OBS Chapter 35 Lai 3
Chapter 35 Lai 3
First, let me state this.
Actually, Mi Congrong's emotional intelligence isn't that low.
Her mouth reacted a tiny bit faster than her brain.
I always regret what I said afterward.
This time, there was also the Fifth Miss Yan Sixian next to her, who was covering her face with her hands, which greatly aggravated her embarrassment.
Seeing Liu Sheng's strange expression, Mi Congrong quickly explained:
"What I mean is, your shop is doing pretty well, isn't it? You shouldn't be short of money."
Liu Sheng knew she meant no harm and was already used to her outspokenness.
So he explained to her that opening a clinic in chaotic times would definitely be more profitable, but Mi Congrong was caught up in it and didn't realize it.
As for his family's general store, the prices had gone up, and fewer people were coming to buy things. Many of the items weren't necessities anyway, so poor families could just bear it, especially since the government's taxes were heavy.
"No wonder your dad opened a branch in Yejia'ao."
Liu Sheng sensed something was wrong. He didn't even know where his father had gone, so how did Mi Congrong know?
I only found out after asking.
The battle at Yejia'ao left many wounded. Mi Congrong followed her father to practice medicine there and saw Liu Zhutao, who ran a general store in Yejia'ao, and that's how she learned about it.
"Oh, so when Dad said he was going out to make money, he meant to make money for the reconstruction of Yejia'ao," Liu Sheng thought to himself.
Originally, Liu Zhutao ran a general store, selling a wide variety of goods, and he also had connections and even collaborations with other shopkeepers.
After learning about Ye Jia'ao's experience, he immediately realized it was a business opportunity, so he went to Ye Jia'ao and opened a Liu's Grocery Store.
The people of Yejia'ao had already formed their own village and become independent after experiencing the unreliability of the government.
After the battle with the bandits, the county tax officials no longer dare to approach Yejia'ao.
The government had no choice but to impose heavy taxes on the people from Yejia'ao who came to the city to make purchases.
Therefore, it is very inconvenient to obtain daily necessities in Yejia'ao.
Liu Zhutao's visit not only solved their immediate problem but also helped them contact other shopkeepers in the city to get some other goods. As a result, their general store was transformed into a department store, and their business improved significantly.
"Are the items expensive?" Liu Sheng was a little worried that his father was making money dishonestly.
"The price is the same as in the city, and the villagers don't have to travel far. At first, they didn't know that the shopkeeper was your father. It was only after Ye Qi called him Uncle Liu that everyone found out."
Mi Congrong specifically mentioned Ye Qi's name, and then observed Liu Sheng's reaction.
It was found that Liu Sheng did not react at all.
She finally breathed a sigh of relief.
However, the doctors in the county town were all at a loss. Liu Sheng then remembered the fat Cao Dahuang from before, who said he would think about it, but he didn't know how well he had figured it out.
Seeing the two chatting for so long, Yan Sixian, who was standing next to them, finally spoke up timidly:
"Young Master Liu?"
After shouting, his face turned red.
She hadn't expected that her best friend, Mi Congrong, knew this Master Liu so well; she hadn't been able to get a word in edgewise for a long time.
Mi Congrong looked at her warily, as if she had completely forgotten that she was the one who brought her here.
Just call me Liu Sheng.
"Master Liu, if you're short of money, why don't you sign up for our Yan family's caravan? Ranked martial artists can earn a pretty good reward for joining a caravan." Yan Sixian finally offered her suggestion.
"Huh? Didn't they say the bandits were gone, and that caravans aren't recruiting martial artists anymore?"
Liu Sheng recalled that a few days ago, he had asked his senior brother to find him some work in this area, and the reply he received at the time seemed to be just like this.
Yan Sixian whispered, "I...I don't know either. If you're interested, why don't you ask the housekeeper?"
Liu Sheng made a note of this matter and planned to ask about it when he had time.
Since we'd be looking for someone at other places anyway, we might as well go to the Yan family's place; it'd be more convenient for him.
The three of them then chatted for a few more minutes.
Liu Shengcai learned that Yan Lie, the head of the Yan family, had recently contracted the same sleeping sickness as Aunt Song.
Once you get this disease, you'll feel drowsy before bedtime and can't control it at all. Once you fall asleep, you're like a dead pig and can't be woken up no matter how much you call.
Most people sleep to rest and recuperate, to recharge their energy.
However, people who have this disease experience the opposite effect; after falling asleep, they suffer severe loss of energy and vitality, and need tonics to keep their bodies afloat.
Because the head of the Yan family was a martial artist and came from a wealthy family, he could regularly hire Doctor Mi to treat him and regulate his health, so his condition was naturally much better than that of Aunt Song.
This can't go on forever.
After chatting for a while, the three waved goodbye.
Liu Sheng first went to Steward Yan to inquire about the caravan's guards, but he overheard Steward Yan talking to the head of the family.
Liu Sheng planned to return to the martial arts school. He deliberately took a long detour to the market first to ask Cao Dahuang if he had returned and to inquire about the follow-up of the sleeping sickness.
As it turned out, Cao Dahuang wasn't there.
