Chapter 7 Chapter VII.boiling
The sharp wind after the snow whistled high-pitched, swept across the field at a low level, and swept away the noise of the squeaking axles. Normally, as long as you set your legs on the road, Shier Shorty and Big Bear will be on the road. Open the chatter box, as long as the road is, their words will be as long.But today, when the brothers next to me gossip along the way, those two push the boring cart with their heads hooked, and they can't get a fart with three punches and two legs.The reason is that only the two of them understand in their hearts that other people's wine bags are filled with wine, but their wine bags are filled with water.
The big ferry goes south all the way to the lake, and even the goddamn road is awkward. It is often cut off by ditches and cross-flowing river forks. If you can't walk for three or five miles, you have to wait for the ferry. It is very suitable.Before leaving Yanshi, Guan Baye warned repeatedly that this road is far more difficult than wandering around the deserted lake for forty miles. The Shuizawa area has long been a well-known bandit den. For the four judges, the Liuhe gang fell with more than a dozen personnel, and they were not able to contact the old man Peng of the militia. It was a big deal to let Yanshi be swallowed up by Sun Chuanfang again in a helpless situation. It's not just for this illicit salt.
But in the eyes of Shorty Shi Er and Gou Xiong, only with wine can life be hopeful, without wine, even the sun will become dark.Both of them held their breath in their hearts until the afternoon, when their stomachs were about to explode, and then they cursed and complained and spit out words.
Dwarf, you are a damned unlucky star, the big bear said: Ever since I met you, I have been damned unlucky; I will be unlucky for eight lifetimes!If you hadn't dragged me into the water, how could Eighth Master cut off my drink? !
Forget it!Shorty Shi Er retorted and said: If you don't have wine, you can't live. When Xieba comes to the wild shop, why don't you jump into the wine jar and commit suicide? !Ba Ye can't stop you from being a drunk!
The big bear wiped his saliva on his sleeve again and said: I don't have the energy to have fun with you, dwarf, from now on, neither of us should mention wine again!Grandma's, as soon as you mention it, it will attract wine worms to climb up, making people's throat itchy, so uncomfortable!
It's also good to mention the wine, hope plum blossoms to quench thirst and quench thirst, Shi Er said: "Ba Ye may just be bluffing to scare our brothers. It won't be three or two days. If he is so happy, maybe hehe, Let's start the precept!
You two don't think about it in vain!Xiang Lao San wrinkled his thick eyebrows and turned around and said: Actually, Ba Ye wants you not to drink alcohol. I think it is best. Stomach down, dizzy and dizzy, and in a few hours, it will become stuffed buns of human flesh!
As soon as these words came out, everyone burst into laughter.
Talking about black shops and sweat medicines are all jokes. If it is said that there will be troubles along the way, it is true. When things come to an end, you can't help but worry about it. I had no choice but to go on the road; I didn't go through the fire at Wanjialou, and I still couldn't figure out the background of the fourth judge, and I was always a little hairy. After confronting the fourth judge, saying that he was so powerful, I ran on my legs It's a bit longer than a person, but there's nothing to be afraid of!
Just when everyone was talking about the world, all the worries were thrown on the shoulders of Guan Baye, who was kicking the road in front of the convoy; pulling a gun to protect the dam in Yanshi was a dangerous move, and this pawn Live or not?All on their own.The situation is obvious. The reason why the officials and gentry in Yanshi played this game was that they were surrounded by the popular sentiment on the back of the tiger. In fact, they still had three-point activities in their hearts, such as traveling with prostitutes, lavish banquets, and monopolizing the salt profits. It can only be done on the territory of the Beiyang Army. The Northern Expeditionary Army is here, but there is no such thing as convenient!Really telling them to quit this, I'm afraid it's a hundred times more difficult than the precious pair Shi Er and Big Bear to quit drinking!Those who really supported Yanshi's resistance to Beiyang were the residents who could not bear the harassment of the Beiyang army, the angry shantytowns who had left their homes, and Mr. Dai and his disciples.
What the old man said is right, no matter how good the martial arts skills are, no matter how sophisticated the kung fu is, no bullet can be fooled. After all, people are made of flesh and blood, not really made of copper and iron; Bandits attack from north to south, if Yanshi is kicked open, the tragedy of raping, burning and killing, I really dare not think about it. If you want to keep Yanshi and save the people, you must see old man Peng one day sooner!
Then again, the road to the south of the Dadukou is not for the impatient. If you don’t wait for the ferry, the salt trucks will never be able to fly past those criss-crossing river bends and ports. Although I have left the word life and death behind After death, I don't care about Judge Zhu's revenge, but if Judge Zhu really understands face to face, things will be easy to handle. Apart from precautions, there is no better way to come up with it!
The footsteps of a white horse and a piece of jade are faster than a dead barley-colored mule. People look at the surrounding fields on horseback, and there is no trace of movement except for the roar of the wind. On a short-cut village, the golden winter sun It shone on the wheat haystacks, emitting a dazzling light; a group of village women were busy cutting sweet potato slices at the foot of the haystacks in the lee, and hanging them on the rows of horizontal ropes pulled up; The old lady in the cloth kerchief was carrying a small wooden bucket to catch the drowning of the yellow ox that was being ground. After catching the drowning, the ox dragged the huge stone roller on the milling plate and started circling again, with its mouth deflated. Singing cattle-driving slang (a song without words sung by cattle-driving in the north), her voice is calm and serene, with a slight tinge of bleak desolation. It can be judged that Judge Zhu's bandits are not nearby, nor are they there. I have harassed the scattered villagers in the area, otherwise, the villagers would not be so at ease.
Some dogs in the village, hearing the sound of horses' hooves and the sound of axles on the road behind, rushed out of the village entrance from a distance, barking in vain.
Listen, isn't it the salt truck coming again? !An older woman called her daughter-in-law loudly and said: Mother of the little mouse, a group of salt trucks passed by the village this morning, we forgot to stop the salt truck and ask them for a scoop of salt Water scooping utensils are made by splitting gourds.), why don’t you go get the ladle quickly? !Taking advantage of the time to pickle the frosted cabbage, if you don’t pickle it, the vegetables in the cellar will be frozen and rotten!
The salt truck is also really strange. Another dark-faced woman stopped to wipe the sweet potatoes and said: In previous years, there were often salt trucks, but this year there are always more gangs!If they don’t come, they won’t come when they get red-eyed. How many times a day will pass, and I have to go back to the house to get the ladle!
Hey, her second aunt, wait for me, Ajin, Xuegui, let's go back to get the scoop too, don't forget to bring some freshly baked vegetable cakes to exchange for salt
Guan Baye reined in the white horse and looked up at the sun. It was almost noon. He knew that in the deserted villages scattered along this road, people used to exchange a few spoonfuls of salt with a meal of hot tea and rice. There were salt trucks passing by on this road constantly. It is far more convenient to buy salt at a market dozens of miles away than to stop a car to exchange salt.That being the case, why not get up on your legs, rest at the entrance of the village for a while, and ask the women in the village what's going on before you eat, and Guan Baye has already got off the livestock, and the salt cart has already been pushed all the way.When the car arrived at the entrance of the village, Lei Yipao followed Guan Baye's hand gestures and called out, and the sixteen sounding salt trucks lined up neatly and rested on the roadside at the entrance of the village.
