CHAPTER 429: CHAPTER 429: YOU DON’T NEED TO FEAR HER

"Madam, it clearly was Chen..." Song Tianxin tried to explain with a stunned expression.

"What clearly was? You little brat, don’t you dare spout nonsense and tarnish my son’s reputation, or I’ll tear your mouth apart," the Anxin Inn proprietress quickly interjected with an overbearing tone, effectively silencing Song Tianxin, her shrew-like demeanor immediately intimidating the girl.

After all, she was just a teenage girl, who could act tough at home where her family, though annoyed, wouldn’t hold it against her. But once outside in the harsh reality of the 1980s, her acumen seemed rather insignificant, so her fright wasn’t surprising.

"Well, madam really is formidable, since that’s the case, let me see how you plan to rip my niece’s mouth apart!" Xu Xiuxiu, upon hearing this, curled her lips and with a strong stride, approached the group, casting a sharp glance at the proprietress despite her poor impression of Song Tianxin.

She couldn’t ignore the peculiar dynamics between Chen Biao and Song Tianxin. Anyone with eyes could see who was in the wrong. Song Tianxin was merely a girl not yet fifteen, not so precocious as to provoke this. Clearly, the inn’s proprietress was trying to shift blame and shield her shameless son, which, in itself, wasn’t indefensible. The matter could easily be settled, but the calculating nature of the proprietress complicated things. Had Song Tianxin been a naive and simple girl, it might have been straightforward. Comparing her with the evidently thuggish Chen Biao, Xu Xiuxiu felt as a relative who spotted something amiss, that the matter regarding Song Tianxin could be addressed privately. Yet, she needed to step in and back Song Tianxin now, even though she genuinely disliked her and her mannerisms.

"Aunt Xu..." Xu Xiuxiu’s sudden assertiveness surprised everyone, except for Song Yuanming who had experienced it profoundly before. Especially to Song Tianxin, who had always seen Xu Xiuxiu as gentle and perpetually smiling during her visits home, it was unforeseen that the seemingly mild-tempered Xu Xiuxiu could evoke such involuntary fear.

She had always thought of Xu Xiuxiu as merely a selfish woman.

"" Song Yuantao was clearly surprised too. He had always known his sister-in-law was capable, no less so than his brother, but this was still the first time he felt the full extent of her force, leaving him somewhat bewildered and revealing how deeply she usually concealed it.

"You...I just speak my mind too quickly, that’s not what I meant..." The proprietress tried to say something but ended up stuttering under Xu Xiuxiu’s cold glare, unable to articulate her thoughts and evidently at a disadvantage.

"Niuniu, don’t be scared, Dad is here! Don’t worry, I absolutely won’t let anyone bully you," Song Yuantao, stunned by Xu Xiuxiu’s authority, stood dazed for a while until Song Yuanming nudged him, prompting him to react and pull Song Tianxin behind him protectively.

"Mhm!" Song Tianxin, somewhat confused at this point, naturally shrank behind Song Yuantao without a word.

"What are you trying to do? Don’t think I’m afraid of you just because you have more people." The owner of the Anxin Inn had calmed down a bit by now, then stared at Xu Xiuxiu and questioned, "You all saw it just now. That brat scratched my son’s face. Look, look, this is evidence. I’m telling you, if you don’t resolve this for me, I won’t let it go." As she spoke, she pointed vigorously at the scratch marks on Chen Biao’s face, her tone filled with annoyance.

"Resolve? What are you trying to do? You still want a resolution? I think I should be the one asking you for an explanation, asking what exactly you are trying to do?" Xu Xiuxiu retorted strongly and scoffed, "What? Do you think I can’t do anything to you just because you twist truth into falsehood right in front of us? Do you think I have no way out because this is your turf? Let me tell you, given his indecent thoughts and inappropriate actions just now, not to mention my niece just scratched his face, even if she had disabled him, I wouldn’t feel the slightest bit sorry." Xu Xiuxiu’s words were relaxed, yet sharp as a knife, every sentence carrying an edge.

"You, you aren’t trying to bully us with your power, thinking you can just twist right and wrong, black and white..." Normally sharp-tongued and articulate, the innkeeper found herself instinctively shrinking down a notch in front of Xu Xiuxiu, stammering and unable to speak clearly. She could only start shouting timidly, hoping that a few of the lodging guests would help interject a few words.

No one wants trouble when they’re away from home. Everyone held the mindset of watching the drama unfold, but no one planned to get involved. Besides, Chen Biao was decent-looking, but his outfit was typical of a delinquent from the eighties, so anyone discerning wouldn’t foolishly speak up.

Xu Xiuxiu understood the psychology of these people, and seeing that no one spoke up, she sneered, "Right and wrong, black and white, you really have the nerve to argue for yourself." With arms crossed, she carelessly threw out her words, then turned her head to Yuanming beside her, "Yuanying, go inside and bring out Tianxin’s luggage."

"Okay." Song Yuanming agreed and stepped past Chen Biao and the innkeeper into the room.

"Don’t go, we haven’t resolved this yet. Do you think you can just run away?" The innkeeper reached out, trying to prevent Song Yuanming from entering the room to get the luggage.

"Run? Don’t worry, I wouldn’t agree to that! I’m telling you, you want to make a big deal out of this, you don’t want to save face, then I’m absolutely up for the challenge. I’ve always particularly enjoyed tearing off people’s shameless disguises," Xu Xiuxiu replied with a smile.

"..." The innkeeper was dumbfounded.

"Mom, it’s okay, you don’t have to be afraid of her." Having hung out with shady friends for a long time, Chen Biao naturally carried a certain air of delinquency. Earlier, he had been intimidated by Xu Xiuxiu and caught trying to do something bad, feeling guilty and lacking confidence. But now he had regained his composure and sneered at Xu Xiuxiu, "Don’t think a few words from you can scare me. I, Chen Biao, did not grow up being scared. I’m telling you, if you don’t compensate for my losses today, you won’t take a step out of our inn. My buddies are not pushovers, and they are not as easy to talk to as I am." Chen Biao spat out his words harshly, proud that he had a group of so-called good friends.

"Oh!" Xu Xiuxiu wasn’t scared at all and nodded her head, with an ’I know’ expression.

"What Chen Biao said isn’t just to scare you. Let me tell you the truth! Black Dragon is quite influential around here. Be sensible, compensate my son with five hundred yuan, and we can let this go. Otherwise..." The innkeeper, emboldened by her son’s words, began to extort.