Huangfu Jingchen took back his wallet with a heavy heart; the people in Jinzhou City were indeed unruly, daring to snatch a wallet in broad daylight. He should have dragged the thief to the Government Office, but he didn't want to deal with the government, so the little thief got off easy. His handsome face was cold and distant, making him seem unapproachable, and his white brocade clothes fluttered with an air of ethereal elegance.
After chasing the thief and looking for a place to stay, he felt somewhat hungry. Huangfu Jingchen set his eyes on the sign of Qiwu Building, some ten yards away, and decided to satiate his hunger there while waiting for his guard, Yan Nan.
Having walked only four or five steps, he suddenly felt a rush of wind beside him, followed by a sincere and honest voice saying, "Sir, w...wait a moment, your wallet fell."
Huangfu Jingchen glanced over coldly. He didn't trust such a low trick; after all, he had just retrieved his wallet... Wait, the skinny black-haired boy who had bent down to pick it up, was that truly his wallet?
The boy had pure and clean eyes, and a genuine, honest smile on his face, seemingly not adept at communicating with people, with a hint of shy embarrassment.
This smile softened Huangfu Jingchen's frozen visage slightly. He opened the wallet after taking it, finding everything inside untouched. The boy wore plain clothes and didn't appear wealthy, yet inside the wallet, there were broken silver and silver notes totaling over five hundred taels. Remarkably, the boy showed no desire to steal.
Did he misjudge the people of Jinzhou? While little nuns crowded the streets, there was this modest boy showing integrity!
After handing back the wallet, the boy turned and left, without any desire for acknowledgment or thanks.
Just as he turned, a sound of embarrassed "gurgle" echoed.
How could anyone with silver in hand let themselves get this hungry? Yet, devoid of silver and unable to eat, he still showed integrity?
Huangfu Jingchen watched his retreating figure and said, "You helped me recover my wallet, let me treat you to a meal!"
The boy turned back, surprised on his honest face, hesitated for a moment, then shook his head, saying, "No, no, no, it was just a small help, sir, no need to be so courteous!"
The "gurgle gurgle" sound grew louder, and Huangfu Jingchen said, "What's a meal worth? Come!" He turned upstairs, his posture elegant.
The skinny black-haired boy hesitated, probably genuinely hungry, so he obediently followed upstairs.
Huangfu Jingchen had the waiter bring the best feast; if one meal could repay the wallet-picking favor, he was delighted.
At first, the honest boy was somewhat reserved, but after a cup of wine, he suddenly expressed himself flamboyantly: "Under the bright moon, youth is toasted, all feelings flow with the river! There are many injustices in the world, better to drink a cup of wine in front!"
The boy's dark face seemed to shine with a halo, his pure and clean eyes filled with exuberant enthusiasm, surprising Huangfu Jingchen—he thought he was just an ordinary boy in plain clothes, yet his speech and manners were elegant, proving to be quite interesting.
Huangfu Jingchen talked with the boy with a hint of examination and probing; the boy was very conversational and talked with substance and insight. He asked, "What's your name?"
The boy responded frankly, "Xia Wenjin! And you?"
"Hu...ang Zheng! I'm Huang Zheng!" Huangfu Jingchen almost said his true name but quickly corrected himself.
He didn't notice that as he said "Huang," Xia Wenjin's pupils slightly shrank; however, when he mentioned Huang Zheng, she lowered her eyelids, hiding a touch of darkness, casually laughing, "Brother Huang, pleasure to meet you!"
Then she unveiled a bright smile, "Brother Huang, thank you for your hospitality today; let me return the favor with kindness, come, cheers!"
The two cups met, Huangfu Jingchen looked up and drank, not seeing the hint of cunning in the depths of the pure eyes of the black-haired boy, nor the sly smile on the honest face.
This black-haired boy was precisely Xia Wenjin, who had pretended to be a nun gambling on the street.
Huangfu Jingchen rarely met someone who shared his interests and thoughts, very happily conversing with Xia Wenjin, eventually learning she came from afar and had nowhere to stay. He immediately invited, "I've reserved a room at Gui Lin Inn; why don't you stay with me?"