The village women are very considerate in receiving visitors from other places. They found a place leeward of the wind and sunny, and arranged some long, short, high, and short wooden stools for the men pushing salt to rest their legs, and a big pot of hot barley tea , the small pan filled with thick black shredded tobacco came out in its entirety.Several women who were waiting to change the salt brought out a large stack of pancakes.
Forget it, just a few spoonfuls of salt, Lei Yipao said with a smile: You are too polite, then Shi Er, you open the lid of the basket and scoop some for them!
Come on, how can we receive your salt in vain?I worked hard all the way here, this is not a business, home baked cakes, just eat something to satisfy my hunger.said the older woman.
The second dwarf Shi Er took the ladle, picked up a piece of vegetable cake and stuffed it into his mouth, while eating, he couldn't understand his words and said: "Really, this is outrageous, how delicious is your cake?"
Beware of choking your throat!Who said: As long as you don't think too little is good enough!
I said, ma'am, you mean you saw a salt truck passing by in the morning?Guan Baye let go of the white horse, and it was walking around the wheat field, walking over and asking.
No, the woman turned her face halfway, looked at the parked salt trucks and said: There are estimated to be 20 salt trucks, led by a big black man riding a mule. Shall we stay in the store?
How long have they been gone?
The woman couldn't figure it out just by pinching her fingers. Her daughter-in-law, the young woman she called the little mouse, said for her: It takes about two meals and a bag of cigarettes! (Clocks and watches are rare in northern rural areas, and the time is always measured by eating, drinking tea, and smoking.)
I said Baye, according to my guess, the front legs were most likely pulled together by some loose legs. Lei Yipao said: We started in Yangjiao Town, and I didn’t hear that there was a large group of salt convoys stepping down along the way. ?These night owls probably also heard that the road ahead was difficult, and they were afraid of being eaten by bandits separately, so they bundled up and walked away.
That's right, the big bear said: "Let's keep our feet tight, and we will catch up with them before tomorrow night. First, there will be more people, and second, if his mother really meets the fourth judge, there will be more helpers!"
Guan Baye listened, didn't say anything, but still turned to the village women and said: "Is your place still peaceful now?"
The old woman frowned, sighed and said: It depends on how to say it!If you talk about large-scale robbery, there are no murders and arson with open fire and sticks. We poor people don't look down on big bandits. If you talk about small thieves who steal pigs and cattle, there are a lot of them!A few days ago, the black cow of Xuegui's family was taken away by a thief? !
Guan Baye nodded, then turned to Lei Yipao and said: "After the transfer, get out of the way. No matter where the salt truck is in front, let's rest at the wild shop in the west of Lin's Dazhuang."When going out and walking, you must not have the heart of deception, and the heart of defense is indispensable. When you encounter people whose origins are unknown or who do not know the details, you must always be careful.If the salt truck in front really encounters bandits, we should draw our swords to help, but there is no need to go together with them in bundles!
After noon, the salt truck set off on the road and left the village.The sun after the snow was bright enough, but it was a pity that there was no heating, and even if there was a little heating, it was swept away by the sharp wind, leaving only a sharp cold that cracked the skin.
Guan Baye has calculated today's distance; from the foot to the wild shop in the west of Linjiazhuang Village, it is only about 28 miles away. There is no crossing of the river in front of him. There are only three dry streams that need to be stretched, and a chaotic tomb covering an area of one hundred mu. If you walk faster, you can arrive at the west of the sun, even if you walk slowly, you will arrive when the sun is on the mountain.But he didn't want to arrive too early, I'm afraid Shi Er and the big bear would go for a walk secretly, and he didn't want to arrive too late, he was afraid that after dark, he wouldn't be able to observe the surrounding terrain carefully, if the four judges set up an ambush secretly, Isn't it sending a piece of mutton into the tiger's mouth?Because of this concern, he reined in the white horse and led the convoy away.
Ba Ye, you want to spread your legs, but I can't figure it out?Said to the third child: I am as familiar with you as I am with this road. Although the Lin family manor is not comparable to Wanjialou, there are hundreds of families, there are manor houses, and watchtowers. How bad would it be to have a good night's sleep? !What do you mean by Xieyepu?
That's right, Ba Ye, there is no room for Guan Ba Ye to reply, Shi Er Shorty stepped in: What you said to the third child is not bad at all.We don't drink, so it's good to gamble.He patted his waist (a kind of double-layer wide belt made of hard canvas, used to hold money.) and said: I and the big bear, in the salt market, I didn’t bring any other ones, but I brought a whole set of gambling equipment. , Find a place with a lot of people, and you can strip them off. If you rest in a wild shop and gamble with the poor gangsters, it will be nothing if you win!
If you think about it again, you will feel that it is not appropriate to rest in the Lin Family Dazhuang!Guan Baye said: We have never been in contact with others, and the four judges have obtained the papers. How can we drag the surname Lin?Besides, if it is spread out in the future, it will be mistaken for the Liuhe gang who are afraid of bandits and retreat into the Lin family manor to seek shelter!Does that still make sense? !The field around Yepu is open, there are no houses nearby, and there is no way to hide people in the open space. Even if the four judges want to tempt our hands, they must first hit our guns with someone. It is not far from the Lin Family Manor. If there is any movement, the manor will automatically If the four judges fail to make a pounce, he will be unable to stand up!
Shorty Shi Er pursed his lips, he was about to complain about something, but Chi Guan Baye gave him a blank look, and said: Then I have to win an empty account!
Toudaogou Hongzi has arrived, eighth master, Lei Yipao said: You see, the traffic lanes in Hongkou are very messy, if the salt convoy in front rests early tonight, it will also rest in the wild shop.
Hey, that's great!Shorty Shi Er turned to Big Bear and said: If we meet those people, let's take out their bags!I have fucking practiced drinking cards (an evil method practiced by professional gamblers according to superstition, people who know how to drink cards will win every bet, and it is said that there are ghosts to help them change cards.), I am only sure whether to win or not. You must lose!
How about we play together?The big bear told him that he was moved, and with a smile, he made a wishful thinking to win us two and one plus five, even the score, and you get the money if you lose!
Qi Qi Qi?Is there any reason for this? !Shorty Shi Er rolled his eyes anxiously and said: Cheap is not shit, so easy to pick up?If I lose, do I have to pay alone?Do you share in the win?
Originally, the big dog was serious: You said you can play cards, you can only win but not lose, why are you in a hurry? !If you say that you are not sure that you will not lose money, then you are simply bragging. Who has seen how the card drinking method is practiced?
Shorty Shi Er breathed out his nostrils and said: Do you think I will teach you the unique trick if you use aggressive methods? !Even if I have the intention to teach it, if you don’t kowtow to worship the teacher, it still won’t work. You are a person with a rebellious personality in the back of your head. You have an image of bullying your master and destroying your ancestors. I’m not willing to accept you as a disciple. I haven’t made up my mind yet. Woolen cloth!
Alcoholism hasn't broken out, look at how energetic you two are!The one in front said to the third child: "The car has arrived at Hongkou, just pull out the loop!"
