The gray city wall of several zhang high, seems to be a giant python, lying quietly on the ground, spanning hundreds of years, covered with vicissitudes, the surface of the rammed earth brick structure is crawling with the traces of erosion of the years, the three-story city gate building stands tall, the concave and convex female walls on both sides extend with the city wall left and right, as far as the eye can see, there is a mottled plaque mosaic hanging above the deep door hole, engraved with the three strong traditional characters of "Xuanwu Gate", the Manchu text has been removed.

Xuanwu Gate is provided with the semicircular urn city wall that protrudes outward, the southernmost arrow tower, with 80 holes of arrows, the left and right sides are the urn city tower, the northeast corner of the urn is the Guandi Temple, the people are not directly from the south direction, but to first come out from the Xuanwu Gate City Hole, and then turn left, bypass the Guandi Temple, and go out from the gate hole of the gate tower and the urn city to the east.

The moat flows outside the Xuanwu Gate, it enters the dry period in October, the river water has dropped a lot, the common people have set up a simple wooden bridge on the moat, there are three women washing clothes by the moat, there are a few children running and playing by the river, a businessman wearing a white robe and a top hat carefully stepped on the wooden bridge to cross the river, at this time, a steaming train, from the Jinghan Railway that winds around the arrow tower to the east, goes to the Zhengyangmen Railway Station.

Since the Ming and Qing dynasties, Xuanwumen Outer Street has been one of the traffic arteries in and out of the inner city of Jingshi, and it is also one of the most prosperous roads, along the street there are many guild halls, taverns, pharmacies, pawn shops, carriage shops and other shops are lined up one after another, and the stalls of small traders can be seen everywhere.

The Xuanwu Gate of later generations was demolished because it was not suitable for urban development, the original historical sense was covered by reinforced concrete, and there was no trace of it, He Qi stood on the bustling and lively Xuanwu Gate Street at the moment, the bustling noise in his ears was all eliminated, and the whole world was quiet, looking at the clumps of miscellaneous trees and weeds growing on the untended city tower, watching the steam train whistle passing by, looking at the children who stopped running, this scene in front of him seemed to be a nostalgic old photo without color, don't have a taste in my heart.

"What are you doing?" Qian Xuan patted He Qi on the shoulder, turned his head and pointed to an empty shop on the street, the plaque on the door had been removed, Zhao Ye was walking up the stairs with a cane, took out a bunch of keys from his arms, and said: "This is it, it turned out to be a restaurant, focusing on Huaiyang cuisine, business was sluggish, it went out of business, and the boss was from Yangzhou." Brother Qiuming does not like spicy, Huaiyang cuisine is just right, a few days ago I went to Brother Qiuming's house for dinner, I heard him talk about this, very sorry, so I took the opportunity to talk about the fact that we want to open a chess hall to find a venue, Brother Qiuming is also a good chess person, as soon as he heard about this, he took the initiative to contact the boss, a good match, but let us take advantage of it, did not ask for a transfer fee. ”

In the big city of later generations, there are all kinds of restaurants, the largest is Hunan cuisine and Sichuan cuisine, with spicy and heavy taste, Huaiyang cuisine has a light taste, pays attention to the natural flavor of the ingredients, and has no spicy taste, no wonder it went out of business, but there is no transfer fee, He Qi can't help but doubt: "There is also this good thing?" ”

"Hehe....... Qian Xuan said with a smile: "The boss didn't ask for a transfer fee, but he asked for a pair of calligraphy from Brother Qiuming." Brother Tyumen has always rarely left a pen, and we owe Brother Tyumen a big favor this time. ”

Shen Yinmo, since the Autumn Dynasty, is famous for calligraphy, recognized as a great calligrapher, directly chasing the Song and Ming dynasties, known as "South Shen and North Yu" in the book world, the current professor of Peking University, but not teaching calligraphy, but teaching "The Book of Songs" and "History of China", his demeanor, gentle and elegant, gentlemanly and heavy.

