Volume 1 Initial Trial of Skill Chapter 44 A Big Win

  He knew that men were not afraid of violence and risking their lives, they could withstand losing a leg, an eye or an arm if necessary, but they couldn't afford to lose that thing, otherwise the consequences would be very severe. The black-hearted old six's brain turned quickly, and he immediately came to the conclusion that it was not worth arguing with this old coffin, how many more days could he live?

  Choi Lao Tai seems to be playing for real, he has already taken off his pants. The black-hearted old six knows that no matter what, he can't hold on any longer and doesn't want to play anymore.

  "Wait a minute..."

  "Sixth Master, what instructions do you have?" Cui Lao Tai was using his knife to gesture, seemingly considering whether to cut it with one knife or split it open with a stick.

  Hei Xin Lao Liu stepped forward, clasped his fists and bowed: "Master Cui, you're not an ordinary person. I've lived for so many years and this is the first time I've seen someone as formidable as you. I really admire you." As he spoke, he waved his hand towards the inner room and shouted: "Bring it out!"

  Immediately, two young servants carried out a door panel from the house, on which was covered a red quilt.

  Hei Xin Lao Liu personally lifted up the quilt and respectfully said: "Cui Ye, please lie down."

  Chui Lao Tai bowed respectfully to Hei Xin Lao Liu and the Four Golden Arhats, cupping his hands: "Thank you, Sixth Master! Thank you, four brothers." After finishing speaking, he lay down on the door plank, and Hei Xin Lao Liu carefully covered him with a red quilt.

  An old man walked out of the upper house and said to Cui Lao Tai: "Master Cui, we just discussed it among ourselves. Your investment will earn a 50% profit. From now on, as long as Tai Chang's business exists for one day, you can get a 50% profit for that day. Congratulations, Master Cui!"

  Chui Lao Tai half-raised his body, clasped his fists in respect: "Thank you, Elder Qian Bei, for your guidance! From now on, as long as Elder Qian Bei and Tai Chang call out to me, I, Chui Lao Tai, will rush to their aid, no matter the danger!"

  The old man with a dark heart, Old Six, cupped his hands and said: "Congratulations, Tai Chang's footwork has added another protective deity!"

  "Hei Xin Lao Liu rubbed his hands together and said: 'Good luck, good luck.'"

  Pan Heita asked the dark-faced thin man brought by Cui Laotai: "May I ask how to address this gentleman?"

  The thin man with a dark face nodded his hands and introduced himself, "I am Qian Si."

  "So it's Fourth Master, I've long admired you! I don't know where you and Cui Ye have settled down?"

  Qian Si said: "Pan Ye, I'm ashamed to say that I and Cui Ye are down on our luck, and temporarily living in a hut next to the Ghost Market."

  What is called a wopeng, is the most miserable housing for the poor in Tianjin. It's very simple to build, generally facing south, first use two long and short sticks buried in the soil, this is the door frame, then use one or two three-foot-long wooden sticks nailed horizontally on the door frame, this is the upper door sill, no need if not available; then prop up one or two wooden sticks behind; after that, overlap broken mats and torn burlap pieces on top, where the broken mat touches the ground, pat some mud on it, to prevent wind from entering and to prevent the mat from being blown away by the wind.

  Pan Heita smiled casually and said, "Alright, let's first send Master Cui back, and we'll also offer a jar of wine, ten catties of sauce meat and ten silver dollars. These are the rules of the road. You don't need to bother, just lead us on our way."

  Hei Xin Lao Liu said warmly to Cui Lao Tai, "Master Cui, according to the rules, I should visit your mansion three days later. I hope you can recover from your injuries and we can have a drink together at Yi Pin Xiang then."

  "Choi was overwhelmed with gratitude." Old Choi bowed his hands in thanks.

  Hei Xin Lao Wu waved his hand and shouted loudly: "Get out!"

  Two strings of firecrackers were lit at the same time, and the four strong men lifted up the door plank that Cui Lao Tai was lying on. Qian Si followed them out, with the steward carrying a shoulder pole behind him, with a red cloth flower ball tied to it, one end of the pole had a jar of wine, and the other end had a food box filled with braised meat.

  When Cui Lao Tai was carried away, the streets were packed with people watching from both sides of the road, with voices of admiration and praise that did not stop, and there were also many hoodlums, their faces full of envy.

  Huang Li furrowed his brow and jumped off the box, this group of people was playing a very unusual route, they were cruel to themselves, while he was cruel to others. The rivers and lakes, indeed, have all sorts of rules. Is this what it means to be a Tianjin thug? You have a body full of martial arts skills, but others don't want to play with you, they take the path of self-abuse and being beaten up, sticking out their necks for you to hit, if you have the ability to kill them; or they take harsh measures against themselves, cutting flesh and chopping off small chicken dicks, you don't dare follow suit, that means you lose.

  "Today was really an eye-opener, there are still people who dare to be so reckless."

  "This is nothing, just trying to scare people, rolling iron boards and scooping copper coins from oil pots, that's what's really fierce!"

  "Blow it as if you've seen it before."

  "Hey, don't mention it, I've seen with my own eyes how Wang Banci from the Hedong Grain Depot had his arm blown to charcoal."

  …………

  The onlookers chattered and dispersed, the excitement was over, everyone went about their business. Huang Li sighed and shook his head, waiting for the crowd to disperse before walking with Zhen Niang towards Tai Chang's feet.

  Just after going through a storm, the pedestrian traffic at Tai Chang is now starting to get busy. On the surface, the porters are responsible for transporting goods for merchants, with fixed prices and rules, but they charge very high prices while paying those laborers extremely low wages. The laborers' hard-earned wages barely cover their living expenses, while the gains of the idlers exceed theirs by several times.

  "Excuse me, is there a He Daku here?" Huang Li walked into the shop and asked the attendant sitting behind the counter.

  The steward looked sharp-mouthed and had a pair of triangular eyes, no matter how you looked at him, he didn't seem like a good person. He took a glance at Huang Li's calendar and saw that Huang Li was dressed quite decently, so he didn't use abusive language towards him, but instead replied stiffly: "No, there is no one named He Dakuai here."

  "Really? Huang Li blinked his eyes and asked again, "Or is it that you're too busy to help look for it, maybe there are too many people here and you forgot."

  The steward rolled his eyes and said unpleasantly: "No means no, I can still remember dozens of people clearly. If there's nothing else, please leave!"

  Huang Li was left with a nose full of dust, and as he hesitated, he saw a footman making eyes at him. Could it be that there was still something to be said about finding someone? Although somewhat perplexed, Huang Li still led Zhen Niang out of the sedan chair, but didn't go far, instead stopping in front of a nearby shop to look at the goods.

  Sure, here is the translation:

  As expected, before long, the rickshaw puller who had exchanged glances with him came out, looked around cautiously, and walked over.

  "What kind of person is He Dagu?" The porter was a middle-aged man, his dark and rough face showing the vicissitudes of life.

  "Relatives." Huang Li said politely: "We are from our old home in Shandong, and have come to rely on him. May I ask how you address him?"

  "Rely on him? He's struggling to save himself now!" The middle-aged porter smiled wryly and said, "My name is Zhang Xiaoshun, I'm quite familiar with He Dakuai. A few months ago, something happened to him, and he's been living in a hut near Ghost City. You're his relatives, maybe you can help him out."

  "What's going on?" Huang Li furrowed his brow, why did things always go awry?

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