The bear child of the Red Chamber, Jia Cong

On this day, the sun is bright and the wind is light, the flowers are bright and the birds are beautiful. Su Tao, the prefect of Jiangxi, auctioned 42 shops on Zhuzi Street in the lobby of the government office.The signing is scheduled to start at the second quarter of Chenshi, and the auction will start at Sishi.There were many people queuing up outside the government office early.Yang Guotai is still pretending to be a doorman at this moment, looking up, [-]% of them are obviously not here to do business seriously.

When the time came, four tables were lined up, and the civil servants asked merchants who were interested in participating in the auction to take their number plates, take a seat according to the number, and leave their names and places of origin.I saw many tall, short, fat and thin people, all wearing silk shirts like rich men, with bulging waists.The clerks have been ordered long ago, no matter who they are, they will be registered and issued licenses in a serious manner.

Those who took the number plate followed the four guides and stepped over the threshold. There was a long table horizontally in the courtyard of the front yard.An old Taoist priest with white beard and hair and wearing an apricot-yellow Taoist robe sat in front of the table, who was Zhenming.Beside him stood two teenagers and a middle-aged man.One boy was also wearing Taoist robes, while the other and the middle-aged man were dressed like ordinary people.Seeing a tall and fat man approaching, Zhenming pointed out: "You, wait."

The man saw that the Taoist demeanor was very good, he came over and clasped his fists: "What advice does the Taoist master have for you?"

Zhenming said: "Take out the sleeve quiver hidden in the sleeve, the treasure bag in the bosom, and the dagger in the boot. No weapons are allowed at the auction site." The man was stunned.

The little Taoist came over with a wicker frame the size of a washbasin: "You put all the hidden weapons here, Xiaodao will number them for you, and you can just pick them up after the auction. We don't charge storage fees."

The man said: "These are my self-defense."

The other boy said: "Don't worry, this is the magistrate's yamen, and you will be the master's guest when you come. No one dares to move guests in our master's place. Besides, your things are useless." Nai Yi pouted, "You No matter how fast the Hidden Arrow is, can it compare to the speed of a gun?"

The man flicked his sleeves and said angrily, "Do I have to bring it in?"

As soon as the words were finished, the middle-aged man behind the old Taoist walked up to him, raised his hand to grab the man's wrist, and reached into his sleeve with the other hand until he took off the quiver.The man had just struggled a few times, and the treasure bag in his arms was also taken out, and another purse was also taken.He raised his leg and kicked the middle-aged man, but he pulled out the dagger from his boot.Put everything into a wicker box.The little Taoist looked at the number plate in his hand: "You are the No. [-] official Huang, right?" He said while writing a sign neatly, and clipped it to the wicker basket, "When you leave, just Take your number plate to fetch things." Huang Daguan's face was like gold paper immediately - the middle-aged man's martial arts skills are far superior to his own.Several people walked into the gate of the government office behind, and they could see clearly.A few of them flirtatiously.

The yamen servant who led him in said with a smile on his face: "Official number two, please come with the little official."

The next yamen servant led a gentlemanly man over. He was wearing a Confucian shirt, a Confucian scarf on his head, and a folding fan in his hand.Zhenming said: "You, pour out the concealed weapons in the fan bone and behind the belt." Then he turned his head and ordered, "Use a small frame."

The little Taoist agreed, and picked out a small woven wicker basket that was as big as a plate, and bent down to look at the number plate in this person's hand: "No. [-], Mr. Liu."

The young man stood in front of the case and quickly wrote the signature: "No. [-], Mr. Liu."

Senior official Liu laughed: "Su Tao has so many people under his command." Nai shook his fan resolutely, and many iron needles clattered out of it.He unbuttoned his belt in public and turned it over to see that there were indeed many darts attached.

The boy pinned the stick on the small wicker basket and said with a pleasant smile, "Don't worry, it will never be damaged."

Mr. Liu cupped his hands and said, "Please, Mr. Xiao. Mr. Xiao writes well. May I ask your surname?"

"My surname is Yuan." The boy said, "Thank you for your compliment."

After Mr. Liu left, the next one was dressed as a rich man, and he went to the desk and took out a dagger from his sleeve.Zhenming said: "The soft sword on your waist has to be untied too."

The local rich man said with a bitter face: "This thing is precious, Taoist priest, please don't let me damage it."

"Don't worry, don't worry." The little Taoist said, "If you take off the shape, I will return it to you." The rich man had no choice but to untie the soft sword at his waist.

Zhenming said again: "The things hidden in the bosom can't be brought in either." The local rich man sighed and took out a lot of paper buns.

The young man surnamed Yuan wondered: "I heard that those who wield soft swords are all highly skilled in martial arts. Since you are so powerful, why do you still use these messy medicines?"

The local rich man said: "Walking in the rivers and lakes, not everything can be solved with a sword."

The boy asked: "What else..."

"Cough cough." Zhenming coughed twice, "Kids don't ask questions."

The local rich man smiled wretchedly: "Young master, you will understand when you grow up."

The boy pursed his lips and muttered, "I'm already this old..."

