Chapter 275: Begging

Chapter 275: Begging

In a filthy alley diagonally across from the Weixian County office, two new "beggars" had appeared.

Cheng Ge and Jiyue sat with their legs folded in a corner, their hair a mess like straw.

Their faces were smeared black, nearly obscuring their original features, and their clothes were tattered, making them indistinguishable from the numb, waiting beggars around them.

When someone passed by, Cheng Ge tapped his broken bowl like a pro: "Kind-hearted one, have a heart..."

Just then, a plainly dressed woman slowly walked out.

She appeared to be in her twenties, with a simple hairpin in her bun, a gentle, refined face, and a slightly protruding belly—seeming several months pregnant.

Two maids followed her, each carrying a basket covered with white cloth.

The usually listless beggars stirred instantly, like hyenas catching the scent of blood, swarming forward.

"Madam, have a heart!"

"Please give me something to eat, I'm starving!"

Su Wanyun looked at the surging crowd, a trace of pity flashing in her eyes, and nodded slightly.

The two maids lifted the white cloth covering the baskets, revealing steaming coarse-flour buns inside.

As they handed the buns from the baskets to the outstretched dirty hands, they raised their voices to try to maintain order.

"Don't push! Everyone, don't push! Watch your step! There's enough for everyone!"

But driven by hunger, the crowd still stirred restlessly, surrounding Su Wanyun and her two maids, making it nearly impossible for them to move.

Just then, a figure nimbly squeezed through the gaps in the crowd.

He almost threw himself at Su Wanyun's feet, in a tearful voice: "Madam, have a heart, I'm starving to death!"

Su Wanyun took half a step back, startled by the sudden appearance, and instinctively looked down.

She met a small face so dirty that only its outlines were visible, and a pair of eyes that shone brilliantly even beneath the grime.

Meeting those eyes unexpectedly made her heart melt.

She paused for a moment, then a genuine, warm smile appeared on her face. She said gently, "You must be starving. Go ahead and eat first."

With that, she reached into the basket, pulled out two plump buns, and bent down to hand them to Cheng Ge.

As she moved, she extended her other clean hand to lightly brush away a few bits of straw stuck in Cheng Ge's hair.

Cheng Ge took the two buns, still warm from the basket, his fingers briefly touching the tips of hers, as his gaze lingered on Su Wanyun's face.

Seeing him staring dazedly, holding the buns but not eating, as if he was too stunned to eat, her heart felt even more pity.

She reached into the basket, took out the remaining two buns, and shoved them into Cheng Ge's hands, so that he was now holding four buns.

"Eat quickly, don't choke," she reminded him softly again.

Then, under the protection of the two maids, she turned and left.

The round-faced maid, while struggling to fend off the pressing crowd, couldn't help muttering quietly to Su Wanyun:

"Madam, why did you give the rest to that beggar kid?"

Without stopping, Su Wanyun glanced back once more at the little beggar's direction, who still stood there, holding four buns, looking a bit bewildered.

She smiled lightly, her tone gentle but firm: "Those eyes—so pure and bright—made me pity him.

If a couple more buns means he gets one more full meal, that's good enough."

The three of them soon disappeared behind the closed side door.

In the alley, Cheng Ge looked down at the four big buns clutched in his left hand.

Then he glanced sideways at Jiyue, who was still dutifully playing the starving beggar.

He handed two of them over, his tone unreadable: "Want some?"

Jiyue took the buns, feeling their heft, and bit into one.

Cheng Ge tore off a piece, stuffed it into his mouth—the coarse texture was rough on his throat, but he chewed seriously.

He gazed at the occasional passersby at the mouth of the alley and asked quietly: "Jiyue, after all these days here, how do you think Weixian stacks up against Yuanzhou city?"

Jiyue, holding the two buns, paused at the question. He thought for a moment before answering honestly:

"Just looking at the streets, the buildings, the vibe—this place naturally can't compare to Yuanzhou's hustle and bustle.

