The cordon on the post road has been lifted, the crowd crowded on the side of the road to watch the excitement has also dispersed, and this newly formed market because of a few neighborhoods has also resumed its usual liveliness. The vendors who had just been chased away by the soldiers hurriedly ran back to protect the fire that had not yet been extinguished, shouting loudly to solicit business; Hungry packers squatted by these eating and drinking stalls, carrying large bowls of the sea, and eating with relish. Unattended mules and horses gnaw grass from crevices in the bare fields. Under the tent of the restaurant and hotel, there was the frolicking sound of guessing boxing and inviting wine, and occasionally there was a long voice of a guy greeting him with wine and food.

I don't know when, a circle of people gathered under an old locust tree on the side of the road. This group of people sometimes held their breath, sometimes broke out into cheers or a few scoldings, and some people kept squeezing out with blue and gray faces and dejected heads, and some people kept squeezing in with longing expressions.

In a curse mixed with envy, Zhao Shishi, holding his short coat high, squeezed out of the crowd naked, and almost trotted to Shang Cheng and Shanwazi, who were hiding behind a carriage to enjoy the coolness.

"Won again?" The mountain baby spit out the grass scum in her mouth and asked.

Before Zhao Shishi could speak, Shang Cheng, who was holding his knees and leaning on the car, answered for him: "It must have been a win, didn't you see that his eyes were squinted?" He moved his legs and feet to make room for Zhao Shishi, and asked, "How much did you win this time?" ”

"Many!" Zhao Shishi sat down as soon as his legs were sideways, and said excitedly, "I won four in a row, and almost all the money on the table made me pounce, not to mention a thousand or hundred." As he spoke, he put the gown in his hand towards the ground, and the copper coins wrapped in the gown immediately made a loud noise, and he passed the two copper coins that rolled on the ground, crossed his legs, and counted them one by one. The mountain baby grabbed a handful of gestures to put in the bag, and said in his mouth: "This money is for my daughter to pull a piece of flower cloth to make new clothes...... and was snatched away by Zhao Shi's hand: "Don't move!" ”

"Miserly ghost!" Shan Wazi threw the remaining money in his hand into the pile of money, pouted and said, "It's as if someone is going to take your money." ”

"You know a!" Zhao Shishi didn't raise his head and just counted the money, "If you don't count the money you won, you will give it away, and you will lose when you turn around!" ”

"Hell,! It's not like I haven't played with money, and I've never heard of such a rule! ”

"So you haven't won twice!"

Shang Cheng ignored the bickering of the two companions, leaned his head on the car gang and closed his eyes and pretended to sleep. He couldn't sleep. The noon sun is the hottest time, even if you hide in the shade of the sun, the hot air still scorches people uncomfortably, and even the air inhaled into the lungs is hot, teaching people's hearts to be as frizzy as a little hand scratching. The growing longer and longer hair is also extremely unpleasant, and on this hot day, sweat is crawling along the tangled ends of his hair in his cheeks and neck. The coarse cloth gown he was wearing made him even more uncomfortable. Although he has to fetch water to wash his coat after resting every day, how can he be so fine when he washes clothes as a big man? Besides, who has so much time and energy to wash clothes after a day's walking? So this gown, which I don't know how many times a day it has to be soaked with sweat and dried by the scorching sun, is now covered with circles of yellowed sweat stains, and it also exudes a sour smell of sweat, mixed with the smell of livestock on the pack horse......

it! He muttered to himself and moved his numb leg to make himself sit more comfortably.

Zhao Shishi had already put the ten pieces of money he had won in stacks, found a few hemp ropes to string copper coins, and when he saw that he was awake, he poked him with his elbow and asked, "Are you still short of money?" If it's not enough, take the money first. After a pause, he said, "I still have four thousand dollars in the cabinet, why don't you take them first?" ”

His words woke up the mountain baby, who was already asleep. Shan Wazi blinked her eyes, patted her thigh with some annoyance, and said, "Look at me, I actually forgot about this!" How much money are you missing? Is it enough? ”

Shang Cheng smiled: "Three more runs are enough." - When I get to Beizheng, I still have to pay my salary, so I don't have to borrow so much at that time. And you don't have to give it to me now—I won't use the money until we get back from Beizheng. He thought for a moment, then changed his words and said, "When the time comes, I will borrow two thousand from each of you." "So that he would have thirty-seven pieces of money in his hand; Thirty-five times to buy a house, the remaining money can be added to some important household items, and the purchase of a house requires official paperwork and a guarantor—which also costs money.

