Mother Su shielded her two children behind her, asking anxiously and nervously, "Sir, what can I do for you?"
The leading officer, a fat-faced soldier with a knife slung over his shoulder, asked in a nonchalant tone, "What were you selling just now?"
"Yes...yes," Su's mother was so frightened that she couldn't speak for a long time.
Stone stepped forward and said, "Our family sells tofu. If you would like some, sir, we will still be selling it here tomorrow. You can buy some and have a taste."
The soldiers exchanged glances, their eyes filled with ill intent: "Heh, tofu seller, I heard your stuff has killed people?"
Another person chimed in, "That's right, I heard people say it yesterday."
A passerby shook his head: "How pitiful, he ran into Master Huang."
"What are you saying? Get out of here!" The soldier called Master Huang threatened with his knife, and the passersby were so frightened that they ran away.
Upon hearing what the passersby said, Liu Huan knew that these people were looking for trouble and that money would probably be needed to settle things.
She took out the copper coin that Shi Tou had given her last time and handed it to him, saying, "Sir, you've worked hard. We'd like to invite you to have a cup of tea."
Old Master Huang weighed the copper coin in his hand, and said with a smirk, "Heh, since you're going to invite us for tea, then be sincere. Tell us how you make your tofu, so we can earn some pocket money."
"I..." Su's mother was so frightened by these words that she burst into tears. She thought they wanted money, but she didn't expect they wanted the recipe, which was the family's hope.
Shi Tou patted her hand and stepped forward to ask, "What if you don't give it to me?"
"Not giving it to me?" Master Huang raised his voice: "Hehehe, listen to what he's saying. Not giving it to me? I think you're tired of living."
They were just about to take action.
Just then, a passerby said, "Isn't this the brother of the concubine of the village head? He's trying to steal someone else's secret recipe again."
Passerby A: "Yeah, this family is so unlucky. I heard they've only been setting up their stall for two days."
Passerby B: "Sigh, if you don't have any ability, you'll just get bullied."
Master Huang, enraged, retorted, "What's it to you? Get lost!"
As the standoff continued, the group grew impatient and began to smash all of their belongings, kicking them everywhere.
Mother Su cried out in terror, "Sir, please don't smash it! Please don't smash it..."
Stone rushed forward to block him, shouting, "Get out of my way, you robbers!"
"Robbers? Heh, he says we're robbers, then I'll show you what robbery is." With that, he picked up the knife in his hand and slashed a large hole in the box containing tofu.
He pushed the stone to the ground, but Liu Huan blocked his way, saying, "Don't push the stone."
Stone held her in his arms, protecting her head with his hands.
"Pah, I'm still going to fight. If I don't teach you a lesson, you won't know who I am."
Master Huang kicked Shi Tou repeatedly, while Shi Tou held Liu Huan tightly, protecting her.
Su's mother was being held back by others as she watched Shi Tou and Liu Huan being kicked to their knees and begging for mercy: "Sir, please, they are just children, please let us go."
Master Huang, looking fierce, said, "I don't care if you're a child or not. If you don't hand over the secret recipe, I'll beat you to death." He kicked Shi Tou hard, but Shi Tou only let out a muffled groan.
A crowd gathered around, whispering among themselves: "What a tragedy, not even sparing such a young child."
On the other side of the road, a group of people on horseback came over. The leader looked to be in his thirties, wearing a long robe and looking travel-worn, clearly having come from afar.
Seeing a crowd gathered ahead, he instructed his men, "What's happening up ahead? Qianfeng, go check it out."
The guard named Qianfeng rode forward and asked, "What's going on here?"
The crowd parted to make way for him, and he saw the mother and her two children who had been bullied.
He shouted, "Stop!"
Master Huang turned around, saw the man in plain clothes, and sneered, "Who are you? Get lost, or I'll beat you up too."
Qianfeng dismounted and rode forward, knocking Huang Erye and his men to the ground in one move.
Only then was Su's mother able to reach Shi Tou and hug him and Liu Huan, crying, "Are you alright? Huanhuan, Shi Tou?"
Stone, enduring the pain, replied, "Mother, don't worry."
"Forward, what's wrong?" Master Qianfeng rode over on horseback.
Qianfeng replied, "Sir, it was several soldiers beating women and children."
Seeing that the newcomers looked formidable, Master Huang felt a little uneasy. He stiffened his neck and said, "What's it to you? If you want to leave, then leave now."
Su's mother ran to the master and knelt down, "Please, sir, save this woman and her child! These officials beat us without even asking what happened. Please save us, sir!"
Seeing this, Master Huang picked up his knife and prepared to step forward again: "You wretched woman, believe it or not, I'll chop you up with one stroke."
The wind kicked him again: "In broad daylight, how dare you bully the weak in front of everyone? How can you be an official like this?"
Master Huang's lackey sneered, "Heh, do you know who my elder brother is?"
"That's right, my elder brother is the brother-in-law of the village head, who do you think you are?"
He thought that introducing himself would make the old man wary, but the old man didn't expect him to say something so blunt.
"Men, tie these men up." At the master's command, several more men came out from behind and tied up Master Huang and the others.
"You're being insolent, daring to kidnap me. You'll be in big trouble when my brother-in-law arrives."
The guard beside the man stepped forward and kicked him: "You're the one who's being insolent! Open your dog eyes and see, this is our magistrate."
Master Huang turned pale with fright, his voice trembling as he asked, "Magistrate, sir?"
Realizing what had happened, he began to beg for mercy: "My lord, spare my life! My lord, spare my life! I will never dare to do it again!"
"take away."
The magistrate jumped off the carriage, helped Su's mother up, and came to Shi Tou's side. "If you don't want to be beaten, then make yourself stronger."
After saying that, he tossed him a jade pendant, saying, "If you need anything, you can bring this jade pendant to the county office to find me. I'll be here for the next while."
After saying that, he mounted his horse and rode away. The other merchants were envious. That was the county magistrate! To be able to get on his good side was such a blessing.
The events of that day planted a deep seed in Shi Tou's heart: the fierce and menacing appearance of Master Huang, the image of his mother kneeling on the ground pleading, Liu Huan's red and swollen eyes, his own powerlessness, and that man called the magistrate.
Even after rising to great heights, he still couldn't forget that the weak are destined to be bullied.
Liu Huan didn't notice the look in his eyes. With red eyes, she helped him up. "Shi Tou, are you alright? Does it hurt?"
Shi Tou shook his head and said it was nothing. The two of them helped Su's mother up from the ground: "Mother, let's go back."
"Okay, let's go back." Su's mother wiped away her tears and picked up the things on the ground, even the broken ones.
Once they left, there was nothing more to see, so everyone dispersed.
Before heading to the government office, Feng asked, "Sir, why did you give the jade pendant to that child?"
The magistrate gazed into the distance, his voice drawn out: "Because I seem to see myself from back then."
Weak, pitiful, and helpless...
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