Lu Xiaoyuan thought about the few so-called "masters" he met when he went upstairs, and he really couldn't see the spirit of half a martial artist, and said in his heart: "The Marquis of Jinzhou wants to keep Jinzhou, and he will not be corrupt and bribery, and recruit a group of pus to come in, but his subordinates only care about filling their own pockets. The empire has decayed to this point, how can it be undefeated?"

Then he thought again: "Like this group of old men buried in the loess to their necks, the young men with fine skin and tender meat, and the stupid big ones with only stupid strength, they are not the same as the masters recruited by Brother Yan, but my previous worries are superfluous." ”

Wang Jiujiu said: "Brother Yuan, I'm going to visit everyone in the hall, do you want to go with me?"

Lu Xiaoyuan said: "This group of people all came in by the power of Brother Kong Fang, why bother to visit?"

Wang Jiujiu said: "That's why I want to visit." They can come in, either they have money in the family, or they have power in the family, and in troubled times, many friends and many roads. ”

Lu Xiaoyuan thought to himself that with the respect of the Marquis of Jinzhou, he might not be able to recruit a real master, if there were unrevealing masters hidden in this group of wine bags and rice bags, and they would break into the house by themselves and be recognized by others, it would be bad. He said that he was tired and wanted to rest.

Wang Jiujiu was not reluctant, and went to visit everyone on his own. When it was time for dinner, he invited Lu Xiaoyuan to eat with him.

The two came to the largest restaurant in the city, "Xianheju", Lu Xiaoyuan looked at the layout of the restaurant, and knew that there was a lot of consumption here, and said: "Brother Wang, I only have a few pennies left on me, but I have to spend your money." ”

Wang Jiujiu's face changed slightly, and he said, "Brother Yuan is wandering the rivers and lakes, and he has a few pennies on him?"

Lu Xiaoyuan said: "In the past, friends paid for it. When he and Zhang Heng were walking, the money was placed with Zhang Heng, and when he spent the money, Zhang Heng would pay for it, and he didn't care. When Zhang Heng left, he found that the economy had become a big problem, although he was more frugal in food and housing, there was still little money left on his body at this time.

Wang Jiujiu said with a smile: "Okay, since Brother Yuan's friend is not here, I invite Brother Yuan to a meal, it's nothing." ”

Lu Xiaoyuan saw the boldness of what he said, but the look on his face was as if someone had stripped off a piece of his heart, and said in his heart: "This person talks extraordinary, but he is a little stingy. ”

After the two of them sat down, Wang Jiujiu only ordered a few vegetarian dishes, and the meal was tasteless.

After eating, the two of them were wandering on the street, and Wang Jiujiu suddenly said: "Brother Yuan, the kumquat rose juice really doesn't taste bad, should we go have a drink?"

Lu Xiaoyuan had no objection, and when he came to the cold drink shop, Wang Jiujiu only followed behind Lu Xiaoyuan, but did not speak, Lu Xiaoyuan asked for two cups of kumquat rose juice, and the boss said: "A total of twelve cents." ”

Lu Xiaoyuan turned around and said to Wang Jiujiu: "Brother Wang, I don't have enough money, and I'm going to let you break the bank again." ”

Wang Jiujiu's facial features shrank suddenly, and he said, "How much money do you have?"

Lu Xiaoyuan took out the only few copper plates and counted them, and said, "Eight cents." ”

Wang Jiujiu counted out four coins and handed them to Lu Xiaoyuan.

Lu Xiaoyuan saw that he was struggling, obviously distressed, secretly funny, paid the money, and went back to the Zhaoxian Hall with Wang Jiujiu.

After returning to the room, Wang Jiujiu knocked on the door again and gave Lu Xiaoyuan a gift box and a few ingots of silver. The box is wrapped with silver thread, which is obviously worth a lot of money in itself, and the contents are naturally more valuable.

