Chapter 55: The Five-Story Pavilion

  This was also Jiang Yunshui's first time in such a big place, although he had been concealing his curiosity and excitement all along, but the expression in his eyes could not deceive Qian Chenglin and Chi Pengzu.

  But now is not the time to dawdle, so the three of them entered the city directly. Although they were checked by the Qing soldiers at the city gate, these Qing soldiers also knew that this was a gathering place for the Green Forest of the five provinces, so they didn't block people from entering Taiyuan City much.

  After entering the city, Qian Chenglin and Chi Pengzu, who were both experienced in Jianghu, saw that the number of Qing soldiers patrolling the city had clearly increased, but they just thought it was because of the Five Provinces Green Forest Association.

  Qian Chenglin led the horse to a wine tower in Taiyuan City, where all kinds of people gathered and dispersed. Many inside information also flowed out from that place.

  The three of them arrived at the wine house called "Jiuhelou", and a waiter led their horses away to feed them hay, while Jiang Fengshan and his companions followed the shop assistant inside.

  This wine house actually has its own rules, Qian Chenglin is telling Jiang Yunshui that if the wine house is divided into three layers, then the top layer is generally not open to people in the rivers and lakes. That place is mostly where officials and dignitaries gather. The second floor is for those with prestige among the old masters of the rivers and lakes, while this third floor is where all kinds of people from the city gather, and it's also the best place to get information.

  Jiang Fengshui and the others found a place to sit down, ordered a pot of Bi Luo Chun tea, and also ordered some fruit platters before letting the shopkeeper leave.

  Jiang Yunshui, however, followed Chi Pengzu's instructions and gave those shop assistants some tips, which is the "asking for directions money" in the Jianghu. Generally, the things that the shop assistants knew were what the people who came to the wine house to gather information wanted to know.

  So, before that, I had to make friends with the staff in this wine house, and then wait for them to bring things over again, and then I could ask them.

  Jiang Yunshui and his companions brought over tea and fruit plates, then opened their mouths to ask in a domineering tone: "Fellow, I have some questions for you."

  That fellow had actually seen that Jiang Yunshui was a tenderfoot long ago, but he also had the ability to see, knowing that these two were old rivers by Jiang Yunshui's side, and didn't dare to be too presumptuous, besides, they had all given him money.

  So the fellow responded loudly: "Sir, if I find out what you want to know, I'll definitely let you know."

  Jiang Yunshui coughed dryly and asked in a low voice: "Where is the Beggar Gang's general altar in this city?"

  The fellow looked somewhat embarrassed and said, "Sir, you're asking something that's putting me in a difficult spot. These are things that can't be spoken of in this temple. Why don't you ask about something else?"

  As soon as the fellow finished speaking, Qian Chenglin took out some copper coins and put them in the fellow's hand. The fellow secretly weighed them before saying: "If you gentlemen want to know, I can tell you. In the south of the city, there is a place called 'Yizhuang'. After you arrive at Yizhuang, take the small path to the right and walk for about five miles, and you will see an abandoned City God Temple. That's where it is."

  Jiang Feng and the other two exchanged a glance, then Jiang Feng asked again: "Brother, do you know where the ninth elder of the Beggars' Sect is now? The one called 'Golden Full Moon'? Is he at the Beggars' Sect headquarters?"

  "Pal, you're talking about 'Golden Fang', he should be having his monthly drink this time of the month, so he's probably at 'Five Flower Building'."

  Jiang Yunshui was originally going to ask what this "Wuhualou" was, but Qian Chenglin and Chi Pengzu already knew, so they dismissed the shopkeeper.

  Qian Chenglin said to Jiang Yingshui: "Leading the way, it seems that Jin Manzhao has entered the kiln."

  Chi Pengzu smiled slyly and nodded his head towards Qian Chenglin, who then saw Jiang Yunshui's face turn bright red.

  Qian Chenglin was sipping tea and probing: "Leader, I'm going to ask you something, don't blame me for it."

