Zhou Zhijun gripped a brown paper bag in his left hand, containing the fried dough sticks and meat buns he had just bought from the restaurant, and held a bottle of soda in his right as he hurried back with long strides.
From a distance, he saw a group of men surrounding Chuntao and harassing her. His face instantly darkened, and he quickened his pace.
As he got closer, he realized it was that Baldy from earlier in the morning, bringing a gang of hooligans to cause trouble. Zhou Zhijun immediately flew into a rage.
He shoved the soda into his clothes pocket, bent down to grab an egg-sized rock from the roadside, pinched it between his thumb and index finger, and flicked his wrist fiercely.
With a whoosh, the rock flew out like a bullet.
Hearing the sound, Baldy and his gang turned around abruptly, just as the flying rock struck Baldy squarely in the crotch.
Zhou Zhijun stood a dozen paces away, his face entirely expressionless, his gaze as cold as ice blades.
The few slouching hooligans, who had just been harassing Chuntao and acting like thugs, subconsciously shrank their necks and took a half-step back when they saw Zhou Zhijun.
Baldy clutched his crotch, the fat on his face twisting into a knot as he wailed loudly, Ouch, it is killing me...
When the hooligans snapped out of it, they quickly ran to Baldy's side to pull him up. Boss...
Baldy was trembling all over from the pain, his legs clamped tightly together.
He was terrified on the inside, but relying on their numbers, he still stiffened his neck and shouted.
You... you son of a bitch! You dare hit me? Today I will show you what I am made of!
Zhou Zhijun did not say a word, slowly walking over with a dark expression.
Seeing him, Chuntao loosened her grip on her hem, and her suspended heart finally settled back into her chest.
Her peach-blossom eyes instantly clouded with mist, and her lips trembled as she called out, Brother Zhijun!
Zhou Zhijun's gaze softened a bit. Mhm, do not be afraid!
The next second, his cold, gloomy eyes locked back onto Baldy. His voice was not loud, but it carried a ruthless edge. Just now, you touched her?
Baldy felt a chill under his stare but remained stubborn. So what if I did? What can you...
Before he could finish, Zhou Zhijun closed the distance in two strides, grabbed him by the tank top, and lifted him off the ground like a little chick.
Baldy's feet left the ground. Choked by his collar, his face instantly turned purplish-red, and his earlier tough words turned into muffled whimpers for mercy.
I will say it once, Zhou Zhijun's voice was low and icy, enunciating every word. If you lay another finger on her, I will end you!
With the agonizing pain in his crotch, how could Baldy dare to act tough? Put me down, I will not touch her!
Zhou Zhijun released his grip, and Baldy crashed to the ground with a thud, nearly splitting his rear end in two. He grimaced in pain, unable to get up for a long time.
The hooligans looked at each other, their faces deathly pale, standing there motionless like stones.
Baldy clutched his crotch with one hand and supported his waist with the other, yelling at the group of thugs, Are you dead... hurry... hurry up and help me up!
The thugs finally snapped out of their daze and rushed forward, clumsily hoisting Baldy up.
Baldy grimaced, wanting to curse a few times to save face, but meeting Zhou Zhijun's ice-cold stare, he swallowed the words back down.
The hooligans darted their eyes away and whispered to Baldy, Boss, a gentleman can wait ten years for revenge! Let us go back first...
Baldy was used to throwing his weight around this area; when had he ever suffered such humiliation? He was resentful but did not dare to clash head-on with Zhou Zhijun again.
Let us go! Move! Baldy squeezed the words through his teeth.
The thugs supported him as they scrambled away, though they did not forget to put on a show by muttering a curse under their breath.
You bastard, just you wait! I... I will bring more people back later!
Baldy was all talk, but terrified that Zhou Zhijun would chase after them, he let the two thugs practically drag him down the street.
Zhou Zhijun watched their miserable retreating figures, gave a cold snort, and then turned to look at Chuntao.
The coldness on his face instantly faded. He reached out and gently patted her shoulder, his tone softening. Are you alright?
Chuntao shook her head, the redness at the corners of her eyes not yet faded, and curled her lips into a small smile. I am fine.
He bent down and grasped Chuntao's small hand; her fingertips were icy cold and still trembling slightly.
