Chapter 8, South of the City (8)

Looking at the dark, bloodstained surroundings of the yamen gate, Cheng Xiaojiu could only manage a bitter smile. This damned fate really wouldn't even leave a way out for anyone! After wandering aimlessly for half a street, he chuckled to himself a few times and turned to Wang Ermao, saying: "You can head back first. I will go to the pharmacy to get my mother's medicine. The prescription the doctor gave a month ago should still be usable now"

"Don't bother with that, I'm anxious to the point of smoke rising in my heart. Hurry, Master Jia has been injured, bring the best medicine!" Master Jiang shouted loudly as he pushed aside the fan held by the attendant.

Now, what Xiaochun has brought is that "calculated at the price from four months ago," which essentially means that the young lady of the owner’s family is not prepared to expose her tricks, allowing herself to escape without consequence. If I were to remain ungrateful, once the owner decides to handle matters formally, I would likely end up with at least a broken arm or leg, and several of my subordinates would have to lose their fingers, being driven out with a stick.

"Where can I find such a large pharmacy like yours!" Cheng Xiaojiu said with a beaming smile, blood trickling from his forehead down to his chest. He could sense the disdain in the eyes of the accountant and the mockery from the bystanders, yet he forced himself to endure. "How about this, I can add fifty wen, six hundred wen in total. Would you sell me two sets of medicine for six hundred wen? If the fifty wen is a problem, I can have a friend go home to get it right away"

"What is a prescription for?" Before the accountant could respond, the other people waiting in line for their medicine laughed and replied. Just moments ago, they had been stifled by the domineering presence of Mr. Jiang, leaving everyone feeling quite displeased. It was rare to encounter a clueless young lad, so they eagerly seized the opportunity to vent their frustrations on him. "Young man, haven't you heard? A prescription is as good as drinking water. Why bother with ginseng and deer antler? It's much better to buy some meat to cook; it's both economical and satisfying!"

Ah, um, of course! Cheng Xiaojiu was taken aback by the question, quickly glanced at the prescription, and then provided a positive answer

Shall we push the cart and stroll through the streets? Cheng Xiaojiu, still unwilling to give up, patted his companion on the shoulder and tentatively asked. Being a street vendor does not require renting a shop or obtaining an official license from the municipal office. The only requirement is to be nimble on one's feet. When encountering the officials, archers, idle bystanders, or clerks in the government office, one simply needs to push the cart and run. As long as one is not caught on the spot, the goods on the cart can remain safe.

Cheng Xiaojiu nodded with a smile, "That's fine, perhaps I don't have enough money on me. The doctor said this medicine is definitely effective, but it is very expensive!"

He is a minor official in the county office? Cheng Xiaojiu did not wish to inquire about the relationship between Wang Ermao and the man surnamed Jiang, and directly asked.

The shopkeeper glanced at Cheng Xiaojiu and Wang Ermao, then slowly quoted the prices: "Three qian of ginseng, two qian of white atractylodes, two qian of poria, one qian of licorice, three qian each of angelica and chuanxiong, two qian each of cooked rehmannia and white peony, three and a half qian of astragalus, one qian of cinnamon, two qian of deer antler, three dried jujubes, ginseng and deer antler blood tonic soup, three hundred and fifty wen per serving, a total of three servings, amounting to one thousand and fifty wen in total. Payment must be made in advance before the medicine is dispensed, no more, no less!" "Three qian of ginseng, two qian of white atractylodes, two qian of poria, one qian of licorice, three qian each of angelica and chuanxiong, two qian each of cooked rehmannia and white peony, three and a half qian of astragalus, one qian of cinnamon, two qian of deer antler, three dried jujubes, ginseng and deer antler blood tonic soup, three hundred and fifty wen per serving, a total of three servings, amounting to one thousand and fifty wen in total. Payment must be made in advance before the medicine is dispensed, no more, no less!"

"I have never seen anyone bargain like you!" The accountant pushed aside the two bundles with a cold smile and responded, "Young master, I dare not use the owner's medicinal materials to do you a favor. If you do not wish to buy, then so be it; do not make a fool of me." After saying this, he tossed Cheng Xiaojiu aside and shouted towards the counter, "Next! Bring the prescription for me to see. No credit, no debt; come back when you have the money ready!"

