Chapter 6: The Old Beggar

The old beggar's hands were indeed too dirty, with five black fingerprints already imprinted on the withered yellow pancake. Such a pancake was something no one could bring themselves to eat

After taking just a few steps, Su Tiancheng suddenly felt something was amiss. His sixth sense alerted him that someone was following him. This was the horse market, bustling with people, and he could not understand why he had such a feeling

Do not come over, I am running a small business and cannot afford any disruptions. Many people in my family still need to eat

Shopkeeper, I would like to buy ten sesame cakes

Su Tiancheng looked at his boss with disdain, wishing he could tear down the shop. The boss, with his dog-like contempt for others, was not a significant figure himself, merely running a small business. One could say he was also a person of misfortune. Such snobbery and ruthlessness—could it be that beggars are so detestable? Perhaps in a few years, when changes occur, the fate of this small boss might be worse than that of a beggar

The beggar emanated a sour and strange odor, reminiscent of spoiled food, which was nauseating

Su Tiancheng did not let go of the beggar's hand, pulling the beggar along while leading the warhorse, and headed straight towards the nearest sesame cake shop

Young master, this is the copper coin I was looking for you

Shopkeeper, I would like to buy ten sesame cakes. I do not wish to cause any trouble. This elderly gentleman is hungry, and I was merely thinking of treating him to some sesame cakes. Moreover, the aroma of the sesame cakes here is enticing, and the taste must surely be excellent

From beginning to end, Su Tiancheng was courteous and spoke appropriately

Who knows, the boss waved his hand and brushed aside Su Tiancheng's hand

The murmurs from all around reached Su Tiancheng's ears, yet he continued to pull the beggar along, heading towards the sesame cake shop

Take it away, hurry up, I no longer want your money

The boss looked at Su Tiancheng, momentarily taken aback; he probably did not expect that Su Tiancheng not only did not lose his temper but also expressed such comforting words.

The old beggar took the paper bag, pulled out a baked pancake, quickly stuffed it into his mouth, and swallowed it in just a few bites

The meaning of this action by the old beggar is unclear, but Su Tiancheng will not refuse; a dirty sesame cake is not enough to kill someone

Shopkeeper, I am here to buy sesame cakes, and I must pay. I will remember the boss's kindness. When one is out in the world, one will always encounter various situations. If one is able to lend a hand, it is worth helping. Thank you.

The old beggar handed the sesame cake to Su Tiancheng

Enduring the unpleasant smell, Su Tiancheng also contemplated leaving without a trace. However, for some reason, he found himself unable to take a step forward. Upon seeing the beggar, he felt a peculiar emotion within himself.

Su Tiancheng had not yet responded to the library's inquiry, and the sesame cake in his hand had vanished. What puzzled him even more was that the old beggar had disappeared, and the voice seemed to be coming from a great distance.

The boss hurriedly pulled out a handful of coins from his pocket, not even counting them carefully, and caught up with Su Tiancheng

The person following behind had disheveled hair and a very small face, which was covered in a layer of gray dirt. On the small, pancake-like face, only a large nose and a big mouth were visible, both obscured by grime. At first glance, it was hard to tell whether this figure was human or ghostly. The tattered long robe they wore had lost all discernible color, buried beneath layers of filth.

Su Tiancheng held the warhorse with his left hand and grasped the beggar's hand with his right hand

It is strange; this person is wearing a brocade robe, indicating a significant status. Why are they holding the hand of a beggar...

Ten sesame cakes are worth no more than fifty copper coins, while the broken silver on the counter amounts to at least five qian, valued at five hundred copper coins

The woman looked at the head of the household, remaining silent for quite some time. Could it be that someone bought ten pancakes here and after a few words, the head of the household changed his demeanor? This truly is somewhat difficult to comprehend

Su Tiancheng carefully handed the paper bag containing the baked buns to the old beggar, whose smell he had already grown accustomed to

Su Tiancheng is very mindful of his demeanor; he cannot display an air of superiority in front of beggars or exhibit a condescending attitude while giving alms. No one is willing to accept food that is given with disdain, as beggars possess dignity just like anyone else

When the old beggar took out the second sesame cake, he made a gesture that left Su Tiancheng dumbfounded

Young master, you are a good person. I see that you have come to the market and have not eaten anything. Please have a sesame cake.

