1990s: Spring Water Family

Chapter 89 My own woman, I will protect her myself

"This matter needs to be investigated."

Gu Bin's eyes were dark, and his voice was cold and devoid of any warmth: "Don't say anything before the police arrive. Keeping quiet will be more advantageous for you."

"you do not believe me?"

Zhang Xiaoqian was stung by his icy gaze, and a hint of despair appeared on her face.

"Keep an eye on her, don't let her say another word."

Gu Bin ignored her, casually pushed her into Wang Fan's arms, and walked towards the drunkard who claimed to be the injured man's brother.

Wang Fan looked unwilling, but because of Zhang Xiaoqian's status, he could only grit his teeth and endure it.

"Are you his brother?"

Gu Bin examined the wound, stared at the drunkard, his brows furrowed.

"I, I am."

The man had already been drinking and was speaking with a lisp; intimidated by the man's powerful aura, he became even more stuttering.

Does your brother have a hidden illness?

Gu Bin stared into his eyes and said something startling: "What was the real reason that caused him to fall into a coma?"

"You, you're talking nonsense. My brother doesn't have any hidden illnesses."

The drunkard's eyes flickered slightly, a hint of guilt flashing in his eyes.

Gu Bin chuckled, offering a precise analysis: "A rock only the size of a fist, if it hits a grown man on the forehead, even if it breaks the skin, wouldn't cause him to faint on the spot, unless he has a congenital disease that makes him unable to withstand any stimulation, or he faints at the sight of blood."

"you"

The drunkard looked at the incredibly clever young man before him and broke out in a cold sweat.

"Silence represents admission."

Gu Bin unleashed his full power, sternly rebuking, "You two brothers, lusting after women, resorting to intimidation and threats when your attempts failed, your crimes are compounded."

"I, I, did not molest her."

Xue Qiang was dumbfounded, but stubbornly insisted, "She ran over by herself and bumped into the two of us brothers."

He's talking nonsense.

Zhang Xiaoqian was about to retort.

Wang Fan reacted quickly, covering her mouth: "Silly girl, can't you see? Gu Bin is setting a trap for him."

"Indecent assault, intimidation, lying, and another charge."

Sure enough, the next second, Gu Bin's gaze turned cold, and he delivered another fatal blow to the drunkard.

-

The situation took a dramatic turn, leaving the onlookers in an uproar.

"So it's because he's afraid of blood. No wonder a grown man like you can be knocked out by a young girl."

"Pah! You lecherous bastard, bloodshed in front of my shop is bad luck!"

"This boy is amazing. He could tell at a glance that someone is afraid of blood. How is his brain so clever?"

"With such courage, such composure, and such analytical and problem-solving skills, it would be a shame if he weren't a policeman."

Qu Peng felt ashamed.

Compared to Gu Bin, he, who wanted to attend police academy and inherit his father's glory, was far inferior.

-

Police cars and ambulances arrived rapidly, one after the other, with their lights flashing.

Paramedics lifted the injured person into the vehicle. Gu Bin asked Wang Fan and Li Liang to go to the hospital with them, while he and Qu Peng accompanied Zhang Xiaoqian to the police station to give her statement.

The injured person fainted at the sight of blood but regained consciousness shortly after arriving at the hospital. The doctor examined the person and found no serious injuries; a forensic examination determined the injury to be minor.

After understanding the situation, the police officers at the local police station suggested a private mediation.

Although both sides were at fault, the drunken brothers caused trouble while intoxicated and committed the heinous act of molesting a young girl.

Zhang Xiaoqian acted in self-defense and only needs to pay the corresponding medical expenses.

The drunkard was taken to the police station, where he sobered up completely and became timid and dared not utter a sound.

Zhang Xiaoqian looked at him with disgust, as if she had swallowed a fly.

Because the police were present, she reluctantly gave him 500 yuan to settle the matter.

-

The hospital's diagnosis and the police's mediation took almost an hour.

Zhang Xiaoqian's mother, Du Wanyue, also rushed over from JN city after receiving the news.

"Xiaoqian, you scared your mother to death. I was worried sick the whole way here, afraid that something would happen to you."

"Auntie, I'm sorry."

Before his mother could question him, Gu Bin took the initiative to apologize: "I organized this event, so I also bear responsibility for what happened."

"Xiao Bin, tell me the truth."

Du Wanyue was still angry: "What exactly happened between you and Xiaoqian that made her lose control of her emotions? I heard from the driver that she ran out of the noodle shop crying."

"Auntie, some things are not as they seem."

Gu Bin said calmly and respectfully, "Have you ever considered the possibility that the person who is actually being wronged is not your daughter, but someone else?"

"you are right."

A sinister glint flashed in Du Wanyue's eyes: "The girl who's at odds with Xiaoqian, the one who made the documentary, Lin Xiyu?"

"It seems your aunt knows quite a lot."

Gu Bin did not give a direct answer, but his implicit meaning already revealed his attitude.

