Chapter 7 — Hoa Ky in the middle of Hoe Hoa Alley

Waiting for me to finish cleaning the kitchen, she led a man from the back alley with a smelly body. It's Chuc manager. The day the Lu family was confiscated, he was in charge of escorting the books. After that, everyone said he stole the money and ran away. As soon as he entered the door, he knelt down. "Madam, I'm not hiding. Grand Master T. told me to stay alive and wait for King Qi." Co Y Nuong asked: "Where is Hoai Chuong?" Manager Chuc's lips trembled. "The exile team was attacked at Hac Thuy station. The eldest son...'s whereabouts are unknown." No one in the room moved. The soup on the stove boiled out, extinguishing half of the fire. 16 The administrator brought the broken half of the bamboo card. "This is the number card of the boat book. The other half is in the hands of boatman La, the boat's operator that year. He is hiding in Thanh Lo town, refusing to enter the capital." “Why don't you agree?” I asked. “The palace killed his two sons.” Bui Nghien Thu said: "I'll go pick you up." The manager shook his head. "As soon as someone with the status of a government official acts, the Cung family will know immediately." Everyone looked at me. I pointed at myself. "Why are you looking at me? Should I push the wonton cart to pick up witnesses?" Bui Nghien Thu said: "It's possible." After preparing, I actually pushed the wonton cart to Thanh Lo town. Old Tuong pretended to be my brother, and the manager hid under the car. Bui Nghien Thu changed into a rough shirt and pretended to be a revenue officer, but he still looked like someone coming to investigate whether we were evading taxes or not. I criticize him. “You should smile.” "Why?" “Is there a poor bookkeeper who is cold to his employer every day?” He pulled the corner of his mouth. "Forget it. It's more like wanting to eat human flesh." Tran Thanh Lo holds a market on the sixth day. We set up a counter at the wharf, following the signal to wrap a wonton into the shape of a boat. In the afternoon, a one-eyed old man sat down. “I heard you guys sell boats?” “Only sell shells, not boats.” He bit off the wonton, saw the bamboo tag inside, his hands shook, and he dropped the bowl. “I don't know anything.” "La boatman, the lives of your two sons..." As soon as the manager opened his mouth, the old man punched him in the face. “Shut up!” Boatman La refused to go, nor did he testify. He said he had a young granddaughter, and the Cung family was still watching. We talked until late at night, he was still shaking his head. "The Luc family's injustice is unjust, our family's lives are also our lives." I cannot refute. Before leaving, we leave a backup plan. If he gets lost on the way, Mr. Tuong will return to town to watch the La family. The Cung family already knew we were coming and would definitely attack Captain La's only weak point. On the way back, the wheel suddenly shifted sharply, almost knocking the pot into the ditch. Bui Nghien Thu squatted down to check, felt small marks on the axle, and said in a low voice: "Someone used a saw to touch it. This car can't go far." In the reeds in the distance, three lights lit up. Someone chased me. 17 Old Tuong immediately grabbed the fork and pushed the broken vehicle straight onto the main road. There were lights hanging on the car, so the pursuing soldiers indeed chased where the light was. Before leaving, he still remembered the transaction: "The number of wontons promised to me, not one bowl less!" Bui Nghien Thu and I pulled the manager Chuc into the reeds. The old wound on Chuc Quan Tuc's leg was torn open, blood dripping into the water. The light behind is getting closer and closer. Bui Nghien Thu stuffed a short knife for me. “Do you know how to use it?” “Know how to chop meat.” “Almost the same.” “It's a lot different!” At this point I'm still arguing with him. When people are too scared, their minds will choose useless things to be busy, and their limbs will have no time to tremble. We lie down in the mud and water. Two pursuers passed in front, the third suddenly turned around and used the tip of his knife to brush away the reed leaves in front of me. Bui Nghien Thu acted first. He covered his opponent's mouth and pulled him into the water. I held the knife up for a long time, then finally used the hilt of the knife to hit him on the back of the head. For one thing, he hasn't fainted yet. Let's hit one more time. Haven't fainted yet. Bui Nghien Thu gritted his teeth: "Are you scratching his itch?" By the third time, the other person finally softened. We change our clothes

from him, stole a horse. Manager Chuc couldn't resist, I rode on the same horse with him, Bui Nghien Thu was behind to stop the pursuit. When we arrived at the city gate, it was about dawn. Bui Nghien Thu's horse could not keep up. I handed over the management of Chuc to the dark guard and turned away. The dark guard stopped me. “The prince told me to bring the lady back.” “He still owes me money for wontons.” “Hoa Miss…” “Get out of the way.” I stole a horse and ran less than five miles when I saw Bui Nghien Thu leaning on the side of the road. His left arm was hit by an arrow, his face was as white as paper, he frowned and asked me: "What are you doing back?" “Debt collection.” He looked at me and suddenly smiled. This time it looks more human. When we returned to the store, Co Y Nuong cut off his sleeve and coldly asked: "Where are the witnesses?" No one can answer. The boatman did not come. This trip we almost lost our lives, only bringing back half a useless bamboo card. 18