Zhang Fengxi extended a hand toward the little boy and helped him up.
Although the little boy’s knees were injured from the fall, he only had eyes for the paper bag.
"Ah..."
Zhang Fengxi handed it over to him.
"There you go. Don’t worry, it is safe."
Tears fell from the little boy’s eyes when he pressed the paper bag to his chest.
"Thank you, Young Master," he sobbed. "Thank you."
"No need to thank , you did well. What’s your na, little boy?"
"I... Mom called Ah Yan."
"I see. Ah Yan, you are hurt. Can you walk?"
The little boy nodded, but he winced every ti he moved.
Zhang Fengxi grabbed his collar and lifted him to his shoulders. The little boy was so frightened that he almost dropped the paper bag in his arms.
"There, isn’t this better?" Zhang Fengxi laughed. "Co, let us take you ho."
Ah Yan led them to the outskirts of Rainbell Town. While the buildings in Rainbell Town were visibly struck down during the disastrous war, the buildings on the outskirts still stood -- albeit dilapidated and shabby. So structures appeared so unsteady that they might just crumble after one stormy night.
Ah Yan and his mother lived in such a crumbling structure. Ah Yan was visibly embarrassed when he led his two guests into his house, but he lit up as soon as he saw his mother.
"Mom! I brought so food!"
Ah Yan’s mother was sitting on a pile of old hay on the floor. In front of her stood a small table with two chipped plates. The two plates contained so grey and watery porridge with neither side dishes nor condints.
With such a young son by his side, the woman should be relatively young. And yet, her sagging facial skin and the black circles around her dark eyes made her appear way older than she actually was.
"Ah Yan...? Who are these gentlen?" she asked with a hoarse voice.
Xie Jianyu looked around the house. There was no water to drink. He thought back to the rich pork bone soup at the restaurant. Oh, if only they had packed so...
"These young masters opened a new restaurant at Rainbell Town! Today they offer free lunch for everyone! Mom, look. I brought so stead buns. They are very delicious!"
Ah Yan took out a bun and split it into two.
His mother swallowed hard. The pork inside the bun was fragrant and juicy. Before she knew it, she already took half of the bun and gobbled it down in haste.
Ah Yan only realized how hungry he was after he watched his mother eat. The mother and son were busy eating one bun after another. In the end, only two were left. The mother quickly wrapped the paper bag around the two remaining buns.
"Ah Yan, we should save these buns for tomorrow."
"Oh."
"That is not necessary," Zhang Fengxi spoke up.
The woman almost scread from surprise. After she saw the stead buns, she completely forgot about the two young n who were still standing around in her humble abode.
"I... I am sorry! Please take a seat... oh..."
She and her son were sitting on dirty piles of hay. She couldn’t possibly ask these two esteed guests to sit on hay, right?
"Thank you," Xie Jianyu replied curtly. He took a seat opposite the slack-jawed woman. Zhang Fengxi sat next to him.
"I asked Ah Yan to co work for starting tomorrow," Zhang Fengxi said with a dazzling smile across his face. "In return, I will give him enough food to feed the two of you."
The woman’s face was etched with worries. She draped her arms protectively around her son.
"Ah Yan is still so young. He doesn’t know how to cook. Young Master, why don’t I go to work in his stead?"
"No, Mom!" Ah Yan shouted. "You are not feeling well! You should take care of your body first!"
Zhang Fengxi, on the other hand, thought that the mother had a point.
"Your mother is right, Ah Yan. Big Sister, why don’t you co to our restaurant every day with Ah Yan? I will give you twice the amount of food."
Ah Yan’s mouth dropped open in shock. Twice? Eating once a day was enough of a blessing. Imagine eating twice a day!
"No need!" Ah Yan’s mother rose to her feet and knelt in front of their two benefactors.
"I am grateful enough if we can eat once a day. These stead buns are so precious. I cannot possibly ask for more!"
Zhang Fengxi laughed.
"Big Sister, don’t act like this. Starting tomorrow, you and your son will work for . It is natural for to take care of both of you."
After so more kowtowing and a lot of thank yous, Ah Yan and his mother saw their guests off at the house entrance.
"It was quite a fruitful day, don’t you think?" Zhang Fengxi asked Xie Jianyu as they walked back to their impromptu restaurant.
"Tomorrow, we can start collecting information from Ah Yan and his mother. Oh, maybe we can get so other people to talk to."
"Mmm."
Xie Jianyu hated to admit it, but Zhang Fengxi was actually quite resourceful. His charm and outgoing personality gave him a lot of advantages in social settings.
It was thus easier for him to get close to strangers.
"Thank you for your help," Xie Jianyu murmured.
"What was that?" Zhang Fengxi teased his companion. "My boss is praising , I am literally floating over the clouds."
Xie Jianyu pursed his lips. After shooting Zhang Fengxi a scorching glare, he started walking faster and left Zhang Fengxi behind.
"Hahahah! Xie Jianyu, don’t leave! If you really want to thank , then you know what to do."
"...."
Zhang Fengxi took out the list of questions from inside his pocket and grinned shalessly.
"Question number four -- What kind of oga do you like? Do you prefer a gentle or a strong-willed wife?"
"...."
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