Chapter 4: Shi Yin

Xue Poya sat down on the chair, looked around, and suddenly asked: "Yue Zhu, what did you have for lunch?"

Doctor Zhao is a local physician from the slums; he can treat minor ailments, but he dares not handle serious illnesses

Xiao Pingshi happened to return as well; he worked hard every day to earn some silver to support his family

"No way?" Xue Poyue said, holding a stick and touching his nose, "I would like to hear how you have no way out. Is it because you are hungry, or do you simply want to be a bandit by nature?"

As soon as he entered the room, a strong stench assaulted his senses, nearly making Xue Poyue vomit. The dimly lit room was both dirty and chaotic, with items scattered all over. In the western corner of the room stood a bed, where an elderly woman lay, incessantly coughing as if she were about to cough up her lungs.

Yue Zhu let out a sigh, hung Xue Po Ye's cloth bag on the wall, and said nothing

Behind, there was a cacophony of chatter, and several children had unexpectedly followed along.

Thinking of the group of children at home, Xue Poyue spat and turned towards the street corner

The girl nodded and clapped her hands, saying: "Children, let's go back, let's go back!"

Blood suddenly gushed from the person's head. Covering his head, he looked up at Xue Poyue, surprisingly showing no anger, but rather a sorrowful expression: "Brother Xue, please spare my life!"

These little ones vary in height, with the taller ones around ten years old on the left and the shorter ones about five or six years old. Although their clothes are somewhat worn, they are nonetheless clean.

Xue Poye walked over, smiling gently as he said, "Aunt Hu, I am Xue Poye. I heard that you are unwell, so I came to see you! Are you... doing alright?"

Suddenly, a noise came from inside the room. After a moment, a head poked out from the wooden door. Xue Poyue took a deep breath and struck down with a stick at the head. The person exclaimed "Ouch!" and fell forward, collapsing to the ground.

Xiao Pingshi is not tall, but he has a sturdy build and dark skin that radiates a healthy glow. He is simple-minded and has a good heart, yet he harbors a deep aversion to evil. If someone offends him, he will fight to the death.

"San'er, who... who has come...?" The old man's voice was hoarse and deep

At the street corner, two roasted chickens and ten pounds of beef were sold, and some fruits were bought, along with two jars of wine brought back home

He casually pulled over a wooden stick from the side and angrily inserted it into the narrow path

Xue Poya revealed a gentle smile on his face as he gazed at the bamboo door

Her breathing was labored, and Xue Poyue paused slightly, realizing that she was seriously ill

When Xue Poyue first crossed over, he was unfamiliar with his surroundings. Fortunately, his siblings took him in. These little ones are also orphans adopted by his siblings, and in terms of seniority, they had already paid their respects to the mountain before Xue Poyue.

What to do? And - picture - book '' Xue Poyue looked at several children who were dizzy from hunger and said angrily: '' I will settle the score with him! '' He pushed aside the moon bamboo and rushed out through the bamboo door

Seeing roast chicken and beef, along with drinks, brings immense joy

Xue Poya slowly walked into the room. Although the room was quite small, it was divided into three small spaces. The room on the left was relatively larger and served as the children's living area. In the middle was the main hall, where a bed was placed in the corner, serving as the sleeping area for Xue Poya and Pinshi. The small room on the right belonged to the young girl, Yue Zhu.

Hu San was sitting on the ground, his face contorted in pain, "Brother Xue, I really have no way out, truly no way out!"

Hu San stood by with tears in his eyes, gratefully glancing at Xue Poyue, and replied, "Yes, Mom"

Although the room is crowded, it is tidily organized and exceptionally clean, in stark contrast to the surrounding slum houses

Xue Poye paid no attention and walked straight out the door, but then turned back: "Doing more good deeds can accumulate virtue!" Leaving Hu San, who was immensely grateful, he quickly returned.

Everyone was both surprised and delighted by the items brought back by Xue Poyue, celebrating joyfully

"Spare me? Damn it, you stole my things, how can this be justified?" Xue Poyue thought of those few children who were starving and felt an overwhelming anger.

The children were also shouting joyfully, with a total of five kids following behind, coming up to receive the divination flags and cloth bags. One particularly impressive five-year-old grabbed Xue Poyue's arm and hung in the air, laughing incessantly.

