"Ah......h

Zhang Meng screamed and sat up from the bed, his chest seemed to be pressed by a big stone, and he couldn't breathe.

It's that dream again, that weird dream, and this is the fifth time this month!

Holding the quilt in a daze for half an hour, Zhang Meng felt better, he got out of bed with a wry smile, opened the curtains, and stared at the goose feather snow outside the window.

The scene in the dream is the story that my father loved to tell me when I was a child, and I told it for four or five years.

In fact, this story lasted until the end of the demon shrine, what happened later, no matter how Zhang Meng made trouble, his father just refused to say. And the dream version is all Zhang Meng's own cranky ideas, and almost every time there is a different version, as if watching a ghost movie.

When he was eight years old, Zhang Meng's father Zhang Shaoye was a little nervous, and sometimes he locked himself in the study all day long, muttering, crying and laughing, and even often dropped things, which was completely opposite to his previous tranquil personality. He became very radical and unreasonable, and even beat his wife and children.

When Zhang Meng was twelve years old, Zhang Shaoye quietly left the Zhang family and entrusted his wife and children to his three brothers, leaving nothing for himself. And after Zhang Shaoye left, what left Zhang Meng with the deepest impression was this dream that he had been doing for more than ten years, and sometimes Zhang Meng even wondered if he had been there, otherwise how could the dream be so lifelike?

"I said, little master, are you having a nightmare, or are you having a spring dream?" Zhao San held a cigarette gun in his mouth, glanced at Zhang Meng's crotch with some malice, and sniffed vigorously.

"Old smoker, smoke your opium, don't bother me! You can't even dream of spring now, can you? Ha ha! Zhang Meng said angrily, the middle-aged man in front of him is one of the old team members who created the Zhang family's foundation: Zhao San, the white horse, looks like he is going to die all day long, and anyone who sees it is angry, but it is very right with Zhang Meng's temper. At this time, hearing that he was buried, Zhang Meng came out angrily, and immediately fought back viciously.

"The cute baby who is going to die, I want to meet the third master and me with two box guns and a white-maned horse, and more than 30 bandits on a narrow road, that is to kick down the Tibetans, shoot with two guns, kill in the dark, seven in and seven out, people say that I am the reincarnation of Zhao Zilong, so I got the nickname of 'White Horse Zhao San', if this was put in the past, I will kill you!"

Zhao San blew his beard and roared glaringly.

"Stop!" Zhang Meng hurriedly stopped the old man's mantra, this old man usually hangs these two words in his ears when he is fine, and Zhang Meng can recite them now.

"Don't listen, your uncle asked you to clean up, today is the Chinese New Year's Eve, go home together for a reunion dinner in the evening." I kindly remind you, there are a lot of big people from our Zhang family today, you are going to lose the face of the Zhang family, and see if your third uncle does not lock you up for a few days. By the way, let's go to Shuiyuexuan to help make dumplings later, there are not enough people. After Zhao San finished speaking, he waved his hand and went out with a smile.

"New Year's money, New Year's money......"

"I'm slurping!"

Zhang Meng secretly said an old slippery head. Turning around and looking in the mirror, he was fair-skinned, handsome and young, uh, he just looked a little unenergetic.

After putting on the mink fur coat, Zhang Meng went out slowly, and when he arrived at Shuiyuexuan, several guys at the door greeted him one after another, Shuiyuexuan is the leader of Hong Kong Mingtang, and more than fifty percent of the antiques sold in Mingtang every year are successfully traded in Shuiyuexuan.

As the shopkeeper of Shuiyuexuan, there were many people who stumbled on Zhang Meng at the beginning, waiting to see his jokes, but what made them fall through the glasses was that Zhang Meng doubled Shuiyuexuan's harvest in the first month. His eyesight is amazing, his appraisal of some antiques is extremely accurate, and he treats people kindly, and after a year, no one is dissatisfied with this young shopkeeper.

Two large cannon battles have been hung at the door of Shuiyuexuan, and as soon as seven o'clock in the evening arrives, they will be lit to welcome the New Year, and the entire Shuiyuexuan is busy, with a strong New Year's flavor. This is also the tradition of Shuiyuexuan, most of the workers in it are single, and those with families are also relocated to the vicinity of Shuiyuexuan, and every year on the thirtieth day of the Chinese New Year's Eve, all the workers' families here will have a Chinese New Year's Eve dinner together.

The account room Chen is lame, the housekeeper and the sick ghost are already making dumplings there, and when they saw Zhang Meng coming in, they greeted him with a smile, only Zhao San didn't know if it was because he was sarcastic just now that he couldn't have a spring dream, and he ignored Zhang Meng with a coffin face. Zhang Meng smiled, knowing that his third uncle would soon be unable to stand the loneliness of talking, he was a full chatter......

Chen's cripple legs and feet are not good, but his tomb robbery skills are excellent, and the sick ghost coughs all day long, but he is also a hard stubble. These people usually dot on Zhang Meng very much, and some major things that Zhang Meng doesn't dare to call the shots are secretly handled by these three people, so everyone has a good relationship.

