"Tian Shu, where's Lao Liu?" Hong Xiaoduo asked the leader, who clearly hadn't yet noticed that someone was missing.

He's the one who usually does the headcount, so what's wrong with him today?

"Huh? Kaiyang? Where is he? He was just next to me a moment ago?" Tian Shu was also at a loss after realizing what had happened.

The other children panicked and looked around frantically.

"Mother, look, Kaiyang is over there." Tianxuan was the first to see him and pointed ahead.

Hong Xiaoduo looked in the direction he was pointing and indeed saw Kaiyang. He was standing next to a man in a brocade robe, bowing repeatedly. They were too far apart to hear what he was saying.

However, not only could the other children guess, but even Hong Xiaoduo, who was unfamiliar with begging, understood in an instant.

Kaiyang just habitually follows rich people around and begs from them!

"Mother, it looks like that person will give us something," Tian Shu said softly.

The other children nodded in agreement.

The children's eyes were bright as they looked at Hong Xiaoduo and then gazed towards Kaiyang.

Hong Xiaoduo was in a state of mixed feelings, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, and didn't know what to say. The children seemed to be explaining things to her based on their past begging experiences.

"Mother, Brother Kaiyang is really lucky. He should be able to get some money." Yaoguang, who was on Hong Xiaoduo's back, said with barely concealed excitement.

These words made Hong Xiaoduo feel a little sad. The "good luck" they mentioned meant that she might be able to get a single copper coin.

Although she didn't know the techniques of begging, Kaiyang had been following that person and bowing repeatedly for quite a distance. If that person knew how to give, he would deliberately delay giving!

Maybe they're deliberately dragging their feet and enjoying the feeling of being begged by a beggar? Or maybe they don't want to give at all, but will only give when they can't stand the harassment anymore?

In either case, Hong Xiaoduo couldn't stand it anymore.

Not to mention that she has a hundred taels of silver on her now, that's a hundred strings of cash, and one string of cash is a thousand coins.

Even though she has no money on her now, she doesn't want her children to have to beg anymore.

Seeing the slightly excited expressions on Tian Shu's and the others' faces, Hong Xiaoduo gave up on having him go and call Kai Yang, and strode over there.

Tian Shu and the others only then realized that their mother seemed unhappy, and quickly followed after her.

"Please, sir, have mercy and give me some money. I'll make you rich with your kind heart," Kaiyang pleaded, bowing as he did so.

At this crucial moment, he suddenly couldn't move. Kaiyang felt like he was leaving the ground. He turned his head anxiously and saw the person grabbing him by the collar—his mother!

His mother's expression was strange and very serious. Kaiyang didn't dare to say a word and looked at Tian Shu and the others who had followed him. What did she mean?

Tian Shu secretly shook his head, signaling him not to say anything out of turn.

Seeing Kaiyang's anxious face, Hong Xiaoduo couldn't bear to scold him. She gently put him on the ground, told him to follow her and not run around, and then turned and left.

Tian Shu and the others quickly followed. Kai Yang looked back with some regret at the person he had been following for most of the day, but he could no longer see him. Sigh, he was just a hair's breadth away from giving it to him!

Hong Xiaoduo stopped in front of a clothing store. The shop assistant saw her and immediately grabbed a broom to chase Tian Shu and the others away, saying, "Where did these beggars come from? Get out of here!"

"Ah Kuan, don't be rude!" The shopkeeper came out after hearing the noise and scolded the waiter.

Hong Xiaoduo originally wanted to go to another restaurant because the waiter's attitude towards the children made her think that if the waiter was not kind-hearted, then the boss was not a good person either.

But when he saw the middle-aged shopkeeper's face, he changed his mind and stood there instead of leaving.

"This is a new employee who just arrived yesterday. He's a bit inexperienced, so please forgive him, young lady," the shopkeeper said apologetically to Hong Xiaoduo.

Seeing that Hong Xiaoduo didn't say anything, the shopkeeper spoke again: "Young lady, please come in and take a look. Is there anything you want? Our shop has a full range of ready-made clothes, as well as shoes and socks."

"They're with me, can they come in?" Hong Xiaoduo asked deliberately.

The meaning is clear: if she can get in, she will; if not, she will leave.

Anyway, if the shopkeeper says she can come in but the children should stay outside, then no matter how good the clothes are or how cheap they are, she won't buy them.

“Since you are with the young lady, you are naturally welcome to come in,” the shopkeeper replied without hesitation.

That's more like it. Hong Xiaoduo stepped into the shop.

There were few customers in the shop at the moment. A woman was tidying up the clothes rack. She looked back and, although she was a little surprised, she did not show any disgust on her face.

The customer was a woman. As soon as she entered the shop, the woman came forward to greet her: "What would you like to buy, young lady? We have all kinds of fabrics."

Tian Shu and the others came in, but they consciously squeezed together and tried to stay away from the hanging clothes.

"We'll buy full-body outfits, one for each of us. Could you please help them choose, Auntie? Medium-quality fabric will do." Hong Xiaoduo smiled and said to the woman with satisfaction at her attitude.

Everyone choose one outfit? Oh dear, this is a big business! The woman quickly called out, "Master, come and help me choose too!"

The guy who was scolded earlier had been standing at the door, and he was resentful.

He meant well, thinking of the shop's business, but was still scolded by the shopkeeper.

Hearing that this young lady was actually going to buy clothes for seven little beggars, I was quite surprised, but I still subconsciously went into the shop to help.

"Don't bother coming in, we don't need you here," the shopkeeper said, and shooed him out.

He was really afraid that if he became impatient or gave an inappropriate expression or look, he might anger the young lady.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!