Yu Shu walks to the entrance of the Kong Family's Yi Shop. She still doesn't remember whether Qing Zheng asked her to buy one or two red ropes last night.
"Forget it, I'll buy two."
As usual, Yu Shu was jealous of the big tripod at the entrance. She walked into the store, looked around, and went to the counter selling Fengshui ornaments. There were many people in the store every day. She finally found an empty spot and asked for two red ropes. She put her left hand into her bosom. Just as she took out the money, a hand reached over her shoulder and snatched the money bag away.
Looking at her empty hand, Yu Shu's face darkens. She doesn't even have the time to curse. She turns her head and yells. After yelling, she chases after the person: "Robber!"
The people in the Yi Shop all turn their heads and see a young man in a gray robe yelling and chasing a tall and thin man.
Yu Shu shouts several times along the way. Seeing that the passers-by not far in front of her not only don't stop her, but also take the initiative to give way to the robber, she is speechless. She doesn't try to ask for help again.
She really wondered if she had the face of a mugger. She could forget about the last time she was robbed in the alley. At that time, she was the only one in the alley who could rob, but this time, there were so many people standing in the shop. Why was she the one who won the prize?!
Running to the corner of the street ahead, Yu Shu saw that the man had entered a small alley. She gritted her teeth and chased after him, turning left and right, leaving the main street. There were no passersby, so the target was even clearer. However, she couldn't catch up with him because of the distance, and the man still had the time to turn his head to look at her. Yu Shu saved a breath of strength and was about to speed up when she suddenly stopped at a corner. Her heels paused and she suspiciously looked at the empty alley in front of her. Her expression suddenly changed, she took two steps back, turned around, and ran back!
Damn it! Someone is deliberately luring her!
"Stop! Stop! " A low shout came from behind, mixed with a series of heavy footsteps, which confirmed Yu Shu's guess. They came with bad intentions. How could she stop? Panting, she searched for the way to the street, but she didn't see that among the people chasing behind her, one of them leaped forward and reached out to grab her collar.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Yu Shu felt a strong tug and a few strands of her hair were pulled. She fell backward and grabbed the wall with her left hand. Her nails scratched the wall painfully. She was annoyed and gave the man a backhand slap. While the man was dodging, she lowered her head and turned around. She did not care that her collar was still in the man's hand. She grabbed the man's collar and lifted her leg to kick him.
"Ouch!" A blood-curdling scream rang out in the alley. The pursuers behind them stopped in their tracks at the same time. Their faces turned green as they looked at their companions in front of them, who were bending forward while covering their legs.
Self-defense was indeed the most practical martial art in the world!
Yu Shu's attack was successful. She grinned hideously and ran two steps backward. She turned around and was about to run away. However, after three steps, she stopped and frowned at the man who walked out of the alley.
Why is it him?
Ji Hyotani's gaze went past Yu Shu and looked at the capable guard who was rolling on the ground. His face darkened. His gaze returned to Yu Shu's face. Seeing her dressed like a boy, he frowned: "Where have you been these days? Why are you dressed like this?"
Yu Shu was confused by Ji Xiaogu's sudden appearance. When she heard his words, she was about to lie, but then she remembered that she had been chased out of the Ji family. She no longer needed to eat their leftovers, so there was no need for her to bow down to him. She pointed at the person behind her and said bluntly, "Third Master, what do you mean by this? You had someone rob me of my money and coax me to this deserted place. Are you planning to bully a child like me?"
Ji Hyotani was stunned. He didn't expect that Yu Shu would dare to speak to him in such a tone. He looked at her carefully and saw that there was no panic on her face. There was only ridicule on her face. She didn't seem to be afraid of him at all. This made Ji Hyotani, who wanted to scare her with a cold face, hesitate. The next moment, his face changed. He looked at her gently and smiled bitterly: "Child, do you know how many days my family has been looking for you? If it wasn't for me being a guest at the Kong family's trading house, I wouldn't have been able to meet you. There are many people in the trading house. I sent someone to lure you away. I didn't expect that these incompetent servants would use this method to scare you. I will punish them when I get back."
If Yu Shu was really a fourteen or fifteen year old child, she might believe his nonsense. However, she was a good liar. How could she not see that Ji Hyotani was trying to fool her? Her eyes flashed and she had doubts in her heart. However, she didn't say anything and only put on a defensive expression.
She had a plan in her heart. If the Ji family wanted to find her, Yu Xiaoxiu was in the Sanjue Study Room. He could just pass a message. However, Ji Hyotani claimed that the Ji family had been looking for her for several days. She didn't hear anything from Yu Xiaoxiu. There must be something wrong. She wanted to hear what else Ji Hyotani had to say. Ji Hyotani looked at her expression and sighed: "The last time she hit you and chased you out, it was Old Matriarch's anger. Now that her anger has subsided, she pitied you and ordered me to find you. A few days ago, I saw Xiaoxiu and asked him to pass a message to you. That child is probably still angry about the beating you received that day. He actually ran away without a word."
