Chapter 2, Undercover Investigation

Xiao Bao saw that his mother's attitude was resolute and had no choice but to say: "Alright, you eat first, and I will go serve the rice." After saying this, he walked to the main room and looked at the meager amount of porridge in the pot. He smiled bitterly, added some cold water to the pot, stirred it a few times with a spoon, and then served it out, filling a large bowl, though there were hardly any grains of rice. He picked up the bowl and took the chopsticks into the room, standing at a distance on the ground, and said: "Alright, mother, let's eat together." As he spoke, he took big gulps of the rice porridge.

He Ping glanced at Xiao Bao with a pair of disdainful dog-like eyes and said, "Which little dog are you?"

The elderly man picked up the bowl and was about to eat when he noticed his son standing in front of him, smiling brightly. He then put the bowl down and said, "Why aren't you eating?"

"Do it, of course," He Ping said with a smile. "Anyway, I've vented my anger, so why not use it to exchange for some silver? I'll give you the person for the silver."

The medicine was finally ready. Little Bao carefully poured the medicinal soup into a bowl and brought it into the room to serve his mother. After she took the medicine, he washed the bowl and chopsticks clean. Only then did he carefully take the oil lamp from the stove, light it, and use scissors to trim a section of the wick before contentedly sitting by the lamp to read.

Little Bao grinned and said: "My father has been dead for eight hundred years. To be honest, I do business in the Mule and Horse Market. Although the old man is a bit older, he still looks decent, and he might actually fetch a few taels of silver. It's certainly more cost-effective than killing him, isn't it"

Xiao Bao said with a bitter smile: "What does it matter if it's for nothing? Do you really think someone would spend money to buy you back? Besides, with you following me, I can barely support my own mother. Something happened. I can feed you, but I was just momentarily moved by kindness; you can consider me as if I lost my mind. Hurry and leave, I still need to earn money to buy rice for my mother." With that, he was about to leave.

He reached for a porcelain bowl with a chip, dipped it into the rice jar, and scooped out half a bowl of rice. After a moment's thought, he added a bit more, then carried the half-full bowl to the stove. He lifted the pot lid, added water, and started a fire to cook. Before long, accompanied by the bubbling sound, a pot of thin porridge was ready. He took a large porcelain bowl, similar to the one in the picture book, filled it to the brim, and brought it into the room, placing it in front of his mother. He then returned for another bowl of pickled vegetables and said, "Mother, let's eat first."

Xiao Bao, not feeling angry, smiled at him and said: "Since you won't pay, isn't it tiring to keep hitting back and forth like this?"

Xiao Bao smiled as he walked out of the house, took a small stool, and sat outside. While helping his mother boil medicine over the fire, he took out a worn book from his bag and read it by the light of the flames

After a while, the older man, who appeared somewhat younger, softly said: "Elder brother, shall we go take a look?"

The old man appeared to be quite aged, seemingly around sixty, with graying hair and a beard stained with spots of blood. Xiao Bao inquired from those nearby and learned that the old man was a refugee, begging for a living here. However, it was unclear why he had torn the clothes of Young Master He from the east of the city, who demanded five taels of silver in compensation from the old man. Lacking the money, the old man was brutally beaten.

Little Bao chuckled: "In the eyes of a shrewd person like you, he is worth nothing at all. Yet in this day and age, there are indeed fools; not to mention fathers, there are even those who buy grandfathers. So, what do you think? Can this business be done?"

Mother, please eat first; the rice is too hot, I will eat it in a moment

The old man looked at him and said: "But you indeed spent five taels of silver; if you let me go now, you won't have wasted your money."

Xiao Bao smiled at the old man, saying, "Sir, there is no need for formality. Given your current situation, you should indeed be resting at home to recover. However, I find myself truly powerless in this matter. I sincerely apologize; let us part ways here." After saying this, he sighed and turned to walk towards the north of the city.