Xia Wenjin smiled sincerely yet shyly, "Gui Lin Inn is the best inn in Jinzhou City, I have little money, how could I impose?"
Huangfu Jingchen said heartily, "We got along at first meeting, perfectly enjoying the conversation, why speak of silver? It's settled." This little brother was an intriguing person; innocent and genuine when silent, elegant and articulate when speaking, unlike many pedantic scholars, much more engaging?
"I'd be honored to accept."
Huangfu Jingchen arranged an adjoining room for Xia Wenjin beside his own.
The next morning, when the hungover Huangfu Jingchen opened his eyes, he was somewhat dazed, his head filled with Who am I? Where am I? What was I going to do?
Shaking his head vigorously, he found his room, apart from the inn's furniture and his sleepwear, was as clean as a dog's feast. His luggage, clothes, money bag, all were gone.
Coming to his senses, his first instinct was to check the neighboring room; the door was ajar, and where was the person?
"Xia Wenjin!" Once appearing ethereal and detached like a god, Huangfu Jingchen was now furiously enraged. He gritted his teeth, calling out the name and violently kicked the doorframe, causing it to boom loudly.
Kindly offering shelter and ended up leading a wolf into the house, fury nearly made him spit blood!
Without a penny, wearing only sleepwear, being thrown out of the inn, Huangfu Jingchen wanted to send a message to his guard, Yan Nan, but had no way of doing, nor couldn't afford to embarrass himself.
This was the worst loss he'd suffered in seventeen years, a grievance he couldn't swallow.
This seemingly honest but truly crafty boy, he absolutely couldn't let this go. Having studied under prominent teachers and scholars over the years, his skills weren't learned in vain; digging three feet into the ground, he would find this person.
Carrying a heavy pack of silver taels and a stack of silver notes, Xia Wenjin walked out with an indifferent stride. This so-called Huang Zheng made her miss fishing all day without apology, how could she not make him pay? Besides, during their conversation in Qiwu Building, she learned the guy was from a wealthy background, well-pampered; her actions carried no guilt—this was robbing the rich to aid the poor!
She'd initially fished in the street just to help that Jing Xian nun.
Jing Xian was abandoned in the mountains as a child and raised by the old abbess from the nunnery. The nuns at the nunnery, once sixteen, were sent out yearly to beg for alms, for the monastery, ranging from three months to a year.
Jing Xian had been away for over half a year and, despite gathering little wealth, safely completed the task given by the abbess. On her way back to the mountain, she found an abandoned newborn by the roadside, feeling sorry for the baby and reminded of her own past, she took it back to the monastery.
However, the new abbess and others suspected her of immoral behavior, accusing her of giving birth to an illegitimate child while outside.
Jing Xian's explanations were futile; she was expelled from the monastery, unwilling to abandon the baby, living hand-in-hand. The baby was frail and sickly, suffering from chronic illness. As a nun with a child, Jing Xian faced ridicule, going hungry, homeless, wandering until reaching Jinzhou.
Ten days ago, Xia Wenjin was chased crazily by a gang of sturdy, fierce-looking individuals, and Jing Xian, a stranger but kind-hearted by nature, sheltered her, allowing her to stay temporarily. Learning of Jing Xian's plight then, Xia Wenjin decided to help.
But during her nocturnal flight, she brought nothing with her, hardly better off than Jing Xian.
Now, having robbed the rich, she bought a house, a shop, equipped it with various items, letting Jing Xian and her child move in. With a place to live and a shop to run, they wouldn't be homeless and starving anymore.
As for the child's illness, over the past ten days, Xia Wenjin had been treating her, leaving subsequent prescriptions; continual treatment for a year would cure the illness. After completing all this, only one hundred and seven taels remained. She kept seven for herself, leaving the rest with Jing Xian, estimating the pursuers might find her there, so she couldn't linger.
Unbeknownst to her, the robbery had enraged a certain affluent scion, forcing him to pawn his jade ring for clothes. Had Mr. Huangfu ever been so humiliated? The one who caused such disgrace was indeed hateful. He would not rest until he caught that scoundrel and crushed him!