As her father had passed away, Meiboba was bullied by these children since she was a young girl.
Initially, she was already numb from their treatment, but when she was taunted and mocked by a circle of people in front of the big sister she had just gotten to know, Meiboba blanched.
“We’re here to catch some fish, don’t be like that…” Meiboba was pale as a sheet, talking to the boys with a pleading gaze as she was afraid that Yun Jian would ignore her because she was bullied together with her by these boys.
There was a gleam in Yun Jian’s eyes.
Meiboba had been bullied since she was little just because she had no father. These rambunctious children around her made fun of her and even made rhymes about her background.
Meiboba did not use to be alone and alienated like she was now. She used to have friends but they were scared away by these boys soon later and no longer wanted to play with her.
When Yun Jian moved into Meiboba’s house, the latter was both surprised and delighted, especially when Yun Jian was not opposed to becoming her friend. It felt like joy was poured all over Meiboba.
What the boys did now, however, frightened Meiboba. She was scared that this big sister whom she had just gotten to be friends with would unfriend her because of them.
“Catch some fish? Haha, just the two of you?” A voice that was laced with heavy sarcasm sounded.
A dark-skinned boy about sixteen or seventeen years old who looked quite decent came to stand in front of Meiboba and Yun Jian after separating the crowd. This teenager seemed to be the leader of these boys as the others made way for him cheering once he appeared.
“Jiliheng!” Meiboba could not help gasping as she looked timidly at the teenager.
The boy who was called Jiliheng stretched his arm with a raised head and hooked a finger at Yun Jian, talking arrogantly, “I heard that you’re a foreigner and a new friend of Meiboba? How dare you be friends with her without my permission?”
Jiliheng’s tone was uncompromising like he was the dictator in this. It made Yun Jian squint.
“Why don’t I dare?” Yun Jian arched a brow and replied fluently in the local language.
“Big sister, don’t. Let’s just go. He’s Jiliheng, the domineering king in our village. No one can challenge his status. Let’s go…” Meiboba said meekly with a tug at Yun Jian’s clothes.
Looking down, Yun Jian reeled in her gaze, not planning to escalate the matter.
She was here for a mission and the thief could be around anytime. If she was careless or showed too much of her skill, it would alarm her target.
Before Yun Jian and Meiboba took two steps away turning around, Jiliheng’s voice drifted behind them, “Hey, are you guys really leaving?”
Yun Jian paid no mind to him, phasing Jiliheng. It was rare that he met a girl who was unafraid of him.
Purely out of curiosity, he wanted to stop Yun Jian from leaving but she did not even care. Jiliheng shouted again, “Stand there, stop! Let’s have a fish-spearing match, see who’ll catch more fish within ten minutes. If you win, I won’t bully Meiboba anymore. What about it? And I guarantee that no one will bully her in the future too!”
“Really?” Yun Jian paused at once and turned to confirm with Jiliheng.
“Of course. I, Jiliheng, am a man. I’ve never not kept my word!” Jiliheng assured with a pat on his stomach.
“Let’s begin then.” The speed at which Yun Jian changed her mind was boggling.
Jiliheng was a little thrown but he did not dwell on it when he thought that she was only a girl younger than him.
Consequently, Jiliheng asked for two bamboo sticks for himself and Yun Jian respectively.
When Liushiyun and others met up leaving their lodging to find Yun Jian passing by the river, they spotted Yun Jian who was holding the bamboo stick and preparing to contest Jiliheng on fish-spearing.
“My god, Yun Jian’s doing as the Romans do huh?” Chu Xiangnan hurried over and could not help teasing.