The local rich man went in with the yamen servant, and behind him a man in black walked straight to the lobby without looking sideways.Zhenming called him, but he just didn't hear.The middle-aged man walked over to block his way, and said: "Excuse me, take out the weapons and medicines on your body." Without saying a word, the man suddenly raised his fist and hit the middle-aged man's chest.The middle-aged man turned on his toes, avoided his fist, and slashed at the man's arm with a backhand palm.This person didn't have time to stop, and he was caught abruptly. He yelled "Ouch", and cold sweat suddenly broke out on his head and face.

At this moment, three people jumped up from behind and kicked the middle-aged man with three legs.The middle-aged man jumped into the air.It was too late to say it, and then it was too late, several cold lights flashed in the air, and several hidden weapons could not be seen clearly pierced the air at the same time and shot at the middle-aged man.Many of the people waiting were Lianjiazi, and they couldn't help taking a deep breath.Then he saw the middle-aged man kicking three times in succession "Pa Pa Pa Pa", kicking the heads of the three attackers, and the three of them fell to the ground with "Ouch".The middle-aged man landed safely by himself, unscathed.There was a clanging sound on the ground, and three darts, two sleeve arrows, a barbed caltrop, and six locust rocks fell.The whole courtyard was silent.

Then the little Taoist said crisply: "Why don't these obviously malicious people drive them out?"

The young man surnamed Yuan said: "Master said, since it's a fair auction, you can't discriminate against people in the green forest. What if they want to settle down and open a shop, and really do business? Besides, so what if they let it in."

The little Taoist said: "That's right. They can't mess around either—they can't beat the master and the senior brother."

The middle-aged man withdrew and returned to the man in black: "Your Excellency, please take out the weapons and medicines on your body."

The man in black gritted his teeth.After a long while, he raised his head and said, "That's all! Your honor has worked hard, and I will admit defeat." Turning around and walking to the table.The little Taoist went over early with the wicker frame, and the man took out a pair of Emei thorns, two hidden weapon pouches, and a pile of paper bags from his body.The young man surnamed Yuan said loudly: "No. [-] Zhou Daguan." With a wave of his pen, he wrote the sign and pinned it to the basket.A yamen servant came and took the basket away.

Seeing that the people behind him were no match for this middle-aged man, they became more honest.When we got to No.16, Liu Xiaoqi came in.Zhen Ming looked at the sky: "Young man, sleeve arrows, hidden weapon pouches, and daggers."

Liu Xiaoqi pointed to her nose: "Me?"

"Of course it's you."

Liu Xiaoqi whispered: "Aren't you going to open a back door and turn a blind eye?"

Zhenming stroked his beard: "No."

Liu Xiaoqi muttered: "Yesterday I had a very happy conversation with Mr. Su, it would be stingy not to let go of such an idea." He honestly handed the guy out of his arms.

The middle-aged man said: "The locust stone bag."

Liu Xiaoqi pursed her lips, glanced at him complainingly, and obediently took off the book bag embroidered with black bamboo at her waist.Opened the call, and took out a book from inside, with "The Analects of Confucius" written on it.Seeing him open it, he realized that it was not a book, but a cardboard box.Liu Xiaoqi turned the cardboard box upside down, and poured out many locust rocks from inside.

The little Taoist said: "Why don't you put the box in the basket? You will have to put it back later."

Liu Xiaoqi put away the cardboard box and put it back into the book bag, saying: "The box should be reserved for politeness." The little Taoist priest and the boy surnamed Yuan rolled their eyes together.

Everyone entered in order.At Sishi, Su Tao came out from behind wearing a brand-new official robe with a smile on his face.Everyone shouted in unison, "Lord Su——" Su Tao cupped his hands and said, "Everyone must know that today the official wants to auction off 42 shops that were closed down a while ago to repay the money owed by the owner."

Someone below stood up and shouted loudly: "Excuse me, my lord, who are the owners of those shops owed?"

Su Tao glanced at the master beside him.The master said: "It's too much. Among other things, they bought those shops at extremely low prices. Don't you want to compensate the seller for the price difference?" Everyone was in an uproar.The master went on to say, "There are those who injured people, and they have to pay for their medical treatment. There are also people who rob people. Although people have been rescued, naturally they must compensate for the losses of these years."

The man said: "Since you bought it by force, why don't you return the shop to the original owner?"

The master said: "One is that even though it was bought by force, it was bought at a low price. It was not robbed, and the original owner still got the money; the second is that our master has asked the original owner, and they don't want to go back to the shop. Just increase the price difference. Our master said that after removing the price difference, we need to make up the interest of the price difference for these years to be fair."

Another person below said loudly: "Master Su, I heard that there is a source of cocoa tea from the Nanyang Malay country in Master Su's house, is it true?"

Su Tao smiled and said: "This matter is not under my control, I don't know about it." This remark was like tacit agreement in everyone's ears, and there was another commotion.

Su Tao coughed twice and glanced at the master.The master said loudly: "Today's auction, the order is as follows." He took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and read aloud what was written on it. "The first item, Young Dragon House. The second item, Duobaolou..."

