Chapter 35

Meanwhile, Madam Jiang Third sat at home for a moment, then gritted her teeth, brought a box of food, and went out to see Head Constable Feng.

Constable Feng had been arranged by his colleagues to stay at an inn.

When Madam Jiang Third found him, he was drinking. Seeing Madam Jiang Third, he immediately exploded with rage, seized her neck, and pinned her against the floor.

"Was it you, you cheap woman, who set the fire!"

Madam Jiang Third struggled with all her might. Just as she was about to suffocate, the other let her go. She clutched her neck, climbed up, her face covered in tears.

"Master, I heard about this matter and was worried sick. As soon as I saw my father’s ghost gate pass, I immediately brought food to see you. You... you treat me like this!"

Constable Feng retreated to his original spot, hugging a wine jar, gulping down the wine.

"She was a martial arts school’s daughter. Since childhood, she followed her father north and south, escorting goods. Bandits didn't kill her. But after finally living a good life, she died..." Constable Feng muttered to himself.

Madam Jiang Third climbed up. She picked up the food box, took out the unspoiled food, and placed it on the table.

"Master, you must take care of your health. Madam would worry about you..."

Hearing this, Constable Feng smashed the wine jar and started sobbing, tears and snot streaming out. @Unlimited Good Reads, all at Jinjiang Literature City

Madam Jiang Third's eyes showed disgust, but she quickly hid the emotion. Gently patting Constable Feng’s shoulder, she said: "These yamen runners dare not speak, but I dare. Master, you offended Secretary Huang before. I’ve heard Secretary Huang is narrow-minded by nature. Could it be him..."

Constable Feng flatly rejected this: "It wouldn't be him. When Secretary Huang learned of this, he immediately found me and said he would see justice done for me. After all, I handled many matters for him in the past.

"Besides, what benefit would he get from attacking my family? If my family met with disaster, everyone would immediately think of him!"

Constable Feng, using his meager brains, eliminated the suspect.

He touched his nose, smearing snot all over his face.

"Who on earth is it! If I find out, I will cut him into a thousand pieces!"

Madam Jiang Third was greatly horrified inside, barely managing to maintain calm. She said: "Master, since it's not Secretary Huang, could it be the person who came to you for a matter last night?"

Constable Feng said: "Nonsense! Do you know who came to me for that matter? It was..." Magistrate Wang’s secretary! He came on behalf of Magistrate Wang to have me do something.

He wanted me to take men and dispose of the Lin couple.

After the matter was done, he would recommend me to the neighboring county as a proper clerk, with the possibility of rising to an official post later.

How good Magistrate Wang is... No, he recalled Madam Feng’s words.

Why did this matter come to him to handle?

Doesn't Magistrate Wang have troops of his own to use? He clearly wants to use me to strike against our own county magistrate.

Constable Feng broke out in a cold sweat, regretting it deeply. He should never have let Madam Feng question Magistrate Wang’s secretary.

The other party’s methods reached the heavens; he surely knew about Madam Feng’s words questioning them, and therefore didn't trust him.

To prevent him from informing Magistrate Gu, they killed to silence her. Who knew he had taken his men out early in the morning to handle the matter...

Constable Feng’s mouth filled with bitterness.

Madam, oh Madam, your end like this—partly is my fault for not stopping you, but more so, it's your own fault.

Why, for no good reason, did you have to question things?

If you hadn't questioned them, today I would have dealt with Lin Yue and the other, and tomorrow we could have lived a better life.

Madam Jiang Third watched him weep, then startle, then rage, then grieve—as if someone had poured seven or eight seasonings into him. For a moment, she didn't know whether she had completed the task Sir Lin entrusted her with.

She probed carefully: "Was it really the person who asked you to do something?" She stamped her feet. "This person has the heart of a wolf and the lungs of a dog. Even if it costs me my life, I will avenge Madam!"

Constable Feng grabbed her: "You are no match for him. It's enough that you have this heart."

Madam Jiang Third knew in her heart the task was complete. Suppressing her joy, she said: "Are we to just swallow this? Since he could kill Madam, he certainly won't let us off! He'll fear that we'll seek revenge for Madam, so he'll definitely want our lives."

Constable Feng said: "Then we won't seek revenge for Madam!"

Madam Jiang Third's heart flashed with contempt: "If we say that, will he believe it?"

Constable Feng: "This... this..."

Madam Jiang Third knelt down, crying: "I also want to live. Master, think of a way!"

