Chapter 454: In Trouble

Chapter 454: Running Into Trouble

The Yu family is poor not just because of a prodigal son, but also because Old Yu and his lazy wife are both good-for-nothing freeloaders.

While others were out fishing, Old Yu just lazed around at home.

Yu Dahai’s drinking, gambling, and womanizing likely came from his father.

"Then don’t waste the money on gambling."

Old Yu: "Who, me? That kind of person? Give me the money Hai Yan handed over."

"Not a chance. Keep dreaming."

Old Yu: "Then we split it fifty-fifty. It’s not right for you to keep it all."

In the end, each took 350 yuan, but who’d blow through theirs first? Who knows.

...

Ye Xiaoxiao examined Hai Yan’s cutting-ties agreement repeatedly.

"You paid 700 yuan for this one sheet of paper?"

"Yes. I’m saving up a little more, and then I’ll travel with A Bang."

"Where to?"

"Probably the capital. I want to see a big city."

"But you just signed that cutting-ties agreement with your parents. Why wait? Just leave in a few days."

Ye Xiaoxiao thought Hai Yan was still too kind-hearted.

If she wanted to leave, she should have just gone. Who cared if those bloodsuckers lived or died?

Hai Yan smiled: "Maybe it’s to close this chapter for good. Now I know for sure they never loved me. I should’ve cut ties way earlier."

This time, her smile was real.

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Alright then. If you really want to go to the capital, I’ve got people who can help."

She might not have connections elsewhere, but in the capital, she knew plenty of people.

Hai Yan: "Thank you, but I’ll probably wait a few more months."

She intended to save more money, and during those months, her parents would stay off her back—worth every penny for the peace.

After their conversation, Ye Xiaoxiao headed home.

The day left a mark on her. There were surely many others on the island with similar problems, but few had Hai Yan’s guts.

Hai Yan was one hell of a woman.

Her courage to stand up and defy fate made her a woman ahead of her time.

When Ye Xiaoxiao returned home, she filled Lu Hanchuan in about it.

Lu Hanchuan: "They might as well head straight to the capital."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "What about her little shop then?"

Lu Hanchuan: "Sell the shop, and she can make a little profit."

Ye Xiaoxiao hugged Lu Hanchuan’s neck: "Don’t be so naive. Who here would be willing to buy it? Even if someone does, it won’t sell for much."

This isn’t some big city or tourist town, and there’s little chance for development in the future. There aren’t many people on the island—who’d buy a small shop here?

Lu Hanchuan added, "If Hai Yan really leaves, the village will really feel her absence."

"Though I’m worried too, we can’t keep Hai Yan from going to better opportunities."

Between the inconvenience to her own life and her wish for Hai Yan to leave this place, Ye Xiaoxiao still wanted Hai Yan to leave.

"Stop worrying about it. Didn’t you want to go to the city? Let’s go tomorrow."

Ye Xiaoxiao leaned closer to Lu Hanchuan, "Really? How are we getting there?"

Lu Hanchuan: "By boat."

Ye Xiaoxiao almost asked, "Which city is it? Not another small island, right?"

"No, it’s Changshui City, right on the coast."

Hearing this, Ye Xiaoxiao perked up.

"That’s great! Let me choose my clothes."

After choosing her clothes for the next day, Ye Xiaoxiao was thrilled.

She woke up early the next morning and headed to the harbor to wait for the boat.

The boat wasn’t great, and after two hours, Ye Xiaoxiao was getting cranky.

"We’re not coming back today, right? I’m about done."

Lu Hanchuan pulled Xiao Xiao close, "Seasick?"

Ye Xiaoxiao shook her head, "Not seasick, just wiped out."

Lu Hanchuan: "We’re not coming back today, and tomorrow’s boat isn’t guaranteed either. We’ll have to stay in the city for two days."

Ye Xiaoxiao cocked her head, "Do you have other things to do?"

Lu Hanchuan: "Got a meeting."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "I knew it!"

Lu Hanchuan: "The meeting’s tomorrow, and I really did bring you out to have fun."

Ye Xiaoxiao gave him a skeptical look but dropped it.

The two spent several hours on the boat. Upon arriving in the city, they first grabbed a bite and rested up.

Then they went to the bank to deposit their cash.

Finally, they visited the city’s malls and some cool spots.

By evening, they finally made their way to the guesthouse.

Lu Hanchuan had a meeting in the morning and was free in the afternoon, so he came back.

Normally, someone of his standing usually gets a ride, but Lu Hanchuan had already informed them that he could manage on his own.

"We can look around some more when I get back tomorrow."

"Okay."

Ye Xiaoxiao wasn't overthinking it—she was dead tired from the day.

The two spent the night at the guesthouse, which was surprisingly nice. The outside didn't look like much, but the rooms inside were clean.

Early the next morning, Lu Hanchuan left.

After waking up, Ye Xiaoxiao had breakfast first, then wandered off by herself with her backpack.

The small seaside park was packed with street vendors, reminding her of the time she and her third brother had once set up a stall themselves.

She had originally just wanted to enjoy the sea breeze and sit for a while.

The park also had many pigeons, and waving a piece of bread could easily lure them over to eat.

Xiao Xiao sat on a park bench, feeling the sea breeze and basking in the sun.

This brief moment of leisure was pure bliss.

But the peace didn't last.

Someone, apparently having stolen something from a stall, came barreling down the path from a distance.

Moving too fast, they crashed into an elderly man walking ahead.

The man’s cane flew out of his hand, and he went down hard.

A few bystanders stepped forward to help the old man, and upon seeing this, Ye Xiaoxiao rushed over.

"Hello, don't move him haphazardly right now. Please follow my instructions to turn him over first."

Ye Xiaoxiao carried herself like a pro, and the crowd instinctively deferred to her.

Someone quickly ran to the park’s payphone to call an ambulance.

The elderly man’s condition was severe after the collision. Ye Xiaoxiao rummaged through her bag—thankfully, she always carried a set of acupuncture tools with her.

Swiftly, she applied needles to key points on the man.

The old man had been gasping for breath, as if struggling for air and about to pass out.

Under Ye Xiaoxiao’s emergency treatment, his condition visibly improved.

The crowd's worry gave way to admiration.

"Young girl, you’re incredible. Without you, this old man could've died today."

Ye Xiaoxiao’s forehead was damp with sweat—this was serious business.

If mishandled, not only would she fail to help the old man, but she might also get herself in hot water.

But as a doctor, she couldn’t stand by and watch a life slip away before her eyes.

A kind passerby had caught the thief, and the ambulance arrived at the park within minutes.

Ye Xiaoxiao initially wanted to leave, but since the old man hadn’t fully recovered and she was the one who had treated him, she boarded the ambulance as well.