Note 6: The salaries of the idle officials and their additional income mentioned in this article can be found in Mr. Wu Si's collection of historical papers, "The Hidden Order." It contains a specialized analysis that is very insightful

Ah! What wind has brought you, Master Jiang! For such a trivial matter, couldn't you send a disciple instead? On such a hot day, quickly, someone, bring Master Jiang some cool tea!" The accountant, who had been engrossed in his books without raising his head or giving a proper glance, suddenly jumped up, greeting with a smiling face. The nimble assistants had already brought over a stool, inviting Master Jiang to take a seat by the counter, and then, like a shooting star, they swiftly presented the teapot, teacups, fan, and pear syrup, serving him to enjoy at his leisure.

"Damn it, those thieves have made it so I can't even take a nap!" The man surnamed Jiang cursed again, reached for the teapot, and poured a whole pot of cold tea down his throat. After finishing the tea, he grabbed a piece of pear paste, tossed it into his mouth with precision, and while chewing, he mumbled indistinctly, "Have any suspicious individuals come to buy medicine recently? For treating gunshot wounds? If so, immediately report them to the authorities, no cover-ups allowed!"

Cheng Xiaojiu made an attempt to pull but was unsuccessful, so she decided not to try again. Instead, she gathered her two bags and secured them on her back, lightly clenching her fists, waiting to see how the other party would react. There were more than one pharmacy in the market; if a fight broke out here, the next pharmacy could continue negotiating discounts with the other party. If she left without saying a word and suffered a silent loss, she would surely be bullied by the staff of various pharmacies in collusion in the future.

Cheng Xiaojiu looked around and properly positioned himself at the end of the line. Just as he steadied his legs, he suddenly heard a rush of footsteps behind him. Before he could turn around, a powerful aura surged past his shoulder, causing those in the front row waiting for medicine to stagger in disarray. After the gust of wind passed, a short and stout man with a brown beard forcefully slapped the counter of the pharmacy and shouted, "Shopkeeper, quickly prepare a prescription for a bruise remedy! Master Jia from the yamen is in urgent need; we cannot afford any delay!"

As for Master Jia in the yamen, this small amount of money is certainly not worth mentioning. The accountant tilted his head to look at Cheng Xiaojiu, giving a slight cold smile, "But what kind of wealth does he possess? In this entire market, which business does not rely on his patronage?"

How much?" Cheng Xiaojiu dodged back a little, unable to suppress her exclamation.

Hmm! Cheng Xiaojiu was momentarily taken aback, as if countless golden rays were swirling before her eyes. More than thirty pigs, and this was merely the living expenses of a low-ranking servant. ... What if she could eventually rise above her station? ... But when her grandfather was alive, he held a much higher official position than a mere servant, yet she never saw him bring home that much money. Could it be that the family had a lot of money back then, hidden away in places unknown to her and her mother?

Early the next morning, two young men, each harboring dreams, returned to the dock to make a living. The news of someone receiving a generous reward from the Zhou family had already spread, and the gazes directed at the two were filled with envy and jealousy. Fortunately, yesterday Cheng Xiaojiu had already established his reputation, and the other dock workers knew that this young man, who was less than half their age, was a skilled practitioner and not to be trifled with. Thus, while jealousy lingered, they did not dare to approach the two to cause trouble; instead, their words came out somewhat strange, tinged with a rancid smell of rice husks.

"In this way, thank you for your righteousness, shopkeeper." The man with the surname Jiang clasped his fists and swiftly departed like the wind. The accountant watched him leave, put away his smile, and once again sat upright behind the high counter, not raising his head, as he made the counting rods clatter, "Next! First come, first served, line up, line up! Do not disrupt the order here!"

"Bring it here, I will show the prescription to the young lady!" The voice of the woman from the depths of the pharmacy, though youthful, carried an undeniable authority. Upon hearing this, the accountant's face instantly turned pale as he picked up the prescription and quietly explained, "Miss Xiaochun, there is no need to trouble the young lady with such a trivial matter. I can handle it right away, can't I? On such a hot day, you shouldn't have to run around and tire yourself out!"

Note 2: The municipal office, an ancient institution for commerce and industry management, is similar to the current business administration and local tax bureau.

