Republic of China Era: Entering the Dao through Divine Strike

Chapter 7 The fickleness of human nature

"Stop right there, it's you. Take him back for questioning."

Several constables in blue robes rushed forward and pinned down a burly man carrying a load on a shoulder pole in the middle of the street.

The two children next to them were also quickly arrested.

The three people arrested were clearly a father and his two daughters. The burly man was probably under thirty years old, with a dry and dark complexion, while the two children looked to be eight or nine years old, dressed in tattered clothes.

The three were so frightened that the burly man's legs immediately went weak, and he trembled as he cried out that he was innocent.

The two children were also frightened and cried, calling for their father.

Li Cheng, who was hiding in front of a shop, watched as several constables fiercely seized a burly man and two children, and his expression changed drastically.

He turned to look at his second brother, Li Xin, who was farther away, his eyes filled with horror.

At this moment, he finally understood what Li Xin meant when he told the three of them to keep their distance.

It turned out there really was someone lying in ambush; he had thought of everything from the very beginning.

"Xiaoyue, don't show your face."

Li Cheng patted the basket on his back with his other hand and said softly.

"Xiaoyue is the most obedient. Second Brother has told her several times that she won't show her face."

The little girl was always very well-behaved in important situations.

Li Cheng felt relieved and tried to calm himself down. He saw his second brother blend into the crowd again and head towards the imperial city, so he quickly followed.

"This is definitely not the only case. I guess they arrest people regardless of whether they're right or wrong. Brother, don't look around. If any constables come by, I'll warn you."

Li Xin not only didn't panic, but actually felt relieved.

The arbitrary arrests by the constables prove one thing:

Last night, the two men who escaped and were caught probably couldn't give a clear explanation, as they couldn't describe the three men's appearances clearly.

Moreover, even if they were still alive, they were not brought to the capital for identification.

The reason is simple: although sixteen-year-old Li Cheng has thick eyebrows and big eyes and a rugged face, he is still a decent and heroic young man.

He was far inferior to that man in his thirties.

As for Li Xin and Li Xiaoyue, they resembled their mother and were much better looking.

Leaving aside myself, let's talk about Xiaoyue. Big eyes, small mouth, although she's so thin she's almost skeletal, her facial features are still extremely pleasing to the eye and very delicate.

If she's fattened up a bit, she'll definitely be a little beauty, smart and lovable.

They were much cuter than the two children who were arrested.

……

Along the way, Li Xin didn't go around asking questions to everyone he met, as that would be too conspicuous.

Most of the time, I have to find it myself.

When he arrived at the capital city, the main street forked in two directions. He hesitated, unsure which way to go.

Just then, an elderly man walked by. His clothes were not luxurious but they were neat and clean, and his face was ruddy. He strolled by with his hands behind his back.

Some civilians pushing wheelbarrows intentionally or unintentionally avoided him, not daring to push or shove.

People like this are idlers, they have some status but not much, they have a kind face and are not mean, and they like to nag when they get old.

You won't be scolded if you ask him for directions.

"Sir, do you know someone named Li Wanshan? I heard he runs a clinic on Qianmen Street?"

"You must be talking about Doctor Li. You've come to the right person. Baoshentang isn't very famous, and its business isn't great, but this doctor is truly skilled. What's your relationship with him?"

"It's my uncle..."

Li Cheng, standing five steps away, was overjoyed to hear that the old man knew about his uncle. He hurried over, but his words immediately gave him away.

Li Xin quickly raised his voice, interrupting him abruptly: "My uncle recommended him for treatment. My mother is seriously ill, so I went to inquire about her."

I wonder if this Dr. Li will actually make house calls? My uncle says his medical skills are superb, and his treatments are inexpensive.

"I see. What a filial and good child. If you go west along the Imperial City Wall, you'll pass about eleven or twelve shops before you see Baoshentang."

The old man didn't doubt it, gave Li Xin an appreciative look, and chuckled as he said a few words.

"Thank you, sir."

Li Xin bowed respectfully, bid farewell to the kind-looking old man, and quickly found the signboard of Baoshentang.

Peeking in, I saw the door was wide open, and the aroma of medicine wafted into my nostrils.

The front hall was deserted; a young man was wiping the counter, but there was no one else in the room.

