Chapter 48

I can't stand it!

When Lu Qin returned to the clothing shop, Hao Jingshi was looking for her. He asked her where she had just gone, and she told him about it. After telling him, she immediately regretted it.

Because she saw Hao Jingshi hugging his arms tightly like a firecracker.

"Zhang Gui, is that right? You've given him too much credit. I'll go find him."

Hao Jingshi had already stepped out the door after he finished speaking when Lu Qin grabbed his wrist and chased after him, turning around and suddenly blocking his way.

"No, husband." She struggled to block the door frame with both hands. "The capital is not like the eastern city. Zhang Gui is the magistrate's son. Let's avoid trouble. I have a plan. Don't go and confront them head-on."

"No matter who he is, I will never let you suffer any injustice." Hao Jingshi bent down, picked her up with one hand, turned around and sent her back to the shop. "Besides, in terms of family background, it is he who cannot afford to offend me."

"My husband, my husband, my husband—"

Seeing that Hao Jingshi wouldn't listen, Lu Qin simply hugged him tightly and used a lot of strength to restrain him.

Hao Jingshi, with his body bent over, lost his balance and almost fell over with her.

He managed to steady himself by bracing himself against the door frame, but his face instinctively buried itself in the crook of her neck.

“…” Lu Qin trembled.

The man who had been so menacing paused for a moment, then slowly raised his head, his eyes glazed over.

His mind was instantly filled with nothing else; Hao Jingshi fixed his gaze on her, lifted her up by her thighs.

"What?" He pressed her against the door frame, nibbled on her earlobe, and teased in a muffled voice, "Didn't you used to love using me as a pawn?"

Lu Qin blushed from his breath and haphazardly patted his back: "Hey, hurry inside, don't embarrass yourself here... Have you forgotten? The fortune teller said you have too many family entanglements, I don't want you to make any more enemies..."

"I've already said there's no need to believe those things."

Hao Jingshi obediently led her into the house. Lu Qin wrapped her arms around his neck and mumbled, "It's better to believe than not to believe. I just want you to be safe and sound."

Hao Jingshi didn't say anything, placed her on the table, and kissed her.

After giving her a light, fleeting kiss, he released her and prepared to leave.

Before Lu Qin could even touch the ground, she jumped down impatiently and shouted at his retreating figure, "Where are you going? Don't you dare go and fight with anyone!"

"Hmm, I'm not going."

"Don't let Xuan Lan do it either!"

"I know." Hao Jingshi waved his hand without turning his head and said, "I just needed to pee."

...

Since the lady forbade the use of force, Hao Jingshi thought he would try a more civilized approach.

He ordered Xuan Lan's bodyguards to wear coarse cloth clothes and take turns following Zhang Gui every day to observe his daily activities. Within a few days, Xuan Lan had figured out Zhang Gui's background.

This man was greedy and lustful, a true drunkard. Whenever he had free time, he would spend half the day in restaurants, and the other half sleeping soundly while drunk.

Besides that, his greatest pleasure was wandering around, and often, fueled by alcohol, he would go to honest people's shops and act crazy while drunk.

Even if they don't drink, they still have to stir up trouble and make a ruckus in the streets.

"Such people are the most likely to bully the weak and fear the strong."

During his lunch break, Hao Jingshi leaned back in his rocking chair with his legs crossed and proudly told Lu Qin about it.

"They usually act arrogantly and domineeringly, but when it comes to real trouble, they're more cowardly than anyone else."

After hearing this, Lu Qin felt a little more at ease.

These days she continues to do as she pleases, not only refusing to give Zhang Gui money, but also making a big fuss about it, clearly intending to go against Qian Yuming.

People hadn't seen any new styles for years and were already dissatisfied with Zhang Gui's actions. Seeing that Lu Qin's clothes were cheap and good-looking, they naturally flocked to support her. As a result, Qian Yuming's clothing shop suddenly became deserted, with not a single customer in sight.

Seeing all that hard-earned silver going into Little Deer Clothing Shop, how could Qian Yuming possibly sit still?

Lu Qin knew that as long as the status quo was maintained, it wouldn't be long before Zhang Gui brought people to cause her trouble.

She was just waiting for him to come to her so that she could naturally meet the magistrate's son.

However, judging from what Hao Jingshi said, this person's methods probably aren't that sophisticated either.

Since he was an alcoholic, she invited him to have a good drink.

Holding the account book, Lu Qin casually praised, "Fortunately, my husband is very thoughtful. Let them continue to follow us, as long as they don't start a fight."

