Chapter 14 The Driver's Dinner

The residence where Zhao Dongyun lives in Baoding City is not a traditional courtyard where Chinese people live, but a small foreign-style building that has only emerged in recent years. This small foreign-style building was originally built by an Austrian-Hungary arms dealer and was later purchased by Zhao Dongyun. The small building itself is not large with only two floors, but the small building occupies a large garden. The area is surrounded by brick walls and iron fences.

This small building is not big, but there are not many people living there. In addition to his owner, there is also an old housekeeper from Xuzhou, as well as a little maid and a cook in Baoding. A few days ago, his cousin Zhao Dongping was still living, but now he has moved to the barracks, so there are only four people left in this small building.

In the evening, Zhao Dongyun had changed into a new dress. The long leather boots under his feet were shiny by the little maid. After taking over the tweed military coat handed over by the old housekeeper, he put on his hat and walked down the stairs.

At this time, he had seen his two guards waiting respectfully in the living room downstairs.

The old housekeeper walked ahead and helped Zhao Dongyun open the door and said, "Sir, the handlebars outside are waiting!"

Zhao Dongyun nodded and said, "Uncle is tired. I guess I'll come back later. You don't have to wait for me. You all go to bed early!"

Zhao Dongyun's old housekeeper said that he was a housekeeper, but in fact he was Zhao Dongyun's distant relatives. Although the blood relationship has been unknown for many generations, the superficial respect still needs to be maintained. After all, he is specially sent by his old mother in his hometown in Xuzhou to take care of him.

Without waiting for Butler Xu to answer, Zhao Dongyun stepped out of the door first. As soon as he went out, he felt a bitter chill on his face. Baoding in February was still very cold, and it had just snowed a few days ago.

When I went out of the door, I saw several people waiting in front of the door, and there were three oriental cars on the side. As soon as the three drivers saw the door being knocked open, they quickly trotted over and pulled the car. The first man who was about 40 years old said, "I've seen the master!"

Zhao Dongyun hasn't spoken yet. Butler Xu behind him has already stepped forward to the driver and said, "Send the master to Chongyu Building and send him back in the evening. If there is any neglect on the road, be careful!"

Although Butler Xu said harshly, the young man was not full at all. Instead, he showed his uneven yellow teeth and smiled honestly: "Thank you, Butler Xu for your praise. Don't worry, we promise to send the master safely!"

The reason why he waited outside in the cold weather and remained enthusiastic in the face of Butler Xu's cold words was that Butler Xu said to them first: If Zhao Dongyun is satisfied with this trip, he will often call him in the future. If this can really work, he will not have to worry about a meal in the future. You can also save money to make clothes for your little daughter.

Zhao Dongyun did not pay much attention to the low conversation between Butler Xu and the man pulling the car. At this time, he had already got on the car first, and the two guards behind him also got on the Oriental car with an excited face. It was the first time for them to take this novel vehicle.

According to the current people's concept, it is impossible for the two guards to get the treatment of riding in a car. The normal situation should be that Zhao Dongyun is sitting in an oriental car, while the two guards are following the trot. However, Zhao Dongyun has the soul of later generations, and it is difficult to ignore the tiredness of his own soldiers around him, but he sits well. Anyway, the money spent by one person in the car is not much different from the money spent by three people in the car.

Besides, this is an extra car, which can be regarded as giving people an extra livelihood!

These days, Dongyang cars are just like taxis in later generations. Drivers need business to fill their families' stomachs. If Zhao Dongyun can hire a few more drivers, it is equivalent to taking care of the business of several drivers.

"Master, sit down!" After saying this, the man in front of him pulled up the car, first walked out of the gate along the bluestone path of the yard, and then turned directly into the street.

The rubber-wrapped iron wheel and the spring shock-absorbing body make Zhao Dongyun sitting on it not notice the vibration of the car body at all. Although the speed of the driver in front is not fast, it is very stable, and there is no trace of emergency stop or acceleration.

At this time, it is nearly six o'clock in the evening. I'm afraid there is no darkness in summer and autumn, but now at the time of the handover of winter and spring, the sky has begun to fade.

With the dimness of the street, there was a little candlelight around. At this time, Zhao Dongyun's Dongyang car also turned on early. This headlight was a kerosene lamp, which hung on the long wooden handle protruding from the front of the handlebar.

The dark weather in the late winter was faster than Zhao Dongyun imagined. When they came to Chongyu Tower, it was already mostly dark. Zhao Dongyun got off the rickshaw and said to the middle-aged driver who had already gasped, "You don't have to wait. Find a place to eat two mouthfuls of tea first!"

Unexpectedly, the middle-aged man said, "Thank you for your kindness. We brought our own food and just find a hunch corner to eat!"

