Page 100 of 158 FirstFirst ... 5090919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110150 ... LastLast
Results 1,981 to 2,000 of 3145

Thread: The Deer and The Cauldron

  1. #1981
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    611

    Default ohh to sad



    this part made me sad
    Ali Derhamy

  2. #1982
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Miami and sometimes Bentre
    Posts
    1,211

    Default

    Thanks Foxs

  3. #1983
    Senior Member Gubrak's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Sukabumi
    Posts
    236

    Default

    Aah ... poor Ah Ke .....
    Thanks Foxs

  4. #1984
    Senior Member crazee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    MY/SG
    Posts
    372

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Gubrak View Post
    Aah ... poor Ah Ke .....
    Thanks Foxs
    Yes Poor Ah Ke,
    Poor YY, and poor XB....his bao beis leaving him....
    Poor jui nan....her plan for revenge sort of failed...after 20 yrs. of hard work....

    Anyway he's really thoughtful, giving his horse to Mu Jianping, and she really loved him. Hey... I like her too, she's almost as good as Shuang er.....genuinely concerned about XB.

    Oh...Thanks Foxs....a bit sentimental, this section...
    cheerio..

  5. #1985
    Senior Member SkyWalker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Posts
    1,835

    Default

    Thanks foxs. And thanks for the info about Athlon. I will be in Guangzhou for awhile so hopefully I can still follow your translation.

    I'm still not fond of Ah Ke. And she still hates WXB to the bones. Wonder what will make her change her mind about him.

  6. #1986
    Senior Member athlonkmf's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Posts
    426

    Default

    Ehm... i'm not living or from beijing....
    Proud to be part of http://www.asianfanatics.net/

    *********************************

  7. #1987
    Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
    Posts
    51

    Default

    I agree with skywalker, as my grandmother would say when watching soap, "feel like slapping her" sometimes. Not this time of course, but I find it difficult to feel affection for her, except that she seems to be the prettiest amongst the girls so far.

    I miss Shuang Er

  8. #1988
    Senior Member smurf120's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    1,201

    Default

    I think its hard to feel affection for Ah Ke because she keeps lashing out her anger. It is true that WXB shamelessly calls her his wife and tells other people the same, but it does not warrant continuous death threats, especially since he just saved everyone's collective lives.

    Not sure why Mu family is depressed about "losing" to Heaven and Earth Society, they have been saved multiple times by WXB, I do not feel that they are very gracious.

  9. #1989
    Senior Member crazee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    MY/SG
    Posts
    372

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by smurf120 View Post
    I think its hard to feel affection for Ah Ke because she keeps lashing out her anger. It is true that WXB shamelessly calls her his wife and tells other people the same, but it does not warrant continuous death threats, especially since he just saved everyone's collective lives.
    I suppose it what the chinese call no "yen fen" or no attraction. To be fair to Ah Ke, it was all the while a one sided affair and she had been resisting all of XB's advances and she had been consistent as far as this is concerned.

    I suppose if I get a pesky girl that I am not interested in at my heels and always disturbing me.....well wishful thoughts for an ugly, fat old man heh heh heh.

    Hey...Congrats Foxs, this thread is now 100 pages long and still growing....
    Last edited by crazee; 03-01-12 at 09:20 PM. Reason: typo spelling error
    cheerio..

  10. #1990
    Senior Member tweety365's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Southern California
    Posts
    3,478

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by smurf120 View Post
    Not sure why Mu family is depressed about "losing" to Heaven and Earth Society, they have been saved multiple times by WXB, I do not feel that they are very gracious.
    Well, TDH and Mu Palace people did made a bet that whichever side can cause the downfall of WSG will win. The losing group will support the winner's prince to be the future king. So now that WXB saved their lives, it will be awkward to pursue this argument of who should be king after ousting the Qing Dynasty. I think the argument is silly to begin with

  11. #1991
    Senior Member Gubrak's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Sukabumi
    Posts
    236

    Default

    If we think about Ah Ke's background which is raised by someone who doesn't love her, even hate her, what good education will she get? Still lucky that person is a nun, if not maybe she has been sold to a brothel to be a courtesan.

    So, what good thing do we expect from this kind of girl? I think, her bad behavior should be blame to Jiu Nan.

