There were more than a dozen people sitting sparsely in the empty bleachers, holding various chips in their hands and shouting at the people on the ring. There were twenty or thirty strong men on the lowest step surrounding the ring.
The man was watching the competition on the ring intently.
"Brother Biao, what are they doing?" He Qizhou looked like he was asking for advice humbly.
"This is the largest underground casino in Tongwan City! People come here every night to watch boxing. Now it's just some low-level warriors who want to squeeze into the evening game to fight. Those people sitting below will take action later. Those
The people watching are the poorest gamblers of the poorest sort."
"Can you make a lot of money by playing? Why do so many people come to play?" Xiaoxue asked curiously.
"How is it possible? If we really can make money, will it be their turn?" Brother Biao opened the conversation and said: "There are two kinds of people who come to fight, one is slaves, and most of them are soldiers who surrendered from the east and south.
, the purpose of beating is to please the boss, and also to survive. If you can win, you will be sold to a good family, and your fortune will be good. Another way is to prepare to get close to the common people of big families and gangs by beating. There are many people these two days.
, because everyone knows that the Lotus Gang is recruiting troops, and everyone hopes to escape from the sea of suffering by relying on their performance in the ring."
"The Lotus Gang is recruiting troops on the territory of your Salt Gang?" Qi Zhou asked in confusion.
"Anyone can come to recruit, but the Lotus Gang has some connections with us. We are all colleagues who go south to beg for food. They lost too many brothers in the last two times. This time they want to recruit more good players. In three days we will
We’ve set off, but they haven’t even recruited the drivers yet.”
"Are they also sending salt?" Qi Zhou asked.
"Didn't Deshan tell you about the Lotus Gang? They only make furs, and we only make salt. We don't mess with each other, but horse bandits are rampant on the road now, and they even rob our salt gang's goods, so we go together this time!
If everything goes well, you will also set off with us in three days." Brother Biao said.
"Brother Biao, are you going too?" Qi Zhou asked.
"Well, this time the second brother is leading the team. I am the second brother's son, so I can finally open my eyes!" Brother Biao, who was in his early twenties, said with a happy smile.
"I won't be afraid as long as you are here!" He Qizhou said. In fact, he also thought so in his heart. Judging from Brother Biao's character, the Yan Gang still has some credibility.
"Okay, with my little skills, I can't even protect myself. You are goods. Of course we have to take care of our own survival first, but I can teach you which people are safer to follow. You..."
"Biaozi! Why are you talking so much!" A member of the Yan Gang who was dressed the same as Brother Biao walked past him. He shouted at Brother Biao as he passed by the three of them.
"Yes! Yes!" Brother Biao stopped and hurriedly bowed in response. When he saw the man walking away, he said bitterly: "He only joined the gang a few months earlier than me. What's wrong with him!"
He Qizhou finally understood that this Biaozi was just the lowest member of the Salt Gang. He was just curious about why Master Xiong was so humble in front of him, so he asked: "Is that Master Xiong also from your Salt Gang?"
"You mean that bear bag? He's not worthy. He's just a guard dog for us. I can't stand the way he bullies the weak and fears the strong. Here, come up with me." Brother Biao walked around half of the fighting arena and took the lead.
He said after walking up the wooden ladder.
'It turns out that this place has two floors. No wonder I always feel that the top of the arena is so high.' He Qizhou muttered in his heart, and then asked Xu Muxue beside him softly: "Can you still walk?"
Xu Muxue nodded, her physical condition improved a lot, and she no longer had any problems walking or riding a horse.
"There are rooms all around the two floors. The second brother is on duty in the first room. Don't ask casual questions after entering." Brother Biao warned.
"Okay." Qi Zhou replied.
…
Entering the room, a huge window faced the ring below. He Qizhou happened to see a person being dragged off the ring, while the victor was still on the ring. He said proudly: "Next!"
"Second brother, people are here." Brother Biao whispered.
He Qizhou's heart tightened. He was looking at the arena below, but he didn't notice a big man lying on the couch by the window. He quickly closed his eyes and looked down slightly at the big man who was standing up.
"It's broad daylight, trouble! You go and wait outside the door." The big man stretched his waist, waved his hand to let Brother Biao go out, and then said to He Qizhou and Xiaoxue: "Sit down!"
There is a long wooden case in front of the couch where the big man is sitting. In front of the wooden case are two armchairs. I think this is the place where the Yan Gang entertains guests. He Qizhou was not polite and took Xiaoxue to sit down on the armchair. Then he looked
The other party's appearance was clear: his unkempt hair was tied up in a mess, he was a bit terrifyingly tall, and he looked even bigger than the monk Wushi. He had a hooked nose and copper bell eyes. He was the kind of person who would look at him at a glance
He will look timid.
"How courageous you are!" The big man didn't expect that the two people who were as skinny as ribs would dare to look at him, and said sadly: "Report your family name and put your household registration on the file."
"Dangxiang Pan Gubu, Deren, she is my wife Mu Qingshuang." He Qizhou said calmly after handing over the household registration, not caring about the roll of Xu Muxue's eyes.
