Volume 1: The Storm in the Western Regions Chapter 130: A Tricky Idea
The dealer named Fourth Brother has been there for a long time.
After he got through the door, everyone in the hall became quiet. The games at the other six tables also stopped because no one was placing bets. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the half-open door.
superior.
Zhao Rang took this opportunity to scan around the people and games in the hall again, but the people standing around the table were basically young, and none of them were elderly. Zhao Rang did not see the old gentleman the child mentioned.
See the figure.
Zhang San was also helping Zhao Rang search, but without Zhao Rang's instructions, he could not directly ask the people around him, lest he disrupt Zhao Rang's plan and make it self-defeating.
Gradually, the hall was no longer quiet, and people began to become restless. The whispers became louder and louder, and in an instant it turned into a roar of people.
All kinds of words filled Zhao Rang's ears, but they were all words he couldn't understand. This feeling is really uncomfortable, especially when you know that everyone is actually talking about you, but you can't say a word.
When you don't understand.
Everyone's discussion came to an abrupt end when the fourth brother returned.
"Why are you arguing? Do you still want to play?"
The first thing the fourth brother did when he got out of the door was to show off his authority.
After shouting at everyone, they immediately lowered their heads and began to play with the loose money in front of them. The person hosting the game at the six tables also began to lazily continue to urge everyone to place bets.
Zhao Rang saw the fourth brother walking around the hall with his hands on his hips like an emperor inspecting his territory and subjects, then came to Zhao Rang, put a smile on his face and said:
"The table here is small, the house is shabby, and the fun is small. If I really want to use my hands, can we change places?"
Zhao Rang thought for a moment, took out a piece of the silver ingot he had just quartered with a black steel knife, threw it to his fourth brother, and asked:
"What's in it?"
The fourth brother felt that the fish had taken the bait and Zhao Rang was convinced of his "idea", so he explained:
"Of course I hope you like it!"
Zhao Rang must be very dissatisfied with such an ambiguous answer.
Seeing that the fourth brother had not yet collected the small piece of silver that Zhao Rang had thrown to him, Zhao Rang immediately stretched out his hand to hold it.
"Alas! Master, don't be impatient!"
The fourth brother panicked, leaned over from across the table, and talked in Zhao Rang's ear for a while before straightening up.
"Well, that sounds good! Let's go!"
After Zhao Rang finished speaking, he stood up and walked towards the side door.
Zhang San put away the three small silver ingots remaining on the table and followed Zhao Rang.
The fourth brother wanted to stop him, but Zhao Rang glanced sideways and put down the hand he had just raised.
Zhang San is a local. Although he has never been to Lotus Lane, he is still familiar with the local stories and stories than Zhao Rang, a complete foreigner. Having him by his side will definitely affect their deception.
Based on the experience of the fourth brother and the people behind him, it is not enough to know Zhao Rang's true background, but we also know that he is definitely not just here to gamble.
As for what he wants to do, it doesn't really matter. Whether it's looking for someone or asking for trouble, as long as the money is in place, all roads are open.
The fourth brother even estimated the money Zhao Rang carried, and thought that if he could earn it all and get his own share, it would not be a problem to buy a house in the northwest market and marry a wife.
When I think that I can still live such a life, my fourth brother is full of energy!
The door frame was a little low, so Zhao Rang had to lower his head to get in.
However, the corridor behind the door is still spacious. Zhao Rang and Fourth Brother walked side by side, and there was still room on both sides.
From the moment you enter the door, the environment in the corridor is completely different from that in the hall outside.
The wooden boards used for the walls are very neat, and the rough edges have been carefully polished. They are also much brighter, and the smell is almost non-existent.
Two-thirds of the way through the corridor, the fourth brother stopped, and Zhao Rang saw a door that fit perfectly on the wooden board on the right.
"Master, please give way a little bit!"
Zhao Rang turned sideways, and the fourth brother knocked on the door, and then opened the door.
The light in this room is a bit dazzling.
It's not the light of lights, but there are several skylights on the top, like the grids of a chessboard.
Behind the door, there are two spacious couches on the left and right, which look very soft at first glance.
Zhao Rang could tell at a glance that this couch was in the style of the previous dynasty. It should have been brought out from the palace by the group of eunuchs. But it was a little too plain. He probably fled westward and removed all the decorations that could be exchanged for money.
.
"coming?"
A voice that sounded neither male nor female came out, and Zhao Rang even got goosebumps when he heard it...
"Xiaosi, please let the guests sit down quickly. Why are you standing there?"
There is a gorgeous table placed deep in the room, which is carved out of a whole strong camphor tree. It looks extremely luxurious.
The person who spoke was neither male nor female, sitting behind the table, facing Zhao Rang. There were three people in front of him, and they all turned their heads to look at him when they heard the sound.
The person on the far right is a thin old man, wearing gray and black cloth clothes and trousers. It is a bit old, but it is spotless after being washed, and it makes him look very upright.
