After a while, the bailiffs came out with a few people.
"Hurry up and leave! Behave yourself!"
Those people were not very old, and Xiao Lingling recognized them at a glance as the beggars she had seen fighting before.
They were obviously not convinced and walked slowly, but they did not dare to challenge the yamen runners.
"Second Miss, you have very sharp ears. I went in and saw that there really was a fight. There were a lot of people. Two of them ran away, and the rest are all here."
Xiao Lingdang glanced at the few people and said, "You don't even know how many times this has happened to you. You're really stubborn.
By the way, can we take this guy who keeps fighting back after repeated warnings back?"
Liu Fu, the yamen runner on the carriage, explained, "Of course it's possible, but generally, serious offenses are just a few slaps with the board, and then they're locked up for a while before being released."
Xiao Lingling was obviously dissatisfied with this punishment, "This won't do. They are repeatedly incorrigible. This is the second time I've seen them do that.
I come here less often. If I come more often, I don’t know how many times I would come here!
Besides, who could withstand such a beating? Do we have to wait until someone dies before imposing a severe punishment?"
The yamen runners didn't know what to say after hearing Xiao Lingdang's questions. After all, they were not county magistrates.
Xiao Lingdang didn't make things difficult for them. "Well, you guys should lock him up according to the rules first. My godfather will be back in the next two days, and he'll decide the verdict then!"
Liu Fu nodded. "That's fine. Old Jiang, take these people back. I'll take the second young lady back."
"Okay, then you should slow down and protect the Second Young Lady."
The yamen runners quickly completed the division of labor, but the beggars hated even Xiao Lingling.
"Who told you, a dead girl, to meddle in other people's business? That bitch didn't say anything, so why do you want to lock us up? I won't accept it!"
"That's right! This is our own business, what does it have to do with you? Let us go!"
"You little bitch, do you know who we are? If you piss us off, you'll be in big trouble!"
They are obviously only fourteen or fifteen years old, in the prime of their youth and strength, but instead of working and making a living, they start begging.
That would have been fine, but they even started marking their own territory here. Little Bell was almost laughing at them.
"Really? Then you're welcome to come and cause trouble for me anytime! Then you'll know who's going to suffer the consequences!"
The yamen runners behind him even hit the shouting people twice with their scabbards.
"How dare you! How dare you threaten others in front of us?
This is our second young lady, try to touch her! Then you will all be put in jail for life!"
Although the yamen runners said so, the thugs were obviously not convinced, and their eyes were full of resentment.
Xiao Lingdang didn't care about them. After these thugs left, only the wounded boy was left.
I think he was the one who got beaten last time?
"How are you injured? Is it serious? How about I take a look at you?"
The young man shook his head stiffly, bowed to the little bell, turned around and limped away, dragging his scarred body.
Xiao Lingling sighed. She couldn't just ignore it if it happened to her again and again.
"Uncle Liu, can we quietly follow him and take a look? I don't think there's something wrong with this guy.
He was the one who got beaten last time, and every time he didn't say a word, didn't struggle, and didn't even run away. This isn't normal."
Liu Fu also felt something was wrong. "Okay, Miss, sit down. We'll catch up and take a look!"
After that, the carriage kept a distance from them and followed slowly.
The young man seemed to be unaware of anything and walked out like a zombie.
He didn't speak to anyone along the way. When he reached the most remote path, he took out a tattered bag from somewhere, put it on his back and continued walking.
It was not until we were out of the city and walked another three miles that we suddenly turned onto a small road.
Soon, they arrived in front of a dilapidated temple.
How to solve this problem?
The door panels were broken, all the doors and windows in the yard were rotten, and even the roof had big holes in it.
There were a few children squatting at the door, looking around as if they were waiting for someone.
When they saw the young man, they suddenly stood up excitedly and wanted to rush over to hug him, but they accidentally fell to the ground.
The young man, contrary to his usual behavior, rushed forward and hugged the man in his arms, regardless of his injured leg.
"You didn't fall, did you? It doesn't hurt anymore, huh, huh~~"
The child who fell didn't make a fuss. He stood up obediently and hugged the boy's arm. "Brother Fan, you are finally back. You seem to be injured again?"
Xie Fan pulled the bag off his back and said, "It's okay. Are you hungry? Brother Fan brought some food back. Let's go in and eat."
Suddenly, footsteps were heard behind me.
Xie Fan turned around suddenly and found that it was Xiao Lingdang and the yamen runner who had just saved him.
"You, why are you here?"
Xiao Lingling smiled and took the basket from Liu Fu's hand. "Here are some hot steamed buns. Share them among you."
Although Xiao Lingling smiled brightly, the children were still afraid and hid behind Xie Fan. They just stared at the basket but did not dare to come forward.
Xie Fan looked at Xiao Lingling with an inquiring gaze, and sighed after a long time.
"It's okay. Since this little sister gave it to you, just take it and go inside to eat. Brother Fan has something to say to them."
The children were very obedient. They carefully took the basket from Xiao Lingling's hand and immediately ran into the dilapidated temple.
But they didn't run far, they just waited at the gate, as if they were worried that they would bully Brother Fan.
Xie Fan looked at Xiao Lingling, and although there was some wariness in his eyes, he still thanked her sincerely.
"I don't know why you followed me, but thank you for the steamed buns. I'll find a way to return them to you later."
Little Bell didn't seem surprised by his words. "You don't have to be like this. I'm just curious why you never fight back every time you get beaten."
I'm also curious, why do you still want to provoke them even though you know you will be beaten!
I know you are orphans who survived the famine, and I have no ill will towards you."
Xie Fan turned around to look at the children in the dilapidated temple, sighed imperceptibly, and turned his head away.
"I just wanted to keep them alive. As for those people, I fought back, but it didn't have any effect except making them more seriously injured.
I passed by there and just didn't want them to target these kids.
If they must hit someone, then just hit me, at least I can handle it."
His voice was calm, as if he was talking about someone else.
But Xiao Lingling could tell that beneath this calmness, there were countless frustrations hidden...
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