"Xiaobin, your mother and I are good friends."

Du Wanyue, speaking from the perspective of an elder, said, "She has mentioned to me many times that she hopes our two families can become related through marriage to make our relationship closer. Before, when you and Xiaoqian were young, I didn't think about it that much, but now that you've grown up, it's time to put some things on the agenda."

"Mom, do you really think so?"

Zhang Xiaoqian was pleasantly surprised and overjoyed.

"Auntie, I'm sorry."

Gu Bin's eyes were cold, giving her no chance to fantasize: "Zhang Xiaoqian and I are just classmates, there will be no other relationship between us. As for my mother, she is her, and I am me. I will take control of my own life and will not listen to anyone."

Zhang Xiaoqian's eyes dimmed instantly, losing their previous sparkle.

"Xiao Bin, you have disappointed me greatly."

Du Wanyue felt sorry for her daughter, and her anger surged: "If it weren't for your mother's sake, do you think you would have the right to stand here and talk to me?"

"Since you think I'm not good enough, please leave."

Gu Bin raised his hand, gesturing for them to join in: "Please also take your daughter back with you. Her emotions are unstable, and she's not suitable for participating in group activities."

I'm not leaving.

Zhang Xiaoqian was unwilling to accept this.

"Go back with Mom."

Du Wanyue, her breath caught in his throat, gripped her daughter's wrist tightly with a dark expression and forcibly took her away.

The mother and daughter argued all the way to the car. The moment the car window was rolled up, Du Wanyue glanced out and her gloomy eyes flashed with resentment and malice.

"Hiss, it's so cold."

Qu Peng was startled by her gaze, rubbed his arms a few times, and looked worried: "You're being so headstrong, you've offended that person. Won't that cause you trouble? Judging from her appearance, she's not someone to be trifled with. You'd better be careful."

"Humph."

Gu Bin could easily see through Du Wanyue's thoughts, and he sneered coldly, "She wants revenge, but she'll have to see if she has the opportunity."

Just because you're not afraid doesn't mean others aren't.

Qu Peng kindly reminded her: "Don't forget that Lin Xiyu is different from you. She is just a child from an ordinary family and doesn't have a powerful protective umbrella like your grandfather."

"I will protect my own woman."

Gu Bin left no room for doubt. After a moment of contemplation, he walked toward a public telephone booth not far from the police station.

He took out a one-yuan coin, dialed a number, and the call was answered shortly after. The voice of antique dealer Fan Wei came through the phone.

"That antique bed is ready for sale. Spread the word and say it's for sale."

"Don't worry, Mr. Gu, I know what to do."

Fan Wei is a businessman; how could he not understand his deeper meaning?

The two quickly reached an agreement. Gu Bin hung up the phone, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

-

Snack street, noodle shops.

"Gu Bin, you're back."

"How's the person who was injured? Has he woken up?" "Where's Zhang Xiaoqian? Why didn't she come back with you?"

"Could he really have been detained?"

When Gu Bin and his group returned to the noodle shop, the somber atmosphere immediately dissipated. The classmates who had been waiting for a long time could not contain their excitement and gathered around the four of them.

"It's alright, it's been resolved."

Seeing that Gu Bin looked unwell, Qu Peng answered for him, "Zhang Xiaoqian paid 500 yuan for medical expenses and went home with her mother."

"My God, we lost so much money?"

"Her family is rich, what's a little money to them?"

"As long as no one is hurt, it's better to lose money than to suffer a greater disaster."

"Luckily I wasn't detained, otherwise I would have had a criminal record and my life would have been ruined."

"She's the mayor's daughter, why would she have a criminal record?"

"Didn't you see that the person's mother is here? Once you hear that it's an important person, who would dare to offend them? The police station would release them without hesitation."

"I'm so envious. Why am I not so lucky?"

"I also want to be born into a good family and be a rich young lady for a while."

"In the next life."

"Amniotic fluid is the dividing line."

500 yuan is not a small amount, and upon hearing this, the girls were filled with a wave of sour envy and jealousy.

"Okay, stop talking."

Li Liang was getting a headache from the nonsensical noise, so he let out a powerful lion's roar to forcefully suppress it.

Unlike Qu Peng, he was not gentle and pleasant. He was already tall, which gave people a strong sense of oppression. When he glared at people, it made them even more afraid.

The noodle shop fell silent instantly. The timid girl lowered her eyelids tremblingly, not daring to meet his gaze.

"Have you all eaten and drunk your fill?"

Qu Peng found it amusing and gave Li Liang an approving look.

"I am full."

"I've had my fill."

The boys echoed in unison.

"Set off."

Qu Peng raised his arm and made a departure gesture.

"Wow, finally we can go hiking!"

Xu Yi had been waiting impatiently for a long time. He happily jumped up from his chair and ran out first.

"Run slowly, don't fall."

Qu Peng didn't want to cause any more trouble, so he took a few long strides and chased after him.

The classmates followed closely behind, pouring out of the noodle shop in a rush.

