Chapter 37

  Shuǐyāoér poked Huǒxiǎoxié with her elbow and said, "Hey, monkey, what's wrong with you? Eat! Aren't you hungry?"

  Huǒ Xiǎo Yè's stomach had been growling with hunger, and seeing everyone eating happily made his mouth water so much that he swallowed a bellyful. Huǒ Xiǎo Yè said: "Everyone, are you all just going to eat like this? What if, what if this is a black-hearted restaurant? What if they've put poison in the food?"

  Shuiyao'er burst out laughing: "Where are so many black shops?"

  Huoxiao Ye continued, "When I was in Fengtian, I heard people say that the black shops outside are all on remote roads like this one, and they eat human flesh. What about those horses outside with no one riding them? Could it be that the previous batch of customers were killed by them? Look at that guy, he's much taller than us, like a butcher, not like an assistant at all! And the shopkeeper, that thin old man, his legs are so agile, running back and forth without getting tired!" Huoxiao Ye felt colder as she spoke.

  Yan Shou shook his head and spat out a piece of bone, scolding: "You little rabbit, do you think you're more knowledgeable than us? Black shop, black your grandma! You love to eat or not, if not then get out! We're all stupid, only you're clever!"

  "We're not idiots!"

  Yan Shou scolded: "I didn't say we're fools! Can't you understand the opposite? You fool!"

  Yan Shouren couldn't help it anymore, lowered his head and started chewing on the meat while stifling a giggle.

  Yan Jing Tian put down his chopsticks and said, "Hu Xiao Ye, the jianghu is indeed treacherous, but you're thinking too much. If this was a black shop, we would have discovered it before entering. Eat, eat, the flavor is good, it's a pity if you don't!"

  The little fire was just about to be extinguished when Qian Zhanggui shouted from the back hall, "Come on! You few guests are disturbing us! You're disturbing us!"

  Qian Zhanggui carried a wine jar, a pot of hot tea, and seven or eight wine bowls on his arm, walking quickly to the table, putting things down neatly, arranging them in an orderly manner, and saying: "Take your time, take your time, hot dishes will be here soon."

  Yan Shouren stood up and poured tea for everyone from a teapot.

  The water elf picked up the wine jug and said: "Monkey, have a drink?"

  Hu Xiao had always believed that a real man must be able to drink, so when he saw Yan Jing Tian and the others not touching a drop of wine, he found it strange and looked down on them. When Shui You'er invited him to drink, he naturally said: "Good! Let's have a bowl!"

  The water demoness smiled, and steadily poured a bowl for the little fire evil spirit, then filled one for herself. The water demoness raised her bowl, winked at the little fire evil spirit, and said: "Cheers!" After that, she drank it all in one gulp.

  Hu Xiao Xie stared blankly, this big bowl of wine was finished in one gulp? Hu Xiao Xie didn't care if it was poisonous or not, since Shui Yao'er had drunk it, he would too, so he raised the bowl and drank it all in one go.

  This high-proof liquor is quite potent, and Huo Xiaoyao only felt a surge of heat rushing down his throat, scorching his chest. Huo Xiaoyao had not eaten anything all day, and drinking on an empty stomach made him easily intoxicated. Moreover, during his time in Fengtian, he had never had such a lavish drinking experience. Huo Xiaoyao's body swayed slightly, his eyes fixed straight ahead as he forced himself to hold down the churning in his stomach. He picked up his chopsticks, clutched a piece of venison, and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing and swallowing hastily. Only then did he feel slightly better. However, a wave of liquor fumes emerged from the heat in his chest, shooting straight to the back of his brain, instantly making Huo Xiaoyao's head spin.

  Later on, Huo Xiao Ye was half drunk and half awake, couldn't care less if this was a black shop or not, eating whatever he wanted with an open belly. With the wine giving him courage, Huo Xiao Ye also opened his mouth wide, scolding together with Yan Shou Chen in unison, the two of them were actually happy from scolding each other, and together they teased Yan Shou Yi, that silly fool who was always spaced out. Huo Xiao Ye's personality was both good and evil, when he was happy, his mouth ran like a train, but what he said made people love to listen, not feeling annoyed at all.

  After a feast of wine and meat, Xiao Ye's belly was swollen like a ball, he had drunk seven or eight bowls of wine, lying on the chair, hugging his stomach and shouting: "Oh my mother! Isn't this the life I've always wanted? But why is it so uncomfortable after eating and drinking too much? My stomach is about to explode! There are stars flying all over my head! Oh my mother!"

  Shuiyao'er finished the last bit of wine in the jar, and her face also turned slightly red. Shuiyao'er had a good capacity for liquor, this little bit didn't count as anything, it was just enough to get Huoxiao Xie drunk.

