Chapter 39 Misunderstanding

  The sky was barely bright, and in a small, narrow room, Jin Ge'er sat on the floor leaning against a low table, yawning.

  The snoring sounds like thunder around me, the room is filled with the smell of wine, foot odor, sweat stench, mixed with the original greasy sweet fragrance, making people feel nauseous.

  Jin Geer carefully moved his arm that was pinning Da Han down on his leg away, and only then did he take stock of their surroundings.

  The light outside shines through the red paper window lattice, casting a layer of mystery inside, but at this time, seven big men are scattered on the ground, looking particularly eerie.

  Jin Ge'er tiptoed to the door and carefully opened it.

  The yard was also generally narrow and short, with more than half of the sunlight unable to shine in. Red lanterns were hung on the trees and under the eaves, still shining brightly. Soft giggles could be heard coming from somewhere. Jin Ge'er subconsciously looked over and saw that the door of the neighboring house had been opened, revealing a disheveled couple lingering in each other's presence.

  "Grandfather, I'll come again tomorrow, without you, our home is restless every night."

  "Smart kid, what do you think I'm thinking?"

  One side was teasing and the other was kissing, Jin Ge'er stared with wide eyes, then looked at that woman's skin, scared to shut the door with a bang, his heart beating almost out of his throat.

  What kind of ghost place is this...

  The loud noise made all the big men in the house suddenly wake up and habitually feel for their waists.

  "Brother Jin, you're awake." A big man was the first to come back to his senses, seeing a frightened-looking Brother Jin by the door, and said vaguely while getting up.

  "Jiang Lin Ge, let's hurry up and find my wife," Jin Ge Er said hastily.

  Their words woke up more people.

  "It's dawn." Everyone murmured vaguely and sat up, momentarily disoriented about where they were.

  Someone shook the nearby wine jar. Some disappointed ones were thrown open.

  "Ungrateful! That Seventh has forgotten our past kindness. In difficult times, he promised us well, but now he's sent us away with just a few taels of silver. Are we beggars? He muttered to himself, "This little money is only enough for a thatched hut, not even enough to have fun with women."

  "What are we, fugitives or something? We might as well just go home and farm. Another one sat up with a gloomy face and said, "What did we bring him here for if not to turn the case around? That scoundrel forced us to flee, intentionally framing us as deserters. He doesn't say he'll take charge of turning the case around for us, but instead dismisses us like this."

  The man lying on the ground with his hands under his head smiled slightly.

  "He said, 'To treat you like this is also a matter of benevolence and righteousness.'"

  His whiskers were still unkempt, and he looked just as slovenly as before, but his voice was rich and sonorous, his tone calm and measured, with a cultured air that set him apart from the others. It was indeed the same man who had read a few books and been ill previously.

  "Third brother, how can you say that? If it weren't for us back then, Qi would have lost his life. How could he possibly come to the capital and marry into a wealthy family, and become an official?" The man beside him said with wide eyes in discontent.

  "It was actually you, Third Brother, that the Ma family's eldest son had his eyes on at first. It was only because you knew that Seventh liked Miss Ma that you deliberately pushed him away..." Another man also said.

  Third brother smiled, withdrew his hand and sat up, with a quick movement.

  "He didn't turn us in, that's already a repayment. Not doing something for oneself, who would be willing to take the lead? That's just how the world is, don't bother calculating it." he said.

  "Who's willing to take the lead?" A man said, glancing at Jin Ge who was standing motionless beside him, seemingly only remembering after a pause, "Hey, isn't that the lifesaving wife just like that?"

  The people in the house all came back to their senses and looked at Jin Ge'er one after another.

  "Really, really, unexpectedly found a wife so smoothly."

  "Didn't this kid say he lost his wife?"

  Putting an end to everyone's chatter, Third Brother sat down in front of Golden Boy.

  "Jin Ge, think again about your wife's house, we'll go look for it." He said in a gentle voice.

  Jin Ge'er had just nodded and was about to speak when a man sitting at the door suddenly let out a hiss.

  The cluttered room immediately fell silent.

  "Big brother, how is it?" someone asked in a low voice.

  The man sitting in front of the door looked out from the gap under the door with a gloomy face and turned his head back.

  "There are soldiers searching for something." He said in a low voice, "Is it, Xiang Qi..."

  The people inside immediately stood up, their faces solemn.

  "So tall, with a Jiangzhou accent." The soldier at the gate said, gesturing with one hand while handing the old madam a sketch.

  The old woman hurried over and looked at it seriously.

  "You look familiar," she said.

  A prostitute with disheveled hair also came over to take a look.

  "Ah, it's him," she exclaimed, "the one who came last night, flanked by several men, with a tear-stained face."

  The soldiers were overjoyed.

  After tossing and turning for one night, it finally took shape.

  "Those men were fierce and came to the brothel, but they didn't have any money. They ordered a feast to eat." The prostitute said hastily, thinking that she hadn't gotten any customers last night and had wasted her efforts on these men. Seeing the soldier arrive, she added fuel to the fire, "That little kid was sandwiched between them, shrinking in the corner and crying, who knows if he's been kidnapped..."

