The door of the ink shop was closed early, and Wang Changqi was sitting in the small side hall, holding a cup of tea that had gone cold.
Zhi Changle went to the next door to listen to the book. The last lecture had been finished long ago, but the whole audience could not leave and was discussing current affairs intensely.
Old Tong sat across from Wang Changqi and read a book. He had no sitting posture at all, with his legs crossed, peeling peanuts and eating loudly. The sound of chewing made Wang Changqi uncomfortable.
Moreover, he didn't know many words. When he encountered something he didn't know, he wouldn't bring it to him for advice. He had to wave Wang Changqi over.
What can Wang Changqi do? He can only go through.
My intestines were filled with regret, and my mind was filled with plans to escape.
After waiting and waiting, Hai Shi passed and there was still no movement.
Wang Changqi asked: "It's so late and a little girl is still outside. I see you're not worried at all."
"It's quite dangerous," Lao Tong said casually, without moving his eyes away from the book. "Those who do evil things had better not come across her, otherwise they will be in trouble."
Wang Chang Qiyile: "What you said is quite new."
Suddenly there was a knock on the door in the backyard, very rhythmic, neither light nor heavy.
Wang Changqi reacted faster than Lao Tong and said, "It must be Miss Ali."
"Smart enough." Lao Tong said, getting up and walking over.
Xia Zhaoyi had extinguished the small oil ball lamp and was waiting for it to cool down. Now she was playing with the rope and looking at the scene in the back alley outside.
Next door is the restaurant, which is extremely lively. The sounds from the front hall can be heard in the distance, and the men are banging the table and looking anxiously.
"Ah Li," Lao Tong opened the courtyard door and lowered his voice, "He's here."
Xia Zhaoyi smiled: "Okay."
"The house has been tidied up for him, but I'm afraid he will run away. Why don't we let him sleep in the Datong bunk with us tonight, and Zhi Changle and I will sandwich him in the middle."
"Then he has to run away if he doesn't want to," Xia Zhaoyi said with a smile, "Brother Tong, you will scare him."
Wang Changqi stood in front of the chair and waited for her to come in.
The girl's steps are neither fast nor slow, she still looks like an old man, and her temperament is really first-rate. But after changing her gender and adding age, she looks like an old wise man.
She sat down on the other side where Lao Tong was sitting before. Her posture when sitting was elegant and leisurely. Her eyes were dark and bright, not sharp, but very gentle.
"Sit down." Xia Zhaoyi smiled.
Wang Changqi was not very natural and sat down a little awkwardly.
Old Tong came in from outside, lit a few more lamp holders, took away his peanut shells, and went to the backyard to fetch water.
"Lao Tongke told you my name?" Xia Zhaoyi said.
Wang Changqi shook his head.
The two big men, who seemed carefree, were extremely cautious in protecting the girl.
"My surname is Xia, and my name is Ali, the pear from Lihua."
Wang Changqi was stunned: "You, you are the Ah Li who caused earth-shaking trouble in the capital back then?!"
"I am from the former Dingguo Duke's Mansion." Xia Zhaoyi still had a gentle expression.
Wang Changqi stood up excitedly and stared blankly at the "girl" in front of him.
I can't really tell what he looks like, but his makeup looks so realistic that he looks like an old man.
But these eyes are really beautiful, clear and bright, lively and energetic, and seem to be able to talk.
"Sit down," Xia Zhaoyi said with a smile, "You don't have to do this."
Wang Changqi sat back, found his voice after a while, and said with some excitement: "Miss Ali, you, you really like me, don't you have any other conspiracy?"
"I bought two shops, one in Zuoxingyouzizhuang, and the other is this one, but I couldn't find good people to help me take care of it."
"Uh," Wang Changqi reacted slowly and pointed at his nose, "So, you summoned me because you wanted me to..."
"Become a general manager," Xia Zhaoyi laughed, "What do you think?"
"It's not marching or fighting, but doing business?" Wang Changqi suspected that he heard wrongly.
"To be precise, it's wiring," Xia Zhaoyi suppressed a smile and said seriously, "I'm not short of money, and it's not very useful to have a shop, but I need a contact place that I can control for correspondence, not just on the left.
Okay, it’s not just Hengxiang. If possible, I hope you can spread the thread bigger and wider. Even spread it across the Central Plains."
Wang Changqi nodded: "I understand, you want me to help you recruit people."
"There are also management personnel," Xia Zhaoyi looked at him, "General Manager, how about this position?"
Of course it's wonderful.
He was just a small follower, following Zhang Zhi, hoping that King Dacheng would conquer the country. He would follow the chickens and dogs to ascend to heaven, and live a better life in the future.
Now, here's the steward!
The word "general" made Wang Changqi feel that there were thousands of troops and horses under him, and his blood boiled.
Although at the same time, he also realized rationally that there is no such thing as a huge army. He is just a bald commander now and has to rely on himself to make moves one by one.
But, he is full of energy, as if there is a stage specially built for him, and he can perform freely on it.
And there must be an audience under the stage.
Wang Changqi was very sure, not because he was overly confident in himself, but because he trusted the girl in front of him.
He spent some time calming down, then asked, "Miss Ah Li, aren't you afraid that I will betray you in the future?"
"Why did you betray me?" Xia Zhaoyi smiled lightly, "Li, you will have as much fame as you want from now on. You can get it by following me."
"If someone seduce you with their beauty, I will castrate you!" Old Tong appeared without knowing when, leaning on the threshold with his hands folded, he said.
Wang Changqi's face turned pale.
Xia Zhaoyi looked at him and said helplessly: "Brother Tong."
Lao Tong chuckled: "Ah Li, I was just teasing him!"
"I, I'm not close to beauties, I'm not close to beauties," Wang Changqi stammered, "I've been with Mr. Zhang for a long time, and I've seen so many beauties. I'm tired of seeing them. I've long been tired of seeing them..."
"Look how scared you are!" Lao Tong laughed.
Wang Changqi ignored him, looked at Xia Zhaoyi, and said solemnly: "Miss Ali, I just asked you because I was afraid that you wouldn't trust me. Since you completely believe that I will not betray you, then I, Wang Changqi,
I will follow you! But there is one more thing, I hope the girl will promise me."
"What's the matter?"
"Girl, please don't ask me anything related to Guiyuan Inn," Wang Changqi said uneasily, "Although I have changed owners, I have been with Mr. Zhang Zhi for several years, and I don't want to betray them."
"Don't worry, I have no intention of asking you about it from beginning to end."
Wang Changqi breathed a sigh of relief, thought for a moment, and then said: "I need to change my name. Also, it's hard for me to show my identity right now. I have to wait until they leave Hengxiang. Or should I leave Hengxiang first?"
"No need," Xia Zhaoyi smiled lightly, "Don't worry, I have arranged a place for you. You and an old man named Qi will stay in Hengxiang first. I will entrust you to Zhao Ning. During this time, she
I will protect you. As for a new name, you can think of one yourself."
