Chapter 270: Chapter 270: Saving the Little Beggar
270 Saving the Little Beggar
Niu Baishun said imperiously, "Nobody wants it? Hah, he actually said no one wants it! That fish was bought for my Liuniang’s cat. How could no one want it?"
"I’m telling you, now you’ve made it so my cat has no fish to eat, and my Liuniang is unhappy. If she’s unhappy, then I’m unhappy! So, what are you going to do about it?"
The beggar remained very polite, explaining calmly, "Sir, the cat isn’t eating the fish, so it must be full. I thought since it fell on the ground and got dirty, it would be a waste to throw it away. Giving it to someone in need would be better."
"Humph! You smelly beggar," Niu Baishun rolled up his sleeves, saying angrily, "How dare you say I’m wasteful! I spent money to please my beauty; what’s wasteful about that!"
"Let me tell you, today, even if I buy a pile of good food and the cat doesn’t eat it, you still can’t eat it! Even if I throw it away for fun, if I haven’t told you to eat it, you can’t pick it up and eat it!"
Hearing Niu Baishun’s words, Zhao Zhitong’s brows furrowed as she looked at the young lady beside him.
The young lady was about thirteen or fourteen years old, dressed in a pink gauze skirt, wