Jiang Yutong grabbed the little boy by the hand. “You’ve got some nerve, stealing from me.”
The boy struggled desperately. “Let me go! I won’t do it again. I’ll give your things back.”
The little boy returned the money pouch he had just stolen to Jiang Yutong.
Jiang Yutong opened the pouch and checked it. Seeing that nothing was missing, she tucked it back into her clothes and took a good look at the boy in front of her.
The boy was dressed in patched-up clothes, with messy hair. He was extremely thin and small, and his complexion looked unhealthy. Besides being thin, there was also an unnatural flush on his face.
“Where are your parents?”
The little boy covered his head, thinking he was bound to get beaten. When Jiang Yutong asked about his family, he answered, “I’m an orphan. My parents died a long time ago.”
“Give me your hand.”
The little boy hesitated timidly. He looked up at Jiang Yutong and noticed that she was different from the people who had caught him before. In the end, he held out his hand.
Jiang Yutong checked his pulse. His pulse was weak and thready, indicating a deficiency of qi and blood and a generally weakened body. His pulse was also floating and tight, a sign that he had been affected by wind-cold.
Jiang Yutong reached out and touched the little boy’s forehead. Sure enough, he was burning with a fever.
“You have a high fever.”
Jiang Yutong took the little boy by the hand and started walking. “Come with me.”
The little boy thought she was going to take him to the authorities and immediately pleaded, “Please, don’t turn me in! I still have a little sister waiting for me to bring food home. I’m sorry. I promise I’ll never steal again. I was just so hungry. Please, forgive me this once.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he started coughing.
Jiang Yutong couldn’t bear to see him like this. She had never intended to turn him in anyway.
“I’m not taking you to the authorities. You urgently need something to eat.”
The little boy seemed unable to believe her. In a daze, he let Jiang Yutong lead him into a noodle shop.
“Shopkeeper, give me two bowls of noodles.”
Only when the noodles were served did the little boy finally believe that this was really happening. Tears streamed down his face as he knelt in front of Jiang Yutong.
“Thank you, Big Sister. Thank you.”
The little boy could only keep kowtowing, unable to say anything else.
This was the first steaming-hot bowl of noodles he had eaten since his parents died.
Jiang Yutong never expected that just one bowl of noodles would move him so deeply.
“Get up. The noodles are going to get soggy.”
The little boy picked up his chopsticks and began eating ravenously. But after a moment, he seemed to remember something and put down his chopsticks.
Jiang Yutong looked at him suspiciously. “Why aren’t you eating?”
The little boy stammered, “I… I want to take it home for my little sister.”
“Just eat. I’ll buy you another bowl later.”
The little boy looked like he was about to kneel and kowtow again, but Jiang Yutong quickly stopped him.
“Don’t. Just eat.”
The little boy finished the entire bowl in three or four mouthfuls, not leaving even a drop of soup behind.
Jiang Yutong glanced at him. “Is that enough? If it isn’t, I’ll order you another bowl.”
The little boy hurriedly shook his head. “Enough, enough.”
His face unconsciously reddened.
“What’s your name?”
“My nickname is Gouzi. My proper name is Yu Xueyi.”
Jiang Yutong simply called him by his proper name. “Xueyi, you said you have a little sister. Take me to see her.”
Jiang Yutong bought another serving of noodles, bowl and all, and followed Yu Xueyi for quite a long way. Eventually, they stopped in front of a dilapidated temple.
“Little sister, I’m back.”
Yu Xueyi ran inside.
A coughing sound came from within. “Brother.”
Yu Xueyi brought out the noodles.
“Little sister, look what I brought you! Noodles! Eat this bowl of noodles and you’ll get better.”
Jiang Yutong entered from outside and saw a little girl lying on a pile of straw. Her complexion looked just as unhealthy.
Both of them were sick.
“Little sister, we met a good person. Sister Jiang bought these noodles for us.”
Jiang Yutong checked the little girl’s pulse. It was similar to Yu Xueyi’s.
The little girl smiled shyly at Jiang Yutong. “Thank you, Sister Jiang.”
Then she began eating the noodles enthusiastically.
