knife

Chapter 47 Don’t hit the smiling man

Luo Hua had rarely seen Xiao Changche lose his composure and become so furious.

Seeing Xiao Changche draw his sword and walk out, she quickly grabbed him, "Who is it? Who made you so angry? What mask are you wearing?"

Xiao Changche said angrily, "Didn't I tell you a couple of days ago? Who else could it be? That bastard Li Dachui."

Luo Hua suddenly realized.

Li Dachui once said that Xiao Changche looked too effeminate and wouldn't scare anyone on the battlefield, so he suggested that Xiao Changche have a demon mask made.

Luo Hua originally thought that Li Dachui was just trying to take advantage of Xiao Changche verbally, but he really didn't expect that this guy would actually make a demon mask and send it over.

Suppressing a laugh, Luo Hua took the box from the servant and took out the demon mask from it.

Whether it's the design, the craftsmanship, or the choice of materials, everything is top-notch, leaving Luo Hua in awe.

"This Li Dachui is quite a character!" Luo Hua chuckled, covering her mouth as she held up the mask and pressed it against Xiao Changche's face. "Try it on and see if it really can scare people, as he says!"

The mask was placed on Xiao Changche's face, and it fit perfectly.

"It's perfect!" Luo Hua took two steps back and looked Xiao Changche up and down. "He does look much scarier this way."

Xiao Changche ripped off his mask, his face showing displeasure: "Luo Hua, you're just going to join him in making fun of me too!"

"Where is it?" Luo Hua said with a smile. "But this Li Dachui, who doesn't even celebrate the New Year, came to find you. I'm afraid it's not just to give you a mask, is it?"

"This guy is incredibly boring; he's capable of anything!" Xiao Changche said.

“No matter what, he’s come from afar, and that mask must be quite valuable. It’s only polite to invite someone in for tea; we can’t be impolite and let him laugh at us. If we send him away, he’ll probably laugh at us for being petty next time we meet,” Luo Hua said.

Xiao Changche paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "That makes sense. This man is sharp-tongued and we must not give him any leverage. Moreover, although he is annoying, he is not bad when it comes to doing serious business. I'm afraid he has other business to discuss with us this time."

"You've finally come to your senses!" Luo Hua said. "Maybe that guy just used this to provoke you first, to make you lose your temper, and then he'll take advantage of you when he's talking to you about serious matters later!"

"My advantage is not so easily taken!" Xiao Changche sneered, waving his hand at the servant and saying, "Please let that scoundrel in."

The servant left, somewhat embarrassed.

Since it's supposed to be an invitation, but it's also a scoundrel, how should I treat that guy outside?
An unfamiliar face appeared in Xiao Changche's field of vision.

With a thick beard, a face full of fat, a knife tucked into his waistband, and a swaying gait like a crab with noticeably bowed legs, Xiao Changche would have found it difficult to find any resemblance between this man and Li Dachui if he hadn't already assumed that this was Li Dachui.

For example, the bowlegs when walking.

Xiao Changche knew that Li Dachui didn't have this problem at all.

"Xiao Cheqi, aren't you going to invite me in?" The rough voice was completely different from Li Dachui's.

Xiao Changzhan stood in the middle of the doorway, staring intently at the other person's face. Finally, he saw a hint of familiarity in the other person's eyes.

For a moment, he truly believed he had guessed wrong and that it wasn't Li Dachui who had come.

“I never have any cowards or shady characters in my house!” Xiao Changche said coldly.

The burly man laughed heartily, "So that's how it is! I thought the General of Chariots and Cavalry didn't welcome me!"

"You're right, I really don't welcome you!" Xiao Changche said. "You can also just turn around and leave!"

"No, I have important business with you!" The man wiped his face with his hand, then covered his face with both hands and rubbed it wildly. When he let go of his hands, a face that made Xiao Changche's teeth itch with hatred appeared in front of Xiao Changche.

Even the bowlegged man could stand up straight now.

"Forget about the clothes, there's no change right now. We're not the same size, I'm too muscular and you're too skinny!" Li Dachui looked Xiao Changche up and down: "Your physique is enviable, the kind that looks slim in clothes but muscular when you take them off. When will I have the chance to admire you?"

Inside the house, a soft laugh came from inside, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps fading away.

Luo Hua, who was inside the house, couldn't help but laugh. As soon as the laughter came out, she realized something was wrong and immediately ran away. Xiao Changche had guests coming, and she was hiding in the house to peek. She didn't know how she would be laughed at!
Li Dachui, as expected, is a foul-mouthed guy.

However, he is indeed an interesting guy.

Xiao Changche's face turned green.

He angrily stepped aside from the front door: "Come in and talk!"

Li Dachui, with his hands behind his back, casually stepped past Xiao Changche into the main room. Behind him, Xiao Changche clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly, clearly wanting to deliver a powerful blow.

Ideally, the opponent should be beaten until they vomit blood on the spot.

"You want to beat me up?" Li Dachui, who had just entered the room, sat down casually and looked at Xiao Changdao.

"What do you think?" Xiao Changche took a deep breath, exhaled, and then took another deep breath.