  Jiang Yingshui said: "Ask whatever you want, Big Lin."

  Qian Chenglin cleared his throat and asked mysteriously: "Leader, are you a fledgling?"

  Qian Chenglin had just finished speaking, when Chi Pengzu beside him suddenly burst out laughing, and the tea he was drinking also splashed onto Qian Chenglin's face without a single drop left.

  Qian Chenglin wiped the tea water on his face, secretly scolding his bad luck. After the three of them rested for a while and settled the bill with the shopkeeper, they asked about the direction to "Wuhualou" and then left the building where the wine house was located.

  Wuhualou is located in the left city of Taiyuan, where a street is called "Yan Zhi Street", anyone who has been to Taiyuan several times, no one does not know this place.

  Jiang Feng and the other two arrived at the entrance of "Rouge Street" and immediately saw the largest "Wuhualou". This saved them the trouble of searching, so they headed in that direction.

  Qian Chenglin let Chi Pengzu follow Jiang Yenshui inside, while he waited outside, because Chi Pengzu had much more experience in this aspect than him.

  Chi Pengzu led Jiang Yunshui into the house with ease, as if he was a frequent visitor. He didn't rush and instead invited Jiang Yunshui to sit down first, while he stood beside him.

  The mother of the Wuhualou soon came over, with a smile all over her face like a blooming flower, and rolled over with her hundred or so pounds of body like a rubber ball.

  "Ah, so it's two unfamiliar masters, huh? Well, you've come to the right place at Wuhualou. Today just happens to be the day we choose our new flower queen. If you two can win over my girl later, you won't have to pay a single copper for tonight's flower wine."

  Chi Pengzu laughed with a keen eye and said to the mother: "I didn't expect that I and my young master would encounter such a good thing, nor did I know what kind of people came here today? Can my young master get through it?"

  The mother looked at Chi Pengzu, who was quite handsome and robust, then glanced at Jiang Yunshui, her eyes rolling as she said: "I'm not very clear about the people who have come today, but looking at your young master's demeanor, I think he can pluck the flower of my Five Flowers Pavilion today."

  Chi Pengzu smiled, then glanced at Jiang Yunshui, and Jiang Yunshui casually waved his hand. Chi Pengzu took out a silver ingot from the bag hanging on his body and put it into the mother's hand.

  When the mother saw the silver, her eyes were already wide with excitement. When the silver was in her hands, she grasped it tightly, and by the look of it, even if Pool Pengzu came to rob her now, he would not be able to get it back for a while.

  The mother who took the silver immediately called for someone to bring wine and refreshments, and with great enthusiasm, she went through the list of people who were going to come and see the flower queen, from high-ranking officials to vendors and travelers, as long as she knew their names.

  Jiang Yingshui and Chi Pengzu naturally heard from their mother's mouth that Jin Manzhao would come over only at night.

  Then, Chi Pengzu asked his mother to find several women, who dragged Jiang Yunshui upstairs, while he himself went out to look for Shang Qian Chenglin.

  Qian Chenglin, who was waiting there, asked as soon as Chi Pengzu came out: "How did you find out?"

  Chi Pengzu nodded and said: "The investigation has indeed been investigated, but that Ninth Elder will only arrive tonight."

  Qian Chenglin thought for a moment and said: "Then you go with the leader, I'll go to the Beggar Gang's headquarters."

  Just as Chi Pengzu was about to enter, Qian Chenglin said to him: "But be sure not to let the leader get mixed up with those messy women."

  Chi Pengzu smiled and said, "Don't worry, Dalian. How could our leader be so easily taken down by these women? If it's either Hua Kui or Hua Man tonight, and if the purple one can enter the leader's eyes, I'll definitely help them succeed."

  Qian Chenglin listened to Chi Pengzu's words, then gave him a thumbs up and left. Chi Pengzu also shook his head with a smile and entered the Wuhualou.

  Before long, the sky darkened, and the city became increasingly lively, especially on this street where the Five-Story Building was located, which was even more boisterous.