Hmm! The man with the surname Jiang lifted his eyelids and glanced at the plaque hanging directly above the counter of the pharmacy, the imposing aura of authority slightly easing. Without needing a reminder from the accountant, he was already aware that this was the business of the Zhou family from Guantao, which he absolutely could not touch. However, having been accustomed to arrogance, he momentarily forgot to restrain himself. After savoring two pieces of pear syrup, he slowly stood up from the stool, looked into the counter, and asked with a smile: "Has everything been prepared, you dog? The county magistrate has instructed me that this medicine must be prepared at your place. The medicinal materials from other pharmacies are simply not trusted by the yamen!" After savoring two pieces of pear syrup, he slowly stood up from the stool, looked into the counter, and asked with a smile: "Has everything been prepared, you dog? The county magistrate has instructed me that this medicine must be prepared at your place. The medicinal materials from other pharmacies are simply not trusted by the yamen!"

Note 4: Cleaning fees, referring to market management fees

"Three pieces, just three pieces, as if we can't afford to buy from anyone else!" Wang Ermao, accompanying Cheng Xiaojiu, was infuriated by the laughter and forcefully threw the bag he had on his shoulder onto the counter. "Inside here, there are two hundred and fifty wen of good quality meat. Additionally, this one, Xiaojiu, you tell him how much there is!"

Alas! Alas! The accountant, who had narrowly escaped a disaster, responded repeatedly, beads of cold sweat streaming down his forehead. He had previously bullied Cheng Xiaojiu, who was a newcomer, and had not tampered with the main accounts, but had played many tricks with the prices of individual medicines. This was a common tactic employed by the young clerks in the pharmacy to make money, but today, unexpectedly, he was caught red-handed by the young lady of the owner’s family who had come to inspect.

"Do not thank me; it is our employer's instruction!" Cheng Bo said, stroking his beard with pride. "If you must express gratitude, then thank our employer. In the future, if our employer has any requests of you all, please do not refuse!"

Oh! Cheng Xiaojiu nodded slightly and responded in a low voice. He had some impression of the matters concerning the government and knew that the lowest rank in a county office was that of a minor official. The archers were merely assistants to these minor officials, and they received no salary at all, relying entirely on extorting a living from the common people. Such despicable and shameless individuals were always looked down upon by scholars, and thus, no matter how arrogant they appeared, they could not evoke even a trace of envy in him

Cheng Xiaojiu was blushing from laughter, left speechless. After hesitating for quite a while, she finally spoke in a low and humble tone, "Uncle, I didn't bring that much money today. How about this: I will take one prescription first, and I will come back for the other two later, is that alright?"

Note 5: Bowmen, auxiliary police in ancient times. Helpers, urban management officials in ancient times. Handlers, private assistants to tax officials in ancient times. White book, assistants to the private assistants of tax officials.

He extended five fingers, waving them in front of Cheng Xiaojiu, and then, fearing that the other party might misunderstand, he earnestly added, "Fifty dings, or rather, let's count it on the lower side. The head of the guard above him, Head Guard Guo, and Head Guard Jia, although their official salary is only thirty dings of rice each year, their families are adorned with gold and silver. Just from the live pigs alone, they can buy over thirty of them every year!"

The gauze curtain on the side of the pharmacy was gently lifted, and a young maid dressed in light green quickly stepped out. She first offered a graceful bow to everyone, then smiled and replied: "If there are ginseng and deer antler inside, it would be 1,050 wen for a set, which is not too expensive. After all, there has been a war in Liaodong, and the trade routes have been cut off for quite some time. However, my young lady happens to be here; let me show it to her, and she might give a discount on the total price. We are all from the same village, and we can't let everyone be unable to afford medicine, can we?" However, my young lady happens to be here; let me show it to her, and she might give a discount on the total price. We are all from the same village, and we can't let everyone be unable to afford medicine, can we?

One thousand and fifty wen exactly, young master, if you do not believe it, see for yourself! The accountant pushed the counting rods in front of Cheng Xiaojiu and responded in a drawn-out tone.

"Master Jiang from the yamen, you don't even know him?!" Wang Ermao frowned, displaying a look of surprise at such ignorance. "In terms of family hierarchy, he is still my maternal uncle. We are not even five degrees of separation apart!"

