Chapter 23: Seeking Out

Chapter 23: Seeking Them Out

"Shopkeeper, I wanted to ask, do you happen to know which pastries the constables at the yamen prefer?" Hong Xiaoduo turned to ask the person still standing at the doorway.

Hearing this, the shopkeeper glanced across the street, thought for a moment, and said, "Although they have only come to buy a few times occasionally, it is roughly those few kinds. And you are...?"

"Then I'll trouble you, shopkeeper, to weigh one jin of each kind," Hong Xiaoduo said immediately.

With business on the line, the shopkeeper turned around right away to weigh them. As for why this young lady was buying them for the constables, that was a matter of curiosity only for idle women and old crones.

However, he did not take this opportunity to weigh out extra varieties.

The pastries were quickly wrapped. Hong Xiaoduo briskly paid the silver and carried the six packages toward the opposite side of the street.

She wasn't certain if these constables were looking for her and the seven children; regardless, if they truly wanted to find them, they wouldn't get far by running now, and hiding would be useless.

She decided to brace herself and go over to confirm what was happening.

If this truly happened because of that villain, she hoped to leave a good impression on Constable Jin, so he wouldn't make things difficult for those seven little bald heads.

Before she even got close, a constable spotted her and nudged his companion. Constable Jin turned around and saw the person walking toward him.

Judging by the reaction of the constable who saw her, Hong Xiaoduo's racing heart settled by half. Seeing the confusion on Constable Jin's face as he looked her way, she let out a breath and felt completely at ease.

These constables were asking for people who were not her and the seven children.

"Constable, what a coincidence, we meet again," Hong Xiaoduo greeted him with a smile.

Constable Jin nodded but did not respond.

However, after seeing the seven little bald heads behind her, he couldn't help but take a few extra looks.

"Are they those little beggars?" he blurted out, while simultaneously feeling a sense of relief in his heart. When he had seen her flattering expression just now, he thought she still intended to hand the seven little beggars over to him to take back to the yamen.

She was even willing to buy them new clothes and had cleaned them up so neatly; she likely didn't intend to give them up.

At this moment, the two people facing each other did not realize that they were both breathing a sigh of relief.

"Yes. I just took them for a stroll and happened to see you, Constables. I was thinking how we wouldn't have to sleep on the streets tonight thanks to you. I was wondering how to thank you, and what a coincidence, we ran right into you. These pastries aren't anything expensive; they are just a small token of thanks to the Constables. I hope you won't find them beneath you and will accept them," Hong Xiaoduo said, bowing slightly as she offered the pastries with both hands.

*Hmm? She's young, but she certainly knows how to handle herself,* Constable Jin thought, somewhat surprised. He had intended to tell her to keep them for the children, but then he saw that the seven little bald heads were already carrying several packages of pastries in their hands.

He nodded to his subordinate nearby, and the subordinate reached out to take the pastries.

"Then I won't delay your official duties, Constable. Farewell," Hong Xiaoduo said, her heart feeling steady as she cupped her hands in a respectful salute.

Constable Jin nodded, watching her lead the string of cute little bald heads as they continued their leisurely stroll forward.

"Chief, this young lady isn't old, and she doesn't look very experienced. Was she sent out by her family to experience the world? With looks like that, is it safe in this day and age?" the subordinate asked curiously, holding the heavy, sincere-looking packages of pastries.

Constable Jin withdrew his gaze. "That is not something for us to worry about." He had no curiosity about who she was; as long as she didn't shove those seven kids on him to take back to the yamen, it was fine.

At this time, the seven children also sensed that their mother was in a very good mood, so they became even happier. Looking at the goods in the shops and stalls on both sides, they felt dazzled.

When they were with that villain before, they had been to many places and walked many such streets, all of which were more prosperous than this. But back then, every moment of every day, all they thought about was how to avoid hunger and beatings.

Most of the time, their eyes were fixed on the pedestrians passing by, analyzing who they could beg from to luckily get a one or two coins to hand over to the villain.

