Time Is Slow - Chapter 3
Qiao Zhao had already thought it through. A man like Chi Can surely had no shortage of women sending him flirtatious glances on a regular basis. If she rashly stopped him, she might be mistaken for one of those women with ulterior motives.
Hmm, calling him “Uncle” should put him at ease, right?
Thinking that she was being considerate, Qiao Zhao quickly explained her situation.
“I am the daughter of Li Xiuzhuan from the capital. I was abducted by traffickers during the Flower Festival and brought here. Please, Uncle, save me—”
Uncle…
The word made the corner of Chi Can’s mouth twitch. Laughter burst from his two companions, and he instinctively wanted to cover the little girl’s mouth.
He wasn’t that much older than her—how did he become an uncle? She should be calling him “Big Brother”!
Then again… if a girl suddenly ran up to him in broad daylight and called him “Big Brother,” his first reaction might be to shake her off.
With that thought, Chi Can’s gaze deepened, and he took a serious look at Qiao Zhao for the first time.
She was slender and delicate, like a white magnolia bud on the verge of blooming, fragile against the wind and rain—impossible not to pity. A small red mole at the tip of her brow added a touch of charm to her otherwise delicate beauty.
“A clever girl,” Chi Can thought.
“Ni Ni, come back! Don’t be rude to the young master!”
The man who had finally shaken off the restaurant staff rushed over, reaching out to grab Qiao Zhao.
She swiftly dodged his hand like a nimble fish, hiding behind Chi Can.
The man grabbed nothing but air, his face twisting in frustration and anger. He hurriedly explained, “Young Master, this is my daughter. She ran away because she was upset with me. Please don’t listen to her nonsense—”
Chi Can tilted his head, smiling at Qiao Zhao.
“You’re his daughter?”
Unlike her delicate appearance, her voice was firm and unwavering. She calmly said two words:
“No, I’m not.”
“This young lady says she’s not your daughter,” Chi Can remarked to the man.
Seeing that things were taking a bad turn, the man immediately put on a sincere and honest expression, sighing, “Young Master, you don’t understand. A few days ago, my daughter was tricked by a scoundrel into eloping. I finally brought her back, but she’s still angry with me, so she refuses to acknowledge me and keeps claiming I’m a trafficker just so she can find that scoundrel again!”
He was confident that as soon as he said this, no one would interfere. The last time this wretched girl tried to escape, he had used the same excuse.
He shot Qiao Zhao a warning glance.
Just wait until I deal with you later!
Qiao Zhao met his gaze calmly and suddenly smiled.
This time is different.
Before, she had called for help from the surrounding crowd, but even with many people present, as long as the man gave a plausible reason, they would shrug it off as none of their business and leave.
But now, she has chosen to ask a specific person for help. That person would naturally feel a greater sense of responsibility and wouldn’t blindly believe the man’s explanation.
Besides, this was Chi Can. If he lacked the ability to discern the truth in such situations, how could he deal with the complicated minds of the imperial family and nobility?
Chi Can leaned forward slightly, amusement in his gaze.
“You really eloped?”
Qiao Zhao looked serious. “Uncle—oh, no—Big Brother Chi, if your daughter had eloped, would you shout about it like this, completely disregarding her reputation?”
Of course not!
Chi Can almost blurted it out but caught himself just in time.
What nonsense—where would I even get a daughter this big?
He stepped back silently, glancing at the growing crowd.
Not wanting to waste more time arguing, he said coolly, “You both make valid points—”
“You can’t listen to a child’s nonsense! Besides, this is a family matter—”
Chi Can smiled at the man.
His looks were so striking that even the fresh spring colors paled in comparison.
“This gentleman need not worry,” he said lightly. “I am not one to meddle in others’ affairs.”
The man sighed in relief and was just about to smile when the exceptionally handsome young man lazily continued.
“So let’s go see the county magistrate and have him decide who’s telling the truth.”
The man’s face froze in shock.
Facing the stunned man, he gently reassured, “The three of us brothers will just escort you to the yamen. We absolutely won’t meddle in other people’s business.”
“You—you—” The man was dumbfounded by this unexpected turn of events.
Chi Can suddenly furrowed his brow and turned to the man in blue, saying, “Zi Zhe, I recall that the magistrate of Baoling County served in Jiafeng County three years ago, correct?”
Qiao Zhao took the opportunity to quietly glance at the blue-clothed man.
Her grandfather had a close friend, a renowned physician. When she was eight, her grandfather fell ill, and with the physician’s advice, the family moved back to Jiafeng for treatment.
For several years, the physician would visit annually to treat her grandfather. During these visits, Qiao Zhao, a diligent student of medicine, would take every opportunity to learn from him. Over ten years, she became half a disciple to him.
Her grandfather’s health was largely maintained by her efforts, and it wasn’t until he was gravely ill that he forced her to return to the capital and marry the second son of the Marquis Jing’an.
Her husband was sent off to war on their wedding day, not even lifting her bridal veil. Shortly afterward, her grandfather passed away. During her time in the Marquis Jing’an household, she rarely interacted with outsiders. Among the three men before her, she only recognized Chi Can, whom she met in Jiafeng.
The man in blue didn’t notice her scrutiny.
He said, “This isn’t the capital. How would I know who the magistrate is? Shi Xi, you visited Jiafeng three years ago, right?”
Chi Can nodded. “Yes, I even had tea with the magistrate then. I vaguely heard he was reassigned here.”
Hearing this, the man panicked and tried to flee.
But the man in green, who had remained silent until now, kicked him to the ground, his voice cold.
“So, he really is a trafficker.”
Qiao Zhao called out loudly, “Don’t let him go! He looks honest and decent, but who knows how many girls he has kidnapped? I was lucky that Big Brother Chi saved me, but other girls might not be so fortunate—”
The crowd erupted in anger.
“Traffickers are the worst! Beat him up!”
Chi Can and his friends wisely stepped aside, leaving space for the furious onlookers. Soon, the air was filled with the sound of a man screaming like a slaughtered pig.
Turning into a quieter street, the three young men exchanged looks as Qiao Zhao followed them closely.
What now?
The men in blue and green shared a glance before simultaneously looking at Chi Can.
You got us into this mess—your problem.
Chi Can raised an eyebrow.
He started to say, “Little—”
But remembering how she had kept calling him “Uncle,” his tongue twisted.
Understandingly, Qiao Zhao quickly said, “Big Brother Chi, you can call me Li San.”
“Li San…” Chi Can’s mouth twitched. He couldn’t help but say, “Actually, you could just call me Chi Big Brother.”
“Big Brother Chi,” Qiao Zhao immediately complied.
As long as he took her back to the capital, she didn’t mind calling him Grandfather Chi.
“Ah,” Chi Can finally felt relieved. Smiling, he asked, “You live in the capital?”
Seeing her nod, he shook his head. “That’s unfortunate. We’re headed to Jiafeng, so we can’t take you along. I’ll hire a carriage to send you back.”
Jiafeng?
Qiao Zhao’s heart pounded.
Li Zhao’s home was in the capital, but her home had always been in Jiafeng.
“I want to go with you,” she said quickly. “If I travel alone, what if the driver has ill intentions?”
Seeing him hesitate, she blinked. “Big Brother Chi, I can’t repay your kindness—”
Chi Can tensed.
Was she about to say she’d marry him?
Saving people was risky!
“But my parents will surely reward you!”
Reward?!
Chi Can nearly choked.
That was not what he had expected at all.
His two friends burst into laughter.