But everyone relentlessly criticized Guo Lan, and at that moment, she truly found herself unable to refute them!
Facing the accusations from the crowd, Qian Youyou, though young, was sensible enough and immediately spoke up, "My mom never borrowed money from him!"
The child's tender voice forcefully rebutted the vagabond-clad man's false accusations, but the man sneered, "You and your mother are cut from the same cloth! Your mom borrowed money, changed her residence to evade debts, and you're just like her!"
Guo Lan snapped back, "Don't go too far with your bullying!"
"Oh, what's this? Now that you have the backing of some powerful figure, you talk so boldly?" The vagabond-clad man dug at his ear contemptuously and said, "This might be an ordinary neighborhood, but it's still out of your poor-league to afford, so spill it, which rich young master have you clung to?"
Guo Lan wanted to say Xu Hao's name, but recalling his recent troubles, she swallowed her words and coldly told him, "I warn you not to slander me. I'm not nearly as despicable as you! I never owed you money, and I don't know you well—if you keep harassing me, watch out, I might call the public security!"
The vagabond-clad man said disdainfully, "A withered flower like you, who could you possibly climb up to? Did you just strike a stroke of luck and end up living here? But you do owe me money, and if you refuse to admit it, come to my house with me, and I'll show you that IOU!" Your support on * keeps this series going.
Guo Lan retorted, "Do you think I'm stupid? Follow you to your house? Don't think I don't know what you're scheming!"
But then someone else spoke up, "Paying back what you owe is a principle as old as time. You don't admit your debts, and when someone wants to bring proof, why don't you dare follow him to his house? It shows you have a guilty conscience!"
Most people continued to criticize Guo Lan, convinced that she definitely owed money but stubbornly refused to pay it back.
Yet, a few individuals displayed a contemplative look, seemingly feeling that the situation wasn't so straightforward.
However, they were the minority and did not dare to voice their skepticism openly—most people believed Guo Lan was at fault.
Just then, someone remarked, "Hey, I think I've seen this woman somewhere a few days ago?"
After thinking for a bit, the man suddenly exclaimed, "I remember now, the day before yesterday when I was dropping my kid off at school, I saw her teaching the students."
"Wow, she's a teacher! But how can someone like her be a teacher? Isn't that teaching children the wrong way?" someone questioned.
"Exactly, such a person shouldn't be a teacher. Otherwise, she might end up turning the kids into deadbeats too," someone else chimed in.
Hearing their words, the vagabond-clad man sneered, "Guo Lan, pretty impressive you became a teacher, but shouldn't you be in class right now? Why aren't you at school?"
Guo Lan coldly replied, "Whether I go to class is none of your business!"
"This is the quality of a people's teacher? Can't even handle a single question?" The vagabond-clad man scoffed, "So what if you're a teacher? Do you think I would be afraid of you? Today, you must come with me to my house, whether you want to or not!"
As he said that, the two men by his side moved forward a few steps, attempting to seize Guo Lan's arms, but she dodged them easily.
Guo Lan glared fiercely at them, warning, "I advise you to show me some respect; otherwise, when he arrives, you'll probably get beaten half to death today!"
Seeing that they were starting to lay their hands on her, Guo Lan knew she had to play Xu Hao's card if she wanted to settle the matter today.
Moreover, Guo Lan thought that although Xu Hao was temporarily in trouble, that was a matter between big-shots, and these local townspeople were unlikely to have heard the news—maybe she could bluff her way through.
The vagabond-clad man snorted, "So you have indeed clung onto some big thigh. Tell me, which big thigh is it?"
"Don't speak so rudely! It's just that he was willing to help me," Guo Lan defended.
"My words are rude? I'm asking you, who is it?! If it's just an ordinary person, I won't be scared," said the vagabond-clad man without a hint of fear.
"Hmph! He's no ordinary person. He alone can make all of Huadu's families completely submissive," she said.
"Stop bluffing! Who in Huadu could possibly be such a figure? Even Young Master Xu from the Wu Family, the number one in Huadu, wouldn't dare to say he can make other families submit like that," the vagabond-clad man said with scorn.
"Believe it or not, it's up to you, but everything I said is true; he is Xu Hao, Young Master Xu!" Guo Lan declared loudly.
"Xu Hao? Who's that? How come... Holy shit, Xu Hao!"
The vagabond-clad man suddenly realized, and with a terrified look, he asked, "The big thigh you're clung to is that Xu Hao, the Young Master Xu?"
The people around were also looking at Guo Lan in shock. Could it really be that Xu Hao, the one stirring up a storm in Huadu?
Guo Lan nodded and said, "That's right! It's him!"