The one who answered him was a kind-looking old man, dressed in a clean brown short-sleeved shirt from the Mingsha Gang. He was hunched over, holding a rice bowl, running around the house in circles, chasing after a naughty six-year-old girl to feed her.
"Sheng-ge'er, actually, I have to thank you!"
Liu Sheng was stunned when he heard this.
No, we're not that close, are we? Why are you calling me that?
When he looked closely at the old man's face:
"Holy crap...you, you're Lai San?!"
By all accounts, he appears to be an ordinary, happy old man next door, enjoying family life with his granddaughter. Who would have thought that this man was once a member of the Beggars' Gang who governed the commercial street, a notorious street rogue who committed countless evil deeds—Master Lai the Third.
"It's all for the bishop's benefit."
Lai San beckoned over one of his henchmen, who took the little girl out, before continuing his conversation with Liu Sheng.
It's clear that Lai San has done quite well since joining the Mingsha Gang.
As they continued their conversation, Liu Sheng learned that Lai San had been involved with the Beggars' Gang since childhood, cheating, swindling, and stealing—that was how he had lived his entire life.
He had never seen a gang as disciplined as the Mingsha Gang before.
Gang leader Cao Dahuang saw that Lai San was indeed a capable person, and keeping him around would be beneficial, but he was a bit beyond redemption.
So this fat man, a renowned doctor far and wide, prescribed a very simple remedy.
One word: Fight!
They actually cured quite a bit of this old scoundrel.
The most thorough rescue was when they rescued Xiaolan, the little girl who was just in the room, from the Beggars' Sect's talent-sending procession.
Unfortunately, her mother died in the chaos of war, leaving the little girl destitute and alone. She only said that her home was in the city, but couldn't specify where.
So Cao Dahuang entrusted Xiaolan to Lai San's care. Unexpectedly, this casual arrangement completely changed the nature of Lai San, this old scoundrel.
"Sheng-ge'er, I heard you've recently taken a high-ranking position at the Yan family?"
"Wow, you even know that? You're quite well-informed!"
Upon hearing this, Lai San looked around and, seeing that no one else was there, said softly:
"I have something to tell you. The magistrate wants to use the Kang family to deal with the Yan family. Since you're nearby, be careful. If you encounter any danger, you must take care of yourself first."
Liu Sheng was very curious about how Lai San knew this. Was the Mingsha Gang's intelligence network really that good?
Lai San's answer surprised him even more: "I'm an instructor at the Yin family!"
It turns out that the Yin family and the Kang family have always been mortal enemies, so the information that the Kang family knows, the Yin family will soon find out as well. Once the Yin family knows, Lai San, who works as an instructor in the Yin family, will also find out.
As for Lai San's ability to become an instructor at the Yin family, it was because of the Kang family, with whom he had a strained relationship, that he managed to curry favor with the new county magistrate.
The Beggars' Gang was also under the control of the county magistrate.
The Yin family considered that if they were to have to fight the Beggars' Sect one day, they would need to familiarize themselves with the Dog-Beating Stick Technique in advance.
At this time, Lai San, who was familiar with the Dog-Beating Stick Technique but was not a member of the Beggars' Sect, naturally became a hot commodity.
So Lai San was invited to teach the Yin family's servants and guests the Dog-Beating Stick Technique, and he could earn an extra 10 taels of silver each month to buy Xiao Lan a little dress.
On his first visit to the silk shop, Lai San was almost kicked out by Old Song. In the end, Old Song only agreed to sell to Lai San because he saw that Xiao Lan was about to cry.
Lai San, feeling a pang of conscience, gave Old Song a few extra taels of silver as compensation for the cloth and silk he had robbed when he led the beggars.
According to Lai San, the Kang family is also going to deal with the Yan family.
Liu Sheng was furious. He hadn't even earned any money in a few days, and now the Kang family had suddenly appeared, trying to cut off his source of income.
But he quickly calmed down and cautiously asked:
"The Kang family themselves are constantly at odds with the Yin family, so they probably can't spare any resources. Is this just fake news?"
"I have an inside man in the Kang family, there's no mistake."
"Wow!" Liu Sheng looked Lai San up and down as if he were meeting him for the first time.
Seeing Liu Sheng's strange look and glancing around to make sure no one else was there, Lai San whispered, "My sworn brothers, Diao Da and Xiong Er, are both at the Kang family now, responsible for contacting the Beggars' Clan."
Liu Sheng had heard his senior brother Lin Yi mention these two before. When Lin Yi was still known as "Bronze Thirteen," he always sent them out since they didn't have any blood on their hands.
So, during the battle at Yejia'ao, Diao Da and Xiong Er were far away. When they saw that things were going badly, they ran all the way back to the Beggars' Sect.
After the turmoil passed, the three brothers were all alive and well, and they could still get together from time to time. Lai San could even get some information out of them.
"Grandpa Lai!"
A small head appeared at the doorway, called out in a clear voice, and then turned and ran away.
"Grandpa's here!"
Upon hearing the shouts, Lai San didn't even say goodbye to Liu Sheng before running out.
Liu Sheng originally wanted to ask for more information, but seeing this scene, he smiled and shook his head.
That's fine too.