The little beggar had been adrift for some time. Wherever she went, people looked down on her, drove her away, and she suffered all manner of bullying from hooligans, ruffians, and gang members.
As for the constables, every one of them looked ferocious and full of Baleful Intent. Whenever she saw them, she kept far away.
Yet she had only encountered this constable brother twice, and each time he had given her copper coins. He had even stepped in to save her just now. In her heart, she had always believed that this constable brother was a good man, her benefactor. That was why she had dared to follow him here—she wanted to repay his kindness and pray for him in her heart.
But this constable brother's reaction was so intense that he seemed to have misunderstood her, thinking she had followed him because she wanted to cling to him.
The little beggar hurriedly explained, somewhat flustered:
"Be... Benefactor, Xi'er doesn't mean to cling to you. Xi'er only wants to know Benefactor's name. Then, for every day Xi'er lives, Xi'er will pray to Lord Mountain God for Benefactor for a day."
Chen Cheng suddenly broke into a smile, his expression gentle. "I clearly only gave you four copper coins. Why did you say it was nine?"
"Ah?" Suspicion immediately appeared in the little beggar's eyes. She was young and had little guile. Having just suffered quite a fright, she was flustered and confused. Moreover, she believed deep down that this constable brother was her benefactor and could not be deceived, so she answered truthfully at once:
"Benefactor gave Xi'er five copper coins yesterday. Although Benefactor knocked Xi'er on the head, Xi'er knew that Benefactor might have mistaken Xi'er for someone else, which was why you left behind five copper coins."