Xiao Tao didn't quite understand why her mistress had suddenly become interested in that kind of place, but since it was rare for her mistress to be in such a mood, she didn't say anything to dissuade her or spoil her fun.

The young ladies of today are different from those of the past; they are more measured in everything they do.

As the master and servant walked to the night market, it was getting dark. The lanterns along the street were gradually lit up, and the place was bustling with activity.

"Miss, what's going on over there? There are so many people gathered there," Xiao Tao suddenly said, pointing to a spot ahead.

"We'll see when we get there." Rong Qingqing led her over.

Only when I got closer could I hear what the onlookers were saying.

"That's so pitiful."

“What’s so pitiful about him? He’s tall and strong, but he can’t even afford a coffin. I think he’s just a fool.”

"Yeah, it's been so long and we haven't heard him say a word. Could he be mute?"

"His father looks like he's been dead for a long time; I can almost smell the stench."

...

Upon hearing that someone had died, Xiao Tao immediately grabbed Rong Qingqing's hand timidly, "Miss, there's nothing to see here. Let's go somewhere else."

"It's alright, let's go take a look." Rong Qingqing patted her hand, comforting her.

She wouldn't have dared to do it if there hadn't been so many people around.

After finally squeezing into the crowd, I saw a ragged boy kneeling on the open ground surrounded by onlookers, and next to him, a corpse wrapped in a tattered mat.

Because the mat was so tattered, the deceased's hands and feet were exposed.

Beside the boy's feet was a wooden board with a few words scrawled on it: "Sell yourself to bury your father."

Actually, the handwriting was very ugly. Rong Qingqing spent a long time trying to decipher it and finally figured out that these were the correct characters.

As you get closer, you can indeed smell the stench of a decomposing corpse.

"Miss, he's so pitiful." Xiao Tao, who hadn't dared to get close to look before, couldn't help but feel sympathy when she saw the scene before her.

“Yes.” Rong Qingqing glanced at the boy. Indeed, as the onlookers said, the boy was very tall and knelt there straight without any expression on his face. He didn’t ask for help. No wonder he had been surrounded for so long without anyone offering a helping hand. They probably thought he was a fraud.

She sighed, her gaze sweeping over the boy's yellowish yet still handsome face. After a pause, her gaze fell on his tightly clenched fists resting on his knees.

It's clear that this young man is a man of great integrity. He would never have come to the street to sell himself to get a coffin for his father unless he was desperate.

She thought for a moment, then took out two taels of silver from her bosom, walked over, and handed it to the boy.

"Take this and give your father a proper burial."

The boy had been kneeling for a long time, and his legs had long since gone numb. When he heard the voice, he suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with obvious astonishment, as if he had never expected that someone would be willing to give him money.

Rong Qingqing glanced at him with a smile and urged, "Take it quickly."

The boy was stunned for a moment because of her smiling eyes, a smile that was pure and innocent.

He had been kneeling here for a whole day, enduring ridicule and mockery, yet no one was willing to lend a helping hand. He was already numb and desperate.

At this moment, Rong Qingqing's appearance was like a ray of light, illuminating his dull eyes.

She was smiling, but there was no mockery or ridicule in her smile; instead, he saw encouragement in it.

He pursed his dry, peeling lips, and instead of immediately taking the money, he took a step back and then solemnly kowtowed to Rong Qingqing.