Chapter 4 Platform (IV)
Of course, the second brother Zhu Youquan was not dead. In the midst of the noise of beating people to death, Zhu Youquan, who was briefly unconscious, groaned and began to move his limbs. Seeing that it was not a good show, the onlookers who were not afraid of trouble showed disappointment.
Huo Chong glanced at the crowd of onlookers who were craning their necks to watch the excitement, and his eyes fell on his master, Uncle Liu. Uncle Liu's face was filled with grief, and he ordered his sons around him, "Help him up! Lift him up!"
Zhu Youquan was a bachelor, so he struggled to get up, pushed everyone away and left without looking back. Looking at Zhu Youquan's back, Huo Chong knew that he had a grudge against this guy.
Uncle Liu had four sons, and the third one brought a chair over. Uncle Liu sat down with the help of his sons, panting for a while before saying, "My fellow villagers, Zhu Youquan is not doing his job well and beat up his fellow apprentices. I was right when I said he couldn't take my place! From now on, Huo Chong is my eldest apprentice. I will give him everything."
Everyone was whispering, and no one agreed. Uncle Liu ordered his sons, "Go get the account book and burn incense for the ancestors!"
Things were done very quickly. Uncle Liu's son came out with a plate with the account book on it. Everyone in the yard stretched their necks to look. Huo Chong felt that something was wrong, something was very wrong. The eldest disciple died at the hands of Cao Gang, and the second disciple fought with his junior brother in public. The master did not quickly rectify the internal affairs, but instead wanted to pass the throne to the youngest disciple who had only been accepted for half a month.
This kind of thing is not uncommon in stories, but there is only one possibility that it will happen in reality, and there must be a big conspiracy behind it. I still have a chance to leave now, so I kneel down and say loudly that I have offended my second brother and I am sorry to my master, and then I turn around and leave like my second brother. No one can stop me...
When he looked up at his master, he saw Uncle Liu's face was full of grief, but his triangular eyes were still quite bright. Seeing Huo Chong looking at him, Uncle Liu also looked back at Huo Chong. The moment the two looked at each other, they both understood each other's thoughts. Uncle Liu coughed a few more times and said, "Huo Chong, you fell at my door. How did I treat you after I saved you?"
"Master has been kind to me." Huo Chong replied.
"If you think I'm good to you, then you should take over this family business. Zhu Youquan treated me like this, if you treat me like this too, do you want me to die? Do you really want to see me die?!" Uncle Liu's tone was already very stern.
After hearing Uncle Liu's words, some of the onlookers couldn't stand it anymore and said to Huo Chong, "How can you not feel sorry for your master, kid? Your master is so angry, just do what he tells you to do!"
Finally, someone took the lead, and many people followed suit. Huo Chong cursed these people in his heart, saying they were all idiots. Shouldn't they have seen that there was a big problem? But Huo Chong didn't dare to leave immediately. Uncle Liu's words meant that he was going to die, but he was threatening Huo Chong.
Of course Uncle Liu can't die. With that look in his eyes, Uncle Liu can live another twenty years. The problem is that Uncle Liu made such a big deal, but Huo Chong escaped in the end. What means will Uncle Liu use to deal with Huo Chong? This is not China in the 21st century, where there are job opportunities everywhere. If you really can't make it, you can survive by working as a laborer on a construction site.
At the beginning of the year, many wanted criminals were caught because of the popularization of QR codes during the epidemic. One wanted criminal who escaped after killing someone survived for more than ten years by working outside. But there was no such opportunity in the Qing Dynasty in 1717.
Thinking of this, Huo Chong made up his mind and said to his master Liu Shu: "Master, I am willing to listen to you."
"Dad, the tablet is ready." Uncle Liu's eldest son came over to explain the latest progress.
Uncle Liu didn't answer, but coughed and looked at Huo Chong a few times. After a moment's silence, Uncle Liu ordered, "Bring the house deed here."
Uncle Liu's eldest son was startled, and many of the onlookers stopped talking and listened to what happened next.
"Bring the house deed...ahem...bring the house deed here." Uncle Liu ordered again.
Uncle Liu's eldest son turned around unwillingly to take it. Uncle Liu asked his third son to help him up and went straight to the main hall.
