Chapter 64: Retirement
"In the future, brother Xiang will never suffer any losses. He will arrange people to come and see him. If you want goods, you will not let those bastards get involved." After Xiang Bo made a statement, the fourth master of Gao Si immediately repaid his favor.
While speaking, he turned to Zhu Da and said kindly: "This must be the young man of the Zhu family. It is indeed not easy to be valued by Mr. Qin. He looks like a handsome talent."
Zhu Da hurriedly greeted him. The smile on the fourth master's face became more friendly. He leaned closer and said, "I heard that Brother Zhu is still learning martial arts and is used to using some weapons. The blacksmiths over us have good skills. Then we can use good iron to send it to you."
By this time, Zhu Da could clearly feel that the focus of the fourth master of high school was probably on himself. The two sides had just met, and the other party's behavior of stepping on lows made people feel uncomfortable. He didn't want to get close to him rashly. Just as he was about to refuse, Xiang Bo answered the words: "This kid practices knife with me, which is the commonly used geese-ling knife in the army. There is a short one on his waist. I'll help the Fourth Master."
"Thank you, Fourth Master." Zhu Da could only follow and answer.
Seeing that the other party accepted his kindness, the fourth master of high school smiled so much that his eyes narrowed, and reached out to pat Zhu Da on the shoulder and said, "What's the name of the Fourth Master? Just call me the Fourth Brother. This weapon must be vague."
He called Xiang Bo "brother" and regarded Xiang Bo's apprentice as brothers. His generation was already in chaos, but no one could tell him. Zhu Da took the opportunity to say politely: "In the future, I will be troubled by Fourth Master, and I also want to ask you to take care of my master more."
There is a sense of propriety in his words and there is no shortage of etiquette. This is not something a twelve-year-old country boy can say. A trace of surprise flashed in his fourth master's eyes. He only "it's easy to say" there. After a few polite words, he went to arrange his busy schedule.
Although Xiang Bo's yard is now in the yard of Xiang Bo's family, Xiang Bo has become an outsider. He is happy and just stood by the side. When the fourth master of Gao walked away, he smiled and said, "A good knife is not cheap. The Gao family is willing to pay. Why are you polite to them? The old man has been there for several years. This fourth master has never seen me directly. Today he calls me brother."
"Master, the fourth master of high school asked you how to purchase goods just now, and my disciple was worried, afraid that you would go to the general account to purchase goods." Zhu Da smiled in a low voice.
"The old man is indeed greedy for money, but he is not stupid. The Gao family has only a dozen villages in total. If I split it up, I will become a big enemy. You are right. With these four villages, you have already made a lot of money. Don't be moved to make trouble." Xiang Bo said in a muffled voice.
After the curiosity at first, Zhou Qingyun was already bored. He came over here and said in a muffled voice: "This family doesn't look like home."
"I don't know how many days you can live there, but you can make a sissy look like a woman." Xiang Bo smiled and cursed, and then lowered his voice and continued: "Old man teaches you something. You can't look at people. I'm not a smile. I'm not a good person to see this senior high school. I'll tell you, this is the first time I have seen him with a friendly smile. The Gao family has a lot of business, and the business on private salt is the one in the high school. It's famous for being so naughty. Not to mention selling salt, there are a few lives in his hands, let alone those who have broken hands and feet."
Zhu Da and Zhou Qingyun both stared at the senior high school. If Xiang Bo didn't say it, he wouldn't be able to tell that the other party was such a person.
"The salt sent from the big cabinet is all white, but when we get to our hands, it turns black and gray. Think about it, someone has sued it on the big cabinet, but there is no good ending..."
Xiang Bo was talking there, but Zhu Da thought that Mr. Qin knew whether he knew this. He tended to think that scholar Qin should have a good idea, but he just ignored the trade-offs and judgments. These hundreds of villages in Zuowei in Datong have no channels to buy salt from outside. The second cabinet is adulterated, and the salt dealers below will also take action. It can ensure that each floor has money and make relatively stable profits. It is estimated that the Salt Stack General Number may not be too serious.
After the yard was almost cleaned, the tables, chairs and other things were put down. The fourth high school master said goodbye politely. In addition to saying hello to Xiang Bo, he was also kind to Zhu Da.
Looking at the yard that became neat and clean, Zhu Da and Xiang Bo all felt that it was not their own home. The villagers onlookers had not dispersed and were still watching and discussing outside. The eyes of Master Xiang Bo and the disciples were full of awe. A young man standing in front of the fight today had to be polite to him, and the other party ignored him. However, such a young man politely showed his goodwill to Xiang Bo and Zhu Da. The master and disciples were really lucky. What kind of master have you ever climbed up to?
Among the villagers who were looking around, the children and teenagers had particularly eager eyes. When they thought, Zhu Da was originally similar to them, but after he became crazy about his apprenticeship, his life was improved all of a sudden. He started eating the delicious food, and then was taken care of by the village chief banner master. Now he has such a grand style again. If I go to apprenticeship, I might have similar blessings.
