Alas, it's my bad luck to be targeted by a little beggar.
If she refused to go with him, or said that she had her own territory, she would definitely be beaten up by the young beggar and then captured and sold.
In my previous life, I had been a beggar and lived a beggar's life for a while, so I had some understanding of the rules of the Beggars' Gang.
They also divide their begging into territories. If other beggars come, they either fight with each other and the winner stays, or they join the other beggars.
It was clear that he could not beat this beggar who was in his teens, and he could not escape immediately, so he could only join them first.
Joining them also depends on one's ability. If her business ability is not good enough, she may still be taken away and sold by the beggar.
At that time, no one will be able to help you when you cry out to heaven or earth.
The middle-aged woman looked at Yingbao with a look of pity, and took out a white flour bun from the tribute basket she was carrying and handed it to her, "Take it and eat it. You are so pitiful, you have to come out to beg for food at such a young age."
Yingbao took it, thanked him, then ran back with the steamed bun and gave it to the boy.
The young beggar was very satisfied. He took the steamed bun, broke half of it and gave it to her, and ate the other half himself.
Yingbao was also hungry, so she squatted on the ground and ate the steamed buns in small bites.
At this time, another mother and daughter who were attending the temple fair came over. Yingbao didn't wait for the boy's instructions and ran over and stretched out a pair of dirty little hands.
Just like that, in less than half an hour, Yingbao had obtained several steamed buns, pastries, and three cents.
The young man then let Yingbao take a rest and took over.
But it was obvious that the boy was not as likable as a three or four-year-old child. It might also be because he was a familiar face and people didn't buy his account, so they were unwilling to give him alms.
The boy was a little unhappy, and his ruffian look was clearly revealed. Sometimes he would spit at the back of someone who rejected him.
Therefore, Yingbao had to take action again.
Maybe the child was too cute, even though her head and body were covered in dirt and her original appearance could not be recognized, there were still women willing to give her alms.
When Yingbao came back with a bag of food again, the young beggar's eyes sparkled, and the way he looked at her was as if he saw a piece of golden nugget.
"What's your name?" the young man asked as he sat down on the side of the road.
Yingbao: "My name is Baoying. What's your name?"
The boy didn't answer directly, and said, "From now on, you can call me Brother Kui."
Yingbao called out obediently, "Brother Kui."
After exchanging names, they acknowledged each other and became sworn brothers.
Brother Kui obviously relaxed and was no longer as wary and cautious towards Yingbao as before.
After the temple fair ended, Brother Kui led Yingbao to an abandoned temple.
This is a half-collapsed land temple.
One wall collapsed in half, and the other three walls barely supported the shabby roof.
There was some dry grass spread in the dilapidated temple, and four little beggars were sitting on the grass, laughing.
They are not very old, the oldest is no more than twelve or thirteen years old.
There were three boys and one girl, and the girl was only about eight or nine years old.
"Brother Kui, you're back." The girl greeted the beggar boy.
Seeing him holding a three or four-year-old beggar, I couldn't help but ask curiously: "Where did you pick it up from?"
"At the temple fair." Brother Kui walked into the dilapidated temple and pointed to a corner: "Baoying, you will sleep there from now on."
Yingbao looked over and nodded.
Brother Kui took out the steamed buns and pastries from his pocket, but he didn't take out the three cents. "This is all from Baoying. She will be your junior sister from now on."
Several little beggars smiled at Yingbao and handed over the black food in their hands.
Yingbao didn't dislike it and took it and put it in her pocket.
The female beggar came over and asked with a smile, "Why are you alone at the temple fair?"
Yingbao: "I got separated from my parents."
The girl looked at her with some sympathy, touched her muddy head, and said, "Let me help you comb your hair."
Yingbao shook her head quickly. "No."
She had worked so hard to get this messy hair, and she didn't want to comb it. When she found a chance, she would rush home with this messy hair.
Zhouhe County is about a hundred miles away from Qinchuan County, and about a hundred miles away from Chuanhe Town.
As long as she follows the official road, she should be able to return home within ten days.
Seeing that Yingbao was stubborn, the girl did not insist and turned to use the flint to light a fire to cook food.
The beggars had a good harvest today. Not only did they cook a large pot of miscellaneous food, but each of them also got a steamed bun and a piece of cake.
Yingbao also ate a bowl of stew and then lay down in the corner.
Brother Kui brought a tattered mattress to keep her warm at night, and then lay down beside her.
Several little beggars huddled together and soon fell asleep.
Seeing that Brother Kui was still awake, Ying Bao asked tentatively, "Brother Kui, I am separated from my parents. Can you send me back? My parents will definitely pay you a sum of money when the time comes."
Brother Kui obviously didn't believe it and said with a smile, "Are you sure your parents will pay me?"
Yingbao nodded: "OK."
Brother Kui sneered, "But I'm not sure. Rather than doing a thankless job, I might as well sell you to a flower boat. Then I can get the ten taels of silver."
Yingbao's face darkened.
She knew that this beggar could not be trusted at all.
Not only the beggars, but there was no one in the entire county who was willing to travel hundreds of miles to send a strange child home.
It is understandable that they do not believe in themselves. After all, no one can be sure whether a child's words can be fulfilled.
In the eyes of most people, she was a little girl who might have been deliberately abandoned by her family, so how could they be willing to walk more than a hundred miles to send her home.
Therefore, Yingbao could only think of a solution on her own.
It is better to rely on oneself than on others, so she walked back by herself.
Alas, I disappeared suddenly, and I don’t know how my mother is doing. My father and my eldest and second uncles all went to work on the river, and only my grandparents are at home. I guess they must be very worried.
The next day, snow particles fell from the sky.
The beggars in the land temple were shivering with cold, huddled under the grass and refused to move.
Although Yingbao also felt cold, she could still bear it. She got up and went outside to deal with the important matter in her life, and then returned.
When she looked up, she saw Brother Kui leaning against the wall with his arms folded across his chest, seemingly staring at her.
Yingbao's face darkened and he asked angrily, "Were you peeking at me?"
Brother Kui laughed, "Little brat, what can I do to you?"
Yingbao was really angry. She rushed over and kicked him hard, cursing, "Shame on you!"
Brother Kui was not angry. He picked up Yingbao by the collar and went back to the land temple. He threw her in the grass nest and said, "I'll take you out to eat delicious food later."
Yingbao rolled into the grass nest and ignored him. He was confused for another hour, and several little beggars got up one after another.
There wasn't much food left from last night, so they divided it up among themselves and then left.
Brother Kui picked up Yingbao again and said, "Let's go and have a feast."
"Don't pick me up! I can walk." Yingbao pushed his hand away in dissatisfaction and ran forward angrily.
It was a bit painful when the snow particles hit her face, but Yingbao didn't care and just ran as fast as she could.
"You've gone the wrong way. This way!" Brother Kui caught up with her and grabbed her arm, "This way."
He pointed in a direction, "Let's go to Sanqing Temple."
"The Lower Yuan Festival is coming soon. There will be a vegetarian festival at Sanqing Temple. If we arrive at the right time, we can eat glutinous rice dumplings."