As the saying goes: I would rather walk ten miles more than turn over an extra road. For people who push carts, there is indeed a reason for it.Let’s take the loud salt carts as an example. Each cart is full of salt bags and baskets, ranging from six to seven hundred catties to three to four hundred catties. Walking on Pingyang Road, strong men who are used to pushing salt don’t think much of it. It is heavy; if you want to turn over a river, the downhill will follow the uphill, and there is no room for breathing in the middle. If the man pushing the cart does not work hard, it will be difficult to push the salt cart up the slope, especially when it is narrow and deep. It is very difficult to control the salt truck alone, or when the slope is icy and slippery with no place to step on after the rain and snow in the cold winter, you have to rely on your legs and help each other.
The width of this dry hole is not very wide, but the high back is very steeply cut. Although the mouth of the hole has been repaired and shoveled, it is slippery and difficult to walk.Everyone stopped the car, took off their coats to the third child, and helped Lei Yipao hold the big bar beside the car, and they both shouted: Get off!As soon as Lei shot, the salt truck slid straight down the icy slope!
When going downhill for the first time, the two of them exerted all their strength and pulled the salt truck backwards to slow it down as much as possible to reduce its momentum. With the remaining strength, he went uphill again, and rushed to the front of the car, shook off the loops and carried it on his back, bowed his waist forward, and pulled the car uphill. It was several times as usual, and the two of them were so tired that their faces were flushed, their legs and arms were bulging, and their foreheads were steaming with sweat.
Come on, big bear, it's our turn!Shorty Shi Er, when Lei Yipao turned around to help push the cart to the third child, spat and wiped his palms and said: You are fucking strong, work harder for me!
Shorty Shi Er pushed the cart downhill, and the big bear helped him, which was really hard work, but when he was going uphill, the big bear suddenly let go.He was originally helping Shorty Shi Er to pull the loop belt. He pulled it to the critical juncture, deliberately leaned back and loosened the tension on the soles of his feet. Shorty Shi Er went to him!
Hey, you can't fucking joke!Shorty Shi Er resisted the salt truck desperately, like a struggling toad, his face swelled like a piece of pig liver and said: How did you do it?Pull hard!If you don't pull, I can't go up!
My shoes fell off!The big bear said: You have to let me pull it out!Hold on for a while and let me pull on your shoes.
Shorty Shi Er stood up desperately, but he couldn't hold on. The salt cart was really like Mount Tai, forcing his veins to dilate and his pupils to burst.The big bear pulled out his shoes slowly, and the salt cart forced him to slide straight down.
I, I, I can't stand it!
I am coming!The big bear said: Am I not here? !
The backward salt cart was pulled by the big bear, and short Shi Er suddenly felt that the weight on his shoulders was much lighter; short Shi Er took a breath, and was about to push the salt cart uphill with all his strength, but the big bear stopped again.It doesn't matter if the big bear stops, but Shorty Shier has turned into a toad again!
you you you? !Are you not trying to kill people? !
Not to kill you, the big bear said: I just haven't had a few sips of wine for a long time, and I'm a little bit stagnant. You might as well hold on for a while and let me catch my breath before pulling.
Don't be happy, there are more than a dozen cars going to pass behind? !Shorty Shi Er gritted his teeth and said: You fucking want to learn how to drink cards, I'll teach you forget it!I fucking know you.Now you are taking advantage of others' danger to kill me, are you not afraid that I will wait to kill you?
The big bear smiled and said: You have a way of drinking cards, that is just a cunning way of evil spirits, it is nothing at all, I have a way of drinking people, if you don't believe me, just take a look? !If I didn't have this skill, I wouldn't be able to show my strength in front of you!superior!He roared, and with a loop of rope in his backhand, Shorty Shi Er pushed the salt cart up the slope.
Once the salt truck went uphill, Shier shorty turned his face away and sat down on the floor of the cart. His whole body was exhausted and he could only breathe.The big bear turned back to push his own salt truck, and called out to Guan Baye: "Baye, the shorty is really not good, he is really an empty shell. Is there no help for my car to pass by?"
I'll come, Guan Baye said.
Guan Baye rolled up his sleeves and intervened, the big bear easily pushed the salt cart over the water, and said to Shorty Shi Er with eyes wide eyes: "Is my summoning spell not working?"The second dwarf Shi was so angry that he yelled, calling the big bear a life-promoting ghost!
On the lonely long distance, it was a trivial matter for the pair of treasures to be happy and amusing, but it made everyone forget the fatigue and cold, and it also added a lot of business.Shorty Shi Er was angry for a while, and when he was on the road, he pushed for a while, and then put the matter behind him, and started chatting with someone.
The big bear could see through the dwarf's temperament of wearing tall hats, so he said: Don't hate me, dwarf, I just wanted to test how strong you are?I really didn't expect you to be able to support that six-hundred-jin salt truck by yourself? !
Hey, shorty Shi Er was overjoyed when he heard it: "This is a little ditch, what's the point?"The ones are taller and steeper. Thinking back then, I didn’t need helpers, and I didn’t feel like pushing up and down by myself?Now that he is not forgiving at his age, it is much worse, isn't it!
I'd like to hear about your drinking method?Wang Dagui, who didn't speak often, said: When we were young, we heard the old man talk about ancient times, and it seems that we have also heard some card ghost stealing dice. In exchange for Zhang'er, move out what he wants, is this true or false?
Fake?You see, my second master Shi is also a nonsense person? !Shorty Shi Er said: Drinking cards sounds easy, but it is not so easy to practice!Just like the fake boldness of the big bear, even if you tell him, he doesn't have the guts to practice it
The sun has slanted to the west, and the salt convoy has already crossed several ditches and approached the spooky mound; Guan Baye, who is leading the convoy, can't talk and laugh like the gangsters who hold the legs No worries.He has to urge the animals and tread the road carefully in front of the convoy. For many years, there have been many salt gangs, but due to the leader's negligence, the fate of being wiped out, he can't move the burden on his shoulders, which is a heavy burden. burden!
The evening clouds rise in the western sky, and the strips of evening clouds cannot catch the sinking sun, and are instead burned into a reddish purple color by the setting sun. The silent evening wind seems to be sharper and sharper than the whistled morning wind. , scratching people's faces like thousands of thin blades; the chaotic mound in the distance is just in front of the setting sun, and the tops of countless tombs rise one after another, like a big hedgehog blocking the road .On this low-lying plain with few trees, the field of vision is extremely wide. In the southwest corner, you can already vaguely see the gleaming khaki-yellow fence of the Lin Family Manor. Blocked by the fog, only the black shadow of a cluster of bare branches can be seen.
Brother Lei, lean on your legs first, Guan Baye turned around and gestured.After leaning on his legs, Guan Baye suddenly clamped his horse. Like an angry dragon, a piece of jade on the white horse knocked on the frozen ground with four hooves, and flew towards the chaotic mound. The white horse has not yet approached the chaotic mound. Everyone Er saw the white horse slanting across from the north of the tomb and circling around the chaotic tomb.
If Master Ba was either bewitched by ghosts or too careful about candles, Shorty Shi Er commented: There is neither Bacun nor Badian here, so what does it mean to force us to rely on our legs to drink the wind?The messy mounds are made of earth, and the bones of dead people are buried inside. I'm afraid the blind will know all about it. What's there to see?
