Chapter 13: There Is No Such Thing

“Tien Shu, where’s Old Six?” Hong Xiao Duo asked, clearly unaware that someone was missing. Usually, he was the one who did the headcount—what was going on today?

“Huh? Kai Yang? Where is he? He was just by my side a moment ago,” Tien Shu replied, realizing the absence and feeling uneasy.

The other children also became anxious, looking around in all directions.

“Mother, look, Kai Yang is over there,” Tien Hsuan was the first to spot him, pointing ahead.

Hong Xiao Duo followed his finger and indeed saw Kai Yang. He was walking beside a man dressed in a brocade robe, repeatedly bowing with his hands clasped. They were a bit too far away to hear what he was saying.

But not only the children but even Hong Xiao Duo, unfamiliar with begging, instantly understood. Kai Yang, seeing a wealthy man, was following him out of habit to beg!

“Mother, it seems that man might give something,” Tien Shu whispered.

The other children nodded in agreement.

Their eyes sparkled brightly as they looked at Hong Xiao Duo and then glanced back at Kai Yang.

Hong Xiao Duo felt a complex mix of amusement and helplessness. She didn’t know what to say. The children were analyzing the situation based on their past begging experiences.

“Mother, Brother Kai Yang is so lucky; he should be able to get some money,” Yaoguang, who was on Hong Xiao Duo’s back, said with barely concealed excitement.

Her heart ached at those words. Their idea of good luck was merely the possibility of receiving a single copper coin.

Although she didn’t understand the nuances of begging, she noticed that Kai Yang had been bowing repeatedly beside that man for a good while. If the man intended to give but kept delaying, perhaps he was deliberately prolonging the refusal to savor being begged, or maybe he simply didn’t want to give anything and would only relent when annoyed.

Whatever the case, Hong Xiao Duo couldn’t bear to watch any longer.

Never mind that she currently had a hundred taels of silver—an enormous sum, as one tael equaled a thousand coins.

Even if she were penniless, she didn’t want the children to stoop so low to beg anymore.

Seeing the eager expressions on Tien Shu and the others, she abandoned the idea of sending them to call Kai Yang and strode toward them with determined steps.

Tien Shu and the others quickly realized their mother was not pleased and hurried after her.

“Sir, please have mercy, give us something, your kindness will bring great fortune,” Kai Yang begged while bowing.

Just as he felt stuck and unable to move, Kai Yang twisted his head anxiously and saw someone grabbing his collar—his mother!

Her expression was stern, and Kai Yang dared not utter a word. He glanced at Tien Shu and the others who had followed, wondering what was going on.

Tien Shu shook his head subtly, signaling him to keep quiet.

Seeing Kai Yang’s nervous face, Hong Xiao Duo chose not to scold him. She gently set him down and told him to follow and not run off, then turned and walked away.

Tien Shu and the others quickly followed. Kai Yang looked back regretfully at those who had accompanied him so far but were now out of sight. “So close… that man almost gave something!”

Hong Xiao Duo stopped in front of a ready-made clothing shop. The clerk at the door immediately grabbed a broom and shooed Tien Shu and the others away. “Where did these beggars come from? Go away, go away.”

“Ah Kuan, don’t be rude,” the shopkeeper inside scolded the clerk.

Hong Xiao Duo was about to leave for another store because the clerk’s attitude toward the children suggested the owner might not be kind either.

But when she saw the middle-aged shopkeeper’s face, she changed her mind and stayed.

“The clerk only started yesterday and doesn’t know better. Please don’t mind, young lady,” the shopkeeper apologized sincerely.

When Hong Xiao Duo remained silent, he continued, “Please come inside and have a look. We have a full selection of ready-made garments, including shoes and socks.”

“Can they come in with me?” Hong Xiao Duo asked deliberately.

Her meaning was clear: if they could enter, she would stay; if not, she would leave. If the shopkeeper insisted that the children remain outside, no matter how good or cheap the clothes were, she wouldn’t buy anything.

“Since they’re with you, of course they may enter. Please, come in,” the shopkeeper replied without hesitation.

Feeling reassured, Hong Xiao Duo stepped inside.

There were few customers at the moment. A woman tidying the clothes racks glanced back, a little surprised but showing no trace of disdain.

Since the customer was a woman, the woman approached to assist. “May I ask what you’re looking for, young lady? We have all kinds of fabrics.”

Tien Shu and the others entered but were self-conscious, huddling together and trying to stay away from the hanging clothes.

“We want complete outfits, one for each of us. Please help select medium-quality fabrics,” Hong Xiao Duo said with a satisfied smile.

“Everyone wants a full set? What a big order!” The woman quickly called out, “Master, please come help select.”

