Young hero, stay put and don't be reckless.

Chapter 47 Drunk

"Steamed buns! Freshly baked steamed buns!"

Jiang Xun was awakened by a shout. He opened his eyes and saw that it was already broad daylight.

He stood there stunned for a long time, then looked down and realized he was still sitting in the tree.

Oops!

He quickly jumped down and ran back to the clinic.

Yu Xiaoyi was getting medicine in the front hall when he saw him run in from outside, and his eyes narrowed.

Where did you go last night?

Jiang Xun chuckled and said, "I didn't go anywhere, just went out for a stroll."

"Wandering around?" Yu Xiaoyi scoffed. "Wandering around all night?"

Jiang Xun scratched his head, just about to make an excuse, when he heard Lao Yu's voice behind him.

"Xiao Yi, don't ask anymore." Old Yu came out from the backyard with a teapot in his hand, leisurely sipping his tea. "Young people, it's normal for them to have their own things to do."

As she spoke, she winked at Jiang Xun.

Jiang Xun was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized—could this old man think he had gone out to fool around?

He wanted to explain, but Yu Xiaoyi had already turned her head to continue fetching medicine, and Old Yu was also smiling as he walked towards the backyard.

Jiang Xun opened his mouth, but in the end, he swallowed it back.

Oh well, let it be a misunderstanding.

That evening, the clinic closed early, which was unusual for it.

Old Yu asked the kitchen to cook a few dishes, saying that everyone had been exhausted these past few days and deserved a good meal.

An octagonal table was set up in the backyard, and a whole array of dishes were laid out around it—braised pork, scrambled eggs, a dish of pickles, a large bowl of hot soup…

These are all home-style dishes, with generous portions, and they look delicious enough to make you want to eat more rice.

Five or six people sat around the table.

Yu Xiaoyi was opposite Jiang Xun, next to the resident doctor, Old Zhou—the middle-aged man Jiang Xun first met at the clinic.

Next to Old Zhou was Uncle Sun, who was decocting medicine. He was in his fifties, with gray hair, and always had a smile on his face.

There was also a boy named A-Gui who was helping out. He was fourteen or fifteen years old and had the biggest appetite. He had his chopsticks in hand and his eyes were glued to the bowl of braised pork.

Old Yu wasn't there.

Jiang Xun looked around and asked Yu Xiaoyi, "Where's your grandfather?"

Yu Xiaoyi was gnawing on a piece of braised pork when he mumbled, "Grandpa went out unexpectedly, saying he was going to see an old friend."

"An old friend?" Jiang Xun asked curiously. "What old friend?"

"I don't know either." Yu Xiaoyi shrugged. "Grandpa never tells me about things. But he seemed pretty happy, so he must be a good friend."

Jiang Xun said "Oh" and didn't ask any more questions.

Uncle Sun picked up the wine jug and poured himself a cup, then gestured to Jiang Xun: "Little Jiang, want a cup?"

Jiang Xun was taken aback, then quickly waved his hand: "No, no, I won't drink."

"Can't drink?" Uncle Sun laughed, handing him the wine jug. "What man can't drink? Come, come, have a taste. It's homemade, not strong."

Ah Gui, standing nearby, chimed in, "Yes, yes, let's have a drink! Let's have a drink!"

Jiang Xun, having no other choice, took the wine pot, poured himself a cup, and downed it in one gulp.

hot.

The spiciness made his brows furrow.

Uncle Sun laughed heartily: "Slow down, slow down! Who drinks like that? You have to take your time and savor it!"

Yu Xiaoyi laughed so hard she slapped the table: "If you can't drink, don't drink so much!"

Jiang Xun glared at him: "Who said I can't drink? Let's have some more!"

This time it's much better, not so spicy. Instead, there's a warm feeling going down my throat, making me feel cozy.

He paused, then said, "Huh? It seems... alright?"

Uncle Sun laughed even harder: "What did I tell you? Men should have a drink!"

