Song Qingtang finished the pastry in several bites and thought it was pretty good. He took out a few more coins and said, "One more, wrap it up."
"Okay!" the vendor said happily.
Song Qingtang took the pastry and left, preparing to find his men. After taking a few steps, he stopped and looked at the notice board not far away.
There is also a portrait of the girl posted on the bulletin board. You can see her wherever you go these days, causing uproar in the city.
During these days, Song Qingtang went to Xiancaina Inn from time to time to look for her, but she never came back.
Now that the streets and alleys are covered with her portraits, it's probably even less likely that she will come back.
This girl ran away to hide somewhere.
Song Qingtang raised his eyebrows and looked down at the hot pastry in his palm.
The younger sisters at home like to eat desserts the most, but I don’t know if this girl likes them.
………………
As we enter late autumn, the weather is getting colder and colder, falling sharply day by day, heading straight into the harsh winter.
In just seven or eight days, many layers of clothes had been added, and the sky was getting dark very quickly. Before midnight, the streets were filled with lights, making the long street brightly illuminated.
A line of patrol guards passed by, glanced at the shaky portrait of a girl on the bulletin board, and ignored it.
A strong gust of wind blew, causing the drawing paper to sway and fly down.
In the dark alley at the back door of Jinyu Hall, Quan Jiuwei huddled in the corner, clasping his hands.
The drawing paper was blown over, Quan Jiuwei lowered his eyes and frowned, it was her again.
Stepping on it, dirty footprints fell on the face of the portrait.
Feeling that it was not enough, Quan Jiuwei leaned over to pick it up, kneaded it into a ball, tore it into pieces and threw it on the ground, where it was blown away by the wind.
The back door was opened at this time, and a cook looked around, walked over and whispered: "It just doesn't work, I can't find a chance."
"Madam, please help me again," Quan Jiuwei took out a copper plate from his sleeve, "I'll just meet him once, and we can talk about the rest."
The cook took the coin and smiled with reluctance on her face.
Quan Jiuwei gritted his teeth and took out two more coins: "Madam, please help me."
The cook lowered her head and looked at it without hiding her disgust. She put it away and said, "Then I'll go and show it to you. Otherwise, there's nothing I can do."
"Okay, okay, thank you, Madam." Quan Jiuwei said.
The cook turned around and went back. She stretched out her hand and weighed the three coins in her hand. Adding the ones she had received from him before, the total amount was less than twenty coins. She was really a poor man.
After entering, the cook found an excuse to send the others away, then walked around from the other side, extending her hand to wave Quan Jiuwei over.
"Don't betray me when you get in, or I won't help you in the future." The cook hurriedly led the way, speaking in a low voice.
"No, I won't say it," Quan Jiuwei said.
The corridor lamp in the hall was very dim, swaying in the cold wind and hitting them, blurring their faces with the halo.
When we arrived at the garden gate, the cook pointed inside: "Just go up here. If the shopkeeper asks someone to beat you out, or reports to the official, I won't care."
"I know." Quan Jiuwei lowered his eyes and said.
The cook turned around and left, and Quan Jiuwei also lowered his head and walked up from here.
Shopkeeper Liu's bedroom is in a separate small courtyard on the other side. There are two rows, one in the front and one on the right. The row on the right is where shopkeeper Liu's son and daughter sleep. There is still an empty room. He has always wanted to find a concubine for himself to live in.
Shopkeeper Liu is now calculating accounts in his bedroom, tapping on the abacus with his account book, shaking his head and sighing that life is getting harder and harder these days.
Quan Jiuwei did not knock on the door, but hid in the corner outside.
The wind was blowing extremely cold, so he shrank slightly and looked at the small yard.
Vaguely judging the movement, shopkeeper Liu's daughter-in-law, Mrs. He, was now in her daughter's bedroom.
Quan Jiuwei looked at the bedroom over there, his eyes dark, and his face hidden in the darkness was dyed with a layer of sinisterness.
After a long time, the candlelight in the room where Mr. He was was extinguished. It seemed that he was sleeping in his daughter's bedroom tonight.
This is difficult to do.
Quan Jiuwei looked away and looked at the bedroom where shopkeeper Liu's son was.
Shopkeeper Liu felt more and more headaches as he calculated the bills. He could no longer calculate the bills and put down his pen.
Several shopkeepers he knew said that there was no way to continue their business, and many even wanted to pack up and run to Jiangnan.
He has laid off many employees, but if this situation continues, he may have to close in three months.
The water in the teapot became cold. He took a sip, got up and went to the door.
"Lian Mazi, boil me a pot of hot tea." Shopkeeper Liu opened the door and called.
"Okay, it's the shopkeeper." The waiter on duty in the front hall responded loudly.
Shopkeeper Liu was about to close the door and turn around.
"Do you want your son's life?" a voice whispered.
Shopkeeper Liu turned around when he heard the sound and was shocked when he saw clearly: "What are you doing!"
"Shut up!" Quan Jiuwei lowered his voice, the dagger in his hand was on the neck of the frightened boy, "Get in!"
The boy's mouth was stuffed with a piece of cloth, and his neck had been cut with a shallow cut, which was particularly bloody.
"Don't mess around!" Shopkeeper Liu said in shock.
"Go in!" Quan Jiuwei said angrily, "Otherwise I will kill him now!"
There were two candles in the room, and the one in front of the desk was about to be used up. Shopkeeper Liu was forced to the desk by Quan Jiuwei, and said angrily with a pale face: "It's not like I haven't helped you. How much money did I give you before?"
But my business is not doing well now! Look at my bills, they are all here, I have no money!"
"Give me as much as you want," Quan Jiuwei's hands trembled a little, "I won't talk nonsense to you."
"I really have no money!" Shopkeeper Liu was about to cry.
"Your mother-in-law's jewelry box," Quan Jiuwei looked over, "go get it!"
Shopkeeper Liu also looked at it and did not dare to move.
"Go!" Quan Jiuwei suddenly shouted angrily.
"Uh-huh..." The boy hesitated and cried softly, unable to say anything.
"Don't cry!" Quan Jiuwei hit him on the head.
"Don't hit my son!" Liu Zhang shouted hurriedly, "I'll get it for you! Why don't I go get it for you?"
He turned and walked towards the dressing table.
The candlelight fell in the bronze mirror, making it slightly dazzling.
He walked very slowly, thinking about what to do.
The light and shadow in the bronze mirror flashed, and he was startled. He hurriedly turned around, but his back suddenly hurt, and at the same time, his mouth was tightly covered.
The cold blade pierced his body and left quickly, but then stabbed back again.
One sword, two swords, three swords...
The opponent moved very quickly and stabbed him crazily.
Blood gushed out from his mouth, his body went limp, he could no longer stand, and was thrown to the ground by the other party.
He tried to struggle to get up, but he saw the bloody blade raised high, and the last knife stabbed down on his neck.
Shopkeeper Liu completely lost his breath and opened his eyes unwillingly.
Quan Jiuwei gasped for air, and half of his body was covered in blood.
The boy behind him was so frightened that he collapsed in front of the desk and wet his pants.
Quan Jiuwei pulled out his dagger and walked towards him.
