Starting from the Greyhound, seventy-two changes.

Chapter 134 Inside Story
The period before the fifteenth day is the New Year, and red peach charms are still hung in every courtyard and window of the Medicine King Hall.

There are two evergreen pine and cypress trees in Shang Yunfang's small courtyard.

When Chen Ku asked what the guild consultation meeting was.

He was also thinking in his mind.

This industry consultation meeting sounds like everyone is here to discuss something.

He was subconsciously a little dazed.

Is it so harmonious to do business in Baojiao County?
Shang Yunfang said slowly:
"The Guild Consultation Conference is not a place for gentleness, courtesy, frugality and courtesy, nor is it a place for entertaining guests. It is a truly dangerous place."

"Hmm? How do you say that? Please teach me, Master."

Chen Ku pricked up his ears:

"Could it be that the negotiation meeting was actually a place for fighting?"

"Although it didn't hit the target, it was almost there. Not seeing the sword or the gun is more dangerous than being in front of it."

Shang Yunfang slowly drank a cup of tea, and then said in a storytelling tone:

"All of this has to start from when the major gangs in Baojiao County were first established. That was more than a hundred years ago. Oh, right? Didn't you have a gambling fight at the 'big wharf' with the Chai Tiepu and the Zhao family of Guxiangmen before?"

"Yes, it is said that it was the method used to resolve conflicts and struggles at the beginning of the development of major forces in Baojiao County." Chen Ku continued what his master said.

Then asked:

"It seems that the major forces in Baojiao County were all bloody and brave in ancient times. How come I have never seen friction or fighting between the major gangs now?"

The last time a fight almost broke out was when Huang Muxia came to demand an explanation for Huang Gun’s death.

But that time, Chen Ku finally tasted the flavor.

Huang Muxia brought his disciples to the door just to give himself a way out. If there really was a fight between his Liangjiang Guild Hall and Yaowang Hall, the Liangjiang Guild Hall would not be qualified.

This is not just a gap between the top players.

The reason why Yaowang Hall can be called one of the three giants in the city together with the other two major forces is not only because it has a great master like Yang Luchan.

The number of top masters in the Tongmai Realm far exceeds that of the Liangjiang Guild Hall.

So, that day, Yang Luchan drew a path for Huang Muxia and gave him a step, and he obediently slid down the step.

"Where there are people, there are grievances. The so-called grievances are nothing more than a struggle for interests and different positions. You want to make money, and I also want to make money. Both of us have the right positions, but in the process of making money, you have taken away my interests. This is called cutting off someone's financial resources is like killing their parents. So at the beginning of the founding of the Daji Dynasty, the major gangs fought and killed each other, grabbing territory, grabbing resources, grabbing business... I don't know how many people died."

Shang Yunfang's eyes revealed helplessness about that period of time, and then she slowly said:

"But just as the world's general trend often establishes order from chaos, the chaotic dynasties in the world, after experiencing fighting and killing, and the people's livelihood is in dire straits, always usher in some new order. Although the nature of dividing the spoils cannot be changed, at least a lot of unnecessary sacrifices can be avoided. Therefore, after thirty years of fighting and killing, the Guild Consultation Conference was established under the mutual compromise of the leaders of various trades."

"The Guild Consultation Conference is mainly led by the government and presided over by the county magistrate. The members are composed of representatives of all the guilds and shops in Baojiao County. It is held every four years. The purpose is to resolve the series of frictions and conflicts that have occurred in the past four years through the form of meetings without using weapons, through the exchange of interests or through concessions and compromises. After the conference, the government will make the final decision to divide the guild resources in the next few years according to the new rules and agenda of the meeting."

I just heard the master talk about the content of the gang consultation meeting.

Chen Ku couldn't help but raise his eyebrows: "This sounds a bit too idealistic, right? Are the conflicts accumulated every four years really that easy to reconcile? I can understand and believe in the exchange of interests, but when it comes to some conflicts requiring the other party to 'give in' and 'compromise', who would compromise for no reason?"

Shang Yunfang wanted to say something else.

Suddenly,

The sound of Yang Luchan's loud laughter came from outside the courtyard:

"As expected of my apprentice, you have a sharp mind and can figure out the most crucial part right away."

