Chapter 51: Encountering Danger

Su Ruo's expression was stern as she looked at the people before her; she hadn't expected that these people, who also seemed to have status and position, would be so unreasonable.

The man still tried to threaten Su Ruo, but the man holding a woman suddenly shouted, "Jing Hao, stop messing around, first take your sister to the hospital."

The man finally stepped aside; Su Ruo immediately scooped up An'an and left the State-run Hotel, Li Zhaodi followed closely behind Su Ruo, and the three walked far away before they finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Zhaodi patted her chest, still trembling, and said, "That was terrifying; I never expected that woman, who looks so beautiful, could be a lunatic."

Su Ruo didn't think the other woman was a lunatic, but mentally the woman had clearly suffered trauma, and it was likely related to a child; therefore, she would flare up as soon as she saw An'an. Regardless of why the woman lost control, it had nothing to do with them.

Su Ruo had thought the commotion would end here, but she didn't expect that woman to cause her so much trouble.

After Su Ruo and the others left, Xu Honghua followed the two men and went to the hospital together.

Su Ruo didn't know these three people, but Xu Honghua did; the woman was named Bai Xinya, the manager of their State-run Hotel, and Xu Honghua also knew that Bai Xinya came from Kyoto and that her family and background were unusual.

In the past, Bai Xinya always kept herself aloof and ignored them; even if Xu Honghua tried to ingratiate herself, she couldn't find a chance, but today's incident gave Xu Honghua a glimpse of a turning point.

Since Bai Xinya values An'an so much, perhaps as An'an's aunt she can use An'an to get on Bai Xinya's good side; if she can please Bai Xinya, her becoming a regular staff member will be just around the corner.

Old Li, knowing Su Ruo's medical skill, nodded at her and said, "Then it's up to you!"

A few petty thugs led by Long Ge heard this and immediately got interested; after seeing Su Ruo's appearance, they became even more excited.

Su Ruo rode her bicycle, hurrying out of the city, and didn't notice Wu Xiaofeng, who was aimlessly wandering the street with a group of people.

Su Ruo reached out and stopped Li Zhaodi from getting off the vehicle.

After spending this time together, An'an was no longer so averse to Li Zhaodi; although she didn't want to part from Su Ruo, she still obediently nodded.

Su Ruo then chatted idly with Old Li: "How are Grandma Li and Gou Dan'er now? I haven't seen them for a long time."

After parting from Li Zhaodi and the others, Su Ruo went to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative and started a buying spree.

Su Ruo interrupted her, "Don't worry, I'm quick on my feet; you don't need to be concerned."

Su Ruo then said to Old Li, "Uncle, I'll leave An'an and Zhaodi with you; on the way back, please keep an eye on them."

He, who had never smiled at anyone, found his expression unusually softened a few degrees upon seeing Su Ruo.

After speaking, Su Ruo rubbed An'an's little cheek and said, "Mom, go buy something tasty for An'an; An'an must listen to Sister Zhaodi, understand?"

Su Ruo walked to the ox cart, smiled, and greeted the hurried Old Li, "Hello, Grandpa Li."

She tied the bundles to the bicycle's rear seat with a rope, because these items were to be given to Li Zhaodi when they returned, so Su Ruo didn't store them in the space.

The thug said that, then reached out to grab Su Ruo, and Su Ruo kicked him away with a single foot.

At this moment the ox cart was already full of people; Li Zhaodi, holding An'an, sat on the cart, and there was an extremely cramped spot beside her, clearly not enough for Su Ruo to sit.

She also thought that she should bring out her own bicycle, move the cart onto the clear road, so that riding later would be a bit more convenient.

Su Ruo, carrying big and small bundles, left the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, found an empty alley, and took the bicycle out of the space.

Su Ruo had been quite busy lately; if she hadn't run into Old Li today, she wouldn't have thought of Grandma Li at the moment, but now knowing she's ill, she said, "When I get back to the village, I'll go check on Grandma Li."

When they arrived, they rode a tractor in the convoy; on the way back, it would definitely be impossible to sit, so the three walked together toward where the ox cart was parked.

Moreover, with Grandma Li's request and Su Ruo's initiative to go to Qingshui Village for rescue, Old Li had a good impression of Su Ruo.

Old Li's wrinkled face showed a hint of worry.

Su Ruo, realizing she herself had been careless and hadn't noticed anyone tailing her, looked at the few people with a wary gaze and asked, "What are you going to do?"

Now, whenever he thought of that landslide, a lingering dread surged in his heart; he felt grateful for the girl's warning, because if he had encountered that disaster while hurrying his cart, his old bones would have been left there.

"It's all what I should do," Su Ruo said, then walked toward the ox cart.

As a result, when he looked up, he saw Su Ruo riding a bicycle toward him, and his eyes instantly lit up.

Li Zhaodi had already gotten on the ox cart first, holding An'an.

After Su Ruo rode her bicycle over, the few people immediately followed, and when they passed a narrow alley, they timed it and stepped forward to block Su Ruo.

Su Ruo smiled, kissed her forehead, and said, "An'an is really well-behaved."

"She hasn't been feeling well lately, so she's being cared for at home! People are like that when they get older; all kinds of ailments show up."

Wu Xiaofeng pointed at Su Ruo and said to the leading thug, "Long Ge, that's the stinky girl I told you about."

Su Ruo not only bought candy and peach crisps, but also purchased some daily necessities for Li Zhaodi—clothes, shoes, cotton and fabric for making quilts, and so on...

Li Zhaodi has now left the Li Family; the old items from before, Su Ruo will no longer let her use them and has replaced them all with new ones.

Su Ruo knew Old Li practiced martial arts, and since the ox cart was filled with villagers, letting An'an and Li Zhaodi ride back on it was nothing to worry about.

So Su Ruo immediately said, "I still have some things to buy; you take An'an back first. Once I finish shopping, I'll return to the village."

Li Zhaodi worried, "But, Master, you're alone..."

Su Ruo had originally planned to take An'an and Li Zhaodi to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative to buy food and winter clothes, but after what just happened, none of the three felt like shopping.

"Little girl, where are you going? Why not stay and have some fun with us."

One of the thugs immediately gave a lewd grin and said, "Of course, we'll do something that makes us all feel comfortable and happy."

It takes two to three hours to walk from the county to the village; by the time Li Zhaodi walks back, it will be dark, and Su Ruo would never let Li Zhaodi walk the night road alone.

Su Ruo is not a teenage girl; how could she not understand the implication behind those words? Hence her face grew even more solemn.

Li Zhaodi, seeing Su Ruo approach, immediately said, "Master, you and An'an take the ox cart back; I'll just walk back."

Old Li also nodded at Su Ruo; because of Su Ruo's warning, Old Li had parked the ox cart after the heavy rain, which saved him from disaster.

Wu Xiaofeng was fretting; since Su Ruo never left the village, he couldn't find a chance to take revenge on her.

The thug hadn't expected Su Ruo to strike; caught off guard, after being kicked, he clutched his stomach in pain and rolled on the ground.

The leading thug, seeing this, immediately stubbed out his cigarette and cursed, "Damn, you stinky whore, you refuse a toast and get a penalty drink! Today I'm going to give you a proper lesson."

The other two thugs also stepped forward, surrounding Su Ruo, and the three of them slowly closed in on her.