With its purple and red exterior walls, white caulks, baroque spires, and Spanish-style columns, the entire concession flows with a strong exotic style, and stepping into the concession line is like entering a small world.

Especially the consul manor in front, like a low-key palace, these foreigners use the same materials, but create a different building, a building that has never been seen before!

Chen Mu inevitably stopped and watched, although the Xinhui Concession was newly built by the French, but this kind of building is like a child born with an old man's face, no matter how you look at it, it is full of heavy vicissitudes.

Prussian also stopped, looked at the building in front of him, and whispered: "In the great French Empire, there was a writer named Victor Hugo, who once said that architecture is history written in stone, and I don't know if these buildings can become witnesses of history......

When Chen Mu heard this, he asked him, "Why should the history of your French people be written on someone else's land?" ”

Prussian was already accustomed to arguing with Chen Mu, and knew that Chen Mu did not like foreigners, including the French, so he patiently replied to him: "Because the whole world was created by God, whether it is the French, the Qing people, or the English, they are all God's people......"

"I'm just a bad old man, wandering across the ocean, not to sell*, not to invade, but just to spread the gospel of my Lord, so that more people can believe in the name of my Lord and get their own salvation......"

Chen Mu had long known that Prussian was a very pure missionary, and Shicai's words would inevitably be a little offensive to him, but the two had long been accustomed to this kind of conversation, so they had no choice but to say to Prussiantown.

"It would be nice if all those foreigners were like you......

Prussian also knew that this was a big contradiction, not a personal grudge, and patience was his duty quality, so he continued to say to Chen Mu.

"In fact, the early explorers just wanted to have a foothold, they fought with the sea, in order to explore the world, they brought all kinds of goods, spread the fine porcelain and silk tea of the Orient to the world, and introduced the knowledge of other civilizations, which is a good thing for the whole world......"

"The Chinese are so strong that they have to lease land and build concessions in order to barely maintain their independence......

Although Prussian is excusing foreigners, but the perspective is different, foreigners have always despised the Chinese, thinking that the Chinese do not want to forge ahead, conservative and backward, but only people of insight like Prussiatown can see the true strength of Chinese culture.

Of course, Chen Mu also knows that some foreigners are indeed just doing business, and it is indeed a win-win situation of mutual benefit, but some foreigners are not.

The foreigners in Europa have established the East India Company, they plundered at sea, and sold * to China, through the concession to encroach on the land of the Qing Dynasty, through * to mutilate the common people, in the local prestige, Chen Mu has not forgotten, who killed his father and brother!

Thinking of this, Chen Mu's eyes were full of grief and indignation, and Prussian also noticed it, and gently patted Chen Mu's shoulder and said.

"Whether it's a friend or an enemy, you should get to know each other and judge it, don't you think?"

Chen Mu couldn't disagree with this sentence, he nodded sincerely, and then heard Prussian smile: "Let's go, follow me in, I'll take you to feel the enthusiasm of the romantic French first!" ”

The host did not go out to greet the guests, but a chubby old butler, with a beautiful beard, a decent suit, and a white towel on his forearm, was greeting the guests.

The avenue in front of the manor has been covered with red woolen blankets, and the foreign elites from all walks of life in the concession, as well as the military police and the officials in charge of management, walk slowly, pointing, commenting on the surrounding scenery, and from time to time there is a polite laughter.

Chen Mu looked at it, many VIPs brought female companions, and there were not many who came alone, they sat in luxurious carriages, every move, word and deed, they were slow and methodical, nodding and smiling when they saw people, making a close salute, and the gentlemen would bend their knees to kiss the back of the lady's hand.

This made Chen Mu feel very surprised, because he had an illusion in a trance, as if every woman here was enjoying the treatment of the queen, and these were scenes that could not be seen in the Qing Kingdom.

In comparison, Prussiantown, who has a young man like Chen Mu, is particularly conspicuous.

The priest's uniform he was wearing was too easy to recognize, and many people came over to say hello, although they were shocked by Chen Mu's outfit, they only looked at it twice, and confirmed that Chen Mu was a yellow-skinned and black-eyed Chinese, so he hung it aside.

Chen Mu also retreated to the side with interest, as if forgotten by the world, he entered the concession, but was isolated by the people inside.

Prussian has the heart to take care of it, but there are more and more people who come to greet him, and Prussiatown always needs to return the gift, so he gradually can't take care of Chen Mu.

At this moment, a familiar voice came from behind him: "Oh, my dear young man, you are so beautiful today, and I like what you are wearing. ”

Chen Mu was also happy when he heard this voice, and when he turned his head to look, it was really Mr. and Mrs. Baptiste!

"Mr. and Mrs. Baptiste!" Chen Mu finally relaxed.

