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

Chapter 54 Little Beggar

Song Youan initially thought there were only three people in the corner, but upon closer inspection, she realized there were five children.

Because they were all so thin and huddled together in tattered black clothes, Song Youan couldn't see them clearly at first.

One of the children seemed to sense Song You'an's gaze. He brushed aside the messy hair on his forehead and looked at Song You'an. Beneath his dark appearance, where his gender was indistinguishable, his eyes shone brightly.

"Girl, stop looking. Be careful, or they'll come looking for you and ask for food."

The shopkeeper brought over a steaming basket of buns and, seeing Song Youan staring at the little beggar, couldn't help but speak up to remind her.

Song Youan looked away and asked, "Are there always beggars at this intersection?"

The shopkeeper glanced at her and smiled, "Are you a new resident here, young lady? These little beggars are here every day; perhaps you just didn't notice them before."

"They're just a bunch of timid kids. As long as you don't provoke them, they won't bother you."

This steamed bun shop has been open for many years, so the owner is very familiar with everything here.

Song Youan nodded in understanding. When she looked up again, she found that the child who had been looking at her earlier had lowered his head. In front of them was a chipped bowl for begging, but there wasn't a single copper coin in it.

The steamed buns smelled delicious. The shop owner said that the meat used to make the buns every day is fresh pork slaughtered on the same day by the butcher shop next door. The neighbors all recognize his steamed buns.

Song Youan was very hungry and quickly finished the basket of steamed buns.

She touched her sleeve pocket and pulled out ten taels of silver from a pile of banknotes to pay the bill; this was the smallest amount of silver she had on her.

"Young lady, you only have about twenty copper coins. I can't make change for ten taels of silver," the shopkeeper said.

His roadside stall only accepts copper coins every day; small pieces of silver are rare, let alone ten taels of silver.

No one would spend ten taels of silver to eat at a steamed bun shop.

"If you can't find the change, don't bother looking. Could you please pack a few baskets of steamed buns for me?" Song Youan said.

Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper said, "Even if you buy all these buns of mine today, they won't be worth ten taels of silver."

Song Youan thought for a moment and said, "How about this, shopkeeper? I'll leave the rest with you. From now on, you can give the little beggars across the street five baskets of buns twice a day until they run out."

"Oh my, young lady, are you doing a good deed?" The shopkeeper was slightly surprised, and his eyes showed some respect as he looked at Song You'an.

Song Youan smiled and said, "It's not about doing good deeds, it's just that they are all so young and pitiful. Don't try to fool me, shopkeeper. I live in Fuhua Lane, and these ten taels of silver are enough for them to eat their fill for a long time."

“You’re joking, young lady. I do business honestly and uprightly. How could I possibly be greedy for a little beggar’s buns?” The shopkeeper said, having already wrapped up several portions of buns. He tied them up and handed them to Song You’an, saying, “Don’t worry, young lady, leave this to me.”

Song Youan nodded, carrying a vase in one hand and a steamed bun in the other, and walked to the other side of the road. The owner of the steamed bun shop looked over curiously.

The little beggars almost instinctively looked up and saw a beautiful woman standing in front of them.

"Let's eat some steamed buns."

Song Youan didn't say much, but simply placed the buns wrapped in oil paper in front of the beggars.

The little beggars realized what was happening and pounced on the package. Each of them picked up a bag, opened it, and found five steamed buns inside, all of them still warm.

Without thinking twice, the group wolfed down their food, finishing each small, fist-sized bun in just two or three bites.

After finishing five steamed buns, one of the little boys looked up, only to find the pretty girl gone. He looked around in a panic, finally catching a glimpse of a light blue figure disappearing into the opposite alley. "Stop eating," the little boy said in a hoarse voice, his words causing the others to stop and look at him. He reached out and gathered a few unopened buns into his arms: "Leave some for the girls."

The boys nodded in agreement, seemingly agreeing with what the boy said.

The boy stood up, hesitated for a moment, and walked straight to the steamed bun shop across the street.

The shopkeeper saw clearly that the girl had taken the buns and the little beggars hadn't finished eating them, so how did they end up here?

"Uncle, does the lady who just gave us the steamed buns live here?"

The little boy pointed to the glitz and glamour of the alleyway to the side as he spoke.

The shopkeeper nodded upon hearing this: "Yes, you kids are lucky to have met such a good person. If you want to eat steamed buns in the future, just tell me, but don't disturb my customers."

The little boy frowned upon hearing this, seemingly not understanding.

"Didn't that girl say anything?" The shopkeeper was a little surprised, thinking to himself that she really did good deeds anonymously. Oh well, he couldn't hide it forever: "That girl left me some money to give you buns every day, so come over whenever you're hungry."

The little boy then understood, his gaze flickering on the glittering alleyway, and he remained lost in thought for a long time.

Song You'an walked all the way to You'an Residence, not taking the incident to heart. She hadn't done it intentionally; it was just that when she saw the little beggar, she suddenly felt that since she had earned so much money in Dazhao, she should help those in need.

She could help Liu Fengyan and Han Mo at the restaurant, and she could help these children today as well.

In Song Youan's eyes, the two things were no different; they were the same.

At that moment, a person dressed in a gray robe was peering through the crack in the tightly closed door of Youanju.

Song You stopped in her tracks and carefully observed that the man was dressed neatly and appeared to be in his thirties. There were other passersby in the alley, so she felt less afraid and asked directly from below the stone steps, "Who are you looking for?"

The man was startled and jumped up. When he turned around and saw Song You'an, he couldn't help but pat his chest and ask, "Miss Song, right?"

Song Youan nodded.

The man descended the stone steps, stood still, and introduced himself: "I am the steward of the Minister's residence, and my surname is Wang."

Song Youan nodded, thinking about the Minister's residence. She seemed to have been there once before, when she delivered the cake.

"What does Uncle Wang want with me?" Song Youan asked.

Butler Wang said, "My mistress would like to order some cakes from Miss Song. I wonder if you could make them?"

When is it needed?

"The day after tomorrow, my wife has invited several officials' wives from the capital to our residence for tea and a theatrical performance..."

Song Youan nodded: "Okay, I'll deliver it."

Steward Wang's eyes lit up, and he took out two hundred-tael silver notes from his pocket: "Then I'll have to trouble Miss Song. I just saw the sign that says no guests are welcome today, but I dared not neglect Madam's instructions, so I took the liberty of knocking on the door. Please don't be offended, Miss."

"Uncle Wang, you flatter me. Please rest assured, Madam Minister, the cake will be delivered on time," Song Youan said.

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(End of this chapter)