After a night of heavy snow, Linlang Garden was covered with snow. The maidservants went out to clear the snow before dawn. According to Su Wangting's arrangement, they piled the snow into continuous hills, surrounding a foot-high lacquered wooden building.
The rockery is covered with coral branches and decorated with glazed amber, crystal pearls and other precious stones. It is extremely luxurious.
“What a treasure mountain!”
When Wang Yuanbao saw this rockery in the snow, he couldn't help but exclaimed: "No wonder Manager Su sent someone to inform him that a large amount of jewelry was going to be used. It turned out to be to build this treasure mountain."
"It made Wang Weng laugh." Su Wangting explained: "Time is short, and the Qibao Mountain Seat is not yet completed. Later, it will be tied with tassels and golden bells, which will make it ring automatically when the wind blows."
"Mountain seat?" Wang Yuanbao happened to see an inward depression at the top of the rockery, which was shaped like a seat and could accommodate one person.
Su Wangting said: "I heard that when the Buddhist and Taoist masters in Chang'an preach, they usually sit on the high throne of the altar. When His Royal Highness King Qi arrives in the future, you might as well ask him to sit on the Qibao Mountain Seat to show his majesty."
The Weinan Treasure Fighting Club was originally initiated by His Highness King Qi, who invited the four wealthy businessmen of Chang'an to participate in the grand event. If you want to stand out, it is natural to see who can please His Highness King Qi better.
After all, with King Qi's dignity and splendor, how many rare treasures have never been seen in the world? The treasures collected by the four wealthy merchants in Chang'an by mobilizing their men may not really seduce King Qi. They must make more innuendoes and put their efforts elsewhere.
"Your Qibao Mountain Seat is not just for showing off your majesty to His Highness Prince Qi, right?" Wang Yuanbao asked with a smile.
"The king has a clear vision." Su Wangting said: "If we can win this time, the king can take this Qibao Mountain Seat and present it to His Majesty."
"Whether we can win this year is still a matter of time." Wang Yuanbao smiled with his hands behind his back: "Yang Chongyi got hold of the Yuanjiao Bingxiao and other immortal treasures, and I also have a big headache!"
Having said that, there was no trace of sadness on Wang Yuanbao's face. He and Su Wangting visited the renovated Linlang Garden. There was a winding stream in the backyard. Even in winter, the water was still gurgling, and there was still some steam steaming on the water.
"Strange, I remember that the stream here is not a hot spring, why has it not frozen yet?" Wang Yuanbao asked upon seeing this.
Su Wangting replied: "I ordered people to break up the ice, then pour warm soup from the upstream, and carry water to the pond downstream, and the cycle continues. In this way, even in the middle of winter, you can enjoy the snow scenery, drink water, recite poems and compose poems."
"
This practice is extremely extravagant. How much charcoal is used to boil the water in order to keep the water flowing in the stream? How many people are needed to transport the water back and forth? But Wang Yuanbao did not criticize him. He just leaned down to test the water temperature, and then flicked his fingers.
He raised his head and praised it and said: "This is a good method. King Qi is best to be elegant. If there is a meandering water cup in the winter, he will definitely be happy."
Su Wangting said: "Then I will prepare more hand stoves and firewood later for hosting a banquet outdoors."
"Prince Qi's share is unnecessary," Wang Yuanbao reminded.
Su Wangting was very puzzled: "But Mr. Changqing looked up at the sky a few days ago and said that there is still heavy snow before and after the winter solstice. It is cold and freezing for the outdoor banquet. If there is no heating, I am afraid that I will freeze to death."
In order to organize the Treasure Fighting Party well, Su Wangting also inquired about Prince Qi's likes and dislikes. This prince was good at calligraphy, painting and poetry, and often interacted with famous people. Therefore, Su Wangting followed existing customs and made such arrangements.
Wang Yuanbao laughed and said: "King Qi doesn't like fireworks. If it's cold, he will warm his hands with my concubine's skin. Even if it's windy, snowy and bitterly cold, he will surround me like a screen to keep warm with her popularity."
Even Su Wangting, who was accustomed to seeing the extravagant behavior of powerful people, was slightly startled when he heard that people were treated like objects, but his face remained calm.
"Are all the treasures sent from all over Guandong properly placed?" Wang Yuanbao then asked. Even though all the followers were retreating to the distance and no one was around, he still lowered his voice.
"Everything is ready, please come with me." Su Wangting led Wang Yuanbao to the library courtyard, and saw Cheng Sanwu standing with his head held high and his chest held high, holding a knife on guard outside the courtyard, like a spiritual official worshiped in a Taoist temple.
"The treasures of Guandong are all in it." Su Wangting came outside the warehouse and motioned to the command flag in the corner: "I asked Mr. Changqing to set up a barrier to prevent all thieves and bandits, even flies can't fly in."
Su Wangting handed the door talisman and the warehouse key to Wang Yuanbao. He went in alone to inspect, walked out after a while, locked the door again, and returned the two items to Su Wangting.
