After observing for a while, Lin Hongwen felt that the shop on Xinxing Street had the best business. There are a lot of people and shops, and you can buy everything you want from the street to the end of the street. But the shops on that street are already a turnip and a pit, and it may not be easy to squeeze in. Lin Hongwen himself still had to work in the hospital, and it was inconvenient to come out all the time, so he found He Mu among a group of odd workers at Xinxing Street. He Mu is a perennial odd job in Fujiadian, two years older than him, about the same height as him, but thinner than him, but Lin Hongwen saw him at a glance in a crowd of people. The reason is a little funny, He Mu's eyes reminded Lin Hongwen of Zhao Shun, the same shrewdness and full of calculation. Later, the two chatted for a few words, and Lin Hongwen saw that although he was more gentle than others, he spoke exquisitely and without leakage, so he handed over the matter of observing Xinxing Street to him. He Mu listened to him say two words, and then understood in his heart, "Little boss, don't worry, what kind of business these shops are doing on this street, whether the business is good or not, who to get the goods from, and whose house is moving, I will definitely help you inquire clearly." Lin Hongwen was very satisfied with him when he saw him so smart, so he made an appointment with him to come to Sister-in-law's food stall every ten days to meet him.

Lin Hongwen waited for He Mu to be almost full before he asked him, "What's new lately?" ”

He Mu wiped his mouth and said, "Uncle Li from the grocery store didn't know where to pour a batch of bells and whistles of candy, saying that he bought it from a foreigner, the price is more expensive but it sells quickly, and I see that it is also delicious." There is also an old grandson who sells cloth, and it is estimated that the business will not be able to continue. ”

"What's going on?" , Lin Hongwen asked, "Hasn't his business always been good?" ”

"He's good, his son-in-law is not angry", He Mu said, "Nothing else, you know that gambling money, gold and silver can't bear it, the little money that the old grandson saved was all cheated away by his son-in-law." The day before yesterday, his son-in-law went to the store to grab the money on the account, and the old grandson was so angry that he tore it up with him. ”

"Where is he gambling?"

"Xinxing Street is almost to Zhengyang Street, you can see it when you pass there, and there is no plaque in the shop", He Mu said, "His aunt's surname is Song, he is tall and strong, and he only has three fingers on his right hand. ”

"You pay more attention", Lin Hongwen said, "If the old grandson wants to sell the shop, you can come to the hospital to sue me." ”

"I know," He Mu said, "there's another thing." ”

"What's the matter?"

"Yesterday there was a new guy at the intersection who asked for food."

"What's so strange about asking for food?"

"I look like a child of a rich family," said He Mu, "you can go to the intersection and have a look, in case it is true, you can help him, and when he comes home, he will definitely not treat you badly." It's the sugar-fried chestnuts, and the one in the navy blue jacket is. ”

"How do you know it's a child of a rich family?"

"At first, I looked at him gently, unlike other people who asked for food, so I looked at him twice," He Mu said, "His jacket is quite dirty on the outside, but the corners of his clothes let the wind blow up, and I think it's very clean inside, and it seems to have a little pattern." ”

Lin Hongwen thought for a while and said, "I'm going to buy fried chestnuts with sugar in a while, just stop by to have a look." ”

27.

He Mu left after eating and drinking, Lin Hongwen settled the account and walked to the street, and saw the person He Mu said from a distance, which was really conspicuous. There are many pedestrians at the intersection, and there are many people who ask for food, and others who ask for food are all trying their lips and tongues to kowtow and salute, and even some of the bold ones go to the corners of the passers-by's clothes to beg, but this man in a navy blue jacket sits there in a regular manner, with a hat in front of him that has exposed cotton wool. Lin Hongwen saw that he should be about the same age as himself, maybe younger, he sat there quietly, but his eyes were not idle, and he kept looking at the pedestrians.

Lin Hongwen thought it was funny, so he walked over and bought a bag of fried chestnuts with sugar first, and deliberately dropped a few copper coins when he passed by the man. The man didn't move and said, "You've lost your money." ”

Lin Hongwen turned around and squatted down to pick up the money, "Thank you." ”

The man looked at the sugar-fried chestnuts in his hand, but said nothing. Lin Hongwen smiled and handed him the chestnuts, but he didn't answer. Lin Hongwen said, "How can you ask for food like this, you don't want money, and you don't want food." ”

The man raised his head, and Lin Hongwen saw his appearance clearly, with round eyes and a slightly pointed nose and chin. Although the man's melon seed face is inevitably too delicate, his two eyebrows are as sharp as a sword. At this time, the two eyebrows were frowning slightly, "Your money fell to the ground, and it wasn't given to me, so I naturally don't want it." Although the chestnuts are delicious, they are expensive and not enough, if you really pity me, can you buy me a bun? ”

Lin Hongwen said: "Okay, you wait for me here." ”

After that, he walked a few steps back, bought two meat buns with Sister-in-law Tian, and handed them back to the man, who was hungry but did not look gentle.