Gu Bin deliberately walked a little slower, leaving with Lin Xiyu. The two of them held hands and lagged behind, enjoying a moment of peace.

-

Climbing Mount Tai from the Red Gate, the classic route takes about 6-7 hours on foot.

The slope from the foot of the mountain to Zhongtianmen is relatively gentle, and further up the mountain is the famous Eighteen Bends.

The Eighteen Bends has a total of 1633 steps, divided into three sections: slow, moderate, and fast.

The Slow Eighteen Bends, from the start of the mountain to the Dragon Gate, has a total of 393 steps.

The Eighteen Bends, a leisurely and unhurried path, leads from Longmen to Shengxianfang, with a total of 767 steps.

The Jinshibapan (Eighteen Bends) has 473 steps from Shengxianfang to Nantianmen (South Heaven Gate).

The total length of the Shibapan (Eighteen Bends) is less than one kilometer, with a vertical drop of 400 meters and an average slope of about 70-80 degrees. The steepest part is close to a right angle.

The ancients considered "nine" to be the most yang number, and "eighteen" is a multiple of nine, implying that there are many steps and that they are steep.

There's a local saying in Tai'an: "Tight eighteen, slow eighteen, neither tight nor slow, yet another eighteen."

This is used to describe the difficulty of climbing the ladder to heaven.

-

During the sweltering summer heat, most energetic young people choose to climb the mountain at night to reach Nantianmen before sunrise.

The group arrived at the main gate of Mount Tai. Qu Peng counted the time on his fingers: "We'll start climbing at 8 a.m. If all goes well, we'll reach Nantianmen at 3 a.m., rest for 2 hours, and watch the sunrise at 5 a.m. There's plenty of time."

"Girls climb slowly, so it definitely won't take them 7 hours to get there."

Wang Fan laughed mockingly, throwing cold water on him: "Didn't you see what kind of shoes they were wearing? Those tiny, stiletto heels are sharp enough to kill someone."

Qu Pengjun's face darkened, and following his gaze, he looked down at the girls' feet, his brows furrowing tightly.

After climbing for less than two hours, just as Wang Fan had predicted, the girls' pace noticeably slowed down.

One of them had a calf cramp, was groaning and couldn't walk.

Qu Peng, a straight man, roared: "Damn it, I'm really impressed! Why are you guys wearing high heels when you go hiking?!"

The girls lowered their heads tremblingly, not daring to meet his gaze.

"Forget it, it's too late to say anything now."

Gu Bin patted his shoulder to soothe his agitated emotions: "We'll be at Zhongtianmen in another half hour. There are many shops there, and maybe they'll sell cloth shoes. Let them buy some and put them on themselves."

"It can only be this way."

Qu Peng looked at the girl whose calf was cramping, rubbed his temples with a headache, resignedly walked over, squatted down, and carried her on his back.

The girl hugged his neck tightly, and even in the hazy moonlight, her blushing earlobes were still clearly visible.

"Waaaaah, he actually carried someone else on his back! My feet hurt too, I want him to carry me too!"

Wu Meng felt incredibly sad, and tears almost welled up in her eyes.

"Mengmeng, does your foot hurt a lot?"

While Gu Bin and Qu Peng were talking, Lin Xiyu quietly slipped over to her side and asked, "Did your skin get chafed?"

"Not broken"

Wu Meng felt wronged and wanted to cry: "But it really hurts."

"Let me see"

Lin Xiyu squatted down and took a closer look. Sure enough, her heels were rubbed raw, red, and swollen, a pitiful sight.

"Put on a band-aid, it'll make you feel better."

She took a band-aid out of her backpack and tore open the outer packaging.

"I don't want to stick it on, I want someone to carry it on their back."

Wu Meng whined and deliberately rubbed against her shoulder, acting coquettishly.

"Isn't it easy to get someone to carry you?"

Wang Fan's teasing laughter came from behind the two: "There are tons of guys in our class overflowing with hormones. Plenty of people would want to do something like this."

"Where did you come from?"

"none of your business?"

Lin Xiyu and Wu Meng were startled and glared at him with displeasure.

"I meant well and wanted to help you."

Wang Fan grinned and said, "If you don't believe me, just wait and see. There's a ready-made candidate waiting to serve the beauty."

"Who?"

The two best friends followed his gaze and met Li Liang's clear eyes.

"piss off."

Li Liang, innocently shot, glared angrily at Wang Fan, feeling an urge to kick him away.

"I'll put it on anyway."

Disappointed, Wu Meng looked away and took the band-aid from Lin Xiyu's hand.

Li Liang's face darkened even more.

"Haha, they don't even like you."

Wang Fan, always eager for a good show, slapped his thigh and laughed so hard he almost fell over.

Li Liang, unable to bear it any longer, kicked him.

"Oh my god!"

Wang Fan dodged, but unfortunately bumped into Lin Xiyu and got pricked by the needle and thread she had placed on the outside of her backpack.

(End of this chapter)