Daquwan, which is only a quarter of a foot away from Jiuquli, is the largest market in this area. It has more than a dozen streets criss-crossing each other and has all kinds of things. Everyone says that if you can think of it, you can’t find it here.
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Qingyu stopped in front of a carpentry workshop in Daquwanmu Lane.
There was a lot of noise inside the door, with yelling and begging for mercy. Even though the whole alley was rattling, the sounds coming from this house were still deafening.
The door was still closed. Qing Yu looked through the crack in the door and saw that there was no bolt inside.
"This Jiang Mutou is beating his apprentice again early in the morning."
"You are so pitiful onions, why do you have to deal with such a master, and get beaten like a common occurrence?"
Qingyu looked back and saw a couple diagonally opposite the door, carrying a load and getting ready to go out to sell wood carvings.
The couple looked at her and didn't care. In their opinion, Qingyu was just a curious and playful child.
Qingyu waited for the couple to leave before pushing the door open and walking in. She happened to see a middle-aged man whose face was flushed with anger, holding up a wooden stick as thick as his thumb.
The middle-aged man was wearing a gray-blue shirt, with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and the half of his exposed arms looked dark.
He had a thin beard on his chin, his small eyes looked at the young man kneeling in front of him with hatred, and he even said angrily: "Tell me, where is the money hidden?"
The boy kneeling on the ground looked to be sixteen or seventeen years old. He was dressed in gray linen clothes, with skinny cheeks. The hands hanging on his legs were rough and did not look like the hands of a teenager.
He lowered his head slightly, looking lonely and sad, without any vitality that a young man should have.
The wooden stick fell on the boy's back again. The boy groaned, but still shook his head and said he didn't know.
Qingyu silently sat down for the two of them. This was Jiang Mutou and his apprentice Congtou.
Onion's shaking head in denial made Jiang Mutou even more angry. Jiang Mutou raised his stick and hit him with several more sticks, beating and cursing at the same time:
"I told you, a little beast, to lie. You don't learn from the good and the bad, but you actually learned to steal. I usually eat less or wear less clothes for you. You want to steal so much money? If you don't admit it today, I will
Peel off your skin and let me see if you admit it or not."
Onion still swallowed and shook his head, "Master, I really didn't steal the money, I didn't steal it."
Jiang Mutou became more and more angry and furious, "You still don't admit it, there are only a few people in the family, who stole it if it wasn't you?" As he said this, the force on his hand became stronger.
"Dad, stop fighting. Brother Onion has always been honest and obedient. When has he ever disobeyed you? If he says he didn't take it, then he definitely didn't take it. Even if you beat him to death, he won't be able to change the money."
A girl in simple clothes but slim was crying and persuading her. The girl was about fifteen or sixteen years old and good-looking, but she was crying so hard.
After the girl finished speaking, the woman who was also watching from the side spoke, with quite a bit of hatred in her tone.
"You just have to admit that you took it. We have supported you for many years and we will not kick you out just because you stole money.
As long as you take out the money, kowtow to your master and admit your mistake and promise not to do it again, you will still be a member of our family, otherwise, don't stay in this family."
Onion's face was filled with tears, but he still shook his head: "Master, Master, it's really not me, I didn't steal."
"You little bastard, if you still don't tell the truth, I will beat you to death today. I think you are still stubborn." Jiang Mutou was so angry that he looked around and wanted to change the stick, but he saw Qingyu at the door and asked with a sullen face: "Are you?
Which family’s baby is there? What are you doing?”
Qingyu came to Jiang Mutou with his hands behind his back, glanced at Congtou again, and said with a smile: "I'm here to find money for you."
Several people in the courtyard were a little confused. Jiang Mutou frowned and pointed at Qingyu with a stick: "Little boy, what do you mean by this? Could it be that you stole this money?"
Qingyu chuckled, "I didn't steal the money, but your money will be delivered to your door soon. Just wait."
These words puzzled Jiang Mutou even more. He and his wife looked at each other, both of them looking confused. This girl was not from this alley and they had never seen her before.
Qingyu ignored them and looked around in the yard, then saw the two red wooden doors standing in the middle of the main room.
She made a sweet sound, pointed at the red door and said, "I want that door, it's nice."
Jiang Mutou looked in the direction she pointed and smiled, "This is a fine red wooden door. If you want it, let your family buy it."
Qingyu shook her head, "I don't want to buy it, I will let you give it to me."
"Send it to you?" Jiang Mutou snorted angrily. He didn't bother to talk to a little kid, so he raised his hand and said, "Go, go, play somewhere else."
Qingyu sat on the threshold and looked at the end of the alley. Soon, a sound of gongs, drums and suonas came from far and near.
"Marry a girl, marry a girl." Qingyu jumped up and shouted while running in the alley.
There are many residents in Muxiang. When they hear that someone is marrying a girl, they all come out to watch the fun.
"Who is marrying the girl? Is it from our alley?"
"I don't know. Little baby, whose family will marry a girl?" someone asked Qingyu.
Qingyu pointed to Jiang Mutou's home, "In his future uncle, he will still be a scholar."
Upon hearing this, Muxiang became lively. The daughter of Jiang Mutou's family was very good-looking. Many people came to propose marriage, but Jiang Mutou rejected her. He looked down on ordinary people. It turned out that he had fallen in love with a scholar.
People in Muxiang gathered around the door of Jiang Mutou's house. The sound of gongs and drums got closer and closer. Many people nodded, believing in their hearts that it was indeed Jiang Mutou's family who wanted to marry their daughter.
Some people even came directly to ridicule, "Jiang Mutou, why are you hiding such a big thing from marrying your daughter and not letting us know about it? You are still a scholar. Are you afraid that the good thing will not come true?"
Jiang Mutou looked confused, "Why marry a daughter?" After that, he looked unhappy and said, "Don't talk nonsense, my family Chenglan hasn't been engaged yet, what kind of virtue are you accumulating?"
"If you still don't admit it, my future uncle has sent all the betrothal gifts to your door. Hey, here, here, wow, this is quite impressive. Jiang Shou, come out and take a look. There are more than a dozen big boxes. Congratulations, congratulations, I finally gave it to your daughter.
I found a good household."
Some people also laughed and joked, "Old man Jiang is finally willing to let his daughter get married. If he continues like this, Miss Cheng Lan will become an old girl."
The sound of gongs and drums seemed to be ringing in his ears. Finally, Jiang Mutou couldn't hold himself still. He hurriedly ran out and took a look at the alley. Sure enough, a team of men and horses dressed in red were coming. The man on the horse had a fair face and a gentle manner. He looked very human.
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Someone recognized who it was and said, "Hey, isn't this Zhang Xiucai? Now Jiang Mutou is on a high branch. He is a popular candidate for this year's provincial examination."
"I heard that Zhang Xiucai's family is quite wealthy. The houses on Honghua Street are so expensive, so he lives there."
"Jiang Mutou usually doesn't talk much, but I didn't expect that he has quite good taste."
During the discussion, Zhang Xiucai had already arrived at the door of Jiang Mutou's house. He greeted the people around him with a smile on his face, and then he was about to enter the yard with his clothes in hand. However, he was stopped by the sullen Jiang Mutou at the door. Zhang Xiucai quickly bowed.