Chapter 289: Little Beggar
After Nali Duo and Sasuke, those two simpletons, agreed to my words, they turned their heads and went back, they were really in a hurry.
I had mostly finished eating, and I took a Dragon Pearl from the Old Dragon King, and I gave him a gourd of peanuts in return. I couldn’t just take it for free. What I gave him before was for him, but if I took something from him, I at least had to give something back, Big Brother.
“Brother Long, when you reforge the Dragon Pearl, remember not to rush. After you’ve refined a little, eat some peanuts to steady yourself, and only continue when it’s completely stable and free of impurities. I’ve left you enough here to last a long time. If you run out, come find me at my tavern, and I’ll get you more.”
The Old Dragon King was overjoyed and shook my hand repeatedly, saying, “Oh dear, my dear brother, thank you so much.”
“Damn, it’s all small stuff. With our relationship, don’t take it too seriously.”
Although I said that, if he treated me politely, I would also treat him politely. If he dared to be impolite to me, I would even move the entire Dragon Palace away for him, cough cough cough.
Turning my head, I looked again at Third Son, who had been standing by the side, at a loss.
Nali Duo and Sasuke agreed to follow me after thirty years of trials, and I taught the Old Dragon King how to reforge the Dragon Pearl and gave him peanuts.
Didn’t this Third Son get any benefits at all?
At this moment, Third Son wanted to say something to me, but he was a little embarrassed, opened his mouth, and then closed it.
I gave him an exasperated look and lectured, “Are you stupid? You’re already following me, aren’t you? Besides, you can eat the peanuts I gave your father.”
After I said that, Third Son’s dragon face turned red with embarrassment.
I smiled helplessly and continued, “Besides, don’t you come to my tavern to drink with me when you have nothing else to do? Speaking of which, if you follow me, will you ever lack peanuts to eat? Also, if I casually tell you anything, won’t it be easy to shed your mortal shell as a three-trick pony dragon? Do I have to teach you even this?”
Third Son’s eyes lit up. After hearing my lecture, he wasn’t angry at all, but instead rejoiced, “Hahaha, I understand, Big Brother, I understand.”
I was stunned by what he said, what the hell did he understand?
Who knew that in the next second, this kid directly said to the Old Dragon King, “Holy crap, Father, do we have any other good stuff? Hurry up and pack it all for me. When my Big Brother leaves later, I’ll go stay with my Big Brother for a while. Don’t be stingy, okay? My Big Brother is your brother. Hurry up, don’t save any of the good stuff, pack it all for me.”
The Old Dragon King…
I…
…
Back at the tavern, Third Son directly replaced the former work of Little Tiger and the waiter, and he busied himself with great enthusiasm every day. Every night, he very considerately prepared foot washing water for me. I’ve told him many times that Laozi isn’t that fussy and doesn’t need to do this.
But this kid, I don’t know what possessed him, he insisted on soaking and washing my feet, and even specifically learned those foot massage techniques from the mortal world, saying it would be good for my body and very comfortable.
Although it didn’t have much effect on me, it made him feel at ease. Otherwise, he was really afraid that one day I might lose my attachment to this world and impulsively travel the Great World. If I left, I might not come back for a long time. What if I didn’t come back? Those who followed me would have to wait until they could ascend before they could find me again.
Alright, alright, I guess that’s true. If I ever find this mortal world uninteresting, I might go travel the Great World. That’s right. Who knows when I’ll come back.
The days passed as usual. I leisurely ate peanuts and drank small cups of wine every day, occasionally sitting at the tavern door to bask in the sun. I liked the feeling of basking in the sun, especially closing my eyes and lazily bathing in the warmth of the sunlight.
But I am not greedy, nor do I sunbathe too much. After half an hour or an hour, it’s done.
One day, a little beggar came begging at the tavern door. This little beggar was a young girl, her appearance was dirty, and her little face was as if she had just crawled out of a coal pile.
“Sir, sir, please be merciful and pity me. I haven’t eaten for three days.”
The little girl had a very endearing appearance. Her pair of large, watery eyes were like two sparkling, crystal-clear gemstones, inlaid on her small face. She slightly lowered her eyelashes, and her eyes held a hint of confusion and helplessness, evoking a sense of pity in anyone who saw her.
If an ordinary person saw this, they would surely be unable to resist wanting to protect and cherish her.
I just looked at her expressionlessly and then shouted into the tavern, “Hey, you there, Third Son, get some food out here for this girl.”
Hearing me say that, a hint of joy clearly appeared on the little girl’s face.
She tugged at my sleeve and pleaded, “Sir, sir, I can see you are a person of great compassion with a Bodhisattva’s heart. Could you, could you also bestow some money upon me? At home, there is a sick younger brother, and I need some money to buy medicine for him when I go back.”
“Hahaha, yes.”
I was like a Buddha before her, granting all her wishes.
I then shouted to Third Son again, “Get some more money for this girl.”
Seeing how easygoing I was, giving her whatever she asked for.
The little girl blinked her bright, watery eyes, her pupils spinning for a few turns, then suddenly knelt down with a “plop.”
With a face full of earnest pleading, she begged again, “Sir, please be merciful and take me and my brother in to work at your tavern! We really need this job. Don’t look at our young age, we will absolutely not be lazy when we work. Moreover, we eat very little, and we don’t need you to pay us wages, as long as we have enough to eat to fill our stomachs. Please, kind sir…”
As she spoke, the little girl’s voice became choked with tears, her eyes gradually turned red, and tears welled up, making her look extremely pitiful.
I frowned slightly, but it passed in an instant. I calmly said, “Then go back and bring your brother. Starting tomorrow, you will help me here. I allow you to eat and live in the tavern, but the wages will certainly not be much. Are you willing?”
Hearing that I had once again satisfied her request, the little girl was overjoyed and vigorously wiped away the crystal-clear tears hanging from the corners of her eyes.
Immediately after, she kowtowed to me three times heavily, “Thank you, sir, I… I…”
“Alright, go now, bring your brother. If you don’t work hard, I will dismiss you too,” I said with a smile, as if joking.
After thanking me, the little girl turned and ran away.
It was only then that Third Son walked out of the tavern with the food and money. Seeing that there was no one at the door except me, Third Son asked puzzledly, “Boss, did you just call me?”
I answered his question with a non-sequitur, “Prepare two rooms. Two children will be here shortly.”
After spending this period of time with me, Third Son had become much more intelligent than before. When he heard my instructions, he didn’t curiously ask for reasons like he used to, but nodded very understandingly.
Then, without a word, he turned and went to do as I said.
