Gu Yun had not had sugar for a very long time. He handed half of it to Lin Yue, carefully holding the sugar cake himself, lowering his head to bite into it as he said to Lin Yue:
“We spend at least fourteen coins a day, and you earn twelve… I don’t know how I’m supposed to redeem my clothes. There’s also another matter. Under the current situation, once you lose this job, we’ll be left to starve. Have you thought about what other work you’ll do? Actually, I still think one meal a day is enough for me…”
Gu Yun had spent the entire afternoon thinking it through and decided that whenever there was a problem, he would discuss it with Lin Yue and come up with a solution together.
Before he could finish speaking, three people appeared from the corner ahead, blocking their path.
Gu Yun had not yet reacted when Lin Yue grabbed his wrist and yanked him behind him.
Gu Yun staggered two steps. The sugar cake in his hand flew out with a “plop” and landed right in front of one of them.
“Tsk.”
The man stepped forward, stamped on the sugar cake, and ground it beneath his foot until it became a lump of “mud”.
“Move aside, young lady. It would be unfortunate if you were hurt.” He kicked the “mud” several metres away, staring straight at Lin Yue.
At that moment, the sun was setting and the world was growing dim.
They were in a narrow alley. The houses on both sides cast heavy shadows over the road, making it difficult to see the man’s face. Only that he was a burly middle-aged man in a purple robe, wearing a leather belt and black boots, with a long blade at his waist.
He was clearly hostile.
Lin Yue lowered his voice to Gu Yun. “Go. Find somewhere to hide. I’ll come find you later.”
“But you…”
Lin Yue said, “You’re in the way here.”
Gu Yun looked at him, gritted his teeth, then turned and ran.
The middle-aged man ignored him completely and did not send anyone after him. He simply looked at Lin Yue and said, “Are you going to break your own legs, or shall I help you?”
Lin Yue asked, “Did that pawnshop clerk send you?”
The man laughed. “That useless good-for-nothing isn’t worth my time. I’m just in a foul mood and want to vent on someone. He just happened to ask me to deal with you, and you walked right into it. That’s your luck.”
—
Gu Yun ran through the busier streets towards Huiyang Wine Shop.
He did not follow Lin Yue’s instructions to hide and wait. Three against one, and what if… just what if… his cheap husband, Lin Yue, really died?
The constables from the city guard were idling and drinking at Huiyang Wine Shop. Earlier, when he and Old Huo passed by, Old Huo had pointed them out, saying they were all show and no substance, half-baked at best.
But these half-baked constables had one excellent advantage: if you were harassed in the street, you could pay them and they would protect you.
The county town was small and full of tangled relationships. These constables were officially government officers, paid by the authorities, but they were not truly separate from the local gangs.
In truth, even if they were not related by blood, there were always vested interests involved. The townsfolk also had constant dealings with them.
So if they intervened on your behalf, most troublemakers would back off. In short, they had to be given some respect.
It was precisely right for Gu Yun to seek their help to rescue Lin Yue.
Huiyang Wine Shop drew nearer and nearer.
Gu Yun’s heart pounded violently. His body trembled, and both knees throbbed with sharp pain.
This was Zhuyang County, not Yanlin County. The constables here would not arrest him. Calm down. Stay calm.
Cold sweat broke out across his body, and his legs gradually refused to carry him further. He braced himself against a wall and grabbed a passer-by. “Could you please help me call a constable from the wine shop?”
Locals called constables “constable masters”. After several days here, he had learned the term.
Before the man could respond, someone spoke first.
“I’ll help you.”
Gu Yun did not even have time to thank them. He looked up and, by the lantern light from the wine shop ahead and the food stall to the side, recognised the man with horror.
It was the pawnshop clerk, Zhao Shuilai.