Instead, a dispute arose from the backyard.

"I told you not to treat that person, but you insisted on doing so."

"Alright, now let's see how you handle this. If it really comes to it, I'll take Xiaowan back to my parents' house, and you'll be all alone."

The woman's voice was shrill, and even through the two doors, it sounded slightly grating.

"I wasn't so quick to judge back then... Madam, walls have ears, you'd better not say any more. This is a good opportunity, if we can seize it we can definitely turn things around."

A weary middle-aged voice rang out, filled with frustration and helplessness.

"Are you here to see a doctor?"

Just as Li Xin was about to listen to a few more words, the young man wiping the table next to him walked over.

The man appeared to be seventeen or eighteen years old, with a refined appearance and slightly thin lips. His gaze swept over Li Xin and Li Cheng with a hint of scrutiny, and his tone became less enthusiastic.

"Li Wanshan is my uncle. I've come to visit him."

"Li, Li... Master, someone from your hometown has come." The young man's expression changed, and he quickly turned around and called out, his face full of smiles.

"Uncle..."

Upon seeing Li Wanshan, Li Cheng burst into tears.

He quickly put Xiaoyue down and stepped forward to greet her.

The group then met their aunt again...

Li Xin hadn't forgotten to take the two wolf legs out of the basket on his back.

"You're Cheng'er, and there's Xiao Xin. Oh my, Xiao Yue'er has grown so much." Li Wanshan's eyes were also slightly moist. Forgetting that he was still at the door, he hurriedly asked, "How are my elder brother and sister-in-law? Are they alright?"

Upon hearing that the three siblings had suffered a disaster in their hometown and lost their parents, and had traveled a long way to the capital, Li Wanshan covered his face and burst into tears.

The aunt comforted her, and a little girl of eleven or twelve years old next to her also wiped away tears.

If I heard correctly.

This little girl must be my cousin, named Li Xiaowan.

"Madam, tidy up the west wing and let Cheng'er and the others stay there. Xiao Zhou and I will squeeze in, and you can sleep with Xiao Wan tonight."

After calming down a bit, Li Wanshan made the arrangements.

The young man waiting nearby quickly said, "No need, no need, Master, let them stay in my room. I'll stay in the front hall, just a plank and some bedding."

"How can that be? The front hall is cold and dewy at night. What if you get sick? Just listen to your uncle's arrangements."

Auntie suddenly interjected.

"aunt!"

The young man looked slightly embarrassed and fell silent.

Upon hearing this, Li Xin was slightly taken aback, as if he understood something.

From the moment he entered the backyard, he noticed that his aunt's face remained grim and she did not smile.

I don't know if it was because some poor relatives came to visit, or because of the previous argument.

Silently recite "Spirit Communication" to activate the secret technique.

Li Xin's eyes flickered slightly, and he was greatly surprised.

He noticed that his uncle, Li Wanshan, who was crying very sadly, had a very noticeable white glow around him.

And what about the aunt?

The arc of light around its body was gray, which was unpleasant to look at.

Besides her, the young man dressed as an embarrassed waiter also had a gray arc sheen on his body, which was even slightly blackish in color.

This is an actor.

On the contrary, her cousin Li Xiaowan had a light arc around her body that was light red.

If the orange-red glow emanating from the older brother and younger sister represents extreme closeness and trust, then the light red glow likely indicates goodwill and a closer relationship.

What the heck is white?

Gray and black, needless to say, just looking at them makes me feel uncomfortable.

It should be rejection, or even malice.

Is this really that melodramatic?

Before his elder brother Li Cheng could say anything, Li Xin spoke up, "We just came to visit Uncle and Aunt. It's not that we didn't want to stay the night, but our elder brother has already found work and has a place to stay, so there's no need to trouble him."

"How can that be? You're all unfamiliar with the capital, and I don't feel comfortable letting you stay outside."

Li Wanshan's expression changed. He grabbed his beard and said angrily, "Doing this means you don't treat me like your uncle. How am I supposed to explain this to my elder brother and sister-in-law?"

"Second Uncle, you're too kind. It's not that far. When we have time, my siblings and I will come to visit, so we can get to know Xiaowan better."

Li Xin said with a smile, his voice not loud, but very firm.

