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Zhao Dafu stepped out the door, beckoned to Li Guanqi, and briefly explained the situation in a low voice.
Li Guanqi's eyes narrowed slightly, and his fists clenched.
"No… it can't be… Wanshu, when has she ever been down the mountain?" he asked, looking up at Zhao Dafu, his voice heavy with concern.
Zhao Dafu frowned, thinking for a long time, then gestured next to Li Guanqi's ear. "About this tall. She looked pretty, but I didn't get a clear look at her face; she just flashed by." The man apparently realized that Li Guanqi might know the young girl, and he comforted him. "Ah, that girl left a long time ago. She's probably already out of town and heading back by now."
But the waiter at the counter muttered, "I don't think so. That Dog Three is a ruffian. He's a lackey for that Young Master, so most likely…" The waiter shook his head, the rest of his thoughts left unsaid.
Li Guanqi slung the wine jar over his shoulder and, taking large strides, quickly approached Uncle Xiao.
"Uncle Xiao! It's me."
The old man slowly raised his head, his eyes filled with tears. He wiped them with his sleeve before recognizing the newcomer as Li Guanqi.
"Oh, it's young friend Li."
"You see… I… sigh…"
Seeing the old man's flustered appearance, Li Guanqi felt a pang of sadness, but this was no time for pleasantries.
Li Guanqi opened his mouth and asked: "Was there a young girl earlier, thirteen or fourteen years old, a bit shorter than me, wearing a dress with small white flowers embroidered on the cuffs, who came to your place to buy rice cakes?"
Uncle Xiao recalled briefly and remembered Meng Wanshu, who had bought four rice cakes.
"Yes, yes, yes, there was such a little girl!"
"That little girl initially bought three pieces, then changed her mind and bought four. I repacked them for her. I remember it very clearly."
Li Guanqi's heart sank. He was certain that the target was indeed Meng Wanshu!!
The thought of it being Meng Wanshu immediately threw Li Guanqi into a state of panic. He grabbed the old man's shoulders and asked, "Where did that little girl go?" But at this moment, how could Uncle Xiao remember such details? He didn't even know that Meng Wanshu was in the crowd back then.
"Town's east side!" The waiter in the wine shop pointed the way. Li Guanqi nodded slightly, and without time to thank him, he immediately dashed into the crowd!
At the same time.
Meng Wanshu finally breathed a sigh of relief. She seemed to have shaken off everyone behind her. She looked up at the gradually darkening sky. The young girl anxiously walked towards the edge of town, knowing she wouldn't be able to get home before nightfall if she didn't hurry. Her parents would be so worried by then.
But she hadn't walked far when she saw an old woman lying weakly on the ground by the roadside. Originally, she wanted to ignore her and walk straight past, gritting her teeth and quickening her steps.
But just then, the old woman, with all her might, grabbed Meng Wanshu's skirt hem. Her pale face had cracked lips, clearly from not having eaten or drunk anything for a long time. The old woman's withered hand trembled as she clutched Meng Wanshu's skirt, speaking haltingly.
"Girl… give… give me some… food… food." As she spoke, the old woman also pulled out a jade bracelet wrapped in rags from her bosom and offered it to Meng Wanshu. "This bracelet is mine… girl, just give me something to eat." As she spoke, tears welled up in the old woman's eyes, making her look utterly pitiful.
Meng Wanshu, seeing this, couldn't bear to let the old woman starve to death on the street. She took a piece of rice cake from the oil paper and handed it to her. She had no choice; the old woman's grip was too tight. If she didn't give it, she probably wouldn't be able to leave.
"Here, take this, and let go."
The old woman took the rice cake and devoured it ravenously, but still didn't let go. Meng Wanshu anxiously tugged at her skirt, frowning and scolding, "I've already given you food, now let go…"
The old woman forcibly placed the jade bracelet on Meng Wanshu's wrist.
"Ah!! It hurts… I don't want it!! Take it back!"
A glint flashed in the old woman's eyes. She let go, spitting out the rice cake from her mouth.
"Girl, wear it."
As her words fell, a casual shout suddenly came from a nearby box. "Mom! Where are you? Our family's bracelet is reserved for my wife." A frivolous voice slowly drifted from the dark alley, carrying a hint of mockery and playfulness.
Meng Wanshu's face changed, and she immediately understood what was happening. She dropped the things in her hand, frantically trying to pull off the bracelet. Meng Wanshu's wrist was red from friction against the stone. But at this moment, figures in the deep alley slowly emerged. There were five people in total, led by the lecherous Dog Three!
"Hahaha, Mom, is this the daughter-in-law you found for me?"
Meng Wanshu repeatedly backed away, her eyes wide with fear as she looked at these people. However, several servants had already blocked her escape routes.
Meng Wanshu sharply said: "I am not! Don't speak nonsense!"
Dog Three clasped his hands, smiling as he looked at Meng Wanshu's wrist. "Oh? Why not? You're already wearing our family's token." As he spoke, Dog Three walked towards Meng Wanshu, his gaze sweeping over Meng Wanshu's chest, a lewd glint flashing in his eyes.
This nauseating gaze made Meng Wanshu's face turn pale. Although many neighbors poked their heads out to watch the commotion, not a single person dared to speak. Meanwhile, Aunt Mei, disguised as an old woman, played the victim and spoke to the surrounding onlookers.
"This young girl has already agreed to our family's engagement and personally accepted our family heirloom. Now she wants to go back on her word…"
As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding crowd erupted in murmurs of discussion.
"These young girls nowadays really are… how can she go back on her word after agreeing herself?"
"Exactly, that bracelet on her hand looks like it's worth a lot of money."