  12. #1992
    Senior Member foxs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Posts
    3,333

    Default Chapter 33 - Part 1

    Ali, why?!? Are you sad for Ah Ke, or Mu Family, or Mu Jianping, or like Crazee said, Yuanyuan? Jiu Nan? Anh, you are welcome. Gubrak, IMHO, it's how she reacted to these circumstances that counts. You can blame anybody else, but what did she do? Like Smurf pointed out, she kept lashing out on Wei Xiaobao. While I agree with Crazee, in that if someone expressed interest in me but I do not have any feelings for that someone, it still does not give me any right to hate that someone to the point I wanted to kill her. Sky, Athlon, my apology. I only remember that one of the readers currently (or at least at the time he/she wrote it) lived in China with his/her parents (or something like that). You know what, I do hope you will still have access to emails. If so, please let me know which email you will be using overseas, I will email the updates to you. You have my email address, don't you? Sablemagi, you want to slap the prettiest girl? Tweety, we should not wonder that the movement failed. 'Face' was more important than country.


    Chapter 33 – Those without chronic disease find it hard to laugh, being distinguished and accomplishment are not the same.
    (Translated by Foxs)

    After several days of travel, they left the City of Kunming far behind them. Since all along they did not see Wu Sangui’s troops or horses pursuing, gradually everybody was relieved. One particular day they arrived at Qujing [prefecture, still in Yunnan]. When the night fell, four riders were rushing directly toward them. One rider jumped down for the horse and talked to the Valiant Cavalry vanguard that they had an urgent military intelligence to report to the Imperial Military Minister.

    As soon as Wei Xiaobao received the report, he granted them an audience at once. He saw that the one in the front was a thin and small man with dark complexion; he had just about to ask the man what kind of military intelligence, Qian Laoben, who was standing behind him, suddenly said, “You are Kuang Xiong, are you not?”

    The man bowed and said, “Xiongdi is indeed Kuang Tianxiong. Qian Dage, how are you?”

    Wei Xiaobao looked at Qian Laoben. Qian Laoben nodded and said in a low voice, “Our own people.”

    “Very good,” Wei Xiaobao said, “Kuang Laoxiong has toiled much, let us go sit at the back.”

    They went to the rear hall; all the attendants were Tian Di Hui brothers. Qian Laoben said, “Kuang Xiongdi, this is our Green Wood Hall’s Wei Xiangzhu.”

    Kuang Tianxiong bowed with cupped fist; he said, “By Heaven my father and Earth my mother, fighting the Qing restoring the Ming. Scarlet Fire Hall’s Gu Xiangzhu’s subordinate Kuang Tianxiong pays his respect to Wei Xiangzhu and all Green Wood Hall Dage.”

    “Turns out it is Scarlet Fire Hall’s Kuang Dage, nice to meet you, nice to meet you,” Wei Xiaobao said.

    Qian Laoben had met this Kuang Tianxiong several times at Hunan in the past; presently he introduced Li Lishi, Qi Biaoqing, Feng Jizhong, Xu Tianchuan, Priest Xuanzhen, Gao Yanchao, and the others to him. In turn, Kuang Tianxiong also introduced his three Scarlet Fire Hall brothers. Everybody knew that the Scarlet Fire Hall was in charge of Guizhou province. In just a few days they would reach Guizhou border. Having made contact with their fellow Society brothers, the Green Wood Hall warriors were very happy.

    Wei Xiaobao said, “Last time I parted with Gu Xiangzhu in Zhili, and we have not seen each other ever since. Is everything going well with Gu Xiangzhu?”

    “Gu Xiangzhu is well,” Kuang Tianxiong replied, “He instructed subordinate to send his regards to Wei Xiangzhu and all Green Wood Hall Dage. We have heard that Wei Xiangzhu and all Dage have accomplished many important matters in recent days, and we admire you very much. Today we can pay a formal visit, this is indeed the blessing of three lifetimes.”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “We are all brothers here, there is no need for words of politeness. In just a few more days we are going to arrive at your honorable province, I wish to chat with Gu Xiangzhu.”

    Kuang Tianxiong said, “Gu Xiangzhu instructed subordinate to report to Wei Xiangzhu that it would be best if gentlemen change route eastwards, do not go through Guizhou.”

    Wei Xiaobao and the warriors were startled. Kuang Tianxiong said, “According to Gu Xiangzhu, he also wishes very much to have a chat with Wei Xiangzhu and all Dage, however, it would be best to meet within Guangxi.”

    “And why is that?” Wei Xiaobao asked.

