Each child gets a sesame seed cake, and there are twelve children, so that's twelve sesame seed cakes. Mu Run knows the price of sesame seed cakes on South Street: three coins each. Twelve cakes would cost thirty-six coins.
Hiring a donkey cart and easily traveling around the streets would only cost ten coins. Anyone with half a brain knows which is more cost-effective and which is a loss.
Looking at the children, especially their pale faces and tattered clothes, Mu Run felt a surge of maternal tenderness.
"What's your name?" Mu Run asked the little girl.
The little girl replied, "My name is Xiaolinlin."
"Little Linlin, what a cute name. Well, I'd like to go see where they sell tea. If you can lead the way, I'll buy you some sesame cakes, okay?"
Immediately, the children jumped up with joy, circling around Mu Run and leading her from the alley entrance into the area marked North Street.
Just after they left, two identical-looking, furtive-looking men emerged from a hidden corner.
One of them spat angrily, "These diaper-wearing bastards stole it again."
“The rules of South Street are that you can’t make a move unless you enter the territory of North Street,” another said. “Besides, this sheep came from a shop run by the Sanxiang Gang. Who knows if they’re even from the Sanxiang Gang? Let’s observe first, and only make a move when we’re absolutely sure. Don’t provoke anyone we can’t mess with. The streets have been a bit chaotic these past few days; ten people were carried out this morning.”
"Oh. By the way, brother, I just got word that a group of people from the south are bringing several cartloads of goods and want to use the waterway. Should we go check them out?"
"The south side? Okay."
The two quickly disappeared into the alley.
...
Xiji Tea House is the largest tea shop on North Street. There is a spring at the entrance, and the clear spring water meanders through the underground sewers and eventually flows into the Xiang River.
And the tea shop's business, like this living spring, is booming, with money flowing in and people coming and going.
Mu Run stood outside the teahouse, faintly smelling the aroma of tea, and her heart stirred.
She originally came to North Street without knowing where to go, but when Xiao Linlin asked her, she had a sudden inspiration and said she wanted to come and check out the teahouse.
“There are other tea shops, but Xi Ji Tea House is the biggest on North Street. If you don’t like it, we can go look at other places,” Xiao Linlin said to Mu Run.
Mu Run gently patted the pigtails on her little head and smiled tenderly, "No need, this place is fine. You must all be hungry. Now that we've finished our mission, shouldn't we go buy some delicious food?"
"I want to eat sugar pancakes!" a little boy said eagerly.
"Okay. Anyone else want something sweet?" Mu Run asked.
Immediately, another child shouted, "Can we have both sweet and salty ones?"
Mu Run nodded, "That's fine too."
There is a sesame seed cake shop not far from Xiji Tea House.
Mu Run took the children there.
Just as they entered the sesame seed cake shop, a few people came out of the Xiji Tea House. They chatted and laughed, as if they were close friends, but their eyes seemed to be wary of each other.
Mu Run recognized two of these people: Fu Yunchen and Liu Lao Er.
There was also a refined and elegant man named Xi Gongyong, who was the owner of Xiji Tea House.
Xi Gongyong cupped his hands to Fu Yunchen and said, "Then I won't see you off any further. Have a safe journey, Chief Fu. Come and have some tea when you have time."
"Brother Xigong, you are too kind. If you ever pass by Bianyun Village, please let me know in advance, and I will definitely come to greet you from ten miles away."
"It's a deal!"
After saying goodbye to Xi Gongyong, Fu Yunchen left with Liu Lao Er.
Xi Gongyong watched Fu Yunchen's retreating figure, sighed, and said to Tong Sheng, the attendant following behind him, "Tell the brothers of Xiangping Gang to escort the people of Bianyun Village well and not to neglect them."
"Yes, boss. But when did Bianyun Village change its leader? And it seems to be a pretty face."
"You only judge him by his appearance; do you know what's inside?"
What's it hiding? Tong Sheng really couldn't see anything special about it.
Seeing that his attendant still didn't understand, Xi Gongyong patted him on the shoulder and said, "Don't mess with him."
That was a lonely, evil spirit disguised as a beautiful woman!
"Who doesn't have a big chicken leg?" Mu Run held up a chicken leg, watching the children wolf it down.
The boy with the most tattered clothes had already finished his portion. But he was still hungry and wanted more. His hopeful eyes were fixed on the chicken leg in Mu Run's hand, and he even licked the grease from the corner of his mouth.
Mu Run immediately handed him the chicken leg in her hand, "Eat up, eat your fill. It's my treat today."
"You're such a kind-hearted girl," the owner of the braised meat shop said with a smile.
Mu Run smiled and said, "You get what you pay for. They showed me the way, and I promised to buy them food. How much is it in total?"
"A total of two hundred and twenty-five coins."
"Would two hundred and twenty coins be acceptable?"
Mu Run imitated Redmi's bargaining style. It would be good if he could get a better price, but if not, it was just a matter of a few words.
"Alright, just for your kindness, young lady, I'll round it down."
"Thank you, ma'am."
Mu Run reached into his sleeve pocket and took out some silver...
Why? !
My pockets are empty!
But she just bought the sesame cakes and put them in there.
How could you lose your money after just a few steps?
"Young lady?" The proprietress noticed her unusual expression and asked, "What's wrong?"
"I lost my money." Mu Run gave an awkward laugh.
The proprietress looked at the group of children eating chicken legs and her face darkened. "Even thieves have their code of honor. You're eating other people's food and stealing from them. Don't you have any sense of morality?"
Who would have thought that the group of children would run off like a swarm of bees...
Mu Run realized that his silver had been stolen by these little devils.
"Don't run—" the proprietress chased after her.
But the children were light on their feet and fast, and by the time the proprietress arrived at the shop door, the group of children had vanished.
Fu Yunchen and Liu Lao Er, who were not far away, turned around when they heard the noise.
“It’s the Orphan Gang, those brats steal things everywhere,” said Liu Lao Er.
Fu Yunchen remained indifferent and turned to continue walking.
Mu Run took out a piece of silver from the purse hanging around her neck. "Never mind, boss lady, consider it as giving them a few more meals. This is for the chicken legs." Luckily, she didn't keep all the silver in one place, otherwise, things would be difficult now.
"You're a kind-hearted girl. Alas! It's a pity they're a bunch of unlucky kids, always up to petty theft on North Street. You should stay away from them in the future."
"Thank you, ma'am, I understand."
The proprietress took the loose silver and weighed it. "It weighs six qian of silver. Miss, please wait for my change."
"Wait, give me a pound of this braised beef, sliced thinly. And a whole roast duck, please chop it up for me."
"good."
After buying braised beef and roast duck, Mu Run went back to the sesame seed cake shop and bought twenty sesame seed cakes and a pound of pickled vegetables, which he put into his basket to eat as dry rations.
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