  The man is fierce and cruel, the child cries, he goes to the brothel but doesn't allow his wife to accompany him.

  The soldiers suddenly had a bad association.

  Although the child's drawing doesn't look great, from last night to now, how many people in the capital have been rushing about. The low-ranking soldiers aren't clear on the specifics, but it's said that there's a connection with the Chen family too - several of the Chen family's sons were also searching around on the streets last night.

  Whose precious son is this who has gotten lost?

  The pampered son of a wealthy family, delicate and tender...

  The little soldiers exchanged a glance, pressed down on the waist knives in their hands, and slowly retreated.

  The chance to make achievements has arrived!

  "Kinta Alley?" Shūrō asked, looking at the servant who had come to report.

  "Yes, young master, people from the prefecture and the Five Victorious Military Command have all gone." The servant said happily.

  The maid happily grasped Miss Cheng's arm.

  "Daughter, daughter, found her, found her." She shouted, and then was surprised, "This little brat, how did she run to that place?"

  Cheng Jiaoniang looked at her.

  "That is Huāhuā Jiē," the maid explained in a low voice, leaning in closer.

  "As for the young lady, according to the people from the government office, it seems that Golden Brother has been kidnapped." The servant hastily said.

  "Abducted?" The maid was surprised and became tense again. "Then, then you'd better let them be careful not to force those abducted people to get hurt."

  At this time, more soldiers gathered outside the kiln door of the Jin family in Jintang Alley.

  The old procuress pointed them in a direction with trembling fingers, and the soldiers quietly passed by.

  Standing outside the door, I listened intently and heard a faint snoring sound coming from inside the room.

  The prostitute said these people came late last night and drank until almost dawn before sleeping, so they must still be in a drunken dream now.

  The soldiers stood at attention, exchanged a glance. Raised the knives in their hands, suddenly shouted in unison, and kicked open the door to charge in.

  "Deal with cases fairly and leniently, and spare the lives of those who confess their crimes."

  A loud shout arose in the room, but it was quickly silenced. The soldiers and runners looked at each other in dismay.

  The room was empty and deserted, with no one in sight. The back window was wide open, its oil-paper pane pierced through, making a humming noise like snoring as the wind blew through.

  "Run!"

  "Indeed, it's a thief!"

  "Come on!"

  The man peeked out of the alley and waved his hand. Several people rushed out quickly.

  "This devilish capital city has so many alleys, which side is the city gate on?" a man said in a low voice.

  "We can't go to the city gate now. They must have set up people waiting on that side of the city gate too." said San Ge, who was walking in front.

  "The old three is right," said the big brother walking behind, looking around.

  Through this alley, we arrived at the bustling street. The morning market was already very lively, and there were more and more people walking in this alley, who cast curious glances at these seven people and a half-grown child.

  Several people subconsciously tilted their heads and lowered their faces, and before they knew it, the old man in front suddenly stopped in his tracks, causing them to bump into him.

  "Over there!"

  A group of people ran past on the main street, suddenly saw this side, and one of them shouted.

  "Come on, hurry up!" Old Three shouted.

  Everyone turned around in surprise.

  Jin Ge was frightened out of his wits. What on earth is going on? He had lost his way, and now he was inexplicably being pursued by the authorities.

  "Brother Jin will be implicated if he follows us, let's find a place to get rid of him." Big Brother said.

  "Brother Jianglin." Jin Ge'er shouted in a trembling voice.

  "Although you've run away, your wife will definitely find you as long as you're in the capital. She'll always be able to track you down. But if you get caught up with us and end up in prison, then I'm afraid you might never see your wife again." Lao San said, striding quickly away.

  Jin Ge didn't dare speak again and followed with his head down, running away.

  "There's a haystack over there, quickly hide in it." Big brother saw it with one eye and whispered, pushing Jin Ge out with one hand.

  Jin Ge'er was about to take a step forward, but then he saw a large group of people coming from the other side.

  "We've found him!" they shouted in a tumultuous uproar, charging forward with their weapons.

  At this time, Jin Geer couldn't get rid of his connection with them even if he wanted to split up again. Lao San stretched out his hand and pulled Jin Geer back.

  "He shouted: 'Climb over the wall and get on the roof.'"

  Seven people immediately climbed sideways in all directions.

  Lao San lifted Jin Ge'er up with one hand, and the man who had jumped up earlier reached out to pull him in, flipping him inside the wall.

  People and horses rushing from both sides surrounded the courtyard neatly.

  "What are you doing there!" Zhou Liuzi stretched out his hand and grabbed Cheng Jiaoniang's arm, shouting with raised eyebrows.

  Jiang Nang turned her head and glanced at him.

  "Take a look," she said.

  "What are you looking at? Wait here and don't cause any trouble." Zhou Liu Lang said with a scowl.

  Jiang Yao looked at him again, her eyes seriously examining him, just like that one time she examined the young man who came to plead guilty.

  Zhou Lang felt his hand was scalded and suddenly let go.

  "Have you always been so stupid?" asked Cheng Jiaoniang.

  "You're the foolish one!" Zhou Liu Lang's face twitched with rage as he gritted his teeth and glared.