Mr. Baptiste walked over, gently hugged Chen Mu, and made a face-to-face salute with the stunned Chen Mu, and Chen Mu blushed.

At this time, Madame Baptiste also walked over, stretched out her hand wearing white gloves studded with diamonds, and smiled at Chen Mu: "My dear gentleman, don't you give Madame a greeting gift?" ”

Tonight, Mrs. Baptiste was wearing a low-cut evening dress, and Chen Mu's cheeks became even hotter, which made Mr. Baptiste laugh: "You are such an interesting child, my child." ”

As he spoke, he gently nudged Chen Mu, and he finally pinched Mrs. Baptiste's finger and kissed her on the back of her hand.

A burst of faint fragrance rushed into his nose, as if he could feel Mrs. Baptiste's body temperature, Chen Mu just kissed it in the void, but did not kiss it firmly.

Mrs. Baptiste chuckled and said to Chen Mu, "Honey, be confident, you can do it." ”

Chen Mu nodded, and Mr. Baptiste said to him, "Father Prussian accepts everyone's respects, you can follow us, my little fellow." ”

Mr. Baptiste's Cantonese is not very fluent, and his accent is somewhat odd, but his gaze is warm.

Chen Mu followed the couple across the red carpet, climbed the steps, and came to the front of the banquet hall.

The old housekeeper looked at Chen Mu, quite surprised, first saluted the Baptistes, and then asked Chen Mu something in French, his speed of speech was not fast, but his voice was very low, Chen Mu didn't understand for a while.

Mr. Baptiste patted Chen Mu on the shoulder and explained a few words in French, Chen Mu only heard the word "Miss Isabella", but judging from the old butler's warm eyes, Mr. Baptiste should have said that Chen Mu was Miss Isabella's guest.

Strangely enough, however, the Baptistes did not immediately enter the banquet hall, but remained in the corridor outside, standing in the corridor like the other guests.

The waiter holds a silver plate and brings a variety of drinks, which are colorful and fragrant, and the ice cubes floating in the glass are also very tempting.

Chen Mu took a cup and took a sip, sweet and sour, cold and cold, very delicious.

Still curious, he turned to Mr. Baptiste, "What do you mean, sir, that we are standing here?" ”

Baptiste was a little surprised: "Oh, my little man, you don't know? ”

Seeing Chen Mu's dazed face, Baptiste touched the crooked mustache with his fingers, and explained: "Tonight is the time for Miss Isabella to choose the knights, after the banquet is the competitive competition, the contestants have passed the primary selection, they are all capable people, they will come over one after another, the guests can take a look at these players first, and then you can bet on the players you like at the banquet, and have a good time." ”

"Knights' Athletics? Can you still bet? Chen Mu knew that foreigners like to bet, but he didn't expect that this kind of thing could also be used to bet openly!

"Yes, not only can you bet, the guests can also help their bettors to increase the probability of winning, as long as it is not excessive, it is acceptable, the players are competing, the guests are also competing, this is a good time for men to show their charm, the limelight must not be stolen by the players...... Mrs. Baptiste added.

"Everybody has to bet?" Hearing that he was going to bet, Chen Mu was also a little difficult, he didn't have much money on him, and the coins used by foreigners were a little different, and it would be embarrassing then.

Mrs. Baptiste covered her mouth and smiled: "This is a war of men, you are just a little guy, not a man, you don't have to bet." ”

Mr. Baptiste next to him also laughed when he heard this, Chen Mu knew that Mrs. Baptiste was teasing him, and he didn't care, but he was relieved in the end.

At this time, the men in the corridor also walked to the front railing and began to look at the gate, Chen Mu looked at it, and really saw a team on the red carpet, and the leader was Tang Tingfang, a comprador of a foreign bank!

"How is he!" Chen Mu was also unexpected, he thought that Tang Tingfang was just a small role, who knew that he could still be a team leader!

Mr. Baptiste saw Chen Mu like this, and he was also curious: "What?" Do you know Don? He is the agent of the foreign company, and we need him to be lean in our business in the Qing Kingdom, and Tang is a cunning fellow who is not likable, but the business is really good. ”

"Miss Isabella's selection of Hu Cong is a big deal, Tang is the agent of the Qing Kingdom, so the candidates of the Qing State are all screened by him, I heard that he has recruited a lot of warriors, and friends are waiting to see the charm of oriental martial arts!"

Mr. Baptiste also stretched his neck, looking at the warriors under Tang Tingfang's command, but Mrs. Baptiste next to him lifted Chen Mu's chin, blinked her left eye and said, "My dear, if you are more confident, you can also become a warrior." ”

Chen Mu smiled bitterly in her heart, Isabella had already wanted to trade with Chen Mu and let Chen Mu become her servant knight, and this time she invited Chen Mu, I am afraid that this is also the purpose.