Chapter 7: Make a Deal!
Rode a short distance, saw a village by the road, Jing Xiangbo got off his horse and exchanged a cart with the villagers, changed into a new large coat, a skirt, and a new headscarf. With the help of the village girl, he changed and asked about the nearby county town, then drove on.
She rushed straight to the most prosperous county town.
The four-person research team, in this case, Junke might have hidden in the mountains first, Wen Zhen would likely be in the village, and Taishi Lan would wander around at will.
But for Jing Hengbo, who loves excitement and enjoyment, she would rather be caught than live in a deep mountain or a broken village. She must choose the most prosperous place to sell her grandmother's green and first experience high society before anything else.
Better death than dishonor.
After more than half a day, she arrived at the nearby Sanshui County. She had already inquired about the location of the pawnshop and went straight there.
A moment later, she sat on the edge of the table and chair specially prepared for guests in the pawnshop, drinking tea comfortably. The young shop assistant was busy around her, sometimes serving tea, sometimes serving snacks, with his eyes rolling around, staring at her legs wearing black stockings under her skirt.
She stretched out her long legs and let him take a look, occasionally changing poses to let him appreciate more fully and specifically.
What is the point of having a good figure?
It's just for people to admire and appreciate.
The clothes of this dynasty are too ugly! They kill people's love for beauty! How can these rough, curveless clothes cover up her incredibly beautiful figure?
Jing Huanbo sat there, her skirt fluttering left and right, layered on her slender legs. The people coming and going in the shop couldn't help but roll their eyes all over the floor. A man lifted his foot to leave, but kept turning back, tripped by the threshold, and tumbled out with a thud.
The scenery is breathtakingly beautiful, with waves gently lapping at the shore. Everyone's face lights up with joy, their lips curling upwards in a bright red smile, as they take a deep breath of wonder.
The footsteps finally rustled, and the old shopkeeper rushed over from the back house. Jing Hengbo thought that his grandmother Lu was a major business, and required the partner to ask the shopkeeper to personally take charge.
"Miss..." The old shopkeeper was indeed worldly-wise and when he saw her, although he was also stunned for a moment, his expression remained normal.
Jing put down her cup and conjured up a jadeite in the palm of her hand with a smile.
"Ah......" The sound of amazement echoed from all directions.
Snow-white palm, grandmother green light shines, white and green intersect, color is clear and bright.
"How about it? Worth the money, right?" Jing Hengbo said with a smug expression.
A fellow with a patch of dog skin plaster on his cheek, swaying back and forth as he walked forward, picked up Jing Hengbo's fingers and clicked his tongue in admiration.
"Really beautiful... really white... skin as smooth as jade... fingers like shells... it's really worth the money! How much, miss?"
A high-heeled shoe kicked him out of two holes with a single kick.
"What's wrong?" she asked, busy dealing with the hoodlums, and when she looked up, she saw that the old shopkeeper's expression seemed a bit off.
The old shopkeeper's face was solemn, and he hastily smiled: "Indeed it is a good thing. However, wealth should not be revealed in public, this place is crowded with people coming and going, it's not quite suitable. Young lady, please follow me to the back house, we'll discuss slowly?"
The scene unfolded like a wave, and it was also reasonable. With a grasp of her hand, she put away the gemstone, and a group of men gazed at her light golden fingernails, their eyes shining with gold. As they watched her follow the old shopkeeper into the inner courtyard, they all let out a sorrowful sigh.
"Everyone, our small shop is closing early today." The apprentice came forward to hurry the customers along, and after everyone had left, he put up the shutters.
The old shopkeeper who was walking backwards turned his body halfway around and gave a wink to one of the apprentices. The apprentice opened the side door and went out.
This side of the scene did not notice, followed by the old shopkeeper into the back house, in the back house flower hall distinguished between host and guest, she was about to discuss the price, the old shopkeeper stood up again, shaking his head: "My eyes are no longer good, I have to go get a magnifying glass, take a closer look. Besides, your gemstone is very valuable, I also need to raise some silver."
The scenery is vast and beautiful, with flowers blooming in anger, waving his hand, "Yes, yes, go quickly, go quickly!"
The old shopkeeper went out and closed the door, but Jing Hengbo didn't notice.
She waited for someone in the hall, finished a bowl of tea, but the person still didn't come. She waited for a while longer and felt a bit urgent, so she opened the door to find the toilet.
The door was pulled but it wouldn't budge.
The scene was cut off by a crack in the door, and upon taking a look, it turned out that it had been locked!
What's going on with this lock? It doesn't seem right. Jing Hengbo's first thought was - This old man is trying to swindle us!
Damn it! I've encountered a black-hearted store!
Jing jumped onto a chair and looked around outside the window, but didn't see anyone. She thought about the layout of the house - where would the old man's bedroom be?
She wants to sneak into the old man's bed and scare him to death!
Suddenly, a flurry of footsteps came, and through the window gap, she saw people crowding around. A large group of people arrived, led by that old shopkeeper, followed by a crowd of people wearing the same clothes - red shirts with black pants, with a circular logo on their chest with the character "Wei". They all held flat, round sticks in their hands.
Jing looked at this familiar shape.
The old shopkeeper led the way ahead, speaking as he went, his voice drifting back.
