As several of Tian Hong's uniformed guards and their helpers joined in smashing the wall, cartloads of broken bricks were transported away, and the progress of the store decoration suddenly accelerated.
In the midst of the busyness, glistening beads of sweat flowed on the bronzed and strong muscles, and the smell of hormones filled the air.
Tian Hong didn't dare to sit down, but stood aside respectfully, wondering: "Master Zhang, what is this?"
But I saw Zhang Jingxiu closing the folding fan coolly, and said with a leisurely smile: "I have nothing to do, so I want to start a small business and earn some pocket money. Please take care of me, Mr. Tian."
Tian Hong was flattered and said hurriedly: "I understand, I understand."
Tian Hong said he understood, but he couldn't help but wonder in his heart, why did this sound wrong? Is the eldest daughter of the prime minister's family also short of pocket money?
But he didn't dare to ask or tell, so he had to stay respectfully aside.
This busy time has reached noon.
The day is empty.
It was already the turn of spring and summer, and by noon the weather was already a bit hot and dry.
Shen Lie put down the sledgehammer in his hand, wiped the sweat from his face with the back of his hand, and looked at Zhang Jingxiu, Tian Hong and others who were chatting, with sunny smiles on their honest faces.
Then he greeted Yun'er: "Yun'er, dinner is ready!"
In the kitchen, Yun'er poked her little head out and said with a sweet smile: "Here comes the food!"
As big pots were brought out from the back kitchen, they were filled with stewed, grilled, noodle soup and pickles, which whet your appetite.
Shen Lie also cleaned his hands, wiped them casually, walked towards the table where Zhang Jingxiu was sitting, and gave her a toothy smile first.
Then he hugged his fists towards Tian Hong who was standing aside, and said with a smile: "Master Tian, I haven't seen you for a long time, but you still have the same style."
Tian Hong said hurriedly: "I don't dare, I don't dare."
Shen Lie then smiled again and said, "Sit down, Mr. Tian."
At Shen Lie's greeting, Tian Hong hurriedly lifted up the hem of his brocade clothes, sat down on the bench in an orderly manner, and bowed to Miss Zhang to show respect.
Shen Lie first served Zhang Jingxiu a bowl of braised pork, then another bowl for Tian Hong, and then another bowl for himself. It didn't take long.
The sound of men eating loudly could be heard in front of the shop, and for a moment, the air was filled with the smell of male hormones.
This breath...
Zhang Jingxiu picked up the chopsticks and looked at the hot braised pork in front of him. He couldn't help but feel his appetite whet his appetite. He ate in small bites. Unknowingly, the bottom of the bowl of braised pork was gone.
After a storm, the remaining clouds passed.
Eat enough, drink enough.
The few imperial guards and the hired coolies continued to smash the wall.
Shen Lie accompanied Zhang Jingxiu, and Tian Hong drank tea and chatted in the shade of the alley, talking about some topics that were not nutritious between men.
Tian Hong looked at Miss Zhang's pretty face and didn't dare to look any further. He smiled at Shen Lie and said, "Look at what this means. Shopkeeper Shen is getting Mr. Zhang's financial help this time. I'm afraid he will be making a lot of money in the future!"
Shen Lie smiled broadly and became humble: "I don't dare, I don't dare. It's a small business and I can barely support my family."
Tian Hong seemed a little envious and said a few more compliments: "Shopkeeper Shen is really...lucky to have Mr. Zhang help me this time!"
Shen Lie picked up the teapot, gave it to Zhang Jingxiu, and Tian Hong each poured a cup of hot tea, and then said with a smile: "What Mr. Tian said is true, this business depends one part on talent, two parts on diligence, and three parts on hard work." Luck, the remaining four points... all depend on the help of noble people."
Tian Hong quickly apologized and smiled: "Yes, yes."
Zhang Jingxiu shook his folding fan, looked over with his bright black and white eyes, pursed his lips and said with a smile: "What a shame!"