    Kuang Tianxiong replied, “We obtained information that Wu Sangui has dispatched troops and horses to Xuanwei [county level city in Qujing], the town of Hongqiao, and Xin Tian Pu district to intercept Wei Xiangzhu and all Dage to bring you harm.”

    “Ah!” all Green Wood Hall warriors exclaimed in surprise. Wei Xiaobao was shocked and angered at the same time. “His granny,” he cursed, “This traitor is indeed unwilling to concede. He is even willing to forfeit his own son’s life.”

    “Wu Sangui is very sinister and ruthless,” Kuang Tianxiong said, “He dispatches not a few martial art experts, saying that they are to deal with certain Shitai by Wei Xiangzhu’s side, whose martial art skill was extremely high, and then have his son, the Tatar Princess, and Wei Xiangzhu captured, while the rest of the people would be killed to shut their mouths. Presently the Shaoguan mountain pass between Qujing and Zhanyi [another county in Qujing] has been closed, nobody could go through. The four of us took a detour through small paths on the mountain to get here; we were afraid that Wei Xiangzhu would come too late and fall into the big traitor’s scheme, hence we hurried along day and night to catch up.”

    Wei Xiaobao saw the four people’s eyes were bloodshot, their cheeks hollow, obviously they were extremely weary. He said, “Four Dage have toiled very much, we are very grateful.”

    Kuang Tianxiong said, “Finally we managed to deliver the news in time and have not harmed the important matter.” He sounded very relieved.

    Wei Xiaobao asked his subordinates, “All Dage, what do you think?”

    Qian Laoben said, “I wonder if Kuang Dage know the total number of troops that Wu Sangui sent to ambush us.”

    Kuang Tianxiong replied, “Wu Sangui did not have enough time to dispatch his troops from Kunming. I heard he sent the letter via flying pigeon to mobilize northern Yunnan and southern Guizhou’s military forces, altogether there will be more than thirty thousand men.”

    Everybody cursed and swore. The number of troops under Wei Xiaobao’s command was no more than two thousand men, less than 10% of the opposite party’s force; indeed the few are no match for the many.

    Qian Laoben asked again, “Did Gu Xiangzhu say where in Guangxi he wants to meet us?”

    Kuang Tianxiong said, “Gu Xiangzhu has already sent people to notify our Society’s Latter Family Hall's Ma Xiangzhu in Guangxi; if Wei Xiangzhu agrees, the three Xiangzhu can meet at Lucheng, Guangxi. From here to Lucheng in the east, the road is not too easy to travel, the distance is farther, but there won’t be Wu Sangui’s troops guarding it. Latter Family Hall's brothers will provide support along the way, nothing should go wrong.”

    When he heard that Wu Sangui had deployed more than thirty thousand troops to intercept them, Wei Xiaobao’s heart was already trembling in fear; but when he heard that Gu Xiangzhu had made appropriate arrangement and Ma Xiangzhu would also send people to provide support along the way, his spirit was boosted instantly. “Good,” he said, “We are going to Lucheng. That old fellow Wu Sangui, damn it, there will come a day we will show him good.” Immediately he issued an order to change their course southeast. He also ordered Kuang Tianxiong, four people, to sit in a large carriage so that they could rest.

    When his troops heard that Wu Sangui was sending his army to intercept and kill them, nobody was not alarmed; knowing that they were in a dangerous place, they all hastened on with their journey. Not daring to alert the local authorities, every night they pitched camp in the wilderness.

    One day they arrived at Lucheng. Ma Chaoxing, the Xiangzhu of Latter Family Hall and Gu Zhizhong, the Xiangzhu of Scarlet Fire Hall of Tian Di Hui, as well as the other brothers holding leadership positions of the two Halls had already waited in Lucheng. As the three Halls’ brothers met, the meeting was very warm.

    That evening Ma Chaoxing prepared a large banquet to welcome Wei Xiaobao and the Green Wood Hall warriors. During the banquet they talked about how the Mu Palace had conceded to Tian Di Hui; everybody was in high spirit.

    After the banquet, the Scarlet Fire Hall’s sentry post reported an incoming message: Wu Sangui’s troops found out about Wei Xiaobao making a detour into Guangxi, they urgently pursued, and were currently at the Guangxi border, but did not dare to enter. They had already sent urgent report to Kunming, asking for instructions, whether they should disguise themselves as robbers and infiltrated Guangxi to handle this matter.

