[Nanqin] Chapter 4 - Unexpected Interlude

 　　Zhang Nangqin was standing in the crowd. In front of him was a luxurious carriage. The carriage was driven by a young coachman, who was standing beside the carriage and looking at a man lying under the carriage wheel.

"Ouch! Oh, my leg! It hurts! it hurts so much!!!" the man was holding his leg and howling.

 "The shouting was too loud, and the painful emotion is sort of over killing. It is so obvious an incident-faking extortion. Well, man, you really should improve your stage skills.” Zhang Nanqin said in the crowd, shaking his head. His tone was not very high, but it was clear enough to hear by all, including the coachman.

The coachman's face turned red and his eyes were full of anger, "You are blackmailing me?!"

　　"Blackmailing?" The man shouted, "Come on! My leg was broken. How about you break your leg and blackmail me? You want to try?"

　　The curtain of the carriage was lifted, and a maiden stepped out. She has outstanding temperament and exquisite but icy face. She talked to the coachman, without a glance at the man on the ground, “Give him ten silver coins.”

　　The coachman would not like to, "But Miss, he is cheating!"

　　The maiden looked at the coachman and lowered her voice, "He surely is, but I have emergency."

　　Hearing this, the coachman, somewhat displeased, went to the man on the ground, took out ten silver coins, and threw on the ground, "Get out of the way!"

　　The man picked up the silver on the ground, quickly tuck in his arms, and started wailed again, "Ouch! So painful... Only ten silver coins and you think that is enough? I lose one of my legs! I have eighty-year-old mother and three kids at home. All the family depends on me. How can we survive after this?"

Becoming so anger, the coachman was about to beat the man. The maiden suddenly turned around and stared at the man with a sharp gaze. Under the gaze of the maiden, the man could not help but shivered. But with a glance at the crowd, he opened his mouth again, “For heaven’s sake, you shall not run away!”

Several people in the crowd quietly move close and stood surround the carriage.

　　"Then report it to the officers and let them settle the matter." Zhang Nanqin suddenly opened his mouth again. Quietly, he has stepped up and stood by the side of the maiden and the coachman.

　　The coachman turned to the maiden, "Miss, shall we report it?"

　　"Ten more silver coin!" The maiden opened her mouth and spoke coldly.

Before the man on the ground could speak, Zhang Nanqin grabbed his shoulders and tugged him out from under the wheel, "Enough is enough. You should be satisfied with what you get."

Watching Zhang Nanqin drag the man out from under the wheel, the maiden bend over slightly to show her appreciation, then stepped into the carriage. The coachman quickly tug the silver coins into the man’s arms, and left with the carriage.

The man looked at Zhang Nanqin, gritting his teeth: ''Why not mind your own business? My leg is only worth twenty silver coins?"

　　Zhang Nanqin was not angry at all, persuaded in patient, "That’s really not bad. Look at me, I just earned one silver coin this morning. By the way, your leg is not broken."

　　"Bullshit!" The man pointed to Zhang Naqin’s right leg, "I don’t want the money now. I will buy your leg with twenty silver coins."

Zhang Nanqin did not feel the slightest bit angry at such a threat. Instead he smiled and reached out his hands over and gently touched the man's leg. He then raised eyebrows and asked surprisedly, "Oh, I was wrong. It’s really broken."

Before Zhang Nanqin finished his words, the man instantly fell to the ground and screamed in pain like a pig being slaughtered. This time, he could not make a word but just howling.

　　Zhang Nanqin turned around with a sweep of the crowd, ''Shh! Shh! Don't scream. I know you have associates. Five in total if I am correct. My leg is here on my body. Come here and break it, if you could."

　　Five people came out of the crowd and circled Zhang Nanqin in the middle. The crowd of people saw those people and immediately knew that they were dangerous to mess with. Within seconds, the crowd dispersed.

Stranding there casually, Zhang Nanqin open his mouth unconcernedly, "Stop watching and take him to find a doctor. Hurry up and maybe his bone can still be connected. If you continue wasting time, it will be too late, and I am afraid I will leave you a crip. More important …"

Zhang Nanqin did not finish his words, but pointed the end of the street.  There, an official patrol was moving towards them.

　　"Great, we remember you!" One of the five pointed viciously at Zhang Nanqin. The five helped the man up and left without any more words.

Zhang Nanqin could not help his laugh. He took out his knife sharpening stones and stoke them lightly. A crispy voice spread out quickly. He then turned around and walked away, "Burnishing scissor, sharpening cleaver......."