Hao Jingshi propped one cheek up with his hand, looking at her profile and a smile playing on his lips.

Although his wife didn't even look up at him, he was still quite satisfied with the compliment.

The next day.

When the clothing shop was bustling with activity, three people suddenly appeared at the door. One of them seemed to be the leader, looking arrogant and haughty, while the other two looked like henchmen, following behind the leader and pacing around endlessly.

Seeing the change in everyone's expression and the strange atmosphere in the shop, Lu Qin easily guessed that this person was Zhang Gui.

He was obese and tall, not slovenly, but had terrible taste. He wore gold and silver, looking like a nouveau riche, as if he wanted the whole world to know his noble status.

His two henchmen were lean and shifty-eyed, and the three of them walking together made for a rather symmetrical appearance.

Lu Qin glanced at it, made no reaction, and continued to introduce the clothes to the guests.

Hao Jingshi had just gone out to buy her some snacks, while Xuan Lan took some people to Qian's clothing shop, leaving only one bodyguard there, in case Zhang Gui caused a scene, she was afraid there wouldn't be enough manpower.

It's best to wait and see how things develop.

Seeing that no one paid any attention to him, Zhang Gui finally stopped pacing around for half a day and entered the clothing shop with his drunken belly.

"Who owns this clothing store?"

Two henchmen followed behind, repeating their boss's words like broken record. After they finished, the bustling shop suddenly fell silent.

When Zhang Gui comes, nothing good ever comes of it; it's been like this for years.

Like playing whack-a-mole, as long as there's a new clothing store, Zhang Gui will turn into a hammer, striking down whoever shows their face.

Everyone tacitly watched Lu Qin, seemingly regretting that her clothing shop wouldn't last long.

They stepped aside to make way for Zhang Gui, and a few others, fearing trouble, slipped out the door while Zhang Gui wasn't looking.

Seeing that everyone was holding their breath, Lu Qin put down the clothes she was holding and stepped forward. "It's me. What's wrong, brother?"

"Tsk, you—"

Zhang Gui was about to put on airs when he saw a petite beauty squeeze out from the crowd, looking at him timidly, and he was momentarily stunned.

Then, he grinned broadly, touched the clothes in her shop, and said, "Your clothes are nice, little sister."

"..." The greasy expression made everyone fall silent.

Zhang Gui is the kind of person who tries to flirt with any beautiful woman he sees, without ever considering his own character.

"You look unfamiliar, are you new here?" Zhang Gui didn't care about other people's opinions and still smiled and tried to get close to Lu Qin. "It doesn't matter if you don't know the rules, I'll show you the way and make sure you live a good life."

"What clear path?"

Lu Qin asked the question knowingly, but she had already guessed that Zhang Gui would shamelessly ask her for favors, so she had already prepared two jars of fragrant wine.

The wine is made with the finest ingredients, personally prepared by Hao Jingshi. After drinking it, you'll enjoy a luxurious three-day vomiting and diarrhea slimming package.

She secretly gave Ling'er a wink. Receiving the signal to fetch the wine, Ling'er nodded in understanding.

But Zhang Gui continued, "It's good to have money, but I always feel that life is tasteless. If I could marry a beautiful wife, like a younger sister..."

He glanced at her meaningfully, "That's what you call being truly satisfied."

"..." Silence is a silent form of contempt.

Those present could not bear to look and all lowered their heads.

Ling'er was too lazy to get the wine, so she simply ran to the door to look for the young master.

Lu Qin chuckled silently, looked Zhang Gui up and down, gave him a thumbs-up with an approving look.

"Brother, you're lucky."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Gui assumed that Lu Qin approved of him and exclaimed with delight, "Hey! Look at that, the beauty really has good taste, she agreed right away!"

“No.” Lu Qin extended her little finger as well. “I mean you were lucky to be here when my husband wasn’t around.”

Zhang Gui looked at the "6" she was making with her hand, not knowing what it meant, but he felt that her slender hand must feel very soft to the touch.

His eyes grew increasingly lewd as he reached out and grabbed Lu Qin's hand: "Hmph, even if your husband is here, what can he do to me?"

Lu Qin nimbly dodged: "...That would probably cripple you even if you don't die."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Gui laughed disdainfully and pointed at her with his finger that missed its mark.

"Hahaha, listen to this, how scary! Sister, you can't scare me. Look at everyone on the street, who would dare to lay a finger on me?"

