Not far from the bank of the Zuojiang River, a big banyan tree hugged by five or six people on the side of the road rose from the ground, and the countless roots that hung down were like small forests, covering a large area.

In this shade, a small grass market spontaneously formed under the tree, specializing in selling all kinds of river fresh food picked up in the river. Since Taipingzhai does not collect taxes here, there is no fish tooth fish shop, and small traders and hawkers sell freely here. As long as you pay five cents to the patrolling people, no one will scratch them for the whole day.

At the edge of the grass market, seven or eight idlers gathered in a circle, happily commenting on the circle.

In the circle, Liu Dahu squatted on the ground, his eyes bulging like two copper bells, looking at the man opposite. He exhaled a breath, took out ten copper coins from his arms, opened his hand to let the man on the other side see clearly, and shouted: "Come again!" Straight thief, I can't win you if I don't believe it! ”

The idlers around laughed: "Liu Da, you are now an outsider, and your spirit is really different!" I've lost more than 50 Wen here in Jiulang, how much is this fish? Today is a loss, and he is still so arrogant, and he is no longer a figure in my generation! ”

Liu Dahu raised his head proudly: "It's just a few dozen dollars, what is it worth!" It's good to have fun with it. I don't have anything in the store, I don't have a fish like him! ”

Everyone applauded together, the world of rich people is really different, and it is no longer the Liu Da who cried and mourned like a dead father when he lost a penny. Money is really the most amazing thing in the world, which can make a poor boy become a big man, can turn decay into magic, and can create countless miracles.

Jin Jiulang, who was on the other side, hesitated a little, and said to Liu Dahu: "Brother Liu, it's better to forget it today, you can take the fish back to make a soup and sell it to the guests." I won't lose 50 of you. ”

Liu Dahu heard this, and his eyes narrowed: "Jiulang, what nonsense are you talking about!" I, Liu Dahu, have a good reputation, and the gambling products are the best, how can I take advantage of you for nothing? How can you raise your head in front of your brother when you do this! ”

Jin Jiulang shook his head: "You are a good man, which one of you doesn't know here?" But your lady in the family is difficult, I have to sell fish to your shop, your lady knows what happened today, and she will definitely embarrass me. ”

"If you don't say it, if I don't say it, where will she know? Besides, I'm a three-foot man, how can I be afraid of my mother-in-law! In the future, if she makes trouble for you, you just have to find me! ”

Liu Dahu said it arrogantly, and the people around him just couldn't help but snicker. Who doesn't know, Liu Dahu is as obedient as a cat in front of Qiu Niangzi, that is, he is just selling his mouth behind his back.

After speaking, Liu Dahu clenched his fists, blew a breath into it, raised his hand, and ten copper coins were sprinkled into the bowl drippingly, and he shouted: "God help me, ten full words!" ”

This time it was full of momentum, but the result was unsatisfactory, ten copper coins with three characters and seven acts.

Jin Jiulang shook his head when he saw it, and it was not good to sweep Liu Dahu's head, grabbed the copper coin from the bowl and threw it out casually. The copper coin fell into the bowl and stopped on the six-character four-act.

Liu Dahu looked directly at the bowl, as if he was stupid.

A man in the crowd next to him said: "Liu Da, I thought you had changed your life since you became an outsider, but I didn't expect the gambling money to be so unlucky!" ”

Jin Jiulang saw that Liu Dahu's face had changed color, and he hurriedly picked up the copper coin and said, "This one is in a hurry, don't count, Brother Liu, let's do it all over again." ”

Liu Dahu was about to take it over, and a person standing outside said: "Isn't it the senior cadre in the promotion department who is on the ferry over there?" Liu Da, you still dare to gamble here! ”

Hearing this name, Liu Dahu was excited, forgot about the gambling money outside the nine heavenly clouds, hurriedly grabbed the willow branch of the fish on the ground, lifted a big carp weighing several catties, and said: "How can you talk nonsense!" The government prohibits gambling, which one dares to commit it? I'm just buying a fish, so why do I gamble? ”

Everyone looked at Liu Dahu's panicked appearance and burst into laughter.

