I

  Chapter 3 003 [Jinmen wind and rain]

   Came to a shady alley, the brother and sister sat down against the wall.

  Zhao Zhenfang held the remaining handful of steamed buns with her dirty hands: "Second brother, you eat, I'm already full."

  Zhao Han did not refuse, but laughed happily. Divide the food that is not enough to fit between the teeth into two halves again, and hand back half to the younger sister: "Eat it separately."

"Ok."

  Zhao Zhenfang tore the steamed bread crumbs and put them in her mouth, reluctant to chew or swallow, and only used her tongue to taste the fragrance of the food.

   Seeing Zhao Han looking at her, Zhao Zhenfang seemed to forget her grief, and smiled happily: "Second brother, the steamed buns are so delicious."

  Zhao Han stroked the top of his sister's head, and promised: "When the second brother earns money, I will let you have steamed buns every day."

   "That's really good." Zhao Zhenfang said longingly.

  After coaxing the little girl to sleep, the smile on Zhao Han's face disappeared, and he picked up the dog-beating stick and grinded it on the ground. He still didn't have much strength, and the speed of sharpening the weapon was very slow, but the end of the dog-beating stick was finally sharpened.

  A simple bamboo spear, formed in this way, can kill people at critical times.

  The experience just now made Zhao Han deeply aware that besides starving to death at any time, there are countless potential dangers waiting for him.

  Touching the bamboo spear, Zhao Han finally had a sense of security, and had an illusion that he could control his own destiny.

  In the evening, Zhao Zhenfang woke up, again hungry.

  Zhao Han, leaning on a bamboo spear in one hand and supporting his sister in the other, walked along the streets.

  Eating half a steamed bun each, and resting for half a day, both brothers and sisters regained a little physical strength, at least they didn’t have to crawl like dogs when begging.

  When he came to the back door of a certain house, Zhao Han patted on it for a while, and finally someone came to open the door. Before he could open his mouth to beg, the other party saw the appearance of the siblings, and slammed the door shut.

  I knocked on four or five houses along the way, and only one didn't close the door directly.

   "Madam, do your best, give me a stutter, the Bodhisattva blesses you with a long life." Zhao Han hurriedly said auspicious words.

  The woman said: "There is really no food left at home. Go and beg elsewhere."

  Small households and small households, during the famine years, I can’t even eat enough, how can I have food to help the poor and beggars?

  Zhao Han saw that there was no food to beg for, so he said again: "Can you give me some water? I'm very thirsty."

  The woman was kind-hearted and never refused: "You wait."

  The door closes.

  A moment later, the woman opened the door again, scooped up a ladle of clean water, and asked with a frown, "Where's your begging bowl?"

  Zhao Han said nonsense: "I was beaten to pieces by a few beggars. They don't allow me to beg for food here."

  The woman was even more sympathetic, and handed over the ladle and said, "Take it and drink."

  Zhao Han first let the little girl drink water to quench her thirst, and then poured the rest of the water into her stomach. Returning the water ladle, he bowed and said, "Thank you benefactor!"

   "Also a young master in distress. Alas!" The woman closed the door with a sigh.

  You know etiquette at such a young age, how could you not be the young master in distress?

  After Zhao Han drank the water, he finally regained some energy. Instead of continuing to beg in this back alley, he found all the way to Dock East Street, which is the most prosperous place in Tianjin.

  Night has fallen, but North Wharf East Street is brightly lit.

  Because the cargo ship ran aground in the canal, a large number of merchants stayed here. The inns were already full, and some wealthy businessmen couldn't find a place to stay, so they simply settled down in brothels outside the North City.

  Hungry people are everywhere outside the canal, but the East Pier Street is full of flowers, and the smell of wine and meat comes from the restaurants.

  Zhao Han chose a restaurant and squatted at the door waiting for the big customers.

  As soon as he stood still, a shop clerk came out and chased him away with a stick: "Little beggar, get out of here!"

  Zhao Han hurriedly said: "My ancestor was an imperial cook, and he had an exclusive recipe for cooking, and it only cost ten taels of silver..."

   "Get out!" The shop assistant hit him with a stick.

  Zhao Han held up his bamboo spear to block it, pulled his sister back and stood far away, waiting for the big guests to enjoy the meal.

   As a result, the food was not obtained, but a group of beggars were provoked instead.

  The beggars that Zhao Han killed before were mainly active in Dock North Street. Dock East Street is the site of another group of beggars. They belong to the same gang of beggars, but they are managed by different little bosses.

  These beggars are more powerful, and there are more than a dozen of them who come to make trouble.

