Chapter 5: Mr. Zhao sent an invitation Looking at the two figures hanging around at the door, Liang Qu frowned. Who are these two Pennsylvania guys? They are not sleeping late at night and are hanging around my door. At the door, a middle-aged man and a thin servant were standing in front and behind. The one who asked the question just now was the middle-aged man with fair skin. His clothes were clean and tidy, and he didn't look like an ordinary citizen at all. Looking at the middle-aged man who was obviously of some importance, Liang Qu searched quickly in his mind. On the other side, Zheng Xiang saw that Liang Qu didn't say anything and thought that he was still struggling. He waved his hand, and the servant next to him immediately raised a sack and opened the mouth of the sack. Zheng Xiang rolled up his sleeves and reached his hand in. With the help of moonlight, Liang Qu saw that the man actually grabbed a handful of white rice! Liang Qu swallowed his saliva. The stomachache he had when he first arrived really left him with some psychological trauma. Zheng Xiang slowly poured the rice in his hand into the cloth bag: "What? As long as you recognize our Master Zhao as your foster father, this bucket of fine rice will be yours, and you will eat this kind of fine rice in the future!" Godfather!? When Liang Qu heard this word, a switch seemed to be turned on in his brain, but it was not the switch of "If you don't abandon me, I am willing to be your adoptive father", but the cause and effect of the whole matter.
The middle-aged man in front of him was Zheng Xiang, one of the stewards of Mr. Zhao’s mansion with Hantan in the next town! The other party's purpose of coming here is very simple, to buy slaves! Now that they were at the door, it was obvious who the bought slave was. As for why buying a slave was said to be adopting a godfather, it was because the founding emperor of the Dashun Dynasty prohibited ordinary people from keeping private slaves. Therefore, many wealthy people adopted slaves in the form of goddaughters and godsons. As long as there was a notary public certificate, it would be fine. This is similar to what happened in later generations. Logically speaking, the original life was so difficult that selling oneself was not a bad way to survive. This provided both a housekeeper and fine food, which really gave her enough face. But the crux of the matter lies here. Who would be so concerned about recruiting servants? It is said that Mr. Zhao is a homosexual! When Liang Qu first arrived, he discovered that the boy he traveled through not only had the same name as him, but also looked very similar to him. They could be said to be his own self in a parallel universe. Even though his skin was a little darker and rougher as he had been fishing on the boat with his father for many years, his facial features were excellent and his looks were regular. He would definitely be fine after some training. Combining the two, the so-called "rumors" are mostly true. Thinking of this, Liang Qu shuddered and felt disgusted. "What do you think?" Zheng Xiang asked again. The last time he visited, he was told to think it over, but now, he was absolutely sure that if the other party didn't accept his conditions, he would starve to death at home in the next few days! Zheng Xiang even called the people from the pawnbroker to act as a guarantor, in case Liang Qu sold himself and then went back on his word and filed a complaint with the government, accusing the Zhao family of forcing good people into slavery. It's not that the Zhao family is afraid of being sued. Who likes to cause trouble? It takes a few more pieces of paper to wipe the butt. The servant at the pawnbroker's shop beside him also chimed in: "Yes, yes, young master, being able to go to the Zhao Mansion is a blessing that ordinary people like us cannot achieve in several lifetimes. Is it necessary to go out in the wind and rain like this and have only a few grains of food a year?" "Damn it, whoever wants to enjoy this blessing can enjoy it, and there is no need to worry about not being able to wipe the shit clean." Liang Qu cursed inwardly and declined calmly. The Zhao family was a wealthy family and he could not afford to offend them. "I am really sorry, Butler Zheng, I am unlucky and cannot enjoy such great fortune. I feel bad for making you come here in vain. Why don't you take this yellow croaker back as my apology?" The pawnbroker's boy was stunned. Zheng Xiang's face changed. He had never expected Liang Qu to refuse. He moved forward suddenly, forcing Liang Qu to take two steps back. However, the distance between them was still much closer, which made him realize something was wrong. How come Liang Qu looks so healthy? He doesn't look like he's been hungry for a few days! And where did the yellow croaker come from? Did he catch it? Zheng Xiang was in a state of confusion, not understanding why a helpless young man would have a sudden turn of events in just a few days?
