There is a rich man in Baoding Prefecture. This man's surname is Hua and his name is Yuanquan. He is the second brother among his family, so he is also called Hua Erye. But his name is very fast in Baoding local dialect, which sounds like "spend money".

Hua Yuanquan's great-great-grandfather followed Cheng Zuye to conquer the world and made a horse-tie for the famous general Zhang Yu of Jingnan. In the battle of Dongchang, Zhang Yu broke into the enemy camp in order to save Cheng Zuye Zhu Di and fought hard. The Hua Mawang risked his life to steal Zhang Yu's body.

The Northern Army defeated Nanjing, and Cheng Zuye ascended the throne. He sighed at the difficulties and dangers of the Battle of Dongchang that year, so he rewarded Huamabian, a third-class nephew, and was granted the title of Baoding Prefecture, Zhili, in Beizhili.

Hua Ma Ben became Count Hua. It’s strange that Count Hua was not good at being an official, but was good at doing business. At the age of fifty, he retired from the Governor's Office of the Five Army and returned home, and started a business in the fiefdom of Baoding. The more he did the business, he became rich in Baoding.

The descendants of Count Hua were also successful. After several generations, the Hua family went from wealthy in Baoding Prefecture to wealthy in Northern Zhili.

When Hua Yuanquan's generation arrived, the Hua family began to fall. Hua Yuanquan's father, his elder brother, died early. He became the head of the family. This man was like a foolish son of a rich man's family, making no money, and spending no money. He was a son who was a poor man and was reluctant to spend money. However, those scammers and thousands of people coaxed him, he would definitely donate generously and "spend unjustly money".

Two years ago, he could even spend 8,000 taels to buy four grasshopper gourds. As a result, the scammer left. The housekeeper went to the street to inquire. These four grasshopper gourds were not too much, but worth eighty big coins...

Hua Yuanquan is so gambled. On this day, the sky was gloomy and it was so stuffy that people couldn't breathe. Hua Yuanquan was idle and called a few friends to start a treasure game at home.

Among the friends of Hua Yuanquan, there is Wu Qing, the son of the governor of the Northern Zhili family.

After entering Hua Mansion, Wu Qing bowed and said, "Brother Hua, don't be fine!"

Hua Yuanquan, who was fat and had a big ears and a stupid face, quickly returned the gift: "It's okay. Mr. Wu, I'm free today, let's start a treasure house. You can go to the house to have a tea first, and the other friends will arrive later!"

At this time, Hua Yuanquan saw dozens of men with waist knives following Wu Qing. He asked, "Young Master Wu, just play a card game. Why are you doing with so many guards in the hospital?"

Wu Qing smiled bitterly: "Don't mention Mr. Hua. Eight days ago, I went to Xingchunlou for a big drink. I was so unlucky. I met two gangsters halfway through the way home and stole my hundred silver. I was nothing, but my father was frightened when he heard about it. That's fine, so he sent forty soldiers from the governor's yamen to change into the clothes of his servants, and with a knife, protecting me day and night."

Hua Yuanquan smiled foolishly and said, "Hehe, so let's say that, our treasure bureau has 40 personal soldiers from the governor's yamen to protect us today? Ha, Mr. Wu, stop talking here. Come into the house and wait for our friends while drinking tea."

Soon, several famous playboys in Baoding City entered the Huafu Tea Pavilion.

Wu Qing asked: "Master Hua Er, what are we playing today?"

Hua Yuanquan said: "Push the tube."

The so-called pushing tube is to take one to nine tubes from the hemp tag, and take a pair of white boards. The dealer throws dice and gives each gambler two cards according to the points. The two or eight tubes are the sky cards, the largest. The pair of white boards are the ground cards, the second largest. Next is the pair. The smallest is the one with nine tubes, which is called the chicken card.

Wu Qing looked at it: "We have seven people in total. We have to take eight numbers to push the barrel, but there are not enough people."

Hua Yuanquan said, "Don't worry. I have a rich friend from the Western Regions. This man is engaged in wine business in Hamiwei, and some are money. He is here in Baoding Mansion these days and stays for a few days. I invite him to come to our treasure house today. He will arrive in a while."

Soon, a man dressed in the Western Regions entered the hall. This man was in his thirties and had two big beards in the Western Regions. Behind him was a servant in his sixties.

The rich man from the Western Region bowed to everyone: "Put the oil, we are called Chiliba, we are from Hami Guards. I'll give you a greeting."

This rich man from the Western Regions is actually nothing else, he is the Eleventh Princess of the Jinyiwei, Li Zipian!

Among the eight generals of the Thousand Gate, the counter-general was responsible for the regular generals and set up a line with the prey, and brought them into contact. Li Zipian's counter-general was quite good, and it took five or six days to bring them into contact with Li Zipian and Hua Yuanquan.

The servant in his sixties behind Li Zipian was actually He Liu, the Northern Governor’s Funeral. Qianmen was proficient in disguise. It took Li Zipian half an hour to make He Liu, a middle-aged man in his forties, become an old man in his sixties, Ershun.

Li Zipian said, "Please waste the oil." The people in the tea pavilion looked at each other.

Hua Yuanquan hurriedly showed off his knowledge: "Ah, our Master Chi is talking about good friends. The Western Regions speaks this sound. Everyone is together. Come on, take a seat, and start a bet!"

Wu Qing waved his hand: "Slow down. I recently got a painting called "The Return of the Boat in the Wind and Rain". Today, it is rare for friends to get together. Let's appreciate the painting first, and then start a gambling."

Wu Qing asked his servant to find an easel and unfold the painting. He saw the four big words "Returning to the Boat in the Wind and Rain".

The background of this painting is a mountain, with a river in front of it and a small boat in the river. A wooden bridge spans both ends of the river. In the middle of the bridge is a child. The child crosses the bridge with an umbrella, as if the wind is strong, and it is very difficult for the child to walk forward.

Strangely, this painting has not been signed.

Hua Yuanquan and a group of playboys only know how to eat, drink, play, and do not know what poetry, calligraphy and painting?

They are all people who love arts and elegance. Hua Yuanquan shouted: "Good painting!"

Everyone praised: "Good painting!"

He Liu, who pretended to be an old servant, is the apprentice of the shopkeeper Xu, the leader of the antique shop in the capital. He is a person who knows how to draw.

He Liu thought to himself: This brushwork is just like that, and the artistic conception of returning to the boat in storm has not been drawn at all. If you take it to the world, you will be able to earn five taels of silver. Only you can applaud.

Everyone took their seats and started to roll dice cards to bet.

Hua Yuanquan's hand style seems to be very smooth today. The 28th day card and the double white land card are all there. Fortunately, Li Zipeng is very cautious in betting on "Chiliba". In more than an hour, she only lost about 300 taels of silver.

Wu Qing was in trouble, and he made heavy bets and lost to Hua Yuanquan. In more than an hour, he lost seven or eight thousand silver.

While everyone was busy fighting at the gambling table, He Liu was peeking at the octagonal jade Linglong hanging around Wu Qing's neck. This piece of jade was actually just inferior Burmese jade. The carving of jade Linglong is also average, not a very expensive treasure.

"Boom" a thunder sounded in the sky, followed by a heavy rain.

After a while, the rain stopped. Hua Yuanquan suddenly glanced at the storm return boat hanging next to him. He shouted: "Damn it, my dear mother! I'm seeing a ghost!"
Chapter completed!