Uncle Cai opened the door and came out. Uncle Cai had a big broom in his hand and started sweeping the floor as soon as he went out.
Ge Hong said softly: "This person should be the old man butler..."
Guan Maochun nodded secretly.
While sweeping the floor, Uncle Cai would look up from time to time at both ends of the street. Occasionally, people passing by would greet him, and they seemed to be servants of people in this area.
After sweeping for a while, Uncle Cai finally noticed the two loads of firewood carried by Ge Hong and Guan Maochun. He stopped sweeping temporarily, put down the broom and walked over.
When Ge Hong saw that the old man's housekeeper was coming, he quickly reminded Maochun not to talk and to listen to him in everything.
When Uncle Cai came closer, he looked at the quality of the two loads of firewood and asked, "How much does your firewood cost per load?"
Ge Hong lowered his head and thought, not knowing what price to quote. He just told people ten taels of silver per load because he didn't want to sell it. Otherwise, without the cover of firewood, two big men squatted at the door of the house.
It’s too abrupt and strange!
Ge Hong didn't know how much firewood usually sold per load, so he said: "Uncle, if not... you can give it to me..."
Uncle Cai was happy when he heard this and joked: "Brother, if I give you a penny, will you sell this firewood? Hahaha..."
Ge Hong had no choice but to answer: "Uncle, this is the first time for us, father and son, to go to the city to sell firewood, and we don't know what price is right. This is because we are inexperienced..."
"Oh, he's new..." Cai Boxin said that's what happened, and said kindly: "Brother, it's not easy for you to carry firewood into the city in this cold weather. How about this, I'll give it to you
Thirty cents and these two loads of firewood, I want them all, do you think it’s okay?”
Ge Hong's heart moved and he quickly agreed: "Okay, sir, if you say thirty cents, it's thirty cents. We will pick it up for you right now..."
As they spoke, Ge Hong and Guan Maochun got up and took up the load of firewood.
Uncle Cai was very happy to see the two of them lively, so he happily led the two of them home.
Uncle Cai said as he walked: "Brother, I see that you are also an honest person. This is our first business transaction, so I will tell you a few words. In this city, a load of firewood usually costs 20 cents.
But the quality is good and the portions are generous...
The two loads of firewood you have are enough, but the firewood is not dry enough. It needs to dry for a few days before it can be used in the kitchen, so I gave you five cents per load. But if you think it is unreasonable, you don’t have to.
Sold to me......"
"No, no, the price given by the uncle is quite fair." Ge Hong followed behind, observing the situation at Chai Yan's house while talking.
Guan Maochun, like Ge Hong, was always on the lookout for any young men.
The two of them followed Uncle Cai to carry firewood outside the kitchen, but still did not find anyone suspected of Chai Yan. Instead, they saw Cui Yun, the old lady and the cook.
When Cuiyun looked at the firewood and nodded, Uncle Cai counted out thirty copper coins and handed them to Ge Hong. He said with a smile: "Brother, you will come every three or five from now on. As long as you have good firewood, I will not
I’ll give you a price!”
Ge Hong took the copper coins with an honest look, and then said deliberately: "Thank you, Mr. Chai..."
Uncle Cai was startled and hurriedly stretched out his hand to stop him: "No, no, no, don't scream! I'm not Mr. Chai, I'm the housekeeper, and my surname is Cai..."
"Oh..." Ge Hong apologized on his face, and then said: "Excuse me, Butler Cai, if Mr. Chai is still at home, we, father and son, might as well go over and say thank you..."
Ge Hong wanted to find an excuse to meet Chai Yan, and then act on his own initiative. If possible, he would arrest Chai Yan now.
Anyway, there is only an old man and an old woman in the family, so they cannot pose a threat to the two of them.
"Thank you? There's no need..." Uncle Cai was stunned, and thought to himself, if I don't, I'll just buy you and your son two loads of firewood. What are you thanking for?
Before he finished speaking, he heard a young man's voice coming from outside: "Uncle Cai, Aunt Yun, I went out and won't be back for lunch!"
Ge Hong was startled when he heard the voice, and his eyes immediately met with Guan Maochun's. They had the same idea, the owner of the voice should be Chai Yan.
Sure enough, I heard Uncle Cai say: "Oh, what a coincidence, my master has gone out..."
Ge Hong was anxious to follow Chai Yan, so he hurriedly said goodbye to Uncle Cai, and quickly ran out of the back kitchen yard with Guan Maochun.
