Chapter 224: The Desperadoes

Shi Youxuan said as if chatting about daily life: "Actually, whether it's a servant or a friend, it's all about if I treat you well, you treat me well, and if I don't treat you well, you won't treat me well. It's about exchanging sincerity for sincerity. Does Lady Zhang think that makes sense?"

"Yes, yes, yes, Lady Zhu is right. I must learn more from you."

How could she dare to say anything else? She nodded repeatedly and echoed her words.

A storm had passed just like that, and the atmosphere that followed was relatively harmonious.

After what had just happened, no one would take the initiative to provoke anyone now. The ladies and wives who had been singled out by Lady Zhang were still feeling uneasy inside, fearing retaliation from Shi Youxuan.

But later, seeing that nothing happened, their worry turned into gratitude.

They flattered Shi Youxuan profusely, while simultaneously ostracizing Lady Zhang.

She didn't care about other people's business; as long as she and her family weren't bullied, that was enough!

After the meal, everyone returned to their tents for a short rest. Shi Youxuan had slept enough and now couldn't fall asleep.

"Xiaozhu" had played wildly all morning and was sleepy after eating her fill; she fell asleep before even reaching the tent.

Of course, it was Alisha who carried her back to the tent to rest. He took off the shawl on his shoulders, held the child in one hand, and used the shawl with the other to shield her from the sunlight overhead.

The parents were very envious, but no one dared to have designs on Alisha again.

The hottest time of the day is the afternoon.

But the tent was pitched under a large tree, and the soft windows on both sides were open, so the cross-breeze made it quite cool inside the tent.

Sheng Hanyu sat at the entrance to keep watch, leaving the tent to the mother and daughter.

"Alisha, come in," Shi Youxuan called to him.

So he bent down and crawled in; the height inside was not very high, so he couldn't stand straight.

Shi Youxuan patted the side of "Xiaozhu" and said to him: "There's nothing to do now, you should lie down and rest for a while too; you were exhausted this morning."

He shook his head and waved his hands, indicating that he didn't need to rest and would stay outside to keep watch for the two of them.

"Are you the lady or am I the lady?" Shi Youxuan's face darkened.

Sheng Hanyu thought to himself: You are the lady, my lady forever.

But thinking that she currently belonged to another man in name, his heart ached as if someone were cutting it with a knife.

Alisha's eyes looked very hurt. Shi Youxuan thought she had frightened him, so she softened her voice: "Be obedient."

He obediently went over and lay down next to Shi Ran. Shi Youxuan sat beside him, holding a book in her left hand and a fan in her right, fanning the two of them while reading.

Sheng Hanyu closed his eyes. With his daughter lying beside him and his beloved fanning them, the years were peaceful—this was likely what it meant.

Gradually, sleepiness struck. He was just about to fall asleep in a daze when suddenly there were two loud "Bang! Bang!" sounds outside!

"Ah—what are you doing?"

"Let go of me!"

"Help!"

"Mommy, I'm scared..."

The outside suddenly became noisy, with footsteps and cries mixed together.

Sheng Hanyu opened his eyes abruptly, quickly picked up his daughter and tucked her into Shi Youxuan's arms, then shielded them both behind him.

Looking out through the window, two fully armed thugs were striding toward their tent. They were too close; it was already too late to run.

He stood with his back to the mother and daughter, spreading his arms in a posture like a mother hen protecting her chicks.

"Swish!"

The tent curtain was lifted. The two thugs did not enter at the door, but fiercely ordered them to come out.

To go out and gather with everyone in one place.

The thugs didn't start by grabbing things, nor did they show greedy eyes when they saw the women, so they should be safe for the time being.

Sheng Hanyu looked back, signaling Shi Youxuan to listen to them, and then decide what to do based on the situation!

Shi Youxuan nodded, understanding.

Her eyes were not panicked; she walked out very calmly holding her daughter. Sheng Hanyu walked in the very front, in the position closest to the thugs.

His arms remained spread in a posture to protect the mother and daughter.

They didn't make a fuss, but cooperated obediently, and the thugs didn't make things difficult for them.

But outside, it was already in chaos.

Lady Zhang had tried to run away and was stabbed in the leg with a knife. Fresh blood soaked her wide trousers, and it wouldn't stop bleeding.

She was disheveled and howling, her eyes wide and terrifying!

This miserable state of Lady Zhang was seen by more people, which caused even greater panic among the ladies. It was hard to manage people when they were running around in chaos.

The leader smashed a gun butt onto her head. Lady Zhang was knocked unconscious and finally stopped screaming.

"Bang!"

The bearded leader widened his eyes and announced loudly: "See that? This is the consequence of not being obedient. If any of you don't listen, the outcome will be even more miserable than hers."

Blood was still flowing from Lady Zhang's leg, and her face was becoming paler and paler.

If the wound wasn't treated, it wouldn't be long before she bled to death.

Originally, Shi Youxuan didn't want to get involved.

She wasn't a saint. Even without mentioning their past grievances, the two of them had no friendship, so it wasn't worth risking her life for a stranger.

But Lady Zhang's child was truly pitiful.

"Bitichong" was timid to begin with. He had been following his mother as she fled everywhere, and when his mother was stabbed, he was so scared his eyes went blank.

Now that his mother had been knocked unconscious, he thought she was dead. He wanted to cry but didn't dare, his little face turning pale and trembling incessantly.

Shi Youxuan walked out from behind Alisha, went up to "Dahuzi," and calmly pointed at Lady Zhang: "Her wound needs to be bandaged. If it's not bandaged, she will die soon."

"You do it," Dahuzi ordered.

She replied: "Okay."

Bandaging is not a problem, the problem is that there is no gauze or hemostatic medicine at the scene.

The little vest that Bitichong is wearing is pure cotton, which is just right.

Shi Youxuan takes off the child's vest, tears it into long strips, quickly wraps them around Lady Zhang's leg a few times, and then ties them.

The blood is still flowing, but it has stopped and is not as fierce as before.

Shi Ran has woken up, and she is also terrified by the sudden turn of events.

But she does not cry, clinging tightly to Sheng Hanyu's side!

Her two little hands grab his lapels, and she asks in a low voice: "Alisha, what happened?"

He looks at Shi Ran and smiles, gesturing for her to be at ease, meaning that she should not be afraid, and as long as he is here, he will definitely protect her completely.

"Mm." The little one nods.

The people are herded together—to the open space on the Playground!

There is no cover at all all around, and as for trying to escape, there is absolutely no chance.

The thugs surround these people in a circle outside, with gun barrels and Dagger pointed at everyone, while Dahuzi gives a lecture.

"Everyone, do not be afraid. Please rest assured that we do not want to hurt you, we do not want your money, and we will certainly not offend any of you ladies."

"We are just asking everyone to do me a favor: stay here quietly for a few hours. Once we pick up our big brother, you will all return home safely..."

The words are spoken very politely, but Sheng Hanyu and Shi Youxuan both sense a thick danger; the situation is ominous.

For those who do evil, a fierce appearance might just be a bluff.

But those who do evil and appear very polite are definitely ruthless, cold-blooded, and meticulous people.

Such people are very difficult to deal with.

Now that they do not know what their purpose is, they cannot do anything; they can only wait, wait for the people outside to come and save them.

Two thugs, one holding a gun and the other holding a bag, have people hand over their communication devices!

Mobile phones, tablets, and even the communication watches worn by the children are all thrown into the bag.

However, the crowd's valuables and jewelry, just as Dahuzi said, are not taken at all.

They are not after money, so what do they want?

Shi Youxuan is puzzled, but Alisha pushes her toward the middle position, blocking the outside herself.