Chapter 21: Dazed
Chapter 21: Dazed
"Brother Chen, please take care of me in the future."
The two Senior Patrol Officers who had come with Min Baoyi only spoke up after he turned to leave, smiling at Chen Mu. Their tone was respectful, not daring to be overly casual.
Despite being older than Chen Mu, both of them addressed him as "Brother Chen" and didn't dare call him that in front of Min Baoyi. After all, Min Baoyi was someone Chen Mu called "Elder Brother," and they didn't have the right to call a Patrol Commander by such a familiar term.
"Thank you."
Chen Mu bowed to the two Senior Patrol Officers.
He naturally recognized them; one was surnamed Wang, and the other was surnamed Zhong. Since they weren't in charge of his area, they hadn't interacted much in the past. When they met, he had to bow his head in respect. But now, they not only took the initiative to be friendly but even lowered their stance.
"Brother Chen, if you have any matters, please go ahead and return. I'll handle things here."
Senior Patrol Officer Wang smiled at Chen Mu.
Chen Mu didn't overly fuss and bowed again before walking directly into his home.
As soon as he left,
Senior Patrol Officer Wang turned to look at Wang Zhao and the others, his smile instantly turning cold. He slapped Wang Zhao across the face and said, "Blind fools, you dare to provoke someone like Brother Chen just because you’re from the same clan? Get up, all of you!"
Wang Zhao and the others turned pale, trembling but not daring to defy. They staggered away, following Senior Patrol Officer Wang.
At this moment,
the entire street, which had been frozen in time, gradually came to life. Behind the tightly closed doors, eyes peeking through the cracks began to shift and meet, still filled with shock.
As neighbors in the same alley, they naturally knew Chen Mu. In the past, he was just a poor and hardworking patrol officer. Who would have thought that today, a thunderclap would rise from the ground? What was this all about?
Though no one knew how Chen Mu had met such a high-ranking figure like Min Baoyi, everyone understood that from now on, Chen Mu would be a different person.
In the distance,
a few members of the Crimson Gold Gang, who had heard the news, watched the entire farce. They exchanged glances and then turned to leave quickly.
They needed to report this matter to the Incense Master and the Gang Leader as soon as possible. A person who could suddenly rise to prominence and be called a brother by Min Baoyi was certainly no ordinary individual. This was a significant event.
"Old Chen's son is about to rise to prominence."
A withered old man sitting at the alley entrance, smoking a tobacco pipe, watched as Chen Mu's home returned to its usual quietness. He exhaled a puff of smoke and sighed, then stood up, tapping his pipe lightly on the ground as he walked and hummed:
"Year after year, the flowers are similar... Year after year, the people are different..."
His figure gradually disappeared into the alley.
...
At another alley entrance,
Zhang Hai, with his somewhat swollen half-body, was pressed against the mud wall, seemingly melded into it, frozen in place. His small eyes were filled with a dazed expression.
His mind was a complete blank.
He had arrived early and watched the entire scene, originally intending to see Chen Mu's humiliation. However, the situation took a sharp turn with Min Baoyi's appearance.
He was stunned that a high-ranking Patrol Commander like Min Baoyi would appear in such a place, and then even more shocked when he saw Min Baoyi and Chen Mu addressing each other as brothers. His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and his jaw almost hit the ground.
What had he seen?
Min Baoyi... and Chen Mu as brothers!
Min Baoyi was no ordinary figure; he was the Patrol Commander of the Southern City District, high above the common people. Even the gentry living on the inner streets of Nine Streets Ward would treat Min Baoyi with utmost respect.
Unfathomable.
Even in his dreams, he couldn't imagine such a scenario.
This scene shook Zhang Hai's heart to its core, leaving him disoriented and lost. He couldn't hear or see anything that followed, as if his ears were stuffed with cotton and his eyes smeared with paint.
He stood there, dazed, for what felt like an eternity. His legs went numb, and he stumbled, finally snapping back to reality. But even after shaking his head hard, his mind remained a muddled mess, filled with confusion and helplessness.
Chen Mu entered the house and immediately noticed Wang Ni, who seemed to be in a state of shock and on the verge of tears, and Chen Yue, who was listening intently to the sounds outside and blinking at him.
"Brother?" Chen Yue called out.
Although they were hiding in the corner of the room and couldn't see the outside, they could hear the voices, which left Chen Yue a little dazed. Even she was a bit perplexed as to how Chen Mu knew a prominent figure like Min Baoyi.
The Nine Li City Guard Patrol Commander... She knew that they were in charge of patrolling and maintaining order for the tens of thousands of households in the Nine Li area. Chen Mu had once told her that in these chaotic times, the Patrol Commander was like a local overlord in the region.
Although Chen Mu had mentioned moving and better days ahead in the past few days, it was something he often said, so she didn't feel particularly moved.
But today was different.
Seeing the City Guard Commander in person and addressing Chen Mu as a brother made her realize that the hope and light that had been guiding her all this time were now within reach. This sudden turn of events left her feeling a bit dizzy.
Chen Mu walked up to Chen Yue, smiled, and gently tapped her nose. He then looked around with a hint of emotion, taking in the bare mud walls, the faded and decaying furniture, and the patched-up blankets.
He had lived here for over a decade and spent three years of his life in this place.
Eating coarse rice and dumplings, even lacking enough thick blankets during winter, forcing him and Chen Yue to huddle together for warmth on a single mattress.
Unable to afford new clothes, they had to keep Chen Yue indoors due to the unstable times.
He had always been cautious, avoiding offending anyone or getting entangled in trouble. He kept his head down, worked diligently, and persevered day after day, year after year. Finally, in recent days, they had acquired silver coins, gained strength, and found confidence.
Today, everything was about to change.
Chen Mu stepped forward, hugged Chen Yue tightly, and sighed. He patted her head and said, "I'll go to the City Guard soon, and tomorrow... we're moving."
"Okay," Chen Yue replied, nodding vigorously in Chen Mu's embrace.
Her adorable eyes sparkled with hope and joy.
The past two days had been a rollercoaster, from the night's scare to the day's commotion. It had been a tumultuous time, but she had always believed in Chen Mu, trusting every word he said. No matter how scared or anxious she felt, she endured it all.
Finally, a new dawn was breaking for them.
After reassuring Chen Yue and Wang Ni, Chen Mu didn't waste any time. He hid the silver taels, kept the Jade-Gold Skin Polishing Technique close to his body, and set off for the City Guard.
The door was broken, but Chen Mu didn't mind. Even with the door ajar, it felt more secure than before.
Wang Zhao and the others were no longer outside, and the two senior patrol officers had also disappeared. In the distance, a few figures were scattered in the alley, gathered in small groups, whispering.
As Chen Mu stepped out, the figures fell silent.
People along the way made way for Chen Mu, whether they were neighbors or idle bystanders. They all cautiously moved aside, and some even offered a smile when they caught his gaze.
Chen Mu paid them no mind and strode through the alley, leaving behind a trail of awe and envy.
(End of Chapter)
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