Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle

Chapter 1304 626: ?? (Part 2)

Chun He was choked up, carefully selecting a few broken bowls from a pile, and then started pouring hot water into a pot: "Miss, even if you want to practice your skills, there's no need to make black steamed buns. I think you're just kind-hearted, afraid those beggars might starve, and found this excuse on purpose."

Qin Wan added another log to the stove: "This winter is cold; we've had such heavy snow just as it started. Those beggars are all children. A few black steamed buns won't sell for much, but if they can get through this winter, it's a good deed that accumulates merit. Father wouldn't blame me."

Chun He wasn't completely convinced but agreed: "True, Miss, you have been discussing marriage these past two years, and having a good reputation helps find a good family. The master surely wouldn't object."

"You little girl, what nonsense are you saying." Qin Wan shook her head, "Let the hot water cool a bit before taking it out so they don't get burned without realizing it in the snowy cold."

"I know, Miss."

"Oh, by the way, Miss, today there was a little beggar wearing only three thin pieces of clothing. When I tossed him a bun, I was so startled, I thought he might be frozen to death, but he's quite lively. I've never seen someone so resistant to cold before; it's freezing outside, I shivered just opening the door, and yet he walked into the city from the outskirts wearing just those three thin clothes!"

"And he looks different from the other beggars, his face is clean, even his hair isn't dirty; he's probably new to begging. The most interesting thing is, you know what? The first thing he did with the bun wasn't to eat it, but to give one to his fellow beggar as protection money."

"Later there were plenty of buns, so I gave him another one, and he split that bun in half as well to give to that beggar."

Qin Wan said, "He must be a child from a good family who has just started begging because of some misfortune."

Hearing this, Chun He was stunned, and sighed, "What bad luck for him. If he started begging in the spring, it wouldn't be as miserable."

Qin Wan added another log into the stove and then got up, leaving the kitchen heading to other rooms. Qin Huai wanted to follow but hit an invisible wall, only watching Qin Wan's back as she left.

Following Qin Wan's instructions, Chun He let the hot water cool a bit before carrying the kettle, with a bamboo basket full of broken bowls, to divide the hot water among the beggars. Qin Wan had boiled a lot of hot water, enough for each beggar to get about two bowls, which in this freezing weather was as effective as two black steamed buns.

As for those broken bowls, Chun He didn't take them away, leaving the beggars to share them by themselves.

The beggars didn't dare to snatch, relying instead on quick hands and sharp eyes. The little beggar didn't move, while his companion happily found a broken bowl.

"Chun He, come in for a moment."

Chun He was about to shoo the beggars away from the door, telling them to eat elsewhere instead of gathering at their doorstep, when Qin Wan's voice called her inside, with Qin Huai following.

In the courtyard, Qin Wan held an old cotton coat that clearly had some years on it.

"This is a cotton coat from Yanhang's childhood. I don't know if the little beggar you mentioned earlier can wear it. I just searched the cupboard and only found this one; the others might have been thrown away. The cotton inside has hardened over the years, but it can still provide some warmth, enough to help him through this winter."

"Take this out to that little beggar."

Chun He was amazed: "Miss, you are too kind, giving such a good coat to that little beggar."

Chun He carried the coat out, reluctantly tossing it in front of the little beggar, sternly saying: "My Miss is gifting you this, worried that wearing just those three thin clothes in the freezing weather will freeze you to death and waste the buns my Miss made."

After speaking, Chun He turned to the companion warning him: "Did you hear that? This was given to him specifically by my Miss, you're not allowed to take it!"

The companion beamed, "How dare I take something gifted by Miss Qin? Hey, you'd better kowtow and thank Miss Qin!"

The little beggar didn't react much, clearly unwilling to kowtow.

Chun He didn't mind, turning and closing the courtyard gate, shouting as she did, "Hurry up and go, if you stay by the door there won't be any buns tomorrow!"

The beggars scattered; some, before running, were eyeing the coat in the little beggar's hands enviously, but gave up after catching their companion's glare, clutching their uneaten buns while finding another place to eat sheltered from the wind.

The companion looked at the coat in the little beggar's arms, noticeably cleaner than what he had, expressing envy: "You lot who used to have parents are really born with fortune. Back when Gouzi was begging, he once got a silver coin, but later it was taken away. Now Miss Qin has given you a new coat out of her own accord! Life is so unfair, I never saw my parents, never got a silver coin, and no one's ever given me a coat."

The little beggar said nothing, silently putting on the coat.

The companion glanced at the coat on him: "Your coat's too clean. Once we head out, I'll dig up some mud from the snow to smear on it, or else Scar-head will definitely want it, even if it won't fit him, he'll take it."

The little beggar remained silent, the companion clearly used to it, led him back on their way.

On the way back, the little beggar suddenly asked, "Why does Miss Qin give us buns and a coat?"

The companion looked at the little beggar as if he might be a fool, saying, "Of course, it's to do good and accumulate merit."