The Ups and Downs of the Commoners Page #4

								

Taiqing Town is located on the ancient post road leading to the provincial capital Chengdu, which is the   must pass only place for merchants from north to south, and also the distribution center of all kinds of commodities.     In addition, the land in Taiqing Township is fertile and abundant in otton.     Lianghekou, under its jurisdiction, is rich in salt and the local people are rich. Therefore, its prosperity is well-known far and wide.     Here are the centers of Gelao brotherhood society events in several nearby towns, as well as many Sichuan opera fans. Over the years, even with two troupes performing here, they didn't have to worry about selling tickets, and fans often take part in performances to keep the audience happy. There are in the town Taiqing Temple, Dongyue Temple and Wangye Temple three temples, People come to the temple to burn incense and worship Buddha in a constant stream. What's more, the town is only a day away from the provincial capital, and it is just at the exit of the 20km mountain road, so passing merchants must stay for one night before leaving. On market trading days, the noisy sounds of the town can be heard 2 kilometers away. The teahouses, hotels, opium dens and casinos are dotted here and there, with bright lights at night. It is truly a "city that never sleeps".
Fang Xinwen's family was originally a wealthy family in this town, and he was the youngest of his brothers and sisters, so he was favor adored on by his parents and two elder sisters from an early age. When the time came for him go to school, his parents spared no expense and hired the best local teacher for him. He is so clever that when he reads, he almost never forgets. Therefore, he read the ancient Chinese classics  without much effort. But as he grew older, the magic of the "city that never sleeps" soon dragged him into an unfathomable quagmire.
The local squire, Wang Peijiang, had already envied the houses and lands of Fang Xinwen’s home for a long time. After annexing the salt factory in Lianghekou, he set a pitfall for Fang Xinwen who was not yet familiar with the world.
One day, he directed his underling to find Fang Xinwen and said: "Now there is a good stuff, you just need to take a breath, your body as light as the swallow, and make you feel like a fairy." Fang Xinwen asked, "What is so stuff such a magical?" The man said, "I don't have to say anything, you just need to experience it once and you'll know." Then he pulled Fang Xinwen into an opium dens run by his master.
As soon as Fang Xinwen stepped into this opium dens, get into a deep hole and he can't get out of it. Due to his parents' strict control, he smoked opium without money to pay, and soon secretly ran up a lot of debts. Creditor Wang Peijiang is not in a hurry, he will come to a "arrangement long line, fishing big fish". He said to Fang Xinwen: "Young master Fang! It doesn't matter! That money, that's a small matter! Just come and put what you owe on the bill. It doesn't matter whether you pay early or late. When your parent dead and you are your own turn into the master, you will pay me principal and interest!" After hearing this, Fang Xinwen was greatly pleased. He was now free to be at ease smoke opium in the opium dens of the Wang Peijiang.
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