"What way could I possibly have!"

Madam Jiang Third grasped his hand, saying: "Master, go find the county magistrate. Ask him to take charge.

"We didn't actually lay hands on Sir Lin. If the magistrate asks why you took men to watch the Lin household, you just say that you learned of Magistrate Wang's plot and wanted to protect the Lin family.

"If the magistrate further asks why you didn't inform him immediately but instead took matters into your own hands, you say you feared he wouldn't believe you and wanted to catch Magistrate Wang’s men in the act.

"If the magistrate asks again why Magistrate Wang sought you out to do his business, you say you don't know either—and indeed you don't. But then guide him to think of Secretary Huang, using the opportunity to resolve this hidden threat that is Secretary Huang."

Constable Feng was dumbfounded. After a moment, he sighed.

"You have Madam's style."

Madam Jiang Third lowered her head and wept: "Madam, while alive, always taught me how to share the master's burdens. I never wanted to learn; with Madam here, where was the need for me? Unexpectedly..."

And so, Constable Feng...

After weeping, Constable Feng dismissed Madam Jiang Third. He paced within the room, unable to decide whether to do as she said. A yamen runner found him.

What did he say?

Constable Feng no longer hesitated and immediately decided to act according to what Madam Jiang Third had said.

He arrived at the magistrate's residence. Without waiting for the magistrate to speak, he immediately spilled everything Magistrate Wang’s secretary had asked him to do. After speaking, he also made excuses for himself.

Magistrate Gu had summoned him to bestow some things upon him. Not long before, Lin Yue had come to find him, saying Constable Feng's home had caught fire and his wife had died. He had received care from Constable Feng and hoped that, on his account, he'd look after Constable Feng a little, giving him a few days off.

Magistrate Gu thought: Since this matter was brought to him, how could he merely give someone a few days off? That would be too great a loss of official face. So he further decided to grant Constable Feng some rewards; the man was, after all, his person.

Who would have thought, who would have thought!

This Constable Feng actually backstabbed him and Lin Yue!

Magistrate Gu was merely unversed in practical affairs, but he wasn't stupid. Hearing Constable Feng say all this, he immediately guessed the other's true thoughts.

Both shocked and furious, he looked coldly at Constable Feng.

Constable Feng grew uneasy and stopped speaking.

Magistrate Gu said: "Drag him away and beat him to death with the staff!"

"What?!" Like a bolt from the blue, Constable Feng cried out in shock. Before he could beg for mercy, someone covered his mouth and nose and dragged him away.

Magistrate Gu's chest heaved violently. He leaned on the desk and said bitterly: "Wang Zhi, you just wait!"

.

Lin Yue returned to the courtyard. Just as he entered, Gu Jun came up to greet him. He smelled a burnt odor on the other.

Lin Yue said flatly: "What have you done?"

Gu Jun said: "Made dinner."

Lin Yue walked into the room. On the table were white rice porridge, stir-fried cabbage, and a basket of bean flour pancakes. The white rice porridge was terribly thick; the cabbage was black, yellow, and wilted, with a large amount of soup liquid; the bean flour pancakes, except for two that weren't burnt, were all burnt, as if coated with a layer of pot ash.

Lin Yue: "..."

Expressionless, Lin Yue turned around and walked away.

Gu Jun grabbed his hand, saying: "Where are you going?"

Lin Yue said: "Out to eat."

Gu Jun said angrily: "Didn't I make food!"

Lin Yue said: "Yes, you made it yourself. You can eat it yourself."

Gu Jun: "..."

Gu Jun: "I bear a grudge against you now!"

Lin Yue turned his head to look at him.

Gu Jun glared fiercely at him. After glaring for a moment, he flung Lin Yue's hand away, sat himself at the table, and ate.

Almost at the same instant, Lin Yue swiftly walked out.

Gu Jun sneered and seriously ate his own meal. So what if it's a bit thick, a bit overcooked, a bit burnt—to turn up one's nose at this, what a finicky man.

Gu Jun thought to himself, if only someone had helped stoke the fire, he wouldn't have made it like this.

Having to both tend the fire and cook alone is truly hard.

Eating and eating, Gu Jun’s expression gradually twisted. Finally, unable to hold back, he shed a tear.

Though he didn't want to admit it, it was truly so hard to swallow... I am also a finicky man.

Was the first meal under a beginner's protection period?

Is this going to be the death of me?

"Creak—"

The half-closed door opened.

