Chapter 118: What The Hell Is That?
The first time Mohe mentioned Cao Weida to him, he had actually intentionally or unintentionally inquired and learned about it.
Fan Wu Ye was very satisfied with all of Cao Weida’s conditions, but there was one point that bothered him a bit, which was working for the little devils.
However, this wasn’t a big problem after all, since Cao Weida had never done anything harmful to heaven and reason, and instead brought quite a few benefits to the people in his jurisdiction.
Overall, the blemish didn’t obscure the jade.
If Mohe really followed Cao Weida, it wouldn’t be a bad choice at all.
What?
Cao Weida has two concubines?
What’s wrong with that?
In their Beile Mansion before, which family didn’t have several concubines?
He was long used to this kind of thing.
Wiping his mouth with the napkin, Fan Wu Ye had just put down the napkin when a cigarette was handed to him.
“Tsk, a cigarette after a meal is better than being a living immortal.” Fan Wu Ye lit it up quickly; he was also an old opium addict, and even when smoking, he carried the air of a master.
“Cao Ye, we’ve eaten the meal and lit the smoke. You said earlier you wanted my help, so what is it?”
“But I remind you, I’m down and out now. If you ask me for big help and I can’t manage it, you can’t ask me for meal money. My pockets are empty right now.”
“Fifth Master, you’re joking. It’s just one meal; how could I ask you for money? That would be slapping my own face.” Cao Weida smiled. Just as he was about to light one for himself, a lit match was already held up.
Turning his head, he saw Mohe, blushing, really holding the burning match.
This scene made Fan Wu Ye a bit sour. He sighed, “Oh man, I as her brother haven’t been served like this by my own sister, but today someone else gets to enjoy it first.”
Mohe’s face turned even redder. Stomping her foot, she said, “Bro, what are you saying~~ Fine, I’ll light one for you, okay?”
“Pfft, no need for you to light it; I’m already smoking.” Fan Wu Ye rolled his eyes, stopped teasing his sister, and turned his gaze back to Cao Weida, waiting for his answer.
Cao Weida smiled, exhaled a puff of smoke, and said frankly, “We’re all Beiping men, so no beating around the bush.”
“I used to be just a rough farmer scraping by, luckily made a bit of money, but at heart I’m still a big crude man.”
“So, I thought I’d try to acquire some elegance, use the old ancestors’ things to cultivate my temperament.”
“But I don’t know anything about this stuff; I’m a complete outsider, afraid of being cheated.”
“You’re an expert in this, Fan Wu Ye, and you have connections, so I thought you’d act as middleman to help me find some good stuff.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t let you help for nothing.”
“Oh, so that’s it.” Fan Wu Ye suddenly understood. After knowing the purpose, he immediately perked up, gave him a ‘you’ve got good taste’ look, stretched his neck, and laughed heartily:
“Then you’ve found the right person. Not to brag, but those antiques and calligraphy paintings, I’ve been playing with them like toys since I was little. I know all the methods inside out!”
“So, it’s settled?”
“That’s it. How can I say no after eating your food?”
“Oh, then thank you.” He pulled twenty silver dollars from his pocket and handed them to Mohe: “Take these first.”
“No, no, no, Big Brother Cao, what are you doing? I don’t want it.” Mohe waved her hands hurriedly. This money was enough for her to sell how many cigarettes? How could she take money for nothing?
People treated them to a big meal; taking money on top of that would be what?
“Don’t misunderstand; I’m not giving it for free.” Cao Weida took her little hand, put the money in it, and held it. Hey, it was quite soft.
“Having Fifth Master help me, won’t it delay his time and energy? So how do we count the food and drink in between?
Helping me, I can’t let Fifth Master waste time on these things, right? With this, Fifth Master doesn’t need to waste time and can directly help me search for stuff. This is for my own sake!”
Mohe was suddenly stumped, not knowing whether to take it or not, and looked to her brother for help.
The moment the silver dollars came out, Fan Wu Ye’s eyes nearly lit up, but he quickly suppressed it. As a Bannerman descendant, he had to keep the style; it was just some silver dollars, which he wouldn’t even glance at before, pure as tips.
Seeing Mohe look over, he hummed twice, pretended to be indifferent, and said in a rough voice: “Take it if I tell you to. The help your brother’s giving is elegant business; we really can’t waste time and energy on these side things.”
Seeing her brother say that, Mohe hesitantly took it.
She wasn’t stupid; she knew perfectly well in her heart that Big Brother Cao was indirectly helping them out, afraid of hurting their pride, so he phrased it this way.
A warm current surged uncontrollably in her heart, and her gaze toward Cao Weida gained something different, warm and fuzzy.
