Honey, you didn’t really drugged me, did you?

Chapter 71: Chapter 71: The 13 Protectors (Please Subscribe)

“Jiu Si!”

Early in the morning, Chen Jie was having a meal with Su Yunjin when he heard a shout from outside. Soon after, Xiao Hu stood beyond the hedge.

“Hu Zi, come on in.”

Chen Jie, sipping on sorghum rice soup, waved Xiao Hu over.

“Sister-in-law!”

Xiao Hu greeted Su Yunjin as he entered.

Su Yunjin smiled and said, “You’re here. Have you eaten? Join us for a bit.”

“No need, sister-in-law, I’ve already eaten, already eaten!”

Chen Jie laughed, “Big lad, you should eat a bit more.”

Saying so, he scooped a large bowl of sorghum rice soup and offered it, “Here, Hu Zi, eat up. Your sister-in-law’s cooking is quite delicious, isn’t that right, Ruirui?”

“Yeah, it’s tasty!”

Daisy nodded her head.

Hu Zi felt somewhat embarrassed, but Su Yunjin had already handed him the chopsticks.

“Eat up, and once you’re done, you can report to the fishery with your brother Jiu Si.”

Hu Zi felt genuinely hungry, as he needed to report to the fishery that day, and so he had woken up early. He had eaten the meal his mother made, but in these times, who could ever eat their fill?

It was nothing more than eight parts full, and after a morning’s toiling, there wasn’t much left in his stomach!

Indeed, he felt hungry now.

Seeing that Chen Jie and Su Yunjin didn’t seem to be merely polite, he began to eat.

After the family had their fill, Chen Jie left with Xiao Hu.

They didn’t head straight for the fishery, instead, they stopped by the town first.

They bought some things and then returned to the village, heading toward the Bai Family home.

Just as they reached the Bai Family residence, Chen Jie saw several fine horses at the entrance!

Horses like these were rare to see in Mianshui, and for a simple reason – Mianshui was in the south, and in this era, the regions that bred horses were all in the north.

A good horse transported from the north to the south could fetch a fortune.

Therefore, in the whole of Mianshui County, those who could ride fine horses were mostly influential people.

And today, early in the morning, there were five such fine horses parked in front of the Bai Family house, which clearly indicated that something significant was afoot.

Chen Jie said to Xiao Hu, “Xiao Hu, you wait outside for a bit. I’ll go in and take a look.”

With that, he picked up the gift he had bought, a decades-old Lingzhi mushroom worth eight silver taels, which he intended for Wu Zhong.

From the twenty taels he received yesterday, Chen Jie spent eight taels on the Lingzhi as a gift for Wu Zhong.

With the remaining ten taels, he bought rice, flour, oil, and other gifts to distribute to his brothers at the fishery, as a gesture of his goodwill.

And then there were the last two silver taels, which Chen Jie left with Su Yunjin – the household needed some cash for unexpected expenses.

Knock, knock, knock…

He knocked on the door, and after a while, someone opened it – it was Bai!

“Jiu Si!”

“Auntie!”

The two exchanged greetings, and Bai welcomed Chen Jie inside.

“This is for Uncle Zhong.”

Chen Jie presented the gift.

Bai took a glance and, a bit surprised, said, “This Lingzhi looks to be decades old, why did you buy such an expensive gift, you silly boy?”

“Well, it’s all thanks to the shining light of Uncle Zhong that I came into a small fortune. I’ve long been wanting to buy him a gift as thanks, but I’ve always been tight on funds. Auntie, please don’t make fun of me!”

“You kid, even with some silver in hand, you should buy some good food and clothes for your wife and the little one. Why waste your money on this? Your uncle doesn’t need such things! Take it back, take it back! If you really want to thank him, just buy some cheaper sweets. Times are hard for your family too.”

“Auntie, I appreciate what you’re saying, but this is just a small token of my gratitude. If you make me take it back, how could I have the face to trouble you and uncle in the future?”

“This… alright, just this once, okay? Don’t go wasting money like this again!”