  Zhao Han protected his sister and stood against the wall, using a bamboo spear in a bayonet pose, and provocatively said, "Come on!"

  A beggar was beaten with a stick, but he didn't know how to beat him. He swung the stick high above his head.

  Zhao Han didn't move his feet, but leaned forward, and a stab pierced the opponent's thigh.

  The beggar held his wound and screamed, the rest of the beggars attacked one after another, and Zhao Han stabbed several of them in succession. It's a pity that he didn't have much strength, and he had to protect his sister, so he himself was beaten a few times.

   "He is a Lianjiazi, go back and report to 'Hou Ye'!"

  The beggars exclaimed one after another, and fled in a blink of an eye. Zhao Han used force to obtain the temporary begging right on Dock East Street.

   It happened that a wealthy businessman was full of wine and food. When he left the restaurant, he witnessed a good scene of beggars fighting. Immediately clapped and applauded, and said drunkenly: "It's a lively fight, give it to grandpa!"

  The servant next to the rich merchant grabbed a handful of copper coins and threw them in front of Zhao Han.

   "Thank you, master, for the reward." Zhao Han was very happy, taking advantage of the twilight from the restaurant, he lay down on the ground with his sister to pick up money.

   There are good and bad copper coins, but this time all I got were good money.

  The two brothers and sisters were so hungry that they panicked, and hurried to buy food, big Tianjin steamed stuffed buns with meat fillings!

  Zhao Zhenfang's cheeks puffed up after eating, like a little hamster protecting food, she chewed and said, "It's delicious, even better than steamed buns!"

  Finally able to have a full meal, Zhao Han was also quite happy, and immediately smiled: "I get the money another day, and the second brother will buy you a more delicious roast duck."

Zhao Zhenfang said with a look of admiration: "Second brother is really amazing, Daddy always says you are smart..." The voice stopped abruptly, and the little girl said sadly: "Second brother, are father and mother dead? I know what is dead , just like big brother, who fell asleep and couldn't wake up."

  Zhao Han hugged his younger sister's thin body, comfortingly said: "Don't be afraid, the second brother is here."

   "Well, I'm not afraid." Zhao Zhenfang nodded and sobbed, the sound of sobbing gradually turned into a whimper, and the tears left two white marks on her muddy face.

   After crying for an unknown amount of time, Zhao Zhenfang finally fell asleep.

  Zhao Han's mind was very confused. He didn't know how to make a career. Could it be that he has been begging for food?

  …

  Wharf Street West.

  A beggar knocked open the house, went straight to the main room, knelt down and kowtowed: "Master Hou, there is already news that those two **** have entered Maliu Lane."

   "Hou Ye" is a nickname in Jianghu, his real name is Deng Gui, he was born in a military family, and he fled and became a beggar.

   When robbing land in the Tianjin dock area, someone poked and blinded one eye. At first it was called "One-eyed Dragon", but later it was changed to "Xiao Xiahou". Now beggars in the wharf area respectfully call him "Hou Ye".

  Zhao Han encountered two groups of beggars one after another, all of them were subordinates of Hou Ye Deng Gui. This guy controlled all the begging business outside Beicheng, and by the way, he also took part-time job as a petty thief.

  Deng Gui is eating with his family, one wife, two concubines, and five children.

  He put down his chopsticks and said: "Send a few people first to block the alleys and alleys, and don't let him run away. If he is caught, he will break his leg immediately!"

  In one day, one subordinate was bitten to death, and more than a dozen were beaten away, and the troublemaker was actually a child. Where does this put the face of the "beggar gang leader"?

  Boom!

   Suddenly there was a muffled thunder, and everyone in the house was happy.

  Deng Gui walked into the small courtyard in person, and said with a smile, "After months of drought, God is finally going to rain."

  The beggar under his command asked: "Master Hou, why don't you do it tomorrow?"

  Deng Gui nodded and said: "Tomorrow is okay, but you have to send someone to follow, I'm afraid that little **** will run away."

  It’s just a group of beggars. They really dare not do things in the rain. If they get sick, they have no money to treat them.

   "Boom!"

  Lightning illuminated the courtyard, thunder came from far and near, and a strong wind suddenly blew.

  …

  Zhao Zhenfang was awakened by the thunder, enjoying the cool breeze, and said happily: "Second brother, it's going to rain."

  Zhao Han stood up and said, "Let's go, first find a place to shelter from the rain."

  The two brothers and sisters had a full meal and rested for a long time. They were no longer weak at the moment. They immediately held hands and searched for a place that could shelter from the wind and rain in the dark.

  Ma Wu is a new beggar who has to pay tribute to the organization every day.