    Ma Chaoxing laughed and said, “Guangxi is not Wu Sangui’s territory. If that traitor leads his troops across the border, it will mean open rebellion. If he sends his troops masquerading as robbers, thinking that he could push the blame toward Guangxi’s Kong Sizhen, even though he is rushing, it would still be too late.”

    They rested in Lucheng for one day. Wei Xiaobao still thought that they were too close to Yunnan, he was still afraid, hence he urged his party to continue their journey eastwards. By early morning the third day, he took his leave from Gu Zhizhong and Scarlet Fire Hall brothers, and led his entourage heading to the east. Ma Chaoxing and the Latter Family Hall's brothers accompanied them.

    The farther they left Yunnan, the more Wei Xiaobao felt at ease. Along the way, they never stopped more than a day in one place, until they finally reached central Guangxi. After being frightened and were in limbo for a while, the Imperial Bodyguards and other officers and soldiers reverted back to their old ways, once again they extorted the local prefecture and county officials and harassed the region.

    One day they reached Liuzhou [prefecture, Guangxi]. When the local prefectural magistrate heard about the arrival of the Princess, he did his utmost to curry her favor by supplying everything, nothing was too difficult. The Imperial Bodyguards and the Valiant Cavalry officers and soldiers were like a fish back in water; they gorged themselves and indulged themselves everywhere in the city.

    In the evening of the third day, Wei Xiaobao was having idle talk with Ma Chaoxing and other Tian Di Hui brothers in a side room, when the captain of the Imperial Bodyguards Zhang Kangnian hurriedly walked in, and called in a loud voice, “Wei Fu Zongguan,” and stopped without continuing, his face looked awkward.

    Wei Xiaobao noticed that the left part of his face was swollen, his right eye was black; obviously he had been fighting and lost. Wei Xiaobao thought, “The Imperial Bodyguards don’t hit people, others are already happy; who would be brazen enough to beat him up?” He did not want the Imperial Bodyguard to lose face in front of the Tian Di Hui brothers, hence he said to Ma Chaoxing, “Ma Dage, please continue sitting at ease, Xiongdi must excuse myself for a while.”

    “You are too kind,” Ma Chaoxing said, “Wei Jueye, please do as you wish.”

    Wei Xiaobao went out of the side room, with Zhang Kangnian followed behind him. As soon as they were outside, he said, “Reporting to Fu Zongguan, Zhao Erge is arrested.” What he meant by ‘Second Brother Zhao’ was the other Imperial Bodyguard captain, Zhao Qixian.

    “Damn it,” Wei Xiaobao cursed, “Who has the guts to do that? Is it Liuzhou guard? Or prefectural magistrate yamen? What did he do? Kill people?” He was thinking that if it were not for major violation, the local authorities would not dare to arrest Imperial Bodyguards.

    Zhang Kangnian looked embarrassed. “Not local official,” he said, “It’s … it’s a gambling establishment.”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed aloud. “His granny,” he said, “Liuzhou casino dares to detain Imperial Bodyguards, it’s indeed huge news. You lost, didn’t you?”

    Zhang Kangnian nodded. With a forced laugh he said, “The seven of us went to gamble, it was ‘big or small’. Damn it, that casino has a ghost in it, thirteen times in a row it produced ‘big’; the seven of us lost more than two thousand taels. Before the fourteenth throw, Zhao Erge and I both said that this time it must be ‘small’ …”

    Wei Xiaobao shook his head and said, “Wrong, wrong. Most likely it would be ‘big’.”

    Zhang Kangnian said, “Too bad we did not invite Fu Zongguan to guide us in gambling, otherwise we would have not fallen into this mess. The seven of us cleaned up our silver and banknotes, and bet everything on ‘small’. Ay!”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “When it was opened, it was ‘big’, wasn’t it?”

    Zhang Kangnian spread out his arms with the palm up, gesturing a hopeless situation. He said, “The banker wanted to take our money, we did not allow him; we said that in all gambling establishment under the heavens, there is no way you could have fourteen ‘big’ in a row; they must be cheating. The casino owner came out to help to resolve the dispute, he said this time it did not count, nobody wins, nobody loses. Zhao Erge said no, he did not accept; this time it should have been ‘small’, the banker must have been cheating. We have lost such a lot of money, and this time obviously we won big, how could he say it did not count?”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed. “Damn it,” he cursed, “You guys have no shame; clearly you lost, yet you still made a scene. Fourteen ‘big’ in a row is nothing, I have seen twenty four ‘big’ in a row.”

