Chen Jie heard the words and said, "That bad!"
Zhou Chu gave a bitter smile and replied, "It’s terribly bad, brother, help me out. You don’t want your brother to lose face on his first day in front of you."
Chen Jie said, "Alright, if the famous Hero Black-eyed Bear of Jianghu has spoken, treating you to a meal is nothing, but remember you’ll have to pay me back when you have the money!"
"Hey, don’t worry. With my father-in-law’s huge escort agency, it won’t be about the cost of a meal. And stop with that Black-eyed Bear nonsense."
Chen Jie said, "A toast from the Gang Leader, so many people would kill for that!"
"You like it? You can have that nickname, Black-eyed Bear!"
"No, thanks, I can’t handle that."
Chen Jie gestured dismissively and added, "My eyes are quite good, I don’t need it. Your domineering nickname doesn’t suit me."
"Forget it, I won’t argue with you."
After finishing, Chen Jie said, "Alright, let’s go, brothers, time to eat."
Soon they arrived at Yang Family Restaurant next to the Big Vegetable Market, a very affordable place for commoners.
While they were eating, a commotion erupted in the street, "Catch him, don’t let him run!"
Then they saw a group of constables in government uniforms chasing two young men who, in panic, took off in different directions; one ran east, and the other dashed into the restaurant.
Chen Jie and his friends were drinking.
A group of constables came rushing in, led by one whose speed was remarkable, reaching the restaurant entrance in a blink. Chen Jie didn’t want to get involved, but suddenly he saw someone racing over incredibly fast. Upon closer look, Chen Jie laughed, "Haha, Brother Hong!"
The pursuing constable was also surprised to see Chen Jie and exclaimed, "Jiu Si!"
A smile appeared on his face as he recognized the long-unseen Wu Hong.
Just then, the young man charged right at them. Chen Jie blocked his path, and the young man, without hesitating, thrust a knife towards Chen Jie. With a swift sidestep, Chen Jie dodged the knife and casually knocked the attacker to the ground.
Immediately afterward, Chen Jie stomped on the young man’s wrist, disarming him of his knife.
Then he stood firmly on the guy’s back!
With his back pinned, the young man struggled fiercely, but a guild member with keen eyesight quickly stepped forward to restrain him.
By then, Wu Hong had already walked in.
Seeing Chen Jie, he smiled and said, "Jiu Si, when did you arrive in Mianshui County? I had no idea."
After the competition, Wu Hong had returned to the county town with Zhang Liye and been busy with work, unaware that Chen Jie had also entered the town.
Chen Jie replied, "I’ve been here a few days."
Hearing this, Wu Hong said, "Haha, you arrived and didn’t tell me? I could have taken you out. By the way, where are you staying? I have a place in town; you could move in there for a while?"
Chen Jie heard this and replied, "No need, my home is just across from the Big Vegetable Market."
"Hmm, Jiu Si, those houses aren’t cheap, right? Did you rent it from a broker?"
Chen Jie said, "No, I’m temporarily staying at my sworn father’s place."
Wu Hong was taken aback, then glanced at the nearby members wearing White Tiger Hall uniforms. His brows furrowed, "Peng Shizhong?"
Chen Jie affirmed, "Hmm."
Wu Hong fell silent; he really disliked guilds.
But Chen Jie was his best brother, and now his best brother had joined a guild and even acknowledged the guild leader as his sworn father. It was a headache.
Old Zhou, meanwhile, offered with a smile, "Brother Wu, come, have a drink?"
Wu Hong knew Zhou Chu, hence the invitation; Wu Hong waved his hand, "I am on duty, it’s inappropriate for me to drink."
Hearing this, Zhou Chu wanted to say something, but Chen Jie said, "Old Zhou, keep drinking with the brothers, I’ll talk with Brother Hong."
Zhou Chu didn’t say anything, just nodded and encouraged the others, "Come on, drink up, drink plenty, today everything’s on Fifth Master."
The brothers around cheered as they typically felt that this cop looked down on them.
Chen Jie and Wu Hong left the restaurant and casually sat down at a tea stall. Chen Jie ordered, "A pot of the strong stuff."
Soon, the tea arrived and Chen Jie poured them two bowls, "This doesn’t interfere with your duties, right?"
Wu Hong responded, "Jiu Si, don’t push my limits. Wearing this uniform, I can’t get too close to the Fishing Guild or what would the people think."
Chen Jie heard this and couldn’t help commenting that Wu Hong was quite stubborn. Nowadays guilds were out in the open, almost semi-official, who would overthink this?
But Wu Hong grew up with Zhang Liye as a constable, holding his own values dear.
Thus, Chen Jie said no more. To each their own; no one should be forced.
Chen Jie and Wu Hong caught up a little, and Wu Hong said, "Jiu Si, you’re getting in deeper. Now, helping you out won’t be easy."
Chen Jie replied, "Thanks, Brother Hong, I know what I should do, and I have my plans. By the way, who was that guy you guys were chasing?"
"Oh, a child snatcher, been active around here lately, several families have been hit."
Hearing this, Chen Jie frowned and said, "Child snatcher, damn it!"
As they were talking, Wu Hong finished his bowl of tea and said, "Alright, Jiu Si, that’s enough for today. I have other matters to attend to."
Wu Hong waved his hand and then immediately left with the constables apprehending the snatcher.
Chen Jie watched them leave, preparing to return and have a toast with his brothers, after all, today he was the host!
Just then, a woman rushed across the street, frantically calling, "Ruirui, Ruirui!"
Chen Jie was stunned, and a moment later, he realized that it was his own wife.
"What’s the hurry? What’s happened to Ruirui?"