"Thank you, little brother, for your care, please come to the noodle restaurant to eat noodles another day." Gu Qingzhu bowed.

The official waved his hand again and again: "There is no thanks, you should go quickly, lest it be too late, and the coolies will be scattered." ”

Gu Qingzhu picked up the bamboo basket on his back and walked quickly to the dock with the eldest girl Zhaodi, but fortunately, the two places were not far apart, and they walked in half an hour.

As night fell, a dusk lantern was hung on the wharf, and there was indeed a boat parked on the shore, and more than a dozen shirtless coolies, shouting loud and uniform trumpets, stepping on wooden ladders, tremblingly carrying large boxes to the shore, thinking that there were extremely valuable things in it, and the stewards of the ship and the stewards of the cargo owners were there, and they were very nervous and concerned, and they did not allow the coolies to stumble.

Gu Qingzhu and the others carried the goods ashore before they started to sell: "Meat buns, the big meat buns of Ding's noodle restaurant, delicious and inexpensive, the last few packs are sold at a discount, four or five!" ”

Those men who unloaded the cargo box and dragged a towel to wipe their sweat were hungry and panicked, they were already going to get off work before, they were temporarily arrested, they didn't eat a mouthful of food, and the steward was still urging tightly, so they could only pour water to ward off hunger, and at this time they smelled the aroma of meat buns, and they couldn't help but swallow saliva one by one.

"Steward Xiao, you see, it's not early, why don't you buy a few buns for the guys to pad their hunger, we are full, our waists are not flashing, our legs are not weak, and your goods are also comprehensive." The head of the coolie team was about forty years old, with a dark face, and approached the cargo supervisor with a smiling face.

"You cheap bones, the wages have been negotiated a long time ago, and you are indispensable, what do you mean by saying that you want to eat steamed buns? When I'm stupid, blackmail! I warn you, if you dare to make any mistakes, be careful that you will not be able to pay for the whole family if you sell them! The steward, who was dressed in a blue silk gown, was twenty years old, stared at his triangular eyes and said angrily.

"You ......" was ruthlessly snatched away, and the head of the coolie team turned red with anger.

"Forget it, forget it, Zhou Bantou, don't be as knowledgeable as him." The onlookers on the side persuaded one after another.

Zhou Bantou couldn't get off the stage, so he couldn't help but raise his voice and said: "Your ship came so late, and the money is very expensive, we are hungry to work, I don't see you add more than a penny, and I bargained with me for a long time, and I didn't pay cash, I just opened my mouth to ask for a few buns to eat, even if the beggar who asked for food begged to come to me, there was no rich and unkind like you." ”

"I see you're tired of being crooked! I didn't do the work, but I wanted to take the money for nothing, I was crazy to be poor! Steward Xiao snorted with his nostrils to the sky, and pointed his fingers arrogantly at everyone.

As soon as Gu Qingzhu saw Zhou Bantou leaning over and pleading with Steward Xiao in a low voice, he thought of Gu Shifu who was lying on the bed now, he took the whole village out to work temporarily, did he ever beg for someone without dignity like this? When she thought of this, she didn't feel that her eyes were hot.

She handed the bamboo basket to the eldest girl, squeezed into the crowd and said: "This gentleman, what you say is unreasonable, it's past dinner at this time, you force everyone to do the work, neither pay in advance, nor provide meals, and even threaten to claim compensation if you lose the goods, which is too difficult." ”

"Yes, yes, yes, what the girl said is reasonable!" The man next to him nodded frequently.

Seeing that there were more and more onlookers, Steward Xiao shouted: "Are you still working? I don't want any more wages! ”

"I've never seen you pick the door like this, you are doing this single job, let's just do it!" The head of the squad shook his handkerchief and sat on the stone steps with his legs crossed.

He has this confidence, and at this time there is only the group of people he leads on the dock, if he really picks a child, those goods will not be able to go ashore tonight.

"Huh! You ...... "Now, it's Steward Xiao's turn to open his mouth and stammer.

The steward of the ship did not see anyone get off the ship for a long time, so he hurriedly ran over: "What's the matter?" It's late, it's hard to walk under your feet, it's better to hurry! ”

"Let's not do it!" The head of the squad turned his head and said angrily.

"It's good, the wages have been negotiated, and most of the goods have been moved, why don't you do it?" The ship's steward was about fifty miles away, and asked a little anxiously.

He originally planned to unload the cargo in Nancang County, catch the night boat, and be able to get to the next dock early tomorrow morning, if it is delayed at this time, the whole trip is afraid that it will be too late.

The head of the squad did not raise his head, and said angrily: "You ask him!" ”

"It's not...... The salary was negotiated, and I did a good job, and I wouldn't lose a penny, but this girl came, what kind of buns did they want to eat, how could I spend this money in vain! Steward Xiao hurriedly explained, and didn't forget to glare at Gu Qingzhu when he was about to leave.

The coolies are making trouble, and this girl jumps out to fan the flames!

"I'm going to be a big deal!" Hearing this, the ship's steward shook his head, untied his purse, took out a handful of copper coins and put them on the stone table, and turned his head to look at Gu Qingzhu, "Tired girl, your buns, those present have a share, you settle the account, come to me to receive the money." ”

"Steward Jiang, you ......" Steward Xiao was dumbfounded.

Seeing that the shipkeeper was so cheerful, everyone cheered for a while, and rushed to the bamboo basket of the big girl.

Surrounded by a group of shirtless and strong men, this battle was indeed a bit scary, Gu Daya was afraid that they would rob it, so she and Zhao Di hugged the bamboo basket tightly and didn't let go.

"Uncle and brother, please shoot a team, I have a pack of five here, if it is not enough, please even each other." Gu Qingzhu jumped on a big stone and waved his hand.

