The people who had just returned home looked upwards and were momentarily stunned when they saw the refreshing and beautiful girl upstairs, “Is that you, Xia Mian?”
“Really Xia Mian?”
Xia Mian shook her head in embarrassment and explained as she touched her head, “Yes, it’s me. I saw that the students in the city weren’t as people said back home, so I changed back my hair and clothes. I’m sorry for any misunderstanding before.”
As the saying goes: good looks beget good treatment. It was just like an unfair buff bonus. There was even a joke in later generations that being attractive was more important than simply being a good person, which showed its power. Xia Mian, in particular, deeply understood this fact; after spending over a decade under the provocation of her two brothers, she had cultivated herself into a gentle little angel who spoke softly and rarely got angry or resorted to violence. The world finally turned kinder to her, but before that…
Well, some things better left unsaid; her superb combat skills were proof enough.
In short, she was now a full-fledged little angel in both looks and deportment. After she delivered her explanation, blaming things on her youthful naivety, everyone instantly forgave her.
“Who told you that’s how students in the city dress?”
“The child doesn’t know any better, but Zhang Qiming didn’t even correct her.”
“He’s specifically misleading her. He must do it on purpose.” This person had just learned the truth from Aunt Liu.
“Xia Mian, you shouldn’t have to chase them away, you’ll get bullied.” Aunt Liu advised, “Let the men handle it.”
Teacher Mi also said, “Right, I’ll tell Xiao Bai to go later.”
That wouldn’t do; her dinner depended on those thugs! Xia Mian took Xiao Feng and went downstairs, “It’s my responsibility anyway, I’ll take care of them. Otherwise, I won’t feel right.” She persuaded the neighbors.
Just then, Li Xinmei came back with her son, and Xia Mian said to Xiao Feng, “Xiao Feng will play with Brother Zhuangzhuang for a while, okay? Auntie will go chase the bad guys away.”
Xiao Feng nodded obediently, showing no signs of unease this time, “Auntie, be careful.”
Xia Mian touched the tuft of hair sticking up on his head, “Good boy.”
When Xia Mian returned to the intersection, those thugs were indeed still there. Despite her previous taunts, they turned out to have strong mental resilience and had resumed their initial chin-lifting and leg-shaking posture. And yet, seemingly believing her bluff that whistling could affect the prostate, the whole group had become much quieter. Occasionally, someone would accidentally whistle but was quickly met with angry looks or an elbow jab from the others.
Well, it could also be because more men were returning from work at this time, so they were not daring to be as bold.
“Hey,” Xia Mian approached leisurely.
Seeing her again, the thugs’ expressions shifted slightly. The leader, called Brother Jitou by his buddies, even cleared his throat nervously. It looked like he believed they hadn’t showcased their true strengths previously and were now motivated to restore some face.
Xia Mian was too lazy to talk nonsense to them and went straight to the point, “Who did you say you were looking for earlier?”
Brother Jitou obviously still remembered his task and said nonchalantly, “We’re looking for our friend, Xia Mian. She called us over here. Little sister, do you know where she is?”
“There are three Xia Mians here, which one are you looking for?”
Brother Jitou was stunned, “Three?”
“Yes, three,” said Xia Mian. “So which Xia Mian are you looking for?”
Brother Jitou and his underlings exchanged glances. Xia Mian’s voice remained soft and gentle, “Weren’t you supposed to be friends? Don’t you even know how to write her name? Or is it that you’re lacking not only in looks and health, but you also don’t have enough brain? You can’t even read?”
More than a hurt pride regarding looks, physiques, IQs, and other things, being ridiculed for being illiterate seemed to hit their nerves the most. After all, they had at least completed elementary school.
A skinny man in tight leather pants behind Brother Jitou became furious, “Who says we can’t read? You’re the one who can’t read!”
“Then what two characters are your friend Xia Mian’s name?!”1 Xia Mian continued in her gentle tone, not out of an attempt to suppress them, but because these people were really nowhere enough to ruffle her temper.
“It’s…” Hesitated, the man in leather pants glanced at their leader.
Brother Jitou: “…”
Having no other choice, Brother Jitou made up two words: “Summer’s Xia, cotton’s Mian.”
“There’s no such person here,” Xia Mian laughed. “You can’t even find the right person, and you have the nerve to take money and cause trouble. Give the money back.”
Ning Shaobai, who was sent over by his worried grandmother to check on the situation: “…”
No wonder this girl was so eager; turns out she was planning to extort them.
Ning Shaobai chuckled, deciding not to step forward, and just watched from the sidelines.
Of course, Brother Jitou refused to admit it, “Give what money back? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
The man in leather pants angrily said, “Yeah, it’s not your money! Why should we give it back to you?!”
Brother Jitou: “…”
Xia Mian: “…”
The crowd that gathered because of Ning Shaobai’s appearance: “…”
“See?” Xia Mian looked at Brother Jitou with pity, “You don’t even have a brain.” She then proceeded to earnestly advise, “You’re really not cut out for thug life. Go back to school. Being a flunking student is better than being an idiot. The former might just get scolded by teachers, but the latter will be beaten down by society.”
“It’s none of your business!” Brother Jitou, enraged and embarrassed, blurted out, and plunged forward to grab Xia Mian’s collar, “Do you think I won’t hit a woman?”
The men in the crowd were hurriedly about to step forward when Xia Mian suddenly produced a gleaming fruit knife from seemingly nowhere. Before anyone could grasp the situation, the sharp blade already landed on Brother Jitou’s neck, pressing against his skin.
A shiver ran down Brother Jitou’s spine, prompting him to quickly raise his hands in surrender.
“Big bro!”
“Big bro!”
His underlings were panicked.
The onlookers were equally startled, “Little girl, let’s talk this out peacefully. These people aren’t worth getting yourself in trouble.”
Xia Mian said with a smile, “Thank you, brothers, but it’s okay. I’m a minor, and these thugs threatened me first. Even if I accidentally stab him somewhere, this is legitimate self-defense.
Brother Jitou felt a chill on his neck and his face turned deathly pale, “Miss, let’s talk this out peacefully.” His attitude suddenly turned very polite.
Xia Mian said, “Give back the money. It’s not an unreasonable request, isn’t it? You didn’t find the person and failed to complete the task. Are you cheeky enough to still take the money?”
The man in leather pants felt wronged when their professional capability was questioned, “Who says we didn’t complete the task? Xia Mian’s reputation is definitely ruined!”
Xia Mian: “…”
Brother Jitou: “…”
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Thank you!
So fun!
Poor Brother Jitou having dumb followers just makes the thug life impossible, lol.
Thanks for the chapter! 😀