Chapter Sixty: Tongue

  The reader group of Xiaoshimin has been established, the group number is: 24074386, welcome to join and give valuable advice to Xiaoshimin. PS: Don't forget to vote for Xiaoshi!

  "Scar Six, you're here this time, if I'm guessing correctly, it must be about the disappearance of your family's third master when he was playing with women in Kong Family Village."

  After a brief courtesy, Cao Zhi bluntly stated the purpose of Chou Liu's visit. As it turned out, Chou Liu had already told Ming Fei about this, and pretending to be ignorant would only lead to more trouble.

  "It seems that Master Si has already informed the master of our house. One of Third Brother's paramours lives in this Kong Family Village. A few days ago, after Third Brother arrived, he and his old paramour disappeared together. This Kong Family Village is your territory. According to custom, our master sent Scar Six to pay respects, burn incense, and asked the master to handle matters according to custom."

  Speaking of the matter, Pockmark Liu became serious and said what Master had taught him to say. As long as he stuck to the rules, it seemed that Cao would not dare to say anything out of line. After all, An's affair last year was also a case of sticking to the rules, which was why Cao had not dared to make any trouble.

  "Rules? Ha! Liu, we've known each other for over ten years since we were in the same camp. Back then, you were just a young punk. When did I ever break the rules of our circle? Take An Er's case for example, didn't I follow the rules?"

  Speaking of rules, Cao Cao would think of his sworn brother An Yi. If it weren't for following the rules back then, An Yi might not have lost his life, and in the end, even his bones were not preserved, all thrown away by Hong Lin to feed the wild wolves.

  "Speaking of trust, the big boss is also a reliable person outside of this matter. Scar naturally trusts the big boss. This time it's about Scar's third brother's whereabouts. As long as we find out where Third Rascal is, we'll immediately withdraw and absolutely won't cause trouble for the big boss."

  The rumors circulating outside are not bad, and the six scars were just to confirm it. Moreover, according to the rules of the Jianghu, as long as they themselves have come to burn incense, they will not say anything else.

  However, Scar Six obviously forgot one thing, bandits make a living on the edge of knives, rules are important, but bandits also have a rule that is to take people's money and wealth.

  "What's wrong with you, if you don't count on me coming here and following me?"

  Staring at this familiar face for many years, he might not be able to hold on for a few more days and could die by his own gun. Perhaps it was a moment of weakness or some other reason. Cao Shang suddenly spoke up.

  Xie Shiye looked at him with a gaze, although saying that Liu Liu was not a hero, but also knew that good men do not serve two masters.

  When he heard Cao Cao's offer, Chi Bi didn't hesitate to decline. The lord had always treated him well, but if he really betrayed him and joined another, he would probably never be able to stand tall again in this world.

  "Scar Six! You're reminding me, or I'd have almost forgotten my own surname!"

  A sentence from Stone Grandpa brought back many memories floating on the grass, over the years I've gotten used to shouting "I'm Grass Floating", and long forgot that my original surname was Shi.

  "It's said that for people like us who have fallen into this state, there are a few who are willing to reveal their true family name, but they're all afraid of bringing shame to their families."

  What was stirred up by the six scars was a sentence that spoke to itself, saying: In this era, many people who fell into banditry would change their names and hide their identities, because they were afraid of losing face for their families and making it difficult for them to hold their heads up in their hometowns.

  "Come on! Let's go drinking, drink heavily and eat a lot of meat. Don't think about those damn annoying things anymore."

  A gust of wind blew across the grass, and Cao Zhi held onto his horse's reins as he rode towards the grand hall. Earlier, Cao Zhi had ordered a few sheep to be slaughtered on the grass, and by now they should be cooked just right. So, taking advantage of the opportunity to eat meat, he decided to put aside these annoying matters for the time being.

  "Alright! Smooth sailing, prosperous business, wealth in all four seasons!"

  As soon as they entered the house, Cao and Liu started fighting, with two men punching each other. Large bowls of strong white wine were poured into their stomachs by the two men. Big chunks of mutton were stabbed with a dagger and eaten in big mouthfuls.

  Nothing is more enjoyable than drinking and eating, it's the favorite of every man. Drinking a big bowl of wine, eating a big piece of meat, as long as there's an opportunity, they'll drink to their heart's content. At this moment, in one's own home, is there anywhere safer than this?

  Although it is said that these outsiders are all good drinkers, even the best drinker can't stand drinking from such a large bowl. Before long, several people were already drunk.

  "I'm telling you, Liu, your third brother is really unlucky, huh... found a mistress and ended up losing his life."

  Several large bowls of old baijiu had gone down his throat, and he didn't know which direction was east, west, south or north. His mustache was stained with wine, and on the dagger in his hand was still stuck a big piece of mutton.

  "Third Master, there are a few people outside who don't know that my third brother is the kind of person who can't move when he sees a beautiful woman. Someone said it a few years ago, didn't they? My third brother will eventually die under a woman's belly."

  He had already drunk a lot of liquor, and thought so much there, just casually said.

  "Can't say, that San Laizi bastard has no taste at all, but this lecherous one, I quite like him, he's got the same temperament as me, just right for my appetite. You see how sharp San Lai's nose is? He can smell the stench on those sluts from the Kong family village, and yet he didn't even notice the stench on Chun Hong's body, which is incredibly pungent!"

