A ragged cub at the beginning

"You stole someone else's child without even showing your face. Is it over if you just return the child?" Tang Xu's voice was not loud, but it was powerful.

"Young lady, please forgive others when you can." Zhu Xiaoting said the last three words with a threatening look in his eyes. He knew that it would be best for Zhu Wuqing to come forward, but that idiot could not stand provocation. If he said something stupid, he would not be able to make up for it in front of so many people. "When he heard that so many people were coming outside, Mr. Zhu was so excited that he fell down and had difficulty walking. Please bear with me, young lady." Don't push your luck!

Tang Xu saw through his threat. Sure enough, these two families were having an affair! Pah!

"The Zhu family are all human traffickers! Give me back my child!"

"Is my child in there too? Give me back my child!"

"Give me back my daughter! Give me back my daughter!" A ragged woman rushed out from the crowd, and Zhu Xiaoting was caught off guard and pounced on by her. "Where did this crazy woman come from? Take her away!"

"Give me back my daughter, give me back my daughter! Yanyan! My Yanyan!" The woman's high voice was shrill and piercing, and people frowned when they heard it. She desperately scratched Zhu Xiaoting's clothes with both hands, and the two strong servants couldn't do anything to her.

Tang Xu hugged the two children in her arms. She knew that this woman must be one of the victims. But she had no power and could not seek justice for her daughter. In the ancient times with clear hierarchy, sometimes you risked your life, but it was just a life. She glanced at the door of Zhu's house. Was it possible to encourage everyone to go in and search?

As soon as this thought came to his mind, more than a dozen strong men came running over from somewhere and pulled the woman off Zhu Xiaoting.

"Give me back my daughter! Yanyan! Yanyan!" The woman almost shouted at the top of her voice, her voice was shrill and desperate.

Seeing that she was about to be dragged into the Zhu family by the servants, Tang Xu suddenly stood up and said, "This is a lunatic, Mayor, please be magnanimous and let her go."

"Let her go!"

"Let him go, he's just a lunatic."

"Yeah."

Zhu Xiaoting could no longer maintain his hypocritical smile, and turned back to glare at Tang Xu as if he were looking at a dead man. However, he quickly restrained his expression, patted the corner of his clothes and said, "Of course I won't bother with a madman, drag her away and let her go." He looked coldly and glanced at the people around him, "Don't you want to disperse? Are you not going to do business?" This was full of threat, and some people quietly left the crowd.

The crowd that had been in an uproar just now became quiet, and those who wanted to take advantage of the chaos to demand their children back looked unwilling.

"What else do you want to do! If you don't retreat, don't blame me for sending people to attack." About twenty strong men stood behind Zhu Xiaoting, pointing sticks in their hands at the crowd.

The crowd immediately stepped back. Tang Xu looked at so many people and didn't know how to thank them for supporting her. It was not practical for so many people to give gifts. Suddenly, an idea popped up in her mind. She raised the big gong and knocked it again, saying, "Fellow villagers, I used to paint portraits for people on Shuxiang Street. Recently, I bought a new shop on Guixiang Street. It will open in five days. As long as you come to the store today, all portraits will be 50% off!"

I advertised! I also gave a discount as a thank you! I am such a smart guy!

"Portrait? What portrait?"

"I know, I know. There used to be a stall on Shuxiang Street. I haven't seen it in the past few days. It turns out that it has opened a shop."

“It’s such a lifelike painting!”

"I have seen it, and it does look like it."

"Is it really 50% off? How much is one?"

"It's said that it's 15 cents per person, so after the discount, it's only 7 or 8 cents, right?"

"Is this true? That scholar would spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on portraits for others?"

"Can a woman draw well?"

"You look down on women? Then why don't you ask your mother to put you back? Ugh!"

Tang Xu repeated it several times before she left with the children, ignoring the mayor who had a dark face behind her. After making sure everyone heard, she bowed again, "Thank you for your help, folks! Come to my shop for a cup of hot tea when you have time."

The crowd was agitated for a while and then gradually dispersed.

Zhu Xiaoting had never seen such a reckless woman in his life. She first stirred up the emotions of the crowd and asked people to help her build momentum and put pressure on them. Then she even did not forget to advertise her shop. She was simply shameless! Not only did the Zhu family lose face, but she also got a great bargain!

"Let's go! Let's go home!" Tang Xu took the children to the clinic, holding one in each hand. The old doctor almost didn't recognize Qiyue when he saw her, and then he believed what she said about raising them well. But when he saw the two children's faces full of fear, he calmed down and asked, "Are you scared?"

Tang Xu coaxed the children to the table and said, "The two children were captured by the Zhu family and were brought back. Please help check if they are injured."

"Come, let me take your pulse." Although the old doctor had a bad temper, he was very patient with the children. Seeing that the children were frightened, he stretched out his hand very slowly to avoid scaring them again.

After feeling the pulse, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "You are fine, but you need to take good care of yourself in the next two days. I'll prescribe you a tranquilizing soup. Be alert at night and don't sleep too deeply."

