“I really don’t have anything! Please, just let me go!”
Meng Ping’an refused to tell them anything. Besides, they would never be able to find the abandoned temple. And even if they did, there wasn’t any food there.
“Beat him! Keep beating him until he talks!” The beggar leader didn’t want to waste any more time talking to Meng Ping’an.
“Help! Someone’s going to kill me! Please, someone kind, save me!”
Seeing that they really intended to beat her to death, Meng Ping’an could only shout for help, hoping that she would be lucky enough for some kind-hearted person to come to her rescue.
“Stuff his mouth and beat him hard!”
The tall boy beside him pulled out a dirty handkerchief from his clothes, stuffed it into Meng Ping’an’s mouth, and then started kicking and punching her.
“Mmph! Help!”
With the torn handkerchief stuffed in her mouth, Meng Ping’an couldn’t call out for help.
Was she really going to be beaten to death by them?
Just as Meng Ping’an was wondering whether she should enter her space, a cold voice suddenly came from behind her.
“Stop! What are you doing?”
Hearing the voice, the beggars turned around.
At some point, a young man of about fifteen or sixteen had appeared at the end of the street. He was dressed plainly, but there was something about his presence that made people feel a little intimidated.
“We’re disciplining our little brother. It’s none of your business. I advise you not to meddle!” one of the younger beggars shouted aggressively, emboldened by the fact that they outnumbered him.
The young man ignored him and simply looked at Meng Ping’an.
“Are you their little brother?”
Meng Ping’an hurriedly shook her head. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at him pitifully.
The young man walked over, pushed aside several of the little beggars, and helped Meng Ping’an up.
“Sit here for now. I’ll take you to the clinic later.”
After saying that, the young man stood up and faced the beggars.
“You injured someone. Are you coming with me to the government office, or will you pay for his medical treatment?”
“We’re beating our own little brother. Why should we go to the government office? Besides, he isn’t seriously hurt. We don’t have any money to compensate him!”
The tall beggar spoke defensively, though there was an obvious hint of guilt in his voice.
“You. Tell me.”
The young man turned around, pulled the dirty handkerchief out of Meng Ping’an’s mouth, and threw it onto the ground.
Meng Ping’an rubbed her swollen, reddened arm where they had kicked her and said, “I’m not their little brother. They beat me until I was barely alive before and then threw me into the wilderness. Luckily, I survived. Today, they surrounded me again and demanded money and food from me.”
Meng Ping’an supported herself against the wall and slowly stood up.
“Little Young Master, just look at me. Do I look like someone who has money or food? I’ve been hungry for several days.”
As she spoke, she rubbed her eyes and began to cry.
Seeing how pitiful she looked, the young man felt sympathy for her.
“Don’t cry. I’ll stand up for you.”
“Come on. You’re all coming with me to the government office. I happen to be on my way there to see Magistrate Cao about something.”
When the beggars heard that the young man knew Magistrate Cao, they immediately became frightened and started begging for mercy.
“Little Young Master, you’re a busy and important person. We won’t delay you any longer. We’ll pay! We’ll pay!”
Seeing that things were turning against them, the beggar leader took twenty copper coins out of his clothes.
“Little Young Master, we’re just a bunch of beggars. We don’t have much money. This is everything we have. Please be merciful and let us off this once!”
“I can let you go, but you have to promise that you won’t bully him again.”
The young man made the leader swear on behalf of the group.
The beggars all had their own thoughts, but they pretended to be polite and readily agreed.
“All right, we’ll do as you say, Little Young Master. We won’t bother him again.”
The young man accepted the twenty copper coins from the beggar leader.
“Get lost.”
“Yes, yes!”
The beggars scattered in all directions.
“Can you walk by yourself?”
The young man looked at Meng Ping’an, who was leaning against the wall and breathing heavily.
Meng Ping’an tried taking two steps.
A sharp pain shot through her leg.
“I… I think my leg is injured. I can’t walk.”
As soon as she said that, tears began streaming down her face from the pain.
She didn’t want to cry either, but every time she moved her leg, it hurt, and once the pain started, the tears simply wouldn’t stop.
…
The more the young man looked at her, the more pity he felt.
“Come. I’ll carry you to the clinic.”
Meng Ping’an was a little surprised.
“But, Little Young Master, I don’t have any money!”
“Don’t worry. You won’t have to spend any money. Hurry and get on.”
When Meng Ping’an heard that she wouldn’t have to pay, she obediently climbed onto his back.
The young man supported her legs and easily carried her, striding toward the clinic on the main street.
“How old are you? Have you always been begging here?”
The young man chatted with her as they walked.
“I’m seven years old. I’ve been begging here for as long as I can remember…”
Meng Ping’an didn’t actually know how old the original owner was, but judging by her appearance, she seemed to be only six or seven.
It was better to claim she was a little older.
“Have you ever thought about finding a wealthy family to work for as a servant or household slave?”
“No!”
Meng Ping’an answered without hesitation.
“Why?”
The young man seemed somewhat surprised.
“Slaves have no right to speak and no freedom!”
“…”
The young man couldn’t help sighing inwardly.
This child certainly had a lot of thoughts for someone so young.
“All right, then. But begging for a living isn’t a long-term solution either. There’s an academy in the western part of the city. That’s where the children of wealthy families study. The young masters and young ladies study inside the building, while their servants and maids rest beneath the eaves. When you have time, you can go there and spend some time nearby. Listen to the teachers’ lessons and learn a few more characters. Knowing more will always benefit you in the future.”
As he spoke, he pointed toward the direction of the academy.
“Thank you, Little Young Master. I will!”
Meng Ping’an already knew how to read, but she didn’t know whether the written characters here were the same as those in modern times.
She could visit the academy he mentioned later.
Learning more knowledge would always be useful.
When they arrived at the clinic, the doctor cleaned her wounds and prescribed some medicated oil for relieving soreness and improving circulation.
He also instructed her to rest more and walk less so that she wouldn’t injure her bones.
“Thank you, Doctor!”
The young man paid the medical expenses—thirty wen.
“Here are one hundred copper coins. Keep them for now. I was in a hurry when I left home today, so I didn’t bring much money with me.”
The young man handed Meng Ping’an the copper coins together with his money pouch.
“This… this won’t do, Little Young Master. You saved me, and I haven’t even had the chance to repay you. I can’t take your money too!”
Meng Ping’an hurriedly tried to refuse.
“Just take it. I still have things to take care of, so I can’t accompany you. Can you make your way back by yourself?”
Meng Ping’an moved her leg.
After the doctor had massaged it earlier, the pain had already eased considerably.
She slowly stood up and found that she could walk.
“I can walk back slowly.”
“All right. Is the place where you live far away? If it’s too far, find somewhere you can stay temporarily and make do until your leg gets better before going back.”
The young man was still a little worried and reminded her carefully.
“Thank you for your concern, Young Master. I understand.”
“All right, then I’ll be going. Perhaps we’ll meet again someday.”
After saying that, the young man strode toward the government office in the city.
Oh!
She had forgotten to ask his name.
Meng Ping’an only remembered after he had already walked away.
Never mind. If they met again, she could ask him then.
Meng Ping’an looked at the money pouch in her hand, feeling warmth in her heart.
So there really were many kind-hearted people in this world…
Like the young waiter who was always giving her food, the cloth shopkeeper who gave her a pair of cloth shoes, and the little shop assistant at the grain shop who gave her a cloth bag…