A steamed bun costs one penny, and a sesame seed cake costs two three copper coins.
When I bought two steamed buns, I got a bowl of porridge as a gift.
Boxer Hai Lao calculated it secretly in his heart. In fact, he had already calculated it several times.
In the morning at the inn, Boxer Hai's family of three ate a total of three steamed buns and two sesame seed cakes, and bought two more steamed buns to eat on the road. The store gave them three bowls of porridge, and the breakfast cost eight copper coins.
Including the cost of staying in the hotel last night, a total of thirty-five copper coins were spent. Now, Boxer Hai only had thirty-three copper coins left with him. If he had one more meal, it would not be enough to pay for a day's stay in the hotel.
Fortunately, Wuyang City is almost here.
It was early spring in February, the weather was still cold, and there were not many pedestrians on the ancient road in western Hunan.
There is still snow on the bluestones. On the narrow loess road, there are scattered weeds that have long since withered, showing signs of renewed life.
The road is long and winding, with no end or end in sight.
This is a horse trail.
Wearing bright clothes and angry horses, wielding swords across the rivers and lakes;
One person takes ten steps, and blood spreads thousands of miles!
It's a pity that there are not many heroic swordsmen in this world, and they only exist in legends and stories, and no one has ever seen them.
The vast majority of people in the world are not so enthusiastic and free-spirited. They still have to run around for three meals a day. Life is not easy for everyone!
Hai Changqing is such a Jianghu person.
Hai Lao Boxing Master is 56 years old this year. When he was young, he guarded the hospital, served as a bodyguard, drove a cart, and also transported private salt. Although "Hai Family Boxing" is not a unique martial arts skill, it has also been used in Hai Changqing's hands.
He has made a few names within a hundred miles.
At the age of thirty-eight, he returned to his hometown, married a wife and had children. He opened a "Haijia Boxing Gym" in "Qingping Town" and taught some boxing sticks. After a few years of stable life. After his wife passed away, Master Hai opened a pair of boxing clubs.
When the children grew up, they thought they would stay in their hometown for the rest of their lives. Who would have expected that there have been severe droughts in western Hunan in the past few years, and the country people can't even guarantee food and clothing. How can they have spare money to learn boxing and practice martial arts?
Although winter is cold, country people know that the hardest part is actually spring.
The poor family has run out of rice and cannot open the pot.
Even the landlord's family has no surplus food.
Seeing the last disciple in the boxing gym leaving, Master Hai was heartbroken, gritted his teeth and closed down the "Haijia Boxing Gym". He sold his belongings and scraped together a little money, and took his children on the road to Wuyang City.
Seek life.
If not forced by life these days, who would be willing to leave their hometown?
Fortunately, Hai Changqing made his way through the world in the past and he still has a brother!
His foster brother Yan Zhenbei had a friendship with Master Hai, and he opened a "Five Tiger Escort Agency" in Wuyang City.
The name of the escort agency is "Five Tigers", which does not mean that there are five tigers in the escort agency, but because the chief escort chief Yan Zhenbei's "Five Tigers' Door-Breaking Sword Technique" is so sophisticated that he has no rivals inside and outside Wuyang City.
Now that the old brother is in trouble, Yan Zhenbei, a brother, has no reason not to help.
His son Hai Dashan has only learned about 70% of what Hai Changqing did when he was in his prime, while his daughter Hai Hongzhu is even weaker. At most, he is only as good as 45% of what he did back then. Although it is a bit reluctant for him to be able to travel around the world with such skills, but in the escort agency
It's more than enough to work as a bus driver and catch the big car.
In fact, when Master Hai came out to start his career, his martial arts skills were probably not as good as those of his children!
After walking on the official road for more than 20 days, seeing that it was not far from Wuyang City Pass, and that he would be able to enter the city at dusk to find his brother Yan Zhenbei, Master Hai's heart gradually became more relaxed, and his tired feet seemed not to be as before.
The pain is unbearable.
※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※“Dad, how far is it from Wuyang City? We have traveled three hours.
"Did you miss Sutou?" The voice was quite crisp, but it was her daughter Hai Hongzhu.
"Zhu'er is always so anxious," said Boxer Hai. "Look at your elder brother, he is much calmer than you."
Hai Hongzhu snorted and said: "Brother is just a boring gourd. He can't even say a word with eight sticks. How can I compare with him!"
Boxer Hai said with a smile, "Your elder brother is less talkative, but he is a solid and steady man. Although you are smart, when it comes to dealing with others, you are really not as good as your elder brother."
Hearing the old boxer Hai praising his elder brother, Hai Hongzhu snorted again, obviously disapproving of it. Hai Dashan heard his father praising him, but still remained silent. It seems that being called Meng Gourd is indeed appropriate.
Master Hai stopped his smile and said sternly: "You have never left home, so you don't know the dangers in this world. Don't say that you are not yet accomplished in martial arts. Even those martial arts masters who have been famous for many years are mostly cautious and low-key. The strongest in this world
There are countless people, and some masters have even weird tempers. They will hurt people if they don't agree with them, and it's not a big deal to take people's lives, but we must never offend them."