"Okay." Tang Xu felt relieved. Zhao Yunniang was completely in trouble. If anything happened, she would be responsible.

When it was July's turn, the old doctor frowned and looked at Tang Xu: "Has this child been frightened before?"

"Yes." Today's events were a hot topic, and everyone who should know about it knew it. She did not hide anything and directly told him about the fact that July was kicked by Zhu Tou. She also explained that the doctor had prescribed the same tranquilizing soup last time, and after drinking it, she slept soundly at night without fever.

The old doctor had also heard about the incident last time when Zhu Tou did not spare a mother and son on the street, but he did not expect it to be this girl. He wrote down the prescription on paper and pen, and said: "You have been frightened frequently in a short period of time, so you must be extra careful tonight."

"I will." Tang Xu paid for the medicine and took the two children home.

The three members of the Fang family were all there, including Zhao Yunniang's father. When he saw his daughter, he rushed over and hugged her in his arms. "Yunniang, are you okay?"

"Dad..." Zhao Yunniang cried out aggrievedly and burst into tears in her father's arms.

Fang Zijun and Dong Wanwan also came over and checked July from head to toe. Before July could say anything, Fang Zijun burst into tears.

Now, Qiyue couldn't hold it in any longer. The three older children tilted their heads back and opened their mouths in the same position, their cries piercing the ears like devilish sounds.

Tang Xu first apologized to Zhao Sanping for causing Zhao Yunniang to suffer because of his deeds. She also thanked Zhao Yunniang for her bravery in protecting Qiyue. Thinking of the situation of the Zhao family, she took out five taels of silver and stuffed it into Zhao Yunniang's clothes.

"How can this be possible!" Zhao Sanping was a man, so he couldn't rummage through his daughter's clothes, so he hurriedly asked his daughter to take out the silver and return it. "The child wasn't hurt, so forget it."

Tang Xu took a few steps back and refused to take the money. "Brother Zhao, keep it for Sister Tao to see a doctor. Don't refuse it. Yunniang was frightened. Hurry up and take the tranquilizing soup back for the child to drink."

Dong Wanwan opened her mouth in surprise when she saw such a large ingot of silver. Then she followed Tang Xu's words and advised, "Yes, Brother Zhao, take the child back quickly and make some medicine for him, and then give Xiao Tao some good nourishment."

Zhao Sanping couldn't refuse, but thinking of his wife at home, he accepted it. He had never done anything to repay a favor, his face flushed, he thanked Tang Xu in embarrassment, and took his daughter back.

Tang Xu turned to Fang Zijun, the guilt in his heart about to overflow. This child had suffered twice, and the bump on his forehead was swollen and shiny, as if it was about to burst the skin. "Dandan, does it hurt?"

"You're a man, it doesn't matter." Dong Wanwan smiled.

"It doesn't hurt..." Fang Zijun wiped his tears, feeling a little embarrassed for crying so hard.

How could it not hurt? Dong Wanwan probably felt more pain than Fang Zijun. How could she feel good when her good son got hurt again and again?

"When Dandan was a child, he fell from a tree, which was much more serious than this. It's okay. Just eat two pieces of meat later and you'll be fine." Dong Wanwan saw that Tang Xu was upset and comforted him with a few words.

"Yeah, this kid has been injured a lot since he was little. Last time he broke his leg, which was much more serious than this, but he's alive and kicking again in two days." Fang Yuanqin said with a smile after being twisted by his wife's elbow.

After hearing what the couple said, Tang Xu stopped being hypocritical. She just needed to be nicer to Fang Zijun in the future. She held Fang Zijun's hand and said, "Let's go to aunt's house and eat some meat to replenish our body."

"No, no, I just sent you a big bowl." Dong Wanwan refused.

"By the way, the walls have been painted and need to be left to air for two days. I went to the carpenter's shop to order the furniture you wanted. Have you decided on the name of your shop? Do I need to make a plaque?" Fang Yuanqin hurriedly said, remembering the reason why he came back.

Tang Xu stopped and said, "The name has been decided, let's keep this moment! I forgot about the plaque, do you have enough silver?"

"That's enough. Did you write the words on this plaque, or did you find someone else to do it?" Fang Yuanqin asked again.

"My handwriting is not very good-looking," Tang Xu thought of someone whose handwriting must be good-looking, "Wait for the handwriting first."

"That's fine."

I took the two children home. It was almost dark and the meat in the pot had already gone cold. Tang Xu cooked the rice and they would eat the pig's trotter rice directly. He also fried some vegetables and that was it.

I don't know how Jiarui is doing, but I still have the snacks that Luhuan gave me. Tang Xu packed some snacks, put a bowl of meat in it, and went to Du's house.

It was Du Yun who opened the door. This was Tang Xu's first visit. "Miss Tang, please come in." The tall young man's eyes seemed to light up when he saw her.

Tang Xu shook his head. "I won't go in. I just want to ask how Jiarui is doing. Has he seen a doctor? What did the doctor say?"

"There's a bruise on her thigh, but otherwise she's fine." Du Yun was afraid that she would feel too guilty, so he added, "She was still jumping around and asking for candy in the afternoon."