The transfer fee of a bankrupt restaurant, how can it be compared to a pair of hand-me-downs of a great calligrapher, it can be seen that this boss is a shrewd character, He Qi nodded and said: "It is indeed a big favor, we have to do it another day, please have a meal." ”

Qian Xuan whispered: "Of course this favor has to be repaid, but it's not a dinner invitation, but Brother Qi, you're here to pay it back." ”

He Qi wondered, "How can I pay it back?" You are all great calligraphers or professors, where can I get on the stage? ”

Qian Xuan glanced at him, pursed his lips and mocked: "You are really modest enough, now people in Quanbeiping, who doesn't know your name as Mr. He?" First of all, no matter how you return from abroad, what your knowledge is, just in the Go world, your Mr. He's name is famous, everyone knows, a few days ago in Elephant Trunk Hutong, Lao Duan asked Gu Rushui, how is Mr. He's chess skills? Do you know what Gu Rushui said? ”

He Qi shook his head.

Qian Xuan said: "Gu Rushui said that Mr. He's chess skills are his own. Lao Duan asked Gao Daoping how he compares to Mr. He? Gu Rushui said that one game is seventy percent, three games are sixty percent, and ten games must be won. ”

Although Gao Daoping has not tasted defeat in China, but Gu Rushui has played against him and lost half a chess game, if it is inferred from this, He Qi is sure that he can win against Gao Daoping, not as vulnerable as Gu Rushui said, thinking that maybe it is a modest statement by Gu Rushui, so he didn't care and said: "I'll open five or five with Gao Daoping, if I am lucky, it is not impossible to win a few games." ”

Qian Xuan was stunned for a moment, and said with a smile to himself: "You want to do the opposite!" Gu Rushui means that you are far superior to Takabe Daoping. ”

"Ahh He Qi was frightened, raised his forehead, and said: "Gu Rushui, this kid is obviously younger than me, but his tone is much bigger than mine, the next time I see him, I have to talk about it, this bull is blowing out, it's me who is laughing at, he is fine." ”

Qian Xuan "giggled" and laughed: "It's late!" Gu Rushui has already blown the cow out for you, Gao Daoping is afraid that he is already on the way to Beiping, and it will be soon, so you should be prepared. ”

He Qi squinted, "How come you are like an eighth woman and know everything?" Where did this news come from? ”

Qian Xuan ignored He Qi, followed Zhao Ye, stepped on the steps, and waited for the door to open, when the anxious He Qi hurriedly followed, grabbed Qian Xuan's arm, and asked, "Really?" ”

The chains broke free from the shackles of the copper locks, the two doors were pushed open by a pair of withered hands, and the abundant sunlight suddenly rushed into the hall, stirring up dust, Qian Xuan still ignored He Qi, and as Zhao Ye stepped into it, He Qi followed in.

It is no different from the ordinary restaurant, the Chinese decoration style, there are dozens of dining tables in the hall, the chairs are upside down on the table, the second floor is the same as the hall layout, but it is set up as a private room, separated by a screen, and there is a courtyard behind it, which is used as the kitchen and storage of the restaurant, as long as it is slightly modified on the basis of the original, it can become a chess hall.

After Zhao Ye took Qian Xuan and He Qi around, he returned to the hall and said, "Yesterday, Boss Yang came to tell the old man, he doesn't want the transfer fee, and the tables and chairs in it are gone, you can use it immediately, and if you can't use it, you can deal with it." Since there is nothing on his side, the old man naturally has nothing here, and the rent will be according to Boss Yang's arrival, 20 oceans per month, charged for one month, paid one day before the end of the month, no sublease to others, and the contract will be signed once a year. ”

"That's just right, but some places still need to be renovated, and I'm afraid it won't be open for a while." Qian Xuan said: "Master Zhao, give time to be accommodating." ”

"Today's third day of the new year, the relocation and rebuilding in one month is enough, and it will be officially settled from the first day of the next month, Master Qian, do you think it is good?" Zhao Ye said.

