Chapter 1537: More Harm Than Good
Chapter 1537: Chapter 1537: More Harm Than Good
Xiao Ying’er is Old Master Yan’s granddaughter.
This granddaughter is also unfortunate, losing her parents at a young age. Many people in her father’s side died while trying to escape famine, leaving only two paternal uncles as her closest relatives.
Old Master Yan did not trust the uncles on that side, so he brought his granddaughter back to raise.
However, Xiao Ying’er’s mother was the daughter of Old Master Yan’s original wife, and there was a gap with the current stepmother. The stepmother had a grandson to care for, so she was not very attentive to the granddaughter from a different side, leaving Old Master Yan to personally oversee his granddaughter’s situation.
"Here comes Miss," Nanny Yan said while holding a little girl of about four years old, accompanied by two maids carrying bags and two protectors.
"Xiao Ying’er, don’t be afraid. Grandpa will take you to the street to eat Lantern Festival dumplings and see the lanterns, just like during the Lantern Festival. Once we’re done, we’ll go home," Old Master Yan comforted his crying granddaughter.
Xiao Ying’er was very sensible, wiping her tears and smiling obediently at Old Master Yan.
Madam Yan urged upon seeing this, "Old Master, everyone is here, let’s hurry up and go. If we delay any longer, those villains will come to kill!"
"Why are you in such a hurry? Wait a moment." Old Master Yan shouted, holding a torch, having the Guardian Master count the people, ensuring everyone was present before saying, "Hurry up, let’s go, go, go!"
He then instructed Nanny Yan, "Stick close to me, don’t get lost. Cover Xiao Ying’er with a cloak, so she doesn’t see what she shouldn’t!"
If those villains come slaughtering, or they see corpses or mutilated bodies on the way, the children might be scared witless.
"Yes." Nanny Yan complied, holding Xiao Ying’er tightly and softly comforting her, "Miss, don’t be scared, we’re going to see lanterns, be good."
The Yan Family was surrounded by guards, hastily moving towards the main door, running with anxiety before finally reaching the mansion’s gate.
"Old Master, please hold on, I’ll go check the situation outside." The Guardian Master came to the back of the gate, peeking through the cracks. There was not a person outside, only an occasional scream echoing from deep within the Yan Family courtyard: "Old Master, the front gate is safe, let’s hurry and go."
"Go, go, go, have the eldest and the second protect their wives and children, don’t get separated." Old Master Yan said, allowing the Guardian Master to open half of the main gate, leading the family out.
But as soon as they reached the street, they were stopped by a group of people rushing out.
"Stop! Who allowed you out? Get back; it’s more dangerous out here than in your home!" Ma Wu stopped the Yan Family, pointing at Wenchang Street’s entrance, "Tonight the city will be chaotic, there are many corpses over there, and arrows are flying. Do you wish to run out of your home only to be shot by stray arrows or chopped down by the Rong people?"
Ma Wu was a member of the Eagle Food Gang, following Mr. Chi. Mr. Chi was overseeing this area of Wenchang Street tonight, anticipating the Yan Family would flee after the Witch Army entered their home, and specifically placed him to stop the Yan Family.
"What Rong people? Have they invaded the city? Has Beicang Prefecture fallen?" Madam Yan screamed, and thinking the Rong have breached the city, she directly fainted, forcing Old Master Yan to quickly support her.
But just as he supported Madam Yan, the two daughters-in-law and two unmarried daughters of the Yan Family fainted together.
Suddenly collapsing to the ground.
"Wife, wife!" The two sons of the Yan Family rushed to support their wives.
Old Master Yan yelled at the maids, "Are you dead or what? Quickly get the young ladies up!"
He then signaled to the Guardian Master, having him lead people to protect the women from being taken by the villains in front.
Old Master Yan bravely stood before Ma Wu, asking, "You say the Rong entered the city? Then who are you?"
He continued, "If you want money, take it, but if you plan to do unjust deeds, I advise you to leave promptly. I’ve already sent protectors to call for people from the government office two sets of quarters ago, they will be here soon!"
"Ah, do you really expect government people? Do you know if they will come?" Ma Wu sniffed contemptuously but explained, "I’m from the Eagle Food Gang. Our Eagle Food Gang is ambushed in the city tonight killing Rong; we didn’t expect them to run into your home. Our master instructed us to protect your Yan Family, not letting anything happen to you."
"You, you are from the Eagle Food Gang, but you’re bandits... Why should we trust you?" Young Master Yan trembled while questioning, supporting his wife and holding his terrified son.
With a snap, Ma Wu hacked the Guardian’s club, pointing at them, saying, "Don’t be ungrateful, get back home! The Rong in your home our Eagle Food Gang will handle, but if you disobey and run wild on the street, don’t blame us for starting a massacre; we are fierce bandits!"
Understand fierce bandits?
"Please calm down, sir, my son is naive, do not be angry; we will go back right away." Old Master Yan hurriedly ordered Guardian Master to bring everyone back home.
Ma Wu didn’t enter, standing outside with his men, saying, "Don’t come out!"
"No, we won’t come out, rest assured." Old Master Yan quickly led his people to close the mansion gate again, also the second door leading to the rear yard, the entire family hiding in the guest hall of the front courtyard, keeping guards at the door in case Rong or Eagle Food Gang members came to fight them with all they had!
Fortunately, the Eagle Food Gang did not come in; after about a quarter of an hour, the fighting sounds from the backyard stopped; it’s assumed the Rong either died or fled.
But the Yan Family still dared not come out, remaining in the guest hall, hoping for government personnel arrival.
However, Assistant Judge Lao did not send government personnel; having a good relationship with the Yang Family, he intended to take government people to the northern city to help the Yang Family extinguish the fire, telling the two protectors asking for help, "Your Yan Family is wealthy, spend silver and go to South City to find Beitong Escort Agency’s Escort Master for help; government people need to go north to extinguish the fire."
No time to rescue the Yan Family.
Saying this, he pushed the Yan Family protectors aside and led government people away, thinking of helping the Yang Family extinguish the fire and conveniently eating at the Yang Family, earning some money.
Assistant Judge Lao made matters worse!
The Yan Family protectors were anxious, Squad Leader Wan knowing Old Master Yan’s disposition, had received help from the Yan Family during the drought, remarked to the protectors, "Wait, I’ll find someone for you."
Squad Leader Wan went to the prison to find Prison Chief Meng, who was related to Mrs. Meng on his mother’s side, "Cousin Meng, nothing essential is in the prison; Old Master Yan’s family is in trouble, take the prison guards over to look, it’s been of help to both our families, can’t let them lose face."
Saying bandits broke in, any disgrace to the women would cause Yan Family to lose complete honor.
"Alright, I’ll go to the gambling house to find the second brother, have him take the thugs along." Prison Chief Meng agreed without hesitation, immediately leading half the prison guards and Yan Family protectors, heading to the gambling house to call for people, gathering dozens of thugs to rush to Yan Family.