Free Web NovelChapter 37: Chapter 18: A Thief Comes (2)
’Later, when our situation improves, I have to make sure this girl learns to read and write...’ Fang Rui thought to himself.
In the end, Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family didn’t eat the boiled egg. She fished it out of her bowl and split it in half for the two siblings—Fang Ling got the yolk, and Fang Rui got the white.
Then, she picked up the eggshell Fang Rui had peeled and scraped off the remaining bits of egg white. "Honestly, you child, you didn’t even peel it clean!"
Only these tiny scraps did she eat herself.
Fang Rui just smiled and said nothing.
He was starting to understand Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family’s nature. If he didn’t do it this way, how else could he get her to eat some?
"I peeled mine clean!" Fang Ling raised her small hand from the side.
"Haha, you’re the expert."
Fang Rui smiled and gently tapped Fang Ling on the forehead.
She did more than just peel it clean.
The little girl cherished it so much, peeling the egg with extreme care. Not a single speck of white was left on the shell. She ate it all, not even sparing the thin membrane on the inside.
And even after that, she would lick the inside of the shell clean.
Truly, the very picture of frugality.
CRACKLE!
The flame danced atop the oil lamp’s wick, casting a warm, dim yellow light that filled the small room. The shadows of the family of three flickered on the floor, huddled together.
It was warm and peaceful.
...
「After dinner.」
Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family tidied the room while Fang Ling helped with the dishes.
Fang Rui sat before the oil lamp, a medical book in his hands. While he studied hard, he was also waiting for his Tribulation Points to accumulate. His desire to improve their lives had never wavered.
Once the room was tidy and the dishes were washed, Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family blew out the oil lamp. In her words, "It wastes oil and strains your eyes. Going to bed early is the most frugal choice."
Fang Rui didn’t argue. After washing up, he and the little girl went back to their room to sleep.
The Black Market?
He had just been there the day before yesterday, so there was no need to go today.
"Brother, I want to hear more of the story about Sun Monkey!" In the darkness, Fang Ling’s big eyes shone brightly as she spoke with anticipation.
"Alright, where did we leave off yesterday?"
"Flame Mountain! Sun Monkey was going to borrow the Palm Leaf Fan..." The little girl remembered this part clearly.
"Okay."
Fang Rui chuckled, and his voice began to fill the room.
The night was serene. A bright, clear moon peeked through the window, as if it, too, were listening quietly.
At some point, Fang Ling drifted into a deep sleep.
Fang Rui soon followed her into dreamland.
...
Fang Rui was startled awake.
CREAK! CREAK!
The night was pitch-black, but faint footsteps sounded from outside the door.
SWISH!
Fang Rui’s eyes snapped open warily. ’That’s not Mom. I know her footsteps, and they don’t sound like that. Besides, she wouldn’t be so furtive...’
Becoming an Entry Grade Martial Artist didn’t just increase one’s strength, but provided an all-around enhancement—for instance, to one’s perception.
Coupled with the recent decline in the city’s public order, his natural caution meant he never slept soundly, always keeping a part of his mind on alert.
All these factors combined to make him so vigilant.
’The kitchen... Is someone stealing food? A burglar? Makes sense, in times like these...’
Fang Rui didn’t dwell on it. He rolled out of bed and rushed outside.
His confidence in his skills was one reason; his worry was another. He was afraid Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family might suddenly come out of her room and run into the intruder.
After all, her room was closer to the kitchen. If, by some chance, she also heard the noise and came out...
The consequences would be unthinkable!
Although the possibility was small, given Fang Rui’s cautious nature, he would never bet on those odds.
THUMP THUMP THUMP!
To move faster, Fang Rui made no attempt to conceal his presence. The sound of his hurried footsteps immediately startled a dark figure in the kitchen, who turned to flee.
"Who’s there?"
But Fang Rui was faster, blocking the kitchen doorway in an instant.
Almost immediately, the dark figure slammed into him.
BAM!
Fang Rui didn’t even sway. The dark figure, in contrast, felt like they had run into a boulder and was sent stumbling back several steps by the force of the impact.
Seeing no reply, Fang Rui wasted no words. He strode forward and reached for the person like an eagle swooping down on a chick.
The figure’s shoulder was caught, unable to break free. In a panic, a vicious glint flashed in their eyes. With a flick of their sleeve, the blade of a pair of scissors slashed toward Fang Rui’s wrist.
"Give me that!"
