The days slipped by quickly, and before they knew it, it was the end of October. On this particular day, Lin He, along with Old Man Qin, was taking Xiao Jun along as usual. After delivering their goods to Cai Die Xuan, the group hurried the ox cart back home. Halfway there, several men suddenly stopped their cart and asked, "Are you the ones delivering goods to Cai Die Xuan?"

Old Man Qin grunted, "What is it?"

Lin He regarded the three men blocking their cart. The one in the lead was portly and large, his face so round that his eyes were squeezed into mere slits. He stood there looking like the Japanese sumo wrestlers Lin He had seen on television in her previous life. The two men beside him were lean to the extreme, their eyes darting everywhere with palpable restlessness.

The fat man announced, "Boss Wen has some matters to discuss with you; he sent us to bring you back."

Hearing it was Boss Wen, Old Man Qin’s resistance lessened, and he stopped speaking, waiting for Lin He to respond. Lin He, however, felt a prickle of suspicion. She held no affection for this man, and wariness immediately surfaced. Furthermore, if it were truly Uncle Wen who sent for them, given his nature, he wouldn't dispatch people she had never met. She knew every errand boy at Cai Die Xuan. When Chen Bing used to work there, Uncle Wen always sent Chen Bing, and merely asking them to return wouldn't require this many men.

Thinking this, Lin He’s doubts solidified. She decided to test them, deliberately asking, "Have you perhaps mistaken the people? Which Boss Wen are you referring to? I don't know any Boss Wen."

She intended to gauge whether these men were genuinely sent by Uncle Wen; if so, they would immediately report back to him. If not, these men surely had ulterior motives.

As expected, the leading fat man showed a flicker of doubt upon hearing Lin He’s words and whispered to the man beside him, "Did you look closely? Is it her? Why does she seem not to recognize Wen Shijie?"

One of the thin men immediately stepped forward and whispered back, "It's her. I’ve been watching the entrance of Cai Die Xuan for a long time. Every time she comes, she brings a lot of goods, and they are always for those few people. It must be her; I can’t be wrong."

Although they tried to keep their voices low, Lin He could still vaguely catch the words "Wen Shijie" and "delivery." Alarm bells immediately rang in her mind. It seemed her frequent deliveries to Cai Die Xuan, coupled with the shop's booming business over the past few months, had attracted unwanted attention. This person was likely not well-intentioned.

Lin He felt a pang of regret. Things had been too smooth since she arrived here. As an ordinary office worker in her past life, she hadn't dealt with many such situations, leading her to let down her guard. She had forgotten the saying that a tall tree attracts the wind. She thought they had always arrived early and kept a low profile, but she hadn't considered that Cai Die Xuan itself wasn't low-key, likely drawing attention long ago. These men had clearly staked out the location after confirming their targets.

The fat man in front, having heard the thin man, spoke up, "Little girl, you don't know Wen Shijie? My assistant recognizes you. Wen Shijie is the manager of Cai Die Xuan. You just came from there; how could you not know him?"

Lin He realized she could no longer deny it. While her mind raced for a plan, she managed a smile, "Oh, you mean the owner of Cai Die Xuan. I didn't know his name was Wen Shijie. Why does he want me back? I was just going there to buy a few things."

The fat man seemed to lose patience with Lin He's evasiveness. He said, "Little girl, let me be frank. Wen Shijie didn't send me. I work for a shop that competes directly with Cai Die Xuan. Cai Die Xuan’s recent success is all thanks to the goods you bring, isn't it? Over the last few months, they’ve stolen a lot of our business. I'm here today because I have something to discuss with you. You’re just delivering the goods, right? Where are your parents? Have them sell me the recipes for these goods. I guarantee you a good price—much more than you earn at Cai Die Xuan. Where are you from, young lady?"

Lin He had already guessed their true purpose and was frantically contemplating her options. If they fought, it would be two children and one adult against three grown men; they stood no chance. If she let them take her home, she might escape this immediate threat, but her family would likely never know peace again. These people wouldn't easily let go, and domestic tranquility would be lost. But they were far from any village or town here—what could she do?

While thinking, Lin He put on a cheerful facade for the fat man, saying, "Really? More money than Cai Die Xuan pays us? But those recipes are made by my mother and father. My parents usually handle all the business negotiations; we just deliver the goods. I don't really know the details."

Meanwhile, Xiao Jun and Old Man Qin also understood the situation and were racking their brains on how to escape, though neither dared to make any sudden moves. The fat man laughed at Lin He’s words. "Little girl, what I say, I do. How about this: you come back with me, and they can take my assistant to your house to find your parents, alright?"

Lin He eyed them, deliberately stating, "But I don't know you, why would you take me back? I don't have the recipes. Why don't you all come home with me to find my parents instead?" By suggesting they come along, Lin He hoped to delay them, thinking the long journey back might provide an opportunity to escape.

The fat man smiled sinisterly. "No, that won't do. How about you stay here? This boy—is he your little brother? How about you leave the boy here? You go back with this old man. You choose. I'll wait right here for your parents to arrive."

Lin He looked at Xiao Jun; leaving him was out of the question; he was too young and would be terrified alone. But staying alone wasn't safe either. Unexpectedly, Xiao Jun suddenly cried out, "Let my sister go! I’ll go with you alone. My parents dote on me, you know."

"No, he's not my brother; he's our family servant. Keeping him is useless. Keep me instead. My parents will surely bring the recipes," Lin He signaled Xiao Jun with her eyes.

"Sister, let me go. You're a girl; you'll be scared. Let me go instead," Xiao Jun insisted.

Now the fat man was perplexed, unsure whom to keep. One of his assistants spoke up, "Why don't we keep both? Who cares who is who. Just let the old man go back to pass the message. What do you think?"

The fat man grinned. "Yes, that's settled. Both stay here. The old man goes back."

Old Man Qin became truly frantic now. With both children left behind, he didn't know who these men were, and leaving the two small ones was highly unsafe. As he turned to go back and report, Lin He exchanged a look with Old Man Qin, glancing towards the direction of the town. The unspoken message was for him to find Uncle Wen for help. Lin He suspected even her own parents would be useless; only Uncle Wen could save her and Xiao Jun.

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