Chapter 15: Revenge

If that kid A-Kuan had come from the opposite direction, he would have surely realized he had wronged this young lady. At this moment, the expressions on the faces of the one adult and seven children were completely unrelated to being carefree.

The adult’s mind was filled with one thought: What now? Is the ancient world this troublesome too? What’s with this "travel permit" business?

That old man at the science museum was truly unreliable. Shouldn't scientists have high IQs? What’s wrong with him? How could he leave out a "bagel" like a travel permit?

Was it carelessness? A mistake?

Or was he running some kind of test, wanting to see how the heroine would face endless hardships in ancient times? How she would solve them?

You gave me a script where I pick up seven kids, and it’s one thing that I don’t have a single copper coin on me, but you didn’t even prepare something as important as a travel permit? You old geezer, are you playing with me?

Because of the kind reminder from the shopkeeper and his wife at the clothing store, Hong Xiaoduo realized that the difficulties she faced had just added another hurdle.

If she didn’t buy them new clothes to change into, people would look at this group and find it strange wherever they went. But she couldn't exactly turn around and put on rags herself to be their beggar leader, could she?

She could try to disguise herself as a beggar, but the moment she thought about the possibility of lice—those tiny, tiny things that make you itch until you doubt the meaning of life—she immediately dismissed the idea.

However, once she cleaned them up, things would become even more inconvenient. Without finding a safe and suitable place to settle them, she would have to keep them by her side at all times. Without those travel permits, staying at inns would be impossible, and even entering the gates of large cities or prefectures would be a struggle.

It wouldn't matter if she were alone; if she couldn't enter a big city or prefecture, she just wouldn't go. It’s not like she was here for a vacation.

As for staying at an inn, it shouldn't be hard for her to find lodging alone.

Sigh, at the moment, Hong Xiaoduo looked back at the string of children behind her and sighed helplessly in her heart. What to do?

The seven little ones were also following behind, feeling quite uneasy. Their mother had bought each of them new clothes, shoes, and socks from the inside out today. Just as their excitement was rising and the bubbles of joy were bubbling up in their hearts, their mother had encountered a problem.

They didn't have travel permits, but they knew what those were; they had seen them before.

They were beggars; they would never enter an inn to sleep. When entering cities or prefectures, the guards would just give them a few disgusted looks. As long as they slipped in quickly and didn't cause any trouble, nothing would happen.

But now, a tiny slip of paper had stumped their mother.

Little Yaoguang hadn't been carried since they left the clothing store because their mother said she would take them to eat something on this very street.

Now, walking and walking, they passed a steamed bun shop, but their mother didn't stop. They passed a noodle shop, and their mother didn't even look.

*Gurgle, gurgle.* A familiar sound came from Yaoguang’s stomach.

"Come, let Big Brother carry it for you." Because of the incident with Kaiyang earlier, Tian Shu had learned his lesson: Mother was at the very front, so he would be at the very back. That way, no one would get lost.

Tian Shu crouched down to take the bundle in Yaoguang’s arms. Yaoguang didn't really want to let go—not because she didn't trust her big brother, but because she wanted to hold it herself for peace of mind.

"Yaoguang is hungry, right? Bear with it a little longer, Mother is thinking about something right now," Tian Shu whispered to her. "Big Brother will carry your new clothes. Don't worry, no one can wear your new clothes except you."

Hearing her big brother tease her, Yaoguang smiled shyly and loosened her little hands.

"Hey, you beggar leader, stop right there!" A shout came from behind Tian Shu.

The word "beggar" made all seven children stop and turn around. Even Hong Xiaoduo, who had been lost in thought, hadn't heard exactly what was shouted behind her, but she vaguely caught the word "beggar."

"I'm talking to you!" A-Kuan stepped forward aggressively.

"What is it?" She had just seen him; even the most unrelated people wouldn't forget each other so quickly, not to mention that Hong Xiaoduo’s impression of this kid was already extremely poor.

Therefore, she retorted with a less-than-pleasant tone.

A-Kuan was so angry he laughed. He rolled up his sleeves and pointed at her, cursing: "Just because of you and this bunch of little beggars, I just got fired by the shopkeeper after working for two days! And you guys are just strolling around, carefree, looking for a place to eat?"

Looking for a place to eat? Those four words reminded Hong Xiaoduo. She subconsciously looked in the direction they had come from, then looked the other way. They had almost reached the end of the street; how long had they been walking? She really did need to take the children to eat first—how could she have forgotten?

