David Ford nodded: “Alright, even though the kidnapper leader is hiding outside, Henry Brooks is on horseback. Even if he runs into the kidnapper chief and can’t win, he can still escape.”

The man who had spoken earlier muttered in a low voice, “They say Shiyi-lang was beaten silly—look at how meticulous his thinking is, where does he seem the least bit foolish?”

Someone nearby reminded him, “Shh, keep your voice down. Didn’t you hear what he said—the kidnapper leader is still roaming outside. Now that Young Master has taken people out, if the kidnapper chief rushes in at this moment, we’re all counting on him.”

Just then, Helen Miller walked up to David Ford, took his hand, and gently shook it: “Tell them, the two ladies probably need to change clothes. I remember there was a Taoist nun here just now. Let the servants lead the two ladies to the nun’s room to change.”

David Ford glanced at the servants by the door. Before he could speak, several of the Shi family’s servants hurried over: “With John Ford guarding here, what do we have to worry about? A few of you at the door, take the two young ladies to change.”

David Ford, in a naturally commanding tone, ordered as a matter of course: “Send two more people to the Lotus Courtyard. Your companions are still guarding the yard. It’s too lonely for just one person there.”

At this, Miss Harper suppressed a strong urge to vomit and interjected, “Charles brother, why don’t you go guard the courtyard? There are enough servants here to protect us.”

The men and women out on this excursion were eager to send this intimidating figure away, and the servants, thinking that if the kidnapper leader returned, the most likely place he’d go was the Lotus Courtyard, immediately chimed in.

David Ford swept his gaze over the crowd. Wherever his eyes landed, those being discussed immediately shut their mouths, and the main hall fell silent.

“Alright, I’ll go then,” David Ford slung the red-tasseled spear over his shoulder again, his movements just like an old countryman carrying a shoulder pole.

Helen Miller quickly spoke up: “Brother, I’ll go with you.”

Grace Harper stopped her: “You’re a young lady, what are you going there for? The constables will be here soon.”

David Ford nodded firmly: “That’s right, little girl, better not go to that bloody place.”

With that, David Ford turned to leave. Helen Miller rushed over, suddenly abandoning her usual obedient cleverness, hugged David Ford’s leg, and cried out, “No—I want to go with you, you promised me!”

Grace Harper sighed and didn’t try to stop her anymore.

A little girl is still a little girl. Though she had been pretending to be calm, she was still deeply attached to her rescuer, afraid that he would disappear in the blink of an eye and everything would turn out to be a dream—in order to prove that this wasn’t a dream, she had to hold tightly to the one who saved her.

As soon as Helen Miller started crying, Grace Harper immediately forgot her nausea. She stood up and comforted the little girl again and again: “The constables will be here soon. For a girl to get involved in such filth, it would ruin your reputation if word got out…”

David Ford also crouched down and gently promised, “I’m not leaving… sigh, where could I go anyway?”

Grace Harper continued to help persuade her: “Exactly, this matter has already alarmed the authorities. With such a big case, how could the officials close it in just a few months? As the person involved, Big Brother Ford can’t leave… Don’t worry, I saw it with my own eyes—your Big Brother Ford is a good man, he personally killed those kidnappers and saved so many trafficked girls. The authorities won’t punish him; they’ll reward him handsomely.”

Helen Miller raised her tear-streaked face and repeatedly urged, “Brother, you mustn’t leave. Don’t disappear the moment I blink, you must, you must… Oh, this case is such a big deal, the reward from the authorities must be thirty strings of cash, right? With that money, you won’t have to worry about food or clothing for years, and you can take your time searching…”

Chapter 9: Now I’m Really in Trouble

Such a generous reward? Is that for real?

David Ford winked his left eye at Helen Miller and answered mischievously, “Ahaha, thirty strings—that’s thirty thousand copper coins! I’m counting on that money to eat and drink well.”

Grace Harper took Helen Miller’s hand and chimed in, “It’s more than thirty strings. With such a big case, Charles has wiped out the whole kidnapper gang in one stroke. The wealthy families in the city, for the sake of their daughters’ safety, will surely give thanks… all together, it’ll be much more than thirty strings.”

David Ford burst out laughing, his laughter unrestrained and, in this era, rather out of place. Grace Harper couldn’t help but start to doubt David Ford’s original identity.

In these times, people of breeding and status couldn’t laugh so freely. Even when happy, they were supposed to smile lightly, reservedly, with gentle elegance—only then did it show their refinement. Nowadays, no man dared to laugh as uninhibitedly as David Ford.

Amid the laughter, David Ford slung the red-tasseled spear over his shoulder, turned, and strode out of the main hall. Behind him, a scholar muttered under his breath, “What a straightforward fellow.”

Once he was gone, things quieted down, and the nausea returned to Grace Harper. She forced herself to endure it, supporting her companion as they walked, and whispered, “I used to like men with literary flair. When I met Henry Brooks, I realized there are all kinds among men, but I don’t like the kind of roughness that doesn’t understand poetry or literature… Who would have thought, among rough men, there’s someone as bold and awe-inspiring as Charles.”

Her companion, reeking of vomit, couldn’t be bothered to reply, and just urged her to hurry up, fighting back her own nausea.