Most feudal dynasties adopted the market system, where street trading was not allowed at will. However, the Song Dynasty was a bit different—trading was permitted freely, and there was no curfew.

This was a great convenience for William Bolton. He first found a nearby inn that looked relatively clean to settle down.

After taking a bath, he changed into the old clothes given to him by Edward Foster. But since his hair was neither long nor short, he didn’t know how to manage it, so he spent some money to have the innkeeper find a skillful maid to help him with it.

“Tsk... Looks like that old man’s sharp eyes are all used for judging cases. As for measuring for clothes, I really can’t compliment him!”

Standing in front of the bronze mirror, William Bolton tugged hard at his collar, but it still seemed a bit short. He shook his head in clear dissatisfaction, then touched his own cheek. The once youthful and handsome young man had become a blur in his memory. The person in the mirror was extremely thin, cheeks tinged with blue, eyes sunken, looking as if he were gravely ill.

For a moment, he felt deeply saddened.

Suddenly, William Bolton saw in the mirror that the maid behind him was shyly stealing glances at him. He couldn’t help but smile, turned around, took out ten coins, and handed them to the maid, saying, “This is for you.”

The maid’s eyes widened instantly, looking at William Bolton in disbelief.

Edward Foster had lent him a total of two strings of coins. If he spent sparingly, it would be enough for a month. After all, the cost of living in Dengzhou couldn’t compare to Bianjing. But if he kept living like this, he probably wouldn’t last long.

Seeing the maid frozen like a wooden chicken, William Bolton couldn’t help but ask, “Is it too little?”

The maid shook her head vigorously.

William Bolton said, “Then just take it.”

Only then did the maid take the coins from William Bolton, bowing and nodding repeatedly, “Thank you, sir, thank you, sir.”

William Bolton gave a hoarse laugh, “I should be thanking you. You helped me regain a bit of confidence, which is very important to me right now.”

As he spoke, he touched the headscarf on his head, nodded in satisfaction, and then left the room, leaving behind the maid with a dazed and adorable look.

……

Arriving at the inn’s main hall, William Bolton directly ordered four meat dishes and four large steamed buns, then swept the entire table clean like a whirlwind, leaving the bartender beside him dumbfounded.

They never expected that this delicate-looking young man could eat even more than those burly laborers.

Truly, you can’t judge a person by their appearance, nor a stomach by its size!

“Hm?”

After a cup of tea, William Bolton almost spat it out. He hurriedly covered his mouth and forced it down, feeling as if everything below his tonsils was stuffed with food.

He had no choice. In prison, he ate only thin soup and leftovers every day, his stomach was empty. This was definitely the most delicious meal he’d ever had in his life.

It took him quite a while to recover.

Just then, a bartender came over to clear the dishes. He asked, “Bartender, do you know how to get to Wei Family Village?”

“I do!” The bartender nodded, then said, “Go out the west gate, walk about thirty li, and you’ll reach Wei Family Village.”

“Thirty li?”

William Bolton glanced outside the door, thinking to himself, it’s already getting late, better go tomorrow!

After eating his fill, he returned to his room, lay on the bed, and soon fell into a deep sleep.

He slept as if the world had turned upside down.

Scenes from the past and present flashed back and forth in his dreams. Awakened by nightmares, he still felt as if he were dreaming.

In a daze, he didn’t know if he was awake or asleep, nor whether he was in the Song Dynasty or in later times.

When he got up the next day, it was already afternoon, so he couldn’t go to Wei Family Village. He could only have dinner and then rest again.

On the third day, he got up early, but as soon as he reached the west gate, before even leaving the city, he was already out of breath, as if a gust of wind could blow him over. There were no taxis now—wherever he went, it was on foot. Helpless, he had to return to the inn.

It wasn’t until the seventh day that William Bolton felt much recovered, and he realized this case couldn’t be delayed any longer.

That morning, after getting ready, he left the inn, bought a few big buns from a street vendor, filled a pot with tea, and set off for Wei Family Village.

After walking for most of the day, William Bolton finally reached a hillside. He sat cross-legged on the slope, sweating profusely and gasping for breath, thinking, I must have overestimated my body. How can I win this lawsuit in such a state?

After resting for a while, William Bolton gradually recovered. Looking down at the small village with about thirty households, he said, “This should be Wei Family Village.”

He went down the slope and arrived at the entrance of the village, just in time to see a man carrying a hoe heading toward the fields. He thought, At this hour, you’re only just going out to farm? But the thought passed quickly. He hurried forward, smiling, and asked, “Brother, may I ask...!”

Before he could finish, the man glared at him fiercely, then walked straight past him.

William Bolton scratched his forehead awkwardly, thinking, Are all Song Dynasty villages this unfriendly to outsiders?

This bad start made him a bit nervous. He couldn’t help but wonder if he’d get beaten up if he went in rashly. After hesitating at the entrance for a moment, he finally mustered his courage and walked inside.