Regardless of whether the jokes of the crowd were made in good or bad spirit, Cheng Xiaojiu and Wang Ermao remained oblivious, focusing solely on their work. From early morning until the afternoon, they busily unloaded all the large ships. When it came time to settle the wages, the two closely followed behind Liu and Shi, the two strongmen, ready to take advantage of the situation. Unexpectedly, the steward of the Zhou residence, Cheng Bo, and the *Tu* *Shu*, who had been drenched by the rain, suddenly changed their attitude. Not only did they not waste words with the strongmen, but they also took the initiative to calculate the wages for half a day's work from the previous day as a full half day, giving each of the twenty or so unloaders an additional measure of rice.

Lost in thought about old matters at home, he walked forward in a daze. It was not until someone tapped his head with a finger that he awoke from his reverie. Startled, he looked up to see the usually aloof accountant of the pharmacy, for some unknown reason, suddenly in a mood, pointing at the prescription he had confusedly handed over and questioning: "Young man, are you sure you want to fill this prescription?"

But you previously said that ginseng and deer antler are not worth much, right? Cheng Xiaojiu did not need to look at the accounts to know that he could not find any faults in them, so he could only put on a smiling face and attempt to negotiate with the accountant.

Where has this talk gone? If it were not for a few gentlemen who tirelessly maintain local order despite the wind and sun, how could this small shop conduct business in peace? Just some ginseng and deer antler, they are not worth much, so Mr. Jiang may take them for use. If it is not enough, just send someone over, and this small shop will provide a few more for the gentlemen!

Without further ado, he snatched away Cheng Xiaojiu's money pouch and threw it onto the counter. "See if this is enough; if not, I'll go home to get more for you! It's just one thousand and fifty wen, don't look down on people with your dog eyes!"

No, but it's almost the same. He is a disciple of Chief Guo and the best archer in Guantao!" Wang Ermao turned to look at the departing figure of the man with the surname Jiang, his face filled with envy as he spoke

Here, the man with the surname Jiang grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. "The county magistrate did not give me money for medicinal supplements!"

Since they could not find a way through the Zhou family, the two young men felt that their grand plan for "making a fortune and turning their luck around" was now urgent. After finishing their only proper meal of the day, the two youths wrapped several hundred coins in their bundles and marched confidently to the market to see what business opportunities could lead to quick wealth. As they walked, they encouraged themselves, believing that with Cheng Xiaojiu's writing and calculating skills, along with Wang Ermao's cleverness, even if they could not achieve daily riches, it should be quite feasible to establish a foothold in the Guantao market within a few months. However, upon entering the market, they soon realized that there were indeed rules and pathways to conducting business, and it was not something just anyone could do. Local merchants, traveling traders, pawnshops, and various trades each had their own regulations. Rice shops, taverns, silk stores, and iron halls each had their own thresholds. Even to set up a stall and perform in the market, one first had to pay the required fees to the local authorities; otherwise, one could find themselves shackled by iron chains, charged with disturbing the peace of the market. Without a ransom of five or ten guan, one could forget about leaving the yamen unscathed.

Note 3: Market. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, the cities in the Central Plains had designated market areas. In large cities, the markets were divided into the East Market and the West Market based on the types of goods traded. For more details, please refer to the restored map of ancient Chang'an

You are truly a great benefactor! The beneficiaries have no words of thanks.

Upon hearing this, the accountant and several associates felt the veins on their foreheads throb, yet they did not dare to confront the matter. Suppressing their inner anger, they argued, "This young man, one cannot speak carelessly; ginseng and deer antler are both scarce commodities. We also have to pay a high price to acquire them"

I will help you carry the medicine!" Wang Ermao volunteered. Although the dream of partnering in business was about to shatter, he still cherished his friendship with Cheng Xiaojiu.

"I have never seen anyone conduct business like this!" Wang Ermao, unable to contain his anger, stepped forward and pointed at the accountant's nose, scolding him. "You lowly scoundrel, remember this: fortune changes hands, and one day you better not find yourself in need of my help!"

I was so happy yesterday that I hardly slept all night! Wang Ermao drooped his head and murmured in complaint. Half an hour ago, he still thought that the four coins in the hands of him and the bookkeeper Cheng Xiaojiu were a fortune. Now he realizes that the little capital they have can only be held in their arms to dream. When it comes to actually doing business, they can't even cross the most basic threshold.

You are talking nonsense! Wang Ermao is clearly trying to cause trouble for the other party, loudly retorting, "It is obvious that you are taking advantage of the situation to rob us, charging exorbitant prices. We brought nearly 600 coins, yet we can't even buy a single dose of medicine. What kind of pharmacy is this? Even if we were to smash it, it wouldn't be as ruthless as you are!"