The supper was eaten at the Zhu family. The meals were full of wine and meat. Compared to yesterday's joy, Zhu Da's parents were much silent today, even Xiang Bo was the same. Zhu Da could understand this reaction. When he came back yesterday to describe the future with his family, his family could still accept it based on his imagination. However, today the team arranged by the front station was beyond the concept of Zhu Da's parents. They could not judge, so they were silent and even a little confused.
After taking a few sips of wine, Xiang Bo broke the silence first. He said to Zhu Da slowly: "I originally thought it was a fortune, but today it seems that it is hard to say, and Master can't understand it either, but if Zhu Da, if you don't want to go, Master will stop this."
Since becoming a disciple, Zhu Da has summarized the rules. It is normal for Xiang Bo to claim to be an "old man", and the claim of "master" is only mentioned when it is a serious matter.
As soon as he said this, Zhu Da’s parents also showed a look of agreement. If they cannot understand beyond the concept in the future, normal people will choose not to change and maintain their original state.
"Master, my disciple can handle it and take good care of Qingyun." Zhu Da's answer was simple and confident.
Xiang Bo took a sip of wine, pondered for a moment before nodding and said, "You can handle it. If someone else says this, the old man may not believe it. You are not saying big talk."
After setting the tone, the atmosphere at the table finally became much more lively. Xiang Bo's confidence in Zhu Da also infected the Zhu family's parents. Thinking about the magical performance of his children during this period, they were no longer so worried and confused.
After drinking a few more cups, Zhu Shitou proposed to be sworn in with Xiang Bo. He said it very clearly. If it weren't for Zhu Da's apprenticeship, it would be better to recognize Xiang Bo as an elder. However, now he can only be sworn in brothers. The Zhu family has so many good things to do with Xiang Bo, and not much can be rewarded. I hope that Xiang Bo can live a more comfortable life and give him a care for his old age.
The promise of "sustaining for the elderly and seeing off the death" is not a trivial matter. No matter how much Xiang Bo doesn't care about it on weekdays, he still feels pessimistic and desperate when he is lonely in his later years. Zhou Qingyun is too young, so he is afraid that it will be too late when he grows up. Now it is just right for the Zhu couple to propose it.
Xiang Bo is a very strong-willed person and is unwilling to bother others, so he refused at the beginning, but the Zhu family was not polite. The two families were so tightly tied to their children and private salts, so it was also necessary to get closer. Xiang Bo himself could think of this, and finally accepted it, and promised there that the accumulated money and other things must be distributed to the Zhu family, and that the identity of a businessman would also try to get one for Zhu Shitou in the future.
In the past, Zhu Da's father was very afraid of the private salt business, but now he knows that this is much better than farming, so he is naturally willing to do it for a long time, but now he is in a state of "injustice and disagreement", and Xiang Bo's statement also excited him.
There is no ritual for becoming sworn brothers in Baibao Village. It is nothing more than two people kowtow to the sky and say a few words of oath. After clarifying the identity of the sworn brothers, everyone will get closer and drink much faster. If it weren't for the Qin Xiucai coming tomorrow, Xiang Bo and Zhu Shitou would have drunk.
Even if they stopped in time, the two of them had overdose. Zhu Shitou was simple at home, so Zhu Da had to help him send it back.
After leaving the house, the cold wind blew, Xiang Bo's drunkenness a little a little more. He was tall and burly, and Zhu Da and Zhou Qingyun were struggling to support him. He only heard the old man muttering, not knowing what to say.
When they were sent to Xiang's house and entered the yard, Zhu Da and Zhou Qingyun were already sweating profusely. They went to boil water for Uncle Xiang to drink. They couldn't leave for a while and had to wait until the sweat fell before going back.
After the water was boiled, Xiang Bo had recovered a little sober, and shouted Zhu Da and Zhou Qingyun to the front, and said solemnly: "Qin Xiucai must ask you about your origin. You can be said to be a wild Taoist, but you can't mention the sect. You must not say that scholars are particularly taboo about this. Not only Zhu Da, but Qingyun, you must also remember it. Do you understand?"
Even if Zhu Da’s own understanding of the sect is vague, there is no need to say about Zhou Qingyun. However, both of them know that this is not a trivial matter. From the elders’ attitude that looks like a tiger, wolf, snake and scorpion, they also know the importance of this.
After Zhu Da returned home, his father had already fallen asleep. He and his mother cleaned up the house and prepared to rest. The bedding there had just been laid, but his father Zhu Shitou turned over and sat up from the kang. Zhu Da thought he was going to be drunk and vomit. Unexpectedly, his father Zhu Shitou said with his tongue: "Xiaoda, if it's not good outside, go home. A good future is good. As long as you are safe, your father is not worried about you going..."
After muttering a few words, he was drunk again. Before Zhu Da agreed, he fell asleep again. His mother, Zhu Wangshi, wiped her tears and gave a few words to him.
Chapter completed!