Chapter 210: Flower Guardian Xu Yuexin

"The client for my case has relatives in Jingcheng; I'm planning to go see them."

"It's an inheritance case; maybe we can get a breakthrough by digging around."

Cheng Li Yan adjusted the collar of the shirt, didn't lift her head, and said.

"Do you want me to go with you?"

"No need, just to meet a few people related to the case."

"I'll still go with you."

Xu Yuexin thought for a moment and said, "Wandering the streets and alleys might be unsafe."

Earlier, when Xu Yuexin helped Da Yizi move house, he had experienced a dangerous incident; that time he relied on his strength to knock down those alley ruffians.

Moreover, public security has worsened over the past year.

Having him by my side makes things generally safer.

"What's unsafe about that?"

Cheng Li Yan fixed her collar and, unconcerned, said, "If you want to go, we'll go together."

After speaking, the two walked out of the room together and headed to the Dispatch Point to hail a taxi.

Cheng Li Yan's destination was in Nan Cheng; after getting into the taxi, she took a slip of paper from her pocket, on which several lines of address were written.

"Do you know where the Mud Man Alley is?"

After getting off, Cheng Li Yan asked Xu Yuexin.

"I don't know."

Xu Yuexin spread his hands and said.

"You're a native, and you still don't know?"

"Obviously, Jingcheng is that big."

"You should have asked the driver while we were in the car."

"I thought you knew."

Cheng Li Yan apologized.

"Find someone to ask."

Xu Yuexin said, then stepped forward to stop a passerby and asked him.

"Mud Man Alley? Go forward, turn left, then right, then left."

"Alright, thank you…"

After asking, Xu Yuexin turned his head, walked to Cheng Li Yan, spread his hands, and said, "That was a pointless question."

"He basically said nothing."

The trouble with asking directions is that people can tell you to turn left or right, but they may not know exactly how far to go before the turn.

In short, it's still not as good as a map or GPS.

"Let's keep asking as we go."

Cheng Li Yan had no choice, so she said.

It had rained a few days earlier, and the two walked along the pothole‑riddled road; several times Cheng Li Yan had to be supported by Xu Yuexin to avoid mud splashing onto her delicate dress.

"I feel like you look more like a billionaire than I do."

After the muddiest stretch, Xu Yuexin couldn't help but joke.

Cheng Li Yan laughed.

Indeed, Xu Yuexin had been looking after her the whole way.

"What else can I say? Thanks."

Cheng Li Yan slightly curled her red lips, winked at Xu Yuexin and said, "You've given me the honor of being served by a billionaire."

After crossing the main road, the narrow alleys lay ahead.

On both sides of the lane were Da Zayuan courtyards, some of whose wall corners had collapsed with no one to tend them.

Inside the courtyards were only low one‑story houses and crude temporary structures, the layout utterly chaotic.

The outside road wasn't much better, but beside it someone had laid charcoal ash, so there was no fear of stepping into mud.

The drawback was that the charcoal‑ash path was so narrow that when people came from the opposite side it was hard to pass each other.

Just as Xu Yuexin thought, the alley indeed had many idle youths.

Their clothes were mostly patches upon patches, many ill‑fitting, clearly scavenged from older brothers and sisters.

As Xu Yuexin passed with Cheng Li Yan, he could feel the youths' scrutinizing gazes.

Some of those looks weren't very friendly.

Fortunately, Xu Yuexin's tall, robust build intimidated them.

Whenever Xu Yuexin lifted his head, the youths within sight would quickly avert their eyes to avoid meeting his gaze.

"Why is everyone staring at us?"

Cheng Li Yan also sensed something off and asked Xu Yuexin anxiously.

"Look around—who here dresses like us?"

Xu Yuexin whispered, so as not to be overheard and cause trouble.

Cheng Li Yan had been keeping her eyes forward; his reminder made her glance around, finally realizing the issue.

Indeed, with their refined attire, they certainly didn't look like locals.

The two quickened their pace, and midway found a kindly‑eyed elderly woman to ask for directions, finally arriving at the first destination.

It was a dilapidated Da Zayuan; the wooden gate at its entrance was rotted, creaking and fluttering in the wind.

A corner of the courtyard wall had collapsed, and the yard's center held numerous puddles; a few mud‑covered children were squatting, playing marbles.

This kind of Da Zayuan is the current norm in Jingcheng; courtyards that are neat and orderly like in period dramas are actually very few.

"What relation does this family have to the client?"

Xu Yuexin asked as he stopped at the courtyard gate.

"She is her distant older cousin."

"The party involved is an overseas Chinese."

"Oh, okay. Let's go buy something first."

Xu Yuexin said, "Don't go empty‑handed."

"You go ahead; I'll wait here for you."

Cheng Li Yan said.

Fine, let's just let her stay here.

Besides, there's a Xiao Za Hu Pu not far away, so in a short while there shouldn't be any safety concerns.

Xu Yuexin thought it over and then walked off alone to the side.

When he reached the shop, Xu Yuexin bought two packs of Liqun cigarettes and a bag of Mahua, lifted them in his hand and turned back to Da Zayuan.