Shen Lie and Tian Hong laughed each other: "Yes, yes."
Shen Lie sat with him for a while, then apologized, stood up and said, "Master Tian, please just sit down, Shen...has to be busy."
Tian Hong responded quickly and watched Shen Lie stand up and leave. He picked up the sledgehammer again and began to compete with the solid brick wall.
His eyes couldn't help but squint, as if he was thinking about something in his mind.
Zhang Jingxiu smiled slightly and did not reveal it, but the folding fan shook more diligently.
So the busy day passed quickly.
As night fell, I had dinner and called it a day.
Shen Lie, covered in sweat from exhaustion, walked to the alley with Zhang Jingxiu chatting and laughing. Tian Hong followed closely behind, watching the two chatting and laughing.
He couldn't help but grit his teeth, seeming to have made up his mind.
Sure enough, early the next morning, Tian Hong sent more than ten helpers from the health center and several carriages to help, which greatly accelerated the progress of the construction.
So in just three days, the obstructive brick wall was demolished, and then the plasterers, bricklayers, and carpenters began to work on the decoration.
Shen Lie also took some time off and sat down to drink tea and chat with a few people.
Afternoon.
In the alley.
In the midst of the busyness, hearty laughter could be heard from time to time in the shade. Shen Lie accompanied a few people while drinking tea and chatting from Tiannan to Haibei.
With the eldest lady Zhang Jingxiu present, the rough-and-tumble men had to restrain themselves a little, and chatted patiently and quietly about the local customs, the feud between their parents, and then...
Several men were chatting, and somehow the topic of martial arts came to mind.
As the saying goes, literature is not the first, military is not the second.
As soon as this topic came up, even guard Zhang Kui couldn't help but join in the discussion, and he and Tian Hong discussed boxing, swordsmanship, and enemy experience with several Jin Yi guards.
For a while, the men were discussing in a lively manner. You and I didn't give in to each other's words. Although the words were a bit vulgar, they were eye-opening.
Accompanied by Shen Lie, Zhang Jingxiu looked at it with a smile while waving a folding fan. She didn't feel bored and found it very interesting in her heart.
There is no romance in this picture, and there is no smell of rouge. What is there is just the most common atmosphere of the world in the market.
Shen Lie poured a cup of tea for Zhang Jingxiu and another for Tian Hong, then asked with a smile: "Master Tian's accent doesn't sound like someone from the capital."
Tian Hong said hurriedly: "Xia Guan is from Cangzhou."
Shen Lie asked Zhang Kui again. Zhang Kui was from Qingzhou Prefecture, Shandong Province.
Then Shen Lie felt relieved. Cangzhou and Qingzhou were the hometowns of martial arts since ancient times. Basically everyone practiced martial arts, and most of them served in the Ming Dynasty's army or in the families of powerful people.
Not long after.
Several martial artists started chatting, but no one was convinced, and their emotions got a little out of control.
Seeing Zhang Kui and several Jin Yiwei, they simply lifted up the hem of their clothes, wrapped them around their waists, rolled up their sleeves, and began to spar on the spot.
In the alley, under the shade, Zhang Kui and a very capable-looking Jin Yiwei Zongqi each crouched and prepared for a close combat.
Shen Lie was also interested and couldn't help shouting: "Okay!"
These two people, one is a senior nurse from the Grand Master's residence, and the other is the chief flag officer of the Ming Dynasty Jinyi Guards. These are rare masters!
After coming here for so long, Shen Lie finally had the opportunity to see the strength of the martial arts masters of this era.
Then Shen Lie shouted.
Zhang Jingxiu, who was drinking tea, was startled, and could not help but frown slightly. He looked over and complained softly: "Brother Shen, please be patient and calm!"
That look seemed to say, why are you yelling before I hit you?
Shen Lie hurriedly lowered his head and said with a smile next to her crystal little ears: "As the saying goes, laymen watch the excitement, and experts watch the door. The winner can be determined by a fist fight between these two."
