Chapter 45: Green Skin

  Deng Keshan swaggered down the street with two young apprentices, having sold a considerable number of clothes that month. He received commissions from both the brothels and the saleswomen, in addition to selling over 100 pieces himself at the docks, earning him over 100 taels. Although his previous job as a firewood seller had decent income, it was unstable and often didn't provide enough work for an entire month.

  "Brother Deng, long time no see, how have you been?"

  Deng Keshan raised his eyes and saw that it was Chen Xin, so he put on a smile and came over with a bow, "Brother Chen, you're back! Why didn't you say anything? I was out last night and only found out today that you were back. Tonight, I'll be the host, please do me the honor of coming, Brother Chen. You two, quickly call Old Master Chen."

  Two servants hurried over, flattering and fawning. Both were sly and deceitful, clearly not good people. Chen Xin smiled and returned their greetings one by one, then said to Deng Keshan: "I understand your intention, Brother Deng, but my master's funeral is in the next few days, so it's really not suitable for a banquet. Let's wait a while, and I'll invite you over."

  Deng Keshan said, "Chen Ge, if I were to say it, you'd better not be the accountant anymore. Look at how good your clothing store's business is doing. Liu Ge always says that with you, it can increase by more than double, so why not just come back to the clothing store?"

  "This matter can be discussed later, the master of the house has just passed away, and they are having a difficult time at home. It's not good to leave now in terms of emotional support. Besides, I'm still in charge of handling the funeral arrangements for the master."

  Deng Keshan usually hangs out with Liu Min and others, listening to them talk about Chen Xin all the time. He knows that's the big boss, so he has to curry favor. After hearing this, he hastily asks: "What is Brother Chen going to do? I'm familiar with Tianjin city, it's always easier to get things done."

  Chen Xinyi thought for a moment, and indeed, he didn't know where to find the tomb, so he asked Deng Kesha: "I have something to trouble you with, Brother Deng. Do you know where I can find a cemetery and a coffin? The coffin must be of the highest quality, and also, do you know any Buddhist or Taoist monks who can perform the funeral rites?"

  Deng Keshan's eyes rolled around: "Brother Chen, there are specialized coffin shops. The best material is Sichuan sandboard. As for the grave site, I'll go think of a way to deal with it. Today just so happens to have something that can be settled on this person."

  Chen Xin felt somewhat strange: "Whose responsibility is it to take care of the graveyard?"

  Deng Keshan had met Chen Xin a few times and knew he wasn't as stubborn as Liu Min, so he said in a low voice: "I'm just going to settle accounts with a saleswoman. The damn thing sold skirts for three or two pieces of silver per piece the other day, and now she's gone to another clothing store to pick up goods. If I don't deal with her, how can I swallow this breath?"

  Chen Xin glanced at the two men behind him, and a piece of cloth protruded from his sleeve, obviously carrying a knife or something similar. These thugs were not as good at fighting and killing as the Qing dynasty's constables, but they were also useful for handling business disputes. He asked Deng Keshan: "Then you deal with her, what does she have to do with the graveyard?"

  "Brother Chen, you don't know that this woman has a piece of land herself, located on the southeast outskirts of the city, which is just right to allocate a piece for the tomb. It's also by the side of the road, making it convenient for worship."

  Chen Xin smiled and said: "Then I'll have to trouble Deng brother, can you help me out?"

  "Brother Chen, if you have nothing to do, come with me. I was going to collect the clothes from that shop today anyway. Since you have something on your mind, after we deal with this woman, let's first help you buy the wooden board."

  Chen Xin was also quite lively, and since things had settled down, he went to take a look without any harm. He agreed at the time and followed Deng Kesha to walk towards Shubang Street by the city wall, where Deng Kesha reported his recent sales experience along the way. Chen Xin knew that more than half of the sales came from this rolling knife meat, which was also a personal talent.

  "Brother Deng, you said you still want to go deal with a clothing store, I don't know how that clothing store offended Brother Deng."

  "That store is hateful, seeing that our Orchid Clothing Store is doing well, they also found that woman to buy a piece, now they are making similar dresses and clothes racks, and the price is two cents lower than ours, isn't it hateful?"

  Chen Xing nodded and said: "Indeed despicable, how does Brother Deng plan to deal with it."

  Deng Keshan smiled slyly: "That store is called Dongjia Yidian, and it's also run by a woman. I'll get those women to order dozens of pieces, and when the time comes, I'll just say they can't be sold, and he'll lose big time. Then every day, I'll find people to go to his store and cause trouble, let's see how he'll do then."

