At the pier, on the riverside, a group of five or six-foot-long red wooden boats are docked here.
The coolies shouted loudly as they carried the goods back and forth.
At this time, the scorching sun was in the sky. Most of them were only wearing vests, and some were bare-chested. However, they still could not stop the sweat from flowing down like a stream, so they had to keep wiping it with towels.
The coolies were all red-faced and panting, but they still did not dare to sneak around. The swordsmen next to them were all watching with eager eyes, and would kick you if you slacked even a little bit.
Being beaten up is a small matter these days, but losing your livelihood as a porter is a big deal.
When Liu Mang arrived at the dock, he was surprised to find that the number of coolies was much more than before.
After a moment's thought, he understood that the world was difficult and the work at the dock had become a lucrative business.
"Tieniu, why haven't you come for a long time?" Someone who knew him asked him.
Liu Mang smiled and said: "I have something to do at home, so I took a leave of absence for a while."
"Now there are more people working, but less people are getting paid. Ten cents a day has become eight cents, and my family can't even afford rice!" someone complained.
The swordsman next to him sneered: "Aren't we in charge of your food? You usually bring some back, but we turn a blind eye. If Mr. Guo hadn't been merciful, you wouldn't even have eight cents!"
Liu Mang shook his head, said nothing, and walked towards the river.
The short and fat Mr. Guo, wearing a white silk top, was holding a cigarette pipe and chatting with another leader.
Seeing Liu Mang coming, Mr. Guo's eyes lit up and he came directly to greet him.
"The twenty-day period has not yet come, how come Tieniu comes now?"
Liu Mang said in a deep voice: "It doesn't make much difference whether it's early or late. It's better to join the gang and work early."
"Okay! Young people are full of energy!" Mr. Guo handed the cigarette to the swordsman next to him, "I will take you to Baishui Hall right now."
"Is this the strongest iron bull in the ten miles and eight villages?" A leader next to him, with gray hair on his temples and looking fifty years old, asked curiously.
Liu Mang clasped his fists and said: "Master Hao is in good health, I don't dare to be arrogant. If you join a gang, you have to learn from the beginning."
Mr. Hao nodded and said: "Master Guo's cousin Niu Zhangqi is determined to open a fifth gang for the Golden Tiger Gang. Unfortunately, he has been lacking real good players around him. I hope you can open up the situation in the past."
Liu Mang thanked him and followed Mr. Guo and the two swordsmen to a nearby carriage.
"Go to Baishuitang!" Master Guo ordered.
The coachman immediately waved his whip and drove the carriage.
It was the first time in Liu Mang's life to ride a carriage. The carriage compartment was about three or four square meters in size.
There is a walkway in the middle, with two rows of wooden boards on the side, covered with thick red silk cushions, which is not uncomfortable at all when sitting on it. There are also landscapes painted around the walls of the carriage, flowers and birds carved, and exquisite sachets hung.
"It's just the tip of the iceberg of the life of rich people." Liu Mang thought emotionlessly.
"Tieniu, since you want to join the Golden Tiger Gang, I need to tell you something."
Along the way, Mr. Guo began to provide Liu Mang with information about the Golden Tiger Gang.
For example, the Golden Tiger Gang currently has four gang members, and they are responsible for different affairs.
Baishuitang and Heishuitang control water transportation and are responsible for transporting goods from the nearest Yuncheng to Jiangcheng.
The two halls are in a competitive relationship, and there are conflicts from time to time.
Mr. Guo's cousin Niu Cong is the flag-bearer of Baishui Hall, and his status is second only to the hall master.
Hongtutang manages five villages and is responsible for collecting fees, renting land and other related matters.
Zifengtang operates restaurants in the inner city, does not interfere in the affairs of the outer city, and does not have many negotiations with the other three halls.
"Water transport is the most important source of income for the Golden Tiger Gang. Unfortunately, it only has access to the nearby Yuncheng trade road."