Xiao Bao looked at the elderly man rolling on the ground, feeling truly reluctant to help. However, the five taels of silver were his and his mother's lifeline. He clenched the loose silver coins in his pocket tightly and finally sighed, thinking to himself, "I want to help you, but if I help you, who will help me? If I have to go hungry alone, that would be one thing, but I cannot let my mother suffer from hunger and cold as well." Just as he was about to step back, the elderly man, who had been beaten, let out a heart-wrenching cry. Xiao Bao was startled and turned to look, only to see a cruel servant stepping on the elderly man's left leg. From the look of pain on the elderly man's face, it seemed that his leg bone might be broken. Xiao Bao looked at the elderly man's suffering and then thought of his mother, who was bedridden with illness. Finally, he gritted his teeth and pushed through the crowd to step forward.

Before Xiao Bao could speak, a grating voice said: "Hou San'er, what are you doing? Why don't you just hit me? If you can't produce the silver, just kill me outright."

He Ping stared at Xiao Bao in surprise and said, "What use do you have for this old man? Could it be that he is your biological father?" The group of wicked servants burst into laughter.

The old man outside the wall furrowed his brow, momentarily feeling an impulse to rush in, but he restrained himself and took no action. He gently patted the elder beside him, and the two slowly retreated. After walking a considerable distance, the younger elder said, "Brother, I find the child to be exceptionally good, with a strong sense of filial piety, especially given his rare talent."

He left the Mule and Horse Market and walked towards the grain store, his eyes fixed on it. Suddenly, a commotion caught his attention. He looked up and saw a crowd gathered not far ahead, unsure of what had happened. With a child's natural curiosity for excitement, the little one was intrigued and squeezed into the crowd to watch. Upon closer inspection, he realized that a group of people was beating an old man in tattered clothes.

He Ping, seeing that Xiao Bao could speak, casually replied, "Five taels"

The long night stretched on, and under the solitary lamp, the young boy felt no chill from the cold night, completely immersed in his books. He lost track of time until a sudden fit of coughing pulled him back from the vast sea of literature. He got up and entered the room, only to see his mother, who was sleeping soundly, suddenly cough violently. He filled a bowl with water and helped her drink it, waiting until she fell asleep again before returning to his studies. After a rumble from his stomach, the boy smiled wryly, patted his emaciated belly, and shook his head as he looked around, realizing there was nothing to eat. Suddenly, he noticed the medicine jar and smiled faintly, reaching in to take some leftover dregs of medicine, stuffing them into his mouth while continuing to read.

The elderly person in the room, seeing her son leave, could no longer hold back her tears and lay down, each drop falling into the bowl of rice in her hands. As she drank the thin porridge, it was swallowed down into her stomach. She understood her son better than anyone else, yet she did not want to confront him directly. For this strong, impoverished child, such pitiful pride might be his only wealth. The old woman cried silently, forcing herself to swallow the food. My poor child, I fear I cannot accompany you any longer; in the days to come, you must live on with strength. However, she did not want to confront him directly. For this strong, impoverished child, such pitiful pride might be his only wealth. The old woman cried silently, forcing herself to swallow the food. My poor child, I fear I cannot accompany you any longer; in the days to come, you must live on with strength.

Little Bao stood alone in the main room, silently crying for a while, then shook his head and walked towards the rice jar at the wall. The remaining rice in the jar was barely enough for him and his mother to eat for three days. He reached into his pocket and pinched the meager silver coins, which amounted to less than two taels. Now, with disaster victims everywhere and unscrupulous merchants in the city raising prices, the cost of rice had already soared to four or five times the usual rate. This little bit of silver could hardly buy much rice.

Xiao Bao followed the sound and saw a few wicked servants standing behind a plump young master dressed in a brocade robe, who was none other than He Ping, the son of the wealthy He Dayu from the east of the city. Seeing that the wicked servants were about to make a move again, Xiao Bao quickly stepped forward and smiled at He Ping, saying: "So it is Young Master He. What seems to be the matter? Why are you arguing with this old man?"

Xiao Bao had nearly exhausted his silver and found himself unable to buy food. He thought that in the afternoon, he would have to work hard in hopes of earning a living. Looking back at the old man following him, he smiled bitterly to himself, thinking, "If five taels of silver can buy an old man, I refuse to believe there is anyone in the world more foolish than I." With this thought, he turned to the old man and said, "Old man, you no longer need to follow me. What I said earlier about buying you was only because I did not want to see you beaten to death. Now, you should find your own way to survive."

