Dragon Pattern Roll Set

After the case of Santou Jintuo was concluded, the busiest period came.

The new year is coming soon, Master Bao and Zhao Pu have a lot of business to deal with.

And Taixue is about to have winter vacation, and there will be a big exam before the festival, Bao Yan and Pang Yu, a group of students are busy reviewing the class.

The fifth master hadn't finished counting the previous money, but the new one arrived again, and he was so busy with a lot of accounts that he couldn't even care about feeding the cat.

Everyone in the Demon Palace is busy buying things for Wu Yifu and Jiuniang to get married, and Tianzun and Yin Hou are busy buying "New Year's goods".

Gongsun and his fourth son are busy seeing patients.

Lin Yehuo developed a pimple on his forehead two days ago because of the cold and dry weather... So Huofeng was busy with skin care.

Zhao Zhen, the emperor, was busy looking at the documents sent from various places. This winter was cold, so he had to make preparations for the winter before the year.

Ouyang Shaozheng is busy training horses and horses of the imperial army, Long Qiaoguang is busy practicing arrows and being a 24-year-old apprentice to serve his master and wife, Zou Liang is busy raising dogs, and it's the time for dogs to give birth to the new year.

Xiao Liangzi was busy practicing kung fu, and the four guards led the yamen servants to check whether the roofs of the shops along the streets in Kaifeng were firm, so as not to be crushed by the snow.

The maids are busy preparing food for the New Year, and the servants are busy sweeping the dust... In short, everyone is busy in their own way, and the atmosphere of the New Year is getting stronger and stronger.

The streets of Kaifeng are decorated with lanterns and festoons, shops are selling new year's goods, people from surrounding counties have also come to Beijing, and the streets are full of traffic and people... Kaifeng city is more lively than ever.

But in this season when almost everyone is busy, there is one person who is very free... No need to guess, it is Kaifeng City's town house cat demon, Zhan Zhao, and Zhan Weiwei.

Once the case of Kaifeng Mansion is over, it will be a mess, and Zhan Zhao can't find a thing to do after looking around.Mr. Bao was busy approving official documents, so he pushed Zhan Zhao out of his study and asked him to have a good rest.Guard Zhan ran to the shantang, and felt that he was in the way of Gongsun and the fourth son to see a doctor.Want to go out for a walk with Yin Hou... Yin Hou, Tianzun, Master Wusha, and Master Weichen either gather at Nan'an Temple to play horseshoes or go drinking, and they don't take him to play.His mother and Lu Xueer are busy buying clothes for him to play by himself... Let's go to the streets to see if there are any thieves, pickpockets, and human traffickers... There are not even a hooligan on the street, or the hooligans are too busy to celebrate the New Year. He did something bad, so Zhanwei had nothing to do all day long.

However, the key reason why Zhan Zhao is so idle is...the cat feeder is too busy these days, so he doesn't accompany him.Zhanwei is alone, always feeling empty, lonely and cold.

One day, at the gate of the stables in Kaifeng Mansion, Zhan Zhao was sitting on an upside-down wooden barrel, with Zao Duoduo, Bai Yunfan and a large herd of horses eating apples behind him.

In front of him is a little pony who is being groomed by Zhan Zhao, and on both sides are Yao Yao and Xiao Wu who also eat apples.

While brushing the pony, Zhan Zhao tilted his head and looked at Xiao Wu, "I said, why are you joining in the fun? Do you eat apples when they eat?"

Xiao Wu gnawed an apple until it was full of tooth marks, and while looking at Zhan Zhao, it meant——because the master is as idle as you!

Zhan Zhao sighed, rubbed the pony and said to himself, "I'll take you to the Demon Palace during Chinese New Year!"

Speaking of this pony, it finally has a name.

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang struggled for a while about naming the little pony. They couldn't make up their minds, but then a series of things happened, especially after Wu Yifu and Jiu Niang got engaged. Horses are actually very lucky!In addition, the foal's fur is gradually growing, and the fur is pure white with a red outline around it. When combing the fur, it feels like lotus flowers with white background and red border.So, Zhan Zhao simply named it Honglian, and it happened that she was a girl, so everyone thought the name was quite appropriate.