"Master Su is always cautious, I am very relieved." Wang Yuanbao's face was expressionless, but he could feel his sincerity: "During the treasure fighting meeting, Lin Changshi of Prince Qi's Mansion will come to receive these treasures."
"Yes." Su Wangting didn't ask any more questions. He knew very well that for a businessman like Wang Yuanbao to be able to scale his business to its current scale, he would have to make donations to the princes and nobles.
Isn't that the case for Su Wangting? He has been in the Western Regions for more than ten years and has earned so much money that he can't even count it. But in the end, he doesn't even have a tenth of the money that truly belongs to him.
Arriving in front of Linlangyuan, Su Wangting and Wang Yuanbao once again looked like businessmen talking happily.
"Brother Su, I'll ask you to work harder for a while!" Wang Yuanbao laughed and said: "I have to meet with the three old rivals in Weinan City to discuss things in the past few days, and I am so worried that my hair is about to fall out.
"
Su Wangting raised his arms and was about to answer when he saw a familiar figure in the distance. It was his eldest son. His face was full of panic and anxiety. If he hadn't been blocked by the crowd, he would have rushed over immediately.
"Your Majesty, I have received Buddhist teachings for a long time. Perhaps this sign of hair loss is caused by the Buddha and Bodhisattvas rubbing your head and receiving ordination for you!" Su Wangting complimented with a smile.
"I also want to become a monk one day and stop caring about these worldly things!" Wang Yuanbao waved his hand: "Okay, then I'll leave first. If there are any difficulties, just send someone to Linwei Tower in the city to spread the word. Su
Brother, you don’t have to run around yourself.”
The two said goodbye, and Wang Yuanbao got into the carriage and left with a large group of entourage.
When the crowd dispersed, the eldest son of the Su family rushed over and threw himself into Su Wangting's arms, almost falling to his knees on the spot.
"Why are you here? What happened at home?" As soon as Su Wangting saw his son arriving, he guessed that something happened at home.
"Gui Yatou..." The elder man of the Su family raised his head, crying: "Gui Yatou was kidnapped by thieves!"
Hearing these words, Su Wangting felt as if someone had hit him hard in the heart. His eyes turned white and he could hardly stand. The two hands holding his son were able to use their strength and squeezed him, causing him to cry out in pain.
Hearing his son's cry, Su Wangting woke up immediately and took him directly into Linlangyuan. At this time, Cheng Sanwu and Changqing arrived. Before they could speak, Su Wangting's face was ashen and he said in a low voice: "Follow me!
"
Cheng Sanwu and Chang Qing looked at each other and realized something was wrong, so they came to a deserted hall.
"The thieves kidnapped Gui Yatou and left this letter." The elder man of the Su family took out a wad of paper from his arms, which contained a small and cute tiger-head shoe, which Gui Yatou was wearing.
Su Wangting's fingers were trembling, and he eagerly opened the letter to read. Changqing remained calm and asked the elder of the Su family: "What happened? Please tell me in detail so that we can help."
According to the Su family's elder brother, Gui Yatou was at home at that time and was taken care of by the Su family's daughter-in-law as usual. The thieves who came from unknown sources suddenly kidnapped Gui Yatou. When Su Wangting's wife found out, she only saw her unconscious on the kitchen stove.
Bian's daughter-in-law.
Due to the heavy snowfall in the past few days and nights, several old houses in the countryside were overwhelmed by snow. At that time, Dalang of the Su family happened to be cleaning up with the villagers and repairing the houses. As a result, a sloppy man bumped into him on the way and took this letter and
Gui Yatou stuffed one of her shoes into her arms.
What the letter said was to ask the Su family elder to find Su Wangting and ask him to take out one hundred thousand gold and silver treasures and go to the Jinguang Temple in Fengyuan in the south of the city to exchange for Gui Yatou's life. And only Su Wangting was allowed to come alone.
If there is no movement within three days, or if you dare to report it to the official, Gui Yatou's head will be sent to Linlang Garden.
When the elder son of the Su family read the letter, the sloppy man had long disappeared. He ran home and found that Gui Yatou had indeed been kidnapped.
Just when the eldest son of the Su family was at a loss, Mrs. Su slapped him to wake him up. He immediately led a horse and asked his son to rush to Weinan Linlangyuan to find Su Wangting. People in the countryside could no longer cope with this kind of thing.
When Su Wangting read the letter, he sat down with difficulty without saying a word, pinched the corner of the table next to him into sawdust with a pinch of his fingers.
"Damn it!" Cheng Sanwu took the letter and glanced at it. His scalp was numb, and an unbearable regret made him breathless. The cute and cute Gui Yatou was still in front of him, and for some reason it reminded him of that girl.
The bloody night, and that crying face.
Changqing snatched the letter and whispered: "It's not signed, so I don't know who did it."