In Yuanzhou, there are rows of taverns and shops, carriages and horses streaming by, and at night the lights are bright as day—pretty grand."

"But…" he paused, seeming to look for the right words, his brow slightly furrowed.

Cheng Ge turned his head, pressing on: "But what?" He tore another piece of bun and put it in his mouth, waiting for his subordinate's opinion.

Jiyue thought hard, unable to find a better phrase, so he went with his gut: "But… it feels more… genuine here.

Yuanzhou's prosperity—it's like… like a piece of satin. It looks fancy and shiny on the surface, but when you touch it, it feels a bit slippery, not solid.

It's as if underneath, it's already rotted, full of maggots and bugs, just covered by that shiny silk—you can't smell it or see it, but you know it's there, rotting away."

Cheng Ge's chewing stopped for a moment. He nodded vaguely, his gaze deep as he stared at the county office across the street.

The stone lions at the county office gate looked a bit worn in the sunlight, not as shiny and polished as the ones at Yuanzhou's prefectural office.

"Rotted and wormy…" Cheng Ge repeated softly. Then, as if casually, his eyes swept to Jiyue's hand.

Without missing a beat, he reached over and smoothly took back the untouched bun from Jiyue's hand, as if it were only natural.

Jiyue: "…"

Holding the single bun with a bite taken out of it, he stared at his now-empty hand in disbelief.

Then he looked up at his master's face in profile, chewing the bun with a straight face, and was momentarily speechless.

The look in his eyes clearly said: "Boss, is this really okay? Isn't that a bit shameless?"

Cheng Ge, as if completely oblivious to the silent protest, finished off the "confiscated" bun in a few bites.

He brushed the crumbs off his hands, stood up, and raised an eyebrow at Jiyue, saying with utter justification:

"What? I earned these with my own begging. You freeloading dog, shameless…"

Jiyue: “……” He looked at the half a steamed bun left in his hand.

Then he glanced again at his master’s “I’m weak, so I win; I begged, so I’m king” attitude.

Silently, he stuffed the remaining half into his mouth, deciding not to argue with this shady master.

Cheng Ge then started walking away to leave the beggars’ alley, and Jiyue quickly swallowed the remaining steamed bun and hurried to follow.

“Young master, are we done begging? Where are we heading?”

Cheng Ge strolled confidently, his eyes sweeping over the shops and pedestrians on both sides of the street, casually waving a hand.

“Begging with you means starving for nine meals in three days—no future at all.”

He paused, turning to look at Jiyue: “I’m thinking of getting myself some government grub.”

………

That night, on a dark and windy night, it was the perfect time for petty theft and mischief.

Wei County Magistrate Shen Chongzhuo was hunched over his desk, frowning slightly as he handled his official duties by the flickering candlelight.

Outside the window, tree shadows swayed, casting ghostly figures against the paper-covered window.

He rubbed his throbbing temples, setting aside a dossier on the city’s eastern waterworks.

Just then, a gentle knock came at the study door. Shen Chongzhuo didn’t lift his head and said, “Come in.”

A young servant, head bowed, carefully entered carrying a bowl of soup and whispered, “Sir, the madam ordered the kitchen to make you chicken soup. She said to drink it while it’s hot to build up your strength.”

Shen Chongzhuo finally looked up, a trace of warmth on his face, and nodded: “Set it down. Tell the madam that she should rest early and not wait up for me.”

“Yes.” The servant replied, then gently placed the soup on the corner of the desk, bowed, and backed out, softly closing the door.

The study fell silent again, save for the occasional crackle of the candle flame.

Shen Chongzhuo took a deep breath. The warm aroma of chicken soup filled the air, driving away some of his fatigue.

He put down his brush, carefully pulled the bowl of soup toward him, and got ready to lift the lid and enjoy it.

But just then—someone’s head suddenly appeared right in front of his face.

Shen Chongzhuo: “!!!”