    Zhang Kangnian said, “The casino owner said the same thing, but Zhao Erge said that in Beijing, under the Son of Heaven’s foot, there is no such rule. He threw a fit. I pulled my saber. The casino owner was so scared that his face turned white. He said that he was indebted to the Imperial Bodyguard Daren for our visit, he said that for the last several play, how could they dare to win our Imperial Bodyguard Daren’s money. Whatever amount the Imperial Bodyguard Daren lost, Xiaoren would return everything along with his gratitude. Zhao Erge said, ‘Alright, we did not lose, you just swindled our money, three thousand one hundred fifty three taels. We don’t want the change, just consider it our bad luck; you can pay us back only three thousand taels.’”

    Wei Xiaobao laughed aloud. In the meantime, they had reached the garden. “Doesn’t it mean that you have just gotten rich?” he asked, “Did he pay?”

    Zhang Kangnian said, “The casino boss was also very straightforward, he said that with friends, yi qi must be held first and foremost. He presented three thousand taels with both hands and handed it to Zhao Erge. Zhao Erge took it without so much of a thanks, he said that he accepted his gesture, just consider it his good luck. If he cheats again next time, he would not let him go.”

    Wei Xiaobao knitted his brows and said, “This time it is clear that Zhao Qixian is in the wrong. Others have given you face, plus let you walk out with shining white silver in your hands; not only you have your face intact, you also gain wealth, why would he say such thing?”

    “That’s right,” Zhang Kangnian said, “If Zhao Erge said some pleasant talk and thanked him, it would be all right. But, after taking the money he still had to say offensive words …”
    Last edited by foxs; 03-03-12 at 11:13 AM.

  13. #1993
    Senior Member SkyWalker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Posts
    1,835

    Default

    Thanks foxs. I'm sure I can still access my email in China. If I can't get on SPCNET, I will definitely email you!

  14. #1994
    Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
    Posts
    51

    Default

    Thanks a lot foxs! Yes can't slap ah Ke, it's the princess who would like that.

    I like this, going to have more fighting. I can feel it.

  15. #1995
    Senior Member crazee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    MY/SG
    Posts
    372

    Default

    Thanks Foxs.... nice going.
    Looks like another ohase of XB's adventure and lucky he plays the different roles, or he would have sacrificed the whole of his 1000 troops and friends to the hands of WSG. Looks like WSG had made an enemy - confirmed enemy.

    Well, hope he gets out of trouble and reach his destination in Beijing soon.

    Where is shuanger.... ???
    cheerio..

  16. #1996
    Senior Member foxs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Posts
    3,333

    Default Chapter 33 - Part 2

    Sky, sounds like a plan. Are you going for business? Pleasure? With family? How's the baby? Sablemagi, I was just teasing you. Of course you can slap Ah Ke (if you want to ... ). Crazee, yes, different episode. I was tired of Wu Sangui anyway ...



    “Correct!” Wei Xiaobao said, “We eat and make our living in Jianghu; stealing, robbing, swindling, everything is permissible, but we must never offend our friends. There is a saying, ‘When one split the bamboo into two, one must not harm the bamboo shoot.’”

    “Yes, yes,” Zhang Kangnian replied, but in his heart he thought, “Clearly we make our living in the Palace, you are the Imperial Envoy Minister, first class viscount; how could you say that we eat and make our living in Jianghu?”

    Wei Xiaobao asked further, “So how did the fight start? That casino owner’s martial art skill is very high?”

    “It’s not that,” Zhang Kangnian replied, “The seven of us took the money, we were about to leave the casino, when one of the casino guests suddenly cursed, ‘Damn it, if getting rich is that easy, why would we have to gamble a fart? It would be better if everybody just enter the imperial palace to serve the Emperor … Emperor …’ Fu Zongguan, when that rebel thief mentioned His Majesty, he spoke very disrespectful words, I do not dare to repeat it.”

    Wei Xiaobao nodded. “I understand,” he said, “This fellow’s nerve is indeed not small.”

