Chapter Twenty-Seven: A Urgent Rescue
Shen Zhiyi led her people out in silence, her face serious as she pondered how to successfully infiltrate the Ge family, but her deep-seated sense of morality was pulling her back.
“Miss Chen.” Xuan Yan’s voice sounded behind her.
Shen Zhiyi turned around and asked with a slightly puzzled look, "Brother Xuan Yan, does Lord Lu have any instructions?"
Xuan Yan was at a loss for words when asked this question, but Tang Hua Ya, who was standing to the side, noticed something different and secretly tugged at Shen Zhi Yi's sleeve.
It was only then that she realized that after being sternly rejected by Lord Lu, Xuan Yan had come to her alone. Clearly, this was an "external advantage" that had been delivered to her doorstep!
Realizing they were still in the county government office, and that those unspeakable thoughts had to be suppressed for the time being, Shen Zhiyi hurriedly said, "Let's go outside and talk about it."
Xuan Yan's silence at this moment seemed like a kind of agreement.
As soon as they stepped out of the county government gate, Shen Zhiyi saw a wonton stall not far away. She originally planned to go there to talk, but worried that there would be too many people and distractions, so she went to the pancake stall next door, bought a few pancakes, and led everyone into the alley to talk.
After making sure no one was around, Shen Zhiyi said softly while distributing the cakes, "Ge Ermazi, do you know anything about the Ge family? If they were imprisoning someone, where would they usually be imprisoned?"
Upon seeing the sesame seed cakes, the starving Ge Ermazi instantly perked up and declared confidently, "The Martial Arts Cellar!"
The fact that the decision was made so quickly surprised Shen Zhiyi. She could vaguely guess that Ge Ermazi and the Ge family had some unclear relationship, but she didn't care about that at the moment.
At the same time, Shen Zhiyi noticed that Ge Ermazi's gaze was following the sesame seed cake in her hand. She deliberately slowed down her movements, taking the half that was supposed to be given to him, and asked, "Are you sure?"
"It must be in the martial arts cellar! I know the martial arts world very well!" Ge Ermazi was anxious to prove this, and his voice was louder than usual.
"After you finish eating, draw a layout diagram of the interior on the ground," Shen Zhiyi said, handing over the sesame seed cake.
Aside from keeping her own half, Shen Zhiyi gave the last whole piece in the lotus leaf bag to Xuan Yan. She said apologetically, "Brother Xuan Yan, I'm so sorry to have troubled you. After this is over, I'll treat you to dinner at Jufu Restaurant!"
"Thank you, Miss Chen," Xuan Yan said gently.
While enjoying his sesame seed cake, Ge Ermazi seized the opportunity to ask, "What about me?"
"Let's talk about it after we rescue them," Shen Zhiyi said. He needed to offer something tangible first to motivate the other party.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Ge Ermazi quickly finished his sesame seed cake, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, picked up a dark stone from the corner of the alley, and began to draw on the muddy ground in front of him, saying as he drew, "This is the main hall, generally..."
As he spoke, everyone listened attentively.
Shen Zhiyi stared at the twisted lines and strangely shaped "houses" drawn on the muddy ground, her expression indescribable. She could only make out the details through Ge Ermazi's words.
"You all know now, right?" Ge Ermazi said smugly.
Since they didn't speak, Shen Zhi decided to speak first: "I'll say it once, and you can see if it's right. Go through the gate, go around the screen wall..."
She carefully recited the map, and finally heard Ge Ermazi say, "That's right, not a bit off!"
"Brother Xuan Yan, do you know the route?" Shen Zhiyi turned to ask the silent Xuan Yan.
“I’ve remembered it all, Miss Shen,” Xuan Yan replied honestly.
Shen Zhiyi couldn't help but ask, "So, are we going to wait until dark before we act?"
"No need," Xuan Yan replied simply. When he saw the questioning looks coming from the other side, he could only add, "You can wait for me in the alley opposite the main gate."
Looking at the bright midday sun, and seeing that Xuan Yan still had a calm demeanor, Shen Zhiyi sighed inwardly, thinking that his mastery was indeed hidden.
"Then we'll wait for your good news!" Shen Zhiyi said, mimicking the salute gesture of a martial artist she had seen in TV dramas, clasping her hands in a fist salute towards Xuan Yan.
Xuan Yan was stunned for a moment, then returned the gesture with a cupped-hand salute, mimicking Shen Zhiyi's, before turning and leaving.
Seeing that silent departing figure, Shen Zhiyi was deeply shocked. She never expected to have the chance to meet the legendary hero!
Suddenly, she was 100% confident that as long as San Tou was in the place Ge Er Ma Zi had mentioned, he would definitely be rescued!
Ge's Martial Arts School is located in a side street behind the main street, alongside general stores and carpentry shops. It's a mixed bag of people, and once you enter this street, you have to be extra careful with your wallet. If you get robbed, you can find seven or eight pickpockets here.
The alley that Shen Zhiyi and the others were waiting for was the entrance to the alley between the main street and the side streets.
"Should I go check out the entrance of that martial arts club?" Old Tang asked softly. The short-haired boy who had been in his arms had been sent back to avoid setting a bad example for the child, and also to put their minds at ease.
"Go ahead, they're probably hiding and playing dice right now anyway, no one will notice someone loitering around the gate," Ge Ermazi said with a grin.
"Why didn't you tell me about something so important beforehand?" Shen Zhiyi asked, dissatisfied.