"Sigh… Dog Three is an orphan, where would he get a mother? This girl…"
Although many people knew the hidden truth, most were still misled by the old woman. The old woman lowered her head, her disheveled hair concealing her cunning gaze. She was even already thinking about whether to secretly change places after getting the reward money later.
Suddenly!!
A fierce look flashed in Meng Wanshu's eyes. She raised her wrist and slammed it hard onto a stone on the ground!!
Dog Three was horrified. This bracelet was priceless, brought from Zhao Yuanlin.
"Stop! You dare!!!"
Meng Wanshu was deaf to the man's words.
Bang!! Crack!!!
The priceless jade bracelet shattered with a loud crack, and the broken pieces of jade cut a deep wound on the girl's wrist. It was unclear where exactly it was cut, but blood flowed freely. Meng Wanshu stood up, her chest heaving slightly, her emotions in turmoil.
Dog Three looked at the broken jade bracelet, his face gradually turning grim. He looked up at Meng Wanshu, stepped forward, and slapped her across the face.
Smack!!
Meng Wanshu fell onto the cold bluestone slab, her hands scraped raw, and her cheek instantly swelled, showing the imprint of five fingers. When people saw Dog Three make a move, the murmurs of discussion among the surrounding crowd suddenly diminished greatly. Even under the intimidating presence of Dog Three, the crowd couldn't help but retreat a few steps.
Meng Wanshu's face showed pain. She looked up at her surroundings, opening her mouth to cry for help again and again, but no sound came out. The indifferent crowd didn't even dare to meet Dog Three's gaze. The man just looked coldly around, and many spectators simply walked away.
Dog Three sneered, squatted down, and said coldly to Meng Wanshu, whose eyes were red-rimmed.
"Since you smashed the bracelet, this bracelet is worth three hundred taels of silver. Either give me the money, or come back with me and get married!"
But Meng Wanshu, with her strong inner character, refused to show any weakness in front of Dog Three at this moment. Despite the burning pain in her cheek and the waves of agony from her hands washing over her brain, she still stiffened her neck and said coldly.
"Dream on, you dog!!"
"I'd rather bash my head against the ground and die here today than go with you!"
Dog Three scoffed. "Heh heh, little lady, you're quite spirited."
"Come on, brothers, take her away!!"
As his words fell, Meng Wanshu actually picked up a blood-stained stone from the ground and violently smashed it towards Dog Three's head!!
Bang!!!!
Blood splattered everywhere. Dog Three's nose bridge instantly caved in, his face a bloody mess.
Meng Wanshu got up and tried to run, but was grabbed by the hair by one of the youths wearing the Zhao Family's uniform and thrown to the ground!!
"Still trying to run?! Brother Dog, are you okay?"
Meng Wanshu struggled desperately: "Let go of me! Let go!"
But the young girl, caught between two burly men, was too weak. No matter how she struggled, she couldn't break free. Dog Three was helped up from the ground, blood blurring his vision. The intense pain from his broken nose almost made him lose his mind.
"I'll kill you!!!"
With a flip of his wrist, he pulled a dagger from his sleeve, but two hands stopped him.
"Brother Dog, Brother Dog, you mustn't… if you make a move, Young Master won't be able to explain it."
Dog Three, having calmed down, his chest heaving violently, stared intently at Meng Wanshu, licked the blood from the corner of his mouth, and said coldly.
"You bitch… just you wait. Once Young Master is done with you, I'll take good care of you!!"
"Take her away!!!"
Meng Wanshu panicked. A deep despair enveloped her.
"Save me!! Please, save me, I don't know them!"
"That old woman and them are in cahoots!! I gave her food!!"
"That old hag forced the bracelet on me, save me!!"
But her cries for help did not elicit any sympathy from others, nor did they have the courage to defy the Zhao Family. Everyone ignored Meng Wanshu's cries for help.
The group, in a grand procession, pushed through the crowd and walked towards the town. No matter how much Meng Wanshu dragged her feet on the ground, she couldn't resist the strength of the men beside her.
Suddenly!!!
Meng Wanshu's sight landed on a person she knew all too well… The young girl's tense emotions instantly lost control. Her previously stoic face was filled with a wronged expression. Meng Wanshu's tears gushed out like a broken dam. She pursed her lips, trying her best not to cry out, her appearance, tear-stained and delicate like a pear blossom in the rain, was heart-wrenching.
Li Guanqi stood ten zhang away, his face extremely grim as he watched this scene. Especially seeing Meng Wanshu's bloodied wrist, and the glaring finger marks on her cheek. A surge of hot blood rushed to Li Guanqi's head, his limbs felt slightly numb, and his eyes became bloodshot as his internal blood surged.
Dog Three looked at the young man not far away. He pulled a dagger from his sleeve and slowly advanced.
"Where did this beggar come from?"
"Scram, don't you dare meddle."
Li Guanqi's lips trembled slightly, and he murmured: "Grandpa, scold me later…"
He looked at Meng Wanshu gently, forcing a gentle smile, and whispered.
"Wanshu, close your eyes. Don't open them until I tell you to."
Meng Wanshu pursed her lips, nodded desperately, then slowly closed her eyes. Li Guanqi slowly set down the wine jar on his shoulder, his fists cracking loudly. The killing intent in his eyes, almost uncontrollable after seeing Meng Wanshu's injuries, spread rapidly through his heart!
Fulong Village, though some people were very annoying, also had many who truly treated him well! Meng Wanshu cursed him every day, but she always saved him a share of any delicious food they had at home.
Dog Three looked at Li Guanqi with a malicious expression, and with a wave of his hand, he said, "Disable him!!" The stinging pain on his face constantly kept him in a state of agitation. Now, Li Guanqi's appearance provided an outlet for his anger.
Three people rushed towards Li Guanqi together. But then a muffled thud sounded in their ears!!