London, Tower Hamletz, Whitechapel District, in Mr. Martin's Bistro.

In the evening, Mr. Martin's business was as hot as ever.

As a businessman who started out as a counterfeiter, Judd Martin is very happy with his current life.

Although the bulk of his current source of income is still mixed with beer and other unserious goods, compared to other peers in the East End, at least Martin can pat his chest and proudly announce that there are absolutely no harmful things such as alum in his wine.

And this wealth also gave Martin peace of mind, at least he no longer had to make a long, routine confession to God in fear before going to bed every day.

And the reason why he was able to open the shop in the intricate Whitechapel was of course inseparable from the noble man in his life, the God of Scotland Yard - Arthur Hastings.

Mr. Martin's niece still vividly remembers that when the news of Mr. Hastings' shooting in Liverpool came, her uncle, who was reading a newspaper, was so frightened that he fell straight out of his chair.

In order to keep abreast of the developments of the Liverpool shooting and Mr. Hastings' injuries, the stingy Mr. Martin did not hesitate to throw two shillings at all the newspapers in the market that reported the news.

It wasn't until he was so sure that Officer Hastings really didn't burp that the middle-aged man fell asleep on the bed with anxiety.

In order to help Arthur recover, Mr. Martin got up early the next morning and ran to the confessional room of the church to help Mr. Hastings confess his crimes.

Perhaps it was Martin's piety that really played a role, or maybe Mr. Hastings himself was so hard that he came back alive from Liverpool.

Not only that, but the admirable young police officer was promoted to Assistant Superintendent of Police, making him the number three man in Scotland Yard behind Commissioner Rowan and Deputy Commissioner Sir Mayne.

Anne still vividly remembers the other day when she went to the butcher's shop to buy and saw Mr. Hastings walking out of the Whitechapel Police Station in high spirits.

He was surrounded by the ever-unsmiling sheriff, a somewhat balding workhouse deacon, a local priest with a book in his hand and a cross on his chest, and several elders of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland Yard.

He was surrounded by some of Whitechapel's most prominent figures, each with a smile on his face that could be the size of a whole year.

More dramatically, the sheriff had asked the Martin Tavern to be closed for cholera control a few days ago.

However, after Mr. Hastings went to the police station, the sheriff said nothing about it.

Not only that, but the sheriff, who was in his early thirties and had a scar on the corner of his mouth, even bullied the parish priest who advocated prohibition for the tavern's business, and called the workhouse deacon to the police station for reporting the sale of illegal publications in Martin's tavern.

That evening, the sergeant, who seldom showed a good face to others, visited Martin's tavern himself, and talked to Mr. Martin about the wine. After a lively conversation, the two were surprised to find out that the niece of Mr. Sheriff's aunt's family had married into Mr. Martin's hometown of Kent, so they could still be counted as half a countryman.

Taking advantage of the gap between the two of them, Anne, who was serving wine and food on the side, asked about Mr. Hastings out of curiosity.

When the two gentlemen were in a good mood, they were quite willing to answer the lady's questions.

That's when she learned about Mr. Hastings' legendary fortune.

Who would have thought that such a big man would be just a patrol officer who had to live on credit with her uncle three years ago?

Perhaps it was Mr. Hastings' history that spurred Mr. Sheriff on the spot, and he even recited a speech Mr. Hastings gave to the officers during his visit to the Whitechapel Police Station.

As the saying goes, Shun is in the acre, Fu Shuo is raised in the plate building, Jiao is lifted in the fish salt, Guan Yiwu is raised in the Shi, Sun Shu Ao is raised in the sea, and Baili Xi is held in the city......

Although Anne didn't know what these words meant, and Mr. Sheriff and Uncle might not know what they meant, these strange tones sounded very learned.

According to Mr. Sheriff, Mr. Hastings is inspiring everyone at the Whitechapel Police Department, using his own experience to teach everyone a truth: in this day and age, it doesn't matter if you are born in mud, as long as you have enough talent and a little luck, you can climb up. And he, Arthur Hastings, is the luck of the big guys.

And Mr. Hastings wasn't all nonsense.

Because the previous sergeant of the Whitechapel Police Department, Ridley, who was called 'Loach' by everyone, seems to have left the basin of Whitechapel and has been transferred to work under Mr. Hastings.

It was only then that Anne realized how much power Mr. Hastings, who occasionally came to the store for coffee, wielded power.

Of course, she couldn't help but have some careful thoughts of her own.

