Merchant of the Underworld

When Mazi Li and I returned to Boss Guo's house again, it was already past 2 o'clock in the middle of the night - originally we both tried our best to refuse, as we felt a little sorry to be guests so late and disturb their family's rest.

But Boss Guo said that we worked all the way to Shanxi and have been busy until now. He would be even more embarrassed if we didn't even have a meal. Moreover, he has asked his wife to take their daughter back to her parents' home, and his son and Xiao Xu have moved back to the company, leaving the house empty just to entertain us.

The two of us took a look and realized that we would really be living up to Boss Guo’s wishes if we didn’t go!

Moreover, this man has no airs of being a rich man at all. He is as friendly and easy-going as if he were an old friend whom he has known for a long time. So we had no choice but to be respectful rather than obey.

As soon as we entered the door, Boss Guo grabbed the apron next to the shoe rack and told us: "Sit down for a while, I will be ready soon." Then he dived into the kitchen.

Although Li Mazi also knew that Boss Guo was very simple, he couldn't help but be surprised when he saw this house.

But whether it's Xu Guangsheng's antique palace, Lin Feng's European-style villa, or Liu Yang's riverside villa, compared with this ordinary and amazing house, they all lack a homely feeling.

In the kitchen, pots and spoons clinked together, and the aroma of vegetables wafted out from time to time.

As soon as Li Mazi smelled the aroma, he immediately swallowed greedily.

"Well, little brother, please rest for a while and I'll go help." Li Mazi said and rushed into the kitchen.

I knew that this guy was obviously helping, but in fact he was sneaking a few bites to satisfy his craving.

But I couldn’t just run in too—it was the first time I was a guest at someone’s house, and it was a bit unreasonable to have to hang out in the kitchen half-full before the food was served.

However, my stomach was already growling with hunger, and smelling such a strong aroma, how could I sit still? So I put my hands behind my back and looked around to distract myself.

Boss Guo’s home is very ordinary and the furnishings are extremely simple.

There is a set of slightly old leather sofas, a black walnut pressed glass coffee table, and a sundries rack next to the TV wall opposite.

There are a few books and some interesting knick-knacks placed randomly above.

I had taken a quick look at it the last time I came here, and I was particularly impressed by the engraving on the small tea cup. As I turned around, my eyes were caught by another photo.

This is the most ordinary family photo!

In the middle of the photo, there is a fat old man sitting, and behind him stand the slightly younger boss Guo and his wife. Guo Xia and Guo Fang are only six or seven years old, leaning on the left and right of the old man.

The whole family was smiling and full of happiness.

Just from his appearance, he could tell that the old man must be Boss Guo's father.

What attracted me was the pendant around his father's neck.

It turned out to be exactly the same as the one Huang Dawang held tightly in his hand!

It doesn't seem to have anything special, it's just a crystal shaped like a teardrop hanging on a copper chain.

But I have already seen it with my own eyes. This is not an ordinary thing, but a thing of ten great virtues.

What is the Great Virtue of the Tenth Generation?

That is, generations of ancestors, ten generations in a row, are all good people who have done good things.

A person who only does good things and never does bad things throughout his life is already an anomaly, but if this continues for ten generations, it is really not easy!

Such people will bring their own blessings, and they are simply like a walking Maitreya Buddha.

If you have helped such a person, the accumulated moral virtue will be astonishing. If nothing else, I have violated the rules of the ghost merchant several times in the past, and all the debts I owe will be wiped off!

"It's time to eat!" At this moment, Boss Guo walked out of the kitchen with a smile, carrying two plates of dishes.

"Boss Guo, please excuse me, is this my father?" I asked, pointing to the photo.

"Yes." Boss Guo nodded and said, "He passed away a few years ago."

"Then this chain..."

"He has been carrying it with him since I can remember, and passed it to me before he died. He also said that I would pass it to Guo Fang in the future. Why, is this still a treasure?" Boss Guo smiled, and then felt very regretful. He said: "There was an accident at the construction site the year before last. When I went to the scene to deal with it, I lost it in the chaos."

Having said this, he shook his head helplessly and sighed: "Hey, let's not talk about this anymore. Master Zhang, come and sit down. Try my craftsmanship!" With that, he returned to the kitchen.

Lost it on the construction site? It seems to be correct.

Didn't Zhao Laoshi say that he picked up the chain at the construction site?

In other words, Boss Guo is the great good man who has accumulated merits from ten lifetimes!

After a while, Boss Guo came in and out several times again, and a large table was filled with fragrant food.

Li Mazi walked out of the kitchen while wiping his greasy hands, and greeted me with a bulging mouth: "Come and try it, Boss Guo's craftsmanship is really good! I feel like this mouth was all in vain before."

"Haha..." Boss Guo said with a smile while drinking beer: "Master Li is really good at talking! Come on, I won't say any nonsense about thanking you and greeting you today. Let's just get drunk and rest."

The food on the table was extremely ordinary, with no rare game or expensive ingredients, and even the presentation was not very eye-catching. But just like Boss Guo, he is ordinary and unpretentious, and there is a refreshing fragrance in the ordinary.

Soon, with the three of us pushing cups and changing dishes, more than half of the food on the table was wiped out. Li Mazi was so full that he burped and said with unfinished content: "Not bad, not bad! Just for this meal, Shanxi This experience is not in vain! If only I could eat a few more meals."

"Haha..." Boss Guo laughed: "Master Li, if you like it, you might as well stay a little longer. It just so happens that my recent projects are all in the downtime, so I have plenty of time."

Hearing what he said, I immediately remembered the first phase of the project he mentioned when we first met.

"Lao Guo, the reason why the construction of the new residential area has to be stopped is because the ancient tombs must be excavated first. We all know this. But what about the first phase of the tunnel project you mentioned? Why can't it start?" I asked.

"Hey, don't mention it!" When Boss Guo heard this, he couldn't help but drank another glass of strong wine with some regret: "In order to open this tunnel, I have been preparing for more than ten years. Going back a little earlier, when I was in school I just want to dig a hole in this mountain and pave a road out..."

"Why is this place so poor? Isn't it because the roads are impassable and remote?"

"We are close to Hebei, and not far from Beijing in a straight line, but all roads and railways go around here. In the early years, large tracts of vegetables and fruits could not be transported out even if they were rotten in the fields. Farmers After working hard for a year, I can only sit in the field and cry in the end! Although it is better now, the price has never been high because of transportation costs and time. Going out to work, study, and see a doctor have all become difficult. This mountain is dead It has blocked the lifeblood of the entire county! If this tunnel is not opened, the entire county will be poor and miserable for the rest of their lives."

"This has been my dream for many years! The reason why I do this is not to make a lot of money or become a rich man, but to find a way for people in the county to make a living! But... alas." After saying this, Boss Guo sighed again. Take a breath.