Fang Rui neither dodged nor flinched. Instead, he met the scissors head-on, grabbing the blades with his bare hand. With a cringe-inducing SCRAPE, he gripped the blades and snatched the weapon away.
At the same time, he shot out his right leg in a vicious kick.
THUD!
The figure was sent flying a few meters, collapsing to the ground. They clutched their stomach, groaning in pain, unable to get back up.
The entire fight was over in the span of a few breaths, but it had made a considerable amount of noise.
A light flickered on inside the house, and Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family’s voice called out, "Brother Rui?"
Lights also began to appear in the neighboring houses.
Just then, the linen cloth covering the dark figure’s face fell off due to the violent struggle, revealing their identity.
"Uncle Dashan?!" By the faint light from the window, Fang Rui recognized the figure, and his eyes flashed.
...
「A short while later.」
Outside the Fang Family’s kitchen, lanterns from various households illuminated the area, making it as bright as day.
Many neighbors, with clothes thrown over their shoulders, had gathered in a circle, pointing and whispering at Song Dashan in the center.
"This Song Dashan is just shameless!"
"He’s gone too far, stealing food from the Fang Family..."
"Sigh, no matter how poor or miserable we are, we can’t resort to stealing!"
...
Amidst the crowd’s denunciations, Song Dashan buried his head and covered his face, twitching from time to time with pained groans. He was clearly too ashamed to face anyone.
"Ahem!"
Fang Rui coughed twice, drawing everyone’s attention. "Uncle Dashan came to my house to steal grain. This isn’t something I can handle on my own. I’ll have to ask everyone here to act as a witness. Let’s... report this to the Government Office!"
The crowd instantly fell silent.
Ever since news broke that the first wave of the Official Army sent to suppress the bandits had been defeated, public order in the city had deteriorated rapidly. The Government Office had begun cracking down hard on crime. If this was reported, it would definitely not end well for Song Dashan!
"Brother Rui,"
Hearing the words "Government Office," Song Dashan trembled. Forgetting his shame, he struggled to his feet and stammered, "I-I wasn’t thinking straight... Please, let me go. Let your Uncle Dashan off the hook... We’ve been neighbors for so many years... I even used to drink with your father..."
’Even now, he’s trying to pull rank, playing the age card!’ A sharp glint flashed in Fang Rui’s eyes.
Seeing Song Dashan’s pathetic state, however, some of the others couldn’t bear it and began to play peacemaker.
"Brother Rui, be merciful when you can!"
"That’s right, we’ve all been neighbors for so many years. Just forget about reporting him!"
"Just have Song Dashan apologize. Besides, Brother Rui, you already beat him up pretty badly. He’s learned his lesson..."
...
Perhaps some were genuinely considering their neighborly ties, urging the Fang Family to let the matter drop for the sake of peace.
But more of them were motivated by envy and jealousy of the Fang Family’s better circumstances. Feeling it was unfair, they deliberately spoke up for Song Dashan, taking his side.
You might ask: weren’t they afraid the Fang Family would hold a grudge?
They really weren’t!
There’s a saying, "strength in numbers," and another, "the law doesn’t punish the masses."
Hearing everyone’s words, a hint of delight flashed across Song Dashan’s face. He quickly said, "Brother Rui! Sister-in-law Fang! Everyone’s right. Please, be merciful and give me a chance!"
"You... you..." freewebnovel.cσ๓
Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family pointed at Song Dashan, her face pale with rage.
These people really were a case of "talk is cheap." Or perhaps, "only a parent truly worries for their own child."
The moment Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family had arrived, she had pulled Fang Rui over, anxiously checking if he was hurt. She had naturally spotted the scissors Fang Rui had taken, as well as his torn sleeve and the white scratch on his wrist.
Clearly, Song Dashan had used the scissors on Fang Rui!
He had been going for the kill! And they still wanted her to let Song Dashan go? If Fang Rui weren’t an Entry Grade Martial Artist... Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family didn’t dare to imagine what would have happened.
She was soft-hearted, but she was by no means incapable of telling right from wrong. No matter what others thought, she, at least, was absolutely unwilling to let Song Dashan off so easily.
There was another thing that made Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family even angrier: it was one thing for the others, but two or three of the very families she had lent grain to were also speaking up for Song Dashan!
"Mom, don’t be angry. Leave this to me," Fang Rui said in a low voice. A glint in his eye, he was just about to speak.
Just then, the Third Lady, who was standing to the side, suddenly winked at him.
...
