scene before dark. Director Xiao, my apprentice will also go together - he knows the place better than us." Xiao Ziyu nodded: "No problem, no matter how hard the old housekeeper is, you can call Tan Xiaoku here." "How will Jiang Yilang deal with it? For us now—" Xiao Zhong looked at Zhu Zixiang and didn't dare to continue. Xiao Ziyu said: "Jiang Yilang is really useless to us, but we will never do the thing of crossing the river and tearing down the bridge. If that is the case, who will dare to associate with us in the future?" Zhu Zixiang understood Xiao Ziyu's words were meant for him, and he couldn't stop sneering in his heart, feeling that this kind of clumsy performance was unbearable—just now he had just pulled out a gun and killed innocent people indiscriminately, but now he suddenly became moral again.In Zhu Zixiang's view, Xiao Ziyu's behavior is just like a ghost who just showed his hideous face, and immediately put on human skin in front of those who saw him through, and then confessed to himself-I am human, I am really human ,I kid you not. Xiao Zhong saw that Xiao Jinping was also in the reception room, so he said: "What are you still doing in a daze, hurry up and prepare tools!" Xiao Jinping asked, "What tools do you need?" Xiao Zhong said: "What kind of tools do you want to dig a grave?! What a stupid wooden head!" Xiao Jinping only took a few steps before returning to the reception room: "I can prepare the tools, but I can't go with the second master." Xiao Zhong said: "You are the main labor force, if you don't go, who else will go!" Xiao Jinping said: "There are so many master laborers in the yard, and I am the only one missing. I don't want to go today anyway!" Xiao Zhong said angrily: "You—what's the matter with you, you are disobedient, you have to give a reason if you don't go!" Xiao Jinping scratched his head to think of a reason, and then said after a while: "I didn't sleep all night last night, and my eyelids were fighting..." Seeing him, Xiao Ziyu said, "It's fine if he doesn't want to go. Come here, Jinping, I have something to tell you." So Xiao Ziyu called Xiao Jinping aside and whispered. The tools were ready soon, and Zhu Zixiang ordered the hoes, shovels, and dustpans to be hidden in sacks, and covered with a lot of paper money, fragrant wax, and pig's heads.When they set off, passers-by looked at the situation and knew that this group of people was going to a certain temple to burn incense and worship Buddha. Zhu Zixiang and Tan Xiaoku led the way, while Xiao Ziyu, Xiao Peng, Xiao Zhong and several dealers took their burdens and left behind. The group of people walked northeast all the way out of the city.After walking for about five or six miles, I climbed another mountain, and then an ancient temple appeared in the shade of ancient pine trees in front of me. There was a couplet hanging in front of the temple gate. Xiao Ziyu looked up and said, "Isn't this Immortal Temple?" Zhu Zixiang nodded, "It's Tongbaoshan Immortal Temple." It was still dark at this time, and the presiding officer in the temple saw that it was Xiao Ziyu who came, and he went out of the temple early to greet him.Entering the Daxiong Hall, several young monks helped the villagers burn incense and offer sacrifices.Liaokong led Xiao Ziyu and his son to the reception room.The layout of the reception room is simple, and there is a couplet on the wall, which reads: There are monks and Buddha seals on the seat, and there are no guests in front of the hall.Then the little novice served tea.Xiao Ziyu's heart is not in the Buddha, so he will not be devout. Before he drank the tea, he said to Kong: "I have something to bother the master. My father made a promise to the Bodhisattva here before he was alive. Now that the old man has passed away, I can only fulfill this long-cherished wish. Yes. Xiao would like to borrow Baosha to stay for a few days. Is it convenient?" Seeing that Xiao Ziyu and his party were quite numerous, he understood somewhat in his heart. He closed his eyes and clasped his hands together: "Amitabha, please do as you please. It's not empty——" A young monk with delicate features entered the guest room upon hearing the sound: "Master, my