Gu Jun looked up alertly. It was actually Lin Yue.

"Why are you back?" Gu Jun said in surprise. "You finished eating that quickly?"

Lin Yue noticed his damp eyes. As expected, he was crying again. If he were to settle that bastard's account with him, the other would probably cry enough to drown himself. His gaze stayed for a few breaths, then Lin Yue stepped into the room.

Only then did Gu Jun notice he had brought back a clay jar.

"What is this?"

Lin Yue said: "Pickled vegetables."

Gu Jun unscrewed the jar. A spicy, fragrant smell rushed out. His mouth nearly watered. "Can I eat some?" Gu Jun clutched it, unwilling to let go.

Lin Yue washed his hands, took out an earthenware bowl, ladled a bowl of white rice porridge, and sat at the table, saying: "As you please." After speaking, his brow furrowed slightly as he took a sip.

So he hadn't eaten.

But why come back to eat... didn't he say, you made it yourself, you eat it yourself?

Gu Jun couldn't figure him out. Silently withdrawing his gaze, he turned his bamboo chopsticks around, used the handle end to scoop a generous amount of pickled vegetables, and put it in his bowl.

The pickled vegetables had already been mashed, so one couldn't tell what vegetable they were made from. But they were fully fragrant and spicy, exceptionally delicious.

With just this bit of pickled vegetables, Gu Jun could happily swallow the otherwise unpalatable meal.

After Gu Jun finished eating, he saw Lin Yue was still eating and went to the kitchen to heat his medicine.

At that moment, the dog the homeowner kept tied at the back door let out loud barks.

He went out to look. The homeowner had gone out a step before him to check. The other paced at the doorway for a while, then smacked the dog on its head. "There's no one there again, what are you barking wildly about?!"

The dog, after being hit, tucked its tail and shrank back.

Seeing this, Gu Jun retreated back to the kitchen and continued brewing his medicine.

Late at night, after taking his medicine and washing the bowls, the two went out to buy two sets of ready-made clothes, then he went to bathe.

Lin Yue hadn't bathed yet. He sat at the table, writing his coursework. The splashing sound of water kept drilling into his ears, distracting him somewhat as he wrote.

He pressed the back of his neck and looked toward the corner. Steam crept out through the gaps in the bamboo curtain, causing the entire room to be tinged with a layer of moisture.

He thought of that unsettled bastard's account. Lowering his gaze, he watched the ink dripping from the brush tip spread on the paper. He slowly set down his brush, walked to the front of the bamboo curtain, and said: "Don't make such big noises."

Settling half of the bastard's account is enough. Not settling it at all, the other will sooner or later ride on his head.

Gu Jun: "?"

Gu Jun said: "I'm moving very lightly."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Gu Jun saw the bamboo curtain sway. The other was about to lift the curtain and come in.

Gu Jun was so frightened he stood up from the water, reached out, and gripped the bamboo curtain, saying: "I haven't finished bathing yet!"

Lin Yue said: "Your bathing is too noisy. I've come to help you."

Gu Jun said: "I'll lighten my movements!"

Lin Yue said: "Wouldn't that be putting you in a difficult position?"

"It wouldn't be difficult at all!"

Gu Jun couldn't hold him back any longer. Seeing a corner of the bamboo curtain being lifted, he immediately released one hand, grabbed the brand-new inner garment hanging on the wall, draped it over himself, then tugged the hem downward, covering his crucial areas.

Unexpectedly, the bamboo curtain was only lifted halfway before being lowered again. Gu Jun heard the other party laugh.

"Is there something wrong with you?" Gu Jun said angrily. He didn't even know how many times he had said the other had something wrong.

Lin Yue said: "I am a bastard. Wouldn't that mean I should do things that aren't human?"

Gu Jun: "..."

No wonder the other said during the day that he'd settle accounts at night.

Gu Jun fell silent.

Lin Yue gave a scornful laugh, sat back at the desk, and continued writing his coursework.

Seeing that the other was no longer pursuing the matter, Gu Jun set his mind at ease. While regretting his earlier impulsive actions, he took off his wet clothes and continued bathing.

After bathing, he boldly asked the other to hand him his other newly bought inner garment. The one he had prepared to change into was wet and couldn't be worn.

Lin Yue responded and got up to fetch the clothes.

Gu Jun waited but didn't receive them. Instead, he heard a loud crash. After the crash, a flurry of footsteps sounded; he heard the noise of objects colliding.