  "Yes, I was indeed foolish." Jingniang withdrew her gaze and stepped forward, "But I'm not stupid."

  Jin Ge'er shrank into the corner of the wall, his expression both fearful and perplexed.

  Several big men stood guard in front of him, while on the other side, the family was also crying and squeezed into a corner.

  There was a loud knocking sound outside.

  "...Don't be afraid, we have no way to hide in here, and reluctantly take you as hostages. We just want to delay time and will not harm you." Lao San said solemnly to this family.

  But this comfort is completely useless.

  "Good fellow, spare our lives! Good fellow, spare our lives!" The whole family cried out trembling.

  "Third Brother, stop talking nonsense. Take Golden Boy and leave." said Eldest Brother.

  "Let him take it with him then." Old Three shook his head. "I'm not well enough. Can't carry it."

  "I'm not leaving!" a man shouted immediately, holding a broken blade in his hand.

  After a brief moment of silence outside, footsteps sounded.

  "Those inside, hand over the person and we'll let bygones be bygones." a voice shouted.

  No one answered him naturally.

  A man couldn't help but turn his head back.

  "It's really strange, they keep shouting for us to hand over the person, are they stupid? What person do we have to hand over? How can we possibly hand ourselves over?" he asked.

  Lao San furrowed his brow.

  At this time, the entire street outside the door was sealed off and packed with people. All sorts of discussions were circulating.

  "...a great thief in the vast ocean..."

  "...a mountain bandit who killed over a hundred people..."

  Rumors spread rapidly among the crowd.

  "What did you say?" asked Cheng Jiaoniang.

  An official who was explaining the current standoff situation to Shūroku glanced over there.

  What is this girl running here for?

  Who is following Saturday Lang?

  But Zhou Lang didn't have any intention of blocking or scolding him, and instead turned his head away, and the official understood.

  "...held a family of four hostage, so no one dared to launch a strong attack." He said with a hint of respect.

  "Tell them, as long as they hand over the person, nothing will be pursued." The maid said hastily, "Giving money is also okay."

  The key is now, this kind of talk has been said, and the people inside won't believe it either...

  These things. Women just don't understand them at home.

  The official nodded in response.

  "At first, the person who found them said: 'I want to see that person.' said Jingniang."

  The old procuress was soon brought over from Golden Lotus Lane, which wasn't far away.

  "We don't know either, we're just running a business, whoever comes in needs to be received, who knew these people were swindlers..." The old madam repeatedly cried out grievances, wailing to the heavens.

  "What are these people like?" interrupted Cheng Jiaoniang.

  "Don't cry, speak properly." The maid looked at the old procuress and asked again what Tong Yao had said.

  What's wrong...

  The old prostitute pouted.

  "There's nothing special about them, outsiders, with a menacing look, very tall, with beards. At that time, the child was crying, and those people even threatened him, saying something like 'don't cry, or you won't see your mother again...'". She said, adding oil to the fire, making these thugs sound more intimidating, so that later on they could appear to have been coerced and avoid punishment.

  "How many people?" Cheng Jiaoniang interrupted her and asked.

  "Seven then..." The old procuress said after some thought.

  Before she could finish speaking, Jing Jiuniang took a step forward, pushed her aside and walked straight into the alley.

  The maid hesitated for a moment before following him without any hesitation. Zhou Liu naturally lifted his foot and stretched out his hand to grab her arm.

  "That's enough." He said in a low voice, gritting his teeth.

  "Good." said Jingniang Cheng.

  "You're clever!" Zhou Liu Lang glared at her with gritted teeth.

  "That's not kidnapping," said Cheng Jiaoniang, "that's helping."

  Zhōu liù láng lèngle lèngle.

  Translation: Zhou Liu was stunned.

  On the other side of the courtyard, Old Three also slapped his thigh heavily.

  "Good heavens!" he exclaimed, "A misunderstanding!"

  Everyone come and see.

  "What's wrong?" asked Lao Da.

  "Open the door." Lao San shouted hastily without waiting for an answer.

  Everyone was stunned.

  "Third brother, we can't just admit defeat like this!" Several people shouted with wide eyes.

  Lao San shook his head and walked quickly towards the door.

  "It's not cowardice, it's a misunderstanding joke!" he said, shouting loudly again.

  "Open the door!"

  This time, it wasn't just his voice, a woman's voice also echoed from outside.

  As soon as the sound came out, there was a moment of silence.

  "Open the door."

  Inside and outside said at the same time again.

  Jin Geer, who had been shrinking in his seat all along, suddenly stood up.

  "Daughter!" he shouted, getting up and rushing out.

  The old man took three big steps forward and opened the door. He looked at the woman standing outside, still wrapped in her cloak and hood as usual.

  Two places facing each other across a distance.

  The man couldn't help it and burst out laughing.

  Jiang Yao's mouth curved slightly and she lowered her head slightly.

  Saturday Lang, who was closely following behind, tightened his face as he watched this scene.

  Wishing you all a prosperous and auspicious Year of the Horse!!

  The first day of the horse year, the last day of this month, is about to be blasted away...

  40,000 character update, seeking votes, still watching updates, vote for support. (....)