apprentice is here." Liao Kong still didn't open his eyes: "Clean up the living room, ask the almsgiver to rest, and inform the kitchen to prepare a fast meal." Bukong said: "The apprentice will do it." Looking at Bu Kong's back, Xiao Ziyu felt that Kong's attitude was a bit lukewarm, but that's the only way people can live under the roof.After a while, Bukong packed up the living room and came to invite Xiao Ziyu. Xiao Ziyu said goodbye to Kong, and then returned to the Daxiong Hall, where the guests were waiting for him.Seeing that a farmer was struggling to carry a sack, he wanted to help, but the dealer refused to let him touch it. After the group settled down in the guest room, they came to invite them to eat fast again when they were not free. Seeing that it was getting late, Xiao Ziyu declined on the grounds that he was not hungry. After not leaving empty-handed, Xiao Ziyu couldn't wait to go to see the scene, Xiao Peng was also itchy, Zhu Zixiang couldn't help it, so he led Xiao and his son out from the back door of the living room, and then climbed up along a small path overgrown with weeds. climb.After about a stick of incense, the three of them came to a col, and a large mound of earth appeared in front of them... "Master Zhu, is this right here?" Xiao Peng asked Zhu Zixiang, pointing to the mound before he could catch his breath.Zhu Zixiang gasped for breath and couldn't answer, hot sweat came out from every pore. Fortunately, there was a mountain breeze blowing at this moment, which made him very comfortable. Xiao Peng thought Zhu Zixiang didn't hear it, so he asked again, "Have you arrived yet?" ?” Zhu Zixiang nodded: "Here we are, right here." Unable to restrain the excitement in his heart, Xiao Peng threw himself onto the grave, patting the bag with both hands: "I'm rich, I'm rich, I'm rich!" At this moment, Xiao Peng, who was in joy, suddenly let out a cry of joy and sorrow Screaming, "Help—" At this moment, Xiao Ziyu and Zhu Zixiang also found a huge cobra jumping out of the weeds in the grave, with thick poisonous gas from its mouth... It rushed towards Xiao Peng... Xiao Ziyu was eager to save his son, Regardless of the danger to his life, he rushed over to catch the poisonous snake's tail and swung it with all his might—it was so dangerous, if the cobra wasn't so fast, the cobra would bite Xiao Ziyu back if it didn't hurt Xiao Peng... After a false alarm, Zhu Zixiang comforted: "It's okay. It's common for people in our business to encounter poisonous snakes. There are stones everywhere in this place. Finally, there is a pile of soil here. It would be strange if there were no snakes. I will go find them tomorrow morning. Snake medicine." Xiao Peng, who was still in shock, said: "You know how to find snake medicine?" Zhu Zixiang smiled and said, "Tomb robbers who don't know snake medicine are like police who don't know how to shoot a gun." Xiao Peng breathed a sigh of relief: "I was scared to death. Fortunately, you know medicine, or if you bite it, you will die." Xiao Ziyu began to look at the tomb seriously. There was no tombstone or any sign. If someone hadn't pointed it out, no one would have believed that this was the tomb of a princess.He really didn't understand why Concubine Xia was buried in this place?Xiao Ziyu was looking around and lost track of the time. It was getting dark soon. Seeing the spooky darkness everywhere, Xiao Peng felt frightened: "Father, let's go, we can't see the road anymore." Xiao Ziyu remembered that it was time to go back to the temple after being reminded by his son. On the way back, Zhu Zixiang walked forward, Xiao Ziyu stepped back, and Xiao Peng walked in the middle. Even so, Xiao Peng who was walking in the middle was still frightened and always felt threatened, as if he might step on a snake with every step he took... Go After a while, suddenly a more terrifying sound came from behind—the three of them stopped to listen, it turned out to be the miserable cry of a woman, and the sound seemed to come from not far away... The three of them turned their heads in unison and found Concubine Xia A ball of fire was shining on the grave of the woman, and the woman's miserable cry seemed to come from there...