“Aye, I got it, auntie!”

Chen Jie assured the Bai Family.

However, it was obvious that after receiving the gifts, Mrs. Bai’s mood had greatly improved.

At that moment, Chen Jie asked, “Where’s my Uncle Zhong?”

“Accompanying guests.”

“The ones at the door?”

Chen Jie hinted.

Mrs. Bai replied, “Yes, let’s keep our voices down.”

“Who are they all?”

Chen Jie asked curiously.

“These gentlemen are all important figures.”

Mrs. Bai whispered, “There are two officials who’ve come down from Huangzhou Prefecture, and the remaining three are influential figures from the Thirteen Grand Protectors of our county.”

“Thirteen Grand Protectors?”

Chen Jie had heard of this more than once.

Mrs. Bai said, “They are thirteen Energy Transformation Masters. I’ve heard Hong’er talk about them over and over, and he has a rhyme to list their ranks!”

“What is it?”

“Well, let me think, Ba Tian from the south, Old Liu from the north, the Thirteen Grand Protectors are unmatched. Beggar, constable, oil seller. Ghost Hand, scholar, Red Face. Blacksmith, fisherman, Blind fortune-teller, Eagle, Tiger, and Leopard!”

Chen Jie memorized it silently.

He had long heard of the great reputation of the Thirteen Grand Protectors, and today he finally understood who they were.

Mrs. Bai continued, “The three who came today are among the Thirteen Grand Protectors.”

“Hong’er’s master, the constable among the Thirteen Grand Protectors, Zhang Liye, Chief Zhang.”

“From our Fishing Guild’s White Tiger Hall, the Hall Master, the fisherman, Peng Shizhong.”

“The Ruijin Hall Master from Guild Cao, Ghost Hand Gu Qingfeng, a member of the Thirteen Grand Protectors.”

Chen Jie was quite surprised to hear this; he hadn’t expected that so many prominent figures would gather in the small Xiantao Village today.

Thinking about it, he couldn’t help but feel thrilled.

“Auntie, what are all these important people doing here in Xiantao Village?”

Chen Jie probed.

Mrs. Bai replied, “It seems they’re here to capture a rebel!”

“Ni Manzi?”

“Yes, it’s some kind of Manzi.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Jie understood; indeed, this must be the chain reaction caused by Wu Hong calling in arrest officer Zhang Liye. But the presence was too grand—three of the county’s Energy Transformation Masters from the Thirteen Grand Protectors, along with two officials sent from above.

These officials must also be quite strong, meaning that it was very likely five Energy Transformation Masters came together to capture Ni Manzi.

Just what crime had Ni Manzi committed that warranted so many masters to arrest him?

Isn’t this level of response a bit too high?

While he was pondering, he soon heard a commotion inside, followed by Wu Zhong saying, “Seeing the elders off…”

Then a group of people emerged from the inner room.

At the forefront were two men in black official clothes with silver belts around their waists, dressed like officials, followed by a middle-aged man in red and black arrest officer clothes, exuding a natural authority—presumably this was Chief Zhang Liye, one of the Thirteen Grand Protectors.

The man who came out behind them had a somber look with a hint of murderous intent, and behind him followed Yu Biao, who was beaten to a bruised face, his face covered with a gauze as he left the house.@@novelbin@@

He had just taken it off; he must have been questioned.

And this middle-aged man was most likely Ghost Hand Gu Qingfeng from the Thirteen Grand Protectors.

Lastly came a middle-aged man with a smile on his face who was at the time assisting Doctor Bai, saying, “Mr. Bai, you don’t need to see us off…”

Doctor Bai replied, “Shizhong, don’t stop me, I’m happy you came, and I should see you off more…”

As he spoke, they were already outside.

The group mounted high-headed horses, Wu Hong exchanged a few words with Wu Zhong, who frowned slightly but eventually nodded. Then Wu Hong left with his master.

After seeing off the group,

Wu Zhong turned back, saw Chen Jie, and smiled, “Jiu Si has arrived.”