Yu Shu now understood. In order to not let the Ji family find her, Yu Xiaoxiu didn't go to school these few days! To think that he woke up early every day and pretended to go to class. This brat! "It's all good now. Since you've found them, why don't you and Little Xiu come home and stay with us? I've allocated a small courtyard for you. From now on, I'll make sure to treat you like proper young ladies. You won't be bullied anymore," Ji Xiaogu coaxed.
Listening to Ji Hyotani's nonsense, Yu Shu couldn't tell what kind of rat poison he was selling. However, she was sure that she couldn't run now. She was blocked in front and behind her. If she really dared to run, Ji Hyotani would dare to fall out with her. If she didn't escape and got caught, he might not have this kind expression on his face anymore. Yu Shu pretended to hesitate for a while and said tentatively: "Then I'll go back in two days. I'm working for someone outside. I should at least inform them."
Ji Hyotani said: "Where is it? I'll send someone over. You don't need to go. I see that you've suffered a lot outside. Hurry and go home. Your mother misses you."
Yu Shu secretly rolled her eyes. Aunt Cui would miss her. The sun really rose from the west.
"Alright, I'll go back with you now." Yu Shu thought that no matter what, she should cooperate with them. It's better than being taken away by them. In short, if they want to beat her up like last time, there's no way.
Ji Hyotani let out a sigh of relief. His face revealed a happy expression: "Xiaoxiu is with you, right? Where is he? I'll send someone to pick him up." How could Yu Shu tell him where Zhao Hui lived? She shook her head and pretended to be mute.
Ji Hyotani asked a few more questions. Seeing that she didn't speak, he guessed what she was thinking. He didn't expose her: "Then let's go."
"Wait a moment." Yu Shu turned around and took a step forward. She saw the men who had been chasing her not long ago retreat defensively. It was obvious that they were afraid of her groin kick just now.
"Give me back the money bag!"
Ji Hyotani found the person and was in a good mood. He didn't care that Yu Shu injured one of his guards. He waved his hand and ordered: "Give it back to her." Yu Shu caught the money bag. She weighed it in her hand and put it back into her bosom.
"Let's go."
As soon as they left the alley, someone followed behind Yu Shu. The unlucky guard who was kicked by Yu Shu was supported by a companion. He stared at the back of Yu Shu's head with a purple face. Ji Hyotani walked in front, one in front and one behind, to prevent her from running away.
When they reached the street, they saw a horse carriage. Ji Hyotani let her get in first and then followed. The horse carriage drove to the Ji family.
***
The journey was silent. In the horse carriage, Ji Hyotani drank tea while Yu Shu played with her fingers.
When Yu Shu returned to the Ji family, she was led to a small courtyard by Ji Hyotani before she even saw the courtyard. There were three rooms in a row, and there was a small study in the east corner. It was bigger than Cao Zixin's courtyard, but it was far from unique and beautiful. However, the weeds on the wall revealed a sense of coldness.
"Qiu Xiang, Qiu Xiang, come out!"
As soon as the old maid who led Yu Shu here called out, a short maidservant came out of the study and trotted over.
"This is Miss Yu, who you will serve in the future. Be careful and don't let the master be left alone."
"Yes, yes."
"Miss Yu, I will go back and report to Third Master. You can stay here with peace of mind. When Third Master reports to Madam, he may let you see Yiniang."
"Well, go ahead."
As soon as the old maid left, Yu Shu turned her head and looked at the little winter melon in front of her who was half a head shorter than her. "Your name is Qiu Xiang?"
The little winter melon looked up and showed a sparrow face. She said timidly, "Yes … yes."
Yu Shu patted her on the shoulder. "Good name."
"Thank, thank you, Miss, for your praise." Qiu Xiang stuttered.
Yu Shu turned her feet, pushed open the room in the middle, and went in to find a bed. She kicked off her shoes and lay on it. She pillowed the back of her head and said to Qiu Xiang who followed her in, "Go and get me some water."
"Yes, yes."
The surroundings finally quieted down. Yu Shu stared at the bed curtain and pondered. At this moment, there was only one question lingering in her mind. Why did the Ji family spend so much effort to find her?
Not to mention that Old Lady Ji took pity on her. She was lonely and pitiful. She bet that the old lady still hated her for catching their precious fish. Ji Hyotani obviously didn't like her. However, when they were in the carriage, she saw that he was relaxed. It seemed that he was really happy to find her and didn't seem to be pretending.
He drove her out and hated her, but he still tried to find her because he was happy to find her. Then there was only one possibility — the Ji family needed her for something.
Although this guess was a little ridiculous, the probability was quite high.
"What could it be? Is it for Master … "
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