Chapter 90

Chu Huan was indeed thinking, if someone is called a local bully, they must be someone who bullies the weak with their strength. However, he said, "I have no such intention."

Bai Xianzi laughed and said, "Sir Chu, to be honest, I, Bai Xianzi, also come from a poor family. Back then, I relied on my strength to do some honest work to support my family. But I, Bai Xianzi, have a straightforward personality and can't help but intervene when I see injustice. I was once hired by a wealthy family to guard their home, but later they asked me to collect rent. Many poor families couldn't even afford food, let alone pay rent, so they had to rely on people like us to enforce it." He paused and stared into Chu Huan's eyes, asking, "What would you do, Sir Chu?"

Chu Huan shook his head and said, "I haven't encountered such a situation!"

Bai Xianzi chuckled and said, "Sir Chu, you can ask around. Back then, I, Bai Xianzi, did not bully the poor for that wealthy family. Instead, when I saw him forcibly taking a village woman, I took a knife and slashed him. Although I didn't kill him, I ended up in prison for three years!"

Chu Huan was taken aback; he hadn't expected Bai Xianzi to be such a righteous person.

"That wealthy man wanted to kill me in prison, but the county magistrate at the time was a fair man. Perhaps he also admired my actions, and in the end, I, Bai Xianzi, was released from prison alive." Bai Xianzi's expression was calm, as if he were telling someone else's story. "Little did I, Bai Xianzi, know that this misfortune turned into a blessing. After three years in prison, I became a famous person in Qingliu City. All the ruffians in Qingliu City called me 'Sir Bai,' and even the county magistrate admired me. Since then, a large group of people gathered around me, making me a prominent figure in Qingliu City!"

Chu Huan was secretly amazed, never expecting Bai Xianzi to be such a legendary figure. He had heard Bai Xianzi's name several times before, but this was the first time he met him. Initially, he had no particular fondness for him, but after hearing Bai Xianzi's words, he no longer felt any dislike.

Bai Xianzi clasped his hands and said, "Sir Chu, I, Bai Xianzi, have been in Qingliu City for many years. Although I haven't done much to benefit the people, I have never bullied the poor. My brothers need to eat, so we have to collect some silver from some shops and take on jobs to resolve disputes. We take silver from the rich, but we never touch the poor...!" He seemed to know what Chu Huan was thinking and smiled, saying, "Sir Chu, you might say that the poor have no silver to take, so I didn't bully them. That's true, but when I was at my peak, I would take out some silver every month to help the poor, not for fame, but to remember my roots!"

Chu Huan smiled and said, "So, Brother Bai, you are a righteous person?"

"Righteousness is too much to claim, but I am certainly not a villain," Bai Xianzi said seriously. "Otherwise, I wouldn't dare to come and invite Sir Chu today... As the saying goes, 'Those who do not share the same path do not plan together.' Sir Chu, by leveling Baling Hall, you have rid Qingliu County of a great evil. I, Bai Xianzi, feel relieved, so I think you are a person worth befriending, which is why I have come to seek your friendship."

Chu Huan smiled and said, "Brother Bai, you are a straightforward person!"

At this moment, the straw curtain was lifted, and Rulian, with red-rimmed eyes, came out. Seeing Chu Huan, she hurriedly said, "Chu... Big Brother Chu, the wind and snow are heavy outside. You... come in to avoid the wind and snow...!"

She noticed Bai Xianzi not far from Chu Huan, seeing his one-eyed appearance, she was a bit afraid and involuntarily shrank back.

Bai Xianzi laughed and said, "Miss, don't be afraid, I am not a bad person." He then smiled and asked Chu Huan, "Sir Chu, may I now be considered your friend?"

Chu Huan smiled and said, "I am a simple person. If someone sincerely treats me as a friend, I will treat them as a friend!"

"Good!" Bai Xianzi clapped his hands and laughed, "Sir Chu, from now on, you are my friend, Bai Xianzi." He bowed to Rulian and said, "Miss, I am Sir Chu's friend. May I come in to avoid the wind and snow?"

Rulian was a bit at a loss. Although she felt that letting someone into such a dilapidated place was a bit embarrassing, she considered Chu Huan her benefactor, and Bai Xianzi claimed to be Chu Huan's friend, so she couldn't refuse. Her face turned red, and she timidly said, "Inside... it's very dilapidated. If you are willing... you can come in to avoid the wind and snow!"

Bai Xianzi laughed, thinking that Rulian had some relationship with Chu Huan, so he didn't dare to be rude. He bowed and said, "Thank you, Miss!"

