Chapter 142 - This would be popular
Since Liang Youxiao had decided to go back and watch the show, Fei Yuzhe wouldn’t be a mere onlooker, that’s for sure.
Although both he and Xi Rui were dandies, they were not in the same social circle as that group of old dandies.
They each played their own games……
Therefore, if he wanted the emperor’s uncle to do something, he had to hook him up first.
There wasn’t much that dandies like apart from eating, drinking, and seeking thrill and excitement.
However, there weren’t any novel things in the capital right now.
These skateboards and scooters probably wouldn’t be able to hook up with the emperor’s uncle who was already in his forties.
When Shi Qingluo heard his question, she guessed his thoughts.
She asked, “What do the old dandies you mentioned usually like to do?”
She knew that two days ago, her young husband seemed to have unintentionally mentioned this old dandy, which caused Liang Youxiao to nominate him as the best candidate to pressure his scumbag father.
Liang Youxiao did not even need to think further. “They often visit brothels, whorehouses, and casinos. They all like these places.”
He had not heard much about this uncle of the emperor as a food lover as much as him.
Otherwise, if Shi Qingluo made a few more recipes, he would take them back to the capital to cook and invite the emperor’s uncle to come over in the next few days.
Shi Qingluo thought for a moment and asked, “Does it mean that he still likes to go to the gambling den to play a few games?”
Liang Youxiao nodded. “That’s right. He stays at the gambling den for half a month.”
Shi Qingluo snapped her fingers. “Got it.”
“We can get Mahjong and Solitaire.”
Mahjong and poker cards were popular in the modern era.
Those who liked to go to the gambling den in the ancient times were probably no exception.
Liang Youxiao was puzzled. “What are Mahjong and Solitaire?”
“You won’t know even if I tell you. You’ll understand once I have them and play with you.
We just need to wait to receive a share of the profits made in the gambling den every day.”
Liang Youxiao’s eyes lit up. “Sounds good. Make it quick. I want to try first.”
When he was bored in the capital, he would occasionally go to the gambling dens and play for a while.
The gambling dens in the capital had exceptionally good businesses.
It just wasn’t convenient to get himself involved.
However, if there was a new way of playing, he could rely on his powerful family background to open a gambling den.
Shi Qingluo nodded. “Alright, you guys wait here. I’ll make a trip to my old house.”
She still had to find Xiao Mu and his son to make carved tiles for Mahjong.
She would want to wait for his young husband to come back before playing poker cards together.
The paper that they had accidentally made recently was very thick.
It came at the right moment to make Mahjong tiles.
Although Liang Youxiao wanted to join in the fun, he held back and said, “Alright, go ahead then.”
Shi Qingluo rode the scooter and went straight to her old house.
The cement workshop in the village had been doing very well recently.
The villagers had paved a lot of roads in the village.
In order to credit Shi Qingluo for sharing the cement formula for everyone to earn additional income, those working at their workshop had paved the roads from the Xiao family’s new house to their old house with cement.
Shi Qingluo looked for Xiao Mu and his son and roughly shared with them about Mahjong.
Then, the two of them began cutting the wood into the dimension she had mentioned.
Then, Shi Qingluo used a brush to draw the Mahjong designs on paper and let them carve it onto each wooden block.
Shi Qingluo asked Xiao Mu, “How long do you think it will take to complete a Mahjong set?”
She also hoped that Liang Youxiao would return to the capital as soon as possible to execute his task.
Xiao Mu looked at the drawings on the paper. “We will be able to complete it by tomorrow.”
Shi Qingluo nodded. “Alright, just make them as soon as possible.”
“Alright!” Xiao Mu could tell that she needed it urgently.
Ever since the Xiao family hired him, he and his three children had been able to live well.
He also received a decent salary every month. He was very satisfied.
Hence, he also hoped that he could do more for his boss.
It was almost dinner time when Shi Qingluo came out of the old house.
Just as she was about to leave, she saw Xiao Hanzheng walking towards her direction.
“Why are you here?”
Xiao Hanzheng smiled and said, “To specially pick you up.”