  "Ah, gentlemen and ladies, how's your meal? Oh, looks like one of you is still drunk!"

  Huoxiao Yaya muttered: "I'm not drunk!" As he said that, his head tilted to one side and he fell fast asleep.

  Yan Jing Tian replied to Qian Zhanggui's words: "Not bad! Not bad! Good taste!"

  Smiling, he asked: "Gentlemen, if this young lady is not in a hurry to rush on her journey, why don't you go rest in the guest room at the back of the house?"

  Yan Jing Tian stretched out his hand and said: "Wait a minute! Don't make a sound!"

  Yan Jingtian's eyes narrowed, and he suddenly sat up straight, one hand pressing on the table, his expression serious. Qian Zhanggui was slightly startled, just about to ask a question, when Yan Shouzheng pressed down on his shoulder.

  Yan Jing Tian burst out laughing and returned to normal. Qian Zhuanggui hastily asked: "Sir, what's wrong with you?"

  Yan Jingtian asked: "Shopkeeper, don't you often have some express riders coming and going here? I see that the horses in your yard should be those of express riders."

  Qian Zhanggui was taken aback, then sighed and said: "Master, you really have good eyesight! A few days ago, some express riders passed by our place and insisted on occupying one of our rooms. Those horses are theirs, who knows if they'll come back again today. Alas, they promised to give me some shop money, but it's been several months and not a single cent has been given to me. They even eat and drink for free... I don't dare offend them..."

  Yan Jing Tian said: "Where are these letter arrows from?"

  Qian Zhanggui said: "I don't know about this either, you also know that the people who run errands are very tight-lipped. Ah, I was just thinking of telling you, if they come, be sure to hide from them, these people are capable of doing anything evil, and if you provoke them, they might even kill someone."

  Xian Jing Tian and Qian Zhang Gui's "letter spear" was a disreputable profession in that era, simply put, it was an "unofficial" folk organization specializing in transmitting urgent letters. Different regions had different names for them, the south usually called them "dart" or "hairy feet", while the north besides calling them "letter spear" also had names like "horse whip" and "jumping dart". In old society, communication was extremely underdeveloped, China's vast territory made sending letters extremely time-consuming and laborious, usually taking a year or half to arrive. Local government offices did have postal relay stations, but except for official express mail, ordinary letter exchange was also very slow. The saying "a family letter is worth ten thousand gold" was indeed apt.

  So the profession of "letter runner" came into being, specializing in delivering letters for wealthy families. At first glance, it seemed harmless and was a way to make a living by relying on one's physical strength. However, during the late Qing dynasty and early Republic of China, when the country was in chaos and war was rampant, bandits were everywhere, and mail delivery was extremely difficult. Delivering a letter became as perilous as passing through a gate of hell. As a result, these "letter runners" gradually changed over time and became more like bandits, except that they didn't occupy mountains or become kings. Their behavior was not much different from that of local bandits. Although they claimed that delivering letters was their main occupation, in reality, they could be bought off to commit crimes such as murder and robbery. They were relatively honest when they were in towns and villages, but once they left these areas and entered the wilderness, they would do all sorts of bad things.

  "The profession of '信镖' was once very prosperous, but eventually developed into a malignant gang that harmed all sides and became the target of crackdowns. As '信镖' were not allowed to enter or leave towns to deliver messages, this profession's main artery was severed. By the 1940s, '信镖' gangs across the country gradually disappeared, with those who used to run '信镖' either turning to banditry or reforming themselves. As time slowly passed, fewer and fewer people remembered terms like '信镖', '梭子', and '跳辫' and this profession itself."

  Therefore, Qian Zhanggui's reminder this time is also reasonable.

  "Thank you for reminding us, we will be careful."

  Qian Zhanggui said: "Judging from your accent, are you people from Longxi?"

  Yan Jing Tian smiled and said: "Exactly."

  "Many years have passed since I last saw people from Longxi come here, haha. Sir, if you're not in a hurry to rush on your journey, I'll open up a few guest rooms for you to rest?"

  Yan Jing Tian looked out of the window and said: "Alright! Shopkeeper, how much money is needed?"

  "Several gentlemen visit our humble shop, rest for a while and don't worry about the money, it's all included in the meal! Please, please..."

  Qian Zhanggui was about to lead the way, but saw that Yan Jingtian and the others had not followed up, instead they all looked towards the entrance of the store. Qian Zhanggui was stunned, and hurriedly followed Yan Jingtian's line of sight, only to see a cloud of dust rolling in, with over ten riders dressed in different attire galloping towards this "Luo Ma Inn".