Chapter Seventy-Three: Forceful Repulsion

Yun Niang bit her lip, then followed Zhou Jinfan’s example and took a piece of wood from the nearby firewood pile, determinedly walking forward, but was stopped by Grandfather Xie, who called out, “Yun Niang, have you forgotten what Tangtang said earlier?”

Yun Yang’s expression froze for a moment, recalling how Xie Qingtang had told her that no matter what happened in the front hall, she need not go there; her only responsibility was to take care of her eldest brother and Grandfather Xie in the backyard.

After a period of recovery, Grandfather Xie’s health had improved somewhat. Listening to the sounds from the front, his hands gripped the wheelchair’s armrests tightly, his face dark and grim, teeth clenched as he slapped the armrest, saying, “Yun Niang, take me to the front.”

“No, sir, I promised Doctor Xie to look after you well. I was a bit impulsive just now, but I should focus on the tasks Doctor Xie entrusted to me.” Yun Niang tossed aside the stick and refused Grandfather Xie’s request, unwilling to wheel him out.

Meanwhile, the situation in the front worsened. The men in black had already smashed the medicine cabinets of the Benevolence Hall, and now they were approaching the cabinet where the Four-leaf Ghost Needle Grass was stored. Xie Qingtang could no longer hold herself back; she drew out a silver needle and flung it directly at the men.

“Ah, I’ll fight you all!” At this moment, Zhou Jinfan, clutching a stout club, charged out from behind and struck a man forcefully.

The next second, the man who was hit did not fall, but four men beside him suddenly collapsed to the ground without warning, their bodies convulsing weakly.

Seeing this, Zhou Jinfan stood frozen, staring blankly at the club in his hands, muttering, “What’s going on? Could it be I’ve mastered some supernatural martial art, striking through barriers?”

Shao Siming, witnessing the scene, was momentarily stunned, his brows knitting tightly as he looked toward Xie Qingtang. If he hadn’t been mistaken, it appeared Xie Qingtang had thrown silver needles, which pierced those four men and caused their collapse.

The man struck by the club, his face flushed with anger, turned and punched Zhou Jinfan in the face, knocking him to the ground.

“Zhou Jinfan, move aside,” Xie Qingtang said coldly. Zhou Jinfan glanced back and saw his boss holding a small porcelain bottle, quickly scrambling toward her.

The next moment, Xie Qingtang uncapped the bottle and flicked its powdery contents forward.

Shao Siming, sensing the danger, swiftly retreated a step, but the men in black he brought, upon contact with the powder, staggered drunkenly and collapsed to the floor.

Witnessing this, Shao Siming was deeply shaken; had he delayed a moment, his fate would have been no different from those sprawled on the ground.

“Xie Qingtang, you vicious woman, how dare you use poison!” Shao Siming spoke coldly to Xie Qingtang.

Zhou Jinfan, standing behind Xie Qingtang, retorted, “So what if she used poison? You were the ones who started trouble and smashed my Benevolence Hall. If you die from poison, you had it coming.”

“Shao Siming, I am no longer the little girl you bullied over a decade ago. Don’t think I’m easy to push around now. Take your dogs and get lost. If you dare come again, whether they keep their miserable lives is not certain,” Xie Qingtang said, her eyes flashing with icy light.

Shao Siming had intended to bring his men and snatch Grandfather Xie back from Xie Qingtang, but now it was clear things were not as simple as he had imagined.

“So, Xie Qingtang, you returned just to oppose me. Very well. It seems there’s no need to maintain any pretense of father-daughter affection. We’ll see who prevails,” Shao Siming snorted coldly, a trace of icy disdain at the corner of his lips as he turned and left.

Watching his departing figure, Zhou Jinfan shouted, “Hey, why aren’t you taking your trash with you?”

The “trash” he spoke of naturally referred to Shao Siming’s henchmen, still unconscious in the Benevolence Hall.

Without stopping, Shao Siming strode away. Xie Qingtang, gazing at the chaotic scene of the Benevolence Hall, her eyes flashed with anger but she said nothing, instead producing the antidote and revived all the poisoned men in black.

“Get out. If there’s a next time, I won’t be so merciful,” Xie Qingtang said sternly. The men in black dared not linger, scrambling away as fast as they could.

Back in the backyard, Grandfather Xie sat in his wheelchair, looking at Xie Qingtang. He said nothing, only took her hand, his gaze full of concern and affection.

“Grandfather, I’m fine. As long as I’m here, I will never allow Shao Siming to harm you,” Xie Qingtang declared resolutely.

Grandfather Xie’s eyes reddened slightly, but he smiled with relief, lifting his weathered hand to gently caress her face, and said with satisfaction, “If your mother were still here, she too would never allow Shao Siming to harm me.”

Mentioning her mother brought a pang of sorrow to Xie Qingtang, but she did not wish to say more, lest she stir painful memories for her grandfather.

Early the next morning, Li Zhao arrived at the Benevolence Hall to collect medicine, only to find the doors tightly shut. Somewhat puzzled, he knocked lightly.

After some time, Zhou Jinfan finally opened his eyes, revealing only a narrow slit, and before he could see Li Zhao’s face, he said, “The Benevolence Hall is closed today for renovations.”

“Oh, is the Benevolence Hall being renovated?” Suspicion flickered in Li Zhao’s eyes. Hearing the familiar voice, Zhou Jinfan instantly shook off his sleepiness.

Seeing that it was indeed Li Zhao at the door, Zhou Jinfan’s face broke into a warm smile, for this was the secretary of their patron.

Indeed, at this moment, Zhou Jinfan regarded Gu Xiujin as their benefactor; the medicine Gu Xiujin purchased every week was no small expense.

As Xie Qingtang had said, there’s no reason not to make money off the wealthy, so naturally the price of the medicine was raised.

Of course, if Gu Xiujin knew Xie Qingtang regarded him as an easy mark, he would surely be enraged.

Li Zhao smiled and said to Zhou Jinfan, “Gu always finishes his medicine, so I’ve come to the Benevolence Hall to pick up more.”

“Come in, come in,” Zhou Jinfan immediately welcomed him warmly.

Li Zhao was momentarily taken aback by the devastation inside the Benevolence Hall, keenly sensing something was amiss.