Chapter 53 This is what you call bullying
"The fragrance of flowers in March is used to make spring honey, and spring honey is used to make peach blossom wine. Sweet dumplings with peach pieces, and a sip of fragrant soup is unforgettable."
The shouts from the street vendors, along with the fragrance of peach blossoms, filled the air, and the sweetness seemed to be swallowed into one's stomach. Regular customers would unconsciously swallow their saliva upon hearing Qiu Niangzi's voice.
Even with the money saved in my pocket, I still wanted to have a bowl of food.
As the old man approached, Qiu Niangzi had already prepared a bowl for him. However, today was different from usual; the old man was not alone. Behind him followed a cute little creature wagging its tail, with snow-white fur that was quite endearing.
"Grandpa, you're out walking the dog today."
The old man raised an eyebrow. "What dog? This is a fox."
Qiu Niangzi didn't look closely, but after taking a second look, she recognized the chubby little thing as a fox. "I knew no dog could be so pretty. It's a fox. Grandpa used to like keeping these kinds of little creatures."
He sighed, his expression full of disdain, "It's a little gadget my good-for-nothing grandson gave me, just as noisy as that kid."
The old man sat down at the table next to him, and didn't forget to put the little fox on his lap. This was not disdain; it was obvious that he liked it very much, just like the tone he used when praising his grandson.
Speaking of the old man's eldest grandson, she hadn't seen him for several days, and knew he was busy performing miracles to save someone.
The crisp tinkling sound drifted in the wind. Qiu Niangzi, with her keen ears, heard the noise and looked over with a smile. Sure enough, she saw him coming, accompanied by a woman who was holding a small baby in her arms.
Qiu Niangzi was startled again, but Cang Yu had already walked up to her. "A bowl of sweet soup."
"No," Boss Qiu said coldly.
"Sister Qiu, even if you don't want to sell it to me, please give this child a bowl," Cang Yu said with a smile.
"Whose child is it, your child?"
Zang Yu chuckled: "I don't have a child that big. She is Madam Fang's child. She lost her husband in the war and wandered here."
Qiu Niangzi's expression softened slightly, and she handed over two bowls of sweet soup, saying, "Take her aside to eat."
Fang Ruo stared in disbelief. Cang Yu smiled, put her down, and led her to sit down, giving the other bowl to Madam Fang. Upon seeing this, Madam Qiu said, "If you ask me for more, there won't be any left."
On ordinary days, Cang Yu would crave her sweet soup and insist that she save him a bowl, calling her "good sister" repeatedly. But today, he was very serious.
"Sister Qiu, it's not easy for Madam Fang to raise her child alone. She'll be doing some small business here in the future, could you please help her out?"
Sure enough, that kid went back to being a pushover again.
Although she was worried about this silly boy, she couldn't bring herself to scold him. If it weren't for his overly kind heart, she wouldn't have been able to run a small business at all, and would be homeless, just like those other vagrants.
"Okay, I understand," she replied reluctantly.
Zang Yu handed over several silver ingots, saying, "Sister never accepted my silver when I had sweet soup before, but you must accept it today."
Qiu Niangzi then became angry, "What do you mean by this? Do you think I need your few ingots of silver? I've said it before, as long as my sweet soup shop is open, I won't let you go hungry."
She sent Zang Yu away and had him sit at the same table as the old man.
In just a few days, the little fox had gotten noticeably fatter, though it had a lot more fur. The old man's dark blue robe had been rubbed white, and when it saw him coming, it wagged its tail and whimpered incessantly.
The dandelion-like fluff choked Zang Yu, who said, "Stop shaking it, the fluff will fall into the bowl, how can we eat it?"
The old man glared at it angrily, "Why are you being so fierce? You act like you can eat me alive. It's still young and doesn't know any better, but don't you know any better too?"
Zang Yu: "......"
We agreed not to support our ancestors.
After eating and drinking her fill, Fang Ruo couldn't wait any longer and ran to play under the peach tree. She saw someone sitting under the tree with their arms crossed, having already taken a spot. Just as she was about to leave, someone called her back.
"Little girl, come here."
Fang Ruo honestly went over.
"I've heard that there's a kind and compassionate immortal in Yu'an who can turn stones into gold and provides relief to refugees?"
"You mean Fu Guangxian, right?" the little girl blinked her big eyes.
"Are there really immortals in Yu'an?"
The little girl said very proudly, "Of course I have! I've seen her. She's so beautiful, and she's such a nice person too."
The man's smile held a hint of disdain. "Fu Guang Xian? Who dares to compare themselves to the sun? What utterly arrogant words!"
"That's not how it is..."
The little girl got angry, "Because the sun's radiance is not stingy with people; whether you are poor or rich, you can feel its warmth."
"Who are you? What are you asking about?"
The newcomer parted the blossoms, and peach petals fell in a flurry. Pei Shu's eyes flickered for a moment, then she composed herself and said, "If there truly are immortals, I would also like to ask an immortal to bestow gold upon my stone."
