Luo Yang thought that perhaps Uncle Hong just wanted to thank him in person again, now that he was familiar with Hong Jiaxin, he had no choice but to accompany her home for a visit.
It took just a 5-minute drive from Dongfeng Middle School to Hong Jiaxin's house.
After getting out of the car, Uncle Hong warmly invited Luo Yang into the living room to sit, offering both drinks and cigarettes. With such hospitality, Luo Yang could only accept graciously.
As expected, Uncle Hong and his wife thanked Luo Yang once more for his help, and Luo Yang responded modestly.
After the pleasantries, Luo Yang wanted to inquire about the Bearded Man's matter, but unexpectedly, Uncle Hong took out a jade pendant wrapped in gold foil, saying, "Brother Luo, this is an heirloom of my family and is worth a bit of money, please accept it."
Upon hearing it was a family heirloom, Luo Yang declined politely, "Uncle Hong, there's no need to be so courteous."
But Uncle Hong sincerely insisted, "Brother Luo, it's just a small token, please don't laugh it off. Accept it, please."
Seeing Luo Yang's hesitation and Uncle Hong's insistence, Hong Jiaxin urged, "Luo Yang, it's a gift from my father. Just take it without fuss."
Before Luo Yang could respond, Uncle Hong reminded, "Jiaxin, remember to call him Master privately, it's the least respect due to a Master."
Challenged by her father's statement, Hong Jiaxin lightly pursed her red lips. She was the class leader and a top student in the same class as Luo Yang, who was not as academically inclined, and she felt a sense of superiority in front of him.
Now being asked to lower her guard and treat Luo Yang as an equal, she was indeed a bit uncomfortable.
"Uncle Hong, Jiaxin and I are peers; it's fine for her to just call me by my name." Luo Yang wasn't used to hearing her address him as Master either.
"Brother Luo, please accept this small gift first," Uncle Hong said as he handed the jade pendant over again.
After much declining, Luo Yang finally accepted the jade pendant from Uncle Hong's hand, glanced at it briefly, and held it in his palm, unsure if the pendant was truly precious, or quite common. The back of the pendant was wrapped in a thin gold sheet, and a red cord passed through the hole in the sheet.
"Brother Luo, the gift may be small, but it represents my family's sincerity. Please take good care of this jade pendant and do not give it away, okay?" Uncle Hong said earnestly.
"If I live, the jade lives." Luo Yang swore.
"Wear it on your neck, it should be safer to have it on you that way," Uncle Hong suggested.
So, Luo Yang promptly put the jade pendant around his neck.
Overwhelmed by the excessive enthusiasm of Uncle Hong and his wife, Luo Yang felt somewhat uneasy and thought it was time to leave for school, saying, "Uncle Hong, you've suffered an internal injury and need to rest, so I won't bother you any longer. I have evening self-study to attend, I'll be going to school now."
With that, he rose to leave.
At that moment, there was still an hour or so before evening self-study, and he rarely went to school so early.
Uncle Hong, clearly wanting something, hurriedly said, "Brother Luo, there is something I need your help with, though I'm not sure how to ask."
Luo Yang secretly guessed it might be a request for him to stand in for a fight against Bearded Man's accomplice and readily said, "Uncle Hong, anything I can help with, just ask."
At this, Uncle Hong exchanged a glance with his wife, seeming to have made a decision, and said with a serious expression, "Here's the situation. I've run into a bit of trouble and need to go seek help to resolve it. I'm going to leave Hongyun Town with Jiaxin's mother for some time, but I can't take Jiaxin with us. I would like to ask you to take good care of Jiaxin, okay?"
"Sure. I will protect the class leader," Luo Yang promised immediately.
Reassured by the promise, Uncle Hong's face showed relief and then he added, "It's not safe for Jiaxin to stay at home alone. It's also not safe for her to stay in the school dormitory at night. If she could live at your house, going to school and coming back with you, she would be much safer. I'd like her to move into your place; would that be okay? I'll take care of the living expenses."
