Chapter 278: Going Home to Play with Her

Everyone only then noticed that two oily-eyed sturdy men had been squatting nearby; just now they all stood up, and the one speaking to Tuan Tuan was the shorter of the two.

Tuan Tuan raised their head, quite puzzled: "I already gave money to the old lady."

The short man snorted, pointed at his own nose, then at his feet: "What you gave was money for buying lotus root."

"But you're eating here at the head of Embrace-the-Moon Bridge, the aroma fills the whole street; having soaked up the bridge's aura, you must pay an extra 'aura fee'."

"These are the rules, understand? Ask the people here if they all paid."

Several customers who had just bought candied lotus root and were still eating it frowned upon hearing that.

Tuan Tuan looked at the bright, tempting candied lotus root in their hand, then at the big hand spread out before them.

Xiao Ningxun frowned slightly, Xiao Ran looked impatient, about to speak.

But Tuan Tuan beat them to it: "Here! Now you've smelled my candied lotus root's aroma, you also owe me money! Two wen!"

Only see her smiling as she lifted the candied lotus root high and straight onto the short man's nose.

That man stared, instinctively leaned back, the smile on his face froze, utterly bewildered: "What did you say? I have to pay just for smelling it?"

"Exactly!" Tuan Tuan nodded vigorously, dead serious: "That's not what you said!"

"Smelling the aroma counts as gaining aura; gaining aura means you must pay silver. Now you've smelled my candied lotus root—fragrant or not? If it's fragrant, you owe money!"

"Pff—" A nearby fat uncle who had just paid the "aura fee" and was stifling a bite of lotus root couldn't hold back, laughing out loud, nearly spraying lotus bits.

Several nearby vendors and passersby, who had originally dared not speak out in anger, also began to snicker, their gazes toward the man now full of mockery.

The short man's face instantly flushed red, half from anger, half from embarrassment.

He had been bullying the bridgehead for so long, relying on a ruffian attitude and others' unwillingness to provoke trouble; when had he ever seen someone turn his own twisted logic against him like this?

Moreover, he's actually just a little bean sprout!

"You little brat, sharp-tongued!" He flushed with anger, reaching out to knock the candied lotus root from Tuan Tuan's hand, shouting, "Today I—"

"You don't want your hand anymore?"

Xiao Er stretched out a big hand, gripping his wrist like an iron hoop.

The short man's wrist flared with pain, as if clamped by iron tongs, cold sweat pouring down.

He struggled hard, but couldn't budge an inch.

The tall sturdy man nearby saw this and lunged over to help.

Lu Qi didn't even move a hand, just stepped forward half a pace, the cold light of the unsheathed short knife at his waist flashing.

The tall sturdy man's motion came to an abrupt halt.

Tuan Tuan looked toward the fat uncle still holding back laughter, and enthusiastically reminded:

"Uncle! Uncle! He also smelled your candied lotus root aroma! He should pay you too! Two wen!"

The fat uncle first stared, then glanced at the two men's sorry state, his courage swelling: "Right! Kid! You smelled my lotus root aroma—two wen! Pay up!"

"And mine too!"

"I just paid as well!"

Several customers who had just swallowed their anger and paid began to clamor.

The short man's wrist ached; knowing he'd met a tough opponent, he dared not resist further: "I, we'll pay!"

Xiao Er glanced at Xiao Ningxun, who gave a slight nod.

Only then did Xiao Er loosen his grip: "Pay double."

The man rubbed his aching wrist, no longer daring to utter a single "no", face grim, he returned double the money he had just collected to the customers present.

They paid out every copper coin on their persons, amid the crowd's jeering laughter, they stumbled out of the throng in utter disarray, fleeing down the bridge without looking back.

Running, they turned back and shouted:

"You! You wait!"

"Damn, where'd this tough idea come from! Quick, go tell the gang leader!"

"Right! Acting wild on our Bridgehead Gang's turf, we can't just let this slide! Otherwise, how will we survive in the future!"

"Bridgehead Gang? What nonsense!" Xiao Ran curled his lip, unimpressed.

He ruffled Tuan Tuan's little head: "Not bad, little squirt! Your 'turning their own tactics against them' was beautifully executed!"

Tuan Tuan munched on the candied lotus root, eyes crinkling with laughter: "It's just their own rule!"

Having tasted the Meiwei, Tuan Tuan was in high spirits: "Come on, let's go check out that place over there!"

The group descended Embrace-the-Moon Bridge, strolling along the riverside street, taking in the scenery on both sides.

Lu Qi pointed to a nearby splendid teahouse: "Lord Master, that is our Tianji Pavilion's property—want to have a look? Their service is good; I've tried it before."

"Great!" Tuan Tuan took hold of their third brother with the left hand and their ninth brother with the right, hopping and skipping toward the teahouse Lu Qi pointed to.

Just after taking a few steps, they suddenly heard a hurried, chaotic footsteps behind them.

An angry shout came from behind:

"You bunch of outsiders up ahead! Stop right there!"

Turning back, they saw a dark mass of over a dozen sturdy men wielding short sticks, rushing forward with a menacing aura.

Pedestrians and vendors on the street hurriedly made way.

At the very front of the crowd was a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl!

She wore a neat water-red combat outfit, a thick glossy black braid slanting down over her right chest.

The two sturdy men who had just fled stood at her side, pointing at Tuan Tuan's group: "It's them!"

The girl wore an impatient frown as she barked: "What's all the noise! You can't even handle a tiny matter, and now I have to come personally!"

She slowly lifted her eyelids to look at Tuan Tuan's group, her eyes flashing bright.

She fixed her gaze on Xiao Ran, sizing him up from head to toe, then lifted her chin: "Hey! What's your name? Where are you from?"

Xiao Ran blinked, then instinctively replied: "What's it to you?"

"Of course it's my business!" the girl said righteously, "Who made you look so pleasing to my eyes!"

"Today, out of respect for you, I won't hold a grudge about what just happened."

"However, you have to come with me to our Bridgehead Gang for a trip; they don't need to."

Xiao Ran: "......????"

The burly men behind the girl all stared in surprise; this approach, isn't it wrong?

Xiao Ningxun couldn't help but rub his forehead, and a faint crack appeared on the faces of Lu Qi and Xiao Er.

Tuan Tuan lifted his head, looked at Xiao Ran, then at the red-clad girl: "Ninth Brother, does this older sister want you to go home and play with her?"