The Little Consort's
Eps. 22: Thief

The chase between Li Anlan and the Thief lasted quite a long time. Li Anlan yelled many times, but the people around him no one came to help him. None of them blocked or intercepted the thief. The people of this city are deaf and blind. They can see, hear and feel, but they can't do anything about it.

The large streets and small alleys passed by Li Anlan. Fortunately, his physique was still strong. Otherwise, Li Anlan might have already died of exhaustion. The thief ran very fast and his movements were very agile. If Li Anlan was careless and unfocused for just a moment, she would lose track of that person.

Arriving at a quiet little street, Li Anlan stopped for a moment. The thief also stopped, just that it was a short distance away a few meters in front of Li Anlan.

“Baby thief, can you stop first? I'm so tired!”

Li Anlan bowed, restrained her fatigue and stabilized her dull breathing. Her beautiful clothes were soaked in sweat and her forehead was wet. Both hands rest on the knees.

“Nona, I'm also tired!”

The thief did the same. His hand was still tightly holding the bag of money he had stolen from Li Anlan.

“Then, we take a short break, just resumed again.”

The burglar nodded in agreement. He's also very tired. He thought this woman wouldn't chase him here. The thief had grossly underestimated Li Anlan's strength.

“Nona, why are you chasing me?”

“You still ask? You took all my money!”

“Not the thief his name if it doesn't take other people's money!”

Instead of beating him up, Li Anlan actually fought with the thief. Every question and statement he made was always resisted by the thief. The souls of the competition Li Anlan were provoked. If he loses a conversation with the thief, his debate champion title when High School will just disappear. In this world, there can be no first two champions. Li Anlan should remain his first champion, not anyone else!

“If you take everything, I will fall poor!”

“Then what does this have to do with me?”

“Baby thief, you can't possibly let a weak girl like me become ugly and starve to death right?”

The stupid thief seemed to think. The words of the woman in front of him were indeed true and reasonable.

“Then what should we do?”

“Give me the bag, let me take some!”

The thief was wondering whether he should give up the money bag in his hand or not. If he handed it over, he was afraid that the woman in front of him would snatch it back. But, if he did not give it, this woman would fall poor and die. Living in the capital was already difficult, he did not want this woman to feel any difficulties as well. On the other hand, this thief was also worried that the woman before him was just trying to buy time and trick him.

“You won't take everything?”

“I always hold my word!”

After a long thought, the thief finally gave Li Anlan a bag of money. His eyes stared warily, his hands already on standby if the woman before him suddenly ran away. But, far beyond belief, Li Anlan returned the money bag to him after the woman took five taels of silver.

Li Anlan's behavior invites a variety of strange thoughts in the Thief's brain. This woman is stupid? Or stupid? If you got the money back, why not run? He even dared to return it to her.

“Baby thief, why did you steal?”

“That's my job!”

“But I don't want to meet you and chase again someday!”

“I also don't want to meet again with Miss!”

Li Anlan seemed to be about to interrupt. But, the voice behind him made the woman startled and all the words he was about to utter disappeared like air.

“Anlan!”

The thief looked panicked. Moreover, behind Li Anlan, a man similar to that woman was rushing over while carrying a few people. He wanted to run, but his legs seemed to be fixated on the spot.

“Run fast!” li Anlan.

“What?”

“You want my brother to catch you?”

Without thinking about anything else, the Thief immediately ran as fast as he could. Not long after, Li Afan came with some men in warrior uniforms. It looks like they are the city security guards.

“Anlan, are you okay?”

“I'm fine.”

“Quick! Go after the thief!” li Afan's orders to men in warrior uniforms.

“Wait! Brother, let me chase him!”

“What do you mean?”

“But-“

“I will return to Lanxin Pavilion after finding the thief.”

Despite the objections, Li Afan was forced to bring back the city's security officers to the center of the crowd. Meanwhile, Li Anlan was in a daze, looking for the Thief's whereabouts. He was sure the thief had not run far. He must be hiding in a wooden barrel or haystack that's all around.

In fact, the reason Li Anlan had come back to look for the thief was to settle the debate. Earlier, the fighting session was cut off because of the arrival of Li Afan, and the last sentence of their conversation was with the Thief. So, Li Anlan did not want it to end in the Thief, but on him. The last sentence in the debate should stop at the sentence, there should be no rebuttal or extension.

“Why are you still chasing me?”

The thief emerged from a narrow alley that was piled with dry straw.

“Our debate is not finished!”

“What?”

“The last sentence must be on me, it must not be on you!”

The thief is getting confused. The woman he had robbed was really strange. In the woman's eyes, the Thief could see earnestness and honest courage, not a lie containing tactics. It seemed, that woman was really innocent.

“Nona, I'm in a hurry!”

“I'm in a hurry too!”

“Nona, stop following me!”

“I have to win from you!”

The thief immediately ran away. Li Anlan chased after him. In the middle of the journey, the Thief's run slowed down, until it really became a step walk as usual. Behind him, Li Anlan also did the same. The woman was still not satisfied with the discussion. As long as he hasn't succeeded, he'll keep following the Thief.

Over time, the two men arrived at an old and dirty house. The wood is fragile and the roof is hollow. If it rains, the water will certainly go directly into the entire house. The house is very remote. The road to the house was overgrown with shady trees in the spring. The ground was slightly muddled and there were some footprints that formed on the slightly dry ground. Li Anlan breathed in the fresh air the trees produced without stopping his steps. The thief said nothing. Let this mad woman follow him as she pleases.

When the old house opened, some children came out happily. The children were dressed shabbily with tears in some parts. Also, their clothes were filled with different-colored fabrics, like a patchwork. The thief was then mobbed by the children, just like sugar surrounded by ants.

Seeing the excited look on the faces of the shabby children, Li Anlan felt a warmth radiating in his heart. The smiles of the children seemed innocent and honest. Their clear eyes, though covered in a slightly black face, showed an infinite hope. Who exactly are those shabby kids? Why do they live in this remote place? Do they sleep in that old house that deserves to be called that shack?

“So, is this your reason?”

Hearing the voice of a woman, the Thief turned his head. Li Anlan without permission went straight into the courtyard of the old house. The shabby children also turned their heads.

“Nona, I told you not to follow me!”

“Who are they?”

The thief was lazy to explain. Today, his time and income were reduced a lot as Li Anlan continued to bother him.

“Sister, who's that beautiful sister?” ask a child who is a little fat.

“The person I stole the money from,” replied The Thief out loud, not feeling ashamed or guilty at all.

“Why is he here?” ask the skinny girl.

“Did he come to arrest you?”

“No.”

“I came to settle your debate with that person!” li Anlan exclaimed while pointing at the face of the Thief. The reaction shown by the shabby children even made Li Anlan confused. Their expressions were the same, yes, just like a lazy face!

The interaction between the Thief and the shabby children was unusual. It's like they know each other. That made Li Anlan even more curious. He wanted to know more about those shabby children, as well as the cause why they were in this place. Moreover, they do not deny and do not deny that the person they are in trouble with is a thief.

“It seems that money is for you!”

The thief did not respond.

“I'd better go.”

“Nona, please. We don't see you again.”

“Of course it won't.”

Li Anlan stepped her feet outside the old courtyard. After five steps, he suddenly turned around.

“Wait, which road should I take to get back to downtown?”

...***...