You filthy beggar

"What are you mumbling?" The owner narrowed his eyes when he saw the girl muttering something softly. Was she cursing him because he refused to give her food?

Just as he was about to ask his servants to kick her away, she raised her hand and met his gaze.

Despite the dirtied face, the pair of eyes were pure, twinkling like the brightest stars in the sky, ''It has been 8 days 13 hours since my grandmother died. I have nowhere to go and I have no one to ask for food. The fruits…'' she pointed her little hand towards the apricot tree in the distance, ''I ate them all. The rest are all high above.''

The owner was startled.

At this time, in the opposite side of the street, a carriage was passing by. A fair hand held the curtain, ''Stop…'' she said as she looked at the little girl standing in front of the dumpling stall.

The carriage stopped. An old lady servant who was sitting next to the beautiful lady spoke up anxiously, ''Madam, we should not help that beggar. Master would be angry if he heard any rumors about the manor,'' the old lady was worried because their madam was too kind for her own good.

The beautiful lady gradually lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes trembled slightly when she heard the old lady's words, ''I… understand.''

''Let's go,'' Nanny Qin sighed in relief and ordered the coachman.

On the other side…

Ah Luo continued speaking calmly, ''All I ask for is one of these,'' she gazed at the dumplings, "One day, I will pay you back for this.''

The owner observed the girl. She seemed to be around 6 to 7 year old yet she was pretending to be an adult. He snickered, ''One of these? I will give you two of these if that is what you want.''

Ah Luo shook her head, ''Only one,'' A moment ago, he was refusing to give her one dumpling and now he was willing to give two of them to her. Did big people all think that she was gullible? Did they thing that she did not know that there is no free food in the world?

It would be surprising enough if he gave her one dumpling for free. Two of those… Can she even digest his kindness? Was this uncle not looking at her like a snake? Where would she put her little life if he poisoned her out of spite?

Ah Luo shivered as she turned around to leave. She could afford being hungry for some more time. But the look on his face did not look so convincing to her.

'Grrr'

She rubbed her stomach. There must be another food stall in some distance.

Just as she turned, a few men surrounded her.

Ah Luo turned to look at the stall owner who was looking at her viciously. She gulped, ''W-What do you want?"

''I will give you two dumplings. But I want something in return too,'' The stall owner pointed his hand towards the elixir bottle that she was holding.

Ah Luo followed his gaze.

''Look, are you feeling grateful now? I am doing you a favor. Get on your knees and thank me,'' the owner said smugly. Looking at the girl's countenance, he was certain she would make the trade.

A beggar like her should be unaware of the value of a grade-2 elixir. Since she seemed to be desperate for food, she would definitely exchange that bottle of medicine for food, not knowing how much of a loss it was.

As for him, he could close his stalls for months and rest at home by the profit he would make.

The more he thought about it, the better he felt.

Ah Luo glanced at the bottle in her hand. Big brother crown prince gave it to her to treat her wounds but she had a few scratches on herself. Although it was painful but she could endure the pain over the hunger.

''I will give it you,'' Ah Luo glanced at the owner.

Initially, she wanted to leave because she thought he had some ulterior motive for offering her two dumplings when he was reluctant to give her one at first. But now that he stated his condition, she felt relieved knowing that it was not anything unreasonable.

The owner smiled widely, ''Hmph, you are a smart one..'' he could not help but feel smug. Naturally he was happy to be able to extort such a huge benefit. His reputation was going to hit the sky after he told his relatives that this grade-2 elixir was given by the crown prince. Then, he would be able to sell this bottle and be rich. Both money and reputation were going to come at him without a break.

Ah Luo blinked, ''No, no,'' she shook her head, ''You are the kind one here.''

"_"

The owner was dumbfounded. She had no idea that she was being tricked and she even thought he was kind?

''Now that you know it, give the bottle to me,'' he extended his hand.

Ah Luo nodded, ''If I let you feed me for 10 years, I think this bottle's worth would be paid off. But I don't need you to do that much for me…'' she would pave a path for herself so naturally, she would not be staying here for so long, ''Just give me these dumplings everyday for a few months and it will do.''

''_"

Who am I? Where am I?

The owner was stunned, ''W-What did you say, you filthy beggar?!" He thought he had fooled her yet it looked like she was out to rob him. Feed her the dumplings for 10 years? For months? Such audacity!

Ah Luo's brows furrowed, ''Forget it,'' She could make this exchange with some other decent person, ''I am not giving my medicine to you since you despise me that much,'' she turned to leave.

''Ahh…''

A huge stick hit the back of her knees and Ah Luo crashed on the ground. Her grip on the bottle loosened. Her eyes teared up at the searing pain that shot through her kneecaps.

Many onlookers had gathered to witness the scene.