How did such immense wealth fall into my family?

Chapter 14 Who would guard against a fool?

The grandfather and grandson started begging as soon as they left the familiar area.

Qian Laifu was in charge of begging for food from others, while Gousheng was in charge of pretending to be stupid.

Fortunately, there haven't been any natural disasters in the past two years, and people have taken pity on the grandmother and grandson, so they've given them some food. Otherwise, the two of them would have had to rely on wild vegetables to stave off hunger.

The grandmother and granddaughter had money, but they wanted to infiltrate the beggar community.

The beggar was not only well-informed, but he could also beg everywhere. Furthermore, everyone knew that Qian Laifu had run off with two thousand taels of silver in his pocket; someone carrying two thousand taels of silver wouldn't usually beg with a broken bowl. Especially since Qian Laifu was a newly rich man from a poor background.

Therefore, the grandmother and granddaughter were safe by mingling among the beggars, could obtain various information, and could also use begging as an excuse to rush to the capital.

Of course, there are many downsides to being a beggar: living a life of hardship; going hungry; and having no guarantee of personal safety...

In a dilapidated temple outside Changhe County, a beggar in his thirties or forties was lying under the eaves sunbathing when an old beggar led a young beggar in through the door.

The old beggar was in good spirits.

The little beggar's eyes were vacant.

The old beggar smiled at the middle-aged beggar who was sunbathing as soon as he came in. "Excuse me, excuse me."

Changhe County is next to Wu'an County. Qian Laifu served corvée labor in Changhe County when he was young, so does he know how to get there?
The middle-aged beggar raised his eyelids and glanced at him. "You're the one who made that child next to you stupid, aren't you?"

"No, no," Qian Laifu said with a smile, waving his hand. "This is my grandson. Let me tell you, my grandson is incredibly smart. The teacher in our town said he has never seen a child as intelligent as my grandson. The teacher in our town said my grandson will definitely become the top scholar in the imperial examination someday."

The middle-aged beggar: "..." Do you think I'm blind? That guy is clearly an idiot. "Get lost! This temple is my territory."

Qian Laifu not only didn't roll away, but also pulled Gou Sheng forward a few steps. "Brother, do you think I'm lying to you? Let me tell you, my grandson is really smart. My grandson just fell from a tree and hit his head. Once his head heals, he'll bring me back the top scholar in the imperial examination. Brother, do you know where I'm taking my grandson?"

Before the other party could answer, Qian Laifu said with a determined look in his eyes, "I'm going to take my grandson to the capital for treatment. I've heard there are many good doctors in the capital, and they're sure they can cure my grandson's head. If my grandson's head is cured, he'll definitely be able to pass the imperial examination and become the top scholar."

His father said that Xiaogou Sheng pretending to be a fool would prevent those looking for him and his grandson from finding them.

Secondly, it would easily evoke sympathy from others, lest the grandfather and grandson starve to death before even reaching the capital.

Thirdly, it will prevent those who snatch other people's children and sell them from having designs on them.

Fourthly, we'll hear more news. Who would guard against a fool?
Fifthly, it could deliver a fatal blow to the grandfather and grandson when they were in danger and the other was not paying attention.

After hearing Qian Laifu's explanation, the middle-aged beggar stopped chasing him. He stretched. "Old man," he said, "I advise you to take your grandson home. Even if you could make it to the capital, no one would treat him. And even if they did, you wouldn't have the money for medicine."

Qian Laifu patted Gousheng's little head. "My wife and son say the same thing. But I'm not willing to give up. My grandson is clearly very smart, he could clearly bring me back the top scholar in the imperial examination. I'll beg for food if I have to go to the capital. Once I get there, I'll go and beg those ladies and young ladies."

"I've heard that the ladies and young women in the capital are very generous. Once I've begged for the money, I'll take my grandson to get his head checked. My grandson's head will definitely get better, and once it does, he'll surely become the top scholar in the imperial examination."

Qian Laifu emphasized again that his grandson could bring him back the top scholar in the imperial examination.

The middle-aged beggar curled his lip. "I think you're obsessed with becoming the top scholar's grandfather. Do you think it's so easy to get money from ladies and young women? If it were that easy, I would have bought houses and land long ago."

