Approaching the end of the year, the county seat of Shanghai is already bustling and noisy.

Although it has experienced the rebellion of the knife society, Shanghai is a foreign treaty port, and there are countless merchants.

With the drive of merchants, people came and went, and the three sects and the pawns of the peddlers gathered here and integrated into the county town of Shanghai, which made Shanghai recover quickly. Especially when the New Year is over, countless traders shuttle around the city, wanting to make a small profit. The people also began to make New Year's goods to prepare for the most important day of the year.

Li Zhen and Zhou Xiuying walked on the street and felt the strong smell of the New Year.

The handsome men and the beautiful women have attracted countless eyes.

The two of them went shopping arm in arm, which was a normal thing, but they were pointed at by some people. Zhou Xiuying wanted to retract, but was pulled by Li Zhen again. Li Zhen said: "Xiuying, those people are jealous, don't care about them. We don't need their comment on our affairs, as long as we are happy. ”

Zhou Xiuying nodded and continued to wander the street.

"Childe and Madam, let's have two masks, it's very beautiful."

While the two were wandering around the bustling street, a middle-aged man with vicissitudes of life walked over.

The middle-aged man was smiling, and there was a look of longing in his eyes. In his left hand he holds a wooden pole with many masks hanging from silk threads, and in his right hand he holds two masks. One of them is a handsome man, the other is a beautiful woman, and it looks like a small couple, which is exactly the same as Li Zhen and Zhou Xiuying.

Zhou Xiuying glanced at it and was immediately moved.

It's not that the mask is fine and beautiful, but that such a mask moved her.

Li Zhen smiled and asked, "How much are the two masks?" ”

The middle-aged man rolled his eyes and replied, "Childe, this kind of husband and wife mask is the most labor-intensive and laborious. The price is a little more expensive, ten cents for one, two for twenty cents. But I saw that the son and the wife were made in heaven and love, so I sold them to the two of them for fifteen dollars. The middle-aged man showed a miserable expression, it seemed that the price had really been reduced a lot, but there was a look of expectation in his eyes.

Li Zhen didn't bargain, paid the money, and then took the two masks.

"Xiuying, let's give it a try." Li Zhen put on a mask and brought it to Zhou Xiuying, and the two looked at each other, which was quite interesting. Zhou Xiuying, in particular, is even more interested. She has practiced martial arts since she was a child, and she rarely can play like an ordinary girl, so now she is very happy to play with Li Zhen.

Taking off the mask, Li Zhen and Zhou Xiuying continued to walk forward.

Halfway through, Zhou Xiuying bought a string of sugar gourds and ate them while walking, like a little girl.

"Master, look, there are jugglers in front, and my father and I have come out to sell art before."

Zhou Xiuying saw people in a circle in front of her, and excitedly pulled Li Zhen to squeeze in. In the center of the crowd, there was a group of people standing. Among them, there are those who play with big knives to show martial arts, there are those who breathe fire and play acrobatics, and there are those who break big stones on their chests, which are very lively. The continuous exciting scenes made the people watching around applaud again and again.

Li Zhen gave some reward money, looked at it for a while, and then left with Zhou Xiuying.

The two continued to move forward, buying some firecrackers, candy, Spring Festival couplets, etc., by the way, before playing aimlessly.

Li Zhen looked around the bustling street, and suddenly found a foreigner painting on the stall in front of him. There were no guests at the booth, so Li Zhen smiled and said, "Xiuying, let's go and paint a picture and draw us all in." ”

Zhou Xiuying happily agreed and followed Li Zhen towards the stall in front.

Li Zhen and Zhou Xiuying sat down, didn't ask the price, and directly instructed the foreigners: "Draw a picture of two people together!" ”

"Okay!" The foreigner, who spoke fluent Chinese, took out the drawing board from the side, held a crude pencil lead in his hand, and began to outline Li Zhen and Zhou Xiuying.

The foreigner who painted was about his early twenties, very young, tall and sunny, and while painting, he smiled and said, "When you two sit here, all eyes converge." I have never met such a handsome gentleman and such a beautiful lady since I painted a portrait. ”

Zhou Xiuying's cheeks were slightly red, but she still remained still.

Li Zhenxiao asked, "You are a foreigner, but your Chinese is so good, it's surprising." ”

The foreigner said: "My name is Smith, I am an American, and I have been very curious about China since I was a child. Many years ago, I came to China, went to Beijing to see the situation of the Forbidden City, went to Tibet to see the Potala Palace, and also visited Songshan, Taishan, Hengshan, Hengshan, Huashan, and went to Sichuan to see Emeishan. Well, I also went to Wudang Mountain and Shaolin Temple, walked through many places, and was able to speak fluent Chinese. ”

This time, it was Li Zhen's turn to be surprised.

I didn't expect this foreign devil to be powerful enough, and he traveled all over the famous mountains.

Li Zhenxiao asked: "Smith, you have traveled all over China, and you have been in China for so many years, you can be regarded as a China expert." It should be easy to find a suitable job, but how can you come out and paint a portrait of others? ”

Smithton paused, hesitating.

Li Zhen saw that the situation was not right, and hurriedly said: "I'm sorry, don't say it if you don't want to say it." ”

Smith drew a few strokes in a row, and said with a smile: "Actually, there is nothing that can't be said, I don't like business, and I am insulated from the industry that makes the most money." I am not used to Chinese officialdom, so I can't mix in officialdom. Officials and businessmen are not connected, and they are unwilling to be constrained, so they make a living by painting portraits of others, although they will not be rich and expensive, but they can also keep me from living on the streets. ”

Li Zhen's heart moved, and said: "Smith, I need a foreign friend who can speak Chinese, are you willing?" ”

Smith laughed, "Oh, what do you do?" ”

Li Zhengang was about to answer when he heard a rush of footsteps running over.

A thin head stretched out next to Li Zhen, looked at Zhou Xiuying, and then the head quickly shrank back, and shouted loudly: "Young master, young master, there is a very attractive woman here." ”

"Here, young master, I'm here."

The sound of a sharp duck's throat came, and Li Zhen suddenly frowned.

Smith said: "Sir, the Yang family's gentleman is here, you should leave quickly, otherwise something will happen again." As for this portrait, it's pretty much it. When you're free, come back here and pick it up, I'm here a lot. ”

Zhou Xiuying also said: "Master, it's better to have more than one thing, let's go." Zhou Xiuying is not afraid of trouble, nor is she afraid of being embarrassed, but she showed up outside to cause trouble to Li Zhen, and she felt a little pimple in her heart.

Li Zhen shook his head and said, "Don't worry, look at the situation." ”

"Beauty, I'm here."

Suddenly, a chubby young man ran over. The young man wore a jade belt around his waist, a folding fan in his hand, and a pair of foreigners' glasses. The round head suddenly stretched out, looked at Zhou Xiuying's face, and immediately exclaimed: "Wow, it's really stunning!" ”

The young man coughed lightly, patted Li Zhen's shoulder, and said, "Boy, get out of the way, don't get in the way." ”

Li Zhen stood up, and Zhou Xiuying also stood up, still standing beside Li Zhen.

The young man said again: "Boy, I want the woman next to you, you get out, don't stand in the way of the master." Hehe, the New Year is good, big and small beauties are coming out, it's a good day! The young man rubbed his hands, already salivating.

ps: Three more completed;