Played the Hero
"Later, that Young Master Ma changed his mind, saying he wanted both the land and the girl, and wanted Yaya to come to his mansion as a maid, guaranteeing me a life of comfort. As a grandfather, how could I send my granddaughter to such a family as a servant girl? Where would I put my old face?"
Dugu Yan crossed her arms and sneered, "In my opinion, buying the land is a pretense; he really has his eye on that girl."
The old tailor lowered his head, his fingers trembling with anger on his cane.
"Ever since then, they've been causing trouble every few days, and this time..."
Lin Chen nodded. "Do you have a land deed?"
"Yes," the old tailor said, his hands trembling as he pulled an oilcloth bag from his pocket and took out a yellowed piece of paper. "This has been passed down from my ancestors. The official seal is still the old style. I take it out to air it every year. This piece of paper is more valuable than my life..."
Lin Chen shoved the land deed back into the old tailor's hand, turned around, and looked at the richly dressed young man who had just gotten up from the ground.
"You said your father wants this land?"
The young man took a half step back, his neck stiff. "So what if it is! My father has never failed to get what he sets his sights on."
"The land deed is in their hands, it's in black and white with their seal, but where's your father's document?"
"My father is a baron! What documents would he need to get this land—"
That means there isn't one.
Lin Chen interrupted him.
"Your father is a baron, and your uncle is the jailer. Nobody in this city can control you, so you can steal whatever you want and beat up whomever you want, right?"
He took a step forward.
Today I'm going to teach you a lesson on behalf of your father.
The young man took another step back under his gaze, his face turning pale and then flushed, before finally raising his voice:
"Fine, fine, you lowly commoners, don't you dare leave! Don't even think about leaving Suotuo City. I'll have my uncle's men guard the city gates; you won't be able to fly out even if you have wings!"
After saying that, he turned and ran, and two thugs who were still able to move dragged the others on the ground and scrambled after him.
Only then did people on the street dare to gather around, pointing and whispering. Dugu Bo finished the last sip of tea in his bowl, stood up, and took out a few Silver Soul Coin from his pocket and placed them on the table.
He walked out of the teahouse with his hands behind his back, watched the group run away, then looked at Lin Chen and the other two, and slowly spoke:
"Had enough fun?"
Lin Chen didn't reply.
Dugu Bo snorted, walked up to him, and spoke in a low but clear voice:
"Helping someone might feel good for a moment. But then what? You just pack up and leave, while those two are still in Suotuo City. The first thing the Ma family did after you left was come back and smash up the shop. Old Chen was too stubborn to sell, so they broke him and threw him into the ditch outside the city. You guys played the hero for a bit, but they lost their lives."
Xiao Wu's face turned pale instantly. "Senior, then, what should we do...?"
"What do we do?" Dugu Bo glanced at her. "Just now, your Elder Sister Yan said she was going to knock someone's teeth out. She knocked their teeth out, killed them, felt good, right? But it alarmed the Suotuo City Spirit Hall Branch, and the investigation came back to us—who are you planning to send to take the blame, or are you going to have Lin Chen fight the entire branch hall?"
Dugu Yan was about to retort when he glared at her and shut her up.
Lin Chen remained silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke up, "I'm sorry, old man, do you have any relatives in this city you can stay with?"
The old tailor was stunned. "I... I have a younger sister who is married in Geli Town, which is more than 200 miles away. But my shop—"
"Keep the shop, in exchange for your lives," Lin Chen said. "Take your money and valuables, and head to Geli Town before the city gates are sealed off."
The old tailor opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Chunya, with one side of her face swollen, tugged at the old man's sleeve and shook it. "Grandpa... let's go. Besides, we can't live peacefully here..."
The old man looked at the sewing table in the shop that he had used for half his life, then at the injury on his granddaughter's face, swallowed hard, and nodded heavily.
Lin Chen took out a money pouch, weighed it in his hand, and stuffed it into the old man's hand.
"This is about a hundred Gold Soul Coin, consider it compensation. It should be enough for you two to get by for a while."
"Young master, this... this won't do..." The old tailor, as if burned, desperately pushed it back, "Young master, you saved Yaya, you saved this old man's life, how can I take your money?"
Chunya ran over, shaking her head repeatedly, "My benefactor, if it weren't for your help, I would have been dragged away by them today. We will remember this kindness for the rest of our lives, and we really can't accept the money."
Lin Chen didn't let go, stuffing the money pouch even tighter. "Please take it, old man."
"I won't take it." The old man gripped his cane, his hand trembling, but his words were firm. "My Chen family may be poor, but we have no reason to take money from our benefactors for nothing."
Xiao Wu rushed over and grabbed Chunya's hand, her voice rising with urgency. "Don't push me away! This isn't the time to be polite. If that kid runs back and shouts, his uncle can seal off the city with a single word. If we don't leave now, the gates will be blocked, and we won't be able to get out."
Chunya stared at her blankly.
"Listen to me." Xiao Wu shoved the money pouch into the old man's arms. "Take the money and get out of here. Forget the shop, your life is more important."
The old man's lips trembled for a long time. He looked at his granddaughter, then at the money bag in his hand, and suddenly bent down towards Lin Chen Lin Chen, who caught him.
"I can't accept that."
"I deserve it." The old man's eyes were red. "Young master, I'll remember these hundred coins. If we meet again someday, I'll sell everything I own to repay you."
"Stop dawdling," Dugu Bo suddenly spoke up. "If you two are leaving, come with us out the south gate, and we'll part ways once we're out of the city."
The old man was startled. "This... this will delay your journey!"
"It won't cause much delay." Dugu Bo was already walking towards the carriage. "Get in, and stuff the bundle under the carriage."
Half an hour later, the carriage set off from in front of the teahouse.
The old tailor Chunya sat on the carriage shaft, with two bundles underneath, so nothing could be seen from the outside. Lin Chen and Xiao Wu entered the carriage, Dugu Yan also crawled in.
Dugu Bo personally drove the carriage, cracking his whip as the horse leisurely strolled along the street, unhurried and composed.
At the south gate, several guards were huddled together talking. One of them looked up at the street, then looked down again.
As the carriage reached the gate, Dugu Bo tightened the reins and gestured with his chin towards the group. "Out of the city."
"Leaving the city so late?" a guard asked, sizing him up.
"We need to hurry and reach the next town before dark."
The guard glanced into the carriage, then at the old man Chunya on the carriage shaft, but couldn't figure out what was going on. He waved his hand and said, "Let's go."
The wheels rolled over the bluestone beneath the archway and left the city.
After running for about ten miles, there was a fork in the road, one leading south and the other east. The carriage stopped, and the old tailor Chunya jumped off the carriage shaft.
The old man stood by the roadside, slung his bundle over his shoulder, then suddenly turned around and bowed deeply towards the carriage. Chunya knelt down and kowtowed in return.
"Our benefactor, we're leaving."
Xiao Wu leaned halfway out of the car window and waved to them. "Be careful on the road!"
Chunya nodded vigorously, helped her grandfather, and turned onto the small path to the east.
The two figures grew smaller and smaller until they were finally obscured by the bushes by the roadside.