I absolutely cannot let this guy lead me by the nose, and I absolutely cannot get angry. I must endure it!
"Is this mask alright? I designed the shape myself, drew the dimensions, and supervised the craftsmen in making it!" Li Dachui leaned forward, staring at Xiao Changche opposite him: "However, I haven't touched your face, so I can only estimate the size. I estimate that the size won't fit your face shape perfectly. If you're uncomfortable wearing it, let me touch your face properly today to get the size accurate, and I'll modify it for you later. If you don't like this style, you can draw one yourself."

"Very good, fits perfectly, I like it very much!" Xiao Changche decided to cut to the chase and was determined not to get entangled with the other party on this issue.

Hearing the slight noise coming from behind the screen wall, Xiao Changche felt somewhat helpless. Luo Hua was still behind him; if he could hear it, how could Li Dachui on the other side not?
Really.

“That’s good! I’ll make you another one later so you can wear them interchangeably! Otherwise, if you get blood or sweat on the battlefield, it will smell bad. I can tell you’re usually a very clean person, so you definitely won’t like wearing a smelly mask!” Li Dachui said enthusiastically. “Or you can draw one for me yourself. I guarantee it will be exactly the same. My family’s craftsmen are all top-notch.”

"Enough!" Xiao Changche finally snapped.

Li Dachui immediately stopped talking, but then took out another small box from his pocket. "This is for your concubine. It's a fragrant soap that just came out of Tai'an City. It's extremely good for washing your face and body, and it also has the wonderful effect of skin care. Let me tell you, even Old Master Fu from Hulu Valley praised it highly. However, it's too difficult to make, so it can't be mass-produced yet. At present, it's just given to my best friends to try."

"Thank you!" Xiao Changche said through gritted teeth.

Li Dachui, like a treasure-hunting child, pulled out a small wooden sword from his pocket. "This is for my nephew Qianli. Don't underestimate this little sword. The wood used to carve this sword was stolen from Old Master Fu. This wood naturally exudes a fragrance, which keeps snakes, insects, and mosquitoes away. It's truly a good thing."

Xiao Changche exclaimed, "You stole Old Master Fu's hibiscus wood?"

"It was just a branch I cut!" Li Dachui said dismissively. "That old guy is so stingy, he chased me for two miles!"

Xiao Changche: "If it were me, I'd cut off your hand. You gave this to Qianli to drag me down with you?"

"Just tell me if you'll accept it or not?" Li Dachui grinned slyly.

"Of course I'll take it! It's so precious, I've already taken the blame, so naturally I have to!"

Li Dachui clapped and laughed: "That's it. Anyway, if you don't accept it, I'll just say it's a gift to you next time I run into Grandpa Fu."

"I've accepted the gifts. Let's get down to business. You've come all the way to Zhenwu City, there must be something urgent, right?"

"It's not that we're in a huge rush." ​​Li Dachui looked around. "They've accepted the gifts, but they won't even offer us a sip of tea? Isn't Xiao Changche being a bit too sparse in his hospitality?"

Before he finished speaking, footsteps sounded from behind the screen wall. Then, Luo Hua gracefully approached carrying a tea tray, bowed to Li Dachui, and offered him a cup of tea: "Uncle, please have some tea!"

Li Dachui slightly lifted his buttocks from his seat, placed his hands on the teacup, glanced at Luo Hua, and looked up at Xiao Changche: "Sister-in-law is indeed a beauty of unparalleled grace, a perfect match for you."

Luo Hua walked gracefully to Xiao Changche's side and said with a smile, "Uncle, you flatter me. I've often heard the General talk about you. Meeting you today, I can see that your reputation is truly well-deserved!"

“Xiao Cheqi has never said a good word about me!” Li Dachui laughed.

"Uncle, you've wronged my general. He often says that of all the heroes in the world, the only one he truly respects is you, Uncle!"

Li Dachui laughed loudly: "It's a pity there was no thunder in the sky, otherwise I could have taken the opportunity to knock over the teacup in my hand and pretend to be surprised!"

Luo Hua looked at Li Dachui with puzzlement: "Uncle, please rest assured and drink your tea. How could my general do such a despicable thing as poisoning?"

Xiao Changche waved his hand and said, "You can go now. I have important matters to discuss with Brother Li!"

Luo Hua smiled and withdrew.

Li Dachui took a sip of tea and said, "I've come to see you this time because I have something important to discuss. Would you like to join me on a heist?"

Xiao Changche narrowed his eyes: "You think I'm a bandit too?"

"I'm dirt poor, and you're even poorer than me!" Li Dachui scoffed. "Or is it that Linghuye slaughtered Wan Feng, and you made a fortune so you're not short of money anymore?"

"A gentleman loves wealth, but he acquires it in a proper way!" Xiao Changche said solemnly.

“Baoping Prefecture, Yan Sheng,” Li Dachui said. “Are you interested? This isn’t a one-off deal. Once we take this place, we’ll have a steady stream of income.”

"You dare to touch him? You think you can?" Xiao Changche's eyes widened. He really didn't expect that Li Dachui's target was Yan Sheng of Baoping Prefecture, one of the most powerful forces outside the pass.

(End of this chapter)