After dinner.
He An casually made up an excuse and hurried out.
He planned to find Wang Zheng and ask him a few questions.
As a minor clerk in the Town Martial Division, Wang Zheng surely knew more than he did.
Before long.
Outside the city.
A dilapidated little courtyard.
A place that should have been deserted was now surrounded by people.
Quite a few had climbed onto the courtyard wall of Wang Zheng's home, watching with interest and occasionally pointing and whispering.
"Wang Zheng really has it rough."
"Tell me about it. He hands over his entire salary to his family, and now they've even driven him out."
"I heard he borrowed money to rent this little courtyard, too."
"Huh? Really?"
"Of course it's true. Didn't you see those people come to his door asking for money?"
Inside the courtyard.
Several burly men sat there quietly, making no trouble.
Wang Zheng stood off to the side, speaking with great caution. "Brother, could you give me a few more days? I truly don't have any cash on me."
"Once I get paid next month, I'll bring it to you right away."
The Leader wore a brazen look. "Wang Zheng, we've already given you plenty of time. If you weren't with the Town Martial Division, we would've come to collect a long time ago."
"It's been months, and you still haven't paid back those Silver Taels."
"Tell me, how are we supposed to explain this to our boss?"
"I..." Wang Zheng found it hard to speak. He was a minor clerk in the Town Martial Division, after all, yet he had been driven to this point over a few Silver Taels.
How humiliating!
Seeing Wang Zheng's expression, the Leader sneered. "How about this? Let us brothers have a little fun, and we'll wait a while longer before asking you for the money."
"Don't go saying we're bullying you. Paying back your debts is only right."
"Even if you're with the Town Martial Division, don't think you can wriggle out of this. Besides, we're not afraid of you. Our boss is with the Meng Family."
Wang Zheng stood frozen in place, unsure what to do.
Outside the courtyard.
Seeing Wang Zheng in this state, He An was shocked.
He hadn't expected Wang Zheng's life to be like this, and he couldn't understand why Wang Zheng was so blindly devoted to his family. Even after being driven out, he still handed over his entire salary.
After all, a minor clerk in the Town Martial Division might not earn enough to make his whole family rich, but the salary was more than enough to keep them fed and clothed.
Yet Wang Zheng had sunk to renting a courtyard and borrowing money from others.
Now, he was even being humiliated by a bunch of thugs.
"Move!" the Leader suddenly barked. "If you won't let us brothers have a little fun, then pay us back right now."
"We're not so easily fooled, and we're not afraid of your position."
"Wait!"
He An called out and slowly walked into the courtyard.
"He An, what are you doing here?" Wang Zheng asked, a little flustered.
"Kid, who are you?"
The Leader stood up and sized He An up.
"Don't worry about who I am. I just want to know how many Silver Taels Brother Wang owes you, that you'd humiliate him like this."
"He owes us five Silver Taels. He's been dragging his feet on paying us back for ages."
He An thought for a few moments, then said, "I'll pay back Brother Wang's debt for him. I don't have that much on me right now, but I'll pay you in full later."
"He An." Wang Zheng grabbed him. "This is money I owe. You don't need to pay it back for me."
"Besides, your family isn't well-off either."
The Leader sneered. "Who do you think you are? You say you'll pay us later, so we're supposed to wait? Why should I believe you?"
"You don't have to believe me, but you should believe Lord Wei."
"Lord Wei?"
He An nodded. "Lord Wei Yangyun of the Town Martial Division. I joined the Town Martial Division half a month ago, and Lord Wei personally handled it."
"I give you my word in his name: this debt will be repaid."
"This..." The Leader hesitated.
Wei Yangyun was a Clerk in the Town Martial Division, a great figure he couldn't afford to offend. If Wei Yangyun really took an interest in him, he'd be in trouble.
It wasn't worth it over five Silver Taels!
After wrestling with the decision for a moment, the Leader snorted. "Kid, I'll believe your nonsense for now, but this is the last time."
"Brother Wang, I hope you'll have the money ready when we come back."
"I will!" Wang Zheng promised repeatedly.
After seeing them off.
The onlookers outside the courtyard scattered in a swarm.
"Sorry you had to see that." Wang Zheng smiled awkwardly, quickly ushered He An to sit down, and poured him a cup of water.
He An picked up the cup and drained it.
"Brother Wang, if you were so short on money, why didn't you tell me earlier? My family isn't well-off either, but we're still doing better than you. We can afford five Silver Taels."
"I just didn't want to trouble you!"
Then Wang Zheng changed the subject and asked, "You came to see me for something else, didn't you?"
"As expected, I can't hide anything from you, Brother Wang."
He An leaned closer, looking worried. "My Eldest Brother's been gone for so long, and I haven't heard a thing. I had no choice but to come ask you."
"Brother Wang, tell me the truth. Nothing's happened to my Eldest Brother, has it?"
"No, it hasn't!"
Wang Zheng said, "The news I got was that the Salvationist Church has been almost completely wiped out. The Town Martial Division didn't suffer many casualties. Your Eldest Brother should be back tomorrow or the day after."
"I see."
He An let out a sigh of relief.
Then he reached into his bulging robe and took out something wrapped in oil paper, gently setting it on the table in the courtyard.
"Brother Wang, I bought you some meat!"
"Meat?"
Wang Zheng swallowed, then quickly waved his hands. "No, I can't accept this. You've already helped me so much. It wouldn't be right to take your meat, too."
"Just take it."
He An firmly pushed the meat back toward him.
They refused each other several times, but in the end, He An got his way.
Wang Zheng accepted the meat, then asked worriedly, "He An, you helped me out, but if Lord Wei finds out you used his name, it could bring trouble down on your Eldest Brother."
"Maybe we should go apologize to him."
"No need. This little matter won't reach Lord Wei, and those men wouldn't dare tell him." He An smiled slyly.
"Besides, Lord Wei really did help arrange my joining the Town Martial Division."
"Although, I paid for it."
Wang Zheng: "..."
After the two chatted for a little while, the sky grew darker. Having learned from Wang Zheng what to watch out for when reporting to his superiors, He An didn't stay much longer.
"Brother Wang, I'll be off."
"I'll see you out. It's so dark, and it's not safe outside the city."
"No need!"
He An quickly ran off, his figure growing smaller and smaller in the distance.
Wang Zheng gazed after him and gave a wry smile, then went back inside. Just then, he noticed some broken Silver Taels on the courtyard table.
Altogether, they came to a full three Silver Taels.
"That kid!"
A warm feeling welled up in Wang Zheng's heart.
Then a long sigh drifted through the night for a long while.
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