Although it is not a gambling ban to buy food, this kind of fish is in a gray area, and the government really wants to catch it, which is really not an abuse of power. There are a lot of grass markets everywhere, using copper coins, one side of the word is called the word up, and the other side is called the curtain up, and the one with more words wins, which is simple and easy. Many idlers use this method to mix rice, go to the market early in the morning, or buy or credit a fish or a chicken, fight for a day, mixed food.

Jin Jiulang is not this kind of person, he is a fisherman on the river, but he has been mixing with the idlers for a long time, and he often works in this business, and Liu Dahu is his frequent visitor recently.

Since opening the store, Liu Dahu has been watched by several people, and he has no chance to gamble, and his hands are itchy and unbearable, so he has come to Jin Jiulang to have a good time. Tian Er, a former gambling friend, is not a person all the way to him, he really doesn't gamble for a day, and he is addicted, Tian Er used to rely on this to make a living, relying on people like Liu Dahu to raise, he didn't have this interest, just as a survival skill.

That day, the two and Qiu Niangzi set up a fairy jumping game, but they didn't expect to catch the big fish, because of Qiu Niangzi's insistence, they still chose to cooperate with those two people to get rich in the long run.

The two people, one surnamed Yao and the other surnamed Fang, left the gold and silver to the three of them, went back to report to the proprietor, and brought back a lot of gold and silver, and opened two shops by the Zuojiang River. One shop is an inn, headed by Liu Dahu and Qiu Niangzi, and the surname Yao is the director. Another freight yard is not far from the wharf, and the person surnamed Fang is the supervisor. The things in the two stores are taken care of by the supervisors, and Liu Dahu and the three of them just sit and eat interest, and their lives are extremely leisurely.

From an idler who ate the last meal but didn't eat the next meal to a clerk sitting in the shop, the three of them seemed to have gone from hell to heaven, knowing that these two shops were doing illegal business, but they just didn't see it.

Xu Ping banned the trade in the vicinity of Taipingzhai in three main ways, steel, kerosene and gunpowder, these three are strategic materials, Xu Ping knows that the middle is powerful, the implementation of strict quota supply.

Gunpowder is particularly strictly forbidden and is not allowed to be used by the people. Gao Daquan has a special team under his command, and all occasions that require gunpowder are operated by these people, and there are people who strictly supervise the collection, use, and write-off, and there is no channel for the people to contact at all.

Iron and steel and kerosene are dual-use, so supervision is much more relaxed, and the quota is limited to the merchants who use it, and they receive it on a monthly basis, and random inspections are carried out from time to time, and the merchants who make mistakes are heavily fined. This kind of supervision cannot prevent private smuggling, and Xu Ping himself understands that he can only limit the amount that flows out. The first is to increase the cost of smuggling, and spot checks and heavy fines are based on this consideration, and the other is to control the total amount. Countless households and businesses use these things, which seem to be disorganized, but in fact, there are statistical rules to follow. Xu Ping's technical profession in his previous life itself relied on statistics, and although it was different from the statistics of sociology, the basic principles were the same. Through the analysis of statistical data, the amount of smuggling is controlled within a range that is acceptable to him.

The two shops opened by Liu Dahu and the three of them are now mainly engaged in the business of smuggling kerosene, which has many uses, and the supply of lighting alone is in short supply, and the profits are amazing.

However, the smuggling business has nothing to do with Liu Dahu and the others, what they earn is the income from the proper operation of the store, which is also the remuneration that Director Fang and Director Yao promised them.

Carrying the carp, Liu Dahu got out of the crowd, ran quickly to the riverside wharf, and saw Gao Daquan standing at the bow of the boat from a distance, and hurriedly waved to him.