"I think you look like a child of a rich family," Lin Hongwen said, "how did you get here?" ”

The man looked at Lin Hongwen for a moment, "Are you from the front medical hall?" ”

Lin Hongwen was a little surprised, "How do you know?" ”

"You smell of Chinese medicine," the man said, "and you're not a bad person when you work in a medical center, so I'll tell you about it, maybe you can still have some way." My name is Zhou Shiying, and my family is in business, not a big business, just a small business. Every year, I bring in some silk cloth and some gadgets from the south of the Yangtze River, and I come to the Northeast to sell them, and exchange them for some leather goods, ginseng, deer antler velvet and the like, and then go back. In previous years, there were some small twists and turns, but this year is completely different. When I was walking towards the Xing'an Mountains, I met a group of old Maozi, who robbed them without saying a word, and shot them if they didn't give them, and the entire caravan was killed. My dad crushed me under him, and I just picked up a life. ”

"A while ago, the Boxers and the Qing army fought with Lao Maozi, and Lao Maozi took advantage of the fire to rob everywhere under the pretext", Lin Hongwen thought of Lin Xingshen and Lin Hongming, and his eyes darkened again.

"I've heard about it on the way here," Zhou Shiying said, "These old hairy people are really hateful." ”

Lin Hongwen looked at him and said, "I see you sitting here, neither talking nor pretending to be bitter, how can you get money?" ”

"I didn't plan to ask for money at all," Zhou Shiying said, "I just wanted to find someone to sell this little thing in my hand." ”

"What is so valuable?" Lin Hongwen asked.

"It's not something too valuable," Zhou Shiying said, "I just want to sell something, so that I can pick up my own and find a place to stay, so that I can find an errand." ”

"It's not that hard, I don't know what you want to sell?" Lin Hongwen asked.

Zhou Shiying beckoned to him, "You are closer", and took out a beautiful small glass bottle from his arms, the cap only opened a small slit, and the fragrance came to his face.

Although Lin Hongwen has never bought this thing, he also knows it, "This is a ...... used by foreigners"

"Perfume", Zhou Shiying said, "I don't have these expensive, but they are a little rare." The old man snatched the silver and silk away, and left some worthless cloth and perfume, which I carried back. I'm in the market, and you haven't sold it yet, and I don't know who to sell it to. ”

"You carry so many things back, and there is no place to stay, where do you put them", Lin Hongwen asked.

"I wrapped it in cloth and found a place to bury it," Zhou Shiying said, "Buried in a place where I can see, I can't lose it, do you have any way to help me sell the perfume." ”

Lin Hongwen thought about it, he didn't know those merchants who sold groceries, and even if he did, he didn't know how long it would take to sell them if they were put there for consignment. However, looking at Zhou Shiying's physique, it is estimated that the number of people who can carry it back is not much, since there are not many, there is a place to shoot, so he said, "Yes, there is, but I help you, what good do I have?" ”

"I'm afraid that you won't ask, there are comings and goings, and no one owes anyone such the best", Zhou Shiying said, "I am not familiar with the life here, I am afraid that I will trouble you in the future, and if the things are sold, the money will be divided between the two of us." ”

Lin Hongwen shook his head with a smile, "I don't need you to split the account with me, the amount of money sold is yours, and I won't take a penny." ”

"And what do you want?"

"I want you as a person", Lin Hongwen said, "If you want to sell something, I can help you, if you want to find a place to stay, I can also help you, but you want to find an errand, this errand can only be given to you." ”

28.

"You? What errand can you give me? Zhou Shiying smiled disdainfully, "Go to the hospital to do chores?" ”

Lin Hongwen pressed his hand and stuffed the small glass bottle into his arms, "Do you just say that you agree or not?" ”

"You're not going to let me sell opium, are you?" Zhou Shiying asked a little nervously, "Let's talk about it first, I won't do anything that hurts heaven and reason." ”

Lin Hongwen was happy, "Even if you are willing to do that profitable business, I can't find it." Just put your mind back, I just need to do some business with someone. ”

"Really?"

"Of course", Lin Hongwen said, "Didn't you just say that I work in the medical hall, won't I be a bad person?" ”

"Who hasn't looked away yet", Zhou Shiying pouted and said, "I'll make it clear first, if I find out what you are doing, I'll slip away immediately." ”

"Okay, I know", Lin Hongwen pulled his sleeve and stood up, stuffed him with a few rubles and some copper coins, "You go to the inn for a night, buy clothes, take a bath, and pick up yourself." At present, there are more and more old Maozi in Harbin, and the money is used in a mess, if people want rubles, you will give rubles, and if you want copper coins, you will give copper coins, don't cause any trouble. Ming'er came to the hospital to find me neatly at noon, my name is Lin Hongwen. ”