Chapter 11 Pear Garden
Chapter 11 Pear Garden
Tianjin, Beidaguan.
Two strong men over eight feet tall, wearing double-breasted shirts and old cloth shoes.
Although their bell-bottom pants were swaying in the bitter winter wind, the two men continued to walk at a leisurely pace.
The people who came were Qin Huai and Li Bingwu.
"Uncle Wu, why did you bring me here? To buy New Year's goods?"
Qin Huai was a little confused and turned his head to ask Li Bingwu.
"Hey, someone will deliver those New Year's goods to your home.
I was thinking that you have always wanted to come to Tianjin, and since you are about to graduate, I might as well bring you here to have some fun."
Li Bingwu narrowed his eyes slightly, rubbed his palms lightly, and exhaled a breath of white air.
"I have nothing to do today, so I'd like to listen to some music in the brothel?"
Qin Huai also became interested. After all, in his previous life, he could only watch plays on TV. Now it was a rare opportunity to see it with his own eyes in person.
"It's no longer called a brothel now, it's been renamed something like a tea garden, and it's said that the people they invite are all actors!"
Even as they were talking, the two of them kept walking and soon arrived in front of a luxurious tea garden.
When Qin Huai looked up, his eyes lit up.
Xishengxuan, what a good name!
The two brass lanterns hanging high at the door did not distract from the main attraction, but instead made the plaque look more ancient.
As you step through the door, you will see a spacious courtyard with winding bluestone, lush green plants and delicate flowers.
"During the cold winter, these arrangements really cost a lot of money."
Qin Huai thought to himself, and as he walked further, he saw the theater.
The tall wooden building is solemn and majestic, with painted beams and pillars, and covered with glazed tiles. Even the red lanterns hanging under the eaves are the work of famous artists.
"Uncle Wu, this trip must have cost us a lot."
Qin Huai turned his head and looked at Li Bingwu. This den of brothel didn't look like a place they could afford to visit.
"Just go in, the mountain man has a clever plan."
Li Bingwu kept it a secret and walked inside without waiting for Qin Huai.
Once you enter the theater, you will find a different world.
A framed stage with a giant hand-painted picture of majestic mountains and passes behind it stood upright in the center of the venue, and tea tables in front of the table were scattered in an orderly manner on both sides of the aisle.
"Waiter, please bring me a pot of Dagu tea. And may I ask, what opera is being performed today?"
"Oh, it's obvious that this gentleman is an expert. Today, our Xiang Clan has carefully prepared a play called "Destroying Hongzhou" for all the audience. I don't have any extra thoughts, I just hope that you will enjoy it and have a great time!"
While serving tea, the waiter kept introducing the origins of their Xiang family.
"Back then, it was because of this play that our Xiang family was selected to go to Beijing to celebrate the Buddha's birthday, and later we even received rewards."
"Oh? Then we really need to listen carefully today."
Qin Huai also became interested and waved his hand to let the waiter go down.
"Humph, a troupe that can't even stay in Beijing probably only dares to brag in this small tea garden."
However, a big man at the next table heard what the waiter said and laughed at him.
The four of them were large and packed so tightly together that the small tea table in front of them was completely crowded, leaving the table seemingly empty with only a pot of water placed on it.
The smelly leather goods on their bodies and the muddy riding boots on their feet seemed to be as out of place in this tea garden as they themselves were.
Li Bingwu was about to retort when he heard the sound of cymbals and a small gong, and the show began.
Qin Huai also hurriedly held down Li Bingwu.
"Uncle Wu, don't bother with them yet. Listen to the opera first, and then decide whether to argue with them or not."
"Wild boars can't eat fine bran, so leave them alone and follow our own will."
After saying that, Li Bingwu picked up the fruit plate in one hand, held the fragrant tea in the other, and listened slowly.
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"Generals, bring your horses!"
