C10 How dare You Touch Me!

After finding their seats, the two individuals didn't exhibit any odd behavior. They scarcely even glanced in Zhang Xiaolong's direction.

The bus made two more stops, and a group of rough-looking young men boarded. The leader was decked out with shiny earrings and even had a ring through his nose.

Zhang Xiaolong had never seen someone with so many piercings, especially on the nose. In his memory, only oxen used for plowing had rings through their noses. He thought to himself how odd city folks were, not seeming to mind the pain of such adornments.

As the group made their way to the back, Mr. Bi caught sight of the girl sitting next to Zhang Xiaolong and his eyes lit up. He approached and tapped Zhang Xiaolong on the shoulder, "Move to another seat."

Zhang Xiaolong was puzzled, initially thinking the girl might know Mr. Bi, but when he saw her frowning and gesturing at him, he quickly grasped the situation.

"I like sitting here," Zhang Xiaolong replied, giving Mr. Bi a steady look.

"Hey, you're getting tough with Mr. Bi?" The other young men who had come aboard stood up menacingly.

The young woman next to him looked anxiously at Zhang Xiaolong, uncertain of what he would do next.

A smug look crossed Mr. Bi's face. "Brother, you must be from the countryside? Here in Qingyang City, there aren't many who don't know me, Mr. Bi. If you ever need anything, just ask. How about it? Why not join my buddies over there?"

"I'm not moving," Zhang Xiaolong said flatly, without even glancing at him.

"Damn, you're rejecting my kindness?" The rest of the group started to crowd around threateningly.

"What are you doing? He's my brother," the young woman interjected sharply, her voice clear and melodious but tinged with anger. "I want to sit with my brother. What gives you the right to ask him to move?"

At the girl's words, Mr. Bi gestured for his group to sit back down and flashed a grin at the young woman, "Oh, he's the beauty's brother. My mistake."

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a crisp hundred-yuan note and flaunted it in front of Zhang Xiaolong, "Bro, I need to talk to your sister. How about we swap seats?"

"I don't want to talk to you!" The young woman's anger intensified.

"Hehe, miss, I wasn't speaking to you; I was talking to our little brother here," Mr. Bi pressed the note into Zhang Xiaolong's hand, "What do you say, bro? Switch seats, and the money's yours. Seems like you're already running into good fortune in the city, huh?"

The passengers on the bus all cast glances their way, yet remained silent. Mr. Bi had an air about him that suggested he was trouble, and with his entourage, nobody was eager to invite conflict.

It was clear to everyone that Zhang Xiaolong was not the woman's brother.

Despite the woman's oversized sunglasses obscuring any family resemblance, Zhang Xiaolong's country-style clothes were a dead giveaway that he was a newcomer from the countryside, certainly not in the same league as the woman.

"You're offering this much just for swapping seats?" Zhang Xiaolong feigned astonishment.

"Exactly. You see, running into me as soon as you hit the city means you've struck gold. Take the cash and go on your way," Mr. Bi boasted, winking smugly at the woman inside as if to taunt her.

The woman was truly infuriated, not just with Mr. Bi, but now any shred of positive regard she may have had for Zhang Xiaolong evaporated. A man who could be bought for a mere hundred yuan was beneath her disdain. She had mistakenly pegged him as a simple, honest fellow.

"I can't accept this money," Zhang Xiaolong declared, thrusting the note back at Mr. Bi, "You're right, I'm just a farmer, and it's my first time in the city. But we farmers believe in earning our keep through hard work. Changing seats is hardly worth this much."

"You've got quite the noble streak, don't you?" Mr. Bi chuckled, thinking Zhang Xiaolong had a sudden bout of wisdom.

Had Zhang Xiaolong actually pocketed the hundred yuan, Mr. Bi would have undoubtedly had someone tail him once he got off the bus, ready to dish out a harsh lesson with their fists.

"It's not about being noble; that's just how we farmers are," Zhang Xiaolong said with a simple smile.

The young woman nearby was torn between laughter and tears. She had initially pegged this naive young man as just another money-grubber, but it turned out he wasn't after money at all; he was just a bit slow on the uptake.

The bystanders, meanwhile, assumed Zhang Xiaolong was backing down. It was understandable – a country boy on his first trip to the city wouldn't dare cross these thugs. Unfortunately, it looked like the girl next to him might end up in an uncomfortable situation.

But after a minute passed without any action from Zhang Xiaolong, Mr. Bi lost his patience. "Kid, why haven't you moved yet?"

Zhang Xiaolong looked bewildered. "Why should I move?"

"Didn't you say you earn your keep by the sweat of your brow? Moving seats is just a small effort. You're too polite to ask me for money, so why not just move now?" Mr. Bi's eyes bulged with a threatening glare.

"But I haven't taken a single cent from you. Why should I lift a finger for you?" Zhang Xiaolong replied calmly.

Mr. Bi's face twitched as he realized he was being played. "Little brother, do you think the offer is too low? I'll add two more bills."

Zhang Xiaolong's gaze remained steady as he responded firmly, "There's another thing about us farmers: we don't shirk our fair share of work, nor do we take money we haven't earned."

"Spoken like a true farmer with integrity!" Across the aisle, a middle-aged man in his forties stood up. His attire was modest, and his face bore the marks of a hard life, but his voice was strong and confident. He pointed at Mr. Bi and his group, "The young man doesn't want to switch seats, so don't push him."

"And who are you? Mind your own business! I'm offering money for a seat swap; what's it to you?" Mr. Bi grumbled, frustrated at the unexpected interference. He shoved the middle-aged man back into his seat, turned, and reached out to grab Zhang Xiaolong's ear, "I'll ask you one more time, will you...ouch!"

Before he could finish his question, Mr. Bi let out a loud yell. His attempt to grab Zhang Xiaolong's ear not only failed, but it felt as though his hand was caught in a vice, nearly crushing his bones.

"No way!" With a gentle shove, Zhang Xiaolong sent Mr. Bi stumbling backward, clutching his hand, until he finally steadied himself.

The young woman by the window's eyes sparkled with intrigue. She hadn't expected the seemingly foolish Xiaolong to actually possess some fighting prowess.

"Guys, teach this kid a lesson!" Mr. Bi's face flushed with embarrassment. If he couldn't handle a simpleton from the countryside, how could he ever show his face again?