Wang Ermao waited for quite a while, unable to hear Cheng Xiaojiu's flattery. He guessed that his good friend must have started to feign sophistication again. Leaning close to the other person's ear, he whispered, "Don't look down on my uncle. According to my mother, ever since he spent money to get a position as a helper in the government office, his annual income has reached this amount!"

The apprentice at the pharmacy was not to be trifled with either. Upon seeing Wang Ermao lose his temper, he immediately grabbed a pestle and a weight, rushing out in a frenzy. It seemed an intense fight was inevitable. Suddenly, a clear voice came from deep within the pharmacy, "Old Liu, the young lady is asking what you are doing. Why is there such a commotion out front? This is a pharmacy, not a bustling tavern in the market!"

"How could that be possible?" The shopkeeper continued to smile apologetically, "Our old Zhou family's pharmacy will never allow thieves to enter. Please rest assured! If we spot any strangers, we will inform you immediately!"

Note 1: The term "Yahang" refers to intermediaries. They primarily engage in business dealings, human trafficking, and the introduction of domestic workers.

"No need to rush, no need to rush, it will be ready soon!" The accountant said, bending slightly and promising in a low voice

Wang Ermao shrank his neck in fright and repeatedly refused, "Come on, the old man next door, Xiao Suantou, does this. After a whole summer of hard work, he still didn't earn as much as I did carrying big bags. A couple of days ago, I was cornered in Kuaidang Alley by Captains Jia and Guo from the yamen, and not only was a whole truckload of goods confiscated, but I also received three hundred lashes, and I still didn't end up in front of the county yamen with a heavy punishment!"

I definitely brought enough!" Cheng Xiaojiu puffed out his chest and answered loudly. He knew that this medicine was quite valuable, so he brought a total of three hundred coins in his pouch when he left. Wang Ermao also had over two hundred pieces of meat in his pouch. The two of them combined their meat, which was enough to cover the cost of a prescription.

The best pharmacy in Taoguan City is located deep within the market. The shop is not large, yet its business is thriving. A clerk sits behind the counter, the counting rods clicking rhythmically. Several well-dressed young assistants move swiftly, wrapping the prepared medicine in dried lotus leaves, stacking them in bundles on the tall counter. The clerk calls out customers in the order they arrived to pay and collect their medicine, moving efficiently and precisely, without a hitch.

As soon as the words were spoken, the arrogance of the accountant and his group of assistants immediately diminished. They glared resentfully at the two young men, Cheng and Wang, and loudly responded to the counter, "It's nothing. Just now, Lord Jiang from the yamen was causing a ruckus. Currently, there are two young gentlemen who didn't bring enough cash and want to take the medicine, and we are kindly persuading them to return home first"

"So, have you brought enough money?" The accountant scrutinized Cheng Xiaojiu from head to toe several times, slowly set down the prescription, and began to tally up the accounts.

"Er Mao, Er Mao!" Cheng Xiaojiu quickly grabbed his companion, smiling and nodding around. "Everyone, please don't mind, my brother has a quick temper. Shopkeeper, I have exactly three hundred wen in my pouch, and my friend has two hundred and fifty wen in his pouch. Could you possibly give us a discount and prepare two doses of medicine first? After we finish these two doses, we will come back for a third one!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the onlookers in the shop immediately understood that the accountant must have tampered with Cheng Xiaojiu's medicine prices. Considering their own vested interests, the crowd's stance quickly took a dramatic turn. They gathered at the counter, clamoring in unison: "Miss Xiaochun, this prescription is worth 1,050 pieces of meat. Do you understand it?"

Cheng Xiaojiu stood at the edge of the crowd, observing the lively scene for a moment. When he noticed that no one was paying attention to him anymore, he arranged to meet Ermao, shouldered his wages, and headed home. He could not understand the steward of the Zhou residence's deliberate display of benevolence towards everyone, but he felt a vague sense of disappointment. According to his expectations, today, Cheng Bo should have continued to cultivate a closer relationship with him. To his surprise, the man had completely forgotten about giving him an extra five dou of rice yesterday and had not mentioned anything about recruiting him to serve the Zhou family.