Shan Wazi nodded and said, "You have to use the front when you speak." He closed his eyes again. Zhao Shishi didn't say anything, put the dozen strings of copper coins together, folded them into a mountain on his coat, and asked Shang Chengdao: "If you want to buy that house, how much will it be sold?" ”

"The official price is thirty-five yuan ......," Shang Cheng has always insisted on this statement. Although it is said that if Huo Shiqi is asked to handle the matter of buying a house, it can be cheaper, but it is only one or two dollars cheaper, and he still owes several favors, which he thinks is not cost-effective; Therefore, when he dealt with this matter, he always believed in his heart that the official price of thirty-five guan was determined.

"How many do you have now?"

"There are twenty-seven thousand nine hundred on the cupboard, and there are more than three but four in the house......"

"Oh." Zhao Shishi took down the stacked copper coins again, neatly laid them out in a row on the gown, stared at the copper coins with his lips and thought for a long time, and suddenly kicked the mountain baby with his foot, and asked, "How much money do you have on the cabinet?" ”

"Me?" The mountain baby, who had just fallen asleep and was woken up, was a little stunned, and said casually, "I have nine thousand seven hundred dollars on the counter, and I still have dozens of dollars on my body." …… What is this doing, you ask? If you want to open a poker shop, I won't join the gang. ”

Zhao Shishi kicked him and scolded him: "Even if I open a blog, I won't discuss with you to borrow money!" Saying that, he changed his tone, "Brother Shang wants to buy a house, discuss it with you." I think about it, let's go to Beizheng this time, and I don't know if we can turn back immediately, if we follow the pack team and then go to Duanzhou Yanzhou, this trip will be two months, and at that time, Brother Shang's house can still be bought in Chengdu has to be said...... "Hearing him say this, Shan Wazi was already a little anxious, and scolded in a mess: "Will you fucking say a good word?" My mother-in-law and baby are starving to death! Also Duanzhou? Yanzhou? Whoever loves to go, I have to come back! - Big deal resignation! ”

Zhao Shishi also ignored him: "I have an idea here," he said and glanced up at the two of them, and saw that neither of them objected, before he said, "Brother Shang has twenty-seven thousand nine hundred—even if it is twenty-eight, I will take five out, this is ......" He silently calculated in his heart. “…… That's thirty-three runs; Shanwazi, you take out three more times and 1136 yuan, which is enough to buy a house. Brother Shang, don't wait to come back from Beizheng, take the money to the yamen now, pay the money and draw the deed......"

Shang Cheng listened to Zhao Shishi's twists and sounds, and while thinking in his heart, before Zhao Shishi's words were finished, he felt that this was the best way. Go and buy the house now, so that you don't have many dreams at night; And even if he borrows three times from Shanwazi, he will be able to take out his savings and pay them back.

"Okay."

Shang Cheng stood up with his arm on the ground, but Shan Wazi grabbed him, turned his head and asked Zhao Shishi, "Thirty-six yuan is enough?" Do you also want to ask the guarantor to make a paperwork, these things don't cost money? ”

Zhao Shishi laughed and said very old-fashionedly: "What kind of guarantor do you want to hire for the document contract established by the Yamen?" Just pay 100 yuan, and then make 20 or 30 yuan to invite the clerk who handled it to drink tea. ”

Since everyone thought that this method was reliable, the three of them did not delay any longer, and immediately went to find the chief steward and paid the money from the counter. Shang Cheng also explained his situation to the chief steward. The chief steward not only readily approved Shang Cheng's leave, but also told him that because he had to wait for another pack team to go to Beizheng, the pack team would not set off until the end of the day, and it was best for him to rush back, if he really couldn't come back, then he would rush directly to Zhaojiaji - the pack team would stay in Zhaojiaji tonight.

When Shang Cheng was talking to the chief steward, his two friends also helped him put all the money in his blanket. Thirty-six pieces of money stuffed the front and back pockets of the blanket, and more than a dozen pounds of copper were pressed on the shoulders, giving people a heavy and down-to-earth feeling. Zhao Shishi also used eighteen dollars to buy a new gown from the vendor in the bazaar, so that he had to change it into Shangcheng. His reason was also rejected by Wu Shang Cheng - buying land and buying a house is a major event in a person's life, and he must dress brightly. So when Shang Cheng went on the road, he looked nondescript. He was wearing a new gown given to him by Zhao Shishi, carrying his own dirty and old cloth on his shoulders, his hair was unkempt like a nest of grass, his trousers were pulled up to his knees, and the banine shoes on his feet were all taken off and tied to his ankles with hemp rope......

The emerging Chengnan Bazaar is not far from the county seat, only more than three miles, almost in the blink of an eye, and Shang Chengcheng has stood on the west street of the county seat.

Then he stopped on the side of the street.

Looking at the county government office diagonally opposite, at the two stone beasts in front of the door shining with white dazzling light in the sun, at the dilapidated yamen like the Laojun Temple in the east of Huojiabao, and at the two open red lacquer banban gates, he suddenly didn't know what to do next. He had thought on the way to the palace that if Huo Shiqi was in the yamen, then things should go well; If Huo Shiqi was not in the Yamen, after he found the secretary office in charge of this matter, how should he quietly remind the other party that he was actually Huo Shiqi's relatives and monks, for the sake of his colleagues, the secretary office would not give himself any convenience, at least he would not set up any obstacles. But he thought about it a lot, but he didn't think about how he should enter this yamen......

