After Song San blocked the way, Han Lin asked Zhao Yuan, "Shopkeeper Zhao, how much silver did you give them in total, it seems like a lot?" ”

"Last time Song San asked for eighty taels of silver, I originally wanted to give him ninety taels directly this time, but I didn't expect him to be insatiable, no way, in order to save trouble and make less trouble, I gave him another twenty taels, which adds up to one hundred and ten taels," Zhao Yuan was a little helpless, "I came down this time, if everything goes well, it can be completed in a month and a half, deducting various costs, the profit is about one thousand taels, and there are several places along the way that collect tolls like Song San, and there are other things that need to be dotted, and they have to spend hundreds of taels before and after." If it is like the situation in Guangdong, without these messy things, the profit of one trip can be increased by at least four or five layers. ”

The caravan continued to march, and a few days later, a lofty and upright, strong and beautiful mountain appeared in front of him, coming along the way, although most of them were mountainous, but most of them were relatively low, Han Lin's eyes lit up, so he couldn't help but ask: "Brother Du, where is the front, what kind of mountain is that?" ”

Du Tianfu replied: "The front is Gongcheng, the mountain is the first mountain and mountain in Gongcheng, because the horizontal view and the mountain are as strong as silver ingots, some people also call the mountain as the silver ingot mountain, the ingot and the palace hall two words sound close, and then because the top of the mountain often has white clouds on it, there are mountains and rocks as white as snow, and the distance looks like the palace, like the silver palace, so later there are also called the silver palace mountain. The peak of Yindian Mountain often gathers white clouds, such as wearing white hats, and nearby residents often use Yindian Mountain to 'wear hats' or not to measure the weather and rain. ”

"It's getting late, let's speed up, go to Gongcheng for a night, and then go on the road tomorrow." Zhao Yuan was oily and excitedly commanded the team forward.

Han Lin saw that Zhao Yuan seemed to suddenly become extremely happy, and quietly asked Du Tianfu: "Brother Du, I think Zhao's shopkeeper is a little strange." ”

Du Tianfu glanced at Zhao Yuan and smiled: "It's not a secret, anyway, you will understand when the time comes, I will tell you first, Zhao's shopkeeper's wife died in the early years, and Zhao's shopkeeper has not continued over the years. Although the Yao people do not make it difficult for widows to remarry, they usually do not intermarry with foreign tribes, and the world is in turmoil, so the matter between the two has not been decided, so every time the shopkeeper Zhao comes to visit in person. ”

Soon entered the scope of Gongcheng, did not see its people, first heard its voice, loud and moving ballads came, soon, a group of young men and women dressed in national costumes appeared in front of them, in the field, men and women collectively sang in groups.

Du Tianfu took the initiative to act as a "tour guide" and explained to Han Lin: "In two days is the Danu Festival, which is said to be the birth day of Milota, the first mother of the Yao people. Unlike us Han people, although the decision on marriage still rests with the parents, the young people of the Yao nationality are free to fall in love through songs. ”

The sun gradually sank in the west, and the men and women who still didn't fancy each other and made love went home separately, and Zhao Yuan took everyone straight to his good home. Unexpectedly, when I arrived at the place, I saw that the door was closed, and an old and sour voice came from inside: "Zhao Yuan, we don't welcome you, leave quickly, otherwise don't blame us for being polite!" ”

Zhao Yuan was a little at a loss, he didn't know what was going on, he had been here so many times before, and the old man who spoke out when he came a few months ago was still hospitable to him, how could it be like this.

"Old man Huang, where is Hongtang? You let her come out and talk. ”

"Less nonsense, she won't see you again, get out!" This old man Huang is not polite at all.

"Shopkeeper, just knock the door open, I'll see what the old man can do." Du Tianfu stepped forward and rolled up his sleeves, eager to try.

"No," Han Lin said, "This is someone else's territory, as the saying goes, a strong dragon doesn't suppress the head snake, something must have happened recently, it's better to figure it out first, you can't plant yourself in it." Shopkeeper Zhao, is there anything else to go? ”

"Yes." Zhao Yuan is obviously depressed, he is very shrewd in the mall, but he is a little confused when it comes to emotional matters.

The old man surnamed Huang is Zhao Yuan's good father-in-law, originally because Zhao Yuan is rich and has a good temper, the former is not opposed to giving full play to his daughter-in-law's residual heat to get some benefits, but at this time, he suddenly changed his hexagram, Zhao Yuan is now going to take everyone to his good mother's family, the Shen family.

The Shen family is in an adjacent village, which is very close.

When he arrived at Shen's house, a middle-aged man with his hair in a bun, wearing a collarless long-sleeved shirt, and long pants with big trousers opened the door, saw Zhao Yuan, and said with a complicated expression: "It's you, come in." ”

This person is Shen Hongtang's eldest brother Shen Hongzhuang, loyal and honest, but not stupid at all, he saw Zhao Yuan's face and immediately understood what was going on, without waiting for Zhao Yuan to speak, he immediately greeted everyone: "I haven't eaten yet, I'll go and prepare some food for you, and I'll talk about it after eating." ”

Old Man Shen and Shen Hongzhuang's wife, and his son also came out to Zhang Luo, and Zhao Yuan and others were not so particular, as long as they had food.

