Gu Jun hadn’t had any candy for a long time. He handed half of it to Lin Yue, carefully holding the sugar cake himself, and took a bite while saying to Lin Yue, “We spend at least fourteen wen a day, and you earn twelve wen a day… I don’t know how to redeem my clothes. Also, given the current situation, if you lose this job, we’ll be left with nothing. Have you thought about what to do next? Honestly, I think one meal a day is enough for me…”
Gu Jun had been thinking all afternoon and decided that if there was a problem, he should discuss it with Lin Yue to come up with a solution together.
Before he could finish speaking, three people emerged from the corner ahead, blocking their path.
Before Gu Jun could react, Lin Yue grabbed his wrist and pulled him behind him. Gu Jun stumbled a couple of steps, and the sugar cake in his hand flew out, landing right in front of one of the men.
“Tsk.”
The man stepped forward, stomped on the sugar cake, and ground it into a “muddy mess.”
“Little lady, step aside. It wouldn’t be good if you got hurt.” The man lifted his leg and kicked the “muddy mess” a few meters away, staring straight at Lin Yue.
At this moment, the sun was setting, and the earth was growing dim. They were in a narrow alley, with shadows cast by the buildings on either side, making it hard to see the faces of the people in front of them. All they could tell was that the man was a burly middle-aged man, wearing a purple round robe, a leather belt, black boots, and a long knife at his waist.
The visitor was not friendly.
Lin Yue whispered to Gu Jun, “Go, find a place to hide. I’ll come find you later.”
“But you…”
Lin Yue said, “You’re in the way here.” Gu Jun looked at Lin Yue, gritted his teeth, and turned to run.
The middle-aged man didn’t pay him any mind, nor did he send anyone to chase him. He just looked at Lin Yue and said, “Are you going to break your own legs, or should I help you?”
Lin Yue replied, “Did the pawnshop clerk send you?”
The middle-aged man laughed, “That wretch couldn’t afford me. I’m just in a bad mood and wanted to find someone to vent on. He happened to ask me to deal with you, so you ran into me. Consider yourself lucky.”
Gu Jun headed towards the Huayang Wine Shop, choosing a crowded path. He didn’t hide as Lin Yue suggested, waiting for him to come find him. Three against one, what if… he means, what if… Lin Yue, his cheap husband, absolutely cannot die!
The Huayang Wine Shop had constables who would sneak in for a drink. Previously, when he and Old Huo passed by the Huayang Wine Shop, Old Huo pointed them out, saying they were all show and no substance. When it came to real work, they were half-baked, swaying as they walked.
However, these half-baked constables had one great advantage: if someone caused you trouble on the street, you could pay them, and they would protect you.
The county was small, with complicated relationships. These constables were officially government people, receiving government pay, and not aligned with the underworld forces.
In reality, these constables and the underworld forces, even if not related by blood, had interests tied together. The common people living here inevitably had to deal with them.
Therefore, if they stepped in to protect you, all sorts of demons and monsters would have to back off. In simple terms, you had to give them some face.
It was most appropriate for Gu Jun to find these constables to help Lin Yue out of trouble.
The Huayang Wine Shop was getting closer and closer.
Gu Jun’s heart was pounding, his body trembling, and his knees were in excruciating pain.
This is Zhuyang County, not Yanlin County. The constables here won’t arrest you. Stay calm, stay calm.
Gu Jun was breaking out in a cold sweat, gradually unable to walk. He leaned against the wall, grabbed a passerby, and said, “Can you help me call a constable from the wine shop?”
The locals here called constables “captains,” and Gu Jun had learned this after spending some time here.
Just as the person was about to speak, someone else beat them to it, saying, “I’ll help you.”
Before Gu Jun could say thank you, he looked up and, by the light of the lanterns from the wine shop and the food shop on the left, was horrified to find that the person was none other than the pawnshop clerk—Zhao Shuilai.