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Shen Yu’an’s intentional actions had left Zhao Yuan Yuan fuming with anger, and Shen Yu’an felt much better about herself. As she walked away, she couldn’t help but relish in her small victory.
Meanwhile, Fang Nian, feeling apologetic, redirected her gaze and tried to soothe the irritable Zhao Yuan Yuan.
With her gentle and clear voice, Fang Nian helped tidy up Zhao Yuan Yuan’s clothes and comforted her by gently patting her back.
Although Zhao Yuan Yuan’s clothes were not completely ruined, they had been torn and were now rearranged to provide some modesty, making it difficult to discern what had happened.
Fang Nian’s plan was to return home quickly. At this time, most households were busy preparing dinner, and there wouldn’t be too many people outside. With some luck, they might not run into anyone.
However, Zhao Yuan Yuan seemed to be in a daze, fixating on the direction Shen Yu’an and Shen Si’s cart had gone. She glared at their departure with eyes like blazing copper bells.
Fang Nian had to speak up to draw her attention. “Yuan Yuan, let’s go now. It’s getting late, and we might lose our way if we wait any longer.”
Only then did Zhao Yuan Yuan snap out of her stupor and turn her gaze towards Fang Nian. Her eyes, previously filled with malice, startled Fang Nian for a moment.
But soon, Zhao Yuan Yuan suppressed the viciousness in her eyes.
Fang Nian expressed her concern, saying, “Yuan Yuan, are you okay?”
Zhao Yuan Yuan’s eyes welled up with tears as she looked at Fang Nian, her heart heavy. She said, “I considered you my close sister, but when I was just bullied moments ago, you didn’t come to my rescue. I really dislike you.”
After saying this, Zhao Yuan Yuan pulled her hand away from Fang Nian’s and ran off.
Fang Nian wanted to explain that she didn’t intentionally neglect her, but Yuan Yuan’s fall from the car happened so suddenly that she couldn’t react in time. By the time she and the carriage driver arrived, Yuan Yuan had already been grabbed by two thugs and was on the verge of being harassed.
She knew that even if she had rushed forward, it would have been futile, so she could only wait for the man and the girl to come to the rescue.
However, no matter what, she did feel a bit cowardly for not personally intervening just now.
Now that it was getting late, Fang Nian couldn’t bear to leave Yuan Yuan alone, so she hurriedly chased after her.
In Yuan Yuan’s heart, the two of them had come out together, but now she was the only one being humiliated, making it hard for her to calm down. Since they had come out together, if Fang Nian truly considered her a close sister, she should stand by her side in times of trouble.
All those useless words were just because it wasn’t her who was insulted…
After Fang Nian and Zhao Yuan Yuan left, the gangsters were left hanging upside down from the tree branches, their faces turning crimson from the blood rushing to their heads.
Watching the last two people run far away, they panicked and pleaded, “Don’t leave us here, put us down.”
But no one heard their cries. It was now evening, and those heading home had long gone. They were destined to hang there.
Unfortunately, the next day, most of the passersby were women or young girls. When they saw so many people hanging there, looking fierce and menacing, they not only didn’t try to rescue them but ran away as fast as rabbits.
So, it wasn’t until the afternoon of the second day that they encountered someone passing by on this road who could cut them down.
It wasn’t until another day had passed that Sanlang, arranged by Fei Xi, happened to pass by and saw these hanging people. He swung his knife and cut all the ropes.
The heads of those people hit the ground hard, and their pent-up anger reached its peak at that moment.
As they were being untied, they cursed, “You rascal, can’t you be more gentle?”
“My head is all bruised. Just wait until I teach you a lesson!”
The group of people, after having their numb feet stomped, began yelling and charged toward Sanlang.
Sanlang wore an incredulous expression. These people, who he had just rescued, were not only cursing at him but also trying to attack him now!
It was simply unbelievable!
Sanlang, filled with anger, gave them a sound beating, leaving them bruised and battered, before retying them and hanging them back in their original positions.
“It seems like there was a reason why you were hanging here. Just keep hanging. Goodbye!”
…
Meanwhile, after Shen Yu’an left, she had Shen Si lead her straight back to Longxian Village.
In the following days, Shen Yu’an had some peace of mind, until a few days later when the people sent by Fei Yanchen arrived.
The opening of this grain store meant the cutting off of a significant source of income for many, and it might even cause some to lose money. After all, due to the scarcity of grain, many grain merchants purchased it at low prices, hoarded it, and then sold it to the people at higher prices.
When Shen Yu’an’s grain store was about to open, it was certain to stand in opposition to other small and large grain stores. The manager and servants sent by Fei Yanchen were all veterans from the battlefield, so their martial skills were beyond question.
Upon their arrival, they went directly to the manager of the Tranquil Bookstore in town and had him relay a message to Shen Yu’an, informing her that the people had arrived.
On that morning, Shen Yu’an received the message and, after informing her family, she went alone to the town to meet these people.
Before their arrival, Fei Yanchen had carefully instructed them to treat Shen Yu’an as if she were a member of their own Fei family.
These people were obedient and respectful when they saw Shen Yu’an approaching. They didn’t look down on her simply because she was a woman.
“I am Liang Hui, at your service, Miss.” This man had a slender figure and didn’t seem like a warrior; he had a scholarly air about him.
“I am Feng San, I am Feng Si at your service.”
The two who spoke later bore a resemblance to each other, and combined with their names, they appeared to be brothers.
Shen Yu’an also paid her respects to them, and her composed demeanor caught their attention.
The bookstore manager was named Pan Wen. The last time Shen Yu’an came to buy books with Hua Ling, she had been accosted by someone, and the bookstore manager remembered her for that. So, when Shen Yu’an came to the bookstore with Fei Yanchen’s jade pendant, it genuinely startled him.
Little did he expect that his gossiping days would lead him to the person who had captured his master’s heart.
Now, Shen Yu’an’s serialized novel continued to gain popularity, and with the paper produced in her paper mill sold exclusively at the Tranquil Bookstore and another bookstore, the Tranquil Bookstore was thriving.
The bookstore manager, Pan, knew that both the serialized novel and the new paper came from Shen Yu’an’s hands, which only added to his admiration for her.
Pan, the manager, asked, “Miss, have you had lunch yet?”
“Not yet,” replied Shen Yu’an.
She had rushed to town right after receiving the message and had missed lunch.
“There’s a new restaurant in town called ‘Bai Wei Lou.’ I’ve heard the food there is excellent. How about I host a meal today and invite you and the three new brothers to give it a try?”
The bookstore manager called over one of the shop assistants to watch the store and then set off with Shen Yu’an and the three new arrivals to Bai Wei Lou.