“That’s right, why be polite with me?” Seeing her take the money, Cao Weida chuckled and ruffled her beautiful hair. After Mohe blushed and lowered her head, he continued: “I’m just a nouveau riche; I have nothing else but a bit of stinking copper smell. I’m dead set on using elegant things to cover that smell. Fifth Master is doing me a big favor.”
Mohe showed a shallow smile. Big Brother Cao was really something; he was such a good person, yet he described himself as so crude.
“Ahem~~” Fan Wu Ye’s eyes bulged as he coughed, staring hard at the hand holding Mohe’s.
Cao Weida awkwardly let go and touched his nose embarrassedly.
Oops, got carried away feeling the softness of her little hand. But it even smelled nice; she must have applied snow flower cream!
“So, Fifth Master, had enough to eat? If yes, let’s go. How about I treat you to a haircut?”
“Oh right, you’re here for a haircut today, aren’t you? Then I won’t stand on ceremony. This man will enjoy it too.”
Speaking of enjoyment, it really was enjoyment.
Cao Weida lay down, letting others manipulate him.
The barber was a man in his forties, not tall, just over 1.6 meters, a bit thin, with a somewhat sallow face; clearly hadn’t eaten well.
But his craftsmanship was quite good.
First, he washed his hair with warm water. After washing, he put on a bib, picked up the razor from the side, and sharpened it three times on the cowhide strop tied to his waist.
He tested the temperature on the back of his hand meticulously, then started cutting at the temples.
The blade glided steadily along the scalp, fine hairs falling swish onto the bib, feeling very comfortable, and the sound alone was stress-relieving.
After shaving the hair, he took out a boar bristle brush and soap, dipped it in water and brushed in the soap box to make foam, moistened Cao Weida’s face, then the razor followed the grain of the stubble.
Click click click~~
After shaving the beard, he took out a bamboo ear pick, dipped it in scented oil and twirled it in the ears a few times, then used small copper tweezers to trim the ear hair neatly.
After the haircut, ear cleaning, and face shave, the master gave Cao Weida an eye wash and five-flower hammer to induce sleep.
The so-called five-flower hammer for sleep was massage from head to waist, using both hands with techniques like pinching, squeezing, hammering, and grasping on body acupoints to promote blood circulation, relax muscles, and loosen the body.
When the set ended, Cao Weida woke from a half-asleep state, stretched lazily, and sighed contentedly.
“Ah, that was so comfortable. Master, your craftsmanship is top-notch! Especially that five-flower hammer, truly authentic!”
“See, I didn’t fool you,” Fan Wu Ye, who had already finished the full set, smiled proudly. “Let me tell you, Master Fan’s skills are top-notch around Tianqiao!”
The barber grinned from ear to ear at the praise. “Fan Wu Ye, you’re too kind. It’s just some rough craftsmanship, earning a bit of hard-earned money. If you two masters like it, please patronize my little shop more in the future; I’d be endlessly grateful.”
“Definitely, with your skills, I’ll definitely come often.”
After parting with Cao Weida, Fan Wu Ye strolled leisurely on the street.
Having eaten his fill and enjoyed properly, Fan Wu Ye now felt his energy and spirit completely different.
Strolling to near Tianqiao, he looked around and sure enough, soon spotted a sister selling cigarettes with a basket on her arm.
“Mohe, Mohe, come here.” Fan Wu Ye beckoned.
“Bro, haircut done?”
“Of course, can’t you see this elegant hairstyle?” Fan Wu Ye smugly flicked his hair; it had been over two months since his last cut, and even his hair wash was ten days ago.
Nothing else, just no money in his pocket.
“Oh, I can tell. Bro, what do you want? I still need to sell cigarettes; if I don’t sell them soon, they’ll really get damp.”
Cigarettes these days weren’t like later generations with all kinds of moisture-proofing; due to simple packaging and poor sealing, they easily got damp.
Once damp, they wouldn’t sell well.
“No more selling, what are you selling for?” With some money in his pocket, Fan Wu Ye immediately puffed up, took her hand, and headed home.
“Let me tell you, girl, showing your face all day isn’t proper. You’re my sister; back then, you’d be a princess!”
“No, bro, what do we eat and drink if we don’t sell cigarettes? Cigarettes will be damp in two days and unsellable.” Mohe was amused and exasperated, tugging back hard to stop.
“Besides, what princess? That’s old history from ten or twenty years ago.”
“We make a living selling cigarettes to earn money; it’s not shameful. Whoever wants to talk can talk.”
“No way, how can Fifth Master Fan’s sister do this? No choice before, but now we have money. Listen to bro, go home.”
Mohe was amused and exasperated. “Bro, don’t mess around. We just got a little money.”
“Got it, spend it!” Fan Wu Ye waved grandly. “No choice before, but now with money in pocket, how can bro let you suffer? Come on, follow bro.”
