The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat-Chapter 137: This is Terrible

The woman answered without hesitation.

"Of course!

The Gao Family is the most powerful clan in Fu’an County.

Not only is their clan large and prosperous, but I heard the clan head’s youngest son even became a scholar last year.

If he passes the metropolitan exam this autumn and becomes an Advanced Scholar, he’ll be able to serve as an official in the imperial court."

In the eyes of common folk, anyone who could become an official was incredibly impressive.

Even a minor seventh-rank official was like a deity to them—visible but completely out of reach.

Jin Ling’er pressed.

"Is the Gao clan head’s youngest son named Gao Changming?"

The woman thought for a moment before replying.

"I think that’s his name.

I only heard it mentioned once, so I don’t remember it clearly.

Young lady, why do you ask so specifically?

Do you know someone from the Gao Family?"

Hua Manman and Li Ji also looked at Jin Ling’er.

Before Jin Ling’er could speak, Jin Sinian blurted out.

"Gao Changming is my future brother-in-law!"

Everyone was shocked by his proclamation.

Jin Ling’er hurriedly clamped a hand over her brother’s mouth and said,

"He’s just a kid and likes to spout nonsense. Please don’t take him seriously."

With that, she pulled her brother and quickly walked away.

Hua Manman asked the woman a few more things about the situation in the city. Once she was sure there was no more useful information to be had, she and Li Ji left.

They walked over to Jin Ling’er and her brother.

At that moment, Jin Sinian’s head was hanging low, and he looked listless. It seemed his sister had given him a scolding.

Jin Ling’er anxiously twisted the hem of her clothes.

She didn’t dare to meet the couple’s eyes, looking extremely guilty.

Hua Manman, however, was considerate enough not to press about Gao Changming. Instead, she brought up the matter of entering the city.

"How do you plan to get into the city?"

Jin Ling’er hesitated for a moment before finally answering truthfully.

"I have a token. It was given by the Gao clan head. We should be able to get into the city with it."

With that, she took out a small pouch from her robes.

She opened the pouch and carefully tipped out a Unity Lock.

The Unity Lock was crafted from silver, its workmanship exquisite. A single glance told you it wasn’t something an ordinary person could afford.

Jin Ling’er pointed to the back of the Unity Lock and said,

"The Gao family crest is engraved here. Anyone from the Gao Family will definitely recognize it."

After speaking, she looked nervously at Li Ergou and his wife, afraid they would ask about the token’s origin.

But Hua Manman had no intention of prying.

She said joyfully,

"That’s wonderful! Could you bring us into the city with you? We’ll definitely repay you when we get the chance!"

Jin Ling’er quickly waved her hands.

"There’s no need for repayment. You’ve already helped us so much on this journey.

If you hadn’t helped us hunt, my brother and I would have starved to death on the road.

It’s our honor to be able to help you now. Let’s go together."

Seeing that they had no intention of asking about the token’s origin, Jin Ling’er inwardly breathed a huge sigh of relief.

’It wasn’t that she was unwilling to tell the truth; it was that this matter concerned the future paths of both her and her brother. She couldn’t speak of it carelessly, lest she create a mess she couldn’t clean up later.’

The city gates were still shut tight. Unable to find anyone from the Gao Family, they could only wait patiently.

Their wait stretched for the better part of a day.

The next morning was the day for the congee distribution, which took place every other day.

The number of refugees gathered outside the city had grown.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the city gates slowly opened.

The first to emerge were soldiers armed with long spears.

They ferociously drove the refugees back, not stopping until they had pushed the entire crowd a considerable distance away.

Only then did people from the Gao, Deng, and Cao families appear.

They carried pots, bowls, ladles, and grain into the thatched shelters.

The refugees who had been living in the shelters had already been driven away by the soldiers.

Soon, a fragrant aroma wafted out from the shelters.

Smelling the aroma, the refugees began to drool, their eyes gleaming with hunger.

If not for the spear-wielding soldiers standing guard, the refugees would have surely lunged forward to snatch the food.

Forced by the soldiers, the refugees formed a long, snaking line.

Hua Manman’s group of four also blended into the queue.

They were lucky enough to be near the front.

When it was their group’s turn, the person distributing the congee frowned and said,

"Where are your bowls? We only give out congee here; we don’t provide bowls or chopsticks."

Hua Manman said with a smile, "We’re not here for congee, we’re looking for someone. Excuse me, are you from the Gao Family?"

The man nodded. "Yes, we are."

Hua Manman immediately pushed Jin Ling’er, who was behind her, to the front.

Jin Ling’er took the Unity Lock from her robes and said nervously,

"My father had some acquaintance with your Gao Family’s clan head. This is the token your clan head gave my father.

Our home was hit by the flood, and now only my brother and I are left. We’ve come here specifically to seek refuge.

Could I trouble you to pass on a message for us?"

The man took the Unity Lock and glanced at it, confirming that the engraved pattern was indeed the Gao family crest.

He immediately returned the Unity Lock to Jin Ling’er with both hands and sent someone to fetch the steward.

The High Family Steward took the Unity Lock and examined it carefully, confirming it truly belonged to the Gao Family.

But he didn’t give an immediate answer. Instead, he sized up Jin Ling’er and said probingly,

"This token alone might not be enough to confirm your identity.

After all, this could have been stolen or snatched from someone.

Do you have any other tokens?"

Jin Ling’er hesitated again and again before finally speaking truthfully.

"I also have a marriage contract, handwritten by the Gao clan head himself. If you don’t believe me, I can show it to you in front of everyone."

Upon hearing this, the High Family Steward’s expression changed instantly.

He hurriedly returned the Unity Lock and said, "There’s no need for that. I’ll take you into the city right now."

’As far as he knew, the family’s young master did indeed have a childhood engagement. It was a marriage pact for their children, arranged when the master was young and studying away from home, after getting drunk with a good friend from his class.

So many years had passed that everyone assumed the engagement had been forgotten.

Now that the young master was so promising, the master and madam were counting on him to have a brilliant future and intended to arrange a better marriage for him.

But who would have thought that someone would show up at their door at this very moment with a marriage contract and a token?

This was a disaster!

The High Family Steward didn’t dare let the matter escalate. He hastily gave a few instructions to the servants and led Jin Ling’er’s group into the city.

The scene inside the city was a world apart from the one outside—like the difference between heaven and hell.

Inside, there was almost no sign of the flood’s devastation. The shops along the streets were still open for business, peddlers hawked their wares through the lanes, and children ran about, laughing and playing. It was a bustling scene of city life.

As they passed a medical hall, Hua Manman tugged on Li Ji’s sleeve, blinked her eyes, and asked,

"Er Gou, should we go in and find a doctor to treat your injuries?"

Li Ji retorted, "Do you have any money?"

Hua Manman said sorrowfully, "No."

They were utterly broke.

Li Ji said, "How can we see a doctor with no money?"

Hua Manman fell silent.

Right now, they didn’t even have a bowl to beg for food, let alone money for a doctor’s fee.

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