"Yes, just do what Zhao Ye said." Qian Xuan smiled happily, took out 20 oceans from his body, put it on the table, and said, "It's finalized today, this is a deposit, as for the rent and contract, let me sign it in a few days." ”

"It's okay, it's okay before the end of the month." Zhao Ye removed a bunch of keys from his body, accepted 20 oceans, and said: "Master Qian, Mr. He, the old man has received the deposit, you have collected the keys, you might as well look around, discuss and discuss, the old man will not bother, and when will it open, let me know, and the old man will come to congratulate again." ”

"Master Zhao, you are good to go." Qian Xuan sent them out respectfully.

He Qi walked around the hall, look here, look there, already planned in his heart, according to the model of "Haifengxuan", downstairs is a tea game of scattered seats, upstairs is a game of private rooms, the two must be distinguished, the first floor and the second floor are placed a huge chessboard, used for celebrities to play chess......

Qian Xuan carried the key left by Zhao Ye, walked to He Qi, handed it to He Qi, and said: "The stage is set up, but you still have to come to sing, just now I told Zhao Ye that it was going to be renovated in January, I'm afraid it won't work, at most half a month, we have to open for business, Gaobu Daoping came to Beijing, it is the day when our chess hall becomes famous, this opportunity can not be missed." ”

He Qi looked back suddenly, frowned, and said, "You haven't said it yet, how do you know?" ”

Qian Xuan said: "On the day Gu Rushui played chess in Elephant Trunk Hutong, Brother Qiuming was present, and he also told me about this, otherwise how could I be so clear?" It's good for you, you nest in the courtyard every day, the gate is not out, the second door is not stepped, dare to love others and go to the door to tell you about this outside thing? A few years ago, the high Taoist Ministry came to China, swept the north and south, and has not tasted a defeat so far, this year Gu Rushui regretted defeat, and he admitted in public that he was not as good as you, didn't he deliberately carry you out of the mountain, a shame before the snow? ”

He Qi said: "He said that he would say that things could not be done, and I said it." ”

Qian Xuan said: "But as soon as he said this, you will be expected to return and fight with Gaobu Daoping, who else will you not fight?" ”

He Qi was stunned.

Qian Xuan deliberately provoked the general: "I want to be in China, Go for two thousand years, but I have fallen to this point, and I am defeated by a barbarian, at this critical juncture, if you avoid the war, not only others look down on you, but I also look down on you." ”

He Qi saw through this little trick at a glance, and sneered: "Playing a cat or dog passing by can see your Qian Xuan's agitation method, who are you doing this?" I didn't say I wouldn't fight, but I'm in a hurry. ”

Qian Xuan put away his pretended profound face and said with a smile: "You are the most timid and afraid of death, am I not afraid that you will be cowardly?" ”

He Qi was poked in the heart by these words, his eyes widened, his face turned red all of a sudden, and he argued with his neck: "Where am I afraid of death? ”

Qian Xuan laughed, covered his face, and wiped his head.

He Qi didn't give up, chased and asked: "How can you smear people's innocence out of thin air?" ”

Qian Xuan's mouth was crooked, his eyebrows were raised, he couldn't help but smile, and said very bluntly: "It's just a church case, look at you, I'm scared, I didn't dare to go out when I saw you, I don't believe you go to ask Yucai, see what he said?" ”

Just as a black shadow came in at the door, a foul smell immediately came, it was Brother Xun, carrying an old jar, stepping on the threshold, not entering or leaving, standing at the door and looking over, and said, "What did I say?" ”

"Yo! Yucai, you came just in time, tell me, in the past few days of the church case, was Brother Qi scared to death, and he didn't dare to go out of the door? Qian Xuan glanced at He Qi and sneered, walked over to Brother Xun, suddenly covered his mouth and nose, and said in disgust: "Let it go outside." ”

Brother Xun turned around and put the jar on the steps of the door, patted the dust on his body, and then walked in, swept past Qian Xuan, and said casually: "I didn't say it, I don't know anything." ”

Qian Xuan glared at Brother Xun.

He Qi glared at Qian Xuan.

........