C10 Talking about Justice!

"Where did this wild child come from? Do you know whom you've bumped into?"

The moment the incident occurred, the eagle-eyed Hsu San spotted his chance to demonstrate loyalty before the master.

He swiftly stepped forward from the crowd, removed the candy stuck to Zhang Yaozhi's clothing, and angrily rebuked the child sprawled on the ground.

On the cobblestone path, the little one who had tumbled didn't cry. He quietly stood up and brushed the dirt from his clothes.

The boy was dressed in a neat green silk jacket. His fall had left his handsome face smeared with dust, making him look all the more pitiable. It was none other than Ye Chuxue.

After rising, Ye Chuxue glanced at the syrup on Zhang Yaozhi and sheepishly scratched his head. Then, with a respectful gesture, he bowed.

"I apologize, Uncle. The fault lies with Zhixian, not you. I'm here to offer my apologies..."

"Enough, Hsu San. There's no need to quarrel with a child over a garment; it can simply be washed. The little one is alright now. Just be more careful when you play next time."

With a wave of his hand, Zhang Yaozhi's irritation was quelled once more. It's rare to encounter such a well-mannered child these days. Judging by his demeanor, he must come from a family of scholars, with a decent understanding of proper conduct.

The minor incident was quickly resolved. But as Zhang Yaozhi prepared to depart, a crisp child's voice called out to him.

"Uncle, wait a moment, please."

Tugging at Zhang Yaozhi's robe, Ye Chuxue seemed to have something unsaid. His cheeks were adorably flushed with the effort of holding back his words.

"What seems to be the matter, little fellow? Didn't I say all is well? Surely you're not thinking of compensating me for my clothes? If so, I might have to sell you to cover the cost..."

Turning back, Zhang Yaozhi affectionately tousled Ye Chuxue's hair. He was quite fond of this literate and courteous youngster and teased him in a playful tone.

"No, Zhixian has already apologized, Uncle. But you haven't apologized yet. And you can't sell Zhixian; Mr. Ye would give you a thrashing."

Furrowing her attractive brows, Ye Chuxue spoke with earnest seriousness, as if stating an obvious fact.

Ye Chuxue wasn't mistaken. In his childhood, there was indeed a gang in the town notorious for child trafficking. They spotted a blind man with a child so fair and handsome that selling him would surely bring a handsome sum of silver. To them, it was an opportunity too good to pass up.

One afternoon, as Ye Chuxue played alone in the alley, the traffickers made their move. The details of what happened next were hazy to him, but he vividly remembered Mr. Ye rushing to his rescue, wielding a bamboo broom used for street sweeping, and giving the traffickers a thrashing that left them in tears.

Mr. Ye had always said that men shouldn't cry, yet the wails of those beaten traffickers suggested they were in considerable pain. After that day, it seemed no more children went missing in the town.

So when Ye Chuxue overheard someone plotting to sell him, he couldn't help but offer a well-intentioned warning. With his tender complexion, he doubted the man could withstand even a few of Mr. Ye's blows.

"Hey, you wild child, spouting such nonsense," Hsu San retorted with a sneer. "My master is lenient and won't hold this against you, but if you don't scram, I might just sell you for real."

Hsu San's eyes bulged with menace as he glared at the young boy, his intentions clear as day.

"The gentleman has always said, without learning proper manners, one cannot stand tall. Every matter has its rights and wrongs, and should be judged impartially and fairly," Ye Chuxue chided.

"It was Zhixian's mistake to get the candy figurine on Uncle's clothes, and I've already apologized. But it was Uncle's carelessness that caused Zhixian to fall. So Uncle should apologize too. I haven't even asked for compensation for my candy figurine yet."

Ye Chuxue's clear, wide eyes blinked innocently, brimming with a sense of grievance. It was as if not demanding compensation for his smashed candy figurine was already a significant compromise on his part.

At that moment, his playmates crowded around, tugging at his sleeve, signaling for him to quickly leave and not to argue with the adults any longer.

"Excellent!"

"Excellent! Without learning proper etiquette, one cannot stand tall. Matters should be judged impartially, without bias. Haha, Hsu San, it seems in some respects, you can't even match a child."

Zhang Yaozhi suddenly burst into laughter. The more he observed the child, the more endearing he found him. A three-year-old engaging in a discussion about etiquette and justice with him was quite remarkable.

"Little one, I was too full of myself just now. I caused you to fall and lose your little candy figure. I offer you my apologies."

The gesture was the same, hands cupped and sleeves raised, but this time he was apologizing to a three-year-old child. It might have seemed odd, but it demonstrated Zhang Yaozhi's graciousness. Clearly, his status was not to be underestimated.

"Alright, little one. I've made my apology. Now, let uncle test you. Do you understand the meaning of what you just said? Who taught you these things?"

Zhang Yaozhi gave a gentle smile as he posed the question to the charming child.

"Mr. Jiang taught me. He said that to be a person, one must understand manners. Without manners, how can one be a person? When doing anything, one must be clear and fair, not swayed by personal feelings."

Ye Chuxue nibbled on her little finger, seemingly deep in thought, her large eyes blinking as she spoke.

"Haha, truly, a good person is always blessed. Little one, come along. Uncle will take you to the teahouse for some treats, to make up for your lost candy figure."

Zhang Yaozhi's eyes sparkled with joy, as if he had stumbled upon an important lead. He affectionately lifted Ye Chuxue and playfully nudged her nose.

"But Zhixian is playing with friends!"

Ye Chuxue cocked her head, looking at her playmates, unsure of what to do.

"No worries, Hsu San, take the kids to get some sweets."

Cradling Ye Chuxue, Zhang Yaozhi gave Hsu San a knowing look. Once Hsu San grasped his master's intent, his face lit up with a smile.

"Come on, come on! The master is generous today. Uncle will take you all to buy candy figures. Pick out whatever you like."

The allure of the candy immediately excited the little playmates. They forgot all about Ye Chuxue.

Laughing and jostling, they followed Hsu San to the candy stall and quickly vanished into the bustling city crowd.

Once her playmates had gone, Ye Chuxue lost her desire to frolic.

"How about it? Are you ready to go have some pastries with uncle now?"

Zhang Yaozhi smiled as he gazed at the child nestled in his arms and posed the question once more. Ye Chuxue turned her head, pondered for a moment, and then with her large, clear eyes brimming with anticipation, she looked up at Zhang Yaozhi and said,

"Zhixian would like a peach blossom cake, with extra sugar, please..."

​