Wang Jiujiu said: "Brother Lu saved his next life, and there are some pearls and jadeites in this box to repay Brother Yuan's life-saving grace." If there is no Brother Yuan, the juvenile moon bear will naturally not be able to get it, and the juvenile moon bear will exchange all this silver in total, and it should all belong to Brother Yuan. ”

Lu Xiaoyuan said in his heart: "If I don't save you, how will you lose a moon bear? ”

He refused to accept it, but Wang Jiujiu insisted again and again. Lu Xiaoyuan saw that he was determined to distinguish the line with himself, so he accepted the gift box and silver.

Wang Jiujiu said goodbye, he shook his head and smiled bitterly, and suddenly found that the silver in his hand was only eighteen taels. He thought about it for a while: Yes, the meal just now cost four taels of silver, and we should share it equally, and he didn't ask me for the money for the kumquat rose juice, so I have to admit his love.

In the next few days, Wang Jiujiu was afraid that he would eat and drink with him, and he would not come to Lu Xiaoyuan for dinner or play, and he had a close relationship with a group of newly befriended sons.

That night, Lu Xiaoyuan was sitting in the room, and suddenly heard a knock on the door, and when he opened the door, he saw that the person who came was smiling, it was the fat man who greeted the guests, and said with a smile: "We came to visit rashly, and I ask Yuan Shaoxia to forgive me." Behind him stood a richly dressed Mr. Blackbeard.

Lu Xiaoyuan said: "Your Excellency is polite, please inside." ”

The greeter flashed to the side, respectfully asked Mr. Black Whisker to go first, and then followed up, and introduced to Lu Xiaoyuan: "Yuan Shaoxia, this is Lord Cui, the chief bookkeeper of Jinzhou, and he was also personally appointed by the Hou Ye, the general person in charge of this recruitment. ”

Lu Xiaoyuan arched his hand and said, "Hello, Master Cui." ”

Master Cui sat down and said, "Yuan Shaoxia doesn't have to be polite, please take a seat." ”

Lu Xiaoyuan sat opposite him and greeted the guest: "The purpose of our coming to find Yuan Shaoxia is to inform Yuan Shaoxia that in the morning three days later, the north of the city will test the force, and Yuan Shaoxia should not be late." The second is that Master Cui asked Yuan Shaoxia about something. ”

Lu Xiaoyuan said: "Master Cui has something to say." ”

Master Cui said: "Yuan Shaoxia has been here for a few days, I don't know where to eat and live, but I am still used to it?"

Eat and live here for free, and the food is much better than what Lu Xiaoyuan usually eats, how can Lu Xiaoyuan not be used to it? ”

Master Cui said: "It's good to get used to it." If necessary, do not hesitate to mention it to the staff in the library. He asked again: "Where does Yuan Shaoxia's family live?

Lu Xiaoyuan said: "I was adopted by my master since I was a child, and I don't know the news of my parents. Master and I lived in seclusion in the barren mountains and made a living from hunting. ”

Master Cui and the guest envoy glanced at each other and said, "Yuan Shaoxia and that prince came together, and the two met on the way?"

Lu Xiaoyuan said: "Yes." It's just that the prince is from a prominent background, and he can't make friends with such a prodigal son in the grass, and we don't have much contact with each other anymore. He thought to himself: "Why does this surnamed Cui come to ask me in all kinds of ways?

Master Cui suddenly sighed: "The Jianghu rangers are free and easy, and they are much luckier than the people in the officialdom, you look at Cui, he gets up earlier every Wednesday, sleeps late at night, and works hard, how can he have half a point of leisure?"

Lu Xiaoyuan was even more confused, and responded randomly.

Master Cui said: "The salary of the imperial officials is very small, and it took Cui 20 years to become the main bookkeeper from a small official, but now it is only five taels of silver a year, alas, it is only enough for the whole family to eat and wear." ”

Lu Xiaoyuan said: "That's a bitter master." He was even more strange in his heart: "Why did he run here and cry again?"