He lingered at the entrance of the yamen for a long time, always undeciding whether to go in or not. Alas, if only there was a man in and out of here, at least he could ask others how this yamen would enter. But he wandered around the gate of the yamen for a long time, not to mention the clerks, and he didn't even see the gatekeeper with the door. The courtyard inside the gate was so quiet that there was no coughing, and the bluestone path that was paved from the door to the front of the lobby was even more neat, except for a few of the old cypress trees in the canopy of the leafy old cypress.

Could it be that the people in the yamen should also take a nap at noon?

What annoyed him even more was that there was no one on the street so far, not even in the small shop selling herbal tea across the street, only the disguise hanging listlessly under the scorching sun.

On both occasions he wanted to just go in and find someone. What are you afraid of, he neither steals nor robs, he buys a house with money on his back, to put it bluntly, he pays money to the government, even if there is a crime of "trespassing in the court" in the criminal law, I am afraid that it will not be on his head! But in the end, he didn't dare to rush into the yamen, so he had to retreat to the shade by the wall and stand.

After another long time, there was still no movement in the yamen, and there was still no figure on the street. Thinking of the big Linzhai in the south of the city, I felt that I was afraid that I had run away this time. There is a great general and deputy governor outside the city, and a few leaders in the county are not allowed to run to greet him? The Yamen of Yi County is not yet allowed to go out to maintain local law and order......

Thinking about this relationship, he couldn't help but feel a little annoyed. Knowing this, he shouldn't have stayed here, but should have gone back to Huojiabao directly, handed over all the money to Liu Laozhu, and asked Uncle Zhu to help him deal with it. However, it is not too late to realize this now, Huojiabao is not far from the county seat, less than fifty miles back and forth, and the pack team may not have set off when he turns around on the road.

He swept the blanket on his shoulders and walked towards the north gate, but as soon as he walked out of the street, he was stopped.

He wondered a little, who else in this county knew him? When he stopped and turned his face to look, a smile suddenly appeared on his face.

The person who called him down was met a few days ago when the maid was collecting wheat in Lijiazhuang, and he also pulled him and asked him why the handle and blade of the sickle he used were not in the same straight line, which was regarded as a nodding friendship; What's more coincidental is that this person also works in the yamen, and it is said that he is very close to the county bookkeeper, and it is the scope of the bookkeeper's responsibility to buy and sell houses and land one by one.

He immediately bowed to the man and said respectfully, "Master Li." As he straightened up, the copper coin in his blanket rang several times.

Of course, the surname Li is not a real adult. However, he did not correct the fallacy of Shang Cheng's title, and happily accepted Shang Cheng's salute, and also bowed his hand to Shang Cheng casually, and said with a smile: "When did Shang Zhuang come back?" While curiously looking at the blanket on Shang Cheng's shoulders.

The title of "strong man" is a bit inexplicable, but Shang Cheng didn't have the heart to carefully explore the mystery, so he just regarded it as the same honorific title as "Lord Li", so he said with a smile: "I just came back...... I can't say that I'm coming back, but I'm just passing through the county seat - the road hasn't been finished yet, and I'm still helping people now. Are you the upper yamen? ”

"Lord Li" nodded and said, "You are here to continue the Xiangyong 'missed the deadline', right?" Then it's a coincidence that you came, there is something outside the city today, several adults have gone out with people, none of the stewards in the six rooms of the yamen are there, and most of the clerks who should be on duty are not there, if you want to continue, you can only come back another day. ”

It seems that things are really the same as he guessed, and he ran for nothing today, but Shang Cheng still didn't give up, and asked again: "Is Huo Shiqi Huo's book office there?" ”

"He went to Duanzhou six days ago on a business trip and hasn't come back yet......"

“……”

"What's the matter with him?"

Shang Cheng told Master Li everything about himself.

"Well, one by one, you are not doing this properly; Fortunately, you met me, otherwise, even if there are people in the house, I will help you get out. Seeing Shang Chengmian glaring at him, he smiled and explained, "You don't understand the rules." You want to buy a house, is someone in the place giving you insurance? Did the lizheng, the head of the household, and the elder give you a receipt? Without these two things, you enter the yamen and take a few boards lightly......" Lord Li pondered for a while, and then said, "Then you wait, I'll go to the house to help you see if the house is sold, if not, you quickly go back to find a guarantor, and then let the local government issue a voucher ......" said and left Shang Cheng, who was still ignorant.

