Its another morning, Zhou Xuan got up early to feed "Little General Zhang Jiao", Qin Xiaodi also got up very early and squatted beside him to watch her brother-in-law raise insects.

  Xiao Huixiang came over and said: "Young Master Xiao, Miss has asked you to go recite the Book of Songs."

  Xiao Di raised her buttocks and watched with relish, saying: "No, I want to see Brother-in-law feed Zhang Bao."

  "Right, no homework today, its a holiday. If anyone doesnt believe me, tell them to come find me."

  Qin Xiaodi felt that this brother-in-law was really good to the extreme.

  A servant woman hastily came in and said that two young men were looking for the master of the house, and they were crying. Lai Fu was talking to them at the time.

  Zhou Xuan strode out to the front yard, and indeed it was Tang Xiaosan and Hu Tong. Tang Xiaosan had a big lump on his forehead, while Hu Tongs face was half red with five clear finger marks. This slap was quite severe.

  Zhou Xuan angrily asked: "Whats going on? Who hit you?"

  Tang Xiaosan spoke eloquently, with tears in his eyes: "Young Master Zhou, Hu Tong and I guarded the watchtower at Zhou Yus place for a whole night and caught a yellow-backed cricket that was much larger than the one we sold to Young Master Zhou yesterday. Its chirping sound was very loud, so we didnt even eat breakfast and rushed twenty miles to deliver it to Young Master Zhou. When we arrived at Golden Wind Alley, we met a fat young master who heard the chirping sound from our bamboo tube and said he wanted to see it. We thought, why not let him take a look? But unexpectedly, this fat young master took one look and said he wanted to buy it, offering us twenty copper coins. We refused to sell, saying it was already reserved for Young Master Zhou. The fat young master said, Whats it to you, whatever public or private master? and threw down some copper coins, snatching the bamboo tube with the cricket. We refused to give in and tried to get it back, but the fat young master slapped Hu Tong hard, and one of his servants pushed me, causing my head to hit something like this... Waaahhh!"

  Zhou Xuan comforted, "Dont cry, Ill take care of you. Song Dachun, go to the kitchen and get some mantou for Xiaosan and them to eat - Lai Fu, do you know who that dead fatty theyre talking about is?"

  Lai Fu thought for a moment and said, "There are several chubby young masters in Jin Feng Fang who like to fight crickets. Nowadays, which rich familys son doesnt play with crickets? However, only one is so arrogant, it should be Wu Gong Caos son, Wu Kuan."

  Zhou Xuan asked: "What official is Wu Gong Cao, his son is so arrogant?"

  Lai Fu understood and said, "The Gong Cao is an official under the governor of the province, in charge of maintaining law and order within the provincial borders. Hes a seventh-rank official." Lowering his voice, he said, "Our master is only a ninth-rank official, many ranks lower than him. Young Master, we cant afford to offend this person."

  Zhou Xuan thought to himself, "So hes the director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau. Hes indeed a big shot who can walk sideways. I need to be careful when speaking up for Tang Xiaosan. Although my brother is skilled in martial arts, hes not a great hero who can come and go as he pleases, nor does he have any powerful backing. Blindly acting tough will only get him into trouble, so strategy is crucial."

  Zhou Xuan asked Tang Xiaosan about the shape of that cricket, furrowed his brow and thought for a moment, then let Lai Fu bring up "Little General Zhang Bao" and went to Jin Fengfang with Tang Xiaosan and Hu Tong. Tang Xiaosan found the place where the cricket was stolen, and when he looked, it was right in front of Wus mansion.

  Zhou Xuan let Tang Xiaosan and two others return to Qins mansion first to wait for him, while he brought Lai Fu to Wus mansion to request an audience with Master Wu.

  Lai Fu was a little afraid and said: "Brother-in-law, dont be reckless. The Wu familys house guards are all skilled in martial arts, Lai Fu is no match for them."

  Zhou Xuan smiled: "Were not here to fight, this young master emphasizes winning people over with skill."

  The Wu family servants saw that Zhou Xuan was extraordinary and said he had come to discuss insect skills with Wu Kuan, so they didnt dare to neglect him. They invited him to sit in the entrance hall. Before long, a fat man wearing a large red robe came out, followed by two tall and sturdy housekeepers who looked like wolves.

  The fatty looked like he was over twenty years old, his eyes were almost squeezed shut by the fat, and when he moved, all the flesh on his body trembled. He made an effort to open his eyes wide and size up Zhou Xuan, then casually nodded: "This brother looks unfamiliar, what brings you to me?"

  Zhou Xuan smiled all over his face: "I heard that Wu Gongzi has just obtained a good insect, and I came to appreciate it. I intend to make an appointment with you for a fight."

  Wu Kuan Wu Pangzi heard the insect fight, his dull eyes suddenly cleared up three points: "Haha, how did you know about the good bug I just got? Alright, alright, if were going to fight, which bug will you send out?"