Looking at their miserable surroundings, Jiang Yutong felt somewhat helpless.
“I’ll get some medicine for you. Can you boil it yourselves?”
Yu Xueyi nodded. “I can do it.”
Jiang Yutong bought the medicine and explained to Yu Xueyi how to prepare it. Finally, she gave the siblings a string of coins before leaving the ruined temple.
Jiang Yutong looked back and saw the siblings still kneeling on the ground. She quickened her pace.
Life had been difficult for people in the apocalypse, but the impoverished people of this era were struggling too.
Without thinking much more about it, Jiang Yutong hurried toward the city gate.
Uncle Niu was already waiting for her. Jiang Yutong loaded her things onto the cart and climbed aboard. Perhaps because of what had just happened, she was in a poor mood and barely spoke throughout the journey.
Jiang Yutong was beginning to doze off when the cart suddenly came to an abrupt stop, nearly throwing her off.
Only then did she notice a man standing in the middle of the road.
He had a face full of rough, fleshy features and looked like someone not to be trifled with.
Jiang Yutong looked around and realized they were now near Shanhe Village.
Uncle Niu glanced at Jiang Yutong, then reluctantly jumped down from the cart.
“Please, let us pass.”
The man shoved Uncle Niu aside, making him stagger.
“I’m here for my wife. This has nothing to do with you.”
With that, the man walked toward Jiang Yutong.
Jiang Yutong was completely confused.
Was he here for her?
Aunt Wu tugged at Jiang Yutong’s sleeve and whispered, “The butcher, Ma.”
Jiang Yutong finally understood.
She hadn’t expected Wang Chunhua to move so quickly. She had already sent Ma the Butcher to block her way.
Ma the Butcher stood in front of Jiang Yutong and looked her up and down, frowning.
She was so small. Could she even withstand one of his punches?
“You’re Jiang Yutong?”
Jiang Yutong nodded.
“I’m Ma the Butcher. Wang Chunhua accepted my betrothal gifts. From now on, you’re my wife. I’m here to take you home.”
Jiang Yutong was utterly speechless.
“Seriously? Whoever accepted your betrothal gifts is the person you should go find. I’m not marrying you.”
Ma the Butcher grinned.
“That’s not up to you.”
His mouthful of yellow teeth immediately disgusted Jiang Yutong.
“Get lost. I’m not saying it twice.”
Ma the Butcher hadn’t expected this little woman to have such a fiery temper. He liked it.
He reached out, intending to drag Jiang Yutong off the cart.
Jiang Yutong immediately grabbed his hand and bent all five of his fingers backward.
Ma the Butcher’s face instantly turned bright red with pain. He immediately swung his other hand at Jiang Yutong.
Jiang Yutong drove her knee hard into his chin, kicking him several steps backward.
Uncle Niu and Aunt Wu were so shocked that their jaws nearly dropped.
Ma the Butcher shook his hand and rubbed his chin. He refused to believe he could lose to a woman who didn’t even reach his chin.
He must have underestimated her just now.
Jiang Yutong jumped down from the cart and said to Uncle Niu, “Uncle, please drive the cart ahead and wait for me.”
Uncle Niu hesitated for a few seconds before finally urging the ox forward.
Aunt Wu muttered from the cart, “We’re leaving her behind. Won’t Yutong get beaten to death?”
Uncle Niu snorted. “We’ll go ahead and get someone to help. That’s better than all of us getting beaten to death.”
Jiang Yutong stretched her arms and legs.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had a good workout. I’ll use you to practice today.”
With that, she kicked him, then threw Ma the Butcher over her shoulder and slammed him onto the ground.
She planted one foot on his chest and began raining punches down on him.
Ma the Butcher couldn’t even get a proper scream out.
“Now do you know what it feels like to get beaten? Will you ever hit a woman again?”
Ma the Butcher repeatedly shook his head.
Jiang Yutong eventually grew tired from beating him.
“Slap yourself. You can stop when I say so.”
Ma the Butcher immediately began slapping himself over and over.
Jiang Yutong watched with great interest.
But while she wasn’t paying attention, Ma the Butcher suddenly lunged at her.