  "What if he sold it himself."

  "If he really wants to sell it, I'll burn down his store with one move tonight and see if he can still do business."

  "Brother Deng's insight is high."

  Two men chatted as they walked, until they reached Bookstore Street, where all the shops sold books and writing materials. Deng Ke Shan stopped at an alley entrance, called out to a loafer, whispered a few words, and the loafer slipped inside. A moment later he emerged, saying: "Tian Pozi is still home; I heard them eating dinner."

  Deng Keshan led the way into the alley, which was not very wide. There were about twenty courtyards inside. Deng Keshan went straight to a gate and, without saying a word, kicked it with all his might. The door panel retreated slightly inward, and the door bolt made a loud cracking sound, bouncing Deng Keshan back. Deng Keshan stumbled backward several steps before regaining his balance, awkwardly saying, "This door is really hard to open, you two come."

  At this time, a panicked voice came from inside "Who is it? Who kicked the door?"

  Another loafer nearby also went up with a kick, and was bounced back. These people are idle all day, relying on their numbers to bully others, although they have some ferocity, but their strength is really not enough.

  Chen Xinyan saw that several people were about to lose their momentum, so he didn't care and assisted with a few steps, rushing up and kicking hard. This time the door bolt couldn't withstand it, and with a "ka" sound, it broke into two pieces. The gate swung open and hit the wall with a loud bang. Deng Keshan then walked in, shaking his head.

  "Tian Pozi, cooking so many dishes, did you know Deng Er is coming?"

  Tian Pozi was eating when she was startled by the sound of kicking at the door. She saw Deng Keshan and others entering, and knew that something bad was going to happen. She stood up and ran towards the inner room, but Deng Keshan quickly caught up with her and kicked her in the foot. Tian Pozi let out a cry as she fell onto the stone steps. Her husband was also in the courtyard, when one of the thugs pulled out a short knife and pointed it at him, he was so scared that he didn't dare move. Another thug closed the main gate and took out a stick from his sleeve to guard it.

  "Brother Deng." Tian Pozi had nowhere to escape, fell to the ground with a pile of wrinkles on her face, and said: "You came without even saying hello, I could have prepared wine and food to welcome you."

  Deng Keshan chuckled: "Tian Po, don't be polite, I only have a few words to say, and after saying them, I'll leave, I wouldn't dare trouble you." As he spoke, he tried to lift Tian Po up, but Tian Po was quite plump, and Deng Keshan's attempt at lifting him didn't budge him.

  Chen Xin couldn't help but secretly laugh, and in the past, he grabbed Tian Pozi with one hand, saying viciously: "You old woman, do you want my brother Deng to take action himself?" Deng Kesha pointed at the old man and said: "If you don't want to die, get back in the house. If you come out again, I'll beat you to death."

  The old man rolled and crawled into the house, and the idle hand with a knife closed the door. Deng Keshan smiled at Tian Pozi: "Tian Po, I heard you found another clothing store, how's business?"

  "Deng brothers, no, Deng big brother, that clothing store did look for me, but I didn't agree to it either. I don't know who's been wagging their tongue at you, if the old lady finds out, she'll definitely..."

  Deng Keshan's face changed, and he slapped her with a loud slap. Tian Pozi let out an "ah" and fell to the ground. "What are you doing?" Deng Keshan kicked Tian Pozi in the stomach again. "You think I'm some kind of gentle husband who can be deceived by you."

  "Oh, it hurts, Master Deng, stop kicking me, my old bones can't take a few more kicks." Tian Pozi's nosebleed had started flowing, and she cried out repeatedly on the ground. Deng Ke Shan kicked her two more times before stopping, then asked: "Tian Po, I heard you've found another tailor shop, how's business?"

  Deng Kesha asked the same question again, and this time Tian Pozi didn't dare to talk nonsense anymore. He hastily said: "Brother Deng, you see, I was also blinded by greed. It was that old boss of the clothing store who wanted me to do it, saying that each piece would earn me more silver coins, so I agreed. This has nothing to do with me, it's all because of that scoundrel Dong, the owner of the clothing store! Waaahhh!"

  Tian Pozi hypocritically wiped away tears, while Deng Keshan said mercilessly: "The owner of the Dong family's clothing store is naturally a bad person, and you're not much better."