Second brother, please go to his house and see if there is still a way to treat his mother, but do not say too much. I would like to talk to him again tonight. " After saying this, the two exchanged a smile and walked towards the north of the city

Inside and outside the house, this pair of mother and son are lost in their own thoughts, unaware that two elderly individuals are secretly observing them from the low wall. These two old men are the same ones who observed Xiao Bao at the mule and horse market during the day. They are blending into the night, remaining completely still under the cover of darkness

He squeezed into the crowd and, watching the numerous brutal thugs, chuckled, "What is going on? Is there a reward for beating people? If that's the case, I might as well kick a few myself"

Little Bao, who was diligently drinking porridge, smiled slightly upon hearing his mother's words and said: "I also ate outside. You should eat more since your health is not good. After you take your medicine, you will feel better soon." As he spoke, he tilted his neck and finished the porridge in the bowl, then patted his round belly, indicating that he was truly full.

The elder sighed and said: "It is precisely because of his exceptional talent that I must be more cautious. If he were an ordinary person, it would be fine for us to assist him directly. However, given his aptitude, as long as we provide careful guidance, he is bound to achieve great things in the future. Yet, if his character is not pure, it may bring harm to the world. Perhaps we should observe him a little longer." After saying this, he turned and walked outside.

You, who are nameless and without a surname, are acquainted with the esteemed Young Master He, who is a well-known figure in the city; everyone in Suzhou knows him. However, I find it strange why you have a conflict with this old man

Xiao Bao laughed and said: "Then it's settled. How about this: I will give you five taels of silver, and you sell this person to me. After all, you have already put in the effort and spent the silver, so it would be better for you to get something in return."

The elderly man smiled faintly, lifted his bowl, and while eating, said: "You should go study." He then continued with his meal

The old man watched the departing figure of the young boy with a smile, and his hunched body seemed to straighten, losing any trace of frailty. At that moment, a voice came from behind: "Elder brother, what do you think of this child?" As he spoke, a man in a blue robe approached. It turned out that these two were the ones who had secretly observed at the young boy's home the previous night.

After he caused a commotion, several of the adult's wicked servants stopped what they were doing. The wicked servant who had just spoken looked at the young master and said, "It's nothing, go away and stop affecting my young master's mood here."

The elderly man glanced at his son and said, "I will wait for you to join me"

He Ping, feeling comfortable with what he said, patiently replied, "This old fellow tore my clothes and hasn't compensated me; should I just kill him instead"

Xiao Bao chuckled and said: "Even if you kill him, his clothes will be ruined, and there will still be a loss. Who in the entire Suzhou city doesn't know that you, Young Master He, are exceptionally clever at making unprofitable deals? What can you do? I think this: how much silver do you want him to compensate?"

The old man suddenly spoke: "Young master, please wait. How can I say that my life was also saved by you? Since you say this, I shall not insist. Please leave your address and name, and one day I will certainly come to express my gratitude in person."

The elderly woman looked at her young son, tears welling up in her eyes. After a while, she said to her son, who was devouring his food, "Mother is not hungry after eating the rice cake; this bowl of rice is too much. Let's share it equally."

He Ping was even more astonished after listening, pointing at the old man on the ground and saying: "This old dog can also be sold for money? Is it possible that someone really wants to spend money to buy a father?"

A wicked servant glanced at him and cursed, "You little brat, are you seeking death? If I had money, I would beat you up along with him."

"Wait a moment, I would like to take another look." After that, the two continued to blend into the night.

Little Bao took out the silver and handed it to He Ping, then shouted at the old man on the ground: "Can you still walk? If you can, hurry up and follow me. If you can't sell the silver, just wait to die." After saying this, he swaggered out like a dog, while the old man struggled to get up from the ground and followed him step by step.

On the second day, as dawn broke, the little treasure, who had slept for less than two hours, got up early to fetch water and help his mother wash her face. After preparing the meal and serving his mother, he finally set out for work. Thanks to his outstanding eloquence and salesmanship, today's business was surprisingly good; he had sold two pieces of "goods" in just half a morning, and Master Hu generously gave him three taels of silver. As the morning progressed, little treasure noticed that there were no customers in the market, so he and his colleagues took a break to buy some grain and coincidentally visit his mother.