    “Isn’t that so?” Zhang Kangnian said, “When we heard him, naturally we were enraged. Zhao Erge threw the money onto a table; he drew his saber, and tried to grab that man’s chest with his left hand. ‘Bang!’ that man punched Zhao Erge that he passed out. The rest of us, six people, made our move together. This rebel thief’s martial art skill is indeed not low. Before I could see clearly, my face was punched; I was thrown out of the casino door, immediately the sky was dark and the earth black. I did not know what happened next. When I woke up, I saw Zhao Erge and the five brothers lying on the floor. That man put his foot on Zhao Erge’s head and said, ‘There are seven animals in here, one thousand taels each. You go quickly to get the money to redeem them. Laozi will only wait for four hours [orig. two sichen]. After four hours, if you don’t come back, laozi will slaughter them and sell them off. For ten taels a catty, if the business is not bad, I can sell one animal for more than a thousand taels.”

    Wei Xiaobao was amused and shocked at the same time; he asked, “Do you know which group this fellow belongs to? Did you manage to find out?”

    Zhang Kangnian replied, “This man is very tall, his fist is bigger than a rice bowl, his face is covered in grizzled beard, his clothes were tattered, he almost looks like a beggar.”

    “How many companions does he have?” Wei Xiaobao asked.

    Zhang Kangnian replied, “This … this … subordinates is not too clear. There were about seventeen, eighteen guests in the casino at that time, but I don’t know if they are his companions or not.”

    Wei Xiaobao knew that since Zhang Kangnian was beaten by the man that he passed out, naturally he wanted to get away as soon as he could without daring to look around too much. He thought, “This old beggar must be a Jianghu hero; seeing the Imperial Bodyguards gambled shamelessly, he could not refrain from making his move. He would not necessarily want to slaughter them and sell them. I don’t think anybody would agree to pay ten taels a catty of Zhao Qixian’s meat. If I deployed large military force to deal with him, one person, it’s not the conduct of a real man.”

    He thought further, “This old beggar has a very good martial art skill. If I ask Shifu to help me deal with him, I am sure it would be a cinch; but how could Shifu be willing to spend some effort for the Palace’s Imperial Bodyguards? If I let this matter known to Ma Ziangzhu and the others, they would definitely laugh at my subordinates, thinking that the Imperial Bodyguards are useless.” Hence he also thought that asking for Feng Jizhong, Xu Tianchuan or the other’s help would also be inappropriate. Suddenly he remembered two people. “Don’t be anxious,” he said, “I will personally look at this matter.”

    Zhang Kangnian’s face lit up. “Yes, yes,” he said, “I’ll get a hundred men, I think it should be enough.”

    Wei Xiaobao shook his head and said, “No need to bring that many.”

    Fu Zongguan should be a bit more careful,” Zhang Kangnian said, “That old beggar’s hands and feet were very fierce.”

    “No worries,” Wei Xiaobao said, “You have me.”

    Returning to his own room, he fetched a large fold of banknotes, a dozen or so gold ingots, and stuffed everything into his pocket. Next he went to a room in the eastern wing and knocked, “Are the two gentlemen here?” he called.

    The door opened, Lu Gaoxuan appeared and said, “Please come in.”

    Wei Xiaobao said, “Could the two gentlemen come with me? We have something to handle.”

    Lu Gaoxuan and Fat Toutuo were wearing Valiant Cavalry Sergeant uniform; they always go with Wei Xiaobao as his companions, but in Kunming and along the way, they had not done anything for fear that other people might recognize their identity. Day in and day out they always hid in their room, and were quite bored. Hearing Wei Xiaobao was going to take them on some errand, they followed him enthusiastically.

    Seeing Wei Xiaobao was only taking two Valiant Cavalry Sergeants, Zhang Kangnian was greatly disappointed. “Fu Zongguan,” he said, “Let subordinate call several Imperial Bodyguard brothers to wait upon Fu Zongguan.”

    “No need,” Wei Xiaobao replied, “Too many people will be troublesome instead. You brought a hundred people, if he gets us all, a thousand taels each, a hundred thousand taels total, it is going to hurt me a little bit. But if only four of us going, it is only four thousand taels, merely a trifle, I won’t take it to heart.”

    Zhang Kangnian knew he was only joking, but seeing him casually bringing only two sergeants to face such a serious danger, he thought Wei Xiaobao was pulling his rank too much. “Yes, yes,” he said, “But that rebel thief’s martial art skill is really high.”

    “Fine,” Wei Xiaobao said, “Let me have a match with him. If I lose, he only needs to cut my flesh in pieces and sell it; it’s not such a big deal.”