Uncle Cai thought that the father and son were in a hurry to go home, so he didn't think much about it. Then when he looked back at Chai Huo Gu Zi, he couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.
Then, Uncle Cai turned around and called out: "Hey, big brother, your pole..."
But at this time, the father and son had disappeared long ago.
Uncle Cai shook his head and smiled, saying: "The father and son are too careless. If they do this business, they will have to cry for compensation sooner or later!"
After Ge Hong and Guan Maochun chased them out, they hurriedly looked for the young man, but at this time there were many more people coming and going on the street, and there were more than two or three young men, some tall, short, and fat.
Being so thin, Ge Hong and Guan Maochun had never seen what Chai Yan looked like, and they couldn't tell who was the real owner for a moment.
"Uncle Ge, there are so many people? Who is it?" Guan Maochun asked anxiously while looking around.
Ge Hong was very depressed, thinking to himself that it was such a coincidence that he went out as soon as he came in. It was a perfect miss!
Moreover, Chai Yan left early this morning and did not come back at noon. Depending on the situation, it will take a lot of time...
"Don't worry, a monk can run away but he can't run away from the temple!" As the boss, Ge Hong still had to show a calm side.
Guan Maochun gave up the search and turned around and asked: "Uncle Ge, what should we do now? Where are we going?"
Ge Hong thought for a while, reached out and patted Guan Maochun on the back, and said: "Let's go, uncle will take you around and buy some medicine for your second brother. The old wound on his throat has made him itchy at night these days."
It's so bad that I can't stop coughing..."
Guan Maochun was thinking about catching Chai Yan, so he pointed behind him and said, "Then he..."
"No rush, let's come back later. If he doesn't come back for lunch, he has to come back for dinner!" Ge Hong said firmly.
Guan Maochun thought about it carefully, there was no point in wasting money while no one was around.
After making up their mind, the two of them left Wenyun Street and looked for a drug store along the road.
--------------------------
Chai Yan didn't know that he was already being noticed. At this time, he was still having breakfast in a small shop on the street.
Chai Yan ordered a bowl of noodles, and while he was eating it he was thinking about where to go to "corrupt" his character.
After much thought, Chai Yan decided to go to the gambling stalls first. Since the brothel was not open so early, it would be in vain for him to go.
Chai Yan called the shopkeeper and asked: "Shopkeeper, are there any gambling stalls or similar places around here? As long as it's a place for gambling..."
The shopkeeper looked at Chai Yan in surprise, shook his head and said, "Sir, are you kidding? This is Wenyun Street. Who would open a gambling stall here?"
Chai Yan thought the same thing. Most of the people living in Wenyun Street were dignitaries. If they dared to make this street a mess, they would be living impatiently!
"Then where are the gambling stalls?" Chai Yan asked.
The shopkeeper thought for a moment and said, "Xicheng! Big Calabash Street, Little Calabash Street... that area is famous for its many gambling stalls!"
"Thank you!" Chai Yan stood up, paid the money and prepared to leave.
After collecting the money, the store owner kindly reminded: "Young master, if you go to Hulu Street in Xicheng, you must be careful. There is a mixture of good and bad people there, and everyone is there..."
"Thank you for reminding the store." Chai Yan thanked him and walked out of the store.
As soon as he walked down the street, a young man blocked Chai Yan's path: "Brother Chai, where are you going to have fun?"
Chai Yan took a closer look and was immediately shocked. The handsome young man in front of him, with red lips and white teeth, was none other than Jimo Qiao dressed as a man!
"That's...Jimo Qiao?" Chai Yan looked at it for a moment, then looked up and down and said: "Why do you come out dressed like this? Aren't you afraid that your parents will know?"
Jimo Qiao frowned and said unhappily: "Stop talking nonsense!"
Immediately afterwards, Jimo Qiao took out a folding fan from his waist, threw it away with a snap, slowly shook the folding fan, and raised his frame and said: "Brother Chai, you have to remember, today my name is Qiao Er.
, please call me Mr. Qiao in front of outsiders!"
"Qiao Er? Ha, haha... Good name, good name..."
Chai Yan couldn't help but feel happy. He knew it meant being a good person at home, but no matter how he heard it, he felt awkward. It was so bad!
"Don't laugh!" Jimo Qiao immediately frowned and shouted in the street.
Chai Yan didn't want to attract attention, so he calmed down and asked, "Mr. Qiao, what are you doing here?"
Jimo Qiao shook the folding fan again and said with an air of dignity: "Of course I am going to have fun with Brother Chai!"