She gazed at Qian Zhuang with sparkling eyes, while Qian Zhuang also seemed to be on the verge of speaking.

  At this time, Luo Ju had already tied everyone up and locked them in the warehouse, and returned to her side.

  "I don't know how to deal with it?"

  Xie Wan sank into thought for a moment, then said: "Tomorrow, after sunrise, set up eight long benches outside the shop door and tie them up separately to be beaten with boards! Keep beating until they confess who is behind them!"

  Eight people tied up on a bench and beaten, what a big scene is this? This clearly means to slap the mastermind in the back in front of everyone.

  Luojiu listened to her venting and felt that only this way would be relieving, so he immediately bowed his head and retreated.

  Xie Wan walked into the counter, let Luo Yi open the cabinet, took out two 200 taels of silver, turned around and humbly said to Qian Zhuang: "These days have been troubling you, if you didn't say it today, I wouldn't have known that I've owed you for so long. This is just a small token of my appreciation, if you think highly of me Xie Wan, please accept it."

  Qian Zhuang stared at the two silver tickets, and his dark face suddenly turned purple.

  "Miss, this is looking down on Qian Mou. Qian Mou has only two principles in doing things: one is to be worthy of the conscience of heaven and earth, and the other is to be worthy of the word 'chivalrous'. Miss, you are not thanking me, but scolding me!"

  Xie Wan knew that these Jianghu people valued the two words "chivalrous" and "righteousness", so she chose her words carefully. But unexpectedly, it still hurt his self-esteem.

  Just as they were at a loss for words to persuade him, Qian Zhuang suddenly spoke up in a low voice: "If the young lady thinks I'm still of some use, then let me continue to watch the shop for her. When the time comes, if she thinks I've done a good job, she can just give me a few pieces of silver as wine money. That's my reward. As for this money, even if you kill me, I won't take it!"

  Xie Wan heard his words and suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of relief in her chest!

  With him taking care of the shop, what is Xie Wan worried about? Only afraid that he is talented and bold. Thinks that helping her take care of a small shop is beneath his abilities.

  He suppressed the excitement in his heart and said, "A brave warrior like you, don't you feel that your talent is being wasted?"

  Qian Zhuang looked at her, his face flushed with shame: "To be honest with you, miss, since I got out of prison, even the vegetable sellers in the county don't dare to get close to me. People from all around who know my background also don't want to have anything to do with me. My parents are old now and are waiting for me to take care of them. And I can't go far away either."

  "I didn't let the young lady know I was here, fearing that my notorious reputation would startle her and make her feel afraid. But seeing her bravery in the face of danger today, I am filled with admiration, so I'm taking a chance to ask for a favor from her. From now on, even if she wants to descend into the dragon's pool or enter the tiger's lair, I will be the first to take the lead and repay her kindness!"

  Xie Wan had just seen him and already had a crush on him. Now that she saw him truly devoted to her, how could she bear this wild joy!

  Qian Zhuang's skills she had witnessed. Although it was said that the world was at peace, but after all, it was hard to prevent petty thieves, with Qian Zhuang by her side, she could at least feel a little more secure even when sleeping!

  As for his concern that she would keep her distance from him out of respect - hadn't she seen enough scoundrels in her two lifetimes? As for being imprisoned, Xie Lian had also been imprisoned for a few years in his previous life, so what was the big deal? Who said that people who were imprisoned were necessarily evil villains? She hadn't even been intimidated by the people from the Heavenly Emperor's sect, let alone Quan Yizhen, who had risen up in resistance because he refused to be bullied!

  Although it's hard to determine someone's heart with just one meeting, the current situation in the second house requires extra caution to prevent internal and external collusion. However, ordinary families who hire bodyguards often have no choice but to take risks when hiring people recommended through layers of connections. As long as it's confirmed tomorrow that he is indeed Old Man Qian's son, there's nothing to worry about with someone whose background is well-known!

  Who would have thought that today's misfortune turned into good fortune? Although she had a fright, she gained the protection of a great general. She suddenly felt that encountering some danger wasn't such a bad thing after all!

  She stood up with a smile, stared at him for a moment, and then said seriously: "If you only let you guard the shop for me, it's a waste of talent. Since you are following me with all your heart, why don't you be my bodyguard? However, I have many things to do, not just checking accounts and guarding shops, so your task is relatively heavy."

  "Besides ensuring my safety, you must also obey only me and not reveal any of my affairs to outsiders. Although you are the son of Old Man Qian, if there is any breach of discipline, I will not show leniency just because of that. In fact, due to your different duties, I may even punish you more severely than others. If you can agree to this, then I can let you stay."

  Qian Zhuang had originally thought that as long as he could find something to do, he wouldn't be despised all day. Now, hearing that the young girl in front of him actually wanted to take him on as her bodyguard, he couldn't help but feel overjoyed. Guarding a shop was nothing, any random guard could do it, but being a bodyguard was different! Being constantly on call, that was a truly suitable job for someone who had studied martial arts to show off their skills!

  How important it is for a person to meet someone who appreciates him in his lifetime!

  He didn't think he was a thousand-mile horse, but Xie Wan became his Bole.

  He was surprised and also sized up Xie Wan for a moment, seeing the decisiveness in her eyes that ordinary people rarely had. Suddenly, he knew that this brave little girl really wanted to use him, not just joking around. He immediately knelt down on the ground with a thud and said solemnly: "I am willing to follow you, young lady! If I fail or make mistakes, there is no need for you to punish me, I will punish myself!"

