The Delicate Darling with Her Rough Man

The girl had been sitting here for a long time, but no one had come to ask for a price. She was too shy to approach anyone herself. When she heard someone finally walk up, her eyes lit up and she opened her mouth to speak.

But when she looked up and met Old Nine’s leering gaze, she immediately lowered her head in fear.

Old Nine brazenly sized up the girl’s face and figure. Only when her face flushed crimson did he finally speak with a smirk, "How much for these two chickens?"

Hearing his question, the girl forgot her fear. Her grandmother had a fever and had been bedridden for two days without eating. She had no money to take her to the hospital. The only things of value at home were these two old hens, and she was hoping to sell them to buy medicine for her.

"These chickens are very plump, over five pounds each. I’ve taken good care of them. They’re three dollars apiece. If you buy both, I’ll knock twenty cents off the total."

"Are they really that plump? They don’t look like they’re over five pounds to me. Can you weigh one for me?"

This was the girl’s first time at the market, and she hadn’t brought a scale. She quietly asked to borrow one from the vendor next to her.

The vendor was kind enough to lend her one.

The girl tied one of the chickens to the hook. The balance arm swung high. She held it out toward Old Nine so he could get a clear look.

"Five and a half pounds, easily."

Old Nine sounded skeptical. "Is that so? Let me take a closer look."

He spoke as he reached for the scale, but instead of touching the arm, his hand found the girl’s.

Startled, the girl snatched the scale back.

Old Nine acted as if nothing had happened. "It really is over five pounds. I’ll take them both. My place is a little far, though. Could you deliver them for me?"

The nearby vendors saw what Old Nine was doing and knew exactly what he was up to. Seeing the girl’s innocent face, one of them felt a pang of sympathy and considered warning her. But a glare from one of the thugs beside Old Nine made the vendor swallow his words.

Thankfully, the girl wasn’t a fool. She knew the man had ill intentions and immediately refused him. "I’m not selling the chickens to you. Go away!"

Just then, one of Old Nine’s henchmen lunged forward, his face a mask of menace. "Not selling? This is Mr. Jiu! He calls the shots in this whole black market. Daring not to sell to him is a slap in the face to our Mr. Jiu."

The girl jumped, terrified. She’d never imagined she’d run into such scoundrels on her first trip to the black market. She pressed her lips together, her face deathly pale, and said nothing.

The onlookers felt sorry for the girl. Her clothes were covered in patches, tattered and worn. It was obvious her family was struggling.

But Old Nine held too much power, and everyone was afraid of him. Even though they couldn’t bear to watch him prey on the girl, they could only avert their eyes.

Seeing that the girl was now properly scared, Old Nine berated his underling. "That’s enough. Lower your voice. You’re scaring the young lady."

The man, who had been as fierce as a tiger in front of the girl, became as meek as a lamb before Old Nine. He immediately gave a fawning reply.

"Let’s go! I’m taking your chickens, and you’re going to deliver them for me."

The moment Old Nine turned away, his men surrounded the girl. Instantly, she was frightened into tears.

Old Nine’s men were not the gentle type. One of them grabbed the girl, dragged her out, and shoved her behind Old Nine, hissing a vicious warning.

"Get a move on, or you’ll be sorry."

The girl was terrified, but she was no match for the strength of several men.

Just then, another henchman ran in from outside the market. Seeing the panicked look on his face, Old Nine frowned. "What is it? Is someone here?"

The henchman shook his head, pointing outside. "Lu Yuanbin is here."

Hearing the name, Old Nine let out a sigh of relief, but then his brow furrowed again. "What’s he doing here?"

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