"Come here, come here! Come on!" He pointed around the room, finally pointing back to Lu Qin. "Come on, let him try—"

"court death?"

Zhang Gui's words were abruptly interrupted by two words.

Before he could even turn his head, a small knife flew towards him with lightning speed, piercing his palm in an instant.

His palm was pierced through, blood gushing out. Zhang Gui let out a wail and immediately collapsed to the ground, his forearm convulsing.

The ground was covered in crimson. The two henchmen were terrified and rushed over to help him up. They looked at Zhang Gui's contorted face and the knife embedded in his flesh, at a loss for what to do. They didn't know whether to pull it out or not.

Upon seeing this, the customers in the store all gasped, grimacing as if they could feel the pain.

Amidst gasps of breath, Hao Jingshi strode in from outside and tossed a bag of pastries into Lu Qin's arms.

He then walked up to Zhang Gui with a stern face and said, "I didn't come looking for you, but you've delivered yourself to my doorstep."

Zhang Gui was stunned by the pain. With his henchman's help, he stood up and raised his injured hand, which was trembling: "You, you're crazy?! Do you know who I am?! Believe me or not, I'll take your dog's life!"

"Who do you think you are?" Hao Jingshi casually snatched the small knife from his hand. "You dare to lay a hand on my wife? I'm being kind by not chopping off your hand! Get lost!"

With that pull, Zhang Gui let out another wail, his whole body trembling.

The excruciating pain left him with no desire to argue; all he wanted was to get medical treatment as soon as possible. So, supported by his two underlings, he slunk away.

As he left, he gritted his teeth and forced out a harsh threat: "You, you just wait!"

After saying that, he didn't forget to spit loudly, threatening everyone, "If any of you dare to come here to buy clothes again, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Hao Jingshi was still furious, and now he even had the urge to kill. He wanted to go up and stop the three of them, but Lu Qin held him back tightly from behind.

She glanced at the guests still standing there, dumbfounded, and whispered, "Alright, alright, he didn't touch me... Look at you, so many people are watching..."

Hao Jingshi stopped in his tracks, but his expression remained grim.

He glanced at the people outside the door, who, fearing Zhang Gui's threat, scattered faster than rabbits.

Zhang Gui is not someone to be trifled with, and anyone who dares to mess with Zhang Gui is even more so. Who would dare to linger here?

Seeing this, Lu Qin sighed and didn't try to keep the guest. Anyway, she had been busy lately, and it would be good for her to take a rest after the trouble that had happened today.

She sent Ling'er to see the guest off, while she closed the clothing shop, giving Hao Jingshi some time to calm down.

Seeing the crowd disperse and the curtain fall, Hao Jingshi turned around and strode to the rest area to sit down.

He clenched his fist and placed it on the table: "I can tolerate other things, but I can't tolerate him taking liberties with you."

“I understand, my husband cares about me.” Lu Qin walked over quickly, sat opposite him, and cupped his fist in her hand. “I care about you just as much, so I don’t want you to act impulsively for me.”

Hao Jingshi turned his head slightly after hearing this and saw Lu Qin smiling faintly at him with her eyes narrowed. His heart softened a little.

He loosened his fist and grasped Lu Qin's hand in return, saying, "We're an old married couple, why are we still talking about these things?"

Seeing that he was in the mood for a joke, Lu Qin knew that he had calmed down. She pulled her hand away and muttered, "Who said we're an old married couple? I'm still very young... Anyway, Zhang Gui's matter should be resolved slowly."

“You can hold back for a while, but he might not.” Hao Jingshi raised his hand and rested his chin on his hand, staring intently at her. “He may be injured, but he can immediately send his men to cause trouble again. In my opinion, there’s no need to reason with such villains.”

“But Zhang Gui is a parasite. My husband can control him, but the other shop owners might not. They will still suffer.” Lu Qin looked at him and said, “To get rid of weeds, you have to dig them out from the roots, right?”

After hearing her analysis, Hao Jingshi suddenly understood.

He leaned back and chuckled, "So you've got an idea now, trying to coax me into cooperating, huh?"

Seeing that he understood immediately, Lu Qin revealed eight white teeth, stood up lightly, and went around to his back.

She leaned down and affectionately wrapped her arms around his neck: "My husband really understands me, then..."

"Then I'll reluctantly listen."

Hao Jingshi deliberately tilted his head to the other side, pointing his hair at her with his hair tied up, and said, "Speak."

"that is……"