Chapter Nine: Rescue and Bargain

“Ah!” Li Yaoyao screamed in terror as she looked at the woman opposite her. She tried to step back but stumbled, her left foot catching her right, and she fell to the ground.

“I was inside just now, and from the sound, it seemed like you… Now there’s no one to help you!”

The madwoman threw back her hair, and Li Yaoyao finally recognized her—it was Wang Dahua, the village bully!

After being hit with a stick last time, no one knew if her mind had been damaged, but she hadn’t been seen around for days. Who would have thought she’d trap Li Yaoyao in this narrow alley tonight?

“Go to hell!”

Her face still bore bruises from the beating two days ago, and she lunged at Li Yaoyao like a mad ghost, grabbing her by the neck.

“Help…”

Li Yaoyao struggled with all her might, but she was no match for the raging woman and was soon pinned beneath her.

Meanwhile, Yang Haiying watched Li Yaoyao leave, shaking her head helplessly before turning back inside.

Xue Ke’ang had already opened the plastic bag and taken out the bottles of medicine.

By the dim oil lamp light, the couple examined the contents carefully.

Yang Haiying picked up the iodine, poured a drop on her finger, and sniffed it, finding the smell rather strange.

“This bottle is pitch black inside—I have no idea what kind of traditional medicine this is!”

Xue Ke’ang picked up a clear liquid, unscrewed the cap cautiously, and smelled it.

“Hm! This is alcohol!”

Holding the alcohol confidently, he said, “Old town doctors always use old liquor to rub their hands before doing bone-setting massages.”

“What about these pills?” Yang Haiying took out a blister pack of anti-inflammatory tablets, turning it over and over.

“How are we supposed to use these?”

“No idea!”

They exchanged a glance—neither could read, and the instructions in the bag were incomprehensible.

“I think I’ll just use some furnace ash!” Xue Ke’ang stood to get the ash but was grabbed by Yang Haiying.

“Little Li already said your method isn’t scientific! She’s from the city—listen to her!”

With that, she took a packet of dried sweet potatoes from the cupboard.

“I think I’ll just ask her! And I’ll bring some sweet potato as a gift.”

Food was scarce in the village now, so this small packet was indeed a precious offering.

“I’ll go with you!” Xue Ke’ang put on his coat, and the two headed toward Li Yaoyao’s house.

Not long after they left, a cry for help pierced through the air.

Xue Ke’ang charged forward, seeing a disheveled woman fiercely choking Li Yaoyao!

“Stop!”

Xue Ke’ang roared and grabbed Wang Dahua by the hair, yanking fiercely backward.

“Ah~”

Wang Dahua howled in pain and released her grip, her entire body lifted off the ground!

“It’s you!”

Furious, Xue Ke’ang delivered a flying kick, sending Wang Dahua crashing against the wall.

On the other side, Yang Haiying hurried to Li Yaoyao’s side, holding her close.

“Little Li! Little Li!”

She slapped her cheeks and pressed on her philtrum, but Li Yaoyao remained unconscious, limp as a rag doll.

Night passed.

Ye Fan woke up well rested and first looked toward the box—but it was empty. There was no note from Li Yaoyao, which disappointed him a little.

“Maybe she’s still asleep? She was really scared yesterday,” Ye Fan thought, picking up the bag of money from last night and preparing to leave.

He headed back to the antique market. This time, he didn’t wander aimlessly but went straight to the antique shop he had visited before.

As he entered, the Mediterranean-looking man jumped up quickly.

“Young man, you’ve finally come! Don’t move from here; I’ll be right back!”

He courteously helped Ye Fan sit down, poured him some tea, and then, with agility that belied his stout figure, disappeared toward the staircase.

Ye Fan scratched his head awkwardly, feeling a little taken advantage of.

Soon, the sound of high heels came from the stairs.

“Little brother, you’re here at last!”

At the stairway appeared a red high heel, followed by shapely legs tightly clad in nude stockings, perfectly covered at the thighs by a black mini skirt.

“Last time I forgot to leave my contact info—I thought you weren’t coming back!”

It was none other than Chen Shuting.

Today, she wore a dark red thin sweater that accentuated her ample bosom boldly.

“Hello, Sister Chen!”

After a few days, Ye Fan felt Chen Shuting had grown even more feminine.

Perhaps last time, he was too absorbed in thinking about the jade pendant to notice her beauty.

“So, have you changed your mind? Here to sell the jade pendant?”

Chen Shuting tilted her head, looking at Ye Fan with interest.

Ye Fan shook his head. “I’m still not planning to sell the jade pendant. I… found some antiques at home. Sister Chen, would you be interested?”

He pulled out a blue coarse cloth bag, emptied out over thirty copper coins and a pile of 1980s banknotes, about to ask for their value.

Then an impatient voice came from behind: “Chen Shuting, your family’s really fallen if you’re taking this junk!”

“Hm?”

Hearing the voice, Ye Fan finally noticed a bald man standing right behind Chen Shuting.

He had been too focused on Chen Shuting’s beauty to notice the man behind her.

The bald man stood about 1.7 meters tall, his face brutish and rough. Even though he wore an expensive suit, he couldn’t hide the gangster aura about him.

“Brother Huang!”

Chen Shuting’s face flushed slightly, her tone rising with clear irritation.

“Compared to you, my family’s just a humble one~”

Her mood shifted quickly, starting with anger but ending with a coquettish tone.

“Hahaha! Naughty~”

Brother Huang grinned, clearly enjoying this, reaching to wrap his arm around her waist, trying to take advantage.

Chen Shuting’s face showed a flash of disgust. She slapped his greasy hand away and stepped back.

“Brother Huang, don’t move!”

“Hehehe!”

Though he failed to touch her waist, Brother Huang looked pleased, thinking she was teasing him.

Watching Chen Shuting’s actions, Ye Fan thought to himself how devastatingly beautiful she was—no man could resist!

Brother Huang’s expression was lecherous as he raised an eyebrow at Ye Fan.

“Kid! I’m in a good mood today. I’ll take all those copper coins from you! Highest price, and then…”

He held up five fingers.

“Multiply by fifty!”

Wow!

Ye Fan gasped. He’d checked these coins online before; each was worth about 20 yuan. Multiply that by fifty? That’s 1,000 yuan per coin!

He had 31 coins in the bag, so that meant 30,000 yuan just like that?

Seeing Ye Fan’s stunned expression, Chen Shuting burst out laughing.

“Brother Huang’s giving you a good deal. Why aren’t you agreeing?”

Ye Fan quickly complied, handing over his payment code.

“Thanks so much, Brother Huang! You’re powerful and generous!”

“Heh, it’s nothing~”

In high spirits, Brother Huang showed off a bit in front of Chen Shuting, feeling very accomplished.

Ye Fan, adhering to the principle of never leaving money on the table, picked up the pile of old banknotes from the last century on the table, hoping for a similar fiftyfold price increase.

Just as he was about to speak, Chen Shuting gave him a warning look, signaling him to take the good deal and stop, then invited Brother Huang to leave.