Mei Nianzhi was chatting idly with others, when he caught a glimpse of a group of youths surrounding Gou Dai, heading towards Chen Tang's carriage, causing him to frown slightly.

Just then, by a stroke of coincidence, Mei Yingxue accidentally had wine spilled on her clothes and was changing inside the carriage.

Mei Nianzhi was about to get up, but several people around him persuaded, "Brother Mei, don't worry, they're just kids, what could happen? Let them be, let's continue drinking."

The people from the Evil Wolf Gang also came over to toast at someone's signal.

Mei Nianzhi found it hard to refuse and had to deal with the immediate situation.

Chen Tang went into the forest and watched the direction of the convoy for a while.

No one followed him.

Chen Tang walked by himself into the forest on this side, collecting some firewood was just part of his purpose; the main thing was to give Gou Dai's group a chance.

To let them come to him and teach them a lesson.

However, Gou Dai seemed to have become smarter and did not provoke him.

Chen Tang wasn't worried about the situation by the carriage, after all, with the old fat man and Qingmu there, no major problems would occur.

As he was picking up firewood in the forest, he suddenly noticed some fire pits in a deep part of the woods that had just been extinguished not long ago.

Chen Tang squinted slightly, first surveying the surroundings, saw no figures, and then slowly approached.

Finding fire pits was common, as hunters and travelers passing through might make them.

But there were quite a few fire pits scattered around, more than twenty in total, with chaotic footprints and hoof prints in the surrounding snow leading one to estimate there were over a hundred people!

If it were just passing caravans, they would usually make fires beside the official roads to guard the carriages.

Such a large group of people running deep into the woods to make fires was somewhat suspicious.

These fire pits were still warm; this group must have just left not long ago.

Chen Tang pondered for a moment, didn't linger here, picked up some firewood, and left.

As soon as he walked out of the forest, he saw a crowd gathered around his carriage, most of the Plum Blossom Martial Arts Hall convoy huddled over there, surrounded in a circle, not sure what had happened.

Chen Tang frowned and strode over quickly.

"What's going on?"

Chen Tang, tall and broad-shouldered, pushed his way through the crowd with a few strokes, squeezing in.

Zhiwei stood timidly, somewhat at a loss.

Qingmu stood in front of her, facing the angry crowd on the opposite side with looks as if they would devour someone, feeling angry and unsure how to handle it.

The old fat man poked his round head out from the carriage window, leisurely watching the scene.

On seeing Chen Tang approach, Qingmu breathed a sigh of relief.

"Just now, that group of youths came to find Zhiwei, wanting to take her over there to play. Zhiwei refused, and a few people started laying hands to forcibly take her over."

Qingmu recounted, "I couldn't stand by and let it happen, so I intervened to stop them."

In a few words, Qingmu explained the cause of the incident.

"What nonsense are you spouting! What's this about laying hands? My Wen Dong is the most obedient and well-mannered, how could he take an interest in your servant girl, he even finds her dirty!" A gaudy woman shouted.

"Right, how serious could something between kids get, is there any need for you adults to step in, even drawing weapons! Don't you have any sense?"

Qingmu promptly explained, "I didn't use the blade, I just used the scabbard to push them away, and I wasn't heavy-handed."

"Who said you weren't heavy-handed? My child cried from the pain!"

Another woman slightly nudged the boy she held in her arms.

The boy, who had been peeking over, immediately got the message and started wailing.

"Apologize!"

"Compensate!"

"You and that servant girl must apologize to us, and let us hit back!"

"What are children playing around for, and you, an adult, are using weapons—this is unacceptable!"

"They are countryside folks after all, who don't know the rules."

"That servant girl doesn't know what's good for her, an uneducated thing!"

"You guys are going too far, after all, you were the ones who first provoked Zhiwei!" Mei Yingxue's words were quickly drowned out and seemed a bit weak.

The opposing crowd of dozens of people were all shouting, creating a flood of saliva threatening to drown the area.

Qingmu, dealing with the Evil Wolf Gang people, could strike swiftly without restraint, but facing this group of shrill, rolling women with their rogue faces, was momentarily at a loss.

She couldn't very well draw her swords and kill these people all.

After all, the situation hadn't reached that point.

But to ask her to compensate and apologize, she couldn't swallow it.

They were the ones who first provoked Zhiwei.

If she hadn't intervened just then, Zhiwei would have been dragged away by those youths and definitely bullied!

This matter had escalated so much that Zhiwei felt guilty towards Chen Tang, feeling that she had caused trouble for the family, with red eyes filled with aggrieved helplessness.

On hearing the words 'an uneducated thing,' she couldn't hold back anymore, tears streaming down her face.

Although some memories were blurred,

she clearly remembered having a mother.

Her mother was a gentle and kind person, treated her extremely well, and taught her many things.

Mei Nianzhi felt a headache seeing this scene.

If he'd known, he should have stopped those youths right when they went over, so it wouldn't escalate to this, difficult to manage.

Though the cause lay with Gou Dai and the others, on this side there were many people, emotions ran high, and each was a prominent figure in Changze County. If not handled properly, it indeed would be difficult to settle.

"Everyone, please calm down and listen to me."

Mei Nianzhi said resignedly, "This incident stems from some misunderstandings. Everyone, please calm down. Since this young lady injured someone, an apology and compensation are rightful. As for the matter of hitting back, I ask everyone to go easy..."

"No way!"

Mei Nianzhi hadn't finished speaking and was interrupted by a woman.

Another wealthy merchant said seriously, "Hall Master Mei, though it involved children playing, an explanation is necessary, it can't just pass lightly."

The people from the Evil Wolf Gang seized the opportunity to heckle, "Hall Master Mei, don't muddy things up."

Mei Nianzhi was inwardly upset.

The root of the issue lay in your lack of discipline at home, letting them act recklessly and cause trouble.

Now, unreasonable and unrelenting while having the upper hand.

Chen Tang had remained silent, appearing extremely calm.

He lightly patted Zhiwei's back with his left hand and wiped her tears away with his right, bending slightly, softly asking, "Who were the ones pulling you, point them out for me to see."

Zhiwei shook her head through tears, only saying, "Brother Atang, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

"It's okay, don't be afraid, which ones?"

Chen Tang spoke gently.

"What do you want to do?"

The group opposite, upon hearing Chen Tang, immediately targeted him.

"Ziqi, go over, we'll all be watching here and see what he wants to do!"

"Right, you kids step out, let the Young Hero Tiger Subduing have a look!"

"If he dares touch a hair on you, I'll find someone to break him!"

The several men sneered and pushed their children forward.

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