Brother Quan is much calmer than the little thief.
He looked at me curiously and asked:
"Xiaoduo is not here! Excuse me, who are you from Xiaoduo?"
"Her brother!"
"Then you know Mr. Niu?"
"We know each other very well!"
Brother Quan will be skeptical about my words.
After hesitating for a moment, he suddenly turned sideways and made a gesture of invitation to me.
"Invite me to the hospital for a cup of crude tea, and let's talk about it!"
The so-called right means to explain the ins and outs of something properly.
Following everyone, he entered the courtyard.
As soon as I entered the door, I was shocked by the scene in the yard.
Although this is an unfinished building.
But the yard is big and kept very clean.
Just on one side of the yard, there are several iron barrels for burning charcoal.
On top of the iron bucket against the wall, there is boiling water.
There were also a few small soap flakes placed in the boiling water.
Several children around ten years old.
Hold the boiling water with two fingers.
Quickly scoop the soap into the boiling water.
They are not yet skilled in their techniques.
Every time I pinched it, I was so hot that I grinned.
But they still dare not not do it.
Because there was a little thief with a belt watching next to him.
If he doesn't do it, he'll be like a belt.
Next to the second charcoal-burning stove, several children were also gathered in a circle.
Staring at the coals on the stove.
Suddenly, one of the children stretched out his hand.
Quickly take out a piece of hot coals that will be burning red.
Then, he didn't pause at all.
Then pass it on to the next person.
The next person also took it with two fingers and passed it on.
Repeat this to practice your hand speed.
At the door, there were several eight or nine-year-old children.
They gathered around a big basin.
It's mixed with red beans and mung beans.
These beans are all poured with oil.
Several children had to use their fingers to quickly pick out the red beans poured with oil.
Once you pick the wrong color.
The person next to me would just slap him in the face.
And on the far right.
They were a few children aged six or seven.
These children kept poking their middle fingers in front of a special wooden board.
Some of the middle fingers have been punctured and bloodshot stains covered the wooden board.
But they could only cry silently, not daring to stop at all.
I once heard Mr. Liu talk about this kind of training method.
This is one of the basic skills of Rongmen, called the middle finger.
The method is extremely cruel.
Poke your middle finger until it is as long as your index finger.
Because a person's middle finger is much longer than the index finger.
When picking things up, you need to reach deeper.
And, it is extremely easy to fall off.
If the middle finger is as long as the index finger, it will create a tweezers-like effect.
When you start, just do a little exploration.
Things are also more secure and less likely to fall off.
In the middle of the yard, there is a simple shed set up.
Although this shed is simple, it is enough to protect it from wind and rain.
In the shed, there was an old man in his sixties sitting.
The old man was wearing a black embroidered Tang suit.
On her feet are a pair of old Beijing cloth shoes.
On the thumb finger, there is a mutton-fat jade ring.
There is also a gold and jade Buddhist amulet hanging around his neck.
Whether it's a finger ring or a Buddhist amulet, it's worth a lot of money just by looking at it.
Beside him, there was a young girl waiting on him.
Bring tea and water, light a cigarette and rub your back.
You can see it without guessing.
This old man is the king of thieves here.
A group of us walked in, but the old man didn't even look at us.
He cracked melon seeds and asked in a hoarse voice:
"Xiao Quanzi, what's going on with the commotion?"
Brother Quan immediately said cautiously:
"Master Liu, I just did some shopping. It doesn't sound like an idea. I said I came to see Xiaoduo. It seems that he is also from the Eight Gates..."
As Brother Quan said, he handed over the steel playing card I had stuck on the little thief.
Mr. Liu took it and looked around before saying:
"Hey, this stuff is pretty good. Is it Qianmen, Caimen, or Guazimen?"
As he said that, Mr. Liu raised his head and glanced at me.
Caimen, I have said it before.
And Guazimen refers to those who travel around the world and perform martial arts.
Some martial arts styles will also include some clever hidden weapons for display.
That's why Mr. Liu mistakenly thought that I might be a swindler.
Before I could say anything, Mr. Liu put the playing cards on the table and said:
"Looking for Xiaoduo, but the circle is wrong? Xiaoduo is not here either. Have you stepped into the wrong circle?"
When I heard that Mr. Liu actually knew Xiaoduo.
I took a step forward and bowed my hands in salute.
"Master Liu, I'm Xiaoduo's brother. The girl hasn't been seen for a few days. I'm so anxious, so I offended you. I wonder if you can help me inquire and see if anyone from the Rongmen has seen Xiaoduo.
!”
Only then did Mr. Liu look at me seriously.
Still cracking the seeds.
"If we're not relatives, why should we help you?"
"It's true that I was rude. Here, Mr. Liu, you make a price! As long as you help me find out Xiaoduo's whereabouts, I will never counter-offer!"
"A price?"
Mr. Liu chuckled and sneered.
Pointing at the people in the yard, he said slowly:
"Look at it, both at home and outside. I, my disciples and my disciples, pay filial piety to me every day, and I worry about how to spend it. We are short of everything, but not this red and blue leather. Now you want me to set a price? Ha!"
How do I drive it?”
The red and blue leather in Mr. Liu's words refers to hundred-dollar bills.
One hundred pieces of about two thousand years old, available in red and blue.
Of course, Mr. Liu's words were meant to show off.
But, it is no exaggeration.
As far as I know, the thief kings in various regions do not go out on their own.
It's all up to the little thieves under his command to do these things.
And they just sit back and wait to be paid.
As for some petty thieves who do not open their businesses or hide their private interests, they will be severely punished.
"Master Liu, tell me, how can you help me find Xiaoduo?"
People under the eaves have to bow their heads.
Although I am not a person who gives in easily.
But in order to find Xiaoduo, I can only humble myself.
Master Liu picked up the tea bowl.
Shaking his head, he blew lightly.
After taking a sip, he asked me again:
"Do you know Mr. Niu?"
"know!"
As soon as I finished speaking.
Lao Hei immediately added.
"Lao Niu is hospitalized, and it was our Mr. Liu who paid for it!"
"oh?"
Mr. Liu looked at me in surprise and asked again.
"How much was paid out?"
"thirty!"
Master Liu nodded slightly.
"That's right, give me a seat!"
Put down the tea cup and Master Liu gave an order.
The woman immediately took a chair and made a gesture of invitation to me.
It seems that Mr. Liu can enjoy the seat.
It should be a great honor to be in their circle.
"How do you know Mr. Niu?"
Master Liu asked.
I briefly talked about the process of getting to know Mr. Niu.
As soon as he finished speaking, Mr. Liu gave me a thumbs up and praised:
"Yes, Mr. Liu, I don't have any moral principles. But I always have a high regard for people who are moral. If you do this to you so beautifully, I have to help you find that little wild girl today!"
With that said, Mr. Liu ordered Brother Quan:
"Xiao Quanzi, tell our day ghosts to find out where the little wild girl went crazy. In addition, send out all the people who are doing morning activities and running lanterns. That is to say, I will turn Habei City upside down.
Come here, I want to find out the whereabouts of Xiaoye girl!"
"Okay, Mr. Liu!"
Brother Quan agreed.
He immediately sent everyone around him away.
The day ghosts Liu Ye mentioned refer to thieves who specialize in stealing during the day.
Tazaoqing refers to a thief who strikes before dawn.
As for running around with lanterns, it means going out to steal after dusk.