    Zhang Kangnian knitted his brows, he did not dare to say anything anymore. He did not know that these two Valiant Cavalry Sergeants were first-class characters of the Wulin world. Any rogue character of the casino, no matter how high his martial art skill, he could not possibly surpass the two martial art experts of the Divine Dragon Cult.

    Zhang Kangnian took Wei Xiaobao to the gambling establishment. They had just reached the door when they heard someone inside the casino called out loudly, “I have a pair of seven here, isn’t it big enough?”

    Another man laughed aloud and said, “Awfully sorry, in Xiongdi’s hand, I just happen to have a pair of eight.” Followed by a loud slap, apparently the first man slapped his tiles [of card] onto the table, while cursing loudly.

    Wei Xiaobao and Zhang Kangnian looked at each other; they thought, “How come they are still gambling inside?” Wei Xiaobao stepped in. Zhang Kangnian cowered behind him. Lu Gaoxuan and Fat Toutuo stepped into the door and stopped at the threshold, waiting for Wei Xiaobao’s instruction.

    They saw a large platform in the hall, four people were sitting on the four corners, gambling. Zhao Qixian and five Imperial Bodyguards were lying on the floor. On the east sat a man, his face was covered in grizzled beard, his clothes were tattered, from the holes in his garment they could see hairy, dark-colored muscles; he must be the old beggar.

    On the south sat a young, handsome scholar. Wei Xiaobao was startled, he recognized the man as Li Xihua, whom he had met in Beijing. His martial art skill was rather good, he was hit by Chen Jinnan’s ‘Blood Clotting Divine Claw’, and since then Wei Xiaobao had never seen him. Unexpectedly now they met again at a Liuzhou gambling establishment.

    On the west sat a man dressed as a farmer, a peasant, about fifty years or so, with an anxious expression, drooping eyebrows and lowered eyes; evidently he had lost and could not recover his money.

    The one sitting on the north looked very peculiar, he was very short and very fat, his entire body looked like a meatball, but his clothing was extremely luxurious, his long robe and magua [buttoned mandarin jacket] were embroidered. The five sense organs on his face [i.e. nose, eyes, lips, tongue, ears] were crowded together, as if someone had taken his head and rubbed it between his palms, turning it into a ball. This short and fat man’s hands were holding a pair of dominoes, his pair of big eyes turned into a slit, as he focused his attention to the tiles.

    Wei Xiaobao mused, “I wonder if this Li Xihua recognizes me? It has been a long while, plus I am wearing officer’s uniform today; most likely he does not recognize me. There is no hurry to greet him.” Thereupon he laughed and said, “Four friends are very exciting, Xiongdi also wants to play a hand, can I?”

    While saying that, he walked over to the table. He saw piles of money, about five or six thousand taels, and surprisingly, the pile in front of the peasant was the biggest. He was the biggest winner, yet his face carried the biggest loser expression; Wei Xiaobao felt a bit strange.

    The short and fat man reached out to slowly draw a tile with his three fat fingers. Suddenly, “Aha!” he yelled. Wei Xiaobao jumped in fright. The short and fat man laughed aloud and said, “Wonderful, wonderful! This time I won’t lose to you, will I?” ‘Slap!’ he slapped the tile onto the table. It was a ten-dot, a ‘plum blossom’ [i.e. five dots and five dots].

    Wei Xiaobao thought, “Most likely the tile in his hand is also a ‘plum blossom’; a pair of plum blossoms’ chance of winning is very high.” The short and fat man was all smiles. ‘Slap!’ he slapped the other tile onto the table.

    As the other people looked at it, they were staring blankly for a moment, and then broke into hearty laugh. Turned out it was a ‘four and six’, also a ten-dot; ten-dot plus ten-dot was no more than an individual ten. In Pai Jiu [paigow], nothing is smaller than individual ten. He was only a player; even if the banker also had individual ten, individual ten beats individual ten, the banker still wins.

    The peasant still had a distressed look on his face, it did not have the least bit of smiling expression. Wei Xiaobao looked at the tiles in front of him, it was a pair of nine. Currently he was the banker, hence the difference between his pair and the short and fat man’s was 108,000 li. Wei Xiaobao thought, “This man has neither word nor movement; he is a very formidable gambler.”

    “What’s so funny?” the short and fat man asked. He turned to the peasant, “My pair of tens beats your pair of nines. A hundred taels, quickly pay.”

