Chapter 187: The Benefactor Who Saved the Wen Family

Thinking that their guard had frightened the little girl, Li Fu and Li Yi quickly spoke up, "Xunfeng, what on earth did you do?"

Xunfeng immediately leaped down from the carriage and dropped to one knee, "Master, this subordinate didn't do anything at all. I was just waiting right here by the carriage."

Li Fu's expression darkened—a rare occurrence. Just as he was about to speak, Wen Ying grabbed Madam Luo and exclaimed excitedly, "Grandma, Datou! The person who saved Datou, the one who was flying around *whoosh, whoosh, whoosh*—it's him!"

Her tiny finger was pointing precisely at Xunfeng, the guard kneeling on the ground and trying to clear his name.

At these words, everyone in the Wen family froze. Li Fu and Li Yi were also stunned, while Xunfeng was completely baffled.

What saving someone? When had he ever saved anyone?

Madam Luo's expression shifted multiple times. She steadied Wen Ying and asked, "Yingzi, did you see clearly?"

Wen Ying nodded repeatedly, "Grandma, I didn't see wrong. It's definitely him! He was wearing this exact same outfit that day. He fished Datou out of the water and then flew away."

Xunfeng lowered his head to look at his guard uniform; he had always worn this attire.

Having received a definitive answer, Madam Luo turned around and sank to her knees right in front of Xunfeng. The other members of the Wen family hurried over, preparing to kneel as well.

Terrified, Xunfeng scrambled to his feet and dodged behind Li Fu, crying out for help, "Master!"

Li Fu quickly pulled Madam Luo and the others up, utterly perplexed, "Grandmother Wen, what is going on here?"

Madam Luo looked at them with burning excitement and asked, "Master Li, may I ask if you came to Misty Cloud Town before the New Year? And you brought this hero with you?"

Li Fu was taken aback. "Before the New Year? No, I didn't."

How could he possibly have left the capital before the New Year?

However, Li Yi tugged at Li Fu's sleeve and said in a low voice, "Dad, I came. I came to visit Master, and I brought Xunfeng with me."

Li Fu looked at his son, while Xunfeng scratched his head in deep thought, suddenly recalling the incident.

"Young... Ah, yes, Master! Before the New Year, this subordinate escorted the young master to visit Mr. Qiu, and we did pass through this area. Oh! I remember now! Our carriage was stopped by the roadside, and this subordinate wanted to fetch some water from the nearby river for the horses. Just as I got there, I saw a child fall into the water, so I fished him out."

"Ah? This..." Li Fu looked at Madam Luo and the others, astonished. "Could it be that the child Xunfeng saved belonged to the Wen family?"

Everything clicked into place. The gaze Madam Luo directed at Li Fu and his son became intensely ardent. She nodded repeatedly and immediately instructed Wen Xiuzhu to go to Qiu Rongrong's estate to fetch Wen Xiuyi, while also sending Lu Hai to the dock to bring back Wen Yao, who was tending to the shop.

The Wen family's carriage had been driven by Lu Jiang that morning to take Wen Yao and Wen Nong to the docks, leaving only the ox cart.

Kindly offering his own carriage, Li Fu had Lu Hai drive it to pick people up.

Back at the Wen residence, Old Man Wen had also been called back from the fields. Upon learning that the Li father and son were the masters of Datou's savior, his attitude underwent a complete transformation. He was even more enthusiastic than before, looking as though he wanted to set the father and son up on altars to be worshipped.

As for Xunfeng, the Wen family crowded around him, showering him with warm inquiries, leaving him utterly unaccustomed to such treatment.

"I never imagined our two families would share such a bond! Hahaha, Uncle Wen, Grandmother Wen, this is truly a coincidence." Once the Wen family had calmed down, Li Fu learned the full story from them.

Learning that the rescued child was none other than Qiu Zhi's adopted son and Wen Xiuyi's youngest boy, the corners of Li Fu's mouth split into an even wider grin.

Qiu Zhi now owed him a massive favor.

Old Man Wen and Madam Luo had never expected such a twist of fate.

"Indeed, we truly never imagined that our great benefactor was right before our eyes. If Young Hero Xunfeng hadn't acted in time that day, that child Datou would likely have... Fortunately, good deeds are rewarded with good fortune. Our family finally has a chance to repay this kindness." Old Man Wen exchanged a glance with Madam Luo, both of their faces beaming with joy.

They had almost let the matter slip away, given that the stranger had merely passed by without leaving a name, leaving them with nowhere to direct their gratitude.

But now, the benefactor had been found. The Wen family was hardly the sort to accept a kindness without returning it.

Xunfeng was so flustered by their praise that he grew embarrassed, especially with his master present—it was hardly his place to take the credit.

"No, no, no! I—I just happened to be there. We have my young master and my lord to thank; if they didn't ordinarily teach us servants to always harbor good intentions, I wouldn't have saved the young Wen master. Yes, yes, it's all thanks to the fine teachings of my lord and young master!" With that, Xunfeng cast a knowing, solicitous smile toward Li Yi and Li Fu.

Wasn't this the exact excuse they needed to sponge a meal off the Wen family?

As saviors of a family member, staying for a few meals was hardly unreasonable.

The Wen family offered yet another round of heartfelt thanks to Li Fu and his son. Finally snapping out of his daze, Old Man Wen hastily issued orders to Madam Luo.

"Right, right! Quickly, have someone slaughter chickens and ducks, and go get some fresh vegetables from the village. And the fish in the fishpond—Uncle Lu, go catch a few right now! Master Li, Young Master Li, Young Hero Xunfeng, you must stay for a casual meal today!

"And—Third Son! Third Son!"

Wen Xiuqing hurried out, only to hear Old Man Wen say, "Hurry over to the village chief's house, borrow their ox cart, and go to the Hall of Benevolence to invite Dr. Jin and Shopkeeper Qiu."

"Got it! I'm going right now!" Wen Xiuqing turned and bolted.

Overjoyed and brimming with excitement, Old Man Wen kept pulling Li Fu along in endless conversation.

Li Fu had originally intended to shamelessly cadge a meal, but instead of crashing one, he found himself treated as the guest of honor.

Wen Xiuyi and Wen Yao received the news at almost the exact same time, and both were left in a daze. The person who saved Datou was actually a guard from the Li family? This was altogether too coincidental!

Dropping his farming and abandoning his shop respectively, the two of them hurried home posthaste.

By the time they arrived, Madam Luo and Madam Li had already finished preparing the side dishes.

"Father!" The two of them bumped into each other at the front gate, exchanged a look, and strode into the courtyard.

From afar, they could hear the voices of Old Man Wen and Li Fu conversing.

"Eldest son is back! Eldest, come here quickly! Turns out the one who saved Datou that day was Master Li's guard! Can you believe such a coincidence? The benefactor we've been searching for everywhere is right before our eyes!" Old Man Wen told Wen Xiuyi excitedly.

Wen Xiuyi had already heard the sequence of events from the others. He looked at Li Fu and his son, then at Xunfeng, and bowed solemnly to them.

"Brother Li, words cannot express my gratitude. If Brother Li ever has need of this Wen Xiuyi in the future, I shall give it my all."

With that, he cupped his fists toward Xunfeng, "Young Hero Xunfeng, thank you so much for saving our Datou."

Such a life-saving grace was the sort of debt where kneeling in prostration wouldn't be out of line. However, with Li Fu and his son present, Xunfeng certainly wouldn't accept a full kowtow.

That was fine, too. The debt had to be repaid, and he would simply prepare an extra-generous gift for Guard Xunfeng later on.