12dz Chapter 70 Human Trafficker or Kidnapper?
Chapter 70 Human Trafficker or Kidnapper?
Shen Xiaotang smiled coldly to herself and pretended to be surprised, "Huh? You clearly said two for one coin, how come it's one coin each now? Could it be that your sugar cakes are actually that expensive?"
No wonder hardly anyone bought any in half a day. They're so small, and they cost only one coin each. Who can afford them?
Everyone thought it made perfect sense.
On ordinary days, people would only buy two sugar cakes for one penny each, and they wouldn't even buy them twice a month. If they were really one penny each, who would buy them?
Wouldn't it be better to use the coin to buy an egg?
The pedestrians who had stopped to watch the commotion immediately started discussing it.
"Good heavens! These sugar cakes are so small and thin, I can't even bear to eat two for a penny, and now the price has gone up! I can't afford them, I can't afford them!!"
"Of course! I was thinking of buying two for my child's birthday in a couple of days, but now that the price has gone up, what's the point of buying them?"
Someone in the crowd said, "No, no, it's clearly two for one coin. I bought two for one coin yesterday. They can't raise the price, can they?"
Some people began to question, "Could it be that she saw the little beggar stealing her candy and was angry, so she deliberately raised the price?"
"It's not impossible. The little beggar did make a mistake by stealing her candy, but someone else helped him pay for it. She can't cheat him out of his money!"
"Someone kindly compensated the little beggar, but she took the opportunity to raise prices and rip him off. She's simply obsessed with making money. What good things can someone of her character produce?"
"Exactly! Her sugar cakes were just so-so to begin with, and her character is terrible too. We won't buy from her again!"
"Yes, I won't buy it..."
"..."
People started gossiping about the woman selling sugar cakes, saying she was a bad person and they wouldn't buy her sugar cakes anymore.
Upon hearing this, the woman panicked instantly.
The family's income depends entirely on her business. What will happen if no one buys from her in the future and she can't continue making money?
No, this sugar cake business absolutely cannot fail!
So she immediately dropped her fierce and shrewish demeanor and hastily forced a smile.
"I misspoke, I misspoke in a moment of anger. My sugar cakes are sold for two for one coin, and they've always been one coin for two. How could I raise the price? Don't worry, everyone, the price will definitely not be raised, hehe..."
Her cheeks were almost stiff from laughing, but everyone still looked at her with complicated expressions, their eyes full of disbelief and a hint of disdain.
Because, as many people have heard, she first told Shen Xiaotang that two would cost one coin, and then changed it to one coin each.
She could only force a smile at Shen Xiaotang, who was leading the mule, while secretly cursing in her heart, "It's all because of this wretched girl that I've lost face in front of everyone and made it impossible for me to continue my business."
“Girl, I was so angry that I misspoke about the price. It’s my fault, please don’t take it to heart. I’m just running a small business, I can’t earn more than a few copper coins a day. My family is so poor that we can barely make ends meet. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been so angry that I talked nonsense when he stole my sugar cakes.”
Having taught her a lesson, Shen Xiaotang didn't want to waste any more words or arguments with the woman selling sugar cakes.
“Since you misquoted the price, your sugar cakes are still two for one coin. Here’s one coin. Wrap me another sugar cake, and we’ll call it quits for him stealing your sugar cakes.”
Shen Xiaotang reached out and handed over a copper coin.
The woman quickly reached out and took it, smiling to reveal a set of gleaming yellow teeth. "Of course, of course, I'll wrap one for you right away."
When everyone saw that the little girl leading the mule had actually paid the money for the little beggar, they all gave her an approving look.
Naturally, many people also think that Shen Qingchuan and his daughter Shen Xiaotang are foolish and rich, actually paying for a little beggar who stole things, which is simply stupid.
The crowd dispersed, but pedestrians continued to come and go on the road.
Shen Qingchuan helped the little beggar up, patted the dirt off his body, and couldn't help but give him some advice.
"Don't steal again. We're all poor people, and this is the only time we can help you. Besides, there are so many people like you in this town, we can't help them all."
The little beggar was terrified. Only after hearing Shen Qingchuan's instructions did he dare to look up, his mouth bulging with food, the sugar cake still inside.
Shen Xiaotang took the sugar cakes wrapped by the woman, put them in her clothes, and then walked towards the little beggar.
She looked him up and down.
Good guy!
This little beggar was actually dressed in brocade. Although his clothes were wrinkled, he was dirty all over, and his hair was messy like a chicken coop, he was fair-skinned and tender, which was obviously different from the dark and thin children in the countryside.
Could this be the young master of some wealthy family who has fallen into poverty and ended up among commoners?
When the woman grabbed and beat him, the little beggar was afraid that she would take the candy back, so he stuffed it all into his mouth. Now he couldn't chew it, he couldn't swallow it, and he couldn't bear to spit it out.
"Cough cough cough..."
He coughed violently, choking so badly his eyes rolled back, and when he finally caught his breath, he burst into tears.
"Dad, he's choking. Quickly pull him to our mule cart and give him some water from the bamboo tube."
"Oh... okay, I'll get him some water right away."
Shen Qingchuan quickly took the little beggar's hand and walked towards their mule cart. He took out a bamboo tube from the cart, opened the lid, and handed it to the little beggar.
The little beggar snatched it away and started gulping it down.
Shen Xiaotang retied the mule to the tree. Just then, someone came to buy roasted sweet potatoes, and she immediately smiled and wrapped one up for them, receiving a copper coin in return.
By the time she finished her work, the little beggar had drunk water and stopped crying. He stood silently beside their mule cart.
She asked, "Hey, why are you homeless?"
The little beggar remained silent!
"Do you have any family?"
Keep quiet!
Do you still remember where you live?
Still silent!
No matter how she asked, the little beggar did not answer.
If his crying hadn't sounded normal, she would have almost thought the little beggar was mute.
Even if his clothes were stolen, he had fair skin and didn't look like a child from a poor rural family.
"Father, why don't we send him to the authorities?"
He hadn't seen clearly from a distance, so he ran over to protect him. Now, Shen Qingchuan noticed that the little beggar, who was covered in dirt, was dressed differently than he thought.
“Alright, judging from his clothes, he doesn’t look like he came from a beggar’s den. Those kids are all shrewd. This one looks a bit simple-minded. Maybe he’s a rich family’s child who’s gone missing. Let’s take him to the authorities quickly, so he can suffer less.”
Upon hearing this, the little beggar immediately grabbed Shen Qingchuan's sleeve and shook his head vigorously.
"No, I won't go!"
Shen Xiaotang immediately said, "Oh, so you can't talk? I've been asking you questions for ages, why didn't you say a word?"
The little beggar's eyes were filled with panic, wariness, and fear.
“I went there, but they kicked me out. Someone grabbed me. I…I was scared.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Xiaotang's eyes widened in shock!
Someone arrested him?
Human traffickers or kidnappers?