"We haven't mastered our kung fu yet, so we have to be careful," Hai Hongzhu said, "but with your skills like dad, there are probably not many people in the world who can match you, and there is also Uncle Yan from the Five Tigers Escort Bureau.
We are even more powerful masters in the world. If we really meet a strong person and reveal Uncle Yan’s brand name, who else would dare to attack us?"
Master Hai shook his head and said: "Zhu'er thinks too highly of dad. Your dad's kung fu is only in the middle of the pack in this arena. Our Hai family boxing is indeed real, but your dad is older."
, how can I compare with those young people."
He paused and then said: "But speaking of your Uncle Yan, you are indeed a powerful master in Wuyang City. The Wuhu Escort Agency has been doing escorts in western Hunan for decades, no matter whether it is underworld or white.
He has some face. The last time I saw him was more than ten years ago, and I don’t know if he is now..."
Hai Changqing sighed and stopped talking, probably remembering the past of his adventures in the world many years ago.
Seeing that her father didn't speak, Hai Hongzhu didn't ask any more questions.
Hai Hongzhu is seventeen years old. Although she grew up in a small place in the countryside, she is quite beautiful and has a lively and cheerful personality. She was in high spirits along the way, and the floral cloth bag on her arm was swinging back and forth.
Do you feel a bit sad about leaving your hometown and going somewhere far away?
In her eyes, this family move was more like a long-distance spring outing.
Her brother Hai Dashan is only two years older than Hai Hongzhu, but he is already much more mature. He is short in stature, has dark skin, and has a strong build. He has a long knife slung across his back and follows his father and the child.
Behind the girl, the steps were very steady, and it was obvious that the kung fu on her feet was not weak, and her movements showed a bit of the fierceness of a warrior.
The official road in western Hunan is the largest carriage road in this area. In previous years, there would not be so few carriages and horses on this road. However, in recent years, there has been a severe drought. Not to mention the villages and towns in the countryside, even those in Wuyang City
Many shops have also closed down, which is why this official road is so desolate.
"Dashan, Pearl, let's walk a few more miles to see if there are any tea shops or restaurants." Hai Lao Boxer said, "If there are any, we will go in and rest. If there are none, we will find a shady place by the roadside to eat.
Eat dry food and continue on your way."
"Where can there be any restaurants in this wilderness?" Hai Hongzhu said, "In my opinion, we can just find a place to rest behind the hillside in front."
※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※Hai Hongzhu actually didn’t say it right.
As soon as they turned a corner in front of the hillside, they saw a wine flag sticking out not far in front of the official road. They could vaguely make out the apricot-yellow flag with the words "Thirty Mile Wine Shop" written on it.
A big character.
"Hey, there's a tavern ahead!" Hai Hongzhu saw the wine flag and said happily, "There must be something to eat there, we don't have to eat dry food!"
It is indeed rare to see a tavern on this desolate official road, and what is even more rare is that there are many people gathered in front of the tavern. The three members of the Hai family walked along the official road and encountered many people throughout the morning.
There were less than three or five pedestrians, but there were thirty or forty people surrounding the door of this tavern, and there were even four large cars parked.
Before the three of them could get closer, they heard a loud noise from the group in front of them, and a rough voice shouted:
"What kind of thief escaped from somewhere? He dared to block the escort car of our Wuhu Escort Agency. Maybe he thinks his life is too long!"
Then there was only a loud "bang" sound, and a big man flew out from the crowd!
Humans are not birds, so naturally they cannot fly.
The big man turned two somersaults in the air, then fell heavily on his face, rolled more than ten feet away, and then fell straight to the ground and stopped moving!
A voice said slowly: "What a bullshit escort agency. They are so mean to the elders. This guy is a role model!"
Boxer Hai Lao was startled and quickly pulled his son and daughter into the crowd on the roadside. This kind of fighting was not something they could touch.
I saw a huge tree standing in front of the wine shop, blocking the entire official road.
Standing on top of the giant tree were five men in black attire. They all wore veils on their faces, so their faces could not be seen clearly. These men all had bright steel knives hanging on their waists. They were obviously not good people.
.
The four large carts outside the giant tree all have triangular dart flags embroidered with the words "Five Tigers" on them. They are the escort carts of the Five Tigers Escort Bureau. There are more than a dozen men standing around the escort carts, wearing
The weapons on the waist and hips in yellow clothes are all escorts guarding the bodyguards.
In addition to this escort team, there were also many warriors in different clothes standing on the roadside, but many passers-by were also blocked here.
The big man who just fell out of the crowd looked like he was wearing the same clothes as one of the Five Tigers Escorts. For some reason, he was knocked away in one move. Two people ran out from the escort team and ran to the man to check on their companions.
of injuries.
I saw a man in black standing in the middle of the giant tree touching his wrist. It seemed that he had not used much force to punch the man away just now. He glanced at the crowd in front of him and said in a slow voice:
"The boss of the Hubei Underworld Alliance has an order. Recently, the official roads around Wuyang City are closed to people from all walks of life. Anyone who disobeys the order will be killed!"
When the underworld forces commit a major murder and robbery in a certain area, they will often send people to strictly guard the relevant roads to prevent other gangsters from breaking in and ruining the business. This is the so-called "road sealing".
