Chapter 1 Over Here, Sit Down!

"Come and sit!"

Faced with Hu Ma's request, the old shopkeeper remained silent. Even though his expression changed drastically, he quickly concealed it.

The mustachioed manager, however, was visibly surprised. He glanced at the old shopkeeper first, then subconsciously wanted to turn back and look inside the room, but he didn't actually turn around. Finally, he chuckled and exchanged a look with the other manager who had come with him, saying nothing more.

He didn't say yes, nor did he say no, and he didn't even continue the topic.

Instead, he nodded to Hu Ma, signaling him to come and sit at his table.

That was the head seat. According to banquet rules, this table was only for the old shopkeeper, the four Red Aroma disciples, and the two managers. If there were other tables, others would sit down in order. If not, then others could only stand and serve by the side.

An Eight Immortals table could seat eight people, and it was just one short.

Calling Hu Ma over filled the table, but Hu Ma was undoubtedly at the lowest seat.

However, because Hu Ma was the manager of this manor, his taking a seat was equivalent to sitting in on the accompaniment.

The shop assistants beside him were incredibly envious of Hu Ma sitting there, while Zhou Datong and the others from the Da Yang village looked at each other, and then a strong sense of joy arose in their hearts.

Even Li Wazi in the kitchen... because he was now mainly responsible for cooking and buying vegetables, ready to add hot water at any time, and couldn't sit down... also showed a face full of joy.

"Thank you, Manager, please..."

But Hu Ma just silently came over and sat down, assuming that the other party had agreed to his request.

A thank you, from the bottom of his heart, and the mustachioed manager's eyes were also very gratified.

But just then, before the banquet really started, a long-faced Red Aroma disciple sitting on the left suddenly looked at Hu Ma and said in a stiff voice, "When you first joined the Red Lantern Society, did you enter the city and stay in the house with the big poplar tree?"

Hu Ma looked at him, his mind flipping through memories, and he vaguely felt that he looked familiar.

It seemed that this Red Aroma disciple was one of the ragged teenagers who had lived in the city mansion back then.

But compared to then, he was now very energetic, clean and tidy.

Of course, he spoke stiffly, without any politeness.

He smiled and nodded, saying, "That's right, I lived in the west wing for a few days. What about you?"

The Red Aroma disciple looked indifferent, and directly stretched out his chopsticks to pick up vegetables, saying, "I lived in the stable back then."

Even Shopkeeper Wu and the two managers hadn't touched their chopsticks yet, so his action naturally seemed a bit rude, but the two managers just pretended not to see it. The other Red Aroma disciples had faint expressions. This banquet hadn't even started yet, and the atmosphere was already a bit cold.

Hu Ma smiled and said, "Yesterday you lived in the stable, today you rode a big horse. If those who lived in the main hall back then saw you now, how envious would they be?"

"Hmm?"

As soon as these words came out, the Red Aroma disciple who had raised his chopsticks to pick up vegetables was slightly stunned.

The look in his eyes as he looked at Hu Ma seemed a bit complicated, and said, "You're also very good, you've become a manager."

"I was just promoted by the shopkeeper."

Hu Ma smiled and said, "Besides, even being a manager in this manor is difficult, let alone those of you who stayed in the city."

Hearing this, the Red Aroma disciple slowed down his movements. After a long while, he directly put down his chopsticks. He seemed to have something to say, but he couldn't say it. He just nodded to Hu Ma and said, "It's really not easy for us to make a living."

Hu Ma said, "Is the skill that is easy to learn even called a skill?"

The Red Aroma disciple's eyes seemed to suddenly overflow with brilliance, obviously hesitant, but finally he directly raised his wine glass.

He raised it to Hu Ma and said, "My name is Yang Gong, and I work with Zheng Xiangzhu."

"Releasing goodwill?"

Hu Ma thought to himself, and also nodded slightly to the other party, smiling, "Those who can stay in the city are all capable. We will have the opportunity to get closer in the future."

Saying that, he looked at Shopkeeper Wu, raised his glass to invite the others, and the atmosphere suddenly became warm, and everyone raised their cups.

This banquet, which was set up after noon, didn't stop until the sun was setting in the west.

After this drinking banquet, whether it was the mustachioed manager or the Red Aroma disciples, they were all familiar with each other. Because the shopkeeper was in poor condition, although he had been sitting here to accompany them, he didn't have much energy to speak. Hu Ma accompanied them the most.

Seeing the cups in a mess, full of wine and food, Hu Ma invited them to stay, but they all waved their hands, saying that they had to go back to report to Niangniang (madam).

So Hu Ma and the shop assistants helped them onto their horses.

Before leaving, the mustachioed manager smiled and took Hu Ma's hand, laughing, "I remember you."

"Your master does things properly, and you are also lucky. When you return to the village, don't forget to say hello to your master for me."

"..."

Hu Ma also smiled and said, "It was the manager who led me on the road, I always remember it."

Turning his head, he said to the long-faced Red Aroma disciple Yang Gong, "Brother, life is not easy, let's cherish each other."

