Chapter 232 Seeing Injustice, Xiao Ran Saves the Beauty
"Brother, look over there, they sell masks!"
Xiao Qi pointed to a stall in front of him that was covered with all kinds of Nuo opera masks and doll-face masks.
Xiao Ran looked over and saw that the masks were brightly colored and had exaggerated shapes, which were indeed attractive to children.
He led his younger brothers to the mask stall and let them each pick one they liked.
Xiao Qi chose a red-faced Guan Gong, while Xiao Yi chose a chubby baby with a big smile.
Xiao Ran paid the money.
He went to the dried goods stall and bought some melon seeds and peanuts, and went to the cloth shop and bought a few feet of thick cotton cloth, thinking of making a new pair of cotton shoes for his parents.
Finally, he stopped at a stall selling traditional Chinese candy and bought three long sticks of candy covered with white sesame seeds.
This is an essential sweet treat for the Chinese New Year, and one of the festive treats that children look forward to the most.
As the sun rose higher and approached noon, the market became increasingly crowded, with people jostling shoulder to shoulder.
Xiao Ran, Xiao Yi, and Xiao Qi had just finished eating noodles at a noodle shop when they prepared to go to the West Market to find their parents.
They're almost sold out by now.
Xiao Qi and Xiao Yi were still excitedly mimicking the acrobatics they had just witnessed, while Xiao Ran drove the carriage, preparing to take a shortcut through a relatively quiet alley to the West Market.
But as they passed through an alley, they heard a girl calling for help coming from inside.
"Help! Help! Get away! Don't touch me!"
"What are you yelling for? Stop pretending to be so virtuous! Isn't this what you do under the Peony Blossoms? I bet you've already lost your virginity. We've met, so why don't you play with me for a bit?"
A crude male voice, spewing vulgarities, sounded particularly jarring.
"Don't talk nonsense! I was just doing odd jobs there, washing clothes and sweeping floors. I didn't do any of what you're saying!"
A woman's voice, trembling with sobs, desperately retorted, her tone filled with terror and humiliation.
Xiao Ran paused, her brows furrowing.
He didn't want to meddle in other people's business. There are too many unfair things in this world. What could a teenager like him do?
Moreover, she also had two younger brothers with her.
However, the woman's voice... seemed somewhat familiar.
He couldn't help but peek into the alley.
The girl was about twelve or thirteen years old, wearing a slightly worn light purple cotton dress and with her hair styled in simple double buns.
Her face was delicate and pretty, but now she was pale with fear, and her almond-shaped eyes were filled with tears.
It's Xiaotao!
The daughter of the Lin family carpenters in the neighboring Baiyang Village!
Xiao Ran's wardrobe and chests were made at his house.
At the beginning of the year, Baiyang Village was hit by floods. I heard that the Lin family suffered heavy losses, and they still have two younger brothers to support.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Tao was sold to the peony garden!
"Heh heh, a menial job? Who would believe that! How can you stay clean in a place like that? Don't push your luck! You have a good time with me, and I won't tell anyone! If you do well, I'll bring the whole village to patronize your business next time!"
Hu San grinned lewdly and reached out his filthy hand to touch Xiao Tao's face.
Hu San and Xiao Tao are from the same village. Hu San is a notorious scoundrel in Baiyang Village. He spends his days idly, stealing chickens and dogs, and has a terrible reputation.
He had always coveted Xiao Tao's beauty when they were in the village, and now that Xiao Tao had been sold to Peony Garden, he had no money to visit her. So he waited until she was out and then cornered her in an alley.
Xiao Tao was no match for him. Just as her clothes were about to be ripped off, she struggled stubbornly, tears streaming down her face.
A surge of anger rose in Xiao Ran's heart.
He recalled his father Zhao Yin's teachings: "A true man stands between heaven and earth, knowing what to do and what not to do. If he encounters injustice, he should step forward to right it if it is within his power!"
He then recalled that although Sister Jiang was always cautious, she had also said that one should have a bottom line and a kind heart.
Xiao Ran could no longer hold back.