Unexpectedly, Zhao Dongyun frowned and took out a silver dollar from his coat pocket and handed it over: "It's a tip. Take it and eat a ton of hot rice!"

After Zhao Dongyun handed over the eagle, the first driver immediately appeared in surprise, and the first two younger drivers smiled.

These oriental drivers usually only earn two or three taels of silver a month from early to late. This must be a good business. Tonight, they pulled Zhao Dongyun and his party. In fact, Xu's housekeeper has already given it, and now Zhao Dongyun's silver dollar is a pure tip!

They even thought that if they could attract guests like Zhao Dongyun several times a month, I'm afraid they would live a much better life!

After giving the silver reward, Zhao Dongyun turned around and entered the Chongyu Tower without looking at their happy look. What he didn't know was that after the three drivers gave the silver dollar with a smile, they did not go to a nearby restaurant for dinner as Zhao Dongyun thought, but took out the cold steamed bun wrapped in white cloth while drinking water. While biting the steamed bread, he ate it like this.

The middle-aged man led by biting the cold steamed bun and said, "I made a little fortune tonight. With those saved before, I guess I can make a new dress for the big girl."

The short driver behind smiled and said, "You know how to think about those at home every day. It's better for us to finish work and have a sip of it, but some days we haven't drunk it. I'm very greedy!"

"Haha, okay, let's see if Xu Butcher sells any leftover pig ears, and if there is, it's easy to make some wine!" The other one also responded.

The dim light from the window on the other side of the street brought a glimmer of light to the dim corner. Under the dim light, the three men drank a mouthful of water, took a bite of steamed buns, and said how much wine they would be made, how much meat they would cut, and how much cloth they would buy.

At this time, Zhao Dongyun, as soon as he entered the Chongyu Building, a middle-aged man in a horse coat quickly greeted him: "This military master came to the banquet of Lord Wang, right? My surname is Qian Yan, and I am the housekeeper of Chongyu Tower. I don't know the name of the distinguished guest?"

Zhao Dongyun was a little surprised. It was the first time he came to a place. How did the shopkeeper here know that he came to Wang Yingkai's banquet? But looking down at his tweed military coat, everyone knew that he was a new army officer, and I'm afraid that nine out of ten new army officers who can come to Chongyu Tower today came to the banquet!

nodded slightly, and Zhao Dongyun said, "My name is Zhao. Has Lord Wang arrived?"

"It turned out that it was led by Zhao Tong. Qian Yan has been looking forward to him for a long time. Lord Wang has not arrived yet, but Lord Xu Bangjie, Lord Bao Guiqing and Lord He Zonglian have arrived first. Please take Zhao Tong to Zezhi Pavilion first to gather with the adults!" Qian Yu said as he led the way to the backyard.

Chongyulou is not a restaurant in the usual sense, nor is it a pure brothel, but a combination of the two. Although there are also prostitutes, the focus is on food and banquets. In addition, Chongyulou is usually not open to ordinary people and is relatively secretive, so many military and political dignitaries like to come here for banquets or discuss important things.

Although this Chongyu Building is named after the building, it is actually not a tall building. Instead, it is a garden similar to a Jiangnan mansion. Many courtyard pavilions have been designated as guests' banquets, and Zezhi Pavilion is one of them.

In a long time, Zhao Dongyun was introduced into the Zezhi Pavilion. As soon as he entered, he saw that there was already a large table of people sitting in it, but there were only three men in it, and the remaining few people were the girls in the song. The girls in the song passed by, but Zhao Dongyun recognized the three men.

I know them not because they are famous in history, but because they are all colleagues in the new army. Xu Bangjie is the general belt of the third battalion of the right wing of the Wuwei Right Army, while Bao Guiqing is the management belt of the second battalion of the left wing of Zuozhen, and He Zonglian is the management belt of the first battalion of the left wing of Zuozhen.

It has to be said here. Zhao Dongyun and Xu Bangjie, Bao Guiqing and He Zonglian are both in charge of a battalion, but this battalion is different from the battalion. The battalion on the other side of the Wuwei Right Army is a large battalion, with nearly 1,500 people in a battalion. The standing army is a small battalion system, with only more than 700 people in one battalion. Basically, the infantry battalions of the two standing army can be compared with the infantry battalion of a right military guard.

You can see from the chief titles of their respective infantry battalions. Bao Guiqing and He Zonglian are the titles of management, but Zhao Dongyun and Xu Bangjie are the titles of unified leadership. This regiment is a standard chief official title on the side of the standing army.

Zhao Dongyun had seen the three people in it before, so after entering, he first said, "Brothers came so early!"

"We have been hungry all day. Can we come earlier?" Xu Bangjie took the lead in laughing.

He Zonglian next to her said, "Superintendent Zhao, you are late. We have already drunk several cups. No, you have to punish yourself three cups!"