Chen Ku heard the voice.

He immediately turned around, looked at the tall old man approaching, and saluted:
"Master chef."

Yang Luchan waved his hand, indicating that there was no need to be polite.

Then he held the pipe bag with his other hand, took a long drag on the dry tobacco, exhaled the smoke, and scolded Shang Yunfang with a smile:
"Old Shang, please don't tell our disciple those nonsense. This kid is very smart."

"I'm just going to explain it step by step." Shang Yunfang rolled her eyes and said unhappily, "Then you tell me."

Chen Ku immediately looked at Yang Luchan and pretended to listen attentively.

Yang Luchan took another big puff of smoke, and then smiled bitterly at Chen, "Don't be confused by Lao Shang's complicated explanation. It's just to deceive people outside the industry. The truth of the so-called Guild Consultation Conference is actually not out of the simplest truth in the world, which is... the bigger the fist, the more truth there is!"

"The bigger the fist, the more right it is?" Chen Ku thought thoughtfully: "Could this mean that one party in the Gang Negotiation Conference gave in and compromised because... they were forced to compromise by fists?"

"What else could it be? Just because the other person has a good-looking face?"

Yang Luchan smiled and said:

"I understood this principle when I attended the first conference. Before the conference I attended, there was a troublemaker from the escort agency who insisted on arguing with my Medicine King Hall and his escort agency over the ownership of a mountain forest. He said that his escort agency had invested a lot of money in the mountain forest, and that my Medicine King Hall had led people to attack them first, and then bought the land at a low price. So he asked my Medicine King Hall to compensate him. Do you think this is reasonable? Ordinary people should think it is reasonable, right..."

Chen Ku widened his eyes.

Yaowangtang attacked, robbed the land and beat people, and the other party demanded compensation, which sounded reasonable.

"Hahaha, look, this kid really has this reaction."

When Yang Luchan saw Chen Ku like this, he laughed and said:
"That's why we have to hold a consultation meeting for gangs. The reason is that the so-called consultation meeting for gangs is to make those unpresentable gangster behaviors more elegant. To put it nicely, it's called a consultation between all walks of life. But in fact, it's no different from a fight between gangsters. It's still the simple saying 'whoever has the bigger fist and the louder voice is right'."

Chen Ku suddenly realized and asked, "Is that so?"

"So, you might as well guess how I dealt with the troublemaker from that small escort agency at the meeting?" Yang Luchan asked with a smile, smoking his pipe.

Chen Ku boldly imagined, "How did you deal with it?"

"I left my seat, turned around, walked up to him and slapped him, sending the little bastard flying under the table." Yang Luchan said with a faint smile, "Then I said to him, 'Let's go out and fight. If you can slap me back, I'll give you the forest.'"

Chen Ku was shocked and asked, "Can it be like this?"

Yang Luchan said, "Isn't it possible? Yes: it is what it is. The law of the jungle is the same everywhere. The stronger you are, the better you can eat." "I am stronger than you, more powerful than you, and I am willing to squat and share a piece of cake with you. How is this possible?"

Chen Ku couldn't help but ask curiously, "But, isn't this meeting hosted by the government? I heard that the county magistrate is also present. Doesn't the government care?"

"Why should the government care? Can the tax paid by a small escort agency in a year be as much as a fraction of what my Medicine King Hall pays?"

Yang Luchan said slowly:

"Since ancient times, the government offices have been facing south. If you have a reason but no money, don't come in."

Chen Ku asked: "But, if you bully others by taking advantage of your power, won't you also be bullied by others?"

"Where in the world does bullying not happen? Who dares to say that they are in a high position, rich and powerful, and will not squeeze the living environment of others?"

Yang Luchan said slowly:
"This world is cruel. There are people with saintly hearts, but they cannot change the selfish instinct of human beings. When you are alone, you can choose not to bully others. But when you sit in a high position, you represent not only your own interests, but countless hungry mouths behind you. At this time, it depends on whether you choose to feed the people around you and expand your own power, or to share the pie with others."

Chen Ku had lived two lives, so he was not ignorant of these principles. He couldn't help but let out a sigh and said, "This is probably the case that those who steal a hook will be executed, and those who steal a country will be made marquises."

"Ruzi can be taught."

