Not long after, Li Siye walked out of the courtyard again and saw lazy vendors sitting under the wall of the house opposite to enjoy the cool air. Just as he was about to say hello to them, the door of the courtyard next door creaked open, and a man wearing a plain skirt stepped out of the threshold.
Suddenly I saw many men sitting across from me, and I quickly covered my face and prepared to retreat.
Madam Xu turned her head and saw Li Siye standing at the entrance of the courtyard. She stopped walking back and gave him a curtsy: "Li Lang."
"Ms. Xu," Li Siye pointed to the clean ground and asked, "You helped sweep the front of my yard? Thank you."
Madam Xu nodded reservedly: "You're welcome, Mr. Li. It's just that I asked him to clean the front of your house when he was cleaning the house."
She walked up to Li Siye and whispered with half-covered lips: "Last night there was another thief spying outside Li Lang's door. It's just that I only have maids, maids, and old servants at home. I didn't dare to take risks, so I had to let the barking dog go."
Even if I get out, I don’t know if I can drive away the thieves.”
At the end of the sentence, she actually covered her mouth and smiled. Maybe the scene at that time, in addition to being exciting, also brought novelty to her ordinary life.
"Really?" Li Siye was a little at a loss. He had only met a few times and had helped him so much. He didn't know how to thank his neighbor.
"thank you."
"Why does Li Lang need to thank each other? Neighbors have been helping each other since ancient times. This is what a lady should do."
She raised her head and sniffed around, and asked in surprise: "What does Li Lang smell like?"
"Oh." Li Siye took out the sachet from his arms and said, "Maybe it's this thing. I just bought it at the Wenji Incense Shop in Dunyifang..."
"Wenji Incense Shop?" The woman was born with no resistance to fragrance. She asked Li Siye repeatedly: "Which winding alley in Dunyifang is it on? Nanqu or Beiqu? Is there a cover outside the shop? I want to, too.
Buying a sachet like this is just inconvenient when you go out."
"It should be Beiqu. Why bother?" Li Siye reached out and grabbed Madam Xu's hand and put the sachet into her hand. "I gave it to you. This is my thank you gift."
Her slightly cold green-white fingers retracted like an electric shock, her cheeks turned red, and she quickly lowered her head shyly and said, "Thank you, Mr. Li."
Before Li Siye could react, she had already fled back to her courtyard.
Li Siye let out an annoyed breath. He had almost forgotten that he should not ignore women of ancient and modern times. When he turned around, he found that the bodyguards who were following him were squatting in a row under the wall, holding their chins with their hands.
It's like watching a hook-and-loop drama.
"Let's go back to West Market."
The vendors had no respect for the president and were chatting behind him: "President Li Lang, that lady just now was interested in you, she is actually a married woman."
"This lady has a handsome face, but she is too thin and doesn't have much flesh on her body. If she is too awkward to hide under the quilt, she will not be pretty at all."
Li Siye turned around and said coldly: "You are not allowed to talk nonsense to other people's wives, and you are not allowed to say anything inappropriate. This is etiquette, you know?"
The group stopped talking, Li Siye just shook his head, and everyone walked quickly to prepare to return to the West Market.
His manpower is a bit short now, and he is currently on the territory of the Bear Fire Gang. This gang is managed in mission mode and has no loyalty at all. It is okay to bully the few with more people. Whenever he encounters a strong enemy, he will definitely run faster than a rabbit.
quick.
They just entered the south gate of the West City and happened to encounter Sha Li. This young man was like a cheerful dove, wearing tattered clothes and carrying a basket. He jumped in front of him: "Li Lang, Jiang Tongbao and the others found out some details. The boss of the Xionghuo Gang is named Feng Dalun."
, his official identity is the head of the ninth-grade Yu Department of the Ministry of Industry, and all the people he knows are officials of his rank. Others have not been found yet."