After reading, a civil servant came out with a carved box.Open the box, take out a wooden seat from inside and put a mallet on the desk.He smiled and said: "The auction of the young dragon house is now starting. The starting price is 30 taels of silver."

Liu Xiaoqi immediately raised a placard: "40 taels!"

The official said: "No. 1640 taels. Is there any more?"

Su Cheng, who was dressed as a man and mixed in the crowd, raised a sign under his throat: "50 taels."

Liao Dong's family in a tea shop raised a sign: "60 taels."

The former owner of a tea shop raised a sign: "70 taels."

Liu Xiaoqi held up a sign: "80 taels."

Su Cheng held up a sign: "100 taels."

Liao Dong's family raised a sign: "120 taels."

Liu Xiaoqi held up a sign: "150 taels."

Everyone suddenly fell silent.The civil official shouted: "No. 16150 two times. 150 two times. Is there anyone else who bid higher? One hundred..."

I saw Su Cheng smiled slightly, showing a crisp female voice: "200 taels."

Before finishing speaking, Liu Xiaoqi shouted, "250 taels!"

Su Cheng immediately answered: "350 taels." Everyone was stunned.

The clerk shouted: "On the 36th, 350 taels once. 350 taels twice. Is anyone else bidding higher?" He paused, then raised his gavel, "350 taels—" "Boom!" "Three times! It's a deal!" Congratulations to Officer No. 36 Zhang." Everyone in the audience recognized that Su Cheng was a woman, but the clerk pretended not to know.

Su Cheng looked at Liu Xiaoqi and nodded: "I've accepted." Liu Xiaoqi cupped his hands at her.The way everyone looked at Su Cheng changed immediately.There are many people with sophisticated eyesight here who have already recognized that she is a woman.With such a beautiful appearance and rich and generous spending, how can she not attract people's attention?

The clerk said: "Mr. Zhang please go to the east wing next door to do the paperwork and pay the money." Su Cheng stood up and slightly cupped his hands, then turned and left.The eyes of men all over the room followed her all the way out.

The civil official coughed: "The next item. Duobaolou. The base price is also 30 taels."

With the last hot spot, the auction of Duobaolou became much more lively. 30 taels raised to 300 taels in the blink of an eye.Then I heard the No. 500 Zhou Daguan raise a sign and said: "[-] taels." The house was full of silence.

The clerk shouted: "No. 500, 500 taels. 500 taels once. 500 taels twice. Is there anyone else who bid more? [-] taels—" "Boom!" "Three times! Deal! Congratulations to No. [-] Zhou Daguan."

"Coax—" There was another commotion among the crowd.

The clerk smiled like a spring breeze and said, "Please go to the east wing next door to do the paperwork and pay the money."

Zhou Daguan raised his legs and said, "I didn't bring any money today, let's do it another day."

The clerk's face suddenly turned from the east to the north: "Master Zhou, according to the regulations, the auction must be completed and the money must be paid immediately."

Zhou Daguan said lazily: "I didn't bring it. Is it possible that you can do something to the uncle?"

Only two yamen servants came out.These two are the Yang family's children, they have the kung fu, they walked straight to Zhou Daguan.Zhou Daguan's face was full of indifference.The hall is solemn.The two yamen servants had only walked four or five steps before they heard Liu Xiaoqi say: "It was originally my shop, you just yelled and you took it away?" He was seated quite close to Mr. Zhou, so he stood up and walked up to the man in two steps , sneered, "If you don't have money, don't waste garlic." He reached out to grab Daguan Zhou's collar.

Zhou Daguan swayed aside; Liu Xiaoqi's hand was faster than his neck, followed by a sway, still grabbing the collar.Zhou Daguan was taken aback.Liu Xiaoqi picked him up by the collar.Zhou Daguan was in a hurry, he raised his leg to kick Liu Xiaoqi's waist, but Liu Xiaoqi kicked his ankle on the contrary, "Ouch".Liu Xiaoqi said loudly: "It has nothing to do with the shop. I just want to beat you up."

Zhou Daguan was stunned: "Where did I offend Your Majesty?"

"You see the girl's eyes are too wretched, she deserves to be beaten up." Liu Xiaoqi strode out with him in his arms, and shouted, "Since this person can't pay the money, did I just deal with my 300 taels? "

The official said hurriedly: "No. 16 Liu Daguan, please wait! I will ask again." Nai said loudly, "The last bid does not count. The first one is 16 taels for No. 300. There are still people who bid more What?" Everyone looked at each other without making a sound.The official coughed, and seeing Liu Xiaoqi walking very fast, he shouted at a faster pace, "NO. 16300 tael. 300 tael once. 300 tael twice. Is there anyone else who bid higher? 300 tael—" "Boom!" Three times! Deal! Congratulations to No. 16 Mr. Liu, please go to the east wing next door to do the paperwork and pay the money."

"Thank you, Brother Officer~~" Liu Xiaoqi said as he walked, "When I finish beating up this guy, I will pay the money immediately."

Coincidentally, Su Cheng came back after handing over the money, looked at him and frowned, "What is this for?"

"Personal grievances, girls don't care."

All the people in the hall looked at Su Cheng with indescribable emotions in their eyes.