Initially, Luo Yang thought Uncle Hong was just asking him to protect Hong Jiaxin at school, but now, hearing this, he realized it was a complete entrustment of his daughter to his care.
Luo Yang said awkwardly with a smile, "I can, I mean, it's possible..."
As he spoke, he glanced at Hong Jiaxin, afraid that she would be unwilling to move into his house. Glancing at her delicate and voluptuous body, his excitement grew.
Indeed, Hong Jiaxin asked anxiously, "Dad, Mom, where are you going?"
Hong Zhong said seriously, "Jiaxin, you can't come with us. It's even more dangerous to be with us. They want something from me. I need to go and ask friends for help. Please, be obedient and don't make things more complicated."
There's no greater sorrow in life than the separation of loved ones, and yet when Hong Jiaxin questioned her mother about what was happening, she couldn't get any answers either.
Luo Yang said generously, "Uncle Hong, I can take care of those people for you."
Hong Zhong thanked him, "Brother Luo, I appreciate your kindness. I understand your sentiments. This isn't a trivial matter; it's better if you don't get involved. Whoever gets involved will never be able to live a peaceful life again. I'll find someone to help, and if it gets sorted out, we can live a stable life in our later years."
From this conversation, it was clear the matter was extremely serious.
Luo Yang suggested calling the police, but Hong Zhong said it wouldn't solve the problem fundamentally. When asked what trouble it was, he wouldn't say.
"Uncle Hong, I also know people from the streets. For example, Zhu Li, who had dinner with us in the town, she's the big sister around here. Asking her to step in might help solve the problem," Luo Yang offered earnestly.
"Brother Luo, please trust me. If it were a common issue, I too have some friends on the streets that could take care of it. The situation is more complex than you think," Hong Zhong said, looking at his daughter, "Jiaxin, you're a sensible girl. Your parents are going to take care of some serious business now, and you need to be even more sensible. Do you understand?"
"Dad, can't we ask Luo Yang for help to solve it?" Hong Jiaxin asked.
Hong Zhong just shook his head.
There was a long silence in the room, then Hong Zhong went to get a stack of cash and handed it to Luo Yang, saying, "Brother Luo, this is the accommodation and meal expenses for having Jiaxin stay at your place."
The money was about twenty to thirty thousand yuan.
Luo Yang said hastily, "Uncle Hong, I'll take care of the class president's living expenses. No need to pay."
Hong Zhong insisted, "Take it."
Having no choice, Luo Yang accepted the money, thinking he would give it to Hong Jiaxin later.
"Jiaxin, you should also pack your things. You'll be staying at your master's house from tonight until I return. Hurry up," urged Hong Zhong.
His wife had already gone into the room to pack, clearly in a hurry to leave.
Only Luo Yang and Hong Zhong were left in the living room. Luo Yang asked, "Uncle Hong, where are you going to find someone for help?"
Hong Zhong replied vaguely, "To a rather distant place." Then, sidestepping the issue, he said earnestly, "Brother Luo, I'm truly grateful for your great kindness to my family. Whenever there's a chance, I will repay you. Jiaxin is a sensible girl, although she can sometimes be a bit wilful. Please be patient and understanding with her."
Being separated from his daughter was not what Hong Zhong wanted, and his voice choked up slightly as he spoke.
Luo Yang promised, "Uncle Hong, as long as I'm here, no one will bully the class president. I will do my utmost to protect her."
Having witnessed Luo Yang's extraordinary skills firsthand, and now with his verbal promise, Hong Zhong was greatly relieved and gratefully said, "Once this matter is settled, I'm going to treat you to a drink, a good proper drink."
During their conversation, Hong Jiaxin's mother had finished packing the luggage. There were only two bags, carrying lightweight items, indicating they were preparing for a swift departure.