"You are learning great skills, we are running errands and doing chores, we shouldn't climb high, but you and I are destined, when you are free, don't forget to come to the manor to find me for a drink."

"..."

The Red Aroma disciple named Yang Gong just nodded and said, "We are all learning skills, what are we afraid of those people for?"

"You are a very good person, I will come to you when I am free."

"..."

After a round of farewells, the two managers and four Red Aroma disciples rode away.

The shop assistants in the manor breathed a sigh of relief until now, but they were a little confused in their hearts.

They came here in a busy manner and left drunk, but they didn't say a few words about serious matters. What was the point?

But the old shopkeeper just took a deep look at Hu Ma. He was already seriously injured, and because these managers, and even those Red Aroma disciples, were too important, he forced himself to accompany them in talking and laughing. Now he was tired, so he got up and returned to the inner courtyard.

Hu Ma also didn't need the shopkeeper to say anything, and still arranged for the shop assistants to patrol the night as usual.

As for the remains and various limbs left by the remnants of the Tan'er Sect, he directly ordered them to be burned overnight.

It took a lot of effort, and even after burning until midnight, he still smelled bursts of fishy stench.

For the shop assistants in this Green Stone Town branch, after experiencing this major event, most of them didn't understand what happened, but vaguely felt that some things were different.

Looking closely, they couldn't see too obvious changes. What they could feel was that the shopkeeper was coming out of the inner courtyard less and less, and the Miss Wu He, who felt like she could be squeezed for water, never showed her face again.

However, this doubt only lingered for a while before they considered other things.

The end of the year was approaching, and they should also go home for the New Year. There wasn't much work now, and they wouldn't be busy until the beginning of next year when they would worship Tai Sui (God of Age).

Now what they cared about every day was when the shopkeeper would show kindness and let them take how much money and food back home.

Hu Ma also behaved calmly during this time. Less than three days after those managers returned, someone rode over again, but it was specifically to bring Hu Ma's reward.

At a glance, a large cyan urn was filled with green food, presumably a reward for himself. In addition, there was also a package, which when opened, was filled with dried meat that was cyan and red, looking crystal clear and bright.

"Qingyu Gao (Cyan Jade Paste)..."

Hu Ma took a low breath.

He had asked Erguotou before making that request, and knew that the counter naturally still had this Qingyu Gao.

This kind of rare thing wasn't very valuable, at least not as valuable as Blood Tai Sui.

But the use was specific, and it had an excellent effect on people who had suffered from fire poison.

Of course, if it was directly fed to people, it would be poison, and it would gradually destroy a person's Dao practice.

Hu Ma didn't want silver or blood food at the time, but only wanted this thing. For the two managers, it was a good thing, because they only needed to take out something from the warehouse that no one asked for as a reward.

How many people were fighting for silver and blood food?

Without looking much, Hu Ma just picked up the package, sent it to the inner courtyard, put it on the table, and turned to leave.

But the old shopkeeper, who was sitting by the Eight Immortals table drinking tea, suddenly stopped him. It seemed that the old shopkeeper also had a somewhat awkward expression.

After a pause, he said, "The end of the year is approaching, and I think you will also be returning to the village. Before you leave, settle the shop assistants' money and food, arrange the itinerary, and let them come back early before the beginning of spring..."

"According to custom, it is also possible not to give money and food and not let people go home for the New Year in the first year."

"..."

Hearing this, Hu Ma turned around and said, "There are not many things in the manor now, and the shop assistants have also learned the rules well, and since they are going back, it will be honorable for them to take some food and money."

"You make the decision!"

The old shopkeeper waved his hand and said, "Just calculate that before the beginning of spring next year, don't ask the city for anything again. In addition, it is not only these things that need to be calculated, but also the money and food for repairing the warehouse, clearing accounts, and hiring porters and carts after the beginning of spring. You must also pay more attention to it."

"Hmm?"

Hu Ma agreed, but he also felt a little strange in his heart.

These things are the most core affairs of the manor, why would he, such a manager, be needed?

And the old shopkeeper seemed to see through Hu Ma's doubts.

He didn't raise his head to look at Hu Ma, but while picking up the teacup, he said lightly, "This time, the Tan'er Sect's matter is a merit on the surface, but in reality, it is a fault. Niangniang (madam) already suspects me, and it is meaningless for me to continue staying in the manor."

"The reason I'm not leaving now is just because I'm afraid that if I leave too quickly, the people in the city will worry that I have ulterior motives..."

"But since I'm leaving, there must always be a shopkeeper in this manor."

"This shopkeeper can be sent by other people from the city, of course, or we can directly let our people take over."

"..."

"This..."

Suddenly hearing him talk about these things, Hu Ma was a little surprised in his heart.

After a pause, he didn't take up this topic, but just said, "There's no need for the shopkeeper to worry about these things, let He Meizi (Miss He) recover first."

"There are evil spells in this world that harm people, and there are also good prescriptions that save people, it will definitely be cured."