Gao Daquan lowered his head and thought about his thoughts, but he didn't see Liu Dahu, which made Liu Dahu quite disappointed, but his enthusiasm did not decrease at all, and his hand shook faster.

Xu Ping came forward and set the relationship between Gao Daquan and Liu Xiaomei, and the wedding date will be on 626 next month. Gao Daquan was full of joy, and was dragged by several old brothers to pour wine for several days, and only yesterday was he calmed down and rested for a day. There was nothing to do today, so I crossed the river to see Liu Dahu.

Since the elder brother of Liu Xiaomei changed his master in Chungju, he walked out of the mountains like many Chungju natives, and when he heard the news of his sister, he followed around with a dead face and never left. Liu Xiaomei was killed twice by this brother, and almost lost her life both times, and she didn't want to see him again, and the two had never met in these days. But Liu Xiaomei has a kind temperament, and deep down in her heart, she still can't forget her flesh and blood affection, she just can't help herself. Gao Daquan knew Liu Xiaomei's thoughts and took the initiative to take care of Liu Dahu.

As soon as the ferry docked, Liu Dahu rushed forward and shouted in front of Gao Daquan: "Dry office, how do you have time to cross the river today?" ”

Gao Daquan saw Liu Dahu along the voice, and reluctantly squeezed out a smile: "I have something to discuss with you, and I just have free time today, so I will cross the river to have a look." ”

"Okay, okay, come home with me!" Liu Dahu came up and pulled Gao Daquan's sleeve affectionately, and raised the carp in his hand, "I heard the magpie cry early this morning, and I knew that there was going to be a noble person at home, so I came out to find this big carp, and went back to let Qiu Niangzi burn us to drink!" ”

Gao Daquan sighed secretly in his heart, and followed Liu Dahu ashore.

Of course, Gao Daquan knows what kind of person his brother-in-law is, and he also understands that he is just borrowing his own power, but with Liu Xiaomei in the middle, Gao Daquan can only be patient with him. He also thought about arranging a full-time business for Liu Dahu in the Lifting Division, but after only one day, Liu Dahu caused a big disaster because of drinking and gambling, and Xu Pingquan didn't beat Liu Dahu to death because of his face. After that incident, Gao Daquan died, listened to Liu Xiaomei's idea and let Liu Dahu mess around on the Jiang side, take help from time to time, and let others sell face, so that Liu Dahu can eat and drink, and he is too lazy to take care of other things.

As soon as Liu Dahu stepped into the store, he shouted loudly: "Director Yao, the senior cadres of the Lifting Division come to see me, you cook a few good dishes, find a few bottles of good wine and send them to the backyard, and the two of us should have two drinks!" ”

Director Yao heard the voice, walked out of it quickly, and saluted Gao Daquan: "It's rare to have time, the small shop is really shining, hurry up inside, please!" Someone happened to bring a few bamboo chickens from the store, so I asked the cook to clean them up for a while and send them to the backyard. When I have some time, I'll go and have a drink with the cadre. ”

Gao Daquan nodded: "The director has a heart, and he is scratching." ”

"You're polite, we can't ask for a distinguished guest like you, so move around more in the future."

Director Yao said as he let Gao Daquan inside.

Liu Dahu was holding a big carp in his hand and leading the way in front, trembling with excitement. With his character, everyone still thinks he is a character, and he relies on Gao Daquan to support him from behind. Every time Gao Daquan came, his Liu Dahu's face rose by one point, and receiving Gao Daquan was his most important thing.

Director Yao smiled all over his face and watched the two of them walk through the hall and into the backyard.

It wasn't until the figures of the two of them were out of sight that Director Yao's face sank, beckoned a little guy over, and commanded in a low voice: "You go to the freight yard by the dock, invite Director Fang to come to the store, and say that I have something important to discuss with him." Let him come, let him come over and go back quickly! ”