Don't talk nonsense there, okay? !Said to the third child: The salt carts in the aisle are most afraid of encountering chaotic graves, dense forests, mounds of dirt and river forks.If the fourth judge has a quick gun, we close our eyes and push it straight, I'm afraid we won't know it when we hit someone's gun!
It seemed that no one set up an ambush, Lei Yipao said: "Baye Guan is back on his horse!"Brothers, if you drive another five or six miles, you will catch up with the hot soup and hot rice in the wild shop, so everyone is ready to go.
There was no ambush in the Da Luan Tomb, everyone was relieved, after driving this day's long road, they didn't feel tired even if they didn't see the shadow of Ye Pu, but when they saw the shadow of Ye Pu, it was like a mill donkey taking off its blindfold Seeing the same fondness for the trough-headed wheat flour, I felt so tired that I had to take a rest quickly.
When he kicked his legs, Lei Yipao said to Guan Baye: "Baye, in this place, only the Daluan Tomb is a dangerous place, and there is a smear of flat sun in the rest. The four judges did not set up an ambush in the Daluan Tomb. I guess they won't hide around
That's not predictable, Guan Baye: People like the fourth judge can pull off any kind of tricks. I think, after passing the Luanzhong, there is a fork in the road ahead, so I have to take a detour to the Lin Family Manor and ask for help. If something happens, they will have a response, so as not to beat us up as bandits.
You are thoughtful.Lei Yipao said, "Then I'll just put my legs on the barn and take care of my brothers' meals first."
Shorty Shi Er's stomach was already rumbling, but when he heard the word "rice", he shrugged his shoulders to reinvigorate him; he squinted his eyes and pushed the cart away, full of joyful dreams, thinking of scooping food in a big earthen pot in a hot field. The taste of scalding feet, the hot food and the delicious wine, the damn good wine, I don’t know if I can sneak a taste of the good wine, the gaming table is illuminated by the vegetable oil cup, and the soft wheat straw is lying on it. It's like sleeping on a cloud, it's really his grandma's, the only way to go in a day is the five or six miles to Wangsudian worth walking!
Ba Ye went to the Lin family manor, and the voice of Lei Yipao floated over, as usual, it was the same thing, not much better than the old woman with a bad mouth: before leaving, take care of your brothers, please take your mouth with you, and fire the gun , on the insurance card, be careful in case something goes wrong, don't think that there are a bunch of salt trucks going ahead of us, just be careless!
It's true that the second dwarf Shi Er shook his head and said to himself: How can a fourth judge, who is nowhere to be seen, make people so nervous?We didn't provoke him back then, but we were a little afraid of him. Now that we have provoked him, what is there to be afraid of? !In such an empty Pingyang land, apart from the ghosts of Da Luan Tomb, I am afraid that even the rabbits cannot be found, so how could there be any bandits hiding there? !
Hey, goblin, what happened to the drinking method you just said?The big bear said, "You're just a bitch for a while, and you haven't revealed the truth yet?"
Just look at this messy pile of graves and talk about it!Shi Er'ao stretched out his tongue and licked his lips, and said alarmingly: This kind of chaotic mound seems to be big enough, doesn't it?You don't know that the 18 joint mounds in our hometown are much bigger than here. Drinking cards is not easy to practice. I say, don't listen to you timid people. Those who practice drinking cards must ask the master first. Zhang Fu, take advantage of the moonless night to find a grave and burn it. You have to be alone. On July 15th Ghost Festival, go to visit the grave where you burned the talisman and burn the incense candles sincerely Paper horses, kowtow to talk to ghosts in graves,
The setting sun set behind the cloud curtain, and those large and small barren tombs slowly rotated around people.The dusk in winter is pitifully short, and within a blink of an eye, the twilight swims over strand by strand, stretching out its ears in the shade of the tomb, approaching people as if eavesdropping on something; The gloom is only covered with a very thin layer of transparent haze, but it can make the dead tombs come alive. It is like some white elves standing in the phantasm, rushing into the pupils of people with their teeth and claws open.
Shorty Shi Er didn't know where he came from, and raised his voice so that people five or six salt trucks away could hear his exaggerated voice
While you kowtow, you have to do everything possible to coax that ghost. The more Shi Er dwarf said, the more it seemed to be true: You have to coax him: I am really forced by life to do this business, and I have nowhere to go. I have to do something. understand?If that ghost is kind, it will agree to change cards and steal cards for you if it cannot withstand your begging.This kind of ghost who can't listen to three good words from others, and can't see a sad face from others, is an honest person in life, and will remain an honest ghost after death, and is the easiest to deceive
Hey, interesting!The big bear said: If you didn't choose such an honest ghost when you transformed the talisman, what would you do?
What's the matter?Shorty Shi Er said in a muffled voice: Are ghosts and humans actually the same?But people are in the yang world and ghosts are in the underworld!There are three, six, and nine classes of people. This ghost, uh, of course there are also three, six, and nine classes of ghosts!As the saying goes: What kind of words do you see when you see someone, so naturally you should use what to say to coax him when you see any ghost? !For example, there is a kind of greedy ghost, his eyes can only see gold paper, silver foil and big-headed ghost tickets. It is exactly, exactly the kind of ghost that Yang Shi described as seeing money with eyes open. If you meet this kind of ghost , even if you cry blindly, spit out all your bitterness, and jump to death in front of him, it's all in vain!If you meet this kind of ghost, you have to promise him some real benefits; you have to tell him the benefits of drinking cards, allow him to win money, burn paper and foil for him every year and festival, and give gifts, He has no objection to stuffing red envelopes.
Once the ghost agrees, a cloud of green will-o'-the-wisp will roll out of the grave, nod and wink at you, and when you see that scene, you should know it in your heart.Only then did Shorty Shi Er turn to the topic again and said: Then, you have to scatter the six dice and a deck of cards prepared in advance in the weeds around the tomb; Rain or shine, whether there is a star or a moon, or no star and no moon, you have to come to the tomb every night, touch this grave, and secretly pick up a card or a dice, waiting for you someday Pick up all the cards and dice you threw out, then your card drinking method will be mastered!
Can't think of a drinking method that has so many tricks?Wang Dagui said: Is this how you practiced?
Isn't it? !Shorty Shi Er said: Nothing in the world is easy. Just think about it, there is drizzle in the autumn night, and the sky and the ground are all slippery and sticky. The sky is so dark that you can’t see the stars and the moon. Look down and see the shadow of the road. Who among you is not allowed to bring lights and fires? Quietly, like a thief, grope into the messy mounds that are ten times larger than this messy mound, and you can't see your fingers. When you touch the original grave, you have to hold your breath and reach out into the wet grass to get a card.
It's really not easy, the big bear clucked his tongue and said.
Is it not easy? !Shorty Shi Er said: Sometimes you are unlucky and what you touch is not a card, but a soft and cold thing!Maybe it's a snake's tail, uh, maybe it's a big mangy toad, maybe it's a dead child to be thrown away, stinking and messy, you shout?It's too late to shout to God!
