In the Sun Ji Tavern, there were a few refreshing dishes and a pot of good wine on the table. Yu Shu was listening to Zhao Qinghui with great interest. He was the first customer of her divination stall on the day it opened. He told his story. Yu Xiaoxiu was called in by Yu Shu. He sat at the table and ate raw flowers.
It was no wonder that Yu Shu didn't recognize him at first. He was dressed much more neatly than when he came to have his divination done that day.
Zhao Qinghui wasn't originally from the capital. His family lived in a small town in the north. His father died early, so he and his mother relied on his maternal grandfather's family to live. His maternal grandfather's family ran an escort agency for three generations. At that time, he was full of youthful vigor. Because of the death of his father and mother, he was treated with disdain. He left home to learn martial arts. After five years, he was finally able to return home. Who would have thought that when he arrived at the village, he would not see his mother and maternal grandfather's family.
After asking around, he found out that the year before last, there was a drought in the north. The villagers were worried about starvation and the escort agency's business was cold. His maternal grandfather's family moved elsewhere to make a living. He asked around three times, but he didn't know where they moved to. Left alone, he could only wander around. A year ago, he arrived at the capital. With his martial arts skills, he worked as a guard for a large family to support himself.
Because he liked to drink a few mouthfuls of wine, his days were occasionally tight. That day, his master sent him to Autumn Osmanthus Lane to handle some business. After finishing his business, he wandered around Autumn Osmanthus Lane and found Yu Shu's stall. Who would have thought that he would be able to find a way out?
Zhao Qinghui was asking for money that day. Yu Shu showed him a way to make money. Zhao Dazhuang followed it and walked southwest. When he encountered a wall, he turned, and when he encountered a street, he walked. After five hundred steps, he looked up and saw an escort agency at the end of the street. The sign hanging on the sign was his maternal grandfather's family's name.
"How could I have expected that they would move to the capital? I've never been to that street before. If it weren't for Sir Yu's clever foresight, I don't know how many times I would have missed them."
Zhao Qinghui took a sip of wine and said with a ruddy face, "My mother's health is still fine. My uncle has always been strict and when he saw me, he shed tears. Although he scolded me, he is still my closest relative. My uncle has no children and has grown old over the years. He has the intention of entrusting the escort agency to me in the future. Coincidentally, he received a big business the other day and was going to deliver goods to Shizhou. I left in a hurry with the escort team and didn't have the time to thank Master Yu. I came back two days ago and only came to thank you later. As he said that, he took out a banknote from his bosom, placed it on the table, and pushed it toward Yu Shu. Embarrassed, he said, "I thought I might run into you today, so I brought it with me. It's the money I owe you that day, and the red packet Mr. Feng gave me." Yu Shu took it and looked at it. She secretly clicked her tongue. There were more than twenty taels stamped on the banknote. Her living expenses for the next month would be settled. She laughed inwardly. Was this considered waiting for the clouds to disperse and the moon to see the light?
Twenty taels was far from being a lot in a proper trading house, but for a trader like Yu Shu who hung a flag outside, it was a very generous reward.
In fact, this time it was a coincidence. The eight ways of making money were based on karma. If one did not have the fortune to make money, they could at most guarantee that they would not lose it. If one had the fortune to make money, then they would be able to get help. This Zhao Qinghui's luck was about to change. He was just missing a chance, but Yu Shu pointed it out.
Zhao Qinghui had been in the jianghu for a few years and knew that a person could not be judged by their appearance. Although Yu Shu was young, she had previous experiences as a witness and knew of her abilities. He trusted her very much, so he gave her a generous red packet in preparation for the future.
"Mr. Yu, my uncle heard of you and wanted to meet you." Zhao Qinghui asked, "When do you think you have time to go with me?"
Hearing this, Yu Shu didn't know what to say, so she didn't rush to answer. Instead, she took out a few Yao coins that she often used and threw them on the table. She lined up the coins one by one and calculated three times. Seeing that the divination was auspicious and that her children's eyes were peaceful, she felt relieved and said, "I have time today, I'll go with you." Zhao Qinghui saw that she used copper coins to ask for divination. Although he didn't understand it, it looked profound and he thought highly of Yu Shu. He immediately clapped his hands and said, "Great, then we'll leave after drinking this pot of wine."
Yu Shu nodded. She saw Yu Xiaoxiu straighten his eyes and looked at the banknote next to her hand. She smiled and gave it to him, "Take it."
Yu Xiaoxiu finally saw the number on the banknote. He stared at it for a moment, then he grinned and looked at Yu Shu with admiration. He folded the banknote in half and carefully put it into his bosom.
It should be Yu Shu Lou Yun. She asked Yu Xiaoxiu to wait for her in the tavern. She followed Zhao Qinghui to the Fu An Escort Agency and met her uncle, Boss Zhou. After a brief conversation, they learned about each other's background. Then, she was taken around the escort agency. It was said that Boss Zhou was asking her to give advice on the Fengshui of the house, but in fact, it was to test her ability.
Because Yu Shu had bought a haunted house before, she had specially sorted out the house studies taught by Qing Zheng in the past few days. Although she lacked experience, she had a unique vision and was bold and careful. The second time she looked at the house, perhaps because she was thick-skinned enough, she did not have stage fright at all. As she walked, she pointed at a few mysteries in the courtyard. When boss Zhou's expression changed, she pointed out something wrong at the right time. "When I entered the door just now, I noticed that there are many tripod seats under the wall of this courtyard. They were originally meant to calm down, but they backfired and became a hindrance."
Boss Zhou's expression changed. "Mr. Yu, please speak." …
Yu Shu pointed to the bare walls of the courtyard and asked, "… Were there trees originally planted here?"
Boss Zhou said, "There were originally two trees. Later, there were always moths, so one tree was cut down. The other tree died a few months ago for some reason."
Yu Shu recalled what she had learned and asked, "Have the people living in the escort agency been quarreling recently? Perhaps they've even gotten into a fight and injured someone." Boss Zhou said in surprise, "Indeed, there were two escorts fighting the day before yesterday, and one of them broke his head. How did you know, sir?" As he spoke, he turned his head to look at his nephew, asking him with his eyes if he had told Yu Shu. Zhao Qinghui quickly shook his head, indicating that he had not.
Yu Shu caught a glimpse of their movements and smiled. She pointed to the wall and explained, "In the layout of the house, it is appropriate to make up for the deficiencies, and the best strategy is to be comprehensive. This place is flourishing, and when the metal is flourishing, it will suppress the wood energy. According to the five elements, metal gives birth to water, water gives birth to wood, and wood gives birth to fire. I have just seen that there is a kitchen that makes a fire to cook in your courtyard, and there is a well that fetches water for drinking. However, there is a leakage of wood energy. It should only be suppressed, not born. Sooner or later, it will be blocked. At first, there will be quarrels, but after a period of time, I'm afraid there will be blood. "
Hearing that Yu Shu's words were reasonable, boss Zhou had already believed most of it. His expression changed slightly, "There is such a relationship. May I ask, sir, is there a way to resolve it?"
"There is a way." Yu Shu was not in a hurry to answer. Instead, she changed the topic and said, "It's just that this house has been seen by someone before. If I casually change it, it will inevitably be suspected of smashing someone's reputation. If that person comes to the house again in the future, it will be embarrassing. If there is a gap between him and boss Zhou, it will be my fault."
Every line of business was indispensable. Yu Shu had heard a lot about it in Autumn Osmanthus Square. For example, the geomancy of this house was often only invited by one master. If the predecessors had not gone and the later generations interfered at will, it would be stealing people's rice bowls. If the news spread, it would be a loss of reputation.
Yu Shu's words were pleasant to hear. She was thinking for boss Zhou's sake, but in fact, she was hinting to him that there was a problem with this house. It would be best for him to find the person who had seen the geomancy for him in the past to repair it. Don't ask her to change it. It was not that she could not change it, but it was not convenient to change it.
Boss Zhou was a sensible person. When he heard this, he knew what Yu Shu was hinting at. He waved his hand to let the two escorts behind him leave. Then, he took Yu Shu and Zhao Qinghui to the guest room in the west room and sat down.
"To tell you the truth, when my escort agency was first set up, I specially invited a Master Yi to give me pointers. Later, I invited him to be a regular at my door. No matter if there is anything, he will give me a red packet every month. Who would have thought that in July, that Master Yi would offend someone in the north of the city. After leaving a few words, he left the capital and returned home, never to return. Therefore, I heard from Qinghui that you are talented, so I brought you here to take a look. Now, it seems that Mr. Yu is young, but there is no harm in having real knowledge. I would like to invite you to be a regular at our escort agency and give me a few pointers. What do you think? " Yu Shu thought that the term "regular" here was more or less equivalent to a consultant. She would only be needed if there was something, and if there was nothing, she would also be paid. This job was not bad.
Jing Chen's medicine was almost finished, and the weather was getting cold soon. He needed to add more clothes. Therefore, when Yu Shu received boss Zhou's invitation, she did not hesitate. She cupped her hands and said, "Then in the future, boss Zhou, please give me more pointers."
Boss Zhou laughed and stood up to return the greeting. "It should be me asking Mr. Yu to give me pointers."
Seeing that the matter was settled, Zhao Qinghui said happily, "Uncle, it's almost noon. Why don't we go to the restaurant and have a seat?" Boss Zhou was more thoughtful than him. He first asked Yu Shu, "Are you free?" "Another day," Yu Shu said, "I need to go back and prepare a few things. I'll come back tomorrow. After I fix the feng shui of this house, it won't be too late for boss Zhou to be the host." Boss Zhou was happy and did not force her. He asked Zhao Qinghui to accompany Yu Shu to drink the remaining half a cup of tea and went outside to give orders. After a while, a servant entered with a wooden tray. On it were three chains of silver, which was immediately given to Yu Shu by boss Zhou.
Yu Shu could not refuse, so she had no choice but to accept it. She could not put it on her body, so boss Zhou carefully prepared a small bag to accommodate her.
In ancient times, escort agencies were very popular, especially in large cities with many people. Because there were only a few people who practiced martial arts, and there were risks in escorting goods, the competition in this industry was not very fierce. Therefore, whether it was escorting people or escorting goods, the fees were not low.
Take Yu Shu and the others for example, from Kaifeng Prefecture to the capital, the journey took half a month. That trip cost fifty taels, and this did not include the food and accommodation on the way.
Fu An Escort Agency was not big, and there were more than a dozen escorts. There were only a few big business in a year, but the small business was non-stop.
Business was non-stop, spending twenty to thirty taels of silver a month to provide for a single customer was still affordable. Moreover, this was much more cost-effective than going to the Yi Hall to ask for a fortune teller when they had something to do.
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