Zhan Zhao was bored, and saw outside, the fourth son ran in carrying a small wooden bucket.

Zhan Zhao's eyes lit up, "Little Si, are you not busy?"

"Yeah." There was a lot of medicinal powder in the small wooden bucket of the fourth son, and he took it and sprinkled it in the stable, and said to Zhan Zhao, "There are not many patients this morning, so Daddy Shantang will go to Longtu Pavilion to help the little one after finishing his work." Baozi organizes the file and pulls it."

"Oh..." Zhan Zhao leaned over to see the fourth son sprinkling powder into the stable, puzzled, "What kind of powder is this?"

"It's an insect repellent!" said the fourth son, "It's cold and the stables are warm, and the insects tend to hide in for the winter. It's not good to bite the lotus."

Zhan Zhao nodded and patted the fourth son's head, "Are you free for a while? Let's go eat?"

The fourth son looked up at Zhan Zhao, squinted his eyes, "Have you not finished counting the silver in vain?"

Zhan Zhao sighed, he went to the Baifu this morning as usual, not only did he not finish counting the money, but also a lot of cloth and so on, it seemed that they were for loading or transshipment, no one from Baiyutang was in the Baifu, so he ran to the pier up.Originally, these things should have been done a long time ago. It is only because Bai Yutang has been helping to investigate the case before, so they piled up until the end of the year.Zhan Zhao couldn't even touch a mouse hair, and he couldn't help, because he was afraid of causing trouble for him. Speaking of which, why did the mouse "do not do its job properly"?Isn't it for cats?

After sprinkling the powder, the fourth son ran to wash his hands, discussing with Zhan Zhao where to eat and how to spend the afternoon.

The two were chatting when Yue Yueer ran in, holding a large stack of lists and bags of things in his hand.

"Master Zhan." Yue Yue'er came in and put down her things before panting, it seemed that she came running.

The fourth son poured her a cup of tea, Zhan Zhao looked at Yue Ya'er who was gulping down the tea, feeling a little puzzled.Yue Ya'er and Chen Xing'er are going to help Bai Yutang collect the bills today, those bills should be bills, this girl must be very busy, why come here?

"Sister, are you going to eat together?" The fourth son asked with his face raised.

Yue Ya'er put down her cup and waved her hands, "I can't eat, I'm still busy, so I'm here to pass a message for the young master."

Zhan Zhao blinked, "Send a message?"

"A little brother went to look for Bai Fu just now. He seems to be a young apprentice of Jinpu Chen's family. He made an appointment to have dinner with you." Yue Ya'er said, "The young master said that he would meet him at Taibai Residence at noon and asked if you would go. ?”

"Go!" Zhan Zhao remembered, this little apprentice was the one who helped the sick scholar to break the pair of gold bracelets, and indeed he said that he had a case to ask them, and they agreed to meet him at that time.Bai Yutang made the most important promise, since he promised, he should spare time no matter how busy he is.Zhan Zhao was naturally willing to go. On the one hand, he was very curious about what the case was. On the other hand, he finally caught the mouse and had a meal together, which he hadn't seen for several days.

Chen Xing'er ran away after talking, Zhan Zhao cheerfully picked up the fourth son and rushed to Taibai Residence.

It was still early when Zhan Zhao arrived at Taibai Residence.

Little Six said that Fifth Master hadn't come yet, but people from the White Mansion did come to book a seat just now.

As soon as Zhan Zhao went upstairs and sat down in the private room, Little Six led a boy in.

The young man looked seventeen or eighteen years old, about the same age as Bao Yan and the others, with delicate features and good kungfu, he was dressed in a gray-white robe.

The boy came in and saluted Zhan Zhao, "Master Zhan."

Zhan Zhao nodded.

The fourth son opened his eyes wide and curious - who is it?

The young man behaved very well, and after saluting with Zhan Zhao, he introduced himself... He is Master Chen's apprentice, named Tan Shaoyan.

The two sat down and chatted, and they even had some relationship.

