Chapter 1609: Chapter 1616: A Short Stay at Shen Mansion (1)
Juhua often showed herself publicly outside; many people in the county town knew her. As soon as those two Liaodan savages harassed her, some customers hurried outside to report it to the authorities. The moment the head catchers at the county government office heard that the officer’s daughter had been bullied, they immediately led dozens of yamen runners, charging like tigers and wolves straight toward the spicy hot pot restaurant.
On this side, Mo Zili had just knocked the two Liaodan men to the ground when several head catchers from the county government office arrived with their men. Upon seeing Juhua, the head catchers, led by Head Catcher Tian, stepped forward and greeted her attentively.
“Miss, we came late and let you be shocked!”
Juhua angrily said, “If it weren’t for this young master’s righteous intervention, who knows how miserable I would be now? Bring these two Liaodan pigs back to the county government office for me. Tell my dad not to show them any leniency!”
“Yes, Miss, rest assured. The old master definitely won’t show these two Liaodan men any leniency.”
Head Catcher Tian waved his hand, and several yamen runners stepped forward, hoisting the two bruised and battered Liaodan men off the ground and dragging them outside.
Seeing the shop turned into a complete wreck and the elderly shopkeeper injured because of her, Juhua felt deeply sympathetic. She ordered Xiao Kui to take out her purse and emptied out the silver inside, leaving all of it for them.
The little shop was just a small business, and the items inside weren’t worth much. All the damages amounted to only four or five taels of silver, yet Miss Shen gave them more than twenty taels. The elderly couple was overwhelmed and declined to accept, but after much back-and-forth, seeing Juhua insist, they reluctantly accepted.
Mo Zili watched Juhua’s actions, the more he looked, the more she reminded him of “her.” If this situation had happened to “her,” “she” would have done the same…
After the two Liaodan savages were taken away, Head Catcher Tian politely said to Mo Zili, “This young master, thank you for coming to the rescue of our Miss. Please accompany us to the county government office so you can testify in court against these Liaodan men; moreover, our old master will surely reward you for saving his most treasured pearl!”
Mo Zili initially didn’t want to go, but after hesitating as he glanced at the maiden before him, he said, “Alright,” and followed Head Catcher Tian and the others.
Meanwhile, Head Catcher He made arrangements to hire a sedan chair to send Miss Juhua and Xiao Kui back home.
Inside the sedan chair, Shen Juhua furrowed her brows and murmured, “What terrible luck—how did I get run into by those two living devils? It’s over; now that this has happened, my mother surely won’t let me go out again. Ugh!”
Xiao Kui replied, “Miss, you should count your blessings. If it weren’t for that young master’s righteous intervention earlier, who knows what kind of disaster we would have fallen into? As for me, I’m just a servant. No matter how they humiliate me, there’s nothing to fear. But as for you, Miss, you’re the officer’s daughter. If they had humiliated you, not only would your virtue be ruined, but our mansion’s reputation would be destroyed as well. The more I think about it, the more scared I get! Truly, we owe it all to that young master!”
Although Xiao Kui had been wary and cautious of Mo Zili before, ever since he saved them, her attitude toward him had shifted to gratitude and admiration. She rambled on, saying, “Miss, who do you think that young master is? His martial arts are so skilled—not even two knife-wielding savages could match him. He’s so awesome! From his accent, he doesn’t sound like a local. I wonder what brought him to our town?”
Juhua shot her a sideways look and chuckled, “Xiao Kui, didn’t you always scold me before, saying that girls shouldn’t casually talk about men? Why are you rattling on endlessly today? Could it be that you found that man handsome and fell for him after he heroically saved the beauty? Hmm, has Xiao Kui secretly fallen for him?”