The Neon Tower

Xiaoxiangyu paced back and forth in Haoyang's room, biting her nails anxiously.

"Brother Yu, sit down and have a cup of tea." Tie Haitang picked up the teacup and smelled the tea.

"Ye Youlan won't be fascinated by that guy, he was sent by the crown prince to investigate us." Xiao Xiangyu said uneasily.

"Don't worry, Ye Youlan is a person in hell, she has already lost the ability to love her, and he will not betray us."

Mentioning this, the three of them showed pity on their faces, and the past of Ye Youlan resurfaced in their minds.

This matter was told by Tie Haitang, and only Xiaoxiangyu and Haoyang knew about it. After all, they had to know the details of the young men.

that year--

The acrobatic class was disbanded, and Ye Youlan, who was still an apprentice, had nowhere to go, so she stayed with her master who was seriously ill.The master's savings were quickly exhausted, and Youlan didn't learn many skills, and she didn't know a few words. Because of her thin body, the foreman at the ferry was unwilling to ask him to work.In desperation, he sat on the street, watching the pedestrians going back and forth.

A man in a brocade suit passed in front of You Lan, and the small yellow cloth bag flashed past You Lan's eyes.He followed quietly behind the man in the brocade suit, saw the right moment, stretched out his hand to the man's waist like lightning, and then ran away quickly.When the man yelled that the purse was stolen, Youlan had already run far away.He walked into the alley, panting vigorously, and weighed the weight of the purse in his hands, feeling a sense of accomplishment spontaneously.

"Yo~" A hand suddenly stretched out from the top of his head and snatched his purse. Youlan turned back angrily and wanted to curse, but seeing the man in an official uniform, she yelled in her heart that it's not good, yes catch fast.

"Wow, there's as much as ten taels of silver in it." The policeman opened the purse to have a look, and then said with a smile.

"I... I picked this up." After finishing speaking, Youlan took two steps back, ready to run away, but was caught by the collar again by the policeman.

"But Zhou Yuanwai described it as a thin, dirty boy who stole his money bag. I think all your characteristics can be matched."

"No... It's none of my business, the official, this purse was indeed picked up." You Lan shrank her neck and waved her hands: "Speaking of which, since the official has already got the purse, you can go back and answer Fate, I have returned it to its original owner." As he spoke, he tried to break free from the catcher's hand and escape.

"Ten taels of silver, let's divide it up."

Youlan suspects that something is wrong with her ears: "Huh?"

"That fat man has a lot of money, isn't it just ten taels of silver? I'll go back and tell the adults that the thief is from another town, and if he runs away, he will lose it."

"Are you serious?"

"En!" The policeman leaned close to Youlan's ear and said, "Boy, I think you are quite skilled. Why don't you cooperate with me, and I will take care of your food and lodging."

You Lan didn't quite understand the meaning of the arrest, but being able to take care of food and lodging was really an attractive condition.Without thinking, he nodded in agreement.

The old master passed away not long after, leaving Youlan alone in the world.He used the little money left to bury the old master. After that, he went to several shops to find a job, but was rejected.That catcher seemed to have disappeared from the world. I haven't seen him these days, and I don't know where to find him. You Lan sighed and sat on the street with her knees in a daze.Occasionally, kind people would drop him a few copper coins, and he treasured them, saving enough to be willing to spend two to buy a steamed bun.

"Boy? So you are here?"

A familiar voice sounded behind You Lan, and he suddenly turned around to see that it was really him.

"It's terrible, come on, come home with me."

The catcher's house is very simple, with a few holes in the wall through which the cold wind blows in. However, it is much better than living in a hut.

"You will live here from now on. There is straw in the kitchen, so you can sleep on the floor with a mat."

"Oh..."

After dinner, the policeman pulled him to sit on the bed made of straw and said, "Boy, what's your name?"

"Ye Youlan."

"Oh, you can call me Brother Ping from now on, Youlan, where did you learn that skill? The one who stole the purse."

"I used to learn acrobatics. Stealing money bags is just a matter of helplessness."

"But you are very good, have you ever thought about earning a living in this industry?"

You Lan didn't understand what Brother Ping wanted to say, relying on this job for a living?Do you mean to be a thief?How could he say such a thing as a policeman?

"Youlan, I want to say this. From now on, you will go to pick up money bags full-time. I will be responsible for pretending to catch you but I can't catch you, and then we will share the stolen money. Do you think it's okay?"

"why?"

"Brother, there is no free lunch in the world. You have to do something for me after eating my rice, right?"

"You really won't arrest me into the yamen?"

"Absolutely not."

"..." Youlan actually didn't want to cooperate, but right now, if he lost this shelter, he had no choice but to leave this town.

"That's it!"

It turns out that Brother Ping likes to gamble, and every time he pays his salary, he will stay in the gambling shop for a few days, and he is not willing to leave until all the money in his hand is lost.Youlan didn't get the money that was promised to be shared equally when the original agreement was made. Brother Ping said that he had to eat, live and use, and it was all money, so Brother Ping didn't share any of the money he stole.