  "Deng Er brothers, I was confused for a moment, but my nature is good. From today on, I will never sell the dresses from the Dong family's clothing store again, or else I'll die with regret. Deng Er brothers, can't you just let it go?"

  "Is that alright? Your aunt took a few pieces from me for 1.2 yuan each and sold them for 3 yuan each, my mother's... I only made 0.3 yuan, you want to make 1.4 yuan, what do you take me for?"

  Tian Popo raised her head again, wanting to deny it, but Deng Keshan glared at her and she quickly lowered her head, muttering: "Deng Er brother, you know everything. How about we split the extra one or two coins between us?"

  "Divide it equally, you wretch! I'm greedy for silver, but I have to keep my promises. I agreed with Liu Brothers' clothing store on one or two mace and eight cents, and I told you the same thing. You're trying to stir up trouble, thinking others don't know, assuming I've taken a cut. You're usually not a good person, if it weren't for your age, I'd sell you off to the brothel just to get rid of you."

  "Deng Er brothers, all the silver you sold is still in the house, I'll go get it now."

  Tian Pozi said and hurriedly went to the inner room to fetch the silver, which she handed over to Deng Keshan. Deng Keshan weighed it and said: "You're still sensible, but this isn't finished yet, you still have to do something for me."

  "Second Master, just give me an order, as long as it's something I can do, even if it's a secret mission."

  "You go to Anmenzi and tell them who you are, then go to Dong's clothing store and order twenty skirts. Tell them that the person is in a hurry and wants them quickly. The deposit should be given only after seeing the skirts."

  Tian Pozi immediately knew what Deng Keshan was up to and looked embarrassed, saying: "Brother Deng, this is a deceitful plan. I, Tian Pozi, have never done such a thing before. Why don't we just forget about it?"

  Deng Keshan sneered and whispered, "So this is the first time you've done something like this. I wonder who was behind Yang's third daughter and the owner of Wanghai Fang's lacquer shop in their illicit affair. Who bought the abortion medicine for Xu's second daughter? And..."

  Tian Pozi cut him off with a serious face: "Deng Er brothers, that Dong family clothing store is really hateful. I'll go order twenty pieces from them right now. Once they're done, those customers will definitely leave, and you can't blame me."

  "That's right." Deng Keshan said, handing over some more silver to Tian Pozi. Tian Pozi's face lit up with surprise as she accepted it. "Tian Pozi, you're not bad at selling things. It's understandable that people get confused sometimes. As long as you don't make the same mistake again, it's fine. Take back some of this silver and use it. Also, I want to give a piece of land outside the east gate to someone for their tomb. What do you think, Tian Pozi?"

  Chen Xin smiled on one side, watching Deng Keshan deal with the vendor. He now thought even more that Deng Keshan was a talent. With a stick and a piece of candy, the vendor would still be willing to sell him clothes, and also took care of the Dong family's clothing store and graveyard. What he admired most was Deng Keshan's style of not being picky about methods for business interests, this is what this era needs, if Liu Min had come to do it, it would absolutely not have achieved this effect.

  "It's just a graveyard, isn't it? Deng brothers want to use it, just go ahead. You're still being polite and giving me silver, take it back quickly. From now on, I won't dare to deceive the Deng brothers again, I'll definitely help the Deng brothers sell clothes well." Tian Maipo put the silver into her pocket while speaking hypocritically, her nosebleed had been wiped into a lump, and she looked quite ridiculous when she smiled.

  "Alright, that's settled then. You all continue eating, I won't disturb you anymore." Deng Keshan smiled and backed out, the few people walked out of the alley, Deng Keshan threw five silver coins to each of the two loafers, who thanked him profusely.

  Deng Kesha took the remaining silver and handed it over to Chen Xin, saying: "Brother Chen, this is what the vendor overcharged us for. I'll hand it all over to you."

  Chen Xin smiled slightly and said: "Brother Deng handled this matter well, more than half of it can defeat that Dong family's clothing store, let's consider it as Brother Deng's reward."

  "A bonus?" Deng Keshan was slightly stunned, this was also over ten taels of silver, Chen Xin seemed completely nonchalant about it. He quickly came to his senses and thanked him before taking the silver.

  "Brother Chen, let's go buy a coffin then. But did you bring enough silver?"

  "That's enough, I've brought thirty taels."

  "This one, Brother Chen, Sichuan's sandalwood coffins don't have any under eighty taels."

  "Oh! So expensive..."