Then there was the need to watch the roadside food stalls for leftover food or soup from diners. If there was any, they had to time it perfectly—waiting for the moment the stall owner or worker was too busy to drive them away, then quickly rushing to pick it up.

"Eh? Young lady, what a coincidence to meet again?" The person walking toward them greeted Hong Xiaoduo with a smile.

*He changed his robes so quickly,* Hong Xiaoduo thought, sizing him up before nodding with a smile in response.

"Young lady, do not misunderstand. My surname is Dong and my given name is Yuefan. I am a legal advisor for the local yamen, and I am definitely not some lecher," Dong Yuefan quickly introduced himself.

Previously, worried about his friend who had just made a fool of himself, he had chased after him, having already prepared words of comfort. However, he had been met with a closed door; his friend wouldn't even acknowledge him.

He had rushed back to change clothes, thinking he would come out for a stroll to see if he might run into this interesting young lady again. As it turned out, his luck was truly good.

He had been stuck in this tiny Mopan Town for over three years and was nearly bored to death; he had finally encountered someone interesting.

Although she was a young lady, she acted with great grace and poise. He had also noticed that she had paid for the buns and wontons first; even though it wasn't much money, her style of conduct suited his temperament perfectly.

Upon hearing this, Hong Xiaoduo thought, *What? A legal advisor in the yamen? Aren't legal advisors usually middle-aged men? There are such young ones?* "I can tell good people from bad. Otherwise, why do you think I invited you all to eat buns earlier? Actually, the money for the buns didn't come out of my own pocket; I swiped it from a blind lecher I encountered. Seeing that you speak and act without being overly fussy, I thought you were pleasant and simply helped pay for you."

Hearing this, Dong Yuefan immediately slapped his palm. "See? The impression you gave me, young lady, is also one of being unconstrained and graceful. Unlike those other young ladies who are so shy, coy, and affected—utterly boring."

"That's a one-sided view," Hong Xiaoduo disagreed. "Ladies from prestigious families or wealthy households have strict upbringing and many rules. Even if they wanted to act like me, they wouldn't dare."

Dong Yuefan nodded. "What you say is true; I was being narrow-minded. Might I ask for your name, if it is convenient?"

"Hong Xiaoduo." She hesitated slightly but felt there was no need to hide anything.

He hadn't expected her to tell him so readily. Although he had already formed the impression that she was a straightforward person, he was still somewhat surprised.

"And what brings Miss Hong here? Are you shopping, or looking to buy something? I am very familiar with this area," Dong Yuefan asked without hesitation.

When he didn't know her name, he called her "young lady." Now that she had told him, and he had added her surname before "young lady," it somehow felt even more awkward and unaccustomed.

"It's too early to rest at this hour, so I thought I'd take them for a stroll. By the way, I'm sorry to ask, but how should I address you appropriately and politely? Master Dong? Advisor Dong?" Hong Xiaoduo asked directly.

Dong Yuefan didn't much like either of those titles. "Miss Hong, I appear to be much older than you. Would it be appropriate if you called me Brother Dong?" he asked tentatively.

"Brother Dong." Hong Xiaoduo felt no resistance to this title and immediately called out crisply.

"Aha! Hahaha! Since you are bored, come, shall your big brother take you to listen to storytelling?" This "Brother Dong" made Dong Yuefan's heart bloom with joy, his face lighting up with excitement.

It was indeed boring, so Hong Xiaoduo immediately agreed to Dong Yuefan's proposal.

Dong Yuefan pointed in a direction, and the two walked side by side, with the seven little ones following closely behind. Looking at her back, several of the children's eyes were filled with pure admiration.

*Mother is too amazing! Just by treating someone to buns and wontons, she made the acquaintance of a legal advisor from the yamen!*

However, the slightly older ones, like Tianshu and Tianxuan, were a bit worried. *Will Mother be tricked by this man? Are the legal advisors in the yamen really this casual and easy to talk to?*

"Jin Tou, look quickly! That young lady actually knows our Advisor..."