She knew that people like Mr. Hastings belonged to the true ladies, the ladies and ladies. If it had been a few years ago, when he was a poor little police officer, he might have had some chances, but now the door is closed.

However, Anne is not upset, because she already has someone she likes.

If he could, he should have found a job under Mr. Hastings.

I don't want that guy to be motivated, just that he doesn't spend his days with those bastards who drink and make trouble on the docks.

Anne thought about these things and wiped the table absentmindedly.

Suddenly, the wind chimes hanging in front of the tavern tinkled and rang.

Anne put away the rag, looked up, and was suddenly surprised: "Mr. Hastings? ”

Arthur glanced at the few ripe ruffians in the store, took off his hat and said, "Good evening, ma'am." What about your uncle? I booked a private room with him. ”

"My uncle is in the back kitchen. He said this was your first time in the store this year and he had to treat you well and give you the bad luck of coming back from Liverpool. ”

"You don't need to be so polite." Arthur joked, "I'm not very demanding, as long as Mr. Martin doesn't add anything superfluous to my dishes." ”

"You're thinking too much." Anne replied with a smile: "Although he picks the door and has a poor memory, he has remembered everything you told him." ”

"Okay, then I'll go up first."

Arthur was about to go upstairs when Anne stopped him with a voice: "Wait, Mr. Hastings! ”

"Huh?" Arthur turned around and asked, "Is there anything else?" ”

"The ......"

Anne didn't know how to start talking about it, as a country girl from Kent, she only remembered that when she was a child, her mother always asked someone to get something.

But what gift could she have for someone like Mr. Hastings?

Mr. Hastings doesn't seem to be short of agricultural and sideline products like eggs.

Arthur saw Anne's crampedness, and he asked, "What?" Someone bullied you? Or did your uncle not pay you a normal salary? ”

"No, it's not my uncle's business. He doesn't pay me much, but if I want to buy something that isn't too expensive, he'll nod his head and agree......"

Arthur put one hand on the armrest and quipped, "Girl, next time there is such a thing, you can come to the London District Prosecutor's Office for help." Although civil cases are not under our jurisdiction, I believe that many of our newly recruited prosecutors are still willing to find some small cases to practice their skills, given that most of our newly recruited prosecutors are inexperienced. ”

As soon as Arthur finished speaking, he heard a commotion outside the tavern door.

With a thud, the tavern door was kicked open.

A man with a bruised nose and swollen face was thrown onto the floor of the tavern, and the five big and three thick thugs rushed in, followed by a crisp and disdainful snort.

High heels clattered on the floor, and Fiona, dressed in a black and red dress, wore a wide-brimmed hat with a fluffy white feather on her head.

She stood beside the man, wearing lace white gloves and holding a slender cigarette stick in her hand: "What about Martin?" If you're still alive, come out and respond! If you die, the old lady will lift the lid of your coffin tonight! ”

Martin lifted the curtain of the partition in the back kitchen, rubbed his hands and walked out with a smile: "Miss Ivan, it's not good for girls to be angry all the time, you see, this is simply tarnishing your natural beauty." ”

Fiona took a puff of her cigarette and slowly puffed on Martin's face: "Mr. Martin, I don't want to interfere with your business. You're a businessman, I'm a businessman, and we're supposed to be in harmony. However, the man chosen by your niece came to my territory and prostituted for nothing. If I turn a blind eye to this and act like I don't know anything, then I'm breaking the rules of the business. If everybody did what he did, would we be able to do business? ”

"Ah......" Martin glanced at the half-dead thug lying on the ground, "You said him! You don't need to show me anything, I don't even know anything like this. You decide what you want to do, whether you want to sink into the Thames or be sold into slavery in the Americas, it's up to you. ”

"Uncle!"

When Anne heard this, she hurriedly rushed out: "How can you do this to John? ”

Seeing this, Martin just glared at his niece: "What are you doing?" You haven't gotten off work today! ”

He took out a broom from behind the counter and stuffed it into Anne's hand: "If you feel free, I'll give you a new job to sweep this pile of social garbage out of the ground." ”

"Huh?!" Fiona reached out in front of Anne and said to Martin, "Martin, what do you mean?" We're not done yet. If you don't pay the bill for him, then he can't get out. ”

"Fiona."

Arthur, who had been leaning on the armrest and watching for a long time, saw this scene, raised his hand and greeted her: "Don't make trouble, I don't want to go to the police after work." How much he owes you, I paid for him. ”

"Huh?"

