"Lu Zhaoling?!"
Hu Dali's shocked exclamation cut her off.
Just then, the woman apologetically turned her down. "My family can't afford ten wen for some talisman. You are very kind, Miss."
Leaving those words behind, she clutched her child and fled into her home as if pursued by a ghost, terrified that Lu Zhaoling would force her into a sale.
Qingyin was speechless.
Lu Zhaoling felt the same. To be honest, it was rare for her to take the initiative to intervene in a stranger's fate, yet she had been rejected. If the woman didn't have ten wen, they could have worked something out, but Lu Zhaoling wouldn't just give it away for free. As for helping, she had already performed a deed of virtue by brushing away the sickly aura from the child's head just now.
"Second Young Miss!"
Hu Dali had blurted out her name in surprise, initially feeling a bit guilty. But when he saw Lu Zhaoling act as if she hadn't heard him completely ignoring him his anger flared up again. He lunged forward, shoving Hu Xiaoxing aside.
His actions drew everyone's attention toward Lu Zhaoling, including Hu Xiaoxing's.
Hu Xiaoxing looked at Lu Zhaoling, her eyes flickering before she followed him over.
"Second Young Miss, didn't you hear me calling you?"
Hu Dali charged right up to Lu Zhaoling and Qingyin. He couldn't stop his momentum and was on the verge of slamming into Lu Zhaoling.
Qingyin saw the malicious glint in his eyes and knew the brute was likely doing this on purpose. Enraged, she was about to raise her leg to kick him when Lu Zhaoling beat her to it, pulling her aside to dodge.
Hu Dali had almost reached her, thinking a little girl like Lu Zhaoling couldn't possibly react that fast, but she suddenly vanished from his sight.
He sensed trouble and tried to steady himself, but for some reason, his foot slipped. He went flying forward.
"Agh!"
Thud!
Hu Dali slammed heavily onto the ground, his chin striking the stone pavement. The pain was so intense he felt like he might die on the spot.
The surrounding crowd winced, their faces contorting in sympathy. "Ooh," "That's gotta hurt," they murmured. It looked agonizing!
However, everyone saw clearly that Hu Dali had fallen on his own. The two girls hadn't even touched him.
"Brother, you took quite the faceplant, didn't you?"
Hu Xiaoxing spoke with blatant schadenfreude, though she still walked over to help him up.
But the moment she grabbed his arm, he shrieked, "Ow, ow, ow! Hu Xiaoxing, are you trying to kill me?!"
"What's wrong with you? I come over to help and you yell at me? Besides, you're my brother, not my father! I'm going to tell Dad that you're always trying to take his spot."
Hu Xiaoxing let go with a look of disgust once he was steady and stepped back, unwilling to stand near him.
She looked at Lu Zhaoling, her eyes filled with a trace of jealousy.
Qingyin noticed her gaze and gave her a cold stare.
Hu Dali wiped his mouth, finding his hand covered in blood. He propped his tongue against his teeth and realized his front teeth were loose.
This made him so angry he nearly jumped.
He glared ferociously at Lu Zhaoling, looking like he wanted to tear her apart.
His father had said that the master and mistress of the house didn't care about this Second Young Miss at all. They didn't even treat her as their own daughter, and there was no telling what they would do to her in the future. Consequently, he didn't feel the need to show her any respect.
He used to do errands for Lu Zhaoyue frequently; as long as Lu Zhaoyue protected him, he was fine!
"Second Young Miss, why are you here? Did you come here specifically to cause trouble for me?" Hu Dali asked sullenly.
"Passing through," Lu Zhaoling replied simply.
"As if I'd believe that! What exactly are you here for?"
Qingyin swept a cold glance over him. "Is this alley your personal property? Our Miss needs your permission to walk down a street?"
"You caused me to fall and get hurt! There's no reason in the world for this! Give me money; I need to see a doctor and buy medicine!"
Hu Dali bellowed, his neck turning red, spraying bloody saliva as he spoke.
Lu Zhaoling and Qingyin both took several steps back.
Hu Xiaoxing also moved away. She stroked her face with her fingers and swayed her hips, sizing Lu Zhaoling up. Her posture didn't look at all like that of an innocent girl of fourteen or fifteen.
"So you're the Second Young Miss of the Lu family who came from the countryside? I heard you've been granted a marriage to Prince Jin. Is that true?"
"Hu Xiaoxing, stop meddling! Get lost and find Third Master Liu to get the silver, do you hear me?" Hu Dali grabbed her and threatened her in a low voice. "If you don't bring the silver back, I'll tell Dad to marry you off to the neighbors so you can live in poverty!"
He thought he was whispering, but Lu Zhaoling heard every word.
Hu Dali's single sentence carried a lot of information.
Third Master Liu?
The Liu family that made lanterns?
So Hu Xiaoxing really was involved with the Liu family.
As for marrying her to the neighbors... those neighbors were the family of the woman with the child. Could it be that because the family was involved with Hu Xiaoxing, they had some unclean things in their house?
"Hmph! I don't care about you."
Hu Xiaoxing shook off Hu Dali's grip, gave Lu Zhaoling another hostile look, and walked away clutching her bundle.
She walked with a swaying gait, showing a hint of charm that hadn't quite shed its youthful awkwardness. It seemed like something she had deliberately practiced and hadn't yet mastered naturally.
Qingyin felt something was off about her, but her attention was interrupted by Hu Dali.
"Second Young Miss, you're not planning to avoid responsibility, are you? Look how badly I'm hurt!"
The onlookers watched Lu Zhaoling with curiosity.
Lu Zhaoling had a new lead now and couldn't be bothered with him.
However, she took a look at Hu Dali's facial features and said to Qingyin, "Take some money and distribute it among the elders and neighbors here."
Though Qingyin didn't understand why, she obeyed. She took out a large handful of copper coins and handed them out to the neighbors watching the commotion.
"Oh my, how can we accept this?"
"Why are you giving us money?"
Where did this generous fairy come from?
Gousheng's mother had been watching from inside her door. Seeing this, she hurried out with her child again and said to Lu Zhaoling, "I don't want money. Can I use this money to trade for that talisman of yours?"
After Lu Zhaoling had touched Gousheng's head earlier, she felt the boy seemed to have more energy. He was even leaning against the door frame, wanting to keep looking at Lu Zhaoling.
She had heard that children were the most sensitive to good and evil. Since her Gousheng liked this beautiful girl, the talisman she offered certainly wouldn't be harmful. Having it would bring peace of mind!
She didn't have the money to pay for it herself, but seeing Lu Zhaoling giving money to the neighbors, she couldn't hold back anymore.
Qingyin looked at Lu Zhaoling.
Was this allowed? How was that any different from the woman getting the talisman for free?
"Each person won't even get ten copper coins. Since you want to use this money to trade, you'll have to make up the difference. Give me one wen, and the talisman is yours," Lu Zhaoling said.
"You're such a strange girl. You're happy to give others money for nothing, but you insist that I pay." Gousheng's mother grumbled, but she still fished out one wen and handed it over.
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