Hey, Xiang Lao San, who was walking in front, couldn't help but spit out: "Let's talk, let's talk, let's talk, don't be disgusting people there, okay?" !
Hey, wonderful!Shorty Shi Er said: I didn't feel sick when I touched it, but you became sick when you heard it?When I went to Luanzuo to draw cards, I experienced everything. Grandma’s, the will-o’-the-wisps swirled around me, and the dark wind made my hairs stand on end. Anyone who wants to learn how to drink cards will be disgusted!how?Big bear?I said, do you still mean it?
Why should I learn evil ways?The big bear said: "Evil things don't make a fortune, you are just like a mother!"You know how to drink cards, but where did you save your money? !Isn't he a pauper who can barely afford pants like everyone else? !This set of tricks can't fool people, so it can only fool little ghosts in the chaotic mounds!
Don't be so serious, old man, Shorty Shi Er said: I just think everyone's long journey is boring, so I just make up something to cheer you up!I'm not in the mood to lie to ghosts.
The sun is about to sink, red like a persimmon, sitting listlessly on the treetop in front of the field shop, the sharp wind sweeps the bare branches, weeping softly, the scene of the cold winter is the most depressing , falling into the pupils of the eyes, imprinted into the bottom of the heart, making people feel empty and empty, feeling that the person suddenly becomes lighter and smaller, no longer a person pushing a salt cart on the road, but Are some dry leaves rustling and whirling in the wind, where do they fall?
The salt carts creaked, and the pile of graves fell into the darkness behind them; on a long journey, people don't feel anything when they are chatting, but once they fall silent, they will immediately be overwhelmed by a gloomy feeling. Covered in sorrow, countless distant, floating, overlapping, and changing images form a nightmare in the emptiness in front of my eyes. Even if I struggle wholeheartedly, it is difficult to get out of that nightmare; at this moment, Everyone hopes that someone will say something, break that nightmare with bursts of laughter, and even Shorty Shi'er's rambling nonsense is good, but Shorty Shi'er actually held back Jin doesn't say a word anymore, just pushes his car.
Goblin, how about playing another song?The big bear said: Play for a while, and just push the car to the door of the wild shop.
I can't speak!Shorty Shi Er gritted his teeth and said.
Nobody put a seal on your mouth? !Said to the third child: I was just bragging about two hundred and five, how could I become unable to speak?
Me, my fucking stomach hurts!The second dwarf Shi said: "Perhaps he was a big fish in the salt market. He ate too much oil and water. In addition, he sweated a little during the journey and suffered from the wind and cold. I'm afraid he will have diarrhea."
If you have diarrhea, you just turn your legs to the side of the road, and you can just stretch yourself? !Lei Yipao said: What a fuss is this?
I, I, I, I am born and afraid of ghosts!Shorty Shi Er said: I have no choice but to grit my teeth and bear it, and forget about sending shit to Yepu's cesspit!
Everyone was about to laugh, but was interrupted by Lei Yipao's voice.
You see, there is a row of legs leaning against the door of Yepu. Lei Yipao said: That must be the salt convoy walking in front of us. I don't know why they stopped and didn't move forward?They rushed to Yepu in a short while, wouldn't their legs be leaning for a long time for no reason?Maybe there's something wrong up ahead?
No matter what happens, say to the third child: push it over and talk about it later.
The salt carts of the Liuhe gang called the number and stopped in front of the wild shop. Under a row of big trees, they had already leaned on a row of twenty legs.The owner of the Yepu didn't expect that there would be two large groups of guests on this day, and he was so happy that he couldn't stop himself from ear to ear. He personally greeted the thunder with a cannon, as if welcoming the gods and worshiping the Buddha.
First open two tables of food, the shopkeeper, Lei Yipao said: Then prepare a clean room, a common room with sixteen bunks.
The wine is ready-made small bubble wine (commonly known as small leaf wine.), the owner of the wild shop said: the dishes and rice have to be prepared, because this small shop has never had so many customers, and the gang in the house walks away. My man, he has eaten all the vegetables and rice prepared in the shop!Well, this shop will be evenly distributed, and there are some vacant rooms.
Then I trouble you to make arrangements for the food first. We are a family of seventeen.
As usual, it was the leader's task to arrange food and accommodation, and when Lei Yipao was busy making arrangements, only Xiang Laosan accompanied him, and the rest of the men swarmed into the living room after leaning on their legs.
This wild shop is located on a flat ground. In terms of grandeur, it is not comparable to Fan's shop at Dadukou. In terms of houses, it is much lower and more miserable. The five rooms along the front are all living rooms, with smooth loess walls, flat wood-woven roofs, and horse lanterns hanging from curved miscellaneous wood beams. There are a few low round tables in the living room, which have now become gambling tables. The gang of men who came earlier had probably finished their dinner, and they were gathering at the round table, drinking and drinking, complaining and betting.
Hey, nest buddies, you're in for a treat!The big bear yelled when he entered the door: Let's have a leg too, so we can join in the fun.
Come on, boys!Someone from the Yanxiao who arrived first shouted: "Houzi does not distinguish between families, Pai Gow dice can bet at will, with copper feet in the waist, you can do it, let's bet on you!"
I'll grab a few fucking dice first and then talk about it!As he said that, the big bear tilted his shoulders to resist, and squeezed into the dice game.
圓桌上空，有一盞馬燈在人頭上搖晃著，黃黃的光暈裏騰游著煙霧的黯影；至少有七八個漢子在賭著骰子，人頭挨著人頭，那些人全穿著藍布或是黑布大襖，腰眼勒著腰絛，胸前插著匕首，脅下插著匣槍，有幾個敞開襟口，使白汗巾圍著脖子。坐壓的那個漢子是個粗脖子（即今所謂甲狀腺腫大症。），大腦瓜，看樣子手氣極順，桌角的檯面上，已經堆了不少雜七八拉的票捲兒，銀洋和銅角子，使一支匣槍壓著；他面前放著一隻粗瓷的大大碗公，碗口有些歪斜；碗裏放著六粒頭號大骰兒。
噯，噯，列位，他用手指彈著碗口說：堆上多的是錢，掏腰包下大注兒罷，沒人下注，我就要他娘漫壓啦（壓家贏了錢不願再做壓了，謂之漫壓。）！
慢點兒漫壓，大狗熊伸著下巴，笑眯眯的說：你沒瞧砸堆（贏光莊家檯面上所有的錢，謂之砸堆。）的主兒來啦！
那人神色不變的把大狗熊看了兩眼，也笑著說：您是新來那幫裏走腿子的，您說這話我可真樂，小檯面，小意思，難得會著新朋友，您端不端得走，那得看您的運氣如何了？
大狗熊話一說出口，經人家這麼一客氣，反而懊悔起來；自己嗜好小賭也是真的，運氣不佳可也是真的，尤其是擲大骰子（三粒骰子一擲，俗稱小骰子，六粒一擲，稱大骰子。），十回到有九回九是輸家，本待先押上幾角試試運氣的，這麼一來，不得不硬著頭皮下了兩塊銀洋的注。
兩塊銀洋一把定輸贏，這在大狗熊眼裏，業已算是一等一的大注兒了，誰知那個大腦袋的莊家仍帶點兒諷嘲的意味笑指著說：老哥，您若真砸我的堆，注兒不妨下大些兒小堆上至少賠得出五七十塊大洋，您兩塊兩塊碎注兒，就算把把贏，半夜的功夫，也難把堆給扯乾呀！
大狗熊苦笑笑，心想，你他娘的說得可輕鬆，老子腰裏打總也掏不出幾個兩塊錢！不過，嘴上雖裝著不介意，答說：這祗是投塊石子問問路，試試手風，你可甭急，大注兒還在後邊呢。
其餘的幾個也紛紛下了注，一兩塊、三五毛不等，等注兒擺好了，那個壓家一揎衣袖，探出壯實多毛的手抓起碗心的骰子放在嘴邊呵口氣，唸唸有詞說：骰子骰子顯顯神，不是豹子就是順（六粒骰子擲出同一點子，稱為豹子，擲出么二三四五六，稱為順子，均為通吃。）！
俗說擲一夜骰子，喊啞了嗓子，這話一點兒不錯，壓家的六粒骰子一撒手，不知多少隻手點著碗心旋轉不定的骰子，狂喊狂叫，真像要把屋脊蓋兒給掀翻一樣。
擲骰子的人伸長頸子，兩眼像要暴凸出來似的盯著大大碗公，六粒骰子仍然你推我撞的叮噹碰擊著，在碗心滾動；為了巴望它們能滾出通贏的點子，大腦袋差點要連心也嘔出來，嘴張瓢大狂嚷著：
呃呃，一么擲六喲！六六大順喲！呃一擲一十八點大洋樓呀！叮噹叮噹豹子來，豹子生財喲！去，他奶奶！大點兒還不快些兒滾出來？ !
