Chapter 31: Conflict

Jing Xi didn’t even have time to stop them before she saw the two men charge at Yu Er, fists raised, ready to attack.

Yu Er didn’t dodge. Instead, he kicked the man surnamed Huang to the ground and casually caught Wu Dazhuang’s punch with one hand. With a “gentle” push, Wu Dazhuang was sent sprawling onto the ground.

What skill!

The whole ordeal lasted less than ten seconds, and the fight was already over.

Yet, the two men refused to admit defeat. They got back up—only to be met with another kick and a punch.

After two or three rounds, their faces were bruised and swollen, their mouths twisted, and their noses bloody. Their groans of pain echoed continuously.

Jing Xi wasn’t sure if they were exaggerating or if they were genuinely in pain, but the sight was hilarious!

What a relief!

She had never personally dealt with Wu Dazhuang before, but unexpectedly, a complete stranger had stood up for her!

Yu Er chuckled, his voice strong and steady. “So, do you want to try again? I’ve got plenty of strength to spare.”

Some people may have weak bodies, but their mouths were as tough as steel—comparable to that pig-like Zhu Bajie.

Wu Dazhuang wiped the blood from his mouth, still spewing threats. “Just you wait! Boss Hong won’t let you off! You dared to lay hands on his people? You’re dead!”

The man surnamed Huang chimed in, though his words were slurred due to his swollen mouth. “You… you just wait! We won’t let you go!”

Yu Er smirked. “I’m not asking for mercy—I just hope you won’t let me go.”

Tonight was indeed fruitful.

Yu Er glanced at Jing Xi, who was standing at a distance. “Can I trouble you with a favor?”

“Huh? What is it?”

Just as Yu Er was about to speak, Wu Dazhuang, still sitting on the ground, interrupted.

“Jing Xi! We’re from the same village, after all! We’ve never really done anything to target you! But this time, you’ve gone too far! You’re actually helping an outsider? You’re turning your back on your own people!”

He had completely forgotten how he had insulted Jing Xi just moments ago.

Jing Xi really wanted to crack open his skull and see what was inside.

“Wu Dazhuang! You accused me of prostitution first! That was your mistake! And I didn’t even lay a hand on you—how am I the one who went too far?! Actions have consequences. If you hadn’t run your mouth, would Yu Er have hit you? Besides, he was just defending himself. You two attacked first! Even if the police show up, I’ll tell them exactly that! I’m a witness! If you’re so unhappy, go ahead and call the cops! Let’s talk about your illegal loan sharking, and how this guy—” she pointed at Huang, “—hires underage girls! I’ll make sure everyone knows about it!”

Wu Dazhuang fumed. “You—!”

Yu Er caught an interesting detail in Jing Xi’s words.

“You what? Shut your mouth! I’ll give you time—go call this ‘Boss Hong’ and have him come bail you out himself!”

The argument continued.

From behind the corner, the sound of a car engine starting caught Jing Xi’s attention. She turned to look at the entrance of the Hong Restaurant and spotted Long Yuezhi and two others just stepping out, about to get into their car to return to their residence.

Chen Gang noticed Yu Er and Jing Xi standing there without moving. He quickly informed Long Yuezhi, and the group immediately walked over.

Long Yuezhi glanced at the two injured men on the ground. “What happened here?”

“Fourth Master,” Yu Er replied. “They claimed to be Boss Hong’s men and insulted Miss Jing Xi, so I taught them a lesson.”

Long Yuezhi’s expression suddenly became theatrically exaggerated. “Oh? So they’re Boss Hong’s men? Yu Er, look at you! How could you be so reckless?”

Hearing Long Yuezhi’s tone, Wu Dazhuang immediately assumed he was on their side and grew more confident.

“That’s right! Now hurry up and apologize to me! You’d better be smart about this—take us back, compensate us for our medical expenses, and kneel to call me ‘Grandpa’!”

Long Yuezhi gasped dramatically. “Oh dear, they’re so badly injured! We can’t just leave them like this. Quick, help them up and bring them over to our place so they can receive proper treatment! We can’t neglect these two ‘Grandpas’!”

Some people were just too stupid to realize when they were being mocked.

Huang Degang was more reserved and decided to stay silent while Wu Dazhuang ran his mouth.

Wu Dazhuang, however, puffed up even more. “That’s right! Now you understand! Hurry up and help us up! And take this woman, too! It’s all her fault! She’s not leaving—she’s coming with me!”

Jing Xi nearly burst out cursing.

“You f—!”

She barely managed to hold back.

Maintain some virtue. Maintain some virtue.

Long Yuezhi blinked at Jing Xi, who was about to explode. “I apologize, but I have no choice but to comply with these two ‘Grandpas’ requests. I’m afraid we’ll have to trouble you to come with us.”

Jing Xi: “…”

Damn it, Wu Dazhuang was really full of himself now!

She had no idea what this Long Yuezhi was up to.

“I’m not going! This has nothing to do with me!”

Jing Xi flat-out refused. She had important matters to handle—she didn’t have time for this nonsense!

Long Yuezhi’s eyes flickered with mischief. “Let’s step aside and talk for a moment.”

Even ten steps away, she wouldn’t go.

Seeing her reluctance, Long Yuezhi signaled Chen Gang and Chen Zhi. “Well? Hurry up and get our two ‘Grandpas’ into the car!”

