The young man in plain clothes had brows like a painting, and his eyes were like black pearls that seed to gather sunlight, but at this mont, those eyes exuded a chilling coldness as he helped up Widow Liu’s son.
The twelve-year-old boy’s face was covered in blood, but there was still a stubborn look between his brows. He thanked the young man in plain clothes and staggered over to help Widow Liu.
Huang Liuhu’s gaze fell on the young man in plain clothes. His enraged expression was montarily dazed by the youth’s extraordinary appearance, but he quickly snapped out of it and shouted, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and grab that rascal!"
His three companions, as if waking from a dream, imdiately surrounded him. Inside, shadows flickered, and the sound of punches echoed endlessly. Was it... a fight?
The brave neighbors peeked through the broken door, seeing the young man in plain clothes standing straight as a deity overlooking the world, while Huang Liuhu and his four companions were bruised and swaying unsteadily.
Did Huang Liuhu actually lose the fight?
Seeing that he couldn’t win, Huang Liuhu dared not continue seeking trouble. He imdiately slinked away, trying to escape.
Just as they approached the door, the young man in plain clothes turned his body, standing in front of them, coldly glancing at them, "You’ve broken things and injured people, don’t we need compensation?"
Cold sweat dripped from Huang Liuhu, who wanted to say sothing harsh but was intimidated. Though the youth looked frail, his punches indeed hurt. He didn’t dare utter a word.
But from what the young man hinted at, they could leave if they paid? Being used to swindling and taking advantage of others, they had no money. Even after scrounging here and there, they could only gather a few coins, not enough even to replace the broken tofu board.
Holding those few coins, he was sure it wasn’t enough to compensate, his eyes full of fear.
The young man in plain clothes didn’t even glance at it, stepping out the door, and addressed the neighbors with a voice as clear as jade, "As neighbors, if you turn a blind eye when people are bullied, aren’t you afraid that the next one bullied may be your own mother, wife, sister, or daughter?"
The neighbors looked at each other, embarrassed and at a loss for words.
The young man in plain clothes spoke flatly, "Today you avoid trouble, tomorrow trouble cos to find you. If you’re weak, people will bully you. If you don’t unite, who will help you? Now, send people to take these four to the governnt!"
Huang Liuhu said bitterly, "Young master, we dare not do it again, please don’t push us to the brink!"
The young man smiled broadly, his voice clear like a spring, "Then you can try to escape; I don’t mind catching you again!"
Huang Liuhu’s group wanted to flee, but recalling the soul-crushing pain of the young man’s strikes, they suddenly thought that being sent to the authorities might spare them more beatings.
They decided not to escape; they absolutely wouldn’t escape!
Huang Liuhu’s group wilted, but Widow Liu’s neighbors had mixed reactions.
So elders hesitated since the young man wasn’t from their area, wondering about revenge if he walked away after dealing with Huang Liuhu. However, a few young n volunteered, and soon, each household sent one person to escort the troublemakers to the authorities.
After Huang Liuhu’s group was taken away, Widow Liu and her son ca to express gratitude. Seeing her tofu shop in ruins and her worried face, the young man in plain clothes rummaged through his belongings, pieced together so broken silver, totaling twelve taels, and handed it to Widow Liu, saying, "Use this money to heal you and your son, and to replace the damaged goods."
Widow Liu raised her head to look at the young man in plain clothes, her eyes full of gratitude. When Huang Liuhu and his group locked the door, planning to harm her, she felt desperate and frightened. Even when her son rushed out later, she held no hope, rely wishing to protect her son from being beaten to death by these villains.
The appearance of the young man in plain clothes was truly like an immortal. Widow Liu knelt down, pulling her son to kneel with her, thanking the young man for saving their lives.
Widow Liu understood well that if the young man only drove Huang Liuhu’s group away, her tofu shop would face endless troubles and more vicious retaliation after his departure.
However, the young man had the neighbors band together and send the group to the authorities. Even if Huang Liuhu sought revenge later, the community would stand united, no longer fearing these hooligans.
Having saved her son and protected her from humiliation while also resolving potential future issues, Widow Liu gratefully asked, "May I know your noble na, benefactor? I will set up a Longevity Tablet to thank you for saving our lives!"
The young man in plain clothes dismissed it with a smile, "My na is Huang Zheng!"
A Longevity Tablet? Terrifying! Xia Wenjin thought, she preferred to do good deeds anonymously. Such matters should be left to Young Master Huang! Besides, it was his silver anyway.
It was said that Huang Liuhu’s group was locked in the governnt jail and wouldn’t co out for at least ten days to half a month. Widow Liu had already called a doctor for her son’s injuries. Although she worried about money, she simply bandaged him herself and began preparing to reopen the tofu shop.
Neighbors noticed Xia Wenjin was young, though modestly dressed, she carried extraordinary air, surely soone of great background.
When Xia Wenjin suggested the neighborhood jointly help Widow Liu repair the tofu shop, there was an enthusiastic response.
Many hands make light work, with so providing labor and others materials. In just half a day, the shattered tofu shop was restored to its forr glory, ready to reopen the next day.
To thank everyone for their help, Widow Liu used the leftover silver to buy food and drink, personally cooked, and invited everyone to feast at the newly repaired tofu shop.
Xia Wenjin was of sunny disposition and quickly beca one with the crowd. The grocery store owner exclaid, "Young Master Huang, though young, you act in tis of need and possess great skills. I salute you!"
Owners of the tailor and costic shops, among others, also wanted to toast him, while the grocery store owner hurriedly added, "I go first, we’ll go one by one!"
Xia Wenjin laughed and raised her cup, "It was nothing, just a small effort, not worth ntioning. Cheers!"
The tofu shop’s door was wide open, Xia Wenjin found herself pushed to the head of the seat, directly facing the entrance. Just as she raised her glass to drink, her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of the street. Suddenly, her expression changed; she put down her cup, ducked her body, and slipped under the table.
This abrupt action startled everyone, as Xia Wenjin peeked out from under the table, holding her stomach, and crouched down saying, "Pardon , my stomach suddenly doesn’t feel well. Please enjoy, I’ll excuse myself briefly!"
The human body has its urgencies, everyone understood and allowed it with a laugh. Xia Wenjin promptly left through the back door.
Just as Xia Wenjin left, a young man in moon-white clothes quickly entered the tofu shop.
His delicate features, like an immortal co down to earth, exuded an aura of elegance and otherworldly charm, with an artistically carved face that stood out strikingly like a crane among chickens.
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