svetikya Chapter 164: Huo Ze Kui, fighting crickets. Betting.
Chapter 164: Huo Ze Kui, fighting crickets. Betting.
When Sha Zhu left, it was already noon. The weather outside was still sunny and there was no snow during the day. Xu Dongsheng left the two dogs at home and rode his bicycle to Xiao Yitu's house. Although there might not be crickets to play with, Xu Dongsheng felt that he could still go and chat with Xiao Yitu and bring him some wine, after all, he had promised it.
"Fire and Marsh Kui Gua, transactions are repeated, seeking official positions is unsuccessful, and it is difficult to meet nobles. Traveling with two people is beneficial, and seeking wealth with two people can get 30% to 40% profit. It's not bad, it's better not to go shopping, this Gua is really bad."
Walking on the road, Xu Dongsheng rode a bicycle with one hand, and then a copper coin appeared in his palm. After rolling six times, Xu Dongsheng got the hexagram. Li on top and Dui on bottom, Kui hexagram, not a very good hexagram, but Xu Dongsheng took a look at the yellow list and found that there was actually a skill in Tiancifu.
This skill is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain, but fortunately it is available every day, just like a free refresh. As long as Xu Dongsheng can get through a day safely, he will receive this blessing from heaven. What more could he want from such a good thing?
If I get it, I'm lucky. If I lose it, it's my fate. Why force it?
"Dongsheng, you don't think there are no crickets in winter, do you? There are so many places in our capital city where there are hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Crickets are just one of them. In addition to cricket fighting, there are also dog fighting and bird fighting. I'll take you to visit them someday.
You are lucky today. There is a cricket fight outside our Chaoyang Gate. I heard the stakes are quite high. It is almost the New Year and some people want to make a fortune. Unfortunately, I am a worker now and I don’t have any crickets. I only have the magic gourd. Otherwise, I would like to get one too.”
Xu Dongsheng came to Xiao Yitu's house and gave the wine to Xiao Yitu. Xiao Yitu was so happy that after taking a sip, he quickly sealed the jar of wine for fear that others would smell it. Then he was afraid that Xu Dongsheng would give him drink it, so he pulled Xu Dongsheng aside and told him the big news of the day.
Xu Dongsheng was also stunned when he heard this. He didn't expect to encounter another cricket fight. However, the time of the cricket fight was at five o'clock in the afternoon, which was the time when everyone started to cook and eat. The reason for choosing this time was to avoid being disturbed by others, and to celebrate after winning the fight.
In this cricket fighting, besides the two people betting on the spot, there are also wealthy people who will start betting outside the venue, so it can be considered a kind of gambling. Xu Dongsheng is not planning to participate, but the hexagram says that it is a good day to seek wealth, and it is possible that it will be beneficial.
Xu Dongsheng and Xiao Yitu had a casual meal at Xiao Yitu's house, and then headed towards Chaoyang Gate. When they arrived at Chaoyang Gate, they left Chaoyang Gate and came to an alley, Yanzhi Hutong No. 137. Xiao Yitu knocked on the door a few times, which seemed to be some kind of agreed password, and then the door opened. It was opened by a young man.
The young man looked at Xu Dongsheng, then at Xiao Yitu, and found that both of them came on bicycles. Without asking, he made way for the two to enter. After entering, there was a small courtyard with a private entrance. Three families lived in the courtyard. There were three main rooms in the middle and two side rooms on each side.
When they arrived, Xu Dongsheng already knew that their destination today was the main house in the middle. The people living in the house were surnamed Luo, descendants of high-ranking officials of the previous dynasty. There were two families next to them.
One family called Hou San, who was about the same age as Yi Zhonghai. He was the grandson of the former prince. Although he was down and out, his family had a lot of good things. He had a daughter named Hou Su'e, who was a few years younger than Xu Dongsheng and was still studying.
In addition, his identity is more impressive. His previous name was very long, but now he changed his surname to Ai, and his name is Ai Xiang Huang. His family background is not bad. The people in the courtyard are not the kind who work, but they all have enough food and drink.