He added, in a very sincere tone, "I fled here and heard the rumors, hoping to receive protection."
This man was dressed sloppily, but his appearance was anything but. He possessed an air of sophistication that set him apart from ordinary people. His face was covered in dust and dirt, but his handsome features were still visible. This made his indescribable aura all the more striking.
"Are you a refugee?"
The man nodded.
Zang Yu suddenly laughed and said, "I think he's more like a fraud."
"Go home, child. There are no magicians in this world who can turn stones into gold."
The man's expression froze, and Fang Ruo grinned at him, "You have hands and feet, yet you still try to cheat people, you bad guy."
The two walked away.
The man walked to the noodle stall, and the owner served him a bowl of shredded pork noodles and whispered, "Young General, everyone says there is a Jade An Immortal, but no one says who it is. However, according to our investigation, that kid is the most suspicious. Why don't we just arrest him?"
"Don't act rashly, lest you alert the enemy."
Zang Yu led Fang Ruo back, but a loud bang came from behind them.
"What are you doing here if you don't have money? Trying to freeload! I hate people who dine and dash!"
The boy was kicked to the ground, but the boss, still not satisfied, kicked him several more times. The boy covered his head, enduring the pain silently and looking utterly pathetic.
Fang Ru frowned: "He's so pitiful!"
"Boss, I'll pay for his meal."
Seeing that someone was paying, the noodle stall owner stopped, and after taking the money, he didn't forget to threaten, "If you dare to eat without paying next time, get out of Yu'an."
Zang Yu squatted down and looked at the boy curled up on the ground. "If you don't have money, why don't you go and earn some?"
The boy said in a low voice, "They think I'm clumsy. Could you... take me in?"
Slender fingers lifted his face, a deep smile playing on them. "How are you feeling?"
"I don't have any serious illnesses. Even if I do get sick, I won't be a burden to you, as long as you give me a bite to eat."
"Oh, how's your waist strength?"
The boy hesitated for a moment, then said, "If you want me to do work, I'm not short of strength, as long as you don't think I'm stupid."
Zang Yu's smile deepened. "Alright, then come back with me."
Looking from afar, Qiu Niangzi frowned: "Grandpa, why is your eldest grandson bringing men home? In these chaotic times, what if one of them has ulterior motives..."
The old man leaned on his cane, trembling with anger, "That brat is getting more and more outrageous."
After bringing the man back, Cangyu led him to his room and told him to "wash himself clean."
He even kindly gave him his own clothes.
Although Pei Shu had some subtle feelings, she still cleaned herself up as he asked. As for the clothes he was given, they were a little too small and felt tight all over her body.
"Are you done?"
The person outside knocked once and then decisively came in. Pei Shu felt offended, but she suppressed her temper and made a cowardly appearance by remaining silent.
"The clothes are too small?"
Pei Shu gave a soft "hmm." The person leaning against the door smiled enigmatically, walked closer, and placed their palm on the bulging muscles of Pei Shu's chest. "Nice physique. Do you practice martial arts regularly?"
This kid was indeed testing me.
"I studied kung fu for a few years, but all I have is brute strength." He was meek and unassuming, a completely honest and simple man.
Zang Yu lifted his chin and teased, "What kind of hard labor are you doing? It's a pity to waste such a pretty face."
When I first saw him, his whole face was dirty, except for his incredibly beautiful eyebrows and eyes. After he washed himself clean, I realized that he was incredibly handsome.
The finger touching her chin felt tingly and itchy, but Chu Shu resisted the urge to react, though her mind was already conjuring up the impulse to chop off that dog's paw.
The more silent he became, the more brazenly that hand cupped half of his face, while the other hand gripped his waist. "My family has no shortage of laborers, but we lack beautiful women to keep us company."
Those eyes were fixed on the chest, which was bulging with muscles. "If it doesn't fit, take it off."
"......"
Pei Shu's mind went blank for a long time before she finally understood what the kid meant.
How dare she have designs on him! To do such a despicable thing.
He was so angry he almost vomited blood. His muscles were taut, and when the other person leaned in, he shoved him away. "So you're just as despicable as me. I'll sell my strength, but I'll never sell my body!"
Zang Yu had finally met someone who could put on a show with him, and his playful side was aroused. He became even more mischievous, pinning the man against the wall like a bully, saying, "Once you've entered this door, do you think you can ever get out?"
Pei Shu gritted his teeth, secretly clenching his fists. Just as his killing intent arose, he swung his cane, but instead of striking the person in front of him, he struck him.
The blow was delivered with tremendous force, shattering the floor tiles beneath his feet. Zang Yu was relieved to have dodged it and patted his chest.
"You've become completely lawless, doing things like bullying men and women!"
After the old man finished scolding him, he looked at the person standing next to him and immediately understood.
A person with good looks, who looks like a woman, may actually be a woman. After all, in chaotic times, such a appearance would certainly attract attention, and dressing as a man might be a last resort.
No wonder that brat wanted to go up there.
He grabbed Zang Yu by the ear and dragged him out, demanding, "Did you figure out who he was?"