The men immediately gathered together, lined up crookedly, the big girls were sent one by one, Gu Qingzhu was in charge of counting, and it was also orderly.

Xiao Guan who was left aside was angry, he didn't want to get used to this class of cheap coolies, but he cheapened Old Man Jiang to be a good person, and he hated Gu Qingzhu even more, if she hadn't come to sell meat buns, how could these bad things come about!

Seeing the coolies who were allocated meat buns, they all squatted on the ground with a smile and munched, and from time to time they gave a thumbs up and praised, and the aroma of pork and wheat wafted in the night sky.

"Uncle, this bag will be given to you to eat, it doesn't count as money." gave a share to each coolie, and Gu Qingzhu took another package and handed it to Steward Jiang who was sitting aside.

Jiang An didn't refuse, and said with a smile: "Your bun smells fragrant, where is your shop, and what else do you eat?" Next time, if I come early, I'll definitely try it. ”

Hearing him ask like this, Gu Qingzhu introduced with a fluttering eyebrow: "Then you must come to the Ding family noodle restaurant in Pear Blossom Lane to try it, we specialize in making noodles, steamed buns, noodles and dumplings, and the taste is very good, besides, Pear Blossom Lane is not far from here, you can find it by asking." ”

Just as she was talking energetically, she heard Zhao Di next to her exclaim: "Hey, how can you grab it!" ”

Gu Qingzhu turned her head and saw Steward Xiao bending down to snatch an oil-paper bag from the bamboo basket, she rushed over directly desperately, and kicked the man's knee socket, the man was in pain, and as soon as his hand was loosened, the oil-paper bag was snatched away by Gu Qingzhu.

"How can you say that you are also the steward of a rich and noble family, and you see the world, how can you be so shameless, but it is just a worthless meat bun, if you don't want to buy it, you have to rob it!" Gu Qingzhu scolded with a straight face.

"You stinky girl, I can't eat those cheap bones, if you don't come, you don't want to trouble me, why will my goods be delayed until now, I will go back late, and I will be scolded by the owner!" The steward rubbed his legs and said angrily.

"Their bun money, this uncle has paid for it, I naturally want to give it to them, and you are such a bad heart, don't say that the uncle pays for you, even if you double the money for me, I am not willing to sell it." Gu Qingzhu snorted coldly.

Steward Xiao was so angry that his face was not good, and he threatened and threatened: "You girl, where did you open a shop, you are a newcomer, you dare to be so arrogant, believe it or not, I will take people to level your small shop, and you will not prick up your ears to inquire, the Fuxiang Song family in Nancang County, how can you provoke it!" ”

Gu Qingzhu glanced at him and said disdainfully: "No matter what kind of high-ranking family you have, you must always talk about reason, otherwise wealth and glory will not last long, you are ruining the reputation of your master outside, do they know?" If you know it, you are still lawless, and something will happen sooner or later! ”

"Stinky girl, you dare to curse people!" Steward Xiao was so angry that he raised his hand to fight.

"Xiao Liu, you're making a bit of a fuss!" Old man Jiang grabbed his wrist and said with a solemn face: "The Song family has been declining in the past ten years, although it is because of the uncle and grandmother, but those of you who are subordinates, not to mention sharing the burden for the master, are also carrying the name of the owner everywhere.

If the second master of the Song family is bullied like this by you, and he doesn't know it, he is also a fool, my owner, Yan'an Jin family, if it weren't for the love of the uncle and grandmother who transferred funds to help the emergency, and was willing to owe you gold and silver on credit at a low price, today, Fuxiang may not even be able to take out the silver taels that were purchased. ”

Xiao Liu was broken by his words, his face was very unbearable, he shook off his clamps hard, and shouted: "You are just a slave like me, be a dog in front of the owner's house, why teach me a lesson!" ”

"Be a dog, this is what you said, I am an upright person, I will never admit it!" Jiang An grinned.

The coolies eating meat buns next to him also laughed, and someone was drinking water, and he couldn't hold back for a while, and a mouthful of water sprayed everywhere.

"What are you laughing at, don't laugh!" Xiao Liu, who regretted saying the wrong thing, stomped his feet again and again.

"Let's go, big guy, hurry up, do it early and rest early!" The head of the team, Lao Zhou, shouted.

Everyone put down the tea bowls, put on the towels, got up and got off the boat to carry the cargo box, and Xiao Liu followed behind in pieces.

Gu Qingzhu and Jiang An settled the money for the meat buns, and put the bamboo basket on their backs to prepare to leave with the eldest girl Zhaodi.

"Girl, do you still have meat buns?" Jiang An asked suddenly.

"Yes, yes, but you haven't eaten that bag yet." Gu Qingzhu pointed to the oiled paper bag he was resting on the stone bench.

Jiang An took the oiled paper bag in his hand and said with a smile: "I'm old, and I don't eat much meat, but I'm going to drive a night boat tonight, so I'll buy some for the guys to make supper, so as not to eat gruel and not be full." ”

Hearing this, Gu Qingzhu took out all the oiled paper bags in the bamboo basket, a total of four or five packets, and Jiang An asked for them all in one go.

After selling all the buns at once, the three of them were not to mention how happy they were, and they hurried away by the not-so-bright moonlight, with brisk steps, and they couldn't wait to step back to the inn in one step.

Gu Shifu and the others had already eaten the meat bun on the water, and they saw that the sun was going down, the moon was hanging on the treetops, waiting left and right, Gu Qingzhu and the others had not come back yet, Gu Shifu was always holding on to his heart, his eyes kept glancing at the door, and even Qingying was looking forward to it.

"Uncle Fu, why don't I go out to welcome them?" Fang Kui walked around the room irritably.