"Don't tell anyone else about what happened today. I'm worried that the people we met last night are the thieves who stole things. If they want to do something to us, I'm afraid there might be danger." Xi Chun warned the group not to go out and talk about it, lest they anger those people and they retaliate against them.
"Okay, we'll be careful. These thieves are really brazen. They dare to commit crimes before it's even dark. It's too dangerous."
Fu Changfeng didn't arrive at the academy until the afternoon. When Xichun saw him, she called out to him, wanting to ask about the situation.
"Miss Chen, you're back?" Fu Changfeng managed a smile when he saw her.
"Yes, I heard that your family's things were stolen. What happened? Are your family members in any danger?"
"It's nothing, just a servant who got a minor injury. He's already been treated. Be careful these next few days, I'm worried those people might come again," Fu Changfeng said, composed himself, as he reassured Xichun.
"It's good that you're alright. Be careful yourself." Xichun didn't continue the conversation.
There were quite a few customers today. After Xichun and the others finished their work, it was already dark. As they pushed their carts home, Xichun felt like someone was following her.
"Aunt Zhang, please take your tools. I just sensed someone secretly following us." After returning home, Xichun said to the group. They hadn't noticed the problem and were quite worried.
"Could it be that they see our business is doing well in the city and want to steal things?" The group analyzed, holding their tools.
“It’s possible, Taozi. Go to Officer Guo’s house now and tell him about our situation. Then go to where the villagers live and find some people to help us.” Xichun thought for a moment and sent out Taozi, who was the fastest and most agile. There were still quite a few people going out from here at this time, and those people wouldn’t dare to do anything on the street.
Upon hearing this, Taozi changed his clothes again, took a kitchen knife in his hand, and slipped out of the backyard.
Before long, there was a knock on the door. Xi Chun and the other two were taken aback. Tao Zi shouldn't be here so soon, right? Xi Chun could only peek through the crack in the door and saw that it was An Wuji at the door.
"Miss Chen, I saw you all come back. This is some fruit we bought today. My mother asked me to bring a few for you to try." An Wuji, unaware of their nervousness, carried a basket filled with several pears.
"Did you see anyone suspicious in this alley just now?" Xi Chun asked seriously, a question that left An Wuji bewildered.
"No, I didn't notice. What's wrong? Why are you all acting like this? By the way, where's Taozi?"
“We heard that someone’s house was burgled yesterday. When we came back just now, we also felt someone following us, so we’re so worried right now. Taozi has also gone to find someone to help us.” Xichun knew they were long-time residents here and might know something, so she told them this.
"What? Such a thing? We went out to play today and didn't hear about this. Don't worry, Miss Chen, everyone in this alley is united. I'll go ask around in a bit to see if anyone saw it. I'll also warn them. If someone really comes, we'll swarm them and see who dares to come then."
Upon hearing this, An Wuji immediately set out to search for the person from house to house.
Xi Chun felt much more at ease after hearing his words, but she was still a little worried because Taozi hadn't returned yet.
Fortunately, after a long time, Taozi finally returned. At the same time, several men from the village came with him. They were all sleeping in the cheapest guesthouse in a dormitory, and when they heard about this, they all volunteered to help.
However, after worrying all night and finding nothing wrong, they had no choice but to continue setting up their stall.
As soon as they arrived at the stall, they heard the stall owner next door say that another wealthy family's house had been burgled last night, and someone was almost beaten to death. Fortunately, they were taken to the hospital in time. An ordinary family's house had also been burgled. As soon as this news came out, people in the city were even more panicked. What on earth was going on? How could someone be so heartless?
"These people are really desperate criminals; they don't let anyone get away with it. I wonder how many of them there are?"
"I heard that the county government has sent people to investigate, but those people seem to have vanished without a trace. We don't know where they've hidden themselves."
"I think we should go hide for a couple of days; the city isn't very safe right now," someone suggested in a low voice.
"Hmph, these thieves are incredibly audacious, daring to steal things openly in the county town. I think they should be taught a lesson." The old man who had previously run away from home came back for dinner, and he was also very angry when he heard these people's discussions.
"That's right. Our small business doesn't make much money in a day. We live in constant fear. Yesterday, I even felt someone secretly following us home." Xi Chun wasn't afraid to make this public. If those people really came, they couldn't stop them anyway. It was better to raise everyone's vigilance so that if someone came, others would hear it sooner and might be able to help.
"Such a thing has happened? Miss Chen, you must be careful," the people at the stall said one after another.
An Wuji also heard about this. The people in their alley were talking about where these audacious thieves came from. Xichun and the others came back earlier than usual today, and now everyone in the alley was standing outside.
“Miss Chen, you’re back! Everyone in the city is worried except for thieves. We all live in the same alley, and I’m thinking we should arrange for patrols. Otherwise, if thieves really come, someone might get killed.”
There was an old man in the alley, the oldest and most knowledgeable in the area. He came out today to ask each household to send one person to patrol together, so that if anything happened, they could quickly notify the others.
“Yes, I think this is a great idea. People in the city are panicking right now. As long as we work together, we can protect our safety to the greatest extent possible.” Xi Chun didn’t expect them to come up with this idea, so she naturally agreed. However, since they were all women, Xi Chun decided that everyone would take turns keeping watch for one night.
Soon, each of the twenty-five households in the alley sent one person, and five people guarded the two alley entrances each night. If anyone came, they would sound a gong to warn others.
After thinking for a moment, Xi Chun decided to be the first to keep watch. He would also be the one to keep watch at An Wuji's house tonight.
Night fell quickly. The night watch consisted of both men and women. Families who knew each other started chatting and lit fires on both sides of the alley, so that anyone who came by would know that someone was keeping watch.
Nothing happened overnight. Xichun took a nap at home in the morning before going to her stall, only to hear that another family had been robbed the night before, and the burglary was not far from their alley.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
