Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 233 Borrowing a Knife to Kill Someone (3)
"Let’s go to the ready-to-wear store and pick up some clothes for spring,"
"Yes, miss." The two followed behind Feng Xuxu, looking around as they walked, still observing which store had the prettiest clothes, occasionally whispering their opinions to each other.
After visiting one ready-to-wear store after another, they finally purchased a satisfactory long skirt and several bolts of fabric from a shop. Having left the store and seeing that both of her companions’ hands were full, she found a place to eat.
Sitting upstairs, they ordered a few local specialties that tasted somewhat salty, the flavor primarily savory.
"Miss, look quickly." Feng Xuxu followed the direction of the window and saw not far across from the restaurant, a crowd had gathered at the doorstep of a wealthy household. There stood a man dressed not quite like a master but better than a servant, probably the butler of the house.
"Humph, of all the bad habits to pick up, you had to choose stealing. I won’t stop beating you until you are half dead today." The butler, eyes glaring, whipped the young boy continuously with a whip in his hand.
From the second floor, Feng Xuxu watched the boy below. Despite being battered and wounded, he remained silent, his face stubbornly defiant.
"Oh dear, what did this child do to deserve such a beating? If it continues, you’re going to beat him to death," an old lady who had been watching the commotion couldn’t bear it any longer and stepped forward to say something.
"Indeed, indeed, to be so harsh on a child," the onlookers couldn’t bear to watch, and each of them stepped forward to offer advice.
The butler, seemingly tired from the beating, noticed the unsympathetic glances of the crowd around him and heaved a heavy sigh, "Ah, my fellow townspeople, it’s not that I am too harsh, but he’s just too disappointing. The petty thefts of the past were one thing, but this time he even stole from our lady’s room and got caught red-handed by the master. The original plan was to report him to the authorities, but the lady begged for mercy which allowed the master to be lenient. The master felt disgraced, so we had to make an example by punishing him and expelling him from the household."
"Ah, so it’s like that. Unimaginable that one so young could commit such acts; he thoroughly deserves a beating to death," said the old lady who had initially been full of sympathy. But after hearing the butler’s words, without seeking further clarity, she immediately turned around and berated the boy, fiercely glared at the youngster lying on the ground, and walked away with her basket after giving him a stern scolding.
"Hmph, really, out of everything to learn, he learns thievery. He deserves the beating, let’s go, don’t want to catch any bad luck," once the spectators heard the story, they dispersed, spitting in disdain at the person on the ground.
Seeing that the crowd had dispersed, the butler changed his demeanor and said disdainfully to the nearly unconscious person on the ground, "Pah, you think you can trick our lady, huh? You’re still too naive. Now scram. The lady has a kind heart and has spared your life." After saying his piece, the butler walked through the gate without looking back.
The boy struggled to his feet, his eyes filled with hatred as he looked at the now closed door. After staring intently for a moment, he turned and left without looking back, staggering forward with great difficulty. "Miss, to think the common people are so foolish to believe anything they are told without questioning the person involved," Baihe said indignantly at the scene.
"Yes, let’s go down and have a look." Feng Xuxu stood up lightly and descended the stairs.
The master and servants followed the boy at a distance, observing as he continued to walk with difficulty. When the pain became unbearable, he would lean against the wall, his fingers digging deep into it, yet he still didn’t fall. He paused momentarily, then carried on walking.
A glint flashed across Feng Xuxu’s bright eyes, and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly as she stepped forward to block the boy’s path.
"Why?" Feng Xuxu asked indifferently.
The boy was startled and then took a couple of steps back, warily watching the three people who had suddenly appeared before him.