He quickly shoved the carriage reins into Xiao Qi's hand and gave urgent instructions in a low voice:
"Xiao Qi, hold the carriage steady, and wait at the alley entrance with Xiao Yi. Don't come in no matter what noise you hear!"
Xiao Qi was startled by his brother's serious expression. He subconsciously tightened his grip on the reins, nodded repeatedly, and drove the carriage back to a conspicuous spot at the alley entrance.
Xiao Ran took a deep breath, turned around abruptly, rushed into the alley, and shouted:
"stop!"
The shout was like a thunderclap from a clear sky, causing Hu San to freeze in his tracks. At that moment, Xiao Tao, whose clothes were half off, also opened her eyes in astonishment.
Hu San turned around and saw a boy who was only half a teenager. He was startled at first, but when he realized that it was only Xiao Ran and that he was not yet fully grown, he became furious and spat.
"Where did this brat come from, daring to interfere with your Third Master Hu's good deeds? Get out of my way! Or I'll deal with you too!"
Xiao Ran glared at Hu San without backing down: "I don't care who you are! How dare you harass an innocent woman in broad daylight! If you know what's good for you, let me go right now! Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite!"
His time learning martial arts has greatly boosted his confidence.
Hu San was stunned for a moment, then his fleshy face twitched, revealing a disdainful grin. "Give it to you? Who do you think you are?! You haven't even grown your hair yet and you're already trying to act like a hero? If you know what's good for you, get lost, or don't blame me for being impolite!"
As he spoke, he released Xiao Tao, clenched his fist, and moved closer to Xiao Ran, intending to scare him away.
Normally, Hu San would have already thrown a big punch, but now he was about to do a good deed and couldn't be bothered with this brat!
Xiao Ran knew he couldn't fight head-on. He caught sight of a worn-out bamboo pole leaning against the wall. As Hu San approached, he suddenly bent down, grabbed the pole, gripped it tightly with both hands, held it horizontally in front of him, and shouted sharply:
"My men have already reported this to the authorities and will be there soon! If you don't want to get into legal trouble, get out of here! Making a scene won't do anyone any good!"
Although the bamboo pole was broken, it carried an unassailable aura in Xiao Ran's hands.
Master Zhao once said that most of these thugs are just bluffing and bully the weak while fearing the strong. As long as you don't show your fear, you've already won half the battle!
Hu San was taken aback by this sudden resistance. He looked Xiao Ran up and down and saw that she looked like someone of status.
I glanced at the carriage at the alley entrance again; it didn't seem fake.
I couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.
This kind of scoundrel is the type to bully the weak and fear the strong.
He was in jail for committing a crime not long ago, and if he goes back in this time, he probably won't get out so easily.
Just then, Xiao Qi's loud shout came from the alley entrance: "Brother! The government officials are here! He can't escape!"
Hu San's expression changed drastically upon hearing this. He glared fiercely at Xiao Ran and Xiao Tao, and said, "Kid, you just wait!"
He hurriedly turned around and fled from the other end of the alley like a stray dog, disappearing around the corner in an instant.
With the danger over, Xiao Ran's tense nerves relaxed.
Xiao Qi ran over from the alley entrance. "Brother, are you alright?"
Xiao Ran shook her head. "The government officials really came?"
Xiao Qi smiled smugly: "There's no government official here, I was just bluffing him!"
Xiao Ran smiled too: "Well done."
Xiao Ran glanced at Xiao Tao, who was squatting in the corner sobbing. He went over and gently comforted her:
"Don't be afraid, it's alright now, the bad guys have been driven away."
Xiao Tao was still in shock, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at Xiao Ran. Her lips trembled as she tried to say thank you, but she choked up and couldn't speak.
She never expected that when she was at her most desperate and helpless, it would be this boy from the neighboring village whom she had only met a few times who would step forward to help her.
Looking at Xiao Tao's pale face and disheveled hair, Xiao Ran was filled with mixed emotions. She took off her cloak and handed it to her.
"Do you want me to take you home? He might not have gone far, and it's not safe for you to be alone."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com