  If you can’t ask for food, not only will you be hungry, but you will also be beaten by the boss.

  The organizational structure of the beggar gang is loose, and it is obvious that it will rain tonight. The orders from the superiors have been passed down to the bottom, which has completely changed.

   One pushes the other, and Ma Wu is left alone to handle affairs. He needs to keep an eye on the Zhao Han brothers and sisters all night long.

   All I know is that the target has entered Maliu Lane, and there is no way around it. Where can I find someone?

   Ma Wu walked around the streets and alleys for a while. He has slight night blindness, and it is impossible to find people at night. It is tantamount to letting a blind man serve as a sentry.

   "Fucking hell, come and bully me, I'm not that stupid!"

  Ma Wu is sitting under the eaves of a door, which can barely shelter from the rain, and plans to get a full sleep first.

   While imagining big fish and big meat, Ma Wu suddenly heard footsteps, and he quickly opened his eyes and wiped his saliva.

  The footsteps are getting closer, but Ma Wu can't see clearly at all.

  A bolt of lightning pierced the night sky.

  Zhao Han caught a glimpse of a person curled up under the eaves of the door, and he stepped forward and asked, "Uncle, are there any ruined temples nearby?"

   Ma Wu replied subconsciously: "It's far away, the Temple of the City God is in the southeast."

  Zhao Han looked at the place carefully, and found that the eaves of the door were not wide, and the heavy rain must have been blown in by the wind, so he took his sister to find a better place.

  Ma Wu was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized, and quietly followed behind the siblings.

   This guy obviously doesn't understand what stalking is, and night blindness affects his eyesight. Even a fool would know that the noise is wrong.

   After walking for a while, Zhao Han suddenly turned around, walked quickly to Ma Wu, and asked, "Why are you following me?"

   "No...no." Mawu denied it.

  Zhao Han immediately raised his bamboo spear, pointing the tip of the spear at the opponent's throat, and shouted: "Say!"

   Ma Wu instantly remembered the rumors that at noon today, a leader was killed on the North Street, and this kid in front of him really knew how to kill. He was so frightened that his legs became weak, and he knelt down and said, "Little ancestor, spare me!"

   "Say it!" Zhao Han said with a serious expression.

He said everything he knew: "You killed Lord Hou's people, and Lord Hou sent people to look for you everywhere, saying that if they caught you, they would break your legs. You are all children, and it would be better if you broke your legs." Lord Hou will not kill you for begging."

   Break the legs of yourself and your sister to beg?

  Zhao Han suppressed his anger and asked, "Who is Lord Hou?"

  Ma Wu replied: "Master Hou is Lord Hou, and all the beggars near the North Wharf belong to him."

  Zhao Han asked: "The leader of the beggar gang?"

   "Beggars?" Ma Wu shook his head and corrected, "We belong to the Lotus Society."

  Zhao Han continued to ask: "That Lord Hou, is he just a beggar leader? Or does he have some other identity?"

  Ma Wu said: "It's the beggar leader, and now he won't beg for food by himself."

  Zhao Han asked: "You said that the vicinity of the dock is Lord Hou's territory, what about other places in Tianjin?"

  Ma Wu replied: "Not in other places, Lord Hou is in charge of the area from the north city wall to the north pier."

  The thunder became more urgent, and the rain began to fall.

  Zhao Han suddenly became silent, his hands holding the spear loosened and tightened, and he was analyzing his current situation.

  First of all, troubled times are coming.

  Secondly, I and my sister are young.

  Two immature children must think about how to survive in troubled times.

   Zhao Han couldn't remember exactly which year it was.

  Anyway, either next year, or the year after, or maybe the year after, the Jurchen army will break through the barrier and attack outside Beijing like a bamboo.

   When the time comes, there will be chaos, and Tianjin may not be safe.

  If Zhao Han crosses over to be twenty years old, he actually has many ways out, and he can even go to Shaanxi to participate in the peasant uprising.

   But he is only ten years old now, and he is dragging a six-year-old sister with him.

  The only choice is to look for opportunities to go south, and grow up in the stable Jiangnan first.

  And during the Little Ice Age, the winter in the north was too cold, and it was not easy to freeze to death if you went to the south.

  Leaving aside the matter of going south, someone is going to break his leg right now and use him as a begging tool!

  Zhao Han straightened his back, his confused eyes gradually became firm. He asked sharply, "Tell me, where does that Lord Hou live?"

(PS: Three updates on the first day, and two updates every day thereafter, regularly updated at 12:00 noon and 8:00 pm. In addition, high-roller masters who are interested in tipping can save the reward next Monday, and then they will hit the list. )

  (end of this chapter)