Chapter Nineteen: Meeting an Old Acquaintance

  Xu Yuansuo faced this boatman, who had an absolute advantage!

  Not to mention anything else, he had a body of fat, while the other party was as thin as a stick of firewood, with every rib visible. They were not in the same weight class, and Xu Yuansuo was confident that he could crush this skeleton with just a press.

  But this new batch of people is different, each and every one of them has a big belly, which in today's society means they eat very well.

  Eating well and having nothing to do, a profession that is easily called out: rascal.

  "Their boat left without giving us any reward, and they even wanted to take me to see the official." The man pulling the boat seemed to have found his courage, looking at Xu Yuansu with a face full of disdain.

  Xu Yuansuo even if he was a real fool would have known they were in cahoots by now.

  The underworld originated from the water and land hub. These people mixed on the dock, extracted shares, replaced the firewood stick-like boatman, served as a protective umbrella, and can be said to be the most primitive illegal group.

  If it falls into their hands, they will probably be at a disadvantage.

  Xu Yuansuo looked around and compared their combat strength.

  The other side has six people, each wearing a short shirt and pants, with bulging muscles, any one of them can beat him up ten times!

  In this way, this battle is actually one to sixty.

  The Art of War says...

  Action speaks louder than words!

  Unfortunately, there is a brown bear in front and a river behind, how can I get through?

  Xu Yuansuo's forehead dripped with a drop of cold sweat.

  "You're looking for trouble!" The leading burly man took a step forward, his eyes bulging like copper bells, and his bloody mouth spat out a foul smell.

  This child's stomach is not good!

  Xu Yuansuo stood firm with unshakeable willpower, unmoving.

  "Xu Sha-zi!" someone suddenly shouted.

  Xu Yuansuo suddenly felt a stir and knew that his acquaintance had arrived. He hastily called out: "It's me! I'm over here!"

  Several big men turned their heads with ill intentions.

  Xu Yuansuo peeked through the gap between the two big men, but saw that the newcomers were also a group of people. The leader of this group was also a sturdy man, wearing a single-colored dark blue short shirt, looking somewhat familiar.

  It seems they're in cahoots with each other!

  If Xu Dianzhen didn't firmly believe that Xu Yuanzuo wouldn't hold grudges against others, Xu Yuanzuo would definitely jump into the river to escape even if it meant getting his clothes soaked!

  "Xu Sha-zi, is that really you?" The new group of sturdy men obviously knew the ones on the dock and blended in seamlessly.

  "I've come to the county town to look for a job." said Xu Yuansuo.

  The leader hummed and turned to the burly man, saying: "Brothers, this guy is a neighbor of mine, notorious for being an idiot, and his family is poor too. Why bother treating him with respect?"

  The ferocity of that group of people dissipated a lot, and they explained: "He didn't follow the rules, originally wanted to teach him a lesson, but it turned out he was an idiot."

  "The key is that apart from his body fat being able to be squeezed for oil, he probably can't even squeeze out any silver." The leader's tone was really not good, although he was trying to help Xu Yuansuo get rid of the trouble.

  Xu Yuansuo also knew it wasn't the time for pride, so he could only hang his head and endure.

  "He said he was a scholar and even wanted to take me to see an official." The previous firewood stick jumped out again.

  If it weren't for being outnumbered, Xu Yuanshuo really wanted to kick him!

  "He's reading a useless book." The man sneered, "The number of characters he recognizes is probably still less than mine."

  Many underworld figures burst out laughing.

  "Considering the face of Big Brother Dali, let's just forget about it. Disperse, disperse, go eat!"

  Isn't this person Niu Dalì!?!

  Xu Yuansuo remembered Xiao Shou's previous reminder.

  This guy actually ran to the county town to become a gangster!

  No wonder I've never seen it at home.

  "Brother Da Li..." Xu Yuansu called out cautiously.

  "You're older than me, I'm not used to listening!" Niu Dalie said with a look of impatience: "The county town is not like home, when you go out, you have to follow the rules. Letting people laugh at you as a country bumpkin is one thing, but do you think it's fun to get beaten up for nothing?" After saying that, he also led his brothers away, apparently because it was time for dinner.

  Xu Yuansuo did not expect that this nine-foot-tall, thirty-year-old-looking man would be younger than himself, and he was quite surprised. However, he also didn't want to socialize with the underworld, so he just kept nodding in agreement.

  Niu Dalì walked two steps, suddenly stopped and said: "By the way, why did you run to the county town to make a living? Don't study anymore?"

  "I'm even worse than Dali Brothers, can I still expect to be selected as a candidate?" Xu Yuansuo said.

  Niu Dalish laughed and said: "This is also true. What are you plotting?"

  "Running errands and doing odd jobs." Xu Yuansuo didn't dare to reveal that he was a hired hand of the Xu family. He had just started working and was already mixed up with these idle socialites, his originally clean body would be tainted with "blackness", and if it got to Xu Cheng's ears, it would really affect his future!