"The seven cities in the southeast are all connected by the Longjiang River and belong to one body. The silk from Yuncheng, the rice from Liangcheng, the porcelain from Jingcheng, the tea from Wucheng, the spices from Taicheng, the weapons from Quancheng, and the medicinal materials from Jiangcheng, these are all
They are all local specialties and the market is huge.”
"Whoever can open up new trade routes in other cities can become the new leader of the fifth hall of the Golden Tiger Gang!" Mr. Guo said with emotion.
Listening to Mr. Guo's introduction, Liu Mang had a clearer understanding of the Golden Tiger Gang. It was not so much a gang as a combination of a gang and a chamber of commerce.
The so-called water transportation is similar to the logistics of the previous world.
The power of the Golden Tiger Gang is greater and stronger than I imagined.
"My cousin Niu Cong is the most trusted person of the hall master! As long as you are able to fight and kill everyone who blocks your path, you will have inexhaustible gold and silver in the future!" Mr. Guo began to draw a pie for Liu Mang.
.
"I will live up to Master Guo's trust!" Liu Mang said solemnly, but his words were automatically filtered in his heart.
The carriage drove for less than half an hour and stopped outside a large yard near the river.
There were constant shouts and shouts in the courtyard.
There were two big men holding swords at the gate. Each was only a few minutes shorter than Liu Mang, with a majestic build, and his eyes scanned the surroundings like an eagle watching a wolf.
Seeing Mr. Guo coming, they all nodded in greeting and let Mr. Guo and his party in.
Liu Mang followed Mr. Guo to the courtyard and found a large number of people driving wooden piles and exercising their physical strength.
There were two more people holding weapons and fighting in the open field, and the onlookers cheered from time to time.
Most of the people were wearing the same style of light yellow tops, with a huge tiger head embroidered in the center of the clothes. The person Mr. Guo and Liu Mang met was located in the center of the crowd. He was wearing a dark yellow top, and his status was obvious at first glance.
"A Cong, this is the iron cow I told you about." Mr. Guo pointed at Liu Mang and said.
"Tieniu, I've heard of you. My cousin has always said that you are great, and I believe what he said. But we are all discussing matters based on actual combat, and we can't convince other brothers with just words."
Although Niu Cong is Mr. Guo's cousin, he is tall, only three points shorter than Liu Mang. According to the weights and measures of the 21st century, he should be about 1.9 meters tall.
His skin is quite fair, but there is a black birthmark the size of an egg on the left side of his face, with a layer of down on it, which makes him look quite vicious.
Liu Mang nodded and said: "What Master Niu said is true, but it depends on Master Niu's arrangement."
Niu Cong suddenly clapped his hands and said loudly: "Quiet, quiet!"
The bustling scene suddenly became silent, and everyone looked here.
"A new brother has arrived, nicknamed Tieniu. He is said to be the most powerful in the eight villages in ten miles. Who would like to give me some advice?"
Many people looked here eagerly.
The Eight Villages in Ten Miles are the most powerful. This title is too hateful.
Liu Mang shook his head and said: "Master Niu is wrong, I am not the strongest in the ten villages."
"Huh?" Niu Cong frowned and looked at Liu Mang, thinking that he was scared.
Mr. Guo's face also darkened a bit. He was the one who brought this person, and if he found out he was a fake, he would be embarrassed.
Many of the people watching had mocking looks in their eyes, thinking that Liu Mang might be the silver pewter spearhead in the rumors, with no physical strength but no courage.
Liu Mang was heard to say tepidly: "I want to emphasize that I am the best fighter in the ten villages, not the strongest."
"Brothers are welcome to come and chop me down, but there is only one fate for you, that is, you come in vertically and exit horizontally."
The onlookers were in an uproar. This Iron Bull was too crazy.
Hearing Liu Mang's words, Mr. Guo's expression instantly changed from gloomy to clear.
Niu Cong took a closer look at Liu Mang, who looked confident, and couldn't help but smile.