  When it comes to women, Cao Shangpiao is also a mediocre person. Most outsiders know that Cao Shangpiao is also the kind of person who can't be seen by women, but he still has some moral integrity and will never use force on women. However, San Laizi is different. When he sees a beautiful woman, he doesn't care about morality or not, he just wants to take advantage of her first. In comparison, most people curse San Laizi to die in a woman's belly, which isn't unreasonable.

  "Old man, I heard that the Laowazi Machine Company next to Kong Family Village is sending a job offer to your place?"

  Now everyone on the outside knows that a certain machinery company is a piece of fat meat, but unfortunately the boss of this company is clever and has already handed out shares before the factory was even built. Everyone wants to take a bite, but they are all worried about their teeth being bad, in case they break their teeth.

  As soon as Wu Liu said that, Cao Shang Piao knew it had finally come to this. Now this is what you asked for yourself, we didn't want to deceive you, and so he spoke up.

  "Don't even mention that company, damn it! These people from the big city are not decent, we thought they were refugees from the disaster in Guanli and collected fees based on the number of people they reported. Who would have thought that now there are over 2,000 people but still collecting fees as if there were only 1,500? That scoundrel is so cunning! As soon as he comes down here, he'll send over this year's fee. This way, he's getting a huge advantage, next year we must change the rules, otherwise all the benefits will be taken by that scoundrel."

  "It's just that there are a few good people from this big city, they're all the same kind of people, just like that Xu guy from back then. Our folks from outside were all cheated by that Xu guy."

  People who talk about big cities are untrustworthy, Wu Liu is absolutely trusted. The surname Xu mentioned in his mouth was several years ago, when it was still the Qing dynasty, a revolutionary party from the big cities inside the pass came to this outer green forest road to persuade everywhere, and finally everyone entered that Iron Blood Army for the sake of fame. Who would have thought that after the success of the anti-Qing movement, everyone's dream of amnesty also ended. If it wasn't for running fast back then, they almost got caught by the Northern Army.

  "Exactly! Not many good ones among these people."

  Bei Ge Liu brought up that matter, Cao Shang Piao's heart couldn't bear to mention it again. At that time, he himself had written letters to his family saying that he had become the county magistrate and would bring them over to enjoy good fortune. Who would have thought that just as his family received the letter, he himself slunk away from the city and returned to Lao Lin Tan to resume his old occupation.

  "But, the flavor of that Peony cigarette made by the Northwest Machine Company is quite authentic. With dozens of carts loaded with cigarettes being sent out every day, you'll be rich soon."

  Especially for that machine company, and that cigarette factory, Yihong had been eyeing them for a long time. Of course, Liu knew that he could only take a look at the big shots. The grass on the ground had eaten all the food in his stomach, what else was there to spit out?

  "The fat meat, now can only stare at it eagerly, and it's uncertain whether we can eat it next year. Since six days ago, that factory has been working day and night like crazy to build a stone wall, half a person thick. If they're not trying to keep us out, why would they build such a thick wall? Once they finish building, I'm afraid only cannons will be able to open it. By then, getting a share won't be so easy."

  Although saying these words is just a lead, Caoshangpiao himself also understands that when the time comes, he will want to collect his share again, and it's unlikely to be as easy as it is now. Just like those colonial companies outside, wanting to collect their shares is difficult!

  "Six days ago? Are you saying they started repairing the wall day and night six days ago?"

  As soon as he heard that the Northwestern Machinery Company had started repairing the wall six days ago, Liu Liucheng's heart skipped a beat. What a coincidence! San Laizi seemed to have lost contact around six days ago.

  "Not at all, in the past they just built houses, even the fence was omitted, six days ago I don't know what madness came over them, and they started building a stone wall that's going to be the death of us."

  As soon as he saw the scar on Liu's face, Ming Fei knew that this guy had taken the bait. This matter was 80% to 90% likely to succeed, and it would be better to let them find out for themselves rather than telling him directly.

  "Oh? Is it?"

  The more I think about it, the more I feel that there's something fishy going on. Liuliu casually chimed in, if I'm not mistaken, it seems that San Laizi's disappearance has something to do with the Xibei Machinery Factory.

  "Sixth Master, I went to take a look and they were indeed working desperately on the wall. They used large electric lamps to light up the area, not even stopping at night."

  A groom riding on horseback came to say

  "Look, that electric light is shining brightly and can be seen from several miles away. Can you see it clearly? They are on the wall over there. Never mind, let's go take a look together."

  Riding on horseback, Pocky Liu looked at the distant lights and said, then raised his hand and whipped the horse under him with a lash. The horse felt pain and immediately galloped forward.

  "Go and bring someone over for me, I have something to ask him."

  Riding his horse to a distance outside the factory, Liuxu stopped and said to his men beside him, "It's better to get someone over here to probe things out first rather than doing it this way."

  "Come on, Sixth Master. You've been waiting for a long time. I'll go and come right back."

  The two rascals beside Scarface exchanged a word and then whipped their horses and galloped towards the brightly lit factory.

  "Sixth Master, someone has brought it for you."

  About half a stick of incense later, the two rascals hurried back. As soon as the horse stopped steadily, one of them threw down from his horse a person who was tied up in a bundle and had their mouth stuffed with a rag.