  Zhou Xuan waved his hand, and Lai Fu hurried forward, one hand holding a basin and the other lifting the lid.

  Wu Kuan glanced at him twice, dryly laughed and turned his head to say: "Please ask Tou Bangxiang to come and see the insect."

  It seems that Wu Kuan has someone who specializes in raising insects for him, but I dont know how skilled they are.

  Before long, a man in his thirties held a celadon Yue kiln vase with lush green glaze, and the sound of crickets loud chirping came from it.

  "Xiao Tu, this guy wants to compete with us in insect fighting, take a look at his insect!"

  This surname Tus helper put on a superior attitude, strolled over and glanced at the tile basin in Lai Fus hand with two eyes, sneered and said: "Ridiculous, such an inferior insect dares to come to the door to challenge? Even if you win, its not exciting."

  "Whats this winning without excitement? I think youre just afraid of losing and dont dare to fight!"

  Wu Kuan narrowed his eyes: "What are you talking about? I, a prominent figure in Jiangzhou City, am known for my bold and daring nature. Speak up, how do you want to compete, what do you want to bet?"

  This pig-headed appearance is still windy and handsome, is it a stroke of oil?

  Zhou Xuan pointed at the blue porcelain vase in Tu Bangs hand and asked Wu Kuan, "Is this the good insect that Young Master Wu has newly obtained? Let me take a look at it too."

  Tou Bang Xian proudly lifted the lid, and Zhou Xuan took a look. It was indeed the yellow-backed cricket that Tang Xiaosan had mentioned. It was a good insect, of the same rank as "Little General Zhang Bao", but its head was bigger than "Little General Zhang Bao". If they were to fight now, "Little General Zhang Bao" would not win.

  Zhou Xuan asked: "Has this insect been named? I call it Little General Zhang Jiao."

  Wu Kuan said with a smile: "Im calling him General Xu Huang, haha, how can Zhang Fei be a match for Xu Huang!"

  Zhou Xuan shook his head, these people were all blind to fame, only thinking about the loud name, completely disregarding the actual strength level of the crickets, at least a lieutenant general or above greenback cricket could be called Xu Huans illustrious name.

  Zhou Xuan pretended to say casually: "Tou Bangxi, this Xu Huan is already a strong man, you should give him a female cricket to match, only then can yin and yang be harmonious."

  Tu Bang sneered coldly: "Ignorant! The crickets used for fighting cannot be mated, just like soldiers, being infatuated with the gentle land will dull their fighting spirit. Its necessary to suppress them, let them be filled with desire, and only then can they fight fiercely and violently——"

  Tu Bang was just getting into the swing of things when he suddenly shut his mouth, tilted his head and gave Zhou Xuan a slanted glance: "Wow, you want to swindle me out of my exclusive insect-raising secrets? How despicable."

  Zhou Xuan smiled and thought to himself, then stopped chatting with Tu Bang and asked Wu Kuan: "Wu Gongzi, how much did you win? It shouldnt be just a few coins or tens of coins, right?"

  Wu Kuan angrily said: "You say how big a gamble is just how big it is."

  "I can roughly afford three thousand taels of silver for betting." If Zhou Xuan opens his mouth to sell the harmonica, Lin Heishan will immediately send three thousand taels of white silver.

  "Three thousand taels?!"

  Wu Kuan was startled, although the city of Jiangzhou was notorious for its gambling culture, a cricket fight with a stake of three thousand taels of silver seemed unprecedented, perhaps only something that would happen in the mansion of the military governor Lin.

  "You, can you take out three thousand taels of silver for a bet? Who are you? I havent even asked your honorable surname and given name." Wu Kuan didnt know where Zhou Xuan was from or what kind of background he had, but since he dared to speak so boldly, maybe he really did have some connections, so its better to be more careful with his words.

  With a loud shout from Zhou Xuan, the house servant, Lai Fu, stepped forward and proudly said: "This is my maternal uncle, surname Zhou, name Xuan, courtesy name Jielun. My master is Dr. Qin of the Medical Bureau."

  Lai Fu didnt come to fight, but to fight crickets. Immediately, his courage and energy doubled, and his voice became loud and clear. He now has infinite admiration for this young master.

  Wu Kuan burst out laughing, Zhou Xuan looked at him and laughed, worried that the fat on his face would fall off from laughing.

  "So youre the son-in-law that Old Qin picked out, you little scoundrel, your luck is really good, getting a beautiful young wife for free. The emperors selected concubine, but it was a bargain for you! How about it, can you take out three thousand taels of silver? Move them out and let me see."

  Upon learning that Zhou Xuan was the son-in-law of Qin, a ninth-grade official, Wu Kuan completely relaxed his speech and demeanor, revealing the arrogant face of a young master.

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