Rules in the alley

A big tree attracts the wind; a famous person attracts gossip.

The reputation of Ah Xiu, the "Embroidery Fairy", spread widely in the slums in the south of the city, and naturally attracted uninvited guests.

That afternoon, after the porridge distribution had ended, Ah Xiu was sitting in a corner, helping a young widow whose husband had died mend her child's worn-out shoes. She used strong hemp thread instead of silk, and skillfully embroidered a cute little tiger head on the shoe, which was both durable and beautiful.

The young widow thanked him profusely and left. Just as Ah Xiu was about to pack her things, the light in front of her was blocked by several tall figures.

She looked up and saw three hoodlums staring at her with ill intent. The leader, known as "Scar Liu," had a face full of flesh, a toothpick in his mouth, and a hideous scar on his neck. He was a well-known thug in the area.

"Are you the 'Embroidery Fairy'?" Scar Liu squinted his eyes and spoke in a frivolous tone.

Ah Xiu did not answer, but silently put the needle and thread into her cloth bag, with no emotion in her eyes.

Scar Liu was surprised by her calm demeanor. The two minions behind him were already yelling impatiently, "The boss is talking to you, are you mute?"

Scar Liu waved his hand, squatted down with interest, and looked Ah Xiu in the eye. "Little girl, you're quite brave. Do you understand the rules of this southern city? I want to set up a stall here to do business. Have you paid your respects to the pier?"

Ling Xiuqing sneered inwardly. Although she had been ignorant of worldly matters in her previous life, she knew how to understand the tricks of these ruffians now that she was reborn. They simply saw that her business was booming and wanted to blackmail her.

"I'm not doing business," she finally said, her voice cold, "I'm just helping out my neighbors and making a living."

"To make a living?" Scar Liu laughed exaggeratedly. "I heard that your craft can turn rags into gold nuggets! Since you are so capable, you should let your brothers share in the glory, right?"

He stretched out a dirty, calloused hand and twisted his fingers, his meaning self-evident: "From now on, you have to share half of the money you earn every day with us brothers. Otherwise, don't even think about staying here!"

The few remaining staff members in the porridge shed were so frightened by the scene that they huddled in a corner, not daring to make a sound. Steward Wang happened to be back home to report on something today and was not in the porridge shed.

Everyone thought that this skinny little girl would either pay the money obediently or be scared to tears.

However, Ling Xiuqing's reaction once again surprised everyone.

She was neither afraid nor angry, but just looked at Scar Liu quietly and slowly took out another thing from the cloth bag.

That is a large pair of scissors used for cutting cloth.

The scissors flashed a cold light in the dim light of the porridge shed.

She didn't point the scissors at Scar Liu, but placed a piece of embroidery scraps on her legs. Then, she grasped the scissors and, with a "click", she cut the thick cotton cloth in half.

She didn't even blink during the whole process.

Scar Liu's smile froze on his face.

He had been in the underworld for many years and had seen people who were not afraid of death, but he had never seen a skinny girl whose eyes could be so calm when facing a threat, and even... with a hint of indifference as if looking at a dead person.

That was not an act of cruelty, but an absolute contempt for life that came from the bones.

"I don't have much money," Ling Xiuqing said, placing the scissors in front of her. Her voice was low, but every word was clear. "I only have this one skill and a pair of scissors for a living. If you think my hands can be exchanged for money, then chop them off. If you like this pair of scissors, then let's have a competition to see whose knife is faster!"

She paused, her eyes sweeping across the scar on Scar Liu's neck, and added calmly, "Anyway, I'm a worthless person, so it doesn't matter where I die. But you guys are different."

madman!

These two words instantly popped up in Scar Liu's mind.

He could bully a weak woman crying, but he definitely didn't want to provoke a lunatic who didn't even care about his own life! For such a small amount of protection money, if he was really stabbed by this girl, it would be too unprofitable.

The scene fell into an eerie silence for a moment.

The two minions behind Scar Liu no longer had the arrogance they had just now. Looking at the sharp scissors, they subconsciously swallowed their saliva.

Just then, a clear voice came from outside the porridge shed.

"Wow, what a lively scene! Brother Liu, are you 'making friends' with our newspaper's newsmakers?"

When everyone heard the sound and looked, they saw Murong Bai wearing a well-ironed suit, holding a new camera in his hand, leaning against the door frame with a playful smile on his face.

Scar Liu's face changed instantly when he saw Murong Bai.

He might not be afraid of a desperate girl, but he definitely wouldn't dare offend the reporter from Shenbao! These intellectuals, with their pens, were much more powerful than knives. A random article could bring him to justice.

"Reporter Murong, why...why are you here?" Scar Liu immediately put on a fawning smile and stood up. "It's a misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding! I just came to chat with this Miss Ah Xiu...to make friends!"

Murong Bai walked in with a smile. His gaze lingered on Ah Xiu and the scissors in front of her for a moment, and a hint of imperceptible admiration flashed in his eyes.

He patted Scar Liu's shoulder and said with a smile, "Have you finished making friends? If you're done, hurry up and leave. I still need to do an exclusive interview with our 'Embroidery Fairy'. This is a task assigned by our editor-in-chief himself. I can't afford to delay it."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Scar Liu didn't dare to stay any longer. He glared at his two men and ran away in shame.

A crisis was thus resolved.

Ling Xiuqing slowly put away the scissors and nodded slightly to Murong Bai as a thank you.

Murong Bai walked up to her, looked down at her, and smiled. "The interview was fake, but I really wanted to come and see you. I didn't expect to see such a good show right away. Miss Ah Xiu, you are much more interesting than I thought."