"...Honorable officials...you are truly all-knowing...indeed, someone has come to pawn the emerald...yes, it's a top-quality emerald with inclusions...hmm...we absolutely dare not conceal or sell the stolen tribute...the person is already locked up in the main hall...please..."
The old shopkeeper unlocked and pushed open the door.
"Creak..." The door slowly split open, its light and shadow cleaving apart.
Everyone looked up, stunned and expressionless.
"Where is he?"
……
At the same time.
The scenery is vast and flat like a wooden chicken.
She looked down at the wooden platform under her feet, then at the woman on the platform with a frightened expression, disheveled hair and makeup, and then at the surrounding small buildings decorated in various styles. She looked again at the men below, their mouths agape in terror.
I'm going to get it.
Where is this place?
……
The building has a gaudy style, the girls are dressed in luxurious and revealing clothes. She is now at a viewing platform, with a pink gauze screen in front of her. There are women inside and outside the gauze, and the women outside seem to be dancing. Through the gauze, you can see the men below, their faces lewd and excited, their eyes red or green.
According to Jing Hengbo's years of watching movies experience, the temperament and style presented in this setting are 90% likely to be a brothel.
She should be performing a song and dance now, but she has directly moved behind the stage curtain.
Behind her, a "gudong" sound was heard. She turned around and saw a middle-aged woman wearing a red camisole, falling to the ground with her eyes rolled back, trembling and pointing at her, her eyes full of terror: "You... you... where did you come from..."
The girls hadn't reacted yet, staring straight at her with their eyes wide open.
"Where is he? Why can't we see him? He must be close by, search the surrounding area!"
The scenery was dark and gloomy, it turned out that she had only teleported a short distance this time, and the pursuing soldiers were nearby!
She secretly frowned, thinking that the county town was bustling with people today, and it was not as deserted as before. She moved around in broad daylight, making it easy for people to see her, which would only bring trouble.
"There's a ghost!" The old procuress let out a shrill cry as if her neck had been stretched.
Jing suddenly made a big turn, raised her leg high, clutched her waist, and pointed the 10-centimeter stiletto heel at the old prostitute's neck: "Scream, keep screaming!"
The procuress's shriek was swallowed in her throat and sounded like a crowing rooster.
Several girls' screams were uncontrollable and spread out, but were covered up by the silk and bamboo sounds outside.
The scenery is shaking, the shoes are trembling, and she's smiling slyly. "You call, I tremble, but I can't guarantee that this shoe won't rush forward and stab your neck..."
The old procuress suddenly stared blankly, sizing up her smile, and then looked her up and down again.
She smiled and let her look, and specially twisted her body, making her neck and chest, chest and waist, waist and hips, each with a bit of strength, twisting out a curve, standing out a beautiful curve, full of charm and elegance.
The old prostitute's eyes lit up, and she even forgot about the vicious shoe heel on her neck.
A woman who can still carry herself with such poise after being scrutinized by her gaze is truly a rare find!
Born with a silver spoon in her mouth!
The scenery was horizontal and the eyes were a bit annoyed because the sound of chasing soldiers was getting closer and closer.
"Search the brothel next door first!"
My god, it's actually next door!
Suddenly, the pink gauze curtain was lifted, and a girl spun in, but before she finished spinning, she fell to the ground, rubbing her ankle and crying out in pain, "Oh mom, hurry up and replace me, I've twisted my foot and can't dance anymore!"
"This... how can this be good!" The old procuress was shocked, and had even forgotten about the shoe heel on her neck. She hastily ordered a woman in a yellow skirt, "Cai Huan'er, hurry up and replace her!"
"Mom!" The woman who called out to Cai Huaner was almost in tears, "Sister Man Yun learned the new dance 'Drunken Feather Dress', but we haven't even mastered it yet..."
"Good grief, you bunch of useless fools..." The old procuress began to scold incessantly, while the impatient men below started to stir up trouble. Meanwhile, Jing Hengbo, who had been listening intently, only heard a large group of people rushing out of the next room.
People will be here soon...
So many people have come, and they're talking about some kind of tribute... this must be a big deal.
The pursuers in the courtyard were swaying their heads, the onlookers outside the curtain were shouting loudly, and the dancer in front was wailing in pain. Jing Hengbo glanced at that skirt and that hairstyle, pouted his mouth: What kind of feather dress dance? It's a turkey dance! How tacky!
She suddenly had an idea. Quickly putting away her shoes, she squatted down, grabbed the old prostitute's neck with one hand, and amidst the low wails and shrill cries of the group of women, rapidly said: "Hey, how about we make a deal?"
Digression
Here is the translation:
By the way, about the plot of Da Bo being pursued by officials for selling the grandmother green jade, I think I need to explain it again. This is still related to "Qian Jin Xiao". In Qian Jin Xiao, the Crown Prince of Yan, Nalan Jun, wanted to strip away the power of the King of Ji Bei, so he first dealt with the relatives of Ji Bei, Yao Guo, and personally led people to chase and kill the messenger who came to seek help from Ji Bei, carrying the unique star-patterned grandmother green jade of Yao Guo. Therefore, anyone holding the star-patterned grandmother green jade was considered a "thief of tribute" by Nalan Jun's order, and a secret decree was issued nationwide to search for them. Da Bo picked up a few gems and foolishly came out to sell them, right into the muzzle of a gun.
