Master Lan Qing

Watching Teacher Lan Qing disappear inside, Ye Han said urgently, "I'm here to find someone."

"Everyone comes here to find someone. What else, to reunite with their family?" the burly man snapped. "Get lost!"

With that, he grabbed Ye Han by his clothes and dragged him outside.

As he walked, the burly man cursed, "You haven't even grown all your hair yet, and you're already visiting brothels!"

The scantily clad women all burst into giggles.

"Looks like our little brother's still a virgin. Why not come inside and play with me? I'll even give you a red envelope."

"Oh my, has he come looking for a wet nurse?"

"He's not bad-looking, just a little too green."

Hearing their remarks, Ye Han realized something was wrong. Burning with shame and anger, he said evenly, "You don't need to throw me out. I'll leave on my own!"

Ye Han broke free of the burly man and bolted.

Behind him, the women and the burly man were all laughing at him...

The passersby joined in the laughter. Ye Han ran like a streak of smoke, only stopping at a street corner to peek back once he was out of sight.

Only then did he realize something wasn't right.

Everyone entering the Happy Red Courtyard was an adult man dressed in fine clothes.

Whenever someone arrived, the scantily clad women fluttered over like orioles and swallows, calling, "Welcome, sir!" and "Give me a hug, sir!"...

This reminded Ye Han of Widow Zhang from Green Ox Village. He had once stumbled upon her and the village chief's son in a hollow in the hills, their bottoms bare as they did something he couldn't understand.

To think Teacher Lan Qing would come to a place like this.

Ye Han finally understood. This must be what the village men whispered about in private-a place where men went to have fun...

He simply hadn't expected Teacher Lan Qing to visit such a place too.

He was squatting on the ground, watching what was happening over there.

Suddenly.

Clink...

A passerby walked past and tossed him a copper coin.

"Here, little beggar. Buy yourself something to eat."

With that, the passerby walked away.

He... he thinks I'm a beggar?

Ye Han stared blankly at the copper coin in front of him and picked it up, but the passerby was already far away...

Still, there were hardly any intact patches left on his clothes. Thin and sallow-faced, he really didn't look much different from a beggar.

Just then, a filthy hand reached toward him. "Hand it over!"

Ye Han reacted quickly, stepping back twice and frowning at the person before him.

The man was filthy, his face caked with grime and his body reeking. He was an adult beggar, and his eyes were fixed on the copper coin in Ye Han's hand.

Ye Han had already noticed that one copper coin could buy a white steamed bun.

"Want it? Answer a question first!" Ye Han said, frowning at him.

"Pah! You little brat, you're asking for death!" The beggar spat and lunged at Ye Han.

Something was wrong with his leg. He stumbled as he moved and couldn't catch Ye Han.

"Try to rob me, and I'll throw it into the street," Ye Han said, raising the copper coin.

Unable to catch Ye Han, the beggar could only say, "Ask!"

"If I have silver, where can I exchange it for copper coins?" Ye Han asked.

"Looking like that, you have silver?" the beggar said scornfully.

Ye Han made as though to throw the coin away. "Are you going to tell me or not?!"

The beggar immediately said, "I'll tell you! Just go to a money house. There's a Gathering Fortune Money House not far up ahead!"

"Here!" Ye Han casually tossed him the coin and headed onward.

The beggar picked up the coin and set off excitedly. After a few steps, he suddenly stopped and turned to stare at Ye Han's retreating back. A vicious glint flashed in his eyes, and he hurried into a narrow alley...

Ye Han hadn't noticed the look in the beggar's eyes. Feeling the silver ingot in his pocket, he walked on. Sure enough, he spotted a shop called the Gathering Fortune Money House ahead, with plenty of people coming and going.

This time, he was more cautious. After watching for a while, he noticed that most people brought only a small piece of silver weighing a few mace to exchange for copper coins...

Never let your wealth show. If someone finds out a kid like me has so much silver, I'll be in trouble once they set their sights on me.

An idea came to Ye Han. He slipped into a small alley, checked that no one was around, then took out the silver ingot and the copper token. He struck the silver with the token.

Crack...

He knocked off a piece weighing a few mace with a single blow. Delight filled him. This copper token seemed much harder than he had imagined.

Ye Han entered the Gathering Fortune Money House with the small piece of silver. Although the clerk was surprised that a little fellow like him had silver to exchange for copper coins, he weighed it and made the exchange anyway.

By the time Ye Han came out, he had received over a hundred copper coins. The fee had been over a dozen coins, which made his heart ache.

He was so hungry his belly felt stuck to his backbone, so he went and bought five large steamed buns.

Ye Han had never eaten such delicious steamed buns. He wolfed them down in just a few mouthfuls.

I have to become a city dweller and eat these delicious white steamed buns.

Ye Han's resolve grew even firmer. Still, he had no idea what to do next, so he decided to wait outside the Happy Red Courtyard for Teacher Lan Qing to come out and ask him for advice.

Night soon fell. Many shops had already closed, but the Happy Red Courtyard grew even livelier. More dignitaries and nobles arrived and departed in sedan chairs, making it a bustling scene.

Ye Han had waited at the street corner opposite for nearly two hours, yet Teacher Lan Qing still hadn't emerged. He couldn't help growing anxious.

What's going on? Why hasn't Teacher Lan Qing come out yet?

Just then.

Tap, tap, tap...

Ye Han suddenly heard footsteps behind him. He turned to look, and his expression changed drastically.

Three beggars were closing in around him, their eyes vicious and greedy as they stared at him. One was the lame beggar who had demanded his copper coin.

"That's him! He's got a big piece of silver! Grab him!" the lame beggar shouted, pointing at Ye Han.

Although Ye Han had been very careful, the man had followed him and discovered that he had silver.

The other two beggars immediately charged at Ye Han.

Ye Han's expression changed. How could a half-grown boy like him possibly fight three adults? He turned and ran.

But.

Thud...

He crashed into a wall of flesh and bounced back, landing on his backside.

A powerfully built beggar stood there, his eyes gleaming viciously. With a sinister smile, he said, "Not a bad little brat. Good material. Break your legs, and you'll look quite pitiful."

With that, he reached out to grab him.

At those words, Ye Han's expression changed drastically. He snatched up a handful of dirt and sand and flung it at the man, preparing to flee.

Hmph!

The burly beggar snorted coldly and swept his palm out, scattering the dirt and sand. Then he reached forward and caught Ye Han by the arm.

Crack.

Ye Han felt as though an iron clamp had seized him. The burly man gave him a shake, and he felt his arm dislocate. The pain instantly brought out a cold sweat.

He immediately begged, "Wait! Don't you want money? I'll give you all of it!"

The burly beggar said coldly, "I want the money, and I want you too. Break his legs!" With that, he hurled Ye Han toward the three beggars.

"Right!" the lame beggar answered at once, picking up a large brick from the ground.

Being lame himself, he hated people with sound legs most of all.

He told the other two beggars, "Hold his legs down!"

The two beggars rushed over with sinister grins, grabbing at Ye Han and pinning him down...