Chapter 16: Stand Up Against Injustice, Sword in Hand

Just the thought of that pot-bellied mayor, with his hair slicked back and shining, made Li Zhen furious.

Years ago, after her husband suddenly disappeared in the mountains, their son Cong Cong was only a few months old, and the elderly grandmother was still at home.

Li Zhen had no choice but to plead with the mayor, asking him to help organize a search party. To her shock, the mayor demanded money first—no money, no help.

Desperate, Li Zhen went up the mountain alone and found her husband already lifeless.

From that moment, she harbored a deep hatred for that greedy, selfish mayor.

The angrier Li Zhen became, the more daring she was. Just as Xiao Yi’s hand was about to reach a sensitive spot, she lifted her foot and stomped hard on his toe.

“Ow!” Xiao Yi doubled over, clutching his foot, hopping around like a one-legged rooster in pain.

He scowled, cursing under his breath, yet still threatened her: “You worthless woman! Me liking you is your blessing. As long as I speak a few words to my uncle, you and your son will be kicked out. Let’s see how you’ll survive alone!”

Li Zhen’s hand trembled on the kitchen knife. Although Yue Li Town was small, it was still home. If they were really driven out, how would they live? Cong Cong was still too young to endure such hardship.

Seeing her intimidated, Xiao Yi grew bolder. Rubbing his sore toe, he tiptoed closer, “Just promise me one thing: from now on, I’ll have your back, no matter what.”

As he spoke, his hand began wandering over her again.

Suddenly, a loud shout came from the doorway: “You filthy pervert, I’ll beat you to death!”

Before Xiao Yi could react, Qiu Yiyao charged in, wielding a broom.

“You’re supposed to be a doctor? What a moral wreck,” she exclaimed.

Qiu Yiyao had just returned with Cong Cong and happened upon Xiao Yi threatening Li Zhen.

With her fiery temper, she couldn’t stand by. Grabbing the broom nearby, she was ready to defend justice.

The bamboo handle struck Xiao Yi’s lower back hard. He howled and scrambled aside.

“You little brat! How dare you hit me!” Xiao Yi glared venomously at Qiu Yiyao. “Don’t think your old man can protect you and let you get away with this. Your good days are numbered. I’ll—”

Li Zhen cut him off sharply, “Xiao Yi, say another word and I’ll tell the mayor everything you’ve done.”

Mentioning the mayor, Xiao Yi’s bravado faltered. Though he liked to use his powerful uncle as a shield to run wild, deep down he feared him.

“Hmph, don’t think I’m scared just because of him,” Xiao Yi snapped, backing out of the kitchen, “We’ll see about that.”

Only when he fled the Li household did Qiu Yiyao finally relax, turning to check on Li Zhen.

Li Zhen looked at her gratefully but worried. “Yiyao, Xiao Yi’s no ordinary man. He’s cruel and cunning—the town’s despised rogue doctor. Why would he suddenly come to your home today? Is something wrong?”

Qiu Yiyao shook her head. “He didn’t say.”

But a bad feeling gnawed at her. Xiao Yi was a doctor—was he here about her illness? Yet she never saw him when she was hospitalized.

Or maybe Qiu Shengming had some secret connection with him, which explained the sudden visit.

With that thought, Qiu Yiyao hurried home. Qiu Shengming was clearing the table. Thinking she’d been out shopping, he advised, “It’s hot outside. If you go out, wait until the sun sets, or you’ll get tanned.”

“Xiao Yi came by earlier.”

Qiu Shengming paused, then masked his reaction with a casual tone: “Oh? What did he say?”

“Nothing, really. But...” Qiu Yiyao deliberately left it hanging, eyes fixed on his face, watching for any sign.

Qiu Shengming seemed to avoid her gaze, lowering his head to wipe the table, nonchalantly asking, “But what?”

“He wanted to bully Sister Zhen.”

Qiu Shengming’s hand stiffened. No need to think twice—when a grown man “bullies” a woman, the meaning was clear.

“And then?”

“I chased him away.”

Normally, Qiu Yiyao would proudly boast about driving off a scoundrel, but this time her voice was flat, as if recounting something ordinary.

Qiu Shengming sighed deeply, sitting down. “That Xiao Yi’s uncle is the mayor. This town seems peaceful on the surface, but beneath it, everything’s rotten.”

It was the first time Qiu Yiyao heard such words from him. But her concern was more immediate: Why had Xiao Yi come?

“Dad, why did that villain suddenly come looking for you? How are you involved with him? Is it because of my illness?”

Qiu Shengming smiled bitterly, gently stroking her hair. “Child, remember, everyone has their own burdens. I’ll protect you—I won’t let anyone harm you.”

Though he had said this before, this time it sparked a sudden fear in Qiu Yiyao’s heart, as if danger was silently approaching, and she didn’t know how to face it.

She was sometimes timid but never meek. Recalling the good times when her mother was alive, she couldn’t help but wonder: If her mother were still here, she wouldn’t be in Yue Li Town, wouldn’t suffer from delusions, and her father wouldn’t be entangled with scoundrels.

Could this be the fate that Bai Peiyu spoke of in her dream that night?

Looking up toward the upstairs landing, she saw Bai Peiyu standing there, looking down on the two of them.

Caught spying, Bai Peiyu showed no embarrassment or discomfort, just a cocky smirk.

He descended the stairs slowly.

When he reached them, he offered a comforting tone: “No matter how bold he is, he’s just a fool who’s blinded by money and women. If he dares cause trouble, he’s only courting death.”

His words reassured Qiu Yiyao but puzzled her. How could a tourist know Xiao Yi so well, as if he were a local?

More importantly, Qiu Shengming’s frown gradually eased as he nodded in agreement.

Qiu Yiyao was about to ask more when Bai Peiyu’s gaze quickly swept over her, lingering on her chest.

Startled, she crossed her arms to cover herself, shouting, “Where are you looking, pervert?”

Bai Peiyu sneered, “With what you’ve got, I’m not interested.”

Yet, he reached out to touch her chest.