  "Good."

  Xie Wan nodded almost imperceptibly, "From now on, your monthly allowance will be paid by me. I'll give you ten taels of silver per month, and you can collect it from Luo Ju's hands on the first day of each month."

  "Ten ounces?!"

  Qian Zhuang had traveled extensively throughout the south and north, but hearing such a price still shocked him. One or two silver coins would be enough for his family of three to eat for half a month. He recalled that when he was down on his luck, he once survived on 30 cents for an entire month. What concept was ten silver coins to him now?

  Xie Wan smiled calmly and said: "If you can really do what I said, it's worth this price."

  Qian Zhuang's chest heaved up and down, and after thinking for half a day, he suddenly felt that except for the actions of gratitude in the past, there was actually no language that could represent his mood at this moment.

  He silently rushed over and gave Xie Wan a hug, then stood in the shadows at one side.

  This means that from this moment on, he has entered a state of being on duty, and from this moment on, he has become her trusted confidant, just like Luo Ju.

  He turned his head and glanced at Luo Wei, who smiled sincerely and warmly at him with a row of white teeth.

  After drifting for nearly twenty years, he finally found his place beside this little girl who was less than eight years old.

  After all these years, he had seen so many strange people and events that even being entrusted with a mission by someone who was still young and female didn't seem like an absurd thing to him.

  Adding flowers to brocade is easy, but sending charcoal in snowy weather is difficult. He only needs a stable job that can support his parents, but no one in the world is willing to give it to him, while she not only can provide it, but also values him highly, which already surpasses everything.

  Xie Wan obtained the general's side, and the anger from the previous danger was swept away. He immediately let Yu Fang go arrange the accommodation.

  Now the mastermind behind her back has not been investigated, she stayed to cover up and prevent startling the snake, secondly, returning to the mansion in the middle of the night would not only disturb the people in the mansion but also worry Xie Cang, so the most convenient way is for Yu Fang to accompany her to rest on the attic tonight. The attic has only one passage leading out of the house, relatively safe.

  Luoyi returned home and reported his safety to Xie Cang, and then brought over Xiewen's makeup box.

  When the dawn broke, Luo Sheng and Qian Laobo surprisingly both arrived. Luo Sheng heard that such a big thing happened in the shop after he left last night, and he couldn't help but feel scared and his legs went soft. He saw Qian Zhuang and made a bow, thanked him, lit incense, and shouted for Bodhisattva. When Xie Zhuang came down safely, he immediately scolded her for not having to return the fan to the shop in such a hurry.

  Xie Wan comforted him with a couple of words and went to see Old Man Qian.

  Qian Laobo was worried that Qian Zhuang had not returned all night and might have gotten into trouble again, so he came to the city early in the morning. He passed by a shop and saw that it was busier than usual, so he went in to ask what was going on. It happened that Luo Ju had just come out to buy toiletries for Xie Wan, and Qian Laobo heard that Qian Zhuang had also done something good the night before. When he heard that Xie Wan had taken him in as a bodyguard, he couldn't help but shed tears of joy.

  Xie Wan's words comforted Old Man Qian, and she also mentioned Qian Zhuang's background in a half-hidden and half-revealed way, which surprisingly matched what Qian Zhuang had said.

  Moreover, Old Man Qian still hasn't gotten rid of his hatred for that rural squire. When he talks about the circumstances before Qiang Zhuang was beaten and thrown into prison, it's even more cruel than what he said. From then on, the last bit of uncertainty in her heart about Qiang Zhuang's identity and experiences disappeared. After that, whenever she went out, she would definitely have him follow closely behind her without fail.

  Here had finished breakfast, the street people have gradually increased, Luo Jing's eyes were sharp and saw that there was someone peeking out from the alley opposite, so he quietly blocked both ends of the alley with Luo Yi, and caught the man to kneel in front of Xie Zhu's toes.

  It turned out to be Xie Hong's former servant, Gu Yu.

  Xie Wan sneered and kicked him in the chest, telling Luo Ju to move the bench.

  She hadn't even made a move yet, but the person behind her couldn't hold back and burst out!

  In a short while, eight long benches were arranged in a row on the street in front of the shop, and then eight bandits had their face masks pulled off, their faces facing the street as they were tied to the benches.

  Due to the shortage of manpower, Luo specially called over three apprentices including Li Ershun from Liu Ye Hutong. Eight people each took a board four fingers wide and two fingers thick and hit it under the bound person's body.

  Cries of agony rose and fell in succession.

  Passersby instantly formed a thick wall of people, all pointing and discussing the scene. Luo Ju explained to the onlookers, but omitted the part about kidnapping Xie Wan.

  This immediately triggered everyone's support.

  Doing business is not easy, and yet they bully a pair of siblings who have lost both parents! Everyone has heard about the Xie family's situation, the second house has been oppressed for many years and can't hold their head up, now there are even people eyeing their small earnings from the shop, it's simply unacceptable!

  The people in the shop showed no mercy at all, and before long, several of them had blood seeping from under their clothes.

  One of them finally couldn't take it anymore and shouted: "I surrender! I surrender! We are from the Ning family..." After finishing, he fell to the ground and fainted.

  But that's enough. Everyone has already heard clearly that they are from the Ning family.