The ancestral tablets that were invited out were placed on the table against the wall in the main hall, and incense was inserted into the copper incense burner in front.
Uncle Liu asked Huo Chong to enter the main hall. The people in the main hall were all important figures, and their expressions were quite serious. Under Uncle Liu's instructions, they kowtowed to the gods, the ancestors, and the masters.
After three bows and nine kowtows, Uncle Liu did not let Huo Chong get up from his position as the master. He stood up with the help of his sons and walked tremblingly in front of Huo Chong.
"Huo Chong, since you have taken my position, you must be good to everyone. We have placed so much money with you so that we can take care of you in times of disaster. If you fail to live up to everyone's expectations, you will be struck by lightning! Do you hear me?"
Huo Chong didn't need to look at the crowd to know that everyone's eyes were focused on him. He could only answer straightforwardly: "Master, I know."
"Okay! This account book records the names of the villagers who participated. I gave it to you. You must treat everyone well according to the names on it!" After saying that, Uncle Liu took the list from his son who was holding a plate next to him.
Huo Chong still didn't want to accept it. At this time, Uncle Liu's eldest son put the house deed on the list. Uncle Liu continued: "This house was also passed down to me from my master, and I also gave it to you..."
Amid the exclamations of the people in the room, Uncle Liu, who was holding the list and the deed, began to shake and then started to cough uncomfortably. Uncle Liu covered his mouth with a handkerchief, and when he took it away, he saw that his teeth were already red.
Uncle Liu's sons quickly supported the staggering Uncle Liu and exclaimed, "Dad, Dad! How come you are so angry that you vomit blood!"
Uncle Liu's hand softened, and the list fell, landing right in front of Huo Chong. Then his body fell backwards.
The crowd was shocked, and some rushed forward to see what Uncle Liu was like. Then Uncle Liu's son shouted, "Zhu Youquan made my father vomit blood in anger. Find this scoundrel and beat him to death!"
As they said this, they pushed their way out. Another son shouted, "Everyone go call a doctor, find a doctor to treat my father."
Everyone made way. But Uncle Liu's sons were seen carrying Uncle Liu out. There was a carriage outside the house, and Uncle Liu got on the carriage under the escort of his sons and hurried out of the village.
Everyone followed him out to see. Uncle Liu's second son hurried back and handed a bunch of keys to Huo Chong, "Junior brother... Senior brother Huo Chong, this is the key to the warehouse. You take good care of the house. When my father is cured, we will come back."
After saying this, he quickly chased after the cart. As everyone watched, Uncle Liu and his family escorted him away in a hurry.
"Brother Huo, your master will be fine." Someone nearby said to Huo Chong.
Huo Chong turned around and saw that it was Wu Laowu who had asked Master Liu Shu for money before . Wu Laowu said with a fake smile: "Brother Huo, congratulations on becoming the leader."
Knowing that Wu Laowu had no good intentions, Huo Chong just smiled but did not answer. After spending a few seconds to sort out his feelings, Huo Chong finally put himself into the current situation. Turning back to the house, Huo Chong first called the fellow apprentices who were still here to the side room.
Master Liu Shu had five sons and two daughters. At this time, the sons had all followed Uncle Liu, and the daughters had long since left the place. The only ones left were Huo Chong, the head of the sect, and four younger brothers.
Huo Chong is about to turn 30 this year, and his fellow apprentices are all in their teens, with the oldest, Li Tieniu, being 20. After asking about the ages of his fellow apprentices, Huo Chong continued to ask, "Has the master called the cook to serve the meal?"
Although he knew there was no such thing, Huo Chong still asked. The fellow apprentices looked at each other, revealing the simplicity that was unique to this era.
He even refused to pay for the last meal. Master Liu Shu really took advantage of everything! Huo Chong smiled bitterly in his heart, but he didn't dare to tell his fellow apprentices.
"Tie Niu, take your brothers and boil some water. Make tea for everyone." Huo Chongming said.
The junior brothers were very obedient and went immediately. Huo Chong's heart was in turmoil again. If he ran away at this time, Uncle Liu would still be involved. If he took care of the next thing, he would be the scapegoat and have to bear all the previous troubles.
Huo Chong was just hesitating when he heard someone outside the room shouting, "It's already noon, when will dinner be served?"