Cheng Xiaojiu had recently moved to Guantao and had never witnessed such a spectacle before, leaving him secretly astonished. Taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention to him, he lowered his voice and asked Wang Ermao beside him: "Who was that just now, and why do they have such an impressive presence? Even the pharmacy's accountant doesn't dare to offend him?"

How much more expensive could it possibly get! Wang Ermao instantly regained some confidence, slapping his pouch and shouting. The copper coins inside chimed in perfect harmony, sounding unexpectedly pleasant.

The speaker addressed everyone comprehensively, leaving no room for those who were eager to stir up trouble. The crowd laughed and dispersed, continuing to queue for their medicine. A maid named Xiaochun nodded at Cheng Xiaojium and Wang Ermao, then quickly returned to the inner hall. Moments later, the sound of jingling ornaments came from behind the door curtain, and it was still the maid Xiaochun who hurried out, holding a prescription. She instructed the accountant, "Uncle Liu, the young lady said to charge for this medicine at the price from six months ago. Please do not make it difficult for the two patrons!" Moments later, the sound of jingling ornaments came from behind the door curtain, and it was still the maid Xiaochun who hurried out, holding a prescription. She instructed the accountant, "Uncle Liu, the young lady said to charge for this medicine at the price from six months ago. Please do not make it difficult for the two patrons!"

"That's good, that's good! Thank you, County Magistrate Lin, for your care!" The accountant walked into the pharmacy with a smile, took out two pouches from the back room, and handed them over to Mr. Jiang. "This pouch contains the powdered medicine for external application, and the other pouch is the tonic for Lord Jia, which should be consumed hot; it will replenish any amount of blood lost."

This young gentleman certainly knows how to calculate! The accountant responded in a nonchalant manner. According to common sense, he could indeed offer a discount on such expensive medicine, but today he was simply in a bad mood and felt like stepping on the weak a little more. "We give you a discount, but who gives us a discount? This ginseng, deer antler, and licorice all come from Liaodong. Right now, with the fires of war raging, the trade routes have long been cut off, and the prices of ginseng and deer antler fluctuate daily! I am already losing money doing business with you today; if I offer another discount, the old and young in this pharmacy will have to go hungry!" This ginseng, deer antler, and licorice all come from Liaodong. Right now, with the fires of war raging, the trade routes have long been cut off, and the prices of ginseng and deer antler fluctuate daily! I am already losing money doing business with you today; if I offer another discount, the old and young in this pharmacy will have to go hungry!

From the most prosperous rice shops, flour shops, and pawnshops, they wandered all the way to the nearly deserted boot stores, stationery shops, and street performance stalls. The two youths were drenched in sweat under the sun, yet their hearts felt as cold as if they had consumed ice. They observed that even the least prosperous shops required a monthly rent of over 500 coins. In addition to the taxes owed to the municipal office and the cleaning fees for the local officials, it was impossible to sustain a business without at least a few coins each month. They noted that even the least prosperous shops required a monthly rent of over 500 coins. Furthermore, obtaining a business license from the local authority would cost 2,000 coins, not including the security deposit for the village head and the fees for the clerks' services. When calculated carefully, if one wished to open a legitimate shop in Guantao Market, it was simply unrealistic to think of doing so without at least 15 coins in capital.

Cheng Bo smiled without speaking, turning to instruct the household servants to calculate the bamboo tokens in the hands of those carrying grain. The settlement was still based on the agreed quantity from the previous day, but the measuring instruments were replaced with the large measures specifically used by the government for collecting rents from the populace. Each measure was filled to the brim, leaving no shortfall. The delighted laborers expressed their gratitude profusely, surrounding the Zhou family's servants with cheers. In no time, the entire dock began to sing the praises of the Zhou family from Guantao, overshadowing their previous misdeeds of seizing land, plotting against houses, small loans, and large rent collections, and no one remembered them anymore. The delighted laborers expressed their gratitude profusely, surrounding the Zhou family's servants with cheers. In no time, the entire dock began to sing the praises of the Zhou family from Guantao, overshadowing their previous misdeeds of seizing land, plotting against houses, small loans, and large rent collections, and no one remembered them anymore.

Where could it be? Just say the word! If you have any requests, please feel free to ask. We may not have much, but we certainly have plenty of strength! Amidst a series of sounds of people patting their chests, the assurances from everyone sounded particularly sincere