而另一些下注的傢伙恰恰相反，他們嚷的是：
雙么抬二！么么么么么出來！
小鼻小眼一擲通賠喲！
小妖摟著二姑娘！
而在那些人中，大狗熊擺出一種奇異的後傾的姿態，使手指指著滾動的骰子，用低啞、缺氣的嗓門兒，拖著滑稽的歪腔叫說：么，么！么！么窟那個洞！賠錢貨滾出來了！賠，賠，賠，賠，賠錢那個貨！嘿，嘿，七點，你賠定了！
骰子停下來，現出三個六，一個四，一個二，一個么！在擲大骰子來說，這是賠面居多的小點兒，很容易被下注的各家追上；下注的各家依次擲點兒，點兒全比壓家的大，壓家賠了錢，大狗熊伸手抓大大碗公，朝碗心吹了口氣說：吹掉么毛！look at me!煞有有其事抓起骰子一把擲出來，嚷都沒來得及嚷，那骰子業已現了點子，三個五，兩個么，一個二，六點。
對不住，大腦袋伸手一撈，就把大狗熊的注兒撈走了，話音裏仍帶著半分調侃味兒說：吃大注兒賠小注兒，你老哥實在夠幫忙的，手風不順，你就歇會兒再來下注兒罷！一面把兩塊銀洋放在掌心裏掂得叮噹響，響聲使大狗熊有些心疼。
大狗熊一擲就擲出晦氣點兒，本待抽身換張檯子的，經不得大腦袋一調侃，抽身就更顯得沒面子了，旁人也許會嘲笑自己是個虎頭蛇尾怕輸錢的，無奈咬著牙，又掏出兩塊錢來說：小意思，小意思，賭錢賭興致，誰把輸贏放在心上，那還有啥意思
不過那六粒骰子似乎很欺生（欺負陌生人，北方俗謂欺生。），總是順著壓家，不聽自己的叫喊，連著兩把下來，輸得大狗熊兩眼冒金星，暗自叫苦不迭，一輸了錢，不由想起自稱福將牛皋的石二矮子來，朝外面叫了兩聲矮鬼，沒人應聲，祗聽另一張賭天九牌的檯面上傳出王大貴的聲音說：石二鬧肚子，出去找糞坑拉屎去了！
你在那邊賭得怎樣？大狗熊問說。
我在這兒押上門，連抓兩把天字槓（大天配人排，稱天字槓，除對子外，通贏。），點子旺得很呢！
王大貴賭牌不愛喳喝，一味悶賭，天字槓之後又抹出一把地字炮來（地牌配雜八，等級僅次於天字槓。），樂得他破例的開口跟人聊起天來了。
你們是下午到的罷？他問一個押游門（不固定押哪一門。）的傢伙說：為何歇在這兒，不朝前再趕一站路呢？前頭難道有動靜？
咱們全是散腿兒湊合起來的，那人說：咱們祗是走買賣，可不是玩命？ !莫說咱們一二十支槍，就是有百兒八十支槍也不成，不是四判官的價錢呀？ !
貴幫趕得來，咱們心裏寬鬆了不少。掌堆的那個漢子說：四判官愈是見影兒不見人，咱們心裏越怕的慌，不得不早點落宿，把四周打探清楚，要不然，他們窩住你，那就慘了！咱們如今兩幫人合在一起，槍支人手更多些，心裏好歹有個仗恃！貴幫是？
小幫上六下合，說起來你們該曉得的，關東山關八爺親領這一幫腿子。王大貴邊說著，一面打下一撥兒碼子（賭天九牌，下注時，用硬幣排列出一點賭，三道快等等名目，謂之打碼子。），掏出一支揉縐了的菸捲兒吸著說：四判官在一路上陰魂不散，就是要找六合幫，報萬家樓的一箭之仇！說實話，甭看六合幫人少，真的面對面，也沒什麼便宜讓他佔去，八爺就是一付猴王對，我說。
您是關八爺親自領腿子？ !坐莊的漢子手捺在牌面上，肅然起敬說：八爺的威名，凡是走腿子的沒人不知道，有些人還受過他的照顧的，八爺如今人在哪兒？咱們該丟下牌去拜望他去！嗨，能跟八爺同路，就有十個四判官也嚇不著人了！
甭急呀，夥計。王大貴不願在手風正順時停手，急說：八爺他叉到林家大莊去了，一會兒不見得就回來，你還是推一會兒再說罷！
賭場上時辰淌得最快，眨眼之間天就黑下來了！臘月上旬的夜晚，彎彎細細的上弦冷月照著野鋪四周朦朧的曠野，曠野上除了一片風聲之外，別無半點兒聲息。
在六合幫裏，唯一沒捲進賭場的，祗是雷一炮，向老三和石二矮子三個人。
雷一炮是個穩沉幹練的人，時時謹記著關八爺的交代，腿子一靠，他就忙著張羅吃食，熱水和鋪位，總想讓弟兄早些安歇下來調養精神，同時又顧到大夥兒的安全，這處事精明的向老三手不離槍，留在停靠的鹽車邊亮眼，等著關八爺從林家大莊回來。
向老三是個肯為旁人著想的漢子，有歡有樂退後，有苦有難當先；不論是否輪著自己放風，總肯盡心為大夥兒喝風。
而石二矮子不是這樣；關八爺勒逼著不准他喝酒，他已經怨天怨地怨個不完了，如今他摸著毛坑，蹲在兩塊懸空的木板上，連他自己的肚皮也挨起他的罵來。
他的肚皮不但咕咕嚕嚕的窮嚷，還滾來滾去的疼個不完，他不得不使雙手捺住肚皮，罵說：你奶奶個孫兒的！你好好兒的為啥盡跟老子搗蛋來？ !誰他媽有一天寵你？縱你？把你養成這種沒出息的嬌脾氣來？ !餓，又說餓著你了！攫住油水，老子大修你這座五臟廟，你他媽又天生賤皮子，沒那種福氣消受得！我他媽嘴裏還覺得不過癮，你倒忙不迭的朝外漏油了！
而那肚皮像個愛嘀咕愛嚕輒的老聾子，恁你石二矮子怎麼罵它，它還是依然故我的叫個不歇，叫得石二矮子火上來了，在自己肚皮上狠狠的擰了一把說：還叫呢？Grandma's!你就是要鬧毛病，也該等夜深人靜的時刻鬧呀？矮爺我沒事，心平氣和的陪你蘑菇，倒是無所謂的！You!你他媽沒眼色透了，你不知道你這一傢伙，害得老子少贏多少錢？你聽，骰子叮噹響，牌九正在開條兒呢！你就快點兒罷！
