The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 247: After 247, it’s up to you, no need to hold back (one more)

Chapter 247: After 247, it’s up to you, no need to hold back (one more)

Li Xianyun had settled on the quantity for the exchange with the merchants, barter trade, which was the original form of transaction when the Border Market first took shape.

Li Xianyun instructed Bater to weigh out the preserved fruits for the merchants while also placing the two large bags of wheat seeds they had traded for and the additional three they had bought onto the shelves at the back of the cart.

It was at this moment that Zhuo Ma approached Li Xianyun.

"Family Head."

Li Xianyun turned to Zhuo Ma with a flash of delight on her face, "Is everything taken care of?"

"It’s all done," Zhuo Ma said with a lowered voice and a smile, "The people we sent out to spread the news are all eloquent. By now, probably the entire Border Market knows that Xingfang Restaurant has placed an order for our preserves."

Li Xianyun responded with a smile, "You’ve done a good job."

"Family Head, the owner of the Xingfang Restaurant has said that his health has greatly improved and wishes to visit you in person to express his gratitude."

"There’s no need for thanks."

Considering the relationship formed through treating the Xingfang Restaurant’s family head, future cooperation with Xingfang Restaurant must go smoothly.

This was an unexpected gain.

As Li Xianyun prepared to leave the Border Market with her entourage, they passed a corner and noticed a crowd gathered around a stall.

A familiar voice came through, "Do you know who I am? How dare you hit me! Hit him, beat him to death!!"

Then a young woman’s shrill voice followed, "Don’t hit him! I beg you, stop hitting my father! Please stop! Father!!"

But the group of assailants paid no heed and continued to punch and kick.

Two onlookers, unable to bear the sight, left the crowd.

One of them commented, "He groped someone’s daughter; he deserves a beating, and he even has the audacity to bring people and make a scene? What a lawless act!"

"Keep your voice down," warned the other, "if someone hears you, how will we continue to get by in the Border Market?"

"Worst comes to worst, I’ll go to Official Ma! He’s an official from Shangjing. He will definitely stand up for me."

His companion let out a cold laugh, "Don’t you know that officials always protect one another? If you dare go to the Official Government, who do you think will suffer in the end? In these times, it’s best to look out for yourself and not stir up trouble for no reason."

The man sighed despondently.

All this chatter fell upon Li Xianyun’s ears, and she quickened her pace as she approached.

Her voice arrived before she did.

"Stop!!"

Her voice wasn’t loud, yet it bore such authority that it made the assailants halt.

Little Huzi saw that it was Li Xianyun, his brows furrowed, thinking: This brat is like a bad penny, showing up everywhere! What a nuisance!!

Li Xianyun pushed through the crowd and saw a man in his forties or fifties curled up on the ground.

He was battered and bruised, his face swollen with a purplish hue, especially around his left eye which was swollen shut. His clothes were stained with yellow and white footprints and dampened with mud.

A girl around fifteen or sixteen took advantage of the lull to throw herself on the man, crying, "Father, father..."

Remembering what his brother-in-law had told him about not provoking Li Xianyun, Little Huzi spat on the ground and spoke viciously to the father and daughter, "I’ll let you off this time. If there’s a next time, watch your dog lives!"

After saying this, he clutched the cheek that had been hit and prepared to lead his men away.

Li Xianyun spoke with a cold voice, "Hold on!"

Little Huzi stopped in his tracks, turning back to look disdainfully at Li Xianyun, "What do you want?"

Li Xianyun replied calmly, "You took liberties with someone’s daughter and beat the man to severe injury, and now you think you can just walk away like this? On what grounds?"

Still angry from the punch he had received, and with many onlookers from the Border Market watching, Little Huzi fretted about losing face—how would he be able to strut around the Border Market and bully others in the future?

"Which eye of yours saw me taking liberties with the girl? It was clear that he offended me with his words and even hit me with a punch; I was merely defending myself, understand?"

Li Xianyun stared at him, and Little Huzi suddenly felt somewhat intimidated.

Little Huzi thought the less trouble, the better at this time, so he said to the girl on the ground, "Did I make a pass at you? Speak up, do you know what the consequences of slandering me are?"

The threat in his words was unmistakable.

The girl, who had been about to tell the truth, became hesitant.

If they couldn’t sell their goods at the Border Market anymore, how would their family survive?

The poor girl could only look at Li Xianyun with tears in her eyes and say, "He didn’t make a pass at me."

Little Huzi looked at Li Xianyun with mockery, his arrogance plain to see, "Did you hear that? I didn’t make a pass at her, so you better mind your own business."

The group of thugs also burst into unrestrained laughter.

Zhuo Ma was so angry she was gritting her teeth, just waiting for an order from Li Xianyun to beat them to a pulp.

Bater also took a step forward, ready to intervene at any moment.

Having said his piece, Little Huzi prepared to leave, but he heard a cool, stern voice, "Do you think you can just walk away after beating someone like this?"

Little Huzi wanted to lash out upon hearing this but ultimately held back, intending to take out a few coins from his chest and settle the matter.

But then he heard Li Xianyun say indifferently, "He’s got internal injuries. It won’t heal without five taels of silver, and if Official Ma finds out..."

Again, five taels of silver. Little Huzi was furious, and also didn’t dare offend Ma Zhaoming standing behind Li Xianyun, so he had no choice but to throw five taels of silver at the father and daughter.

Such behavior was extremely derogatory.

"Pick it up," Li Xianyun said calmly.

Little Huzi gave Li Xianyun a mocking glance, then planned to leave.

After taking just one step, a strong, burly figure blocked his path, "My Family Head commanded you to pick it up."

Bater was tall and well-built, his voice deep and gruff.

Little Huzi had no choice but to submit and pick up the five taels of silver from the ground, handing it to the girl.

He looked at Bater and said, "Can I go now?"

Bater stood his ground and did not speak, and Little Huzi walked past him, his entourage slinking away dejectedly.

No sooner had Little Huzi left than cheers erupted from the crowd, all commending Li Xianyun.

The girl helped her father up, and the father and daughter were naturally extremely grateful to Li Xianyun.

Looking at Li Xianyun with much shame, the girl said, "Sir, I did not tell the truth just now, and I am truly sorry."

"I know you have your own difficulties, so I won’t blame you," Li Xianyun looked at the girl, "but people tend to bully the weak and fear the strong. If you show weakness, they will push you further and become even more ruthless. If you want to protect your family, you must make yourself stronger."

The girl nodded thoughtfully.

Li Xianyun gave the girl a long look and then left the place with his group.

Zhuo Ma, always frank and direct, said, "Master, are we just going to let those animals get away with this?"

"Of course not," Li Xianyun replied composedly.

Zhuo Ma, being impatient, said, "Then I will chase them down now and give them a proper lesson," she said, cracking her knuckles.

"Don’t worry, they will come looking for us," Li Xianyun said with utmost certainty. "It’s just that Bater has to leave first; with him here, those guys won’t dare to come close."

Bater understood, "I shall hide in the shadows," he said and then hurriedly drove the carriage away.

Li Xianyun, accompanied by Youlan and Zhuo Ma, strolled leisurely through the Border Market, intentionally picking quieter paths.

As they turned a less crowded street corner, Little Huzi and his thugs approached.

Little Huzi looked at Li Xianyun with cold eyes, "I was going to let bygones be bygones, but since you had to meddle, I will teach you a lesson today and make it one you won’t forget," he said.