Just as he turned around, he saw Cheng Li Yan had disappeared.

She must have been impatient and gone in alone to look for someone.

Xu Yuexin thought to himself and quickened his steps toward the courtyard.

After entering the gate, he saw Cheng Li Yan sitting under the wall with an elderly woman whose face was full of wrinkles, questioning her. Cheng Li Yan's demeanor and tone were very polite, but the woman remained aloof, making the scene especially awkward.

Xu Yuexin stepped forward and greeted the old lady.

"Madam, I'm with her; we're troubling you today."

"Please accept these few items."

After speaking, he handed the bag containing the Liqun cigarettes and Mahua to the old lady.

The old lady looked up and immediately broke into a smile.

"Oh dear, she only asked me a few questions; how could I be so forward?"

While speaking, she swiftly slipped the items into her bosom.

"Let's go inside and talk."

Seeing the cigarettes inside, the old lady's smile grew brighter, and she hurriedly rose to invite them.

Cheng Li Yan got up from the small horse she was on and steadied herself a bit.

She hadn't expected that such a small token could cause such a drastic change in the old lady's attitude.

After entering, Cheng Li Yan continued to question the old lady about the case, and the old lady's attitude clearly improved, answering every question.

"You're asking about our great‑grandfather's generation, huh?"

"I heard from my grandfather that when our family's founding ancestor passed away, only one child was left by his side."

"Yes, that child is my cousin's old‑man; in your cultural terms, he should be called..."

"Called great‑grandfather."

"Right, exactly, great‑grandfather."

"Alright, thank you. Could you write what you just said on paper and press a handprint?"

Cheng Li Yan, as if she had found a treasure, asked eagerly.

"Um… can we skip the handprint?"

The old lady felt it was a bit serious, so she hesitated.

"I'm afraid not; we need you as a witness."

Cheng Li Yan said anxiously, fearing the old lady might refuse.

Xu Yuexin remained silent, took the remaining pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and placed it on the table.

The old lady nodded at the sight of the cigarettes: "Alright, I can give you a written statement."

"Hmm, thank you. I have a small request."

Xu Yuexin added at this point, "That is, please ensure the testimony is truthful."

"Frankly, even if the evidence you provide isn't what we want, those two packs of cigarettes and the Mahua will still belong to you."

"In any case, you must never lie."

"Don't worry, kid, this concerns the outcome of the lawsuit; how could I dare utter a single false word?"

The old lady quickly assured him.

"Hmm, thank you for your effort."

At this moment, Cheng Li Yan handed the paper, pen, and ink pad to the old lady, watching her write the testimony and press a handprint on it.

After receiving the testimony and leaving Da Zayuan, Cheng Li Yan looked at Xu Yuexin with a sigh.

"When I first asked her, she wouldn't say anything."

"I didn't expect that bringing a few items would make her speak immediately."

"Exactly. Ordinary folks, who would willingly get tangled in a lawsuit for a distant relative they have nothing to do with?"

"That's right; I hadn't thought it through."

Cheng Li Yan gave a slight nod.

She realized that Xu Yuexin's abilities were indeed more comprehensive than theirs.

Whether dealing with major matters of career development or interacting with street‑level figures, he seemed effortlessly adept—something they did not possess.

"There are still three households to go, right?"

"Yes, in short, we need to verify this testimony."

"Then I'll go buy some more things."

Xu Yuexin said.

…

After a day's toil, the two finally obtained a total of four testimonies.

By then, night had already fallen.

"So that means, as long as we prove the client's great‑grandfather was the sole child under her high‑grandfather when he died, we can win the case, right?"

"Smart, you guessed it right away."

"The difficulty of this lawsuit lies in proving that the client's great‑grandfather was the sole Inheritance that year."

"If we can prove that, she can refuse the plaintiff's request for estate division."

"Damn, anyway the era is quite ancient."

Xu Yuexin said.

As they talked and walked toward the alley entrance, they noticed a few youths in bell‑bottom pants blocking the road ahead.

The youths showed no intention of yielding as they approached, and someone whistled at Cheng Li Yan.

"Let's go the other way."

Cheng Li Yan, seeing this, said anxiously.

"It's a dead end, how can we turn?"

Xu Yuexin shrugged and said.

"Then what do we do?"

"Follow behind me."

Xu Yuexin said casually, walking toward the youths blocking the road.

When he approached, the youths exchanged glances, and some curled their fists.

"Yo, bros, the target's pretty fine."

Just as Xu Yuexin reached them, a buzz‑cut man stepped forward, sneering, "Why don't you stay and chat?"

"Much hotter than your mom."

Xu Yuexin slipped his hand into his pocket and said coldly.

After speaking, he threw a punch at the buzz‑cut man's face.

"Ma—…"

The buzz‑cut man grimaced in pain, his features distorted, and retreated several steps while covering his face.

"What are you still standing there for? Come on!"

After creating distance from Xu Yuexin, he snarled at his companions.

(End of chapter)