Tan Shaoyan’s craftsmanship in casting goldware is excellent. On the one hand, he has a good teacher, and on the other hand, he is highly talented. His ancestors were all goldsmiths. His grandfather’s name is Liang Zhudao, known as Jinshouliang. His master is also a member of the Demon Palace.However, Liang Zhudao passed away when Zhan Zhao was five years old, and Tan Shaoyan had never met his grandfather, because his grandfather taught his master all his skills, so Old Chen tried every means to find Tan Shaoyan and accept him as his apprentice.

As soon as the two chatted, one was the Empress of the Demon Palace, the other was the Young Palace Master of the Demon Palace, one of my own!

Zhan Zhao still has some memories of Liang Zhudao. Tan Shaoyan is very similar to his grandfather, both in character and appearance.Zhan Zhao specially told him some things about his grandfather, and the two chatted very speculatively.

While chatting, Bai Yutang finally arrived, followed by two people, one Gongsun and one Zhao Pu.

When Gongsun came out from Longtu Pavilion, he met Zhao Pu who was coming back from the palace. The two went to Kaifeng Mansion to take the fourth son to eat together, but they couldn't find anyone. The yamen servant said that they were taken to Taibai by Zhan Zhao.

The two met Bai Yutang on the way to Taibai Residence, so as soon as the fifth master told the story, the two also joined in the fun.

Zhan Zhao first took a closer look at Bai Yutang, did he think his rats were too busy to lose weight?Look at the feeling of losing at least one or two taels!

Bai Yutang hadn't seen Zhan Zhao in the past few days, and he always felt restless. Today, he was relieved to see that his cat didn't seem to lose weight after two days of underfeeding.

After everyone arrived, Zhao Pu asked Xiaoliuzi to serve the food, chatting while eating.

Zhan Zhao asked Tan Shaoyan, "What case is it about?"

Tan Shaoyan took out a piece of paper from his sleeve pocket and handed it to everyone.

Zhan Zhao took it over and took a look, and saw that it was a piece of drawing paper. On the drawing paper, ten circles were drawn, which looked like rings. There were complicated patterns on each of them. There was a small hook on each of them. The detailed size is written.Judging from the size, it seems that these circles are rings...

"What is this?" Zhao Pu was curious, "A ring?"

Sitting on Zhao Pu's lap, the fourth son also looked at the picture curiously and asked, "Is there still a hook on the ring?"

"About half a year ago, someone came to ask my master to make ten rings," Tan Shaoyan said.

Everyone looked at Tan Shaoyan in puzzlement—is there any problem with these ten rings?

"My master has been out of business for a long time, and I basically take care of the shop." Tan Shaoyan said, "The day the man came was in the evening, and it was raining heavily with thunder and lightning. Bamboo hat, don’t say your name, let my master make something, and ask for any price.”

Everyone listened carefully.

"I felt that he looked a little sneaky and didn't want people to see his face, so I said that the master was not there, because the old man has been in poor health and eyesight these years, and he may not be able to take on some jobs. Ask him for him." Tan Shaoyan continued, "He left me a blueprint, saying that he wanted to make ten rings, not pure gold, but mixed with gold."

"Don't want pure gold?" Zhao Pu was curious, "Is there such a thing made of gold?"

"There are some!" Tan Shaoyan nodded, "People who make jewelry basically have to make pure gold, but not necessarily those who make utensils, because gold is soft. For example, if you make a golden rice bowl, if it is pure gold, it will deform when touched It may also be broken. It is not a good omen if the golden rice bowl is damaged, so things will be mixed into it. The more difficult it is to mix things, and the hook under his thing is too small, who knows what he is going to hook it? If it is heavy, it will break or straighten up. In addition, after gold is mixed with things, hollowing out and carving are difficult. Difficult, polishing is also labor-intensive, the patterns on his set of rings are quite complicated, even if it is made of pure gold, I dare say that no more than ten people in the world can do it well, let alone mixed with gold, probably only my grandfather has that kind of ring. Get things done."

Zhan Zhao held the blueprint and looked at it, Bai Yutang also nodded, the request was indeed quite strange.