The three entered the room. Bai Xianzi looked around and frowned. He saw the fire pit already lit, the two medicine packets opened, and the woman on the bed, and immediately understood the situation. He asked Chu Huan, "Sir Chu, is your friend sick?"

Before Chu Huan could speak, Rulian blushed and said, "This... this is my benefactor. We... we are not his friends!"

Bai Xianzi was surprised and said, "Not friends?"

Rulian didn't hide it and explained that Chu Huan had helped her out of a sense of justice, and they had no other relationship.

Bai Xianzi praised, "Sir Chu is indeed a righteous person. I, Bai Xianzi, admire you." He then shook his head and said, "You can't stay here anymore. You should leave!"

Rulian didn't know Bai Xianzi's identity, but seeing his fine cotton robe and silk belt, she knew he was of high status. When he said they should leave, she thought he was trying to drive them away and looked at Chu Huan for help.

Bai Xianzi, seeing this, knew Rulian had misunderstood him and quickly said, "Miss, don't misunderstand. My point is that since you have a sick person, you can't stay here. The cold is very severe, and the patient's condition might worsen." He bowed to Chu Huan and said, "Sir Chu, I have a place where they can stay. It's not a great place, but it's warm. I want to settle them there. What do you think, Sir Chu?"

Chu Huan smiled and looked at Rulian, saying softly, "Miss, what do you think?"

Rulian realized Bai Xianzi was being kind and felt a bit embarrassed, saying, "Thank you, sir... I can... we can manage!"

"Miss, it's freezing, and this is just the first snow. The winter is long, and it will only get colder," Chu Huan saw that Rulian was somewhat moved but still hesitant, so he said, "Since Sir Bai is offering to help, it's not a bad idea to move to a new place, which will help your master recover."

Bai Xianzi, hearing Chu Huan call him "Sir Bai," felt a bit awkward and laughed, "Sir Chu, you are teasing me."

Chu Huan shook his head and said seriously, "I don't care what Brother Bai has done in the past, but today, by offering to help, regardless of the reason, it is a good deed, and you deserve the title of 'good person'!"

Bai Xianzi laughed and said, "If that's the case, I'll accept the title." He then said, "Sir Chu, please wait here. I'll be back soon!" He turned and left without another word.

Seeing Bai Xianzi leave, Rulian said to Chu Huan, "Big Brother Chu, thank you so much today..."

Chu Huan smiled and said, "You've thanked me many times already." He went over to look at the opened medicine packets and said, "Your master is sick. Let's boil her medicine first." He took a little from each packet and put it in his pocket. Seeing Rulian looking at him with doubt, Chu Huan smiled and said, "Miss, don't misunderstand. I'm not trying to take advantage. I just want to keep some of the herbs to ask what they are. If they are effective, I'll buy more from the pharmacy later!"

Rulian blushed. Although she lived in poverty, her skin was very fair and smooth, giving her a delicate and fresh appearance, like a narcissus. She lowered her head and said softly, "Big Brother Chu, you are joking. I... I didn't think that... you are a good person."

"I was just joking, don't take it to heart," Chu Huan said. "Miss, let's boil the medicine first."

Rulian hurried over, took down the earthen pot, and said to Chu Huan, "Big Brother Chu, the herbs need to be crushed... please sit down, I'll be done soon..." She brought over the only broken chair in the room, but Chu Huan was already squatting by the herbs and shook his head, saying, "No need, I'll help you crush them. You just get the water ready!"

Rulian quickly said, "No, no, how can I let you do that?" But Chu Huan didn't listen, took the herbs, found a small porcelain bowl, and started to help boil the medicine. Seeing this, Rulian knew she couldn't stop him and gave up.

She and her master had lived in poverty and been bullied, and no one had ever cared for her like this. Chu Huan had helped her twice, and today, he appeared when she was most helpless. She was extremely grateful to Chu Huan, feeling that he was like a god sent by heaven to help her.

The earthen pot was placed on the fire to boil, and Chu Huan sat down, sighing, "Miss, do you have any other family? Why are you so poor?"

Rulian said, "Big Brother Chu, you... you can call me Rulian. My Dharma name... is Rulian!"

"Dharma name?" Chu Huan was taken aback.

Rulian clasped her hands together, her face showing devotion, "Amitabha, Big Brother Chu, I am a Buddhist. My master gave me the Dharma name Rulian!"

Chu Huan was utterly surprised. Rulian had been wearing an old hat and a tattered cotton coat. If not for the absence of dust on her face, it would have been hard to tell she was a woman, let alone a young nun.

Suddenly, he understood. The woman on the bed had no hair, so she must be a nun.

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