"Do you know if you are caught going south without permission, you will be beheaded?" the big man asked.
"Don't be afraid!" He Qizhou said.
"I heard that we have to walk thousands of miles to the south before it is so cold. This salt is enough to hire the best doctor in the city. I can give you a chance to regret it." The big man's voice didn't sound that scary.
.
"It's useless. The doctor said that only a warm place can keep it healthy. We decided to take a risk." Qi Zhou said.
"Okay, but I have something to say first. The road is very dangerous now. Whether you can pass the border depends on your luck. Nan Qi's fake household registration will be given to you after crossing the border. Later, go out and ask Biaozi for two household registrations for common people in Tongwan City. You
I will take these two copies, so as not to harm your tribe and our salt gang. Also, our team is very large, and it is impossible to hire sick people like you. In order to avoid suspicion, you must stay separately most of the time.
In the two carriages, you must not come out without permission. Biaozi will inform you of the time and place of departure for gathering, okay, get out!"
"Wait a minute, I, I want to ask a question, okay? Second brother?" He Qizhou was a little confused when he heard that he would stay in different carriages along the way.
"Did you call me Second Brother?" the big man said angrily: "If you fart, hurry up, I still have to sleep."
"Can I pledge the goods for you? My wife can also ride a horse. She will be scared if I am not with her," He Qizhou said.
"I feel pity for you De family! But I won't make fun of my brother's life!" The big man suddenly straightened up and roared: "Our three shipments have been combined into one, and the brothers have also left.
If you want to eat, if you don’t want to go, get out of here right away!”
"Then can you arrange for me to go boxing? Will the Lotus Gang want me after winning the battle?" He Qizhou was a little desperate.
When the big man heard this, not only was he no longer angry, he looked at the other party's weak look and laughed: "Okay, okay, but the queues are full these two days, and you have to beat the three in the afternoon games for two consecutive days.
Only then will you be eligible to fight the next night. The Lotus Gang and us set off early the day after tomorrow. Today is the last time they recruit people. Do you want to wait for the next shipment?"
"We don't want to be carried around like cargo. Those two thousand kilograms of salt are your reward for arranging for me to go to the ring tonight. I wonder if this is okay?" Faced with the big man's ridicule, He Qizhou suddenly became angry.
The big man was stunned, stood up, walked around He Qizhou, and murmured: "Do you know how to do internal martial arts? We don't allow people with four channels to compete here!"
"What I practice is foreign martial arts!" He Qizhou said angrily.
"Okay! I'll give you a chance! Biaozi, get in here!" After seeing Brother Biao who opened the door and came in, the big man shouted: "Tell Lao Liu and arrange for this kid to play the first game of the main game!"
"Then how will the two people who originally competed in the main match be arranged?"
"Idiot! Let the two draw lots. Whoever loses will fight him first!" The big man said: "Also, there is no need to free up the cargo space on the carriage. They won't follow us!"
"Ah?" Brother Biao, who was already very surprised, was even more surprised after hearing this. Those two thousand kilograms of salt were worth at least four hundred taels of silver in the city, but in Southern Qi they could be sold for as much as four thousand taels. Unexpectedly, two thousand taels of salt
If people say you don’t want it, then don’t want it.
After knowing the whole story, Brother Biao looked depressed when he sent He Qizhou back the way he came. He even blamed himself for not talking so much about talking to He Qizhou about the fight. On the contrary, He Qizhou comforted the other party not to worry, saying that he would not lose. Brother Biao
Seeing that Xu Muxue, who was traveling with him, didn't look worried at all, but he felt a little doubtful in his heart.
After coming out of the tunnel, Mr. Xiong, who regained his domineering look, asked Qizhou if the deal was settled. He Qizhou just nodded vaguely and took Xiaoxue back to Deshan's stall. The sheepskin and meat on the other oxcart were gone.
, turned into a big bag of flour, two oil cans and some bits and pieces of seasoning-like things.
"You exchanged so little for a truckload of goods?" Xu Muxue shouted. The most valuable flour was only one stone. Even at the lowest asking price, the truckload of goods could be exchanged for at least three times as much.
"That's enough, that's enough. We have few people, and these are enough to survive the winter." Deshan smiled, then stuffed a small cloth bag into He Qizhou's hand and said, "This is a little thought, don't shirk it, on the road and south
They are all useful.”
He Qizhou weighed it in his hands and immediately understood what was going on. The bag of silver contained almost fifty or sixty taels. Mr. Deshan bought the things just to make ends meet for himself. Although he was moved, he was no longer polite and said: "Uncle, forget it.
If I borrowed it from you, I will definitely return it!"
"Okay, okay, you are welcome to come to my house next time." Tuoba Ling'er clapped her hands and shouted.
"Everything has been settled. I want to take a walk in this market to see if I can buy some herbs and supplements." He Qizhou said.
"Okay, ask Ling'er to accompany you, be careful, we'll drive back first," Deshan said.