而那肚皮是個慢性子，石二矮子越催，它越快不了，細聲細氣的唱著小曲兒呢！石二矮子無可奈何的嘆說：我的肚子祖宗，肚子大王！你再不老實，我可就賭不成了！我他媽贏不得錢，就該餓殺你這個王八爺蛋了！嗨，我他媽實在不該生著你這不爭氣的東西！
既然罵不服自己肚皮，石二矮子就蹲在毛坑裏乾嘔氣，低著頭不再開腔了。似有還無的月光把一溜兒毛坑矮簷的踞齒形的影子勾描在石二矮子眼前，寒風颳過來一陣陣呼么喝六的賭博聲，磨弄得石二矮子滿心癢癢的，抓不著撈不著；那齒形的簷影彷彿變成了一把活動著的鋸子，呼呼啦啦把人的心全給鋸斷了！
正在這當口，忽然眼見毛坑那邊的菸頭火一閃一亮，隔壁的坑位上來了個人，那人一定是個粗大個兒，人朝坑頭的木板上面一站，把木板踩得吱吱響。
既然拉稀拉得一時提不起褲子，來個人聊聊天，也比一個人勾著頭發悶好些兒；石二矮子想著，就準備跟隔壁那位聞其聲不見其面的朋友打打招呼了；誰知自己的話還沒放出，又有一陣細碎的腳步聲走到毛坑邊上來，一面扯開褲子嘩嘩的放溺，一面低聲打著黑語說：落葉兒（指姓黃的人。），落葉兒！飄到哪兒去了？
石二矮子立刻聽懂了那人的意思，他是在說：老黃，你在哪兒？這麼一來，石二矮子可把湧至喉嚨管的言語又嚥了回去，側過腦袋，豎起耳朵偷聽著，心想：妙妙！沒料著這兒也會遇著賊？待老子我聽聽你們說些什麼罷？全心顧著聽話，那肚皮竟也不疼不叫了。
就聽隔壁那個出大恭的人說：長臉嗎？落葉兒在這兒，門把兒還不見動靜呢。
扇子外頭長出個亮眼的來了！解小手的說：不把他擺平，行事扎手。老五他說，外頭一響鞭炮，裏頭就敲鑼打鼓，熱鬧熱鬧！
其實老五也是死心眼兒，出大恭的傢伙說：何必讓咱們苦等門把兒？莫如早點剪掉亮眼兒的，裏邊外邊兩面烤它一頓算了，若等門把兒一插手，成不成事還料不準呢！
石二矮子一聽，壓根兒不對勁！什麼幹小手腳的毛賊？ !簡直全是四判官那一窩豺狼虎豹！自己虧得沒吭聲，要不然，頭一個當了他們試槍的活靶，那豈不是傷透了感情？ !從話裏聽出這兩個傢伙，是叫差出來伏擊關八爺的，他們打算先把六合幫裏放風的弟兄撂倒，然後從裏面動手突擊，黑了燈窩著打，假如真讓他們稱心如意幹起來，六合幫豈不整砸了鍋？ !
人到急處，沒主意也得拿主意來，石二矮子一急，也就有了主意了。他不聲不響的繫上褲子，打量出那一溜毛坑下面的蹲板全是活的，能夠抽得動，而自己是雙拳不敵四手，非先在兩個傢伙裏整倒一個不可！繫好褲子之後，他悄悄的竄到旁邊那間毛坑邊上，彎腰伸手搭住蹲板一端，猛力一掀一抽，那塊板被他抽到手裏，單聽砰咚一聲響，蹲著的那人就摔進毛坑裏去！偏偏這座毛坑是磚砌的，又大又深，那人仰臉栽下坑去，一聲還沒喊出口，頭就沉進臭水裏吐泡泡去了。
黃葉兒，黃葉兒，解小手的正在提褲子，慌亂的說：你這是怎麼弄的？
救救命，咕嚕嚕，咕嚕嚕可憐坑底下那個像肚皮朝上的烏龜，滿心有話說不出口，祗落下手舞足蹈的掙扎了。
解小手的傢伙急於要救他的同夥，一時也顧不得骯髒，就在糞坑邊沿伏下身去，朝坑裏伸出雙手，誰知正當他伸出雙手時，猛覺腦後起了一陣風，緊跟捱了一傢伙，半昏迷中被人提起兩腳一翻，也就蹚了渾水啦！
石二矮子整倒那個傢伙之後，踢開木板，拔出匣槍，轉身就朝野鋪這邊奔過來，認出放風的向老三，扯住他說：事情不妙了，這這這，這先來的一夥子人，哪裏什麼鹽幫走腿子的？ !全是四判官手下的土匪，存心想貼住咱們的，剛剛我蹲毛坑，遇見倆個說黑話的傢伙，業已叫我整下毛坑去了！
真有這回事？向老三吃驚說。
難道我還哄你不成？ !石二矮子跺腳說：如今咱們的弟兄全跟那伙兒混捲在賭檯上，你得快拿主意，要不然，等他們的匣槍先張嘴，那可就慘了！
這話若換旁人說，我就全信了。向老三手捺著匣槍把兒說：唯有你跟大狗熊倆人，鬼話劉基慣了，我總得打三分折扣！上回不是你們引狼入室，使什麼馬五瞎子混進福昌棧的大花廳，那位淮大爺怎會丟命？
人總不能沒錯，石二矮子說：這回我弄對了，將功折罪總行！look!他過去幌幌另一個鹽幫的鹽簍說：有簍兒沒鹽，空的！他們推空車下大湖？除非是得了瘋病了？
這一回，向老三不由不信了，正把匣槍拔在手裏，但已經來不及了，就見賭檯上的燈火一黑，裏面響起了一片雜亂的槍聲，桌椅的斷折聲，門窗被椅子砸開，不分敵我，人影幢幢的朝外亂跳，夾著一些喊叫，咒罵和呻吟。向老三和石二矮子空掂著匣槍在手，卻不敢亂潑火，因為上弦沉得快，原野黯糊糊的，恁誰也沒有那種夜光眼，能在十步開外分得出敵我來。
這真是突如其來的一場惡火而這場惡火不是由對方先發制人，卻是由大狗熊主動引起來的。大狗熊在骰子局上一連輸掉三把，不得已推說要出去放溺，從局上退出來，其實放溺是假，換檯子是真，他三轉兩轉，轉到王大貴身後，打算下注兒押幾注牌九，一隻手伸到腰眼去摸錢，錢捏在手上一抬眼，他就楞住了。