Liang Qu was startled. Just when he was about to say something to save his life, Zheng Xiang calmed down first: "It's nothing. This is a deal between us. There is no need to apologize. It is not easy to catch yellow croaker. You can keep it, young man. It's getting late. I won't stay any longer. Goodbye!" As they were talking, Zheng Xiang had already left with the servant from the pawnbroker shop, leaving only Liang Qu holding the yellow croaker at the door. Did I offend him? Liang Qu's face was uncertain. It was his freedom to agree or not, but it was a mistake for the weak to reject the strong. The most important thing was that the whole thing was full of incongruities and doubts. The Zhao family is a wealthy family in the neighboring Pingyang Town. How did they know so quickly that there was an orphan in Yixing City who was on the verge of failure? Baldhead Zhang, is he from the Zhao family? "It seems that I have to become a martial artist as soon as possible. If I become a martial artist, the Zhao family will not be able to do anything to me." With worries in his mind, Liang Qu fell into a deep sleep. The next morning, amid the astonished gazes of passing fishermen, Liang Qu sold the yellow croaker to the most luxurious restaurant in Yixing City and received eighty copper coins. It is still far from the time to pay fishing taxes and other miscellaneous taxes. Neither I nor my ancestors have ever rented anything from a fishing pier, so we don't have to be exploited to pay off debts. In addition, Yixing City is close to the big city, has good public security, and there are no fishing bullies, so basically all the money we earn can go into our own hands. If it is in some poor mountain valleys, it will be terrible. The fishing tyrants and the fishing ponds will join forces to strip you of everything. You are always on the brink of a civil uprising, and all you need is someone shouting slogans. After getting the money, Liang Qu found a cheap restaurant, ordered two pounds of meat, a bowl of rice, and a plate of seasonal vegetables, and ate heartily. However, Yixing City was really small, and soon the news that he had caught a yellow croaker and sold it for eighty cents spread everywhere. People came from everywhere to ask about the fishing location, hoping to try their luck there themselves, which was very annoying. "Hey kid, where did you catch the yellow croaker? Tell me something quickly." A young man who was two or three years older than Liang Qu put his arm around Liang Qu's shoulders. While he was speaking, his hands were not honest. He tried to grab the fat meat on the plate, but was pulled back by a chopstick. "Hiss, kid, you're too cruel." The young man bared his teeth and shook his hands. Liang Qu was unmoved. There were only so many people of his age in the town, and he basically knew them all. Li Libo was one of them, but they were not very familiar with each other. At least when it came to borrowing grain, his family did not lend him any. There's no need to say there's resentment. In an agricultural society, productivity was limited and everyone worked hard to make a living. No one had an easy life, so it was normal for them not to lend. But it was those relatives who not only didn't lend, but also spoke rudely. I'm really angry. "I told you it's on the reed marsh three miles to the right of Shangraobu." "I don't believe it. You are definitely not telling the truth. I would be the same if I found a place where I could catch yellow croaker. I would keep it to myself and make a fortune." Seeing that there was no meat to eat, Li Libo could only pour himself a pot of tea and drink it by himself. He was a lazy person to begin with, and when he heard that Liang Qu had caught a yellow croaker, he came over to ask for money. However, it was Li Libo's character that made him well-informed about some gossip. Liang Qu thought about recent events and had an idea: "I'll ask you a question. If you answer it well, you'll get some meat." Li Libo's eyes lit up: "There is such a good thing, ask quickly." "How much do you know about the martial arts school in Pingyang Town?" Li Libo looked Liang Qu up and down and laughed, "That's true. Everyone dreams of becoming a martial artist. But you've asked the right person." "Elaborate." "There are three martial arts schools in Pingyang Town, and the most powerful one belongs to Master Yang. The other two masters are from the wild, but Master Yang is a retired soldier! And I, Li Libo, will soon become Master Yang's apprentice!" It would be more accurate to say that Li Libo was bragging rather than answering. "You?" Liang Qu deliberately questioned. Li Libo really got angry and blurted out everything, which made Liang Qu suddenly realize and gain some understanding of the extraordinary system of this world. It’s very simple, polish the foundation, then take a medicinal bath, polish again, take a medicinal bath again, and finally break through. Skin, flesh, bones, and blood, these four small tests, once you pass them all, you can be called a martial artist. Before that you are just a warrior. It is said that there are more realms to come, which are not known to ordinary people.
It is not difficult to recruit students for a martial arts school. It does not depend on your aptitude. It only depends on whether you have money! Mr. Yang's martial arts school charges seven taels of silver, excluding food and lodging. Ten taels includes lodging, and twenty taels includes lodging and medicinal baths. Food is charged separately. It is slightly more expensive than the other two, but it is in line with its more powerful positioning. Only seven taels of silver, not difficult, Liang Qu thought: "Then you are..." "Hush, don't tell anyone. In two months, my family will send me to a martial arts school." Li Libo said proudly, "When I go there, I will definitely be stronger than that bald-headed Zhang. I have also practiced martial arts, so I won't be beaten up by others." (End of this chapter)