Shi Qingluo went forward on her scooter and smiled sweetly. “Thank you for taking a trip here”
Xiao Hanzheng saw her sliding over. “Is this the scooter you made?”
Shi Qingluo nodded. “That’s right!”
She asked, “Do you want to try it?”
Xiao Hanzheng’s interest was piqued as well. “Sure!”
Thus, after listening to Shi Qingluo teaching him how to skate, he held onto the handrail and started to slide around.
Shi Qingluo looked at her young husband, sliding on a scooter in his green robe.
Not only did he not look less serious, but the more she looked at him, the more handsome she felt.
His face was appealing, so he looked great in everything he did.
She was suddenly looking forward to seeing how ancient costumes would look like when the residents used skateboards and scooters in the capital in the near future.
Xiao Hanzheng came back after playing with it for a while. “This thing is not bad.”
Using this on a cemented road would be easier than walking. It was faster too.
Shi Qingluo smiled and said, “So Liang Youxiao wants to work with me to sell the scooters.”
She continued to share with him the details of their conversation.
Xiao Hanzheng picked up the scooter and walked to Shi Qingluo’s side. “This is a good business opportunity.”
Shi Qingluo held Xiao Hanzheng’s arm and said, “We can even open a gambling den together with him.”
Xiao Hanzheng was stunned. “Gambling den?”
Shi Qingluo nodded. “That’s right. He wants to get in touch with that royal uncle of the emperor, so he wants me to make something that the old profligates would play. I thought of Mahjong and poker cards.”
She gave a rough explanation on Mahjong and poker cards were played.
Xiao Hanzheng smiled. “This would be popular once we opened one in the capital.
“With Liang Youxiao’s background, it wouldn’t be a problem for him to open a gambling den.”
If he were Bai Xu, she reckoned that this gambling den would be owned by someone else within a few days’ time.
Shi Qingluo smiled. “I just took a liking to his background and identity.”
“Do whatever you want.” Xiao Hanzheng lowered his head to look at her with a gentle expression. “You have me.”
He liked his little wife’s playful and willful appearance.
No one could ruin her beauty and uniqueness.
He would protect her.
Shi Qingluo raised her head and met Xiao Hanzheng’s deep and gentle gaze. Her heartbeat quickened.
Seeing that there wasn’t anyone around, she quickly kissed Xiao Hanzheng on his cheek. “Zhengzheng, you’re really the best husband in the world!”
If anyone shamelessly wanted to snatch such a good husband from her, she would never forget this fellow.
Of course, if Xiao Hanzheng betrayed her on his own accord, then she wouldn’t want him anymore.
However, she was still confident in her little husband’s loyalty.
The smile on Xiao Hanzheng’s face became even wider. “You’re also the best wife in the world.”
The two of them held hands and felt each other’s warmth as they returned home.
After they returned, Shi Qingluo and Xiao Hanzheng started to make their own poker cards and began playing that night.
In order to save time, Shi Qingluo called Liang Youxiao and Fei Yuzhe over to the courtyard.
In their study room, she taught them how to play doudizhu 斗地主 (Fighting the Landlord).
It was Liang Youxiao and Fei Yuzhe’s first time playing this, and the more they played, the more enthusiastic they became.
When it was their usual bedtime, Shi Qingluo said a little tiredly, “I see that all of you have got a hang of it. Let’s call it a day.”
Liang Youxiao was still very engrossed in it. “No, let’s play again.”
Shi Qingluo rolled her eyes at him. “You can bring the cards back to your room. My husband still has to go to the county school tomorrow.”
Her hubby was also quite interested in doudizhu, but he managed to restrain himself from indulging in it.
It looked like Liang Youxiao was going to play all night.
They did not have the energy or time to accompany him.
However, looking at Fei Yuzhe’s body language, it was highly likely that he would also stay up the entire night to play.
As expected, these ancient people who loved to play could not escape the magic of doudizhu.
Footnote:
doudizhu 斗地主 – also known as Fighting the Landlord, it is one of the most popular card games played in China.