The people who organized the cricket fight this time were the Luo family who lived in the house. After entering the compound, Xu Dongsheng and Xiao Yitu went straight to the main house in the middle. After entering the house, they saw three stoves in the three rooms of the main house, and people were gathered in groups of three or five. Xu Dongsheng looked at the clothes these people were wearing. There were all kinds of clothes, and some were even wearing leather, real leather.
"Hey, Mr. Xiao is here?"
After Xu Dongsheng and Xiao Yitu entered the room, a man who was sitting in the middle warming himself by the fire looked about the same age as Xu Dazhuang, but he looked much older. He was wearing a yellow cotton coat with black patterns and a velvet hat. When he saw Xu Dongsheng and Xiao Yitu, he immediately called out to them.
Moreover, he addressed him as "Sir", which clearly showed that he knew Xiao Yitu's identity.
"It's Master Lu. Are you interested in watching this little thing fight today?"
Xiao Yitu also greeted Master Lu who was speaking and bowed to him, showing him great respect. Then he came and sat down opposite Master Lu. Xu Dongsheng found a random seat and sat down.
"Huh? Yan Bugui?"
Xu Dongsheng was watching the people here chatting, and then he began to look around. At this time, Xu Dongsheng found a man. At first glance, Xu Dongsheng thought this man was Yan Bugui, but then Xu Dongsheng discovered that this man was much younger than Yan Bugui, and he was not wearing glasses. Although he was wearing an ordinary cotton jacket, his hands were tucked into his sleeves.
Xu Dongsheng knew that he had made a mistake, and then Xiao Yitu called him. Then Xu Dongsheng immediately went with Xiao Yitu to meet those people that Xiao Yitu knew, who he thought were relatively important.
Then Xu Dongsheng got to know almost all the people there, many of whom were extraordinary people, some were craftsmen, some were old folks, and some were rising stars.
"The market is open. Dongsheng, Xiao Chunfeng's black general is a winning general. Let's bet on the black general this time. I'll bet ten dollars, and you can bet a little too. The odds are 1 to 3. If he wins, it will be three dollars."
Xiao Yitu was also very generous now. His salary was high enough, so he directly offered ten yuan. Xu Dongsheng thought about today's fortune and thought he would make money, so he did not reject Xiao Yitu's kindness and bet ten yuan together with Xiao Yitu.
"Comrade, are you interested? I can teach you birds, crickets, and dogs for free."
After watching the three thrilling cricket fights, Xu Dongsheng and Xiao Yitu made a total of eleven dollars. Xiao Yitu bet as much as Xu Dongsheng. He won three games and lost four games, but he still won in the end. The golden finger really didn't deceive him.
Xu Dongsheng and Xiao Yitu were also affected by the passion of cricket fighting. While watching Xu Dongsheng's curious and eager look, a man came to Xu Dongsheng's side. This man looked about the same age as Jia Dongxu.
He was wearing leather and a wolfskin hat on his head, and looked a bit like a half-hunter.
This man is called Zuo Yu. He has a lot of connections in the city. He knows people from all walks of life. In the countryside, he also knows a lot of hunters. He can get a lot of things, and he is also one of the people who opened the market here.
Seeing this, Xiao Yitu didn't say much. He continued to watch the crickets fighting in the pottery basin. He patted Xu Dongsheng on the shoulder and continued watching.
"You still have these things? What are they? These crickets are too small, and they look boring. I have dogs, but I don't want them to fight to the death, so I want to see what's flying in the sky. I wonder what these fighting birds are fighting about?"
Xu Dongsheng did not refuse. Now he had little mice as his younger brothers underground and dogs around him. Xu Dongsheng wanted to have his own power in the sky.
"Quail, starling, thrush, golden pheasant, bamboo partridge, these small ones, and the largest one, the Saker Falcon. Which one are you interested in?"
Hearing that Xu Dongsheng was interested, Zuo Yu immediately became excited, then put his hand on Xu Dongsheng's shoulder and asked Xu Dongsheng which kind of bird he was interested in.
"How can we still have these things in winter? Now that all the birds have flown south, where can we find them?"
Xu Dongsheng watched the sky darken outside and it began to snow again, and immediately said, where can you get these things to cultivate since childhood?