Qian Laifu smiled憨厚ly. "My wife said the same thing. But this is the only wish I have in my life. Let me tell you, if I don't go to the capital, I won't be able to close my eyes in peace even when I die."

"Aren't you afraid of dying on the way?"

"I'm not afraid. Even if I die on the way, I'm still going."

The middle-aged beggar sat up from under the eaves. "Are you sure?" "Yes." Qian Laifu said with a smile, "If I wasn't sure, I would have gone back when I ran out of coins. Let me tell you, everyone has something they can't let go of in their life."

Although the middle-aged beggar thought Qian Laifu was wasting his time, the persistence of a person is always touching. The middle-aged beggar looked at Qian Laifu and whispered, "Have you heard about that old man surnamed Qian who took his granddaughter's dowry and went off to have a good time?"

Qian Laifu: "..." His story has even reached Changhe County? "I haven't heard anything about it. That old man surnamed Qian is a real scoundrel."

"Do you know how much dowry that old man surnamed Qian took from her granddaughter?"

"Five taels?"

"Guess again?"

"Twelve?"

"Guess again."

"At most twenty taels. Twenty taels can buy two acres of top-quality land."

"Two thousand taels."

"What?!" Qian Laifu's eyes widened instantly. "His granddaughter is made of gold?"

"His granddaughter isn't made of gold. His granddaughter..." The middle-aged beggar recounted how Chunhua saved Tang Xiaoya, and how Madam Tang, to repay the kindness, invited Chunhua back to be her daughter-in-law.

Upon hearing this, Qian Laifu immediately exclaimed with delight, "They gave me two thousand taels right away! The ladies of the capital are indeed very generous. My grandson is saved!"

The middle-aged beggar: "..." Was he trying to show him how generous the ladies of the capital were? "You really haven't heard of this?"

"No, really. I've been busy traveling with my grandson these past few days. I'm afraid my wife and son will catch up with us. If they do, I won't be able to reach the capital. If I can't reach the capital, my grandson's head..."

"Stop!" The middle-aged beggar quickly interrupted Qian Laifu. "The magistrate of Wu'an County and Madam Tang have both issued a reward. If anyone can find that old man surnamed Qian, they can get three hundred taels of silver. Madam Tang will get two hundred and eighty taels, and the county government will get twenty taels. Instead of begging the ladies and young women in the capital, you might as well go find that old man surnamed Qian."

Qian Laifu: "..." He's worth three hundred taels now? "Is this for real? The Tang family really gave that much silver?"

"Of course it's true. This was spread by Madam Tang's steward. Madam Tang's steward said that Old Man Qian's wife was afraid that Old Man Qian would not come back to be buried with her after he died, so she begged Madam Tang to help her find Old Man Qian. Madam Tang didn't have any better ideas, so she could only offer a reward."

"I see? Did you go look for it?"

“I went. I searched for more than ten days and almost died of exhaustion. I think I’m just not destined to get rich. Didn’t you say your grandson used to be very smart? Since God gave you a smart grandson, maybe He will also give you a windfall.”

"However, I must warn you. It's not just us beggars who want to make this fortune; many outlaws have their eyes on it too. And their appetites are much bigger than ours."

"If you find that old man surnamed Qian, you'd better persuade him to go to the county government office with you as soon as possible. Otherwise... you know what I mean, right?"

Qian Laifu didn't want to understand. Luckily, he listened to his father and started begging honestly as soon as he arrived in a place where he didn't know anyone. Otherwise, the two of them might not have even been able to leave Wu'an County before they had to go down to serve his father.

Qian Laifu pulled half a steamed bun from his pocket and handed it to the middle-aged beggar. "Thank you for telling me all this. My old arms and legs wouldn't dare to rob the bandits for money. I'll go to the capital and beg those ladies and young women. A little charity from them would be enough for me to get medicine for my grandson. Do you know how to get to the capital? Many people say you know more than a schoolteacher."

Did Qian Laifu really not know how to get around the capital? The furthest he had ever been was Changhe County. If it weren't for his father backing him up, he wouldn't dare to wander around with his dog, Sheng.

In Qian Laifu's heart, his eldest granddaughter's life is precious, and so is his youngest granddaughter's life.

Thank you for pointing out the mistakes, everyone! Sending you love!
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(End of this chapter)