Chapter 36: Pao Brother

Suddenly a cloud of dust rose up and a group of people on big horses dressed in matching collarless long-sleeved shirts, with a jacket draped over them, and a large character for "Brave" written on the front with four side-by-side slits appeared from all sides.
It was very conspicuous that there was a braid showing behind the round hat, and people along the way avoided them one after another.
And sitting at the corner, Cui Chong also avoided the direction of their march.
He felt only a hunger that was hard to bear and his strength seemed to have dwindled to almost nothing.
"Hey beggar, how about I give you some copper coins if you learn to crawl like a dog?"
A group of young children surrounded him, their faces adorned with mischievous smiles.
The child at the head is about 1.5 meters tall, wearing a glorious matching horse jacket, and the child behind him crowded around him, looking like a child king.
There are also some childish voices that look rebellious.
No innocence without children, only arrogance and ruthlessness.
"Look, it's those kids again. Poor beggar!"
"Ah, in today's world, it's better for that beggar to die than to live like this."
At the opposite noodle stall, there were two middle-aged men in ragged long shirts, with their braids hanging casually behind their heads.
Listening to their words, you could tell that this group of children were notorious for being spoiled and unruly.
Cui Chong didn't have a chance to continue sleeping with the seat behind him unfolded, so he could change his posture.
"Beggar, what are you hiding in that wooden box!"
Behind him was a person wearing a red jacket with a matching collar and a red hat with the character 'Fu' on top.
Just as he was about to reach out and touch it, a pair of dark and dirty hands slapped away.
The force was light, but it was like being struck by lightning and the hand immediately recoiled.
The leading child felt as if he had lost face and became angry: "Give this beggar a good beating and let him know his place!"
Children who have been raised meticulously and well-fed in this society are as strong as young oxen. Ordinary people simply cannot compete with them based on physical fitness alone.
As these rascals were bullying a beggar out in public, a voice suddenly came from behind them: "Young masters, your master is calling you back!"
An old man with a mustache and wearing a black cap stumbled and hurriedly ran over.
The group immediately felt bored and followed the household steward to leave dejectedly.
Among this group of children, besides the leader who looks strong and robust, there is also the one with a red matching jacket behind him who is from the eldest branch, while the other children are from the other branches.
Each of them comes from a wealthy family, and their ancestors jointly operate the largest silver shop in Sichuan, the Rishengchuan Liang family.
With the current situation being turbulent and unsettled, in the past few years the Eight-Nation Alliance looted Beijing, exposing the weak and ineffective combat capability of the Qing army, and various regions began to rectify the New Army.
Just now, a group of people riding on horses left, and they were the new soldiers of the Sichuan Supervision Office, who were promoted from the old army that had been reduced in the original Green Camp and were always ready.
As the largest silver bank in Sichuan, Risun River is naturally walking on thin ice in the current situation, with rumors of insufficient military supplies for the new army rising.
Especially on this special day, they have called back the usually carefree young masters, fearing that they may cause trouble for the entire Liang family.
少了那些孩子的声音他顿时觉得安静了许多，他闭着眼睛侧躺在凉席上。
实则在心底暗暗思索自己如今的处境，看这里处处透露着腐朽落败气息，人人头上扎着辫子以及能在街上看到横行无忌的洋人。
This is probably the end of the Qing Dynasty, and the Aisin Gioro family is about to be swept into the annals of history.
"Excuse me, could you please lend me the way?"
Cui Chong heard someone calling and turned around to see an old man in a cotton coat with a girl of about ten years old by his side, who looked like a grandfather and granddaughter.
He only saw him placing his left hand on his right elbow and his right hand thumb up in a gesture that seemed very strange to Cuichong.
Although Cuichong couldn't see his face clearly as he turned around, he could vaguely make out that he was a young man hidden by his hair.
His hair doesn't have the typical style of being shaved on one side and long on the other. Instead, it grows evenly from the root.
Nowadays, the Qing government no longer has the same prestige as before. Moreover, saying things like "keeping the hair but not the head" or "keeping the head but not the hair" sound rather ridiculous.
Especially those eyes, like cold and sharp ice, the look of confusion made the old man retract his gesture.
"This old man was mistaken, please forgive me."
There are many gangsters in Sichuan, and there are many people from all walks of life in the rivers and lakes. The gesture is the handshake for the contact.
Here is a place with lots of street people. A little girl is beating a loud drum to attract attention, calling out, "If you're rich, donate money. If you're poor, donate support!"
Before long, some idle people in the street gathered around. In no time, the once deserted place was filled with people.
The little girl wearing a red coat performed acrobatics on the street, causing a round of applause from the surrounding crowd.
The old man held a gong and shouted, "Newcomer here, everyone please support me, please support me, our dear mothers and fathers of clothes and food!"
Next, he started to perform his amazing tricks, changing the color of his face from black to red, all while wearing a traditional Chinese opera mask.
"Wow, that was incredible!"
A few soldiers in the crowd threw a money pouch at him, despite the difficult times we live in.
An old man bent down to pick up his money bag and stuffed it into his collar with a smile on his face, but at this moment, an untimely voice came.
"Hold on, old man. You've already given the money, how come your face has changed? Show us your secret move."
Bing Youzi walked into the crowd and said, followed by his brothers who echoed: "How did it become like this?"
This situation doesn't look good. Although the new army has been reformed, it has already become corrupt to the core. No matter how much we clean it up, it will never be completely clean. Even in the Republic of China, bureaucratic methods still prevail.
These guys all have guns on them. If you provoke them, even ordinary people can only endure being beaten up.
"Let our brothers open their eyes."
The old man smiled and made a gesture with his hands, palms facing inward: "Gentlemen, gentlemen, the arts of the military cannot be taught to outsiders. A thousand pieces of gold cannot buy a path, and old friends are welcomed on the crossroads. Please have mercy and forgive me."
The old man rested his left hand on his right elbow and held up his right thumb, saying before patting the shoulder of the leading soldier.
A soldier behind him interjected, "Cut the suspense, be straightforward and honorable."
"Forget it, I don't want to force you if you don't want to do it properly."
"Let's each go our own way, we'll regret it if we don't."
"The brothers in the robe have loyalty and won't make things difficult for their own people."
As the gong rang out, it didn't take long for a lot of cheers and applause to come.
In the end, the old man took out a small string of money, about ten or so cents, and placed it beside Cui Chong saying: "This is the money for using your land, as compensation."
这“您”的称呼听起来是自折身份，可下九流是顾不得颜面的。
Cui Chong, who had been watching the excitement on the sidelines the whole time, said, "Amateurs watch the show, experts watch the technique. Master, your skill is amazing!"