The old woman grabbed Jiao Xiaoxiao's wrist, her voice so loud the entire street could hear.
"Ah, heavens! Whose child is this? You've knocked these old bones of mine to pieces! Pay up! Don't even think of leaving without paying!"
Jiao Xiaoxiao stumbled from the pull, her little face drained white. She tried to pull her hand back, but the old woman's grip did not budge.
"Granny... I didn't run into you..." Her voice was soft and trembling. "I only wanted to help you up..."
"Help me up? That was helping me up? You pushed me!" The old woman's spittle flew half a foot. "Everyone, look! A child this young is already so ill-behaved! She hit someone and refuses to admit it! You all be the judge!"
Jiao Xiaoxiao's eyes had already reddened, her lips pressed white. She wanted to say something but could not get the words out, only shaking her head desperately.
At that moment, three men swaggered over from across the street. All were burly bald men, their chests exposed beneath open shirts, tattoos visible across their skin, plain sabers tucked at their waists.
The one in front was just over thirty, with a scar running from his brow bone to his chin. He kicked over a vegetable stall by the roadside and cursed loudly.
"Who? Who the hell bullied my mother?"
The moment the old woman saw her son, her voice rose another three pitches.
"Son! This little bastard ran into your mother! My waist is practically broken! You have to stand up for me!"
The scar-faced man lowered his head and glanced at Jiao Xiaoxiao. She had already curled into a ball, tears swirling in her eyes, yet she stubbornly held them back.
He then swept his gaze over the surroundings. Seeing Jiao Xiaoxiao's luxurious