Old Zhou raised his glass and clinked it against Jiang Xun's: "Here, you've worked so hard these past few days, getting the medicine and grinding it up, you've been a huge help!"

Jiang Xun was a little embarrassed by the praise and quickly took a sip.

The group took turns drinking, and soon they were all drinking.

The atmosphere gradually warmed up.

Uncle Sun was the biggest drinker and drank the most. Once he started talking, he couldn't stop—he talked about his travels all over the country when he was young, and how many strange people he had met. He spoke with great enthusiasm.

Ah Gui would occasionally chime in with a few words, making Uncle Sun laugh so hard he slapped his thigh.

Jiang Xun sat there looking at the people at the table, and suddenly felt a little dazed.

He grew up in the streets and all he saw were petty theft and other shady dealings.

I've been to restaurants, casinos, and dilapidated temples—I've been everywhere, but I've never had a proper meal with so many people sitting at the same table.

This lively and bustling feeling... seems pretty good too.

The meal took about an hour.

The dishes on the table were swept clean, and even the soup was shared and drunk by everyone.

Jiang Xun stood up, shook his head, and felt the moon above him spinning.

"Um... I'll be going now."

"Go?" Yu Xiaoyi was taken aback. "Where to?"

"I need to... take care of something." Jiang Xun didn't elaborate.

Yu Xiaoyi stared at him suspiciously: "What do you want so late at night?"

Jiang Xun chuckled but didn't respond.

Yu Xiaoyi suddenly had a look of realization, a mischievous grin on his face: "Oh—I know, are you going to see some girl?"

Jiang Xun blushed: "Nonsense!"

"Your face is all red, and you still say you didn't?" Yu Xiaoyi laughed even louder.

Uncle Sun smiled and gave Jiang Xun a meaningful look: "Young people are normal. Go on, be careful on the road."

Jiang Xun wanted to explain, but didn't know how, so he simply stopped explaining and strode out.

Yu Xiaoyi's laughter followed from behind: "Hurry up, hurry up, don't keep the young lady waiting!"

Jiang Xun, without turning his head, cursed, "Get lost!"

But he couldn't suppress the smile on his lips.

As I left the clinic, a night breeze blew, and the effects of the alcohol began to rise.

Jiang Xun felt a bit dizzy, and his feet felt unsteady as he walked.

"I drank too much." He patted his face, took a few deep breaths, and tried to sober up.

But my head was still foggy, like it was stuffed with a wad of wet cotton.

He had originally intended to go to the Gu residence to check on things, but then he thought that nothing had happened in the past few days, so it was probably fine tonight as well.

"How about... we don't go tonight? There are patrols in Yunzhou City at night anyway, what could possibly happen?"

But then Gu Yunqian's worried eyes suddenly appeared, and his heart softened.

"Never mind, I'll go take a look anyway. I'll just glance at it and come right back."

He strolled leisurely towards the west of the city.

There were hardly any people on the street anymore, except for the night watchman who was weakly calling out, "The weather is dry, be careful with fire."

Jiang Xun walked through several streets and turned into the alley leading to the Gu residence.

The alley was pitch black, and only the blurry outlines of the walls on both sides remained.

He paused, suddenly realizing that something was amiss.

But as the alcohol took effect, my mind went a beat slower, and that feeling of unease vanished in an instant.

"I've had too much to drink, and I'm becoming paranoid." He shook his head and continued walking.

Upon arriving at the back gate of the Gu residence, he jumped onto the old locust tree opposite as usual and found a comfortable spot to sit down.

The courtyard was quiet, and lights were still on in a few rooms, with shadowy figures moving about.

"It's alright." Jiang Xun breathed a sigh of relief, leaned against the tree trunk, and looked up at the stars.

The stars were densely packed, like scattered silver pieces on a black silk cloth.

As he looked at it, his eyelids started to droop.

"Just a little nap..." he muttered, closing his eyes.

A night breeze blew by, carrying the chill of late autumn.

A few barks echoed in the distance, then silence fell.

The night in Yunzhou City was as still as a stagnant pool.