  Niu Dalì didn't ask further and probably didn't believe Xu Yuanshuo could find anything good.

  "Wait a minute, I remember you're good at math, can you keep accounts?" Niu Dal suddenly asked.

  Xu Yuansuo was taken aback: "Are you saying 'to ask for an account' or 'to check an account'?"

  "Are you out of your mind? Of course, it's all about the bill!" Niu Dal felt that his temper had indeed improved a lot. If it were the old him with a short fuse, he would have slapped him already.

  Xu Yuansuo's hearing was fine, it's just hard to associate these messy things with "checking accounts".

  "We also have to keep track of our expenses when we travel." Niu Dalì pulled Xu Yuánzuò over with one hand, hooking his neck in a show of affection: "Let's go eat first, after eating you calculate and I'll write it down."

  Xu Yuansuo's legs turned even softer upon hearing "Dahang": that was a historically notorious underworld organization!

  What's even more frightening is that this underworld organization is still legitimate!

  "I'm going to the east house..."

  "Whose family is the eastern master? I'll let my brothers go and run a trip." Niu Dalì patted his chest, revealing a palm-wide protective hair: "Now I also have some reputation, which of the brothers in the industry doesn't call me 'Big Brother Dalì'?"

  That's what they just called you "brother".

  Xu Yuansuo was dissatisfied in his heart.

  Of course, it's just a silent criticism.

  Although Niu Dalie was so enthusiastic, Xu Yuansuo dared not reveal any information about his master. He gritted his teeth and bore the reputation of being "unreasonable", just to keep it a secret that he worked for the Xus.

  Although Niu Dalì relied on his powerful physique and ancestral wrestling skills to roam the streets unscrupulously, he was a rising new star in the pugilistic world. However, his experience and cognitive abilities were ultimately limited by his age, making it impossible for him to connect with Xu Yuanshuo, that little fox.

  Niu Dalì warmly pulled Xu Yuánzuò out of the east-facing Pi Yún Gate, and after crossing the Yì Xiān Bridge, the scene became increasingly lively as they gradually entered the bustling city.

  Xu Yuansuo no longer struggled, and saw that the shops and pavilions on both sides of the road were neatly arranged, with merchants coming and going on the street, which was not inferior to the pedestrian streets of later generations.

  People often say Su is rich and fertile, indeed a glimpse can be seen.

  The origin of the gang fight was in Suzhou, and it spread to Songjiang during the Jiajing period. Although notorious, the government did not crack down on it, and even in this bustling city, the gang still hung out a flag - a fist painted on a blue cloth, openly doing business.

  Xu Yuansuo was knowledgeable and knew that in later generations, Japan's underworld could also be legally registered, probably because of the roots in the Ming Dynasty.

  Niu Dalishou's younger brother pushed open the door curtain and entered, it was a small house with a table and four chairs, somewhat like the black intermediary houses that filled the streets of later generations, or a driving school recruitment point.

  The crowd didn't linger in front of the gate and flowed into the backyard.

  Xu Yuansuo stepped into the backyard and was immediately hit with a wave of heat.

  In the not-so-large courtyard, five tables had already been set up, and two rosy-cheeked robust women were carrying dishes to the tables. The kitchen was still echoing with the chef's loud commands, apparently there were still some dishes that hadn't been cooked yet.

  Xu Yuansuo scanned around and didn't see that group of people from the dock earlier. It seems this kind of stronghold is not unique in Songjiang.

  "Sit here, don't be polite, eat freely!" Niu Dalì pressed down on Xu Yuansuò's shoulder, letting him sit beside the main seat. He himself sat in the main seat.

  The Great Ming was a class society, and it was the same even among the beggars. When Niu Dalao sat down, his brothers under him also took their seats one by one, looking at the table full of meat dishes but no one dared to pick up their chopsticks.

  Xu Yuansuo didn't move either.

  They were all stunned.

  Since arriving in the Great Ming, he has never seen such a rich and colorful array of dishes like today! Compared to this table of delicacies, the banquet from two days ago can't even compare!

  That red one is braised pork belly in soy sauce, that black one is steamed pork with preserved mustard greens, that shiny one is large prawn, and that white one is milk fish soup.

  No wonder the favorite advertisement of the Liangshan people is: Eat meat in big chunks, drink wine in large bowls!

  The impact of diet on people is really too great!

  Xu Yuansuo swallowed his saliva and hesitated, wondering if he should take this opportunity to join in after all.

  In his historical knowledge, the pawn industry was still a rising sunrise industry. It wasn't until after Wanli 8 years that it truly dominated the market, entering its golden age during the Tianqi Chongzhen era!

  Just as he was struggling to resist temptation, a thunderclap rang out beside his ear:

  "Where did this plump white rabbit gentleman come from!"

  Saliva fell on Xu Yuansu's head like rainwater.

  Today is the first day of July, it's best to rush to the new book list on the main station, or the recommended list of history category~~~ Please ask brothers and sisters for more support~~~~! (Some tycoons in the group who promised rewards can't be defaulted!)