Looking at the seven tense faces of the children staring at her, Hong Xiaoduo felt annoyed. What was she doing?

They had only eaten roasted birds in the morning, and it had been hours since then. She was hungry herself, let alone the children.

"I didn't fire you, so why are you looking for me?" Hong Xiaoduo didn't want to bicker with this kid of poor character.

By now, pedestrians on the road had stopped to watch, and some curious onlookers had gathered around.

Thinking of the character of the shopkeeper and his wife, it wasn't surprising that they had fired this kid. However, at the time, the shopkeeper had said the kid was new, and she had thought it was just an excuse—she hadn't expected it to be true.

"You're still laughing? What are you laughing at? Ask everyone here: you bring a bunch of ragged, smelly little beggars to the shop entrance and try to bring them inside—was I wrong to stop and drive them away?" A-Kuan still felt he was in the right, so he stated the facts of the time with righteous indignation.

The onlookers said all sorts of things, but most of them felt A-Kuan had done the right thing.

Some even said that since A-Kuan was a shop assistant, if he hadn't prevented these little beggars from entering the shop, the shopkeeper would have been even angrier.

Hong Xiaoduo heard their discussion. When A-Kuan looked at her triumphantly and demanded, "Did you hear that?"

Hong Xiaoduo shook her head: "Wrong, wrong. The shopkeeper wouldn't have fired you just because you drove us away. There must be some other reason.

Because that shopkeeper is a reasonable person. Even if he thought it was inappropriate for you to drive us away, he would have stopped you first and talked to you about it after we left—for example, how you should handle it if you encounter us again.

Although my interaction with that shopkeeper was just buying a few sets of clothes, I just feel he isn't the type of person who wouldn't give someone a chance."

Hong Xiaoduo said this with great certainty.

*Huh?* How did she know? They had clearly walked quite far away by then, hadn't they? A-Kuan was caught off guard and felt very guilty.

"If you insist that isn't the case, why don't we go back to that shop together and ask clearly in person? It’s not far. I also invite everyone watching to come along and bear witness.

They are beggars, yes, but who is born wanting to be a beggar? Do they have a choice? Do they like wearing rags? Do they like going hungry?

They became beggars—what can they do at such a young age?

I’m not asking everyone to sympathize with or pity them through moral kidnapping, but even if you don't want to help them, can't you at least be a little kinder to them?" Seeing A-Kuan’s reaction, Hong Xiaoduo spoke with even more authority than him.

Her words were directed at him, but they were also for the onlookers to hear, because she felt very hurt seeing the disgusted expressions many of them had toward the children.

"Young lady, is the clothing store you mentioned the Chengfu Clothing Store on the right side of the crossroads?" an old man among the onlookers asked.

Hong Xiaoduo nodded: "Yes, sir, it is Chengfu Clothing Store."

The old man leaned on his cane and walked out tremblingly, saying to the crowd: "You all heard it, it’s the shopkeeper of Chengfu. That’s no surprise. I watched little Cheng grow up, get married, and take over his father’s clothing store.

The Cheng family has been in the clothing business in this town for three generations. Everyone in that family is honest and helpful. Has anyone in this town ever heard anything bad about them?"

The crowd shook their heads upon hearing this, and their gazes toward A-Kuan changed.

"If Old Cheng fired you, then it must be your fault. I know Old Cheng well; it’s true he’s upright and can’t tolerate sand in his eyes, but he’s not the type to kill someone’s prospects with one blow and leave them no way to survive," someone else spoke up.

"If you’re not convinced, kid, why not follow this young lady’s suggestion and go back to the clothing store to confront Shopkeeper Cheng face-to-face and see who is really twisting the truth?" a middle-aged man suggested.

The tide of public opinion shifted instantly. Seeing that things were going wrong, A-Kuan didn't dare to go for a confrontation—going would only be more humiliating!

In a fit of desperation and anger, he pointed at Hong Xiaoduo and said: "Don't listen to her nonsense! Do you think she’s a good person? She’s a kidnapper, specializing in abducting these unwanted little beggars! Why else would she be so kind as to buy them new clothes?

She wants to clean them up so she can find a buyer and sell them for a good price!" As soon as these words were out, everyone’s gaze focused back on Hong Xiaoduo...