The Whole Village Thrives After Adopting a Lucky Girl

Oh bother, just his luck to be targeted by a little beggar.

If he refuses to follow the beggar, stating that he has his own territory, he’s bound to get a good thrashing from this young beggar, who will likely grab him and sell him off.

In his past life, he had disguised himself as a beggar and lived the life of one for a while, gaining some knowledge of the rules of the Beggars Gang.

They divide their begging territories. If another beggar comes along, they either fight it out, with the victor retaining the spot, or the intruder joins the resident beggar.

Clearly not able to beat this young beggar in his teens, and unable to escape immediately, he could only temporarily join them.

But joining them also depends on capability. If he fails to perform well, he could still be taken away and sold by the beggar.

That would be the time to lament a heavens that did not answer and an unresponsive earth.

A middle-aged woman took a pitiful look at Yingbao, and took out a white steamed bun from her gift basket and handed it to her, “Here, eat. Poor thing, so young and already out begging.”

Yingbao thanked her, took the bun, and ran back to give it to the young boy.

He was quite pleased with the bun, and gave half to Yingbao, keeping the other half for himself.

Yingbao was also hungry, and sat on the ground nibbling the bun.

At this moment, another mother and daughter going to the temple fair came by. Without waiting for the boy’s command, Yingbao ran to them and reached out her dirty hands.

Within less than an hour, Yingbao had managed to beg back several buns and pastries, and three coins.

Only then did the boy let Yingbao rest and took over the job.

However, it was clear that he wasn’t as likeable as a three or four year-old child, or perhaps he was a familiar face, and the people did not take him seriously, thus reluctant to give him anything.

The boy seemed a bit upset, his roguishness clearly revealed on his face.

Sometimes he would even spit at the back of those who refused him.

So Yingbao had to step in again.

Possibly because a child is just too endearing, even when they’re covered in dirt and unrecognizable, there will still be women willing to offer her alms.

When Yingbao returned once again with a full pocket of food, the eyes of the beggar boy gleamed, looking at her as if she were a golden nugget.

“What’s your name?” The young boy asked, as he sat down by the side of the road.

Yingbao: “My name is Baoying. What’s yours?”

The boy didn’t directly answer and said, “You should call me Big Brother Kui from now on.’

Yingbao obediently called out, “Big Brother Kui.”

Once they exchanged names, it was like acceptance, an acknowledgement of each other’s territory.

Kui seemed relaxed now, not treating Yingbao with the same guarded vigilance as before.

After the fair, Kui led Yingbao to an abandoned, dilapidated temple.

It was a semi-collapsed Land Temple.

Half of one wall had collapsed, the other three barely supporting the ramshackle roof.

Inside the temple, dried grass was spread out where four other young beggars sat, laughing and joking.

They were all quite young, none older than twelve or thirteen.

Among them were three boys and one girl, the girl being only about eight or nine years old.

“Brother Kui, you’re back.” The girl called out to the beggar boy.

Seeing him leading a small three or four-year-old beggar, she asked curiously,

“Where did you pick this one up?”

“At the temple fair.” Kui entered the dilapidated temple and pointed to a corner, “Baoying, you will sleep over there from now on.”

Yingbao looked over and nodded.

Kui took out the buns and pastries from his pocket, but didn’t take out the three coins. “All this was gotten by Baoying, so from now on she’s your junior sister.”

The rest of the young beggars smiled at Baoying, even handing over the blackened food they had in their hands.

Yingbao didn’t mind, accepted it and put it into her own pocket.

The girl beggar approached and asked with a smile, “Why were you alone at the temple fair?”

Yingbao: “I got separated from my parents.”

The girl looked at her sympathetically, reached out to touch her muddied head, and said, “Let me comb your hair for you.”

Yingbao shook her head quickly. “No.”

She managed to put her hair in a messy bun and would not allow it to be combed, waiting for the opportunity to return home with it as is.

The city of Zhouhe County is about one hundred miles away from the city of Qinchuan County, and also around a hundred miles from Chuanhe Town.

As long as she followed the official road, she should be able to return home in less than ten days.

Seeing Yingbao’s obstinacy, the girl didn’t persist, she turned to use a flint to light a fire and cook some food.

The beggars had a bountiful harvest today, not only did they cook a large pot of assorted food, but everyone also got a bun and a piece of cake.

Yingbao also ate a bowl of mixed stew and then lay down in the corner.

A brother named Kui brought her a tattered mat to keep her warm at night, then lay down next to her.

The little beggars huddled together and quickly fell asleep.

Seeing that Kui hadn’t fallen asleep, Yingbao tentatively asked, “Brother Kui, I got separated from my parents, can you take me home? I’m sure my parents will pay you a good sum of silver.”

Kui clearly didn’t believe it and laughed, “Are you sure your parents would pay me silver?”

Yingbao nodded, “Certain.”

Kui sneered, “But I’m not sure. Instead of a thankless task, it might be better to sell you to a flower boat, where at least I’ll get ten taels of silver.”

Yingbao’s face fell.

She knew it, the beggar was not to be trusted.

Not just the beggars, no one in the whole county is willing to go hundreds of miles to send a strange child home.

They have reason not to believe her. Who can guarantee that a child’s words will come true?

In the eyes of most people, she is a little girl, might even have been intentionally abandoned by her family, so why would they be willing to walk hundreds of miles to take her home?

So, Yingbao could only figure it out on her own.

Better to rely on herself than others, she would just walk home by herself.

Alas, she disappeared suddenly, and she didn’t know how her mother was. Her father and uncles had gone to work on the river, and only her grandparents were left at home. They were probably very worried.

The following day, tiny snowflakes began to fall.

The beggars in the Land Temple were shaking from the cold, each huddled under a straw mat, refusing to budge.

Although Yingbao also felt the cold, she could bear it. She crawled out to take care of her needs, then returned.

Looking up, she noticed Kui leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, seemingly staring at her all along.

Her face darkened, and she angrily asked, “Were you peeping at me?”

Kui chuckled, “You’re just a kid, what does it matter if I watched you?”

Yingbao was truly angry now. She rushed over and kicked him fiercely, shouting, “Shameless!”

Surprisingly, Kui didn’t get angry. He picked her up by the collar of her coat and returned her to the Land Temple, throwing her into the straw nest, saying,

“I’ll take you out for something delicious later.”

Yingbao rolled into the straw nest, ignoring him. After sleeping for another two hours, the other young beggars began to wake up.

There wasn’t much food left from last night, they divided what remained, and then went out individually.

Kui picked up Yingbao again, “Come on, we’re off for a feast.”

“Don’t pick me up! I can walk.” Yingbao swatted his hand away dissatisfiedly and scurried off.

The snowflakes hit her face causing a stinging sensation, but Yingbao ignored them, running at full speed.

“You’re heading in the wrong direction, this way!” Kui caught up to her in a few steps, catching hold of her arm, “This way.”

He pointed in one direction, “We’re off to the Sanqing Temple.”

“There’s a feast there for the festival of the Lower Yuan, if we time it right, we can get glutinous rice balls..”