Zhou Zhijun felt a prick of pain in his heart, like being stabbed by a needle. I am here, do not be afraid!
There were market-goers everywhere. Zhou Zhijun was actually holding her hand, if an acquaintance saw them, it would be a disaster.
Chuntao instinctively tried to pull her hand back, but Zhou Zhijun gripped it even tighter, pulling her over to the handcart before letting go.
Sit down!
Chuntao obediently sat on the fertilizer bag at the back of the cart.
Zhou Zhijun untied the brown paper bag in his hands. Hungry? Eat up, they are still hot!
Having only had a bowl of dough drop soup early in the morning, Chuntao's stomach had long been rumbling in protest. She reached out and took a bun.
Zhou Zhijun squatted in front of her, watching her eat. His gaze made her flustered, and two blushes crept up her cheeks again.
You eat too!
Chuntao lowered her eyes, not daring to look at Zhou Zhijun's face. She took small bites of the bun, keeping her eyes fixed on the two squeaking piglets.
Supporting the paper bag with one hand, Zhou Zhijun pulled the soda bottle from his pocket with the other, twisted it open, and handed it to her. Drink some to wash it down!
Chuntao did not take it. I am not thirsty, you drink it!
I drank a whole ladle of cold water at the restaurant. I am not used to drinking soda! He shoved it into Chuntao's hands without taking no for an answer.
Chuntao slowly chewed the savory meat bun. The ugly faces of that gang from earlier floated back into her mind, sending a chill down her spine.
If Zhou Zhijun had not arrived in time, she definitely would have suffered today; if it had been any other man, they would not have been able to handle that gang either.
Were those guys local tyrants or just street punks? Zhou Zhijun could handle a few street punks, but if they were really local tyrants, she feared...
Chuntao's heart clenched again, and the hand holding the bun unconsciously tightened.
Brother Zhijun, they took a beating, they definitely will not let this go. How about we head back soon, and sell these two at Qingshan Street tomorrow!
Zhou Zhijun looked at her and said softly, People like that are just paper tigers. Do not listen to his nonsense, he would not dare come back!
In the late afternoon, there were hardly any people left at the livestock market, so Zhou Zhijun loaded the two piglets onto the handcart, pulled them into town, and set up at a crossroads.
After waiting for an hour or two, they sold another one, leaving just one last piglet.
Afraid they would not make it back before dark, Chuntao said, Let us not sell this one. We will take it back and raise it ourselves!
But Zhou Zhijun replied, We are already here, let us wait a bit longer. If no one wants it by dusk, we will take it back. I will take it!
Zhou Zhijun figured the health clinic was about to close, and the piglet still had not sold.
He said to Chuntao, Let us go to the clinic and get your injury looked at first!
The injury on Chuntao's wrist had already healed, but she could not use too much force, or it would still hurt.
It is already healed, it is fine if we do not go!
Zhou Zhijun picked up her hand, his eyes fixed on the scar on her wrist, his chest tightening. I will do the fieldwork. Do not you touch anything.
Chuntao's nose tingled, and her eyes grew hot.
This man sometimes frightened her, but when he was good to her, his kindness was absolute and genuine.
Chuntao did not want to go look, and Zhou Zhijun did not force her.
The sun was already dipping into the west, and their last remaining piglet still had not been sold.
"Brother Zhijun, let's head back!"
Chuntao's greatest fear was being alone with Zhou Zhijun after dark, terrified that he might lose his temper and go crazy again halfway home.
Wanggang was over twenty li away from Wangjiazhai, meaning they definitely would not make it home before nightfall. Zhou Zhijun took hold of the handcart, preparing to make the journey back.
As they walked, Zhou Zhijun suddenly remembered something, and his brows instantly knitted together into a deep frown.
He initially thought about leaving the handcart by the side of the street and having Chuntao wait there for him, but the thought of Baldy and his gang made him far too uneasy to leave her alone.
"Come on, we are going to the clinic!" He suddenly yanked the handles of the cart, changing their direction with a tone that left no room for argument.
"What for? My wrist is all better, I don't need a doctor!" Chuntao jogged to catch up with him, questioning him in confusion.
Zhou Zhijun looked back at her, a suppressed urgency in his voice. "It is for me. Let's go, otherwise the clinic will be closed!"