"Not an ordinary person, not a person." Cheng Sanwu grabbed his head and paced back and forth, and he immediately made a judgment: "Climbed the wall and entered the hospital, kidnapped Gui Yatou, knocked out the elder man's wife, and didn't even make a scream to attract the attention.
Pay attention to others, he did it in one go, he is very skilled. He wrote a letter to kidnap, and he also knew how to leave a shoe as proof. These thieves are well prepared. They must have been eyeing Linlangyuan's treasure for a long time, not just a day or two!"
Su Wangting's face was extremely ugly. He supported his drooped head with both hands. He was already planning a treasure fighting meeting with so many things, but at this moment, sudden changes made his mind in chaos. He seemed to be bent over by a huge burden and could not support himself.
"Dad, what should we do now? Gui Yatou, she, she..." Although the elder man of the Su family is a father, he is so confused at this moment that he doesn't know what to do.
"Why are you crying? Don't cry!" Cheng Sanwu shouted in a low voice, which frightened the elder of the Su family and froze in place.
Cheng Sanwu wiped his face hard, and then said: "I seem to have been to Fengyuan Jinguang Temple. I'll go explore the way first."
Hearing this, the three of them looked at each other, especially Su Wangting and Chang Qing. They immediately thought of Cheng Sanwu's experience of fleeing westward after committing the Heyang murder case.
"My horse is fast. Let's go check out the opponent's formation first. If we can save Gui Yatou, we will rescue her. If not, then I can get back before sunset." Cheng Sanwu looked extremely determined at this moment, completely
Not as reckless as in the past.
Su Wangting rushed forward, grabbed Cheng Sanwu's shoulders, and said eagerly: "What are you going to do?"
Cheng Sanwu said in a flash: "Old Su... you took out one hundred thousand gold and silver treasures in the name of inventorying the warehouse. Remember, it is best not to occupy much space, and a large car can fit it.
"
Su Wangting's haggard eyes regained their energy, and he understood almost instantly. Cheng Sanwu turned to Changqing and said: "Rearrange the guards of Linlangyuan and make a way that no one can see."
"Are you planning to..." As smart as Chang Qing, he had already guessed Cheng Sanwu's intention.
"Be quick, but don't be anxious." Cheng Sanwu said no more nonsense, and then looked at the Su family elder: "You stay here, and you are not allowed to go anywhere. Don't cry until Gui Yatou comes back safely!
"
After saying this, Cheng Sanwu patted Su Wangting on the shoulder, nodded heavily, then turned around and walked out, taking steps like a tiger.
…
"Almsgiver, please forgive me." A young monk with a pale face opened the temple door just a little, folded his hands and said to the pilgrims in front of him: "Currently, there are merchants staying in my temple, and I have to perform rituals for several days. The gate is temporarily closed, please.
The donor will come back in ten days."
Several donors complained a few words and had no choice but to leave. After closing the temple door, a thick wooden door bolt penetrated through, almost severing the little novice's finger.
"Let's go." A dark-faced man raised his hand and grabbed the young novice by the collar, threw him into the courtyard, and drove him to the main hall.
At present, more than a dozen monks, big and small, were sitting in the corner of the hall. They either held their heads and shivered, or closed their eyes and silently recited the Buddha's name, praying for the blessings of Bodhisattvas, but no one dared to raise their eyes to look.
Because at this moment, a horrifying scene was taking place in the temple. The warm corpse of the abbot monk of Jinguang Temple was lying in front of the Buddha statue, and his stomach was disemboweled with a sharp knife.
The young novice monk came to the main hall and happened to see this bloody scene. He was so frightened that he fainted on the spot. He was kicked to the corner by the black-faced man, and no other monks dared to save him.
"Master." After the thin monkey cut out the heart and liver, he wiped his hands with his monk's clothes and asked carefully: "Then there are at least 700,000 to 800,000 guan in Linlang Garden. We only need 100,000 guan. Isn't that too little?
How much?"
"If we want more, can Su Wangting bring it out by himself?" the boss asked in return.
"But isn't there a master around Su Wangting? Does he really know how to come alone?" Thin Hou asked: "Maybe he has already reported to the government by now."
"Reporter, he doesn't dare. I have asked the eagle to watch. If I see a large smoke, dust and fire, I will kill the baby immediately and then evacuate. As for whether to take others with me, it depends on how cruel Su Wangting is. Anyway, when the time comes
We still have to grab it." The boss looked away and asked, "Has the firewood been piled up?"
"It's all piled up, and it's even poured with lime water, so it can be burned with just a little fire!" one of the men replied.
"Is the master planning to cover up the traces after getting the treasure? Gao, really Gao!" Thin Monkey raised his thumb and praised repeatedly, then looked at the group of monks in the corner: "What are they going to do with it?"
"Kill before you leave." The boss took another piece of his heart and said, "Your knife skills are getting better and better. Kill one more during dinner."
"As ordered." Thin Monkey bowed his hands, which has long been a common sight.