"My men, follow me and trample upon the bandit camp"
As the passionate accompaniment sounded, Mu Guiying killed Bai Tianzuo in the battle line!
The exquisite martial arts and the appropriate accompaniment of music pushed the drama to its climax and finale. "Good! Great singing! As expected of the Xiang family!"
"It has to be the martial arts scenes that are interesting. I can't stand those flowery ones!"
The audience in the audience was no longer suppressed and stood up to applaud and cheer for this good show.
The four big men nearby couldn't help but get angry, and wanted to sneak into the backstage to ask for advice when the leading actor left.
He beat up a few servants who blocked his way and was about to break into the backstage.
Qin Huai and Li Bingwu looked at each other and stopped him.
Qin Huai took a leap and rushed in front of the four people, standing upright in the gap between them and the backstage.
"Hey, my friend, it's fine if you say something rude before the show. But after listening to it, you still don't want to go backstage to argue with them?"
The leader was also very rude.
"What? You, a kid who hasn't even grown all his hair yet, want to imitate others and stand out?"
When Qin Huai heard this, he said nothing and extended his right hand.
"Whoosh!" The big man heard the sound of wind and felt his collar loosen.
"Brother!" The three people behind the big man also reacted and wanted to step forward but were stopped by the big man.
"If I can unbutton you, I can pierce your throat, my friend, how about we stop here for today?"
Qin Huai's right hand moved rhythmically, and a bright black button shuttled between Qin Huai's slender fingers like an ink snake.
"You!" The leading man looked at Qin Huai's hand, touched his collar, and remembered the task that his boss had asked them to go to various theaters and teahouses to inquire about the news of the martial arts, investigate the strengths and weaknesses of various martial arts sects, and look for magical medicines.
A fierce light flashed in the big man's eyes, but he still didn't want to return empty-handed.
"Okay, very good, you'd better not let me meet you in the future." The big man's eyes were full of resentment.
"Brother!" The three people behind the big man were indignant and wanted to step forward to save their face.
"Let's go!" The big man waved his hand and the three of them hurriedly followed him and walked out of the building together.
Li Bingwu couldn't help but bumped Qin Huai's shoulder, "Not bad, Xiao Qin, you're quick enough."
"It's just so-so, not as good as you, Uncle Wu. Shall we leave now?"
"Why are you in such a hurry? You haven't finished your tea yet. Go back to your seat and wait. I'll bring a friend to you in the back."
After saying that, Li Bingwu glanced at Qin Huai with "bad intentions" and turned to go backstage.
Trying to be mysterious will only lead to bad results.
Qin Huai thought about it, but still went back to his seat obediently, facing the stage, holding the teacup in one hand and continuing to play with the button with the other.
"call out!"
A very subtle sound was transmitted into Qin Huai's ears, but it turned out to be a flying needle that shot straight towards the Fengchi acupoint behind Qin Huai's head!
This is an attempt to kill him!
Qin Huai moved his head and face slightly to the left, and the flying needle almost brushed past Qin Huai's earlobe.
"Ding!"
There was a sound of metal colliding, and the flying needle was hit by Qin Huai's bounced button and fell into the tea bowl in front of Qin Huai. The clear tea soup was instantly dyed a little black.
At the door, the four big men saw that the poison needle failed and felt that something was wrong.
"Brother, you can dodge this, I'm afraid you are a tough guy, how about giving up?"
"What are you afraid of? There's only one of you now, follow me!"
The big man felt that he had been humiliated by Qin Huai, and seeing that Li Bingwu was not there, he wanted to teach Qin Huai a severe lesson.
Now his poison needle, which had never failed before, had failed to work. Qin Huai was the only one left now. If he was not captured on the spot, he would be in endless trouble in the future.
Thinking of this, the big man no longer hesitated, and with a fierce look on his face, he drew out his short knife and slashed at Qin Huai first.
"Fuck, I really gave you guys face!"
(End of this chapter)