Lord Li went fast and came back quickly, scolding with a nose that was not a nose and a face that was not a face while walking, stepping on a gravel under his feet without paying attention, and stumbling several steps on his feet.

Seeing that Master Li's face was as black as the bottom of a pot, and his two little eyes were as red as rabbits, Shang Cheng didn't want to ask what was going on, but just took him to the tea shop across the street and sat down, and took a pot of tea from the counter to pour him a bowl of herbal tea, and then persuaded him to dissipate his anger first.

Master Li stretched his thin face and drank it all in one go, sat at the table and just gasped, suddenly jumped up, limped to the door, jumped up and scolded: "Qiao Zhun, you bastard, don't say that you are a substitute bookkeeper, even if you are really the bookkeeper, I Li and other mothers will not be afraid of you!" You don't spill urine and take pictures, look at what you are, slap the horse and lick the ditch, what do you dare to say to people in broad daylight? As far as your ability is broken, you also want to jump into the dragon gate as the main book......"

He scolded vigorously, but Shang Cheng was dumbfounded and speechless. He heard Huo Shiqi talk about this Li Qili "adult", not only has a good identity, but also has a good reputation, but also has knowledge, two years ago was also recommended by the Duanzhou government to go to Yanzhou to take the township exam, after an exam, poetry, history, and art The three volumes are full of flowers, only in doing the "Theory of the Times" knocked over the oil lamp and stained the test paper, so he failed to pass the exam. But just such a person, now he wants to jump to scold the street like a shrew, I don't know what kind of ability that person surnamed Qiao has to make him angry like this?

Li Qi scolded for a long time, and no one came out of the side door of the county government gate opposite, and occasionally there was a figure, but it was also in front of the side door for a while, and there was no trace of it, but many people on the street who were awakened by his scolding were woken up, and one by one rubbed their sleepy eyes and watched the excitement by the door. In this situation, Li Qi himself felt bored, twisted his neck and turned back to sit on the bench, picked up the tea bowl and drank it clean, and then stopped talking in a daze.

He didn't speak, and Shang Cheng was even more difficult to ask, so he casually touched three coins from his waist and handed them to the tea boss, and sat down with him to drink water.

After a long time, Li Qicai breathed a sigh of relief, smiled bitterly, and said to Shang Cheng: "I asked for you, the house hasn't been sold yet, you go back to the local Lizheng household chief to issue a voucher, and then find a guarantor......

Shang Cheng didn't know what to say, and for his own business, he snorted apologetically: "Lord Li, you see, for this little thing, you actually let you and Shangguan ......" He really didn't know how to describe this matter. It seems inappropriate to say "cup Ge", and when I say "friction", I am afraid that Master Li will not understand and be suspicious, and I feel that it is a bit exaggerated to say "turn my face", and I can't find a suitable word after thinking about it for a long time, so I have to be vague and stop the conversation.

Li Qi waved his hand and said, "Don't call me Lord Li again, I have already resigned as a messenger of the Yamen scribe." Besides, I'm not an adult, but Yixian County is a small book, how dare I call it an 'adult'? After that, he made a wooden face, stared at the yamen opposite for a long time, and then said, "This matter has nothing to do with you." That Qiao Zhun has always had a gap with me, and this time the villain has a will, and he holds the authority in his hand, and sooner or later he will find me. I had expected today's events, but I never thought that he would actually tell the truth about the dispute between the owners and tenants of Zhao Ji the day before...... Alas, this matter was also mishandled by my thoughtfulness, so the villain took the handle......"

Shang Cheng heard him say that he asked to be dismissed, but his eyes were fixed on the plaque of "Yixian County Ya" on the yamen, and he knew that he was not reconciled, and he didn't know how to persuade him, so he had to change the topic: "Then Lord Li ...... next"

"The word 'adult', please don't mention it again."

"That'...... What is Mr. Li going to do next? In fact, Shang Cheng was very curious about the whereabouts of the county master who had a good relationship with Li Qi. Looking at Li Qi's current appearance, it seems that the real adult has not been promoted, otherwise it would be impossible for others to bully Li Qi so quickly. He thought about it for a long time, but finally he couldn't hold back his patience, and couldn't help asking, "Is Mr. Li going to go to the master bookkeeper?" ”

Li Qi shook his head and said, "How can I go to him?" Mr. Wang was involved in the 'Liu Lingtai case' and was removed from his post half a month ago and returned to his hometown. "Suddenly sighed, "The old case ten years ago is still remembered...... 'The sky is clear, and the earth is insignificant'......" said and raised his head to drink the tea in his hand, and did not say goodbye to Shang Cheng, so he walked away with his hands behind his back.

“…… It is said that the sky is endless, and it is blue and purple and hanging;

It is said that the earth is full of earth, and the extreme party is summoned to ...... Ze"

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Strongly recommended: "Village Temple", Author: Short Knife

Address: http://book.********.com/book/3740.html