Gongsun tilted his head to look at the rings, wondering, "What are these rings for? I don't look like jewelry..."

"Nobody wears ten gold rings all at once, right?" Zhao Pu also felt puzzled.

The fourth son tilted his head, stared at the ten rings, held his chin and said, "Did I see it somewhere?"

Zhan Zhao and the others all looked at him.

Zhao Pu poked him on the head, "So amazing? Have you seen this before?"

Tan Shaoyan smiled slightly, "Only he can guess what it is for. To be honest, I couldn't figure out what it was for at the time. Thanks to the reminder from the neighbor's child, I remembered it." !"

Everyone looked at each other.

Zhan Zhao asked, "What on earth is this..."

Before Zhan Zhao finished speaking, the fourth son clapped his hands, "I know!"

Everyone looked at him.

The fourth son said, "This is the ring worn by the puppeteer!"

Tan Shaoyan nodded, "Exactly."

As soon as Xiao Sizi reminded them, everyone was indeed on the right track.

Puppet show is a kind of juggling show that goes around the rivers and lakes. Usually, one person can perform it. The artist wears ten rings on both hands. There are hooks attached to the rings. The hooks are tied with ropes. The other end of the ropes is a puppet controlled by wire. ... Following the movements of the fingers, the puppet makes various movements.

Jugglers of puppet shows often set up stalls with sugar figurines or dough figurines, and many children often gather around.Almost every child in Kaifeng city has seen the puppet show, adults don't pay attention, but they recognize these rings.

"But..." Zhan Zhao was puzzled, "Aren't these rings mostly made of leather or iron, and someone made them out of gold?"

"Still so sophisticated!" Zhao Pu also felt strange, "Could it be that the wire-controlled doll is also made of gold?"

Hearing this, Bai Yutang asked Tan Shaoyan in puzzlement, "Although this transaction is a bit strange, what does it have to do with the case?"

Tan Shaoyan said, "It's like this. I told him at the time that there was no way to guarantee its firmness. I suggested that he might as well make an iron one and then plate it with gold."

Everyone nodded.

"But he must mix gold." Tan Shaoyan spread his hands, "I said that many techniques for mixing gold have been lost. I don't know the formula and proportion, and I can't mix gold stronger than iron! In the end, he left me I ordered a pack of medicinal powder, and said that as long as this is mixed with gold, the strongest gold can be made."

"Powder?" Gongsun was curious, "What powder?"

"At first I thought it was some kind of iron powder or some kind of stone powder mixed with medicine." Tan Shaoyan said, "The bag of pink powder weighs about three or two. I didn't agree to him immediately, but asked him to keep the things. Ask the master to see if it can be built, and then he left."

Everyone looked at Tan Shaoyan with their chins on their hands - after talking for a long time, what about the case?case?

Tan Shaoyan said, "Actually, I have also heard of the ancient technique of mixing gold. It is true that gold can be made extremely strong, and it can even be used as a weapon. So I was a little curious about the package of medicinal powder, so I accepted this order. I was going to try it the next day. But at noon the next day, a drinking buddy came to the door."

"Drinking friend?"

"My neighbor." Tan Shaoyan said, "Chen Tong."

"Chen Tong..." Zhan Zhao thought for a while, "Chen Sangua?"

Tan Shaoyan nodded.

Everyone has some impressions of this Chen Sangua. Before Zhao Zhen went on tour, it was this old man who reminded everyone to be careful of the beam. Zhao Zhen later rewarded him heavily. ah……

"When Old Chen was drinking with me, he saw this blueprint, and he was also very curious about the package of medicine powder." Tan Shaoyan said, "I showed him the package of medicine powder...he just glanced at it and said, This deal is unacceptable!"

Everyone frowned and asked, "Why?"

"He said it's not auspicious!" Tan Shaoyan shook his head, "Old Chen pointed to the package of powder and said, it's terrible! If you accept this business, your life will be in jeopardy! There are countless souls in this package of powder!"

Everyone was surprised, "How can there be so many wronged souls in a pack of medicine powder?"