Zang Yu's eyes lit up. "Grandpa, you also think there's something wrong with his identity?"
"You don't need to tell me. I've seen so many people with these eyes, how could I be wrong?"
Zang Yu nodded in agreement, thinking to himself that experience really does matter; the old man was able to spot the problem at a glance.
"Let me test the waters again. If there is a problem, we should strike first."
As Zang Yu was plotting something, he was slapped hard on the head. "You know how hard it is for them, and you still bully them! You dare to do it! You actually dared to do it!"
Zang Yu was stunned by the slap. "Are you senile? If you don't seize the opportunity and let him realize it, there will be no chance left."
"Shameless! Utterly shameless!"
The old man was trembling with anger, not knowing that his son had become so crooked. He felt even more guilty when he saw the person who came out of the room.
“Auntie—Young Master, it’s my fault for not disciplining him properly. Don’t worry, I’ve already disciplined this boy. If he tries to bully you, just tell me. And if you have any difficulties, don’t be afraid to speak up.”
Zang Yu: "......"
How much has the old man drunk?
Late at night, the woman had just put her child to sleep when suddenly there was a knock on the window three times, like a death knell, each knock making her heart tremble.
The woman cautiously stepped out, but when she saw the handsome young man in front of the door, she looked as if she had seen a ghost.
"Mrs. Fang seems to be doing well."
The woman lowered her head even further, saying, "It's all thanks to the kind people of Yu'an who took us in."
The young man pressed, "Is he a kind person, or some so-called 'miracle healer'? Does that person truly have the ability to turn stones into gold, or did he steal treasures from the imperial tomb?"
The woman shook her head repeatedly, "I don't know."
"Are you really unaware, or are you pretending not to know? Mrs. Fang, I only agreed to this deal with you because I see you as a smart person."
"If you find the imperial tomb, you can rescue your husband who has been captured by the rebels and forced into labor. I never do business at a loss; if you want me to do something, you have to be sincere. On the battlefield, swords have no eyes; whether your husband's life is saved depends entirely on you."
Madam Fang hid her slightly trembling fingers under her sleeve. "There are no immortals in Yu'an at all. It's just that some kind-hearted people have spread rumors about them like this."
Pei Shu snorted coldly: "According to my investigation, it was a man named Cang Yu who saved you?"
Madam Fang's pupils suddenly contracted. Just as she was about to speak to cover it up, a man's maniacal laughter came from the alley entrance, "Hahaha, we're rich, we're rich! There's treasure, there really is treasure in the mountains."
The man was holding a golden ruyi, something only found in the palace; the imperial tomb was indeed here.
"You think you can cover for him just because you received a small favor? Do you even know that the army in the court is desperately short of funds?" His sarcasm made Madam Fang's face turn even paler.
Madam Fang wept uncontrollably, "But the rebels you killed were civilians."
Pei Shu: "These people who burn, kill, loot, and commit atrocities are not ordinary people; they are just bandits who want to sit on the mountain and become kings."
Conversation could be heard at the alley entrance, and Pei Shu disappeared into the darkness.
"Sister Qiu, why are you out so late?"
"Hurry up, there's no time to go. I don't know which hunter went up the mountain and found some treasure in Black Mountain. He's shouting about it everywhere. I know that only you can safely take things out of there. If this guy keeps making a fuss and gets everyone to come over, what if something happens? Let's shut him up quickly."
The man in front of me was shouting with great energy, repeatedly emphasizing the same sentence, which became somewhat eerie after a while.
The two men took a shortcut and blocked the man's path. "Stop."
The man seemed not to hear, and continued running forward like a madman, shouting, "Baby, haha, there's treasure in Black Mountain!"
It wasn't very clear at night, but as she got closer, Qiu Niangzi gasped in fright. Half of the person's head had been gnawed off, and it was filled with dark worms. Even the two eyeballs had been eaten, and two lines of bloody tears were streaming down.
This person is no longer alive!
As they approached, Zangyu splashed him with medicinal wine, lit it with a tinderbox, and burned away the black insects with a crackling sound. Only then did the long-dead corpse return to calm.
Qiu Niangzi was quite frightened. After cleaning up the scene, she quickly pulled Zang Yu away, because if someone saw them, it would be difficult to explain.
The two went back separately, but Cangyu heard footsteps following behind him. He turned around, raised his hand to strike, but his movement was intercepted.
He was someone who surprised him, but not unexpectedly.
“It’s you.”
In the blink of an eye, Cangyu's hands were locked and his neck was gripped; the opponent's moves clearly indicated that he was a trained martial artist.
"You were already wary of me, yet you still played along with my act."
He did the same thing that Cang Yu had done before, pinching his slender waist. Sure enough, he saw his face stiffen. But Pei Shu's desire for revenge had not stopped. He continued to go deeper into his clothes, almost squeezing the tender skin until it was wet.
He only stopped when his palms became slightly damp and sticky, and the person he was pinching trembled slightly.
"That's what you call offensive. Next time, remember to act more convincingly."
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