"That's good. This is for Jiarui. I'll go home first." Tang Xu took two steps and turned back to ask, "Will Jiarui come to class later? Are you free to take him there?"

What does this mean? She wants him to go? Is that right? Du Yun couldn't help but think too much, but he suppressed it. It's not respectful to a girl to think like this. Maybe she wants to ask him for something else. Du Yun nodded restrainedly, "Yes, I'll go."

"Okay." Tang Xu was very happy to get the answer. He would prepare paper and pen for Du Yun and ask him to help write a plaque! He would not refuse.

Fang Zijun and Qiyue were sitting at the table, each holding a bowl, their faces almost put into the bowl, and their saliva was almost dripping out.

Tang Xu looked at the two little guys in confusion, "Why didn't you eat?"

"Aunt Xu, please come here quickly. I'm so hungry." Fang Zijun waved.

"Mom, come and sit down. Brother Dandan has prepared the food for you!" July patted the stool and greeted her.

"Your balls are so nice? They're not burned, are they?" Tang Xu praised immediately. She really didn't expect Fang Zijun to serve her rice.

"No! I won't get burned! I'm very tall! I can do it!" In order to show how tall he is, Fang Zijun stood up and compared himself with July. He was almost six years old, and his mother took good care of him, so naturally he was taller than July, who was less than five years old. July was even a head shorter than him.

Tang Xu didn't expose her, but nodded with a smile. Qiyue was unhappy, "I eat a lot, so I will grow taller!" She looked at her mother uncertainly, "Right, mother?"

"Yes, yes, yes, eat quickly, it's getting cold."

After dinner, Qiyue played with Fang Zijun for a while, and Du Jiarui was carried over by Du Yun. Tang Xu came forward and said, "Jiarui, does your leg still hurt?"

Du Jiarui shook his head, thought for a moment, and then pointed with two fat fingers, "It hurts a little bit."

"That's good. Come, Aunt Xu will hold him." Tang Xu took the little fat boy and called the other two to the small classroom. Just as the class was about to start, Du Yun led Zhao Yunniang over. "She knocked on the door, so I opened it."

"Thank you, Yunniang, come quickly, it's time for class."

Zhao Yunniang nodded happily and ran over to sit on the small stool beside her. She only had a stool but no table, so Tang Xu thought about getting a set of tables and chairs.

The first time this little girl met Fang Zijun, she stopped him from going with the stranger. This time she protected July as well. It can be seen that her parents have brought her up very well.

However, she still has to give the children a safety lesson today, telling them not to ask for food from strangers, not to go with strangers, and to go home quickly to find an adult if they encounter danger, and not to put themselves in danger.

Du Yun was listening to a small class in the yard. It was true that a gentleman should not stand under a dangerous wall, but was it a bit cold to educate children in this way? However, when he thought of the large purple patch on Du Jiarui's leg and his heart-wrenching cry when he rubbed the medicated oil, he felt that it was right. The child had the heart to protect his friends, but he did not have the ability to protect himself, which would put himself in danger.

After Tang Xu finished a class, Du Jiarui limped over and said, "Aunt Xu, what kind of meat did you cook today? It's delicious! I ate a lot!"

"Braised pork, braised pig's trotters, they are delicious. I will make them for you next time."

"I want one too, I want one too!" Fang Zijun was not willing to be outdone and shouted very loudly.

"Everything my mother cooks is delicious!" Qiyue hugged Tang Xu's arm, full of possessiveness. This is his mother alone, and although he likes Dandan and Jiarui very much, he can't share them.

Let the children play by themselves, Tang Xu took out a pen and paper and went to Du Yun, "Mr. Du, I want to ask you a favor."

Du Yun found this strange tone a little funny and said, "What's the matter? Tell me."

"Please write a few words for me. I'm planning to open a shop and I'm still short of a plaque." Tang Xu shook the paper and pen in his hand.

"I'd be happy to do it." Although he was puzzled as to why she didn't write it herself, Du Yun was not unwilling. He even felt flattered and felt that it was his honor. He didn't know why he had such a strange idea. He knew that even if those gentry came to him with silver, he might not be willing to write a calligraphy. "What's the name of the shop?"

"Keep this moment." Tang Xu said.

Du Yun thought about it and realized that when she painted portraits, wasn't the purpose to record the person's appearance at the moment? The name was indeed worthy of the name.

The ink had been ground, and Du Yun went to the kitchen to clean his hands and dried them carefully. He then carefully spread out the rice paper and flattened it. Du Yun held the wide sleeve of his right hand with one hand, picked up the pen, dipped it in ink, and wrote the four words smoothly.

The pen tip is sharp, the force penetrates the back of the paper, and the calligraphy is good. It is said that the handwriting reflects the person. Du Yun looks gentle and elegant, with the air of a scholar. But his handwriting looks sharp and aggressive.

Tang Xu couldn't tell the style of the calligraphy, but she thought that Du Yun might not be as gentle as he looked. But it was normal for young people to have some edges and corners. She thanked him happily and took the calligraphy to her room. The calligraphy was so beautiful.