Chapter 66 - 065 City Dwellers (Extra - )
After picking two or three stems of each flower, the entire basket was brimming by the time they were done. Then, Tian Sangsang and Li Zhengxiong walked back together. Along the way, Li Zhengxiong caught a few pieces of game, while Tian Sangsang stumbled upon a peach tree. The tree bore some green, unripe peaches, and she plucked a few, tossing them into the basket on her back. Now there was no need to worry about either peach blossoms or peaches.
Li Zhengxiong, though puzzled as to why she had picked so many flowers—flowers that wouldn't survive being brought back—kept his thoughts to himself, saying nothing more.
As they arrived by the riverside at the village entrance, both of them noticed a young man not far off. He did indeed look quite young, probably around the same age as Tian Sangsang. There were two other men following him, seemingly keeping an eye on his every move.
The young man held something in one hand that resembled a chamber pot, while his other hand tightly pinched his nose. Disgust was written all over his face as he glanced at the item in his hand, muttering something under his breath.
"Huh?" Tian Sangsang couldn't help but exclaim aloud. The contrast before her was striking.
The man's clothes were shabby—his jeans had two large holes at the knees, exposing his pale, round kneecaps to the open air; his button-up shirt looked like it hadn't been changed in ages, once white but now tinged with a dirty gray; and his hair was unkempt, messy enough that it seemed you could incubate an egg on top of it. Yet, he stood tall and carried himself with an air of slight arrogance. His skin was fair and clean, bearing no resemblance to the typical villagers.
Li Zhengxiong followed her gaze, then let out a soft sigh.
Tian Sangsang couldn't resist asking, "Big Brother Li, do you know who that man is? Why haven't I seen him before? And what's with the two guys tailing him..."
Li Zhengxiong said, "He's not from our village—he's from the city. Word is, about a week ago, he lost a gambling game against Chen Biao. When he couldn't pay back the debt, Chen Biao detained him and put him to work. He'll be let go whenever his family comes to settle the dues."