Chapter 21: Big Brother, Please Spare Me, I Won’t Dare Again

On the way, Shen Xuezhhu saw a vendor selling meat buns and wanted to buy two for her daughters to eat.

Since they had come to town with her, she felt she should buy them something to eat, otherwise, there would be no point in them coming along.

Shen Xuezhhu spoke to Zhao Laoer, asking him to stop for a moment while she bought something.

Zhao Laoer agreed.

Lu Xiaoli asked, “Mom, what are you going to buy?”

“I’m buying buns for you two. Don’t get off the cart, stay on it and wait for me.”

“Got it, Mom.”

The ox cart slowly came to a stop.

Shen Xuezhhu got off the cart and headed straight to the bun shop.

After thinking for a moment, she decided Zhao Laoer worked hard to drive the ox cart, so she should buy three meat buns—one for him and the others for the girls. She herself wouldn’t eat.

When she arrived at the shop, she asked the shopkeeper, “How much are the meat buns?”

The shopkeeper looked at her and smiled. “Two wen per bun.”

“I’ll take four,” Shen Xuezhhu hesitated before saying.

She decided to buy one for herself, in case Zhao Laoer saw that she wasn’t eating and refused to take her bun.

The shopkeeper replied, “Sure, miss!”

The shopkeeper moved quickly, and soon the four meat buns were ready.

Shen Xuezhhu took out her money pouch and handed some coins to the shopkeeper.

Suddenly, the pouch was snatched from her hand.

Shen Xuezhhu reacted immediately and started chasing the thief. “Give me back my money pouch!”

As she passed Zhao Laoer’s ox cart, she shouted at him, “Zhao Erge, don’t worry about me, just keep an eye on the two kids!”

Zhao Laoer didn’t chase after her.

Lu Xiaoyue and Lu Xiaoli knew that Shen Xuezhhu’s money pouch had been stolen and felt helpless, worrying about her.

“Sister, what should we do?”

Lu Xiaoyue had no idea what to do. “I hope Mom can get the money back. She worked hard for that money.”

Shen Xuezhhu was chasing the thief when she saw Xing Chu walking toward her.

“Why are you running?”

Shen Xuezhhu, panting, replied, “That man in the gray linen clothes in front, he stole my money pouch, I’m trying to…”

Before she could finish, Xing Chu turned and ran ahead.

Within moments, he caught up with the thief and apprehended him.

He also returned Shen Xuezhhu’s money pouch.

“Big Brother, please spare me, I won’t dare again!” the thief begged, pleading with Xing Chu.

Xing Chu said nothing and kept a stern face.

Shen Xuezhhu noticed two bailiffs from the yamen nearby. She explained that her money pouch had been stolen, and the thief had been caught up ahead.

The two bailiffs followed Shen Xuezhhu to Xing Chu.

Xing Chu handed the thief over to the bailiffs, who were then led away.

The thief shot a resentful glance at Xing Chu and then at Shen Xuezhhu before being taken away.

Shen Xuezhhu hadn’t expected to run into Xing Chu this time. Without him, she would never have gotten her money pouch back.

“Thank you so much!” Shen Xuezhhu looked into Xing Chu’s eyes and said.

This scene was witnessed by Tian Zhixiang from a distance.

Not wanting Shen Xuezhhu to see her, Tian Zhixiang quickly walked into a nearby restaurant.

To Shen Xuezhhu’s gratitude, Xing Chu simply said, “No need to thank me.”

Then, Xing Chu turned and left.

Once he was gone, Shen Xuezhhu tucked her money pouch into her clothes and headed back.

…

“I knew Mom would get the money pouch back!” Lu Xiaoyue’s worried expression faded.

“Mom, you finally got the money pouch back!” Lu Xiaoli said.