During the banquet, the atmosphere was a little depressing, Zhao Yuan had no appetite at all, Old Man Shen sighed, and slowly spoke: "We have a big official named Pan Wok in Pingle, who seems to be a consolation envoy of some imperial court, and there are many people under his hands, and he has the final say in this radius of hundreds of miles." Hongtang went to Pingle City a few days ago, and somehow bumped into him, so he grabbed it and asked Hongtang... Pay yourself to him! ”

"Xuan Wei Pan Wok, it's his ......" Zhao Yuan pulled his hair painfully, how did he not know that Pan Wok, the Pan family is extremely powerful, and it has been hereditary for several generations of Xuan Wok, this generation is Pan Wok, it can be said that Pan Wok is the soil emperor of Pingle, the imperial court has insufficient control over this place, and there is almost no prestige here.

Han Lin pondered for a while, and said: "I have also heard of Pan Wok, it is said that he has more than 5,000 wolf soldiers under his command, and his combat effectiveness is extremely strong. ”

Zhao Yuan glanced at Han Lin in surprise, even a person like him who had been going to Pingle for many years didn't know how many people there were.

"Who is this?" Shen Hongzhuang also saw that Han Lin was different from Yilong and Zhao Yuan and the others at this time, and couldn't help asking.

"This is Lin Han, who came from Lianzhou with us and is going to Guilin." Zhao Yuan gave a brief introduction and did not mention Guangzhou.

"I heard that the woks are evil, don't the prefects of Pingle Mansion care?" Although Han Lin had his own information channels, he still asked.

"Lin Gongzi doesn't know anything, the prefect's name is Panyang, and he is also a member of the Pan family, or the cousin of Pan Wok, but the Pan family is almost Pan Wok alone, and the soldiers are also in the hands of Pan Wok. It is said that the two are not compatible, and the prefect Panyang has been hollowed out, so he has not heard of anything since he became the prefect. "Shen Hongzhuang has an understanding of the situation in the officialdom and comes to everyone one by one.

"When is the man of the woks coming?" Zhao Yuan asked suddenly.

Shen Hongzhuang was stunned for a moment, then his face changed greatly, and he hurriedly said: "Brother Zhao, don't mess around, if you anger the wok, I'm afraid our lives will be lost." ”

"Brother Shen," Zhao Yuan smiled bitterly, "I just want to take Hongtang to Guangzhou, and I can't stretch out the hand that weighs the wok." ”

"That's not necessarily, in case Pan Wok colludes with the government in Guangzhou, if he is caught, he will definitely be tortured to death." Shen Hongzhuang shook his head, "And Hongtang's father-in-law who fell into the eyes of money will definitely not let Hongtang leave, not only him, but other people in the village will also stop you." ”

Why is that? I, Zhao Yuan, have not offended them. ”

"It's very simple, if Shopkeeper Zhao runs away with someone, Pan Wok will not let anyone go, and they will naturally not dare to let you go." Han Lin had encountered such a thing in Guangdong before, a Tongzhi loved the horse lost and injured someone, the family slaughtered the horse and ate it, and later learned that the owner of the horse was a big official, all day long panic, trying his best to hide, I didn't expect to be told by a snob in the same village who clinged to the powerful, as a result, a family of seven, together with the informant and several neighbors were implicated, and were beaten to death by the angry Tongzhi with his own hands, just like killing a dozen mice, human life is like a mustard.

Zhao Yuan was silent, he knew that if he didn't talk about those villains, even kind-hearted people would not dare to go against Pan Wok for himself.

"Uncle Shen, you still tell me when Pan Wok will send someone to pick up people, maybe things will take a turn for the better." Han Lin said in a deep voice.

Shen Hongzhuang glanced at Han Lin and had an illusion, maybe it would really be like what this young man said, there would be a turnaround, "Pan Wok sent someone to send a lot of money, grain, wine and meat to the Huang family yesterday, and it should be half a month before he comes to pick up people." ”

"Half a month?" Han Lin was a little surprised, isn't this wok, a heinous and hungry ghost, he didn't directly kidnap Shen Hongtang in Pingle City before, but now he not only sent a dowry, but also had to wait for half a month.

"It's strange to say," Shen Hongzhuang himself didn't understand, "Although this wok, although he did a lot of forced marriages, he abided by our rules when he married, and he didn't mess around, which is really confusing." ”

"Regardless of why Pan Wok did this, this is good news for us, and I plan to go to Pingle City to see what can be done."

"Lin Gongzi must not, if it is for my business, you have three long and two short, then, that..." Zhao Yuan persuaded him, first, he didn't want Han Lin to take risks, and secondly, he was afraid that something would really happen, and the people behind Han Lin probably wouldn't let him go, and his roots were all in Guangzhou Mansion.

Han Lin saw Zhao Yuan's concerns and said, "Shopkeeper Zhao doesn't have to worry too much, even if there is no such thing as you, I have to go to Pingle City." ”

"Thank you Gongzi Lin for your help, I salute you." Shen Hongzhuang actually felt that his sister was married to Pan Wok, which was nothing, but he heard that the women who Pan Wok married had no good end, and death was good, blood was thicker than water, and decades of family affection made him strongly hope that Shen Hongtang would get rid of the clutches.