"Uncle Ghost, why did you buy so many cabbages?" Zhang Meng had some doubts.

"Little Mengzai, I have to ask this question, cabbage is your father's favorite dumpling filling, think about it, although your father has been gone for so many years, but every year during the Chinese New Year, your three uncles will prepare a lot of cabbage, waiting for him to come back for a meal."

Zhang Meng's voice didn't fall, and sure enough, he interjected Zhao San.

"Why, my father isn't coming back this year? Alas, I haven't seen him for so many years, and what he looks like is a little blurred......" Zhang Mengqing suddenly felt a little depressed.

"Mouthy!" The sick ghost glared at Zhao San fiercely, Zhao San knew that he was speechless, and lowered his head and wrapped the dumplings.

At this moment, there was a commotion outside, and several men twisted a middle-aged man in, and the man's body trembled and shrunk into a ball, as if he expected a catastrophe to come.

"What's going on?" Zhao San threw back the dumpling skin in his hand and asked with a frown.

Today is a big day, don't let a few ignorant little guys mess with it.

"This bastard sold fakes in our market in the morning, and was detected by the buyer on the spot, and the buyer is now unrelenting and wants us to lose money, third master, you see how to deal with it!" A guy pointed to the middle-aged man and said.

Zhao San's face sank like water, and his face was scary. He usually does hip-hop, but when it comes to the rules of business, he is an iron breadman, and it is useless for anyone to say it.

You must know that the Ming Tang of the Zhang family controls more than 70 percent of the antique trade in Hong Kong, and it has repeatedly stipulated that fakes cannot be sold, and everything should be sold at whatever price, and it is never exaggerated, if you dare to sell fakes, you will bear the consequences!

People who play antiques, some have a tricky eye, and some are not very good, the picture is that curiosity, a large part of their cooperation with Mingtang is for the credibility of the Zhang family to patronize, so many years, but also attracted a large number of overseas buyers.

And today I actually met a person who hit the muzzle of the gun, if it is publicized again during the Spring Festival, it may smash the signboard of the Zhang family!

Zhao San didn't speak for a long time, just stared at the middle-aged man in front of him like a poisonous snake, staring at him sweating profusely, and his body trembled into chaff, Zhao Sanye's name he still heard of, there was once a Jiangyang thief who sold a late Qing porcelain vase worth millions in Mingtang, Zhao San chased him to Malaysia and brought his hands back! At this time, seeing Zhao Sanye's fierce appearance, the middle-aged man turned pale, knowing that he was in danger of escaping today.

Zhang Meng didn't dare to speak, Zhao San was generally not serious, but if he was serious, he was not a person, and even he felt frightened. The sick ghost and the lame man sighed lightly, continued to wrap the dumplings, and ignored the qiē that happened in the lobby, this kind of bloody thing still made Zhao San handle it well.

"Do you know the rules of Mingtang?"

After a long time, just when the atmosphere was solemn and about to drip water, Zhao San spoke softly.

"Third master, the first offense ......"

"Shut up!"

A guy rushed to speak, but he was stunned by a loud slap, he spit out two teeth, covered his swollen face, and sat on the ground in a panic.

"Did I ask you? Let him speak for himself! Zhao San sneered.

The middle-aged man knelt on the ground and said with some trepidation: "The first offense broke the hand, the second offense broke the leg, and the third offense broke the ...... Beheading. ”

"How many times?" Zhao San asked expressionlessly.

"The first time, I really am the first time!" Beads of sweat the size of beans slid down the middle-aged man's face, and it took him a lot of effort to squeeze these words out between his teeth.

"Do it yourself or do it myself?"

Zhao San casually pulled out the single knife hanging on the wall, and threw it at the feet of the middle-aged man with a loud bang, his face was indifferent, and there was no room for negotiation in his tone.

The middle-aged man only felt that his soul was scattered, although he had expected it, but when this moment came, he was still so frightened that his face turned pale, and he immediately lay on the ground, kowtowed and cried, "The third master spares his life, I am really desperate to violate the rules of Mingtang!" My family smuggled into Hong Kong half a year ago, living in the slums and unable to pay the rent. My daughter had a fever that didn't go away, and I wanted to get some money for her to have a good New Year, and then pay the hospitalization fee, so I hit the idea in the antique market. If my hand is broken, how can I support my wife and children! Don't worry, I will pay back the money I owe, I will pay back the third master, and the third master will spare me this time......"

The middle-aged man was so scared that he cried, Zhang Meng was a little embarrassed, Zhumen wine and meat stink, and there were frozen bones on the road! This sentence is indeed true, the clothes on this middle-aged man are very old, I don't know how long they have been worn, and there are many patches, and the patches on the entire clothes are at least six or seven kinds of messy fabrics, and I think it is indeed a poor family. Seeing middle-aged people like this, Zhang Meng was also a little unbearable.

"Forget it, third uncle, this matter has been revealed."