As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Zhiyi suddenly realized that Xuan Yan probably already knew all the ways in the county town, otherwise he wouldn't have been so confident.
The more she thought about it, the more unfathomable Xuan Yan seemed.
“You didn’t ask, so how am I supposed to answer?” Ge Ermazi said matter-of-factly.
Shen Zhiyi was speechless for a moment after hearing this. Although this "teammate" was unreliable, the other one was at least very strong and could lead their temporarily formed team.
Waiting is an unsettling experience. You unconsciously start thinking about all sorts of possible outcomes, and your mind is drawn to this, constantly imagining how to handle the aftermath of various possible scenarios.
Just as Shen Zhiyi was brainstorming, she suddenly heard Tang Huaya shout, "Zhiyi!"
Shen Zhiyi quickly looked over, and there was Xuan Yan running from the martial arts troupe! And what he was carrying on his shoulder...
"Here!" Shen Zhiyi shouted, but then worried that she might expose something, so she quickly shrank back, looking like a guilty thief.
Leaning against the wall, Ge Ermazi looked over there with a relaxed and smug expression and commented, "Looks like he got beaten up pretty badly."
Such sarcastic remarks provoked Shen Zhiyi to say indignantly, "Shut up!"
When Xuan Yan carried the person over, Shen Zhiyi looked at the three heads covered in blood and didn't know how to take them. She could only say, "Take them to Huichun Medical Clinic first!"
“I know that clinic is very expensive to treat patients…” Before Ge Ermazi could finish speaking, he saw Shen Zhiyi’s warning look and quickly pursed his lips and remained silent.
No one dared to delay, so Xuan Yan changed from carrying on his back to holding it in his arms, and hurriedly led the people towards the Huichun Medical Hall.
Xuan Yan, who was in the lead, had a strong smell of blood on him, and other people on the street would consciously make way for him, which made it easier for Shen Zhiyi and the others to follow behind.
The staff at Huichun Medical Center were used to this kind of scene. They took them to see the doctor and made arrangements without wasting a moment.
From rescue to treatment, it only took half an hour.
Shen Zhiyi breathed a sigh of relief.
"How come you..." Sun Gouzi asked in surprise, and naturally sat down next to Old Man Tang.
"San Tou is injured, so we brought him here for treatment," Shen Zhiyi said slowly, then looked at Old Man Tang. They couldn't very well say that they had taken the man back, could they?
Despite being presented as a guise of justice, this behavior is unacceptable.
"Are you badly injured? What can I do to help you?" Sun Gouzi asked.
Shen Zhiyi knew that these words came from the heart. Thinking about the aftermath of San Tou's situation, she said, "Then we'll have to trouble Uncle Gouzi to take care of San Tou. Given his condition, we'd feel more at ease if he stayed at the clinic."
“No problem, I’ll take good care of the three heads,” Sun Gouzi replied.
Next, she had to figure out where the "medical expenses" came from. Shen Zhiyi only brought twenty-odd coins with her when she went out this time. She used the rest of the chili peppers to research and develop by-products, so her savings didn't increase much. When she needed the money, she realized that she was short of funds.
Shen Zhiyi quickly changed her mind. Unexpected events are a test of one's ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Her gaze fell on Xuan Yan, and she slowly moved closer, tentatively asking in a low voice, "Brother Xuan Yan, do you have any money over there? I'd like to borrow some to tide me over, and I'll pay you back when we get back! If it's not enough, we can write an IOU and calculate the interest, how about that?"
Xuan Yan did not respond, but handed over the money pouch.
"Thank you, Brother Xuan Yan!" Shen Zhiyi took the money bag, and only when she held it did she realize how heavy it was. Just as she was about to speak, basins of bloody water were brought out, followed by a doctor!
"Doctor, how is the person inside?" Shen Zhiyi asked, turning her head.
"Fortunately, they are all superficial injuries, but the injuries are too severe, and the patient still has a fever." The doctor said with a frown, looking very serious. "I suggest that the patient stay at the clinic, but the cost will increase."
"Just stay at the clinic!" Shen Zhiyi hurriedly said, and Ge Ermazi, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"Then let's go to the front to settle the bill. This time, we used wound medicine..." The doctor slowly explained what was used and what the price was, adding up to five taels of silver!
This is only if the fever subsides and the patient wakes up soon; otherwise, the fever will accumulate day by day, truly a case of one illness dragging down the whole family.
Shen Zhiyi listened attentively to the expenses and said, "Save him, we definitely have to save him!"
Although she could not save everyone in the world, there were injured people around her who had a chance to live. If she could use money to save them, she would naturally try to keep their lives!
At least in this era, she has no shortage of ways to make money, so she has the ability to bear this debt.
The purse contained loose silver. Shen Zhiyi took out five taels of loose silver and, with the doctor still in front of her, asked him to help her draft an IOU. She then quickly pressed her fingerprint on it and handed it back to Xuan Yan along with the purse.
"Thank you, I will return it to you as soon as possible," Shen Zhiyi said earnestly.
"I trust Miss Shen completely." Xuan Yan returned the greeting sincerely, carefully putting away the IOU. "Then I'll head back now."
“Okay, please give my thanks to…” Shen Zhiyi said cryptically.
Xuan Yan nodded in agreement, then turned and left.
Upon returning to the yamen, Xuan Yan recounted everything that had happened to his young master, and then presented him with the IOU bearing his handprint. It was his young master's money pouch that he had taken the initiative to handle.
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