What do you know? Everyone faces difficulties at times. In recent years, the harvest has been poor, and many beggars have appeared in my hometown. If one day a relative comes here, are we supposed to ignore them?

The owner of the sesame cake shop is a middle-aged man. Upon seeing Su Tiancheng and the beggar approaching, he covered his nose with one hand while waving with the other.

The surroundings were still filled with a bustling crowd, many people holding torches, illuminating the area brightly.

After Su Tiancheng and the beggar had left for quite a while, the boss finally reacted. He turned around and returned to the shop, addressing the attendants behind him.

There were quite a few onlookers around, many of whom were pointing and whispering, their faces adorned with mocking smiles, showing no restraint. The owner indeed did not want to cause any trouble; perhaps he was also moved. He quickly packed ten pancakes into a paper bag and handed it to Su Tiancheng

Why bother with so much? What's important in business is that the smell from that old beggar was unbearable. Fortunately, he has left

The beggar extended his hand, which could hardly be called a hand; it resembled a chicken's claw. The color of the skin was unrecognizable, entirely dark and grimy, and it was unclear how long it had been since it was last washed

Su Tiancheng placed the broken silver coins on the counter, smiled at the boss, and left with the beggar

Forget it, no need to look for it. In the future, if there are others who are hungry, I hope you can lend a helping hand

Old man, please follow me

The beggar's gaze was sharp, watching Su Tiancheng and paying close attention to his every move

Su Tiancheng suddenly turned around and was startled to see the person following behind him

The reason Su Tiancheng was able to do this lies in some experiences from his previous life. At that time, he went to the countryside and arrived at a farmer's home. The tea cup handed to him was sticky, and the color of the tea inside was unclear, yet he still had to drink it; otherwise, it would be seen as disrespectful. The cigarettes offered by the farmer, although costing only a few dimes per pack and difficult to smoke, had to be smoked as well

Su Tiancheng shook his head, thinking that everything that had just happened was merely a dream

Ah, the sesame cakes are fifty copper coins each, I feel quite embarrassed

Sir, I beg you, I have not eaten for several days...

Master, if there are any leftovers, I would be immensely grateful if you could spare me a bite

The people in the market at www.hetushu.com do not have any feelings regarding the presence of the old beggar; many walk past him directly, as if they do not see him at all

Su Tiancheng was secretly astonished, not because of the person's attire or their identity as a beggar, but because he had been wandering around the horse market for quite some time without realizing that such a person was following him, which was rather strange

The beggar was not polite either, following Su Tiancheng as they slowly made their way towards the sesame cake shop

This is a beggar

Hehe, like attracts like, and people tend to group together...

Su Tiancheng took out a small piece of silver from his pocket, preparing to hand it to the owner of the pancake shop

Su Tiancheng held a sesame seed cake, opened his mouth, and was about to eat it

This scene was exceedingly strange, and soon, the gazes of those around turned towards it, accompanied by murmurs of discussion.

Look, this old beggar is quite lucky, he has encountered a big boss

Did you not hear me speak? I do not want your silver, nor will I engage in your business. You may go elsewhere to buy your sesame cakes

Su Tiancheng was momentarily taken aback, but he quickly accepted the sesame cake.

There are quite a few stalls selling snacks in the market, and those who come here to trade are all looking to eat

Haha, even ten buns may not be enough for the old beggar to feel full. Young master, thank you, and we shall meet again.

The beggar's body trembled slightly

Thank you, sir, I am indeed feeling a bit hungry