Yang Luchan smiled slightly and said:
"The fighting among the gangs is like the annexation among the princes. There is nothing new under the sun. The power conflicts in Baojiao County are just a smaller microcosm of the disputes in the world. Think about it, there are many princes, and there is a piece of land in a certain place, which is rich in resources and has outstanding people. If two princes go to grab it at the same time, of course the prince with the bigger fist will have the final say. After he grabs it, his people will not scold him for bullying, but will praise him as a great leader who 'expands the territory'."

"So, the truth that a big fist is forever unchangeable is true. A big fist can be used to seize the country and become an emperor, or a small fist can be used to bully others and become a tyrant."

"As for, will we be bullied by someone stronger than us?"

Yang Luchan exhaled a puff of smoke and said:
"When we practice martial arts, isn't it to strengthen ourselves step by step, to continuously expand our fists, and to climb to the top step by step?"

"What if we can't climb that high?" Chen Ku asked.

A trace of helplessness appeared in Yang Luchan's eyes, and he said, "If you have confidence in yourself, then go to a higher and bigger world. If you don't have confidence, just stay in a small place and be the best. See how big the world in your heart is."

Chen Ku fell into deep thought.

He couldn't help but recall his previous experience of collecting herbs in the countryside.

Individual investors, registered households, landlords…

Layer upon layer of social classes.

It has been like this in both past and present lives.

He was sure that he was just an ordinary person who was afraid of death and trouble. He definitely did not have the ability to change the world. It would be too tiring for such a person. In this case, he could only blend in and never be bullied for the rest of his life. He could only enjoy the benefits and take care of himself.

But Chen Ku still has a question:
"But Yaowangtang is not the only one in Baojiao County. What if it encounters a conflict with giants of the same level as Yulonghui and Chaitiepu?"

"That is why we choose young disciples as representatives to attend the conference."

Yang Luchan said slowly and leisurely:

"In life, it is a rule that young people grow old and die. Even if someone like me has reached the fifth level of martial arts, the highest in Baojiao County, and lives to be over a hundred years old, he will eventually die. Have you heard that in a wealthy family, it is not a good thing for the elderly to live forever? The death of the elderly and the birth of new people is the symbol of the endless life of a family, which is called 'Talented people emerge in every generation'."

As he spoke, the cold wind blew through the courtyard, but he looked down at the muddy soil in the garden, where the tender buds of the new spring were hidden.

Finally, the same gaze fell on Chen Ku.

Shang Yunfang was finally able to interrupt at this time.

He coughed softly and said:

"Young people are the future. Old people will eventually leave the stage. So, which family's young people are more promising is also a way to show the 'size of the fist'. Pushing you young people to the conference is, on the one hand, to give you experience in advance.

On the other hand, the hall wants to use you as the 'new muscle' to show to other guilds at the conference.

At that time, how you perform at the guild meeting will symbolize whether the Medicine King Hall will still be as powerful as before in the next four years, or even forty years."

Chen Ku felt a sense of pressure for no reason.

Then he asked:
"Me? Isn't it decided yet?"

"With the two of us nominating you, you are almost certain to win." Shang Yunfang said, "One of the three shopkeepers' disciples will definitely be pushed down this time. This is also a convention. Among the three future young shopkeepers, one must be a local who has risen from the bottom."

Chen Ku listened to the two masters' words and suddenly had such confidence that he established himself as one of the three future shopkeepers.

I couldn't help but say:

"I'm afraid that people will be jealous of me."

Today, Zhang Renying, the disciple of the second shopkeeper, realized the threat I posed to him, so he deliberately targeted me.

To put it bluntly, it is a conflict of positions and interests.

"What are you afraid of?"

Yang Luchan said:
"I have great confidence in you. Use your strength to crush them, and they won't be dissatisfied."

Chen Ku coughed and said:
"Okay, then I'll give it some thought."

"What to consider?"

Yang Luchan said with his hands behind his back:

"Before you came here, I have already handed your name to the three shopkeepers. Today is the tenth day of the lunar month, and a general meeting will be held on the fifteenth day. It is best to elect the representative position today."

"Choose today?"

Chen Ku was surprised.

Just finished saying this.

clang!
The bell in Yaowang Hall rang.

(End of this chapter)