Li Siye stopped and thought to himself that he was indeed a member of the officialdom. His ability to deal with local ruffians was okay now, but if the other party used the government to deal with him, they would have no chance at all.
He could no longer despise the danger of the prince. He should deal with the immediate danger first and then consider the future. It was time to embrace the prince's lap.
Li Siye raised his head and looked at the scene. The setting sun had already set at the Golden Light Gate. There would be a curfew in another hour. There was not enough time today. He had to wait until tomorrow morning to go to Prince E's Mansion.
He led everyone back to Li Ji's green onion cake shop in the street. Fourteen "bodyguards" stood on both sides of the shop. There were two people who came to buy cakes, but when they suddenly saw such a formation, they thought this was a
The gangster's den, he quickly waved his hands and left.
Gao Shi was still in the store, holding a book in his hand and reading hard against the sunset, and Sha Li followed him in.
The sound of clanging bells could be heard from the Drum Tower of the City Department. The customers who were still lingering heard the sound of the bells closing the market and left in a hurry. The lively streets suddenly became deserted.
Li Siye sat cross-legged on the ground, feeling uneasy for some reason. Several people outside were discussing how to rotate. We couldn't sleep in this shop with more than a dozen people at night. The smell of feet alone was unbearable.
"Where is Li Siye?"
He looked intently outside the door, and saw a foreign official wearing a dark green round-neck robe standing outside, followed by two Wuhou wearing cloth back armor and hanging sticks at their waists.
The clerk suddenly saw the fourteen big men outside the shop door. He was so shocked that he took half a step back. He seemed to be hesitating whether to bring more people over, but he still insisted on not retreating.
Li Siye stood up, walked to the door, lowered his head slightly, and said condescendingly to the official: "I am, what do you want from me?"
The clerk put his hands behind his back and said, "I am the director of the Western City Department, and I am here to summon you on the order of the chief official."
Sha Li was startled and poked his head out from behind Li Siye with a basket in hand; Gao Shi stopped reading and frowned slightly; the fourteen big men looked at each other, not knowing what to do.
Li Siye said: "Okay, I'll go with you right away."
Dianshi breathed a sigh of relief, waved his hand and walked in front. Two Wuhou followed Li Siye. They held the sticks in their hands, but they still couldn't feel at ease.
The West Market Office is located on the main city building in the center of the West Market facing Beiheng Street. The base is five feet high, with three arches underneath and gate posts that can pass the oxen and carriages with the officially designated wheelbase. Beside the base is
There are masonry steps and railings, and there are three-story Xieshan-style double-eaves building upwards, with red columns arranged alternately.
The top floor is the Drum Pavilion and the Zheng Pavilion, which are used to command the opening and closing of the market. The second floor is the office area of the Department of Ling and the Department of Superintendent, and the rooms on the third floor are the duty offices of government officials and officials such as Shi.
Li Siye was taken to the second floor by Dianshi, and passed through the inner corridor. Dianshi leaned into one of the pavilions, crossed his hands and reported: "Director, the merchant Li Siye has been brought here."
"Bring him in."
The two Wuhou brought Li Siye into the pavilion, then bowed and exited. Even the official also crossed his hands and slowly retreated.
The Prime Minister stood facing him with his hands behind his back, wearing a black gauze soft-legged headdress, a dark green round-collar robe, a stone eight-piece ruffle belt hanging from his waist, and black leather Liuhe boots. Beside him was a black curved case.
A screen is displayed at the back, on which the distribution map of shops in various areas of the West Market is drawn with delicate pen and ink.
Shu Cheng turned around slowly and was startled when he saw Li Siye. He raised his head and raised his beard and asked, "Are you the 'cake tycoon' Li Siye who is running rampant in the West Market?"
Cake boss?
Li Siye opened his mouth in shock. He didn't even know that someone would give him such a nickname?
"Shu Cheng, I am Li Siye, but I am not a cake tyrant, nor am I running rampant in the West Market."