原來他越看那個做莊的傢伙越覺得臉孔好熟，就彷彿不久之前在哪兒見過？在哪兒呢？那莊家正低著腦袋在洗牌疊牌，出條子打骰子，一面分牌說：七戳自拿三，天門頭一班。那人不開口，大狗熊也許一時想不起他是誰來，那人一開口，大狗熊就想起來了！
good!一點兒也不錯！他就是自己在鹽市大王廟裏遇見的馬五瞎子！不過今夜他不瞎了，那隻貼過膏藥的眼是好的，同時那張臉不再塗上油灰。
大狗熊初發現這個秘密，著實有點心驚膽顫。這人既是馬五瞎子，不用說，這個鹽幫裏一夥人全是土匪扮的，這算是一準沒錯兒的了！六合幫十幾個弟兄，除開關八爺，雷一炮，向老三和石二矮子不在當場，其餘十三個人不知不覺全窩進人家懷裏去了，要是自己不先動手，等對方先動手來，祗怕連一個也活不成。
十三是個不吉利的數目，可不是？按照當前情勢看來，若想一個個附著耳朵通知，準會敗露行藏，想來想去，祗有一個辦法，先動手放倒馬五，馬上滅燈，黑裏打一場混戰，有虧兩邊有份還好些。
大狗熊眼睛珠兒轉了幾轉就把主意拿定了，他的個頭兒本來就高，當那些傢伙兩眼注視牌面時，探出一隻手捏住馬燈的捻鈕，另一隻猛的拔出匣槍來，黑洞洞的槍口筆直的頂住馬五瞎子腦門正中，扳機一壓，轟的一聲悶響，同時那盞馬燈就叫他捻滅了。
這一聲悶槍，聽在有經驗的人耳裏，就知有人被放倒了，那些土匪卻不知被放倒的會是他們發號施令的頭目五閻王，五閻王原本交代過，不等外邊槍響，放倒關八爺，裏面不得動手的，所以當大狗熊響槍之後，土匪們就搶著先捻滅馬燈。全屋在一剎間燈火全滅，變成一片黑暗，雖說祗是眨眼功夫，卻給六合幫裏的漢子們留出拔槍待變的機會。而黑裏更傳出大狗熊的破鑼嗓子。
六合幫的，當心土匪！四判官的手下的小雜種們，馬五瞎子腦袋開天窗啦！風緊水漲，拉你們的合子罷
這一來，掄椅子砸窗戶開溜是那些土匪，開槍制人的倒變成六合幫走腿子的了，雖然土匪裏有些奸滑的傢伙也還了槍，卻打不著大狗熊，原來他幹掉馬五瞎子之後，抱住王大貴朝下一滑，就滑到賭檯下面去啦。
屋裏的地方黑又窄，拎槍的人影紛紛朝外竄，一時院子裏，黑路上，到處全是人影，活像一腳踢翻土塊後，一窩受驚的蟋蟀；摸黑對火實在不是滋味，摸來摸去也找不出頭兒來，有些人弄得杯弓蛇影，不讓任何人貼近他，橫著匣槍亂潑火，有些人精靈些，非得挨著人分清敵我不開槍；有些土匪聽說死了頭目，沉不住氣，卅六著，走為上著，拔腿就跑了，有些人兜著樹行和草垛兒捉著迷藏。
槍戰初起時，野鋪裏的兩位店夥正托著為六合幫人張羅來的飯菜，還沒進門，就叫黑裏撞出來的人撞翻了！雷一炮截住一個傢伙，板著臉一認不是窩裏人，那人手臂彎在雷一炮背後，一支匣槍正頂在雷一炮的後心窩，而雷一炮的匣槍也頂住那人的左邊太陽穴，倆人一齊壓下扳機，而兩支槍全沒響，原來倆人心情全緊張過火，手指不靈活，把膛火勒死了！（德造駁殼槍，扣扳機時不可用力過度，否則易生故障。）
那個土匪很精靈，急忙扔開匣槍，施出摔跤的手法，伸腿壓襠，想把雷一炮摔倒；誰知雷一炮更精靈，使匣槍的槍管，朝對方的太陽穴上猛力橫掃過去，那人就乖乖兒的伏在跌碎的杯盤上舐菜去了。
在野鋪前面的行林背後，石二矮子跟向老三倆個雖是先知先覺，但是面對著這種糊塗火，也是一籌莫展，祗有隔岸觀火的份兒了。匣槍潑出的流彈清脆而短促，在寒冷黑暗的半空叭叭炸響，這裏那裏，不時噴出槍口火的藍焰，時辰這樣一分一寸的流過去，弄得石二矮子不耐煩了，匿在樹後大喊說：風緊，夥計們！門把兒踩的來了！
那些土匪原打算一拔槍就把六合幫給窩倒的，誰知算盤不照算盤來，祗是棋差那麼一著，就弄得滿盤皆輸，加上聽到石二矮子這麼一陣吆喝，更弄得惶惶無主，沒有心腸再纏鬥下去，幾聲呼哨兒一響，就敗退下去了。
兄弟夥，不要窮追！雷一炮這才揚聲招呼說：先逗攏來檢點一下，有傷亡帶彩的沒有？
那邊的王大貴打火燃亮馬燈，從客堂出來，各人互相一點數，祗差一個大狗熊。
不妙，石二矮子慌說：世上最笨的莫過於那個傢伙，準是頂了槍子兒了！
你他娘背後損人，該翹著屁股死！大狗熊在屋裏詭秘的笑著說：土匪退了，老子在這兒收堆底兒呢！老子不用練什麼喝牌法，照樣有小鬼送錢來！
噯噯，這種意外之財獨吞不得，石二矮子從王大貴手上搶過馬燈，衝進客堂去，把馬燈朝賭桌上一放，動手就跟大狗熊搶起錢來，誰知手忙腳亂，腳底下絆著個軟東西，一摔就摔了個狗吃屎，石二矮子回手一摸，一巴掌全是紅的，便軟了腿，在地上爬說：我的媽！怨不得我的膝蓋有些打軟，原來掛採的倒是我自己？ !
石二矮子窮嚷窮叫，硬說他掛了彩，賴在地上不肯起來。王大貴向老三他們趕進屋，拎著馬燈一照，就見石二矮子渾身倒是好好兒的，而他身後那具死屍卻看全看不得了。
那個悍匪馬五瞎子為向四判官表功，處心積慮的要除掉關八爺，結果關八爺沒怎麼樣，他本人卻落得這般下場，大狗熊那一槍靠得太近，槍口火燒捲了他的頭毛，槍彈射進去的地方，傷口祗有蠶豆粒兒那麼大，偏偏那顆槍火從他後腦橫撞出來，頂掉了他的大半邊腦蓋，白裏帶紅絲的腦漿淌了一地，經石二矮子一爬，