"You're leaving as soon as you arrive? That won't do. You have to have lunch at least."

The aunt's expression softened slightly, and her voice became gentler.

Li Xin noticed that the gray arc of light on her body gradually faded and eventually turned white.

However, the young man named Xiaozhou, though still smiling, remained unchanged in his gray attire.

As for his uncle, Li Wanshan.

He was still white.

I remember my parents saying that after my grandfather passed away, before my second uncle got married, he was raised by my parents. They supported him in studying medicine and martial arts.

At that time, the family was doing well, and a large sum of money was spent on him...

……

After having a meal at their uncle's house that they couldn't quite describe, the siblings said goodbye and left.

Li Wanshan saw him to the door and slipped a silver ingot into Li Cheng's arms. After some polite refusals, Li Cheng accepted it.

Li Xin didn't say anything more, behaving like a child.

On the contrary, Xiaoyue and Li Xiaowan got along very well during the meal, chatting away and reluctant to part.

We walked a long way.

Li Cheng turned his head to look back, suddenly sighed, and lowered his head.

"We have money, where can't we settle down and make a living?" Li Xin looked at Li Cheng with amusement, thinking to himself that although his elder brother was reckless, he wasn't stupid.

"Second brother, don't try to sound like a know-it-all. You know I don't understand what you're saying."

"No, when it's time to understand, you understand better than anyone else."

Li Xin said meaningfully.

The eldest brother had actually noticed it long ago; his uncle and aunt were acting like they were "sending away a plague god."

The group of us came here seeking refuge. It wasn't that Baoshentang couldn't accommodate us, but rather that they didn't want to.

Finally, they gave me five taels of silver. I accepted it; perhaps it would put everyone at ease.

Farmers have their own way of life, they are both proud and self-conscious, and they are actually very clear about many things.

"Yes, Big Brother is the smartest," Xiaoyue said quietly, lying in the basket on her back.

"Haha." Li Cheng grinned and laughed, looking like a complete fool.

"You weren't full just now, Xiaoyue, let's go get another meal."

"Okay, okay, I want to eat that red soup. It smells so good, it looks delicious."

The white steamed buns and bright red mutton offal soup were a hit, attracting a large crowd to the stall.

Li Xin, with his sharp eyes, also noticed the crooked handwriting on it:

[Steamed Bun: One Article]

Lamb soup: 6 coins

It's not expensive.

"Then let's go have a bowl of soup. It looks like there's quite a bit of meat in it."

The three siblings were severely depleted; they could never get enough meat to eat.

I barely touched my food at my uncle's house, and now I'm really craving it.

"The taste is just so-so."

The group sat down and each ordered a bowl of mutton offal soup that was cooked until very soft.

Seeing his elder brother and Xiaoyue eating with relish, Li Xin blew on the hot drink and took a sip, feeling somewhat disappointed.

All I can say is that, apart from the saltiness and the gamey smell, the broth wasn't particularly delicious; it felt like something was missing.

Surprisingly, this flavor is actually doing quite well in business...

We should be grateful to have meat to eat, why be so picky?

Li Xin's gaze swept over the diners in their tattered clothes, and a slight thought stirred within him.

"Second brother, it's so delicious! Can I have another bowl? No, just half a bowl?" Xiaoyue pleaded pitifully.

"Okay, I'll bring you another bowl." Li Xin readily agreed, thinking to himself that the girl had always been very close to him since she was little, and never hesitated to ask for food, which was actually quite nice.

Li Cheng felt a pang of sadness and quickly said, "Then I'll go get some steamed buns for Xiaoyue so you can have a full meal."

"Big brother is the best." Xiaoyue's words were as sweet as honey.

The two brothers exchanged a glance, then turned around to fetch soup and food.

Li Xin handed her a bowl, took a bowl of soup, and a smile still lingered on his face. In the blink of an eye, he realized that Xiaoyue was gone from his table.

He looked up abruptly and saw a tall, muscular man carrying someone as he ran through the crowd in the distance. He was moving incredibly fast.

You can see those little feet in straw sandals kicking and stomping with all their might.

"Xiaoyue".

Li Xin shouted sharply, threw down the soup bowl in his hand, and darted out like an arrow.

……