Nick Zeller was a bit scared too.
Muttering to himself, he hunched his shoulders, adjusted his leather coat, and asked the two people blocking the road, "You two, so late, where are you from and where are you going?"
The young woman who rushed out to block the car was already helping the older man stand up with Brooke Osborne.
She whispered, "My dad and I came to River City to visit relatives. We were unfortunately hit by a car and wanted to ask for your help to give us a ride to the city center."
The older man also weakly said, "Sorry to trouble you, big brother. We have relatives in the city center, as long as we get there, it'll be fine."
Nick looked at this person, at least twenty years older than him, yet still calling him "big brother," which showed how flexible he was. Therefore, he didn't make things difficult for him, and laughed cheerfully, "That's good. Life in the world is unpredictable; sometimes you get hit. I think you have a hurdle in your fate, but once you pass it, you'll be fine."
Brooke Osborne heard Nick Zeller's tone, as if he didn't want to take these two people back to the city center.
But looking at the wound on the older man's head and seeing the young woman was young and pretty.
It's already late in the night, plus this is a small road, indeed not as safe and peaceful as the big road or highway.
After pondering for a moment, Brooke Osborne still pleaded, "Uncle Nick, just do me a favor, please. They're unfamiliar with the place, and they were hit by someone. It's a failure in our municipal work. We..."
Seeing that she was about to start a lengthy speech, Nick Zeller, who most feared such talk, quickly waved his hand and said, "Alright, alright, I'll do it for Brooke's sake, I'll give you guys a ride today."
"I'm doing this for Brooke, you don't need to thank me, thank her instead."
Nick Zeller said, pointing in the direction of Brooke Osborne, then beckoned Lawrence Winters over and asked her to return to the Grand Cherokee first.
Lawrence Winters was still sitting in the passenger seat, watching Brooke Osborne and the young woman carefully help the older man walk over.
Kenneth Osborne walked behind the three people, not intending to help but also not standing idly by.
Lawrence Winters, resting her chin on her hands, muttered to herself, "They have relatives in the city center, can't they just call them to come and pick them up? Why block the road here?"
"What if we're like the bad guys who hit them earlier..."
Nick Zeller took a deep drag from his cigarette, then extinguished it in the ashtray, softly saying, "Lawrence, as a Heavenly Master, the most important thing is to see through but not expose."
"Your sister Brooke is quite unlucky today. Let her do some things, just don't overthink it."
"You're helping sister Brooke?" Lawrence Winters understood, smiled slightly, snuggly pulling Nick Zeller's arm, "I just knew uncle is the best!"
"Cut it out, why would I help her?" Nick Zeller curled his fingers into a gesture of calculating and said proudly, "I did a calculation, and thought it's accumulating virtue for my family Lawrence! So I let them get into the car!"
"What does it have to do with me?" Lawrence Winters said in half-jest, pointing out the window, "Who knows what their background is? Hopefully, they won't cause trouble for uncle."
"What's meant to be a blessing won't be a disaster, and if it's a disaster, it can't be avoided. I've long gone with the flow." Nick Zeller saw Brooke Osborne and the others approaching, quickly stopped talking, and gestured to Lawrence Winters to open the car door.
The spacious Grand Cherokee could accommodate at least six people.
Brooke Osborne and Kenneth Osborne gave the middle seat to the father and daughter, while they sat at the very back.
Once the father and daughter got in, the car fell silent again.
Nick Zeller even switched off the music from the car stereo.
The remainder of the journey was smooth.
Though it was a small road, since there hadn't been rain or snow recently, the road was in good condition.
Half an hour later, they were already on the wide asphalt roads of the city center.
At this point, the older man who'd bumped his head took out his phone and began calling and messaging.
His daughter looked at him worriedly, asking occasionally, "Dad, is it okay to contact relatives now? Are you sure?"
"Don't worry, I trust old Luo." The man said calmly.
A few minutes later, he finally got through to someone, quietly speaking a few words.
Putting the phone down, after waiting another five minutes, he politely said to Nick Zeller driving in the front, "Big brother, when we reach the city center, please drop us off at the entrance of the Grand Hall, our relatives will be waiting there."
"Alright then, it's just around the corner ahead where the Grand Hall is. Please wait a moment." Nick Zeller said politely, glancing at the man through the rearview mirror.
The man's head was originally wrapped with white bandages, but now he was wearing a black knit hat, probably made of wool, looking quite warm.
Judging by his accent, he was clearly a northerner, but his facial features seemed somewhat southern, with narrow eye sockets and thick eyebrows, though mixed with a few gray hairs due to age.
His face seemed familiar.
Nick Zeller glanced once more, memorizing the man's appearance.
Soon, the River City Center's Grand Hall came into view, and Nick Zeller stopped by the fountain at the square entrance.
A black sedan was parked there.
Under the street lights, the color shone darkly, and the emblem in front of the car divided the outer circle into three sections with a tristar.
It looked inconspicuous, but in reality, it was an imported Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
The Grand Cherokee's door opened, Brooke Osborne was about to get up and escort the father and daughter down.
The older man gestured to keep her seated and smiled, asking, "May I know your family name?"
Brooke Osborne quickly said, "No need for formalities, the last name is Osborne."
She asked again, "Do you really not need to go to the hospital? The city hospital is not far, just two more street blocks."
"No need, no need." The man smiled amiably, "It's not very serious, just needs some rest at my relatives' place. Brooke Osborne, right? Thank you, Comrade Osbourne."
Saying this, he supported his daughter's arm and slowly walked out of Nick Zeller's Grand Cherokee.
Nick Zeller, Lawrence Winters, and Kenneth Osborne remained seated, merely watching as the father and daughter left the vehicle.
Then they saw two people come out of the Mercedes C-Class, respectfully escorting the father and daughter into the car.
Nick Zeller didn't start his car until the Mercedes C-Class drove away first, then he followed and drove off.
Lawrence Winters watched intently for a while, then laughed and said, "Is that Mercedes a new purchase? It doesn't have a license plate yet? I didn't see the plate number."
"The plate number is covered." Nick Zeller wasn't surprised at all, glanced back at Brooke Osborne, and advised, "Just consider tonight as doing a good deed. Favor done without expecting return. Let's leave it at that."
Brooke Osbourne hesitated, then as a conditioned reflex, nodded in agreement, "Noted, thank you for the reminder, Uncle Nick."
Kenneth Osborne held Brooke Osborne's hand and sat her down, smiling, "Uncle Nick is indeed the Great Heavenly Master, always seeing things we don't."
"Bah! I'm born in the new society, grew up under the red flag as a new-age Great Heavenly Master, scientifically looking at feng shui, rejecting superstition! - You punk better not trap me!" Nick Zeller jokingly retorted to Kenneth Osborne.
Lawrence Winters listened amusedly.
Her uncle Nick Zeller was a small internet celebrity on Weibo, with the username "New Era Great Heavenly Master," his self-introduction stating: Born in the new society, grew up under the red flag.
Lawrence Winters took out her phone, responded under Nick Zeller's latest Weibo post with a comment: [Great Heavenly Master achieves a good deed of the day].
Upon replying, she realized her Weibo alt account had "dedicated fan" written behind her name, feeling defeated, sighed, "Uncle, I'm actually your dedicated fan. - I'm tainted."
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It's Monday, reminding everyone of the recommendation ticket, oh!
The new book period hopes everyone actively speaks up, in the chapter comments and book review section.
Love ya!