Hu San was dumbfounded, unable to believe what he saw. Looking at the banknote in his hand, his eyes involuntarily turned red, and tears immediately streamed down his face. With a "thud," he knelt down on the ground, repeatedly bowing his head, "Brother Xue, I... you...!" For a moment, he was choked with emotion and could not utter a word.

Yue Zhu, whose surname is Xiao, has an older brother named Xiao Panshi

Xue Poya said fiercely: "You bastard, dare to steal my things, are you looking for death?"

Xue Poyue shot a glance at Hu San, the sound of the old woman's severe coughing ringing in his ears. He finally pulled out a banknote from his pocket and threw it to Hu San, coldly saying: "This is twenty taels of silver. Take it and hurry to send the old lady to the clinic. If you delay any longer, it will truly be too late!" Without waiting for a response, he gently spoke to the old woman: "Auntie, San'er will take you to the clinic right away. The doctor will take care of you in no time, and in a couple of days, Poyue will come to see you again"

Hu San's conduct is poor, and few people visit his home. Xue Poyue's sudden arrival surprises the elderly man, yet he is also pleased.

Yes, it is that Hu San!" a child finally said

The bamboo door swung open, and a remarkably delicate young girl joyfully stepped out. She appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen years old, charming and lovely. When she smiled, her pair of eyes resembled new moons, exceptionally beautiful. Although she was in a filthy slum, she exuded a refreshing and natural aura, looking clean and pure

As soon as the words left her mouth, the expression on Yue Zhu's face immediately darkened

Xue Poya was taken aback, unable to discern what tricks Hu San was playing. After a moment of contemplation, he discarded the wooden stick and pushed the door open to enter

Hu San shook his head, a look of deep sorrow on his face, blood trickling down his forehead, yet he seemed completely oblivious to it. His voice trembled slightly: "I, my mother is dying, she is suffering from a serious illness, she is going to die. I am powerless, I can only get some food for her first, I... I deserve to die!" He unexpectedly raised his palm and struck his own face.

I originally came to settle accounts, but instead ended up losing twenty taels of silver, which is truly frustrating

Xue Poye coldly glanced at Hu San and said: "You are this ill, why haven't you seen a doctor yet?"

The children also looked sullen, stealing glances at Yue Zhu. Only the five-year-old pouted and said aggrievedly, "Brother Po Ye, someone stole it, we haven't eaten, it was taken away!" Although the words were not clearly articulated, Xue Po Ye understood immediately. His expression darkened, and he stared at Yue Zhu, asking, "What happened? Haven't you eaten? Didn't I leave you any silver yesterday?"

Hu San is a well-known figure in the slums, often idle and unproductive. Although he is not particularly admirable, he has never provoked Xue Poye. Xiao Pingshi is a hot-headed youth, fiercely determined to make a name for himself, and the ruffians in the slums have always dared not provoke him

Hu San's house is a thatched cottage, quite small. Xue Poye arrived at the door, gripping a wooden stick, standing by the entrance, and shouted loudly: "Is Hu San there? Is Hu San there?"

A family of eight sat together, enjoying delicious food to their heart's content. Watching everyone eat happily, Xue Poyue felt that his second life was indeed quite good; at the very least, it possessed a unique warmth

Children, tell Brother Poyue, who stole your food? Xu Poyue asked gently, suppressing his anger

Seeing the broken and tattered divination banner, the young girl furrowed her delicate brows and asked, "Brother Po Ye, has something happened?" Xue Po Ye naturally would not let them worry, and with a chuckle, he replied, "I was chased by a wild dog on the way, and I used the divination banner to fend it off. It might have been damaged, but once Pin Shi returns, I will make a new one!"

Brother Poya, Brother Poya

Hu San felt extremely awkward, his voice tinged with helplessness: "There is no... no money. Zhao Lang came to take a look and said the illness is quite serious, and we need to send him to the medical clinic"

Xue Poya suddenly stood up, gritting his teeth and said, "Damn it, they are bullying me!" He was about to rush out to find Hu San when Yue Zhu hurriedly grabbed him and said, "Brother Poya, what are you going to do?"

The elderly man appeared somewhat agitated, as if he were trying to struggle to sit up, but ultimately he was unable to rise. After a bout of coughing, he expressed some joy: "There are guests... San'er, pour... pour the tea...!"