Zhang Meng patted Zhao San on the shoulder, he has been mixing in Mingtang since he was a child, and he has come into contact with all kinds of people I don't know how much, and if he broke one of this middle-aged man's hands, it would ruin a family! Moreover, there is still room for negotiation in this matter, and it is completely possible to turn big things into small things and small things into small things.

"Ah Meng, don't make it difficult for me! Usually, the third uncle depends on you, but this time it won't work. There are no rules, there is no circle, what should be done has to be done, what can our Zhang family rely on to get to where it is today in Hong Kong? It depends on the word "rules"! ”

"Third uncle, it's Chinese New Year's Eve, it's not good to see blood, I'll deal with it on the buyer's side, and it will definitely not have any impact on ......Mingtang's reputation."

Zhang Meng grabbed the handle of the knife and thrust the knife back into the scabbard. Mingtang has a secret saying: The third master's words are that the knife that was pulled out should be taken back, and the only way to let the knife be returned to the sheath. Zhang Meng glanced at Zhao San gratefully, if Zhao San was unwilling to give in, he wouldn't be able to stuff the knife back into the scabbard.

"The rules of Mingtang can't be abolished, looking at Ah Meng's face today, I will spare you once, and I will confess my guilt after the New Year. If you dare to run, even if you slip to the ends of the earth, you won't be able to escape from the palm of the Zhang family, and then it won't be as simple as breaking your hand! ”

Zhao San wiped his neck and said coldly. In his eyes, Mingtang's interests are higher than Yiqiē, and this person actually dares to violate Mingtang's first precept, which makes Zhao San, as a steward, also a little unable to hold back the karmic fire in his heart.

The middle-aged man kowtowed again and again, and the corners of his mouth just muttered, in fact, what difference did this make to him, it was just a few days later to chop his hands.

Zhang Meng was furious, crossed his waist and confronted Zhao San and shouted:

"Old smoker, you don't die! Talk to me about the rules, Lao Tzu is the No. 1 shopkeeper of Shuiyue Xuan, I know more about these rules and regulations than you, in Shuiyue Xuan, even a dragon has to lie on my stomach! ”

Zhang Meng looked at the guy and asked, "What did he sell?" ”

"A businessman Zhou Xiaoding, sold for 10,000 yuan, is actually forged by a small workshop."

"I want this ding, go contact the buyer, pay him 10,000 yuan, and the money will be deducted from my account! By the way, if the buyer still wants to entangle, just say that this scammer is my distant relative, and ask him if he has any opinions! ”

"Yes, Moe Ye!"

The two guys fled from Shui Yuexuan like a pardon, and they were so angry to see Zhao San like that, and if they stayed any longer, they were designated as a punching bag.

Zhang Meng glanced at Zhao San proudly, one is willing to fight and the other is willing to suffer, I see what else you have to say, Zhang Meng hummed the little song "I like to buy fakes", and continued to wrap dumplings.

"Huh? The bronze Xiaoding is not easy to imitate, there are fewer people who can do it, I think you also have a little craftsmanship, and after the New Year, go to Shuiyuexuan to get an antique repair, if you do it well, three or four thousand a month is not a problem. ”

"Thank you, thank you, Young Master Meng!" The middle-aged man was speechless with excitement, this little young master's few words instantly pulled him from hell to heaven, his eyes were red and he stared at the young man, he wanted to write down this person's face, and he must repay him with his life in the future!

"It's okay, I'll give you a month's salary advance, buy some meat and hot pot, go back and have a good New Year, come with me, I'll take you to the account room."

Zhang Meng smiled and took the middle-aged man to the account room, and gave an instruction to an accountant in charge of finance, before turning around and walking back into the lobby.

"Loser!"

Zhao Sanqi's face turned pale, and the cigarette gun in his mouth was so hard that he almost couldn't breathe. Mingtang does have this rule: if the buyer voluntarily buys the marked fake, it is their own business, and it has nothing to do with Mingtang. Zhang Meng pinched this one, so he unscrupulously teased Zhao San's tiger whiskers.

"Come on, just the two of you have the most things, don't you say Ah Meng, after he took over Shui Yuexuan, how much did you say this business had risen? He knows many more things about these rules than you do! Chen Lame said with a smile, and continued to focus on wrapping dumplings.

"Ah Meng is a good person, but it's a pity, I don't know if I can survive the hurdle of twenty-three years old. Have you seen that the pale cyan ghost vein on Ah Meng's middle finger is much clearer than the previous year......" The sick ghost said softly.

Zhao San didn't answer, just smoked a cigarette gloomily, and several people fell into a speechlessness.

(Note, heavy snow in Hong Kong: Because of the snow problem in Hong Kong, many people in the book city feel that it is contrary to common sense, so I specially note that although Hong Kong has a subtropical monsoon climate, it will still snow when it encounters cold snaps, such as the heavy snow in Kowloon in 1893 and the local light snow in 2004.) Careful friends will see that the protagonist Zhang Meng is already wearing a mink coat to protect against the cold, which also hints that the cold snap is coming. ）