Wu Dazhuang urged, “Hurry up!”

Chen Gang and Chen Zhi responded, “Got it!”

Once they were further away, only Long Yuezhi, Jing Xi, and Yu Er remained.

Long Yuezhi turned to Jing Xi. “Think of it as helping me out. How about 100 yuan for one day?”

Jing Xi: “…”

“Too little? How about 200?”

Jing Xi: “…”

“Fine. 500. Just for one day.”

“…Damn.”

Jing Xi’s heart trembled.

Her first instinct was that this man was dangerous, and she didn’t want to get involved.

But hearing that amount of money made her hesitate.

Her pocket still had the 200 yuan she got from watching food livestreams. Money didn’t lie!

Back down? Or take the risk?

But what about her original plan?

Before she could think it through, her mouth moved faster than her brain.

“Then you have to pay me upfront. Otherwise, I’m not going! And it has to be just one day—I’ve got important business to take care of!”

Long Yuezhi chuckled. “Deal.”

This girl was truly peculiar.

And money-hungry to boot.

Just how broke was she?

Long Yue Zhi not only arranged separate rooms for Wu Da Zhuang and Huang De Gang but also had Chen Gang and Chen Zhi personally attend to them.

He called a doctor to dress their wounds and even provided good food and wine.

After sleeping for seven or eight hours, Wu Da Zhuang and Huang De Gang sobered up.

The two assumed that this man was truly afraid of Boss Hong, so they naturally enjoyed their “grandfather-level” treatment.

Wu Da Zhuang took a bite of the pork knuckle and said, “So, when are you going to pay for the medical expenses?”

He looked at Yu Er, who was delivering the meal, crossed one leg over the other, and acted like some kind of ancestor.

Yu Er chuckled. “Don’t worry, everything’s taken care of. Mr. Hong is on his way. When he arrives, our master will personally apologize and compensate you!”

The two exchanged glances. “Now that’s more like it! Also, bring that little wench, Jing Xi, over here!”

Jing Xi was right outside the door. The moment she heard Wu Da Zhuang call for her, she kicked the door open and walked in.

Yu Er quickly stepped out.

Fourth Master had ordered him to just listen in.

Fourth Master was simply curious.

Curious about this little girl who resembled the eldest daughter of the Xu family.

After all, he had even spent 200 yuan just to watch her eat.

He didn’t go far, just stood in the hallway. If anything happened inside, he had to protect the girl.

She was so thin and small—if something really happened, Fourth Master would definitely blame him.

Inside, Jing Xi looked at the two men eating with greasy mouths, and an overwhelming sense of disgust rose in her heart.

She couldn’t hold it in and gagged.

“What?”

“Nothing. Just watching you two eat makes me sick.”

Wu Da Zhuang put down his chopsticks and stood up, holding onto the bed for support.

He was still limping, but that didn’t stop him from acting tough. He eyed her suspiciously. “Jing Xi, what are you doing here?”

“Looking for someone.”

“Who?”

“Liu Chun! Haven’t you seen the missing person notices plastered all over the streets? Or are your eyes just a couple of marbles?”

Wu Da Zhuang scowled. “Damn, that mouth of yours makes me want to beat you up. Do you ever speak like a normal person?”

Jing Xi sneered. “You think you have the ability? With that spineless attitude of yours, you’d have trouble even crushing a chicken’s ass.”

“You—!”

Wu Da Zhuang, furious and tongue-tied, grabbed a slipper beside him and swung it at her.

Jing Xi dodged easily and gave him a shove.

With his injured leg, Wu Da Zhuang tumbled onto the bed, letting out a couple of pained groans.

But Jing Xi didn’t miss how his gaze flickered and how he instinctively touched the tip of his nose when she mentioned Liu Chun’s name.

He was guilty!

Huang De Gang also averted his eyes.

Wu Da Zhuang, humiliated by being pushed, was furious. His face darkened like a lump of coal.

Men outside always treated him with respect, but here was Jing Xi, completely unafraid.

“You damn girl, what the hell is wrong with you? Are you cursed or something?! Just you wait until my leg heals—I’ll make sure you regret it!”

“I’ll be waiting. Let’s see if you have the guts.”

“……”

“And one more thing, Wu Da Zhuang—I’m warning you. You better pray that Liu Chun’s disappearance has nothing to do with you. You better pray that the police don’t find any connection to you. Otherwise, I won’t let you off!”

Wu Da Zhuang’s eyes turned red, and he sneered, gritting his teeth.

“You won’t let me off? Who the hell do you think you are?! I was being nice, but I see you need to be put in your place!”

With that, he grabbed a leftover pork bone from the table and hurled it at her.

The bone struck Jing Xi squarely, and she immediately turned toward the bathroom.

She spotted a toilet plunger behind the door.

Grabbing it, she rushed back to Wu Da Zhuang and shoved the rubber end straight into his face.

Then, she kicked his already-injured leg and ground her foot into the wound.

A blood-curdling scream filled the room.

“Ahhh! It hurts! It hurts so bad! Ahhhhhh!”

Jing Xi struck him while cursing, jamming the plunger onto his face again.

“You spineless little rat! You can’t even beat a chicken, yet you think you’re tough? All you do is bully women! Who gave you the confidence to think you could shut me up? Today, I’ll make sure you regret it! I’ll shove this thing so far down your throat you won’t dare to mess with me again!”