    The peasant shook his head, “You lost,” he said.

    The short and fat man was angry. “Are you nuts?” he cried out, “Count it; this tile has one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, ten dots. That tile also one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, ten dots. Aren’t they a pair of tens?”

    Wei Xiaobao cast a glance toward Zhang Kangnian; he thought, “This short and fat man will make a good Imperial Bodyguard; winning he takes the money, losing he makes a racket.”

    The peasant still shook his head, saying, “This is individual ten. You lost.”

    The short and fat man could not restrain his rage, he sprang up. However, as he stood up, unexpectedly he was a head shorter than when he sat. Turned out when he sat on the stool, his legs were hanging in the air, hence he was taller compared to when he was standing up. Extending his fat hand, he pointed his finger to the peasant’s nose and shouted, “I got an individual ten, you got an individual nine. Naturally individual ten beats your individual nine.”

    The peasant said, “Mine is a pair of nines, yours is an individual ten. Individual ten means zero.”

    The short and fat man said, “Isn’t this a plain bullying?”

    Wei Xiaobao could not hold his peace much longer. “Laoxiong,” he interjected, “What you have is not a pair.” While saying that, he picked a plum blossom, and a four-and-six from the tiles scattered on the table, then he paired the plum blossom with the other plum blossom, and the four-and-six with the other four-and-six. “Now these,” he said, “Are pairs. Your two ten-dots have different pattern, plum blossom are all black, while four-and-six have some reds on it. They are not a pair.”

    The short and fat man still refused to accept; pointing to the pair of nines, he said, “Are you saying that your pair of nines has the same pattern? One tile is entirely black, the other has some reds on it, they are not the same. Ten dots is bigger than nine dots.”

    Wei Xiaobao thought that this man was stubborn and always wanted to win the argument; temporarily he was at a loss as how to make him understand. He said, “This is Pai Jiu’s rule, it has been always like that.”

    The short and fat man said, “Even if it has been always like that, it is still illogical. Anything illogical is out of the question. Are we follow reason or not?”

    All along, Li Xihua and the old beggar were only sitting quietly with a smile on their faces, they did not interrupt at all. Wei Xiaobao laughed and said, “Naturally in gambling we must follow the rule; if there is no rule, how can we gamble?”

    “Alright,” the short and fat man said, “Let me ask you, the little baby: why is it that my ten dots cannot beat his nine dots?” While saying that, he picked a pair of plum blossoms and slammed it in front of him.

    “Uh, yours was not this pair,” Wei Xiaobao said.

    The short and fat man was furious; both sides of his cheeks were bulging, as he shouted, “Muddleheaded kid, who says mine was not this pair?” Picking up the pair of plum blossoms, he casually flipped it over, slapped it onto the table in front of him, flipped it back up, and said, “When I slapped it earlier, it left a mark on the table, just look!”

  17. #1997
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Miami and sometimes Bentre
    Posts
    1,211

    Default

    Thanks Foxs

  18. #1998
    Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
    Posts
    51

    Default

    Oh I can feel the action coming. Thanks again Foxs.

    I wonder how the kungfu matches up? Chen Jinnan supposed to be the best in Tiandihui? and this Li is a little worse? How does that compare with Shen Long Jiao? and there are 3 interesting characters in the casino. ahhh can't wait.

  19. #1999
    Senior Member smurf120's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    1,201

    Default

    I love that WXB always adheres to gambling rules and calls his underlings shameless for not abiding by the rules! This part is unexpectedly exciting - I wonder who the people are!

  20. #2000
    Senior Member crazee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    MY/SG
    Posts
    372

    Default

    Actually .... don't really understand the Pai Kow game so I "catch no ball" ... err don't get it.
    However It's a cliff hanger....anxiously waiting for the action to follow.

    Thanks Foxs.... definitely getting sick of Wu San Gui... It's nice to be back to gambling and jiang hu again...
    cheerio..

Similar Threads

  1. Deer and the Cauldron worth buying?
    By tape in forum Wuxia Fiction
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 06-30-07, 08:05 PM
  2. The Deer and the Cauldron
    By O Rei do Frango Assado in forum Wuxia Fiction
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 07-17-06, 10:58 AM
  3. religious culture in the deer and cauldron
    By annabeldyq in forum Wuxia Fiction
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 04-29-06, 09:32 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •