The attic connects the past and present; I became a tycoon and got rich overnight!

Chapter 108 Settling the Little Beggar

My office.

Song Youan left Yuanbao outside and went inside herself.

When Song Youan saw Yang Hechun again after more than a month, she found that he had gained weight.

"Oh, Miss Song, it's been a long time!"

Yang Hechun was exceptionally enthusiastic, after all, Song Youan had given him a considerable amount of money when he bought the manor.

"Is Yu'an living comfortably? If there's anything that's not perfect, just tell me and I'll have someone fix it right away."

Song Youan smiled and said, "Lord Yang, you've gone to a lot of trouble. I'm very satisfied with the reconstruction of Youan Residence. I've come here this time to buy another courtyard from you."

"Oh?" Yang Hechun's eyes lit up, and he asked, "Why does the young lady want to buy a courtyard again?"

Song Youan said, "For daily needs, we don't need grand mansions; a simple courtyard will suffice."

She wanted to settle Yuanbao and the others in a clean courtyard, one that was neither drafty nor leaky, and where they could live.

Yang Hechun nodded and instructed the attendant beside him, "Go and fetch the booklet from the Ministry of Civil Affairs."

The attendant nodded, turned, and hurried away.

Yang Hechun then explained to Song Youan, "I don't know what size you want, Miss. Our Wufang Company mainly sells houses owned by officials. There aren't many houses left for ordinary people. Miss, please take a look and see if there are any suitable ones."

Song Youan nodded slightly, and soon the booklet was brought over.

She casually flipped through the pages, while Yang Hechun explained from the side: "The houses registered by our housing agency are definitely better than those sold in the market. They're not too small; they're at least two rooms, a kitchen, and a courtyard."

Song Youan looked up and asked, "Lord Yang, what do you think is a suitable size courtyard for seven or eight people?"

"Seven or eight people?" Yang Hechun thought for a moment: "If we only consider separating men and women, two rooms are enough. Our Wufang Company can help the girls build earthen beds in the rooms, which are warm in winter and cool in summer and very comfortable."

Song Youan nodded: "Then let's follow Lord Yang's idea and help me choose a room. I want a room that is spacious and has a large courtyard."

"no problem!"

Song Youan paid the money and received the house deed on the spot. Yang Hechun also immediately sent a team to clean and build the kang (heated brick bed) in the new courtyard, ensuring it would be finished before dark that day.

After leaving the house, Song Youan looked at the new house deed in her hand and calmed herself down. She should stick to her decision and there was nothing to regret.

Yuanbao came to her side, looked at her, and asked, "Miss, what's wrong?"

"It's alright." Song Youan smiled slightly and said, "Take me to see Cai Cai."

I bought a lot of food on the way, such as braised beef, donkey meat sandwiches, and smoked meat pancakes. These children look very energetic, but they are actually extremely malnourished. Once they get sick, they will collapse like a landslide. They need to eat more meat.

It was still that dilapidated temple, and there were only three little girls inside.

Cai Cai was sitting on the haystack when she saw Song You'an suddenly appear. She was stunned, as if she realized that she was the sister who had saved her, but she forgot to react for a moment.

"Cai Cai, quickly kneel down and kowtow to the girl," Yuan Bao said to his younger sister.

Cai Cai then realized what was happening and tried to kneel down, but Song You'an quickly stepped forward and helped her up, saying, "You're still sick, don't move around."

The girl's features were clearly visible because Song Youan had bathed her in a medicinal bath at the clinic and wiped her face and body.

She pouted and cried, "Thank you, sister. My brother said I would have died if you hadn't saved me." Song You'an wiped away her tears, which fell like raindrops. Seeing that she looked only six or seven years old but had to wander, her heart ached.

"It's okay, don't cry," Song Youan comforted her.

Song Youan learned some things about the younger sisters from Yuanbao after he shared the food he bought with them.

Yuanbao and Caicai are siblings from Nanyang. Their family was destroyed by flood and all their relatives died. He and his sister begged their way to the capital.

Erliang and the others were not related by blood. They were originally beggars who had been wandering around Kyoto for a long time. After they met Yuanbao and the others, they gathered together to keep warm.

Yuanbao was clever and resourceful, and everyone looked up to him and listened to him the most.

The oldest of these children, Yuanbao and Erliang, are twelve years old, while the youngest, Caicai, is only seven.

There are many beggars in Kyoto. In the past, when they were begging on their own, they were often bullied by other beggars. Later, they gathered together and formed a small group. Others dared not bully them anymore, and their lives became a little easier.

Song Youan felt a pang of sadness as she listened. She knew that there were many people struggling in 2024, but the impact of seeing these homeless children in person was definitely different.

"Didn't you say you were going to repay me?" Song Youan suddenly looked at Yuanbao seriously and asked, "Does that count?"

Upon hearing this, Yuanbao quickly stood up and solemnly promised, "I am willing to serve you like a slave to repay you. My life and Cai Cai's life belong to you."

Looking at his serious little face, Song Youan smiled helplessly and sighed: "I don't want your lives. When the others come back, go and wash yourselves first. Is there a place to wash yourselves?"

Yuanbao nodded quickly: "There's a river in the woods behind."

They just don't dare to wash themselves too clean on ordinary days, because if they are too clean, they won't get any food.

Around dusk, Erliang and his companions returned from begging. Today, they had collected four cracked steamed buns and a few copper coins. They also brought back some steamed buns from the bun shop. Seeing that the girl had come and brought a lot of food, everyone was very happy.

They were wolfing down their food, barely able to speak clearly.

"Eat quickly, and after you're done, come with me to the river behind us to bathe and get yourselves clean," Yuanbao instructed everyone.

Erliang swallowed the food in his mouth forcefully, looked at Yuanbao and asked, "Take a bath? Why take a bath?"

Upon hearing this, Yuanbao subconsciously looked at Song Youan. The girl told them to take a bath, but didn't say what they were supposed to do.

Song Youan calmly said, "Come with me after you take a shower. From now on, you'll follow me. I'll give you things to do, a place to stay, food, and wages."

One sentence left everyone speechless and stunned.

"Hurry up and kowtow to the girl!" Yuanbao shouted excitedly, snapping out of his daze.

All the little beggars, with food in their mouths, knelt down and kowtowed to Song You'an, mumbling, "Thank you, young lady, thank you, young lady."

"Get up right now, and don't kowtow to me all the time anymore." Song You'an looked at the group of children and said, "From now on, you all have to listen to my arrangements, and don't call me 'girl' anymore, just call me 'sister'."

"elder sister!"

"elder sister!"

"elder sister!"

The little beggars cried and laughed, calling out "sister" to each other.