One of his two hands was placed on his lap, which was covered by the shadow under the table and Zhao Rang couldn't see clearly. The other hand was resting on the edge of the table, and the light from the skylight just shone on it.
The old man's hands looked as if they had never been exposed to the sun, and were frighteningly white. Zhao Rang had never seen anyone with such fair skin, and even Yuan Kexin was much worse in comparison.
The only flaw on these hands is a tiny drop of ink stained on the knuckles. If Zhao Rang hadn't had good eyesight, he wouldn't have been able to see it at all.
The knuckle of the index finger is where the pen is held, and the identity of the old man has been revealed. Zhao Rang can basically conclude that he is the old gentleman the child mentioned!
"Okay, Manager Li!"
The fourth brother agreed, took Zhao Rang to the table, got a chair, and asked him to sit down.
There are chairs here with soft cushions on them, which are more than a little more comfortable than the benches outside!
Manager Li smiled and nodded at Zhao Rang. The fat on his face was all hanging down, and it would sway back and forth if he moved slightly, which made Zhao Rang feel sick...
However, he still held back and nodded in return, but he couldn't laugh no matter what... His smile now must be uglier than crying.
Fortunately, Manager Li didn't pay attention, but picked up a purple clay pot on the tea table next to him and poured Zhao Rang a cup of tea.
"This teapot is a serious tribute. It has been passed down to three emperors in the Qinzheng Palace alone. Even my godfather doesn't know how many years it has been in the palace."
"Look, there are no tea leaves in it at all. As long as you pour hot water in, the tea aroma and tea soup will come out!"
Manager Li said slowly and with his orchid fingers raised while pouring the tea.
"please."
This purple clay pot has a big belly and a small spout. It took a long time to fill the small tea cup.
If he were elsewhere, Zhao Rang would never want to drink this cup of tea...
The identity of General Manager Li is definitely that of a former eunuch. As for whether he is a general manager, Zhao Rang thinks that it is probably not the case. He probably likes this name, so he lets others call him that. Anyway, here, the rich are the masters, like the fourth brother
Such a person can do anything to survive, let alone just a title. Maybe he himself doesn't know what a manager is, so he can call him whatever he is told.
However, the godfather Li mentioned is very likely to be the real manager.
Zhao Rang knew that the great eunuchs of the previous dynasty had the habit of accepting adopted sons. However, it was rare for eunuchs to accept adopted sons. Those nine-thousand-year-old men who were so powerful that even the ministers and generals had to go to the pole to fawn over them. If it really happened
Accepting a young eunuch as an adopted son means that this young eunuch must be something special.
"Mr. Li, you're welcome!"
Zhao Rang took a deep breath, made full preparations, picked up the tea cup and drank it all in one gulp.
But this aroused the disgust of Manager Li, who frowned and said:
"Oh! How can you drink tea like this? Can you still taste it?"
After that, he gave Zhao Rang another drink.
Zhao Rang didn't say anything. He picked up the teacup with both hands this time, smelled the aroma first, then took a sip, and then let out a sound of relief from his throat.
Manager Li didn't know that Zhao Rang didn't gasp at all when he smelled it, and his lips were only slightly wet when he drank it.
"Well, not bad! This young man knows etiquette and appreciates gifts! I heard that you are a good swordsman. Your surname is Zhao?"
Manager Li said calmly.
Zhao Rang had goosebumps, but he broke into a cold sweat again!
Just now I thought that this old eunuch must have some ability to survive to this day and live so well. But I didn't expect that he could guess that he was a member of the Zhao family just based on his skill with a knife!
Zhao Rang was not sure whether it was because he said it casually, or if he really saw it, so he pretended to be shocked and said:
"I'm just showing off my sharpness, it doesn't mean anything."
"The knife made of black steel is indeed fast! It seems that your Zhao family really got a lot of treasures back then!"
Manager Li said meaningfully.
In and out of words, he has already confirmed that he is a member of the Zhao family.
"Young man, don't be harsh, we'll wait!"
Manager Li saw that Zhao Rang still didn't want to admit it. He supported the table with both hands, stood up slowly with his fat body, and then walked to the standing cabinet beside him.
The eunuch walked with his legs spread wide apart. Mr. Li looked even weirder because he was fat. And in order to cover up the smell on his body, he wore at least a dozen sachets on his thick waist, some of which were jasmine and some.
The roses, mixed together, are even weirder than his walking posture!
Manager Li slowly came to the cabinet and gasped:
"Xiao Si, lift the cover!"
Just a few steps were already a huge load on his body. Manager Li was so tired that he could no longer reach out and his voice was a little hoarse. However, when he spoke like this, he still looked a bit like a man. Zhao Rang's
The goosebumps are much better.
There is no dust on the cover cloth, and it seems that it is cleaned frequently. This not only shows that Manager Li is a person who loves cleanliness, but also shows that the things placed in the cabinet under the cover cloth are extremely important.
"fire!"
Manager Li's breathing calmed down and his voice changed again.
As soon as the word was spoken, the fourth brother was already protecting the candle with his hand and stood beside him.