Youlan had a good harvest that day, so she went home early, put away the stolen money, and then started to clean the house.Brother Ping returned to the room reeking of alcohol, swayed from side to side, walked to the table and sat down.

"They're all bastards... say I'm useless? Another day I'll kill you bastards with a knife!! I thought I had no money~~~~"

Seeing him talking nonsense, You Lan stepped forward and asked, "Brother Ping...why did you drink so much? Lost all your money again?"

"Don't mention losing money to me~~~ It's unlucky..." Brother Ping paused, his eyes could barely open, he looked at Youlan: "Youlan...you look so good today. "

Youlan lowered her head, Brother Ping was his only reliance in the world, and this only reliance actually praised him for being good-looking, which made him blush in embarrassment.

"Brother Ping, you're drunk." You Lan supported Brother Ping's arm, trying to move him to the bed.

When she reached the bedside, Youlan's head was pressed onto the bed without warning.

"Youlan~Brother Ping is very upset today, fortunately there is you..."

"Brother Ping? What's wrong with you?" Before he finished speaking, he felt his belt loosen and his pants fell down: "Brother Ping??"

"Hey, let Brother Ping relax..."

The pain came suddenly and violently, and the impact made Youlan's eyes pop up with gold stars, and tears burst out of her eyes instantly: "It hurts..." He wanted to support his body with his hands, but Brother Ping blocked it with one hand.

"Cut, aren't you thinking of me? Can't you bear such a little pain?" As he spoke, Brother Ping accelerated the speed, and the intense pain made Youlan faint for a while.

I don't know how long it took, Brother Ping finished venting, picked up the quilt from the side, wiped his body, lifted his pants, and continued to kick Youlan who fell on the bed: "Hey, go and wash before going to sleep, and by the way, put The quilt is also washed." After finishing speaking, he took the money and opened the door to go out.

Behind You Lan, eyes were full of tragic scenes, bloodstained, and the tears on his face had dried up.He wiped his tears with the back of his hand and sat up, then pulled up his pants, and went to clean up as Brother Ping said.

A few days later, Youlan took care of the house as usual, but suddenly her eyelids became heavy and she was unconscious.When he woke up again, there was already a group of strong men in front of him, all of them looked fierce, and he was tied up and unable to move.

"Brother Ping?" Youlan saw Brother Ping standing beside her, and was about to ask him what happened.

"This kid is so thin, he's so skinny, he's sold as a coolie and no one wants him, you want to use him to pay off the debt?" The boss of the gambling shop shook the scar on his face, and gave Youlan a disdainful look .

"Oh, who asked him to work as a coolie, Mr. Xu, isn't this a waste?" Brother Ping continued: "Mr. Xu, look at his face ~ face!! Sell him to Tie Haitang, isn't it worth it?"

"Tie Haitang? You mean to sell him to be a servant?"

"Yes."

"Don't... Brother Ping, are you going to betray me?" Youlan asked.

"Is he good? Besides, Tie Haitang's business has been unable to do business, and this matter is not very popular."

"He can do it. I've tried it. It's a ecstasy...and it's so beautiful. It's sure to fetch a good price if you sell it there."

"I do not believe."

"If you don't believe me, you can try it too!"

"Don't, Brother Ping...don't..." Youlan begged, but Brother Ping didn't seem to hear her at all.

"Tch, who has the same bad taste as you." Uncle Xu, looking at You Lan, pondered in his mind for a while: "Forget it, this kid has paid off your debt. If he stays, get out."

"Thank you, Mr. Xu." Brother Ping, in the end he ran away without even looking at Youlan. Youlan sat there in despair, thinking about what she did wrong.

"Boy, forget about him. It's your fate to meet him." Uncle Xu sighed and shook his head.

He was sent to Tie Haitang's small building. You Lan seemed to have lost her soul, and was thrown to the ground and knelt down powerlessly.

Tie Haitang came out from the inner hall, looked at Uncle Xu and the younger brothers behind him, then saw the filthy young man on the ground, and nodded to Uncle Xu: "Uncle Xu, you are a rare visitor."

"Hey no, who wants to be a guest, Lord Tie, I'm just here to discuss a deal with you." Saying that, he kicked Youlan's back: "This kid."

Tie Haitang squatted down unhurriedly, and observed Youlan: "Where did you come from?"

"Uh... It's really awkward to say, but... he... he is a man, and he owes us money."

"Oh~ Master Xu, please don't mind, because I don't accept kidnapped ones."

"Uh, that, hey..." Uncle Xu looked at You Lan and shook his head: "Lord Tie, I'm a rough man, and I don't know how to turn corners."

"It's okay to speak up."

"This kid is quite pitiful, and I don't want to make money from him, or you, the landlord, can set the price."

"We have many poor people here." Tie Haitang stood up, clasping the backs of his hands together: "How much money does he owe you?"

"With principal and interest 80 taels."

"Well, then I'll buy it for 100 taels, what do you think of Uncle Xu?"

"Row!"