The clerk who had been scolded earlier was standing by the door, feeling wronged. He had only wanted to look out for the shop’s business but was reprimanded by the shopkeeper.

Now, hearing that this young lady was going to buy clothes for seven little beggars, though surprised, he instinctively stepped inside to help.

“Better not,” the shopkeeper said, shooing him away. “We don’t need you here.”

He feared that if the clerk showed impatience or made an inappropriate expression, it might offend the young lady.

“Mother? Are you really buying us new clothes?” Tien Chuan glanced at the shopkeeper measuring him, then whispered.

“Yes, of course. If you don’t want new clothes, you don’t have to wear them,” Hong Xiao Duo said with a mock stern face.

“Mother, Yaoguang wants new clothes,” the youngest, just freed and standing on the ground, quickly said, afraid the older siblings might sensibly refuse and snatched the chance.

Seeing the older siblings glare at him, he realized his eagerness might be wrong and immediately lowered his head. “Mother, you can also ask the shopkeeper if they have any old clothes for sale. Those should be cheaper, right?”

The shopkeeper laughed, “Little girl, we only sell new clothes. If you don’t wear clean clothes, it would be hard for your mother to bring you into any shop at all.”

He was surprised that the little beggar called Hong Xiao Duo “mother,” but years of business experience had taught him to suppress curiosity and focus on the sale.

“Or you can choose the colors and styles yourselves,” Hong Xiao Duo said, beginning to look at what would suit her age.

Upon hearing that they could choose, the little ones all looked at Tien Shu.

“Please help us choose. Just don’t pick colors that are too pale,” Tien Shu said, taking on the responsible role of big brother. They had always scrounged for hand-me-downs from kind strangers, never worn new clothes, let alone chosen them in a shop. How could they know what to pick?

The shopkeeper and his wife didn’t even need to measure the children’s heights to know what sizes to pick. They quickly selected outfits for each, including undergarments, socks, and shoes.

They wrapped everything carefully in cotton cloth for the children to carry.

Since the children were filthy, they certainly couldn’t just put the clothes on right away.

“Young lady, have I not found anything to your liking?” The woman, having finished with the youngest, noticed Hong Xiao Duo had yet to pick and came over to ask.

“Auntie, as you can see, I travel a lot. Wearing skirts isn’t convenient, and I haven’t seen anything similar to what I wear now,” Hong Xiao Duo replied straightforwardly.

The woman smiled, “We do have some. Young lady, come see this style.” She led Hong Xiao Duo to a corner.

Hong Xiao Duo picked up the garment and, indeed, it was exactly what she wanted.

Made of dark floral cotton silk, the top was a crossed-collar in snow blue; the bottom was loose purple lantern pants. Holding it up to herself, the size and length matched well.

“Auntie, I’ll take this one,” she said, very satisfied. Choosing shoes, socks, and underwear was much simpler.

Looking back at the little ones, each was holding a large, bulging cloth bundle. They all pressed their lips tightly, wanting to smile but not daring to.

Hong Xiao Duo asked the shopkeeper to settle the bill. She didn’t intend to bargain; after their previous interaction, she was sure this couple were not unscrupulous merchants.

The shopkeeper worked his abacus and then looked up. “Young lady, for all this, three taels and eight mace. But since you bought so many, how about I charge you three taels and six mace?”

“Alright, thank you very much,” Hong Xiao Duo replied.

She did the math quietly—a big one and seven small ones, from head to toe, inside and out, all for three taels six mace. That was incredibly cheap, and not even the lowest quality fabric.

One tael of silver exchanged for ten mace; one mace equaled one hundred copper coins.

The shopkeeper gave a discount of two mace, equal to two hundred copper coins. Tien Shu had told her recently that a meat bun cost two copper coins. So, the shopkeeper had effectively saved her enough for one hundred meat buns for the children.

Thinking back to the street, Kai Yang had bowed and begged for so long, all for just one copper coin!

“Excuse me, auntie, which inn in town is better? I mean in terms of attitude, because we...” After paying and pocketing the change, Hong Xiao Duo remembered to ask.

“All three innkeepers in town are quite decent, but, young lady, you can stay there, but they probably won’t let these children,” the shopkeeper explained.

Hong Xiao Duo was taken aback. “Why not?”

“Well, young lady, you probably have a travel permit with you, but those children likely don’t. Inns must register guests, and officials often check the records,” the shopkeeper added.

She thought to herself that being young, she probably hadn’t considered this.

A travel permit? Hong Xiao Duo was a bit dumbfounded. She vaguely remembered that a travel permit was like an ancient pass—some places required one even if you traveled just ten miles from home, needing to obtain it from the local office.

She didn’t seem to have one on her either. The seven children originally didn’t need them, but now they certainly didn’t have any. What was she to do...