Fiona was about to get angry when she heard her name called, but when she looked around, she saw that it was the black hat on the stairs who spoke, and the swear words that came to her lips instantly turned around and went back into her stomach.

"Oh! So you're here, my dear! You're still as generous and kind as ever, and since that's the case, then I'll agree. ”

Fiona lifted her cigarette stick and gave the boy on the ground a disgusted kick: "You bastard, you are lucky to have met the most kind-hearted man in all of London." But next time you dare to do it again, you won't have such good luck. ”

After that, Fiona raised her head and glared at Anne, took out a ticket from her pocket and put it in her hand: "Take him to heal." Finally, be optimistic about your man. He seems to think that he is very attractive, and he has no idea that there is a payment for sleeping with other women other than you. ”

Anne only shot back with a vicious look, and she helped her sweetheart out of the tavern.

Seeing this, Fiona just read with contempt: "Still too young!" ”

Seeing that the lively diners were not having fun, they could only touch their glasses and laugh to make a toast: "It's really a disappointment." ”

Fiona glanced at the group of diners, turned her head and ordered the thugs, "You guys are here to watch, I'm happy today, I can eat whatever I want, I'm going to talk to my darling about business." ”

Fiona walked up to Arthur, raised her hand slightly, raised her chin at Arthur, and motioned for him to hold it.

Seeing this, Arthur just laughed: "Where did you learn it?" It's quite upscale. ”

Fiona didn't care too much and said, "Of course, I have hired an etiquette teacher. As for you, you've had so many drinking parties, haven't you learned to be a gentleman? ”

"Of course I haven't learned how to be a gentleman, Miss Ivan, you know, I was a pig farmer, and now I'm just a different field. However, for the sake of your good learning, I will try my best to cooperate with you to imitate. ”

Arthur bowed slightly, took Fiona's hand and walked into the box on the second floor.

As soon as the two of them sat down, they heard Fiona complain uncontrollably, "Damn! You are indeed a pig farmer, and you hold a lady's hand, and you use the same force as a pig. ”

Arthur replied as he poured his tea, "The boar can't eat the chaff, bear with it, ma'am." ”

"Huh?" Fiona knocked on the table dissatisfied: "It's hard for your creditor to be satisfied with such an attitude. ”

"So what? How much does Anne's boyfriend really owe you? ”

"Not much." Fiona held up a finger: "This number." ”

"A pound?"

Arthur frowned, took out a ticket from his pocket and put it on the table: "You are simply robbing, and the robbers in the city of London may not be able to rob so much money with a single order." ”

"High risk and high reward, high-quality service is naturally worthy of high price."

Fiona stretched and said, "If you want to make this money, I can introduce you to it." Aren't there many hairy boys who are thinking about getting rich overnight by marrying the widow of a wealthy businessman these days? It's just that they do the long term, we do the short term, and I don't think there's any difference between us. ”

Speaking of this, Fiona lowered her head again and looked at the corner of Arthur's eyes: "Then again, are your injuries healed?" Liverpool's case is halfway through the investigation, why don't you continue to investigate? If there's something you're not comfortable doing, I can help. Of course, my request is that you can't take revenge, and if I do, you can't end up throwing me in prison again. ”

"Thank you for your concern, ma'am, but you don't bother with the Liverpool case and just go about your own business."

"Oh......" Fiona squinted her eyes and then opened her eyes sharply, "Well, dear, since you have said so, I believe you, and if you don't let me touch it, then I won't touch it." ”

Arthur took a sip of tea, "I hope you're really as well-behaved as you say you are, but then again, your answer makes me feel a little disappointed, because I thought you would be a little more rebellious." ”

Speaking of this, Arthur took out a document from his bag and threw it on the table, he shook his head with some regret, "It seems that you may not be able to do this job." ”

"What is this?"

"What you want."

"What do I want?"

Fiona was about to pick up the document when Arthur suddenly reached out and pressed her palm: "You can think about it, if you accept what you want, then for the sake of fair trade, you must also provide me with a corresponding reward." ”

Fiona squinted and smiled when she heard this, and she replied nonchalantly: "Your reward has been sitting here all the time, can you blame me for not giving it if you don't take it yourself?" Take whatever you want, just like I did. ”

Fiona didn't give Arthur a chance to speak, and she pulled the file from under Arthur's palm.

As soon as the cover of the document was unfolded, the smile on her face froze, and after a short pause, there was a burst of exclamation: "Oh my God! Honey, how did you get this thing! ”

(End of chapter)