My Apprenticeship to Uncle Jiu: I Was a Warlord in the Republic of China

After a while, Wang Chunhua brought a plate of scrambled eggs and a bowl of chicken soup and said, "Son, you should eat first because it will be time to eat soon. I stewed a chicken for you and you can eat it after it is cooked."

Jiang Li said, "Thank you, mother."

Then he picked up the chopsticks and started eating. Wang Chunhua couldn't stop crying when she saw her son finish the scrambled eggs in a few bites and then drink up a bowl of chicken soup in one gulp. Perhaps realizing that something was wrong, Wang Chunhua put away the bowl and chopsticks and went to the kitchen.

Jiang Li saw his mother crying, but he didn't know how to comfort her because it was Jiang Li himself who asked to become a disciple and his mother did not agree at first.

After much persuasion, he finally agreed. As a result, he was away for seven days. When he came back, he looked darker and thinner, which was really uncomfortable for her as a mother.

Seeing that it was difficult to comfort her, Jiang Li simply helped to light the fire, adding firewood and chatting.

During lunch, Jiang Li really devoured the food. After all, he hadn't eaten meat for a few days and was really craving for it. He ate rice in big mouthfuls, while eating fatty pork and biting chicken legs. The whole family shook their heads and sighed.

Because they all knew Jiang Li's temper and knew he would not change his mind once he made up his mind, they did not try to persuade him but just kept picking up food for him.

After eating and drinking, Jiang Li asked his father, "Dad, I want to go to the town this afternoon. Can you give me some money?"

Jiang Kaishan didn't ask any more questions, just said yes, and then asked, "Do you want me to go with you?"

Jiang Li said, "If we're going, why don't we all go? It's nice to go shopping as a family. This time I'm going to buy some things to make magic tools. Then we won't be afraid of those dirty things anymore."

My mother Wang Chunhua immediately became interested and asked, "You have learned how to make magic tools in just a few days?"

"Is that Uncle Jiu lying to you? These things are not so easy to learn."

The eldest brother Jiang Daniu also said with interest, "My younger brother can make magic tools, so have you learned magic?"

Jiang Li smiled and said, "I haven't learned any magic, nor have I learned how to make magic tools. I just heard from my master that peach wood can be used to make magic tools to exorcise evil spirits, so I thought of buying some materials and asking my master to help make them. If they work, I'll bring a few back to protect my home."

Everyone suddenly realized that they had to buy the materials instead of making them themselves, and then they ate their meal and talked about the interesting things that happened in the past few days.

In this way, the family finished their meal chatting and laughing, and then the five of them took a donkey cart to the town. Because the Jiang family was only five miles away from the Lijia Town, the family arrived in the town quickly.

Once they were on the street, nine-year-old sister Jiang Xiaohua started chattering about buying things, while Jiang Li followed behind and watched quietly, until they came to a shop selling tables and chairs, and then Jiang Li went in with his father.

Jiang Li found the boss and asked, "Boss, do you have mahogany furniture here?"

The shopkeeper saw the child who came in with Jiang Kaishan and found that he looked a bit like him, so he asked, "Master Jiang, is this your son? He is so handsome."

After getting Jiang Kaishan's affirmation, he said to Jiang Li, "Master Jiang, you may not know that this peach wood is too hard and is prone to cracking and deformation during the drying process. It is not a good material for making furniture."

"Why don't you take a look at the others? I have a lot of other wooden furniture in my store. They are all genuine and good items at a good price."

Jiang Li shook his head and said, "Forget it if you don't have any. I only like mahogany furniture. Let's go ask somewhere else."

The shopkeeper saw the two men were about to leave, so he immediately stepped forward to stop them and said, "Don't worry, we don't have it ready-made, but if you really want it, you can give me a deposit and I'll help you arrange it."

Jiang Li looked at the shopkeeper and asked, "Shopkeeper, can you get some mahogany wood for furniture? Don't try to trick me just because I'm young."

The shopkeeper immediately patted his chest and said, "Master Jiang, don't worry. I, Li Fugui, have opened a shop in Lijia Town for more than 20 years. I dare not say anything else, but this wood is definitely genuine."

Jiang Li smiled and said, "I don't want you to make furniture out of peach wood. As long as I can get the wood, I will buy it at a high price. But don't pass off inferior goods as good ones, or I'll tear down your reputation."

Shopkeeper Li patted his chest again and said, "Don't worry, I'll ask someone to find it right away, and I'll give you a definite answer within three days. Look at this..."

Shopkeeper Li rubbed his fingers together.

Jiang Li took out ten silver dollars from his pocket and handed them to the shopkeeper, saying, "This ten dollars will be used as a deposit. If you can find an old peach tree from a previous year, please keep it in mind. It will be useful to me."

The shopkeeper looked at the ten dollars in his hand and said in astonishment, "How much peach wood does Young Master Jiang want? What's the situation with your deposit?"

It's no wonder that the shopkeeper was surprised. This dollar could buy more than ten kilograms of rice, and these ten dollars could buy five peach trees that are more than twenty years old.

After all, this stuff is not an ideal wood for making furniture. In the era of food shortage and drink shortage in the Republic of China, it was not really expensive. Who would buy so much of it if it was not for eating or drinking?

Jiang Li smiled and said, "I have prepared thirty or forty dollars here. It depends on how much peach wood you can get."

Because the Jiang family opened a porridge shop in the town, they earned two or three yuan a day, plus they also made a lot of money from selling chicken seedlings, so thirty or forty yuan was not too much for the Jiang family now.

After listening to what Jiang Li said, Shopkeeper Li immediately perked up and promised, "Master Jiang, don't worry. I will definitely get this done for you within three days."

After reaching an agreement, the two left. After leaving the furniture store, Jiang Li went into the drugstore and bought some cinnabar, sulfur, realgar and saltpeter. When he left the drugstore, Jiang Kaishan couldn't help it any longer.

So he asked, "Son, why did you buy so much peach wood and cinnabar and realgar? What are you going to do? You can't eat these carelessly."

Jiang Li was speechless and said, "Dad, I'm not a child anymore. Of course I know that I can't eat these randomly. I'm just preparing the ingredients to make magic tools when the time comes."

Jiang Kaishan then scratched his head in disappointment, and continued to follow Jiang Li without saying anything.

Seeing his mother having fun with his older brother and younger sister, he kept looking around. After a while, he found the target and hurried over with his father.

He walked a few steps to the side of the road, behind a young man squatting on the ground, poked his shoulder and said, "Brother Li Si, what are you doing? Are you waiting for a pie to fall from the sky?"

The young man named Li Si waved his hand and said impatiently, "Jiang boy, go play somewhere else. I'm really annoyed."

As soon as Jiang Li saw him like this, he knew that he was short of money and was thinking of ways to make money. After all, Jiang Li used to go to the town to play with his father whenever he had the chance. He also knew this ruffian Li Si. He once treated him to a few cakes, so they could be considered to be acquaintances.

Seeing Li Si's absent-minded look, Jiang Li reached into his pocket, took out two dollars, and quickly waved them in front of Li Si.

Seeing that he was in high spirits, Jiang Li immediately said, "Will you be less annoyed if you have this?"