The "Eborder Underworld Alliance" is an alliance of many underworld gangs in a province, and the business they want to do is definitely not small!
Boxer Hai Lao couldn't help feeling bitter after hearing this.
The road ahead was blocked, and Hai Lao Boxer's family of three might not be able to reach Wuyang City today. Hai Changqing had not brought much money with him all the way from the countryside, and now he only has thirty-three left.
A copper coin, I will never see my adopted brother again, and I am afraid that the whole family will be hungry.
I just hope that this underworld alliance deal won’t last too long!
But he heard a middle-aged man dressed as a martial artist next to him snort and whisper: "The underworld in Hubei is too domineering. This Wuyang City is in western Hunan. Even if there is any business on the road, it will not be able to do it."
The underworld in Hubei came to block the road! What's more, in a few days, the 'Five Tigers Heroes Conference' will be held in Wuyang City. If they block this road, won't no one be able to go to the heroes conference?"
"Hehe, brother, don't be anxious, this road can't be sealed by them just by asking?" But another pockmarked man carrying a long sword said, "This Wuyang City is the territory of the 'Four Evils in Western Hunan'.
They dare to stop the Wuhu Escort Bureau's escort car, but they may not dare to offend the four major gangs in Wuyang City. Just wait and see, there will be a good show here in less than an hour and a half."
"That's true," said the middle-aged martial artist, "the four evils in Wuyang City are not easy to deal with. How could they allow the underworld from Hubei to come to the door? There will definitely be a fight. But.
It would be better for me to stand far away from the passers-by so as not to be implicated."
After listening to the conversation between the two, the three members of the Hai family also had a general understanding of the situation here. Hai Hongzhu said:
"Dad, this Hubei underworld alliance is really overbearing. Isn't the Wuhu Escort Agency the escort agency of Uncle Yan? Why don't we go say hello and work together to break up this group of strong men?"
"Don't mess around!" Boxer Hai grabbed his daughter and said, "We can't control this underworld thing. Do you want to get yourself killed?"
But I saw a man walking out of the escort team and coming to the giant tree. This man was in his forties, with a strong build and steady steps. He was dressed like a Five Tigers escort master, and he had a handle about four feet long slung across his back.
The thick-backed machete is very eye-catching.
He cupped his fists at the five masked men on the giant tree and said, "I'm Miao Youwu, the deputy chief of the Wuhu Escort Bureau. I'd like to pay my respects to all my friends on the road!"
"Miao Youwu? Have you heard of this person?" The leading masked man in black did not return the greeting, but asked casually to both sides.
"No." A man in black next to him replied, "The Five Tigers Escort Agency, that is, Mr. Yan, has some skills. The others are just three-legged cats, not worth mentioning!"
The leading man in black snorted coldly and stopped talking.
However, he saw that the face of the escort leader Miao Youwu changed, and he was obviously very angry. But he was a **Lake after all, so he immediately held back his attack and instead bowed and said:
"My Wuhu Escort Agency has been escorting escorts in Hunan and Hubei for a long time. I have never been less polite to my friends in Hubei. I have also been provided with silver coins during festivals and festivals. I have been doing escort service between Hunan and Hubei for more than ten years because of my friends' kindness.
I haven’t lost my temper yet. I just don’t know which mountain top in Hubei these friends are brothers from. Someday someone from Miao will go up to the mountain to pay a visit and offer generous gifts to express their sincerity!”
Miao Youwu has been acting as a escort for many years and knows how to deal with the world.
Although this figure in the underworld seems to be tyrannical, generally speaking, as long as we can negotiate with each other in a friendly manner, he will not be too embarrassed by the passing escort convoy. The escort agency is about harmony and wealth. If you have to fight to the death with the robbers every time you pass the mountain,
No matter how many bodyguards there are, there won't be enough casualties. Therefore, although he doesn't know why the underworld from Hubei came to this Xiangxi to block the road, and injured one of his escorts as soon as he made a move, he still
Tolerance is the best, and I don't want to break my face.
The leader of the masked man in black glanced at Miao Youwu and said: "The boss has ordered that Jianghu people are prohibited from walking outside Wuyang City. How can your little Five Tigers Escort Bureau be an exception? Who can take responsibility for breaking the rules?"
!”
He glanced sideways at the team of escort cars and said: "For the sake of your escort agency's filial piety to our friends on the road, I don't covet your escort cars. You guys only need to send your weapons and escort flags
You all stay here, even if you are not from the Jianghu, how about I let your convoy pass?"
As soon as these words came out, even though Miao Youwu had not yet exploded, the group of bodyguards behind him could no longer hold back.
Although the escort agency does not want to form grudges with the strong men in the underworld, it must leave some face to both parties. If the weapons and escort flags are left behind, not to mention if these men in black turn their backs and attack, no one will be able to
Even if they were allowed to disarm them and pass by naked, not only would the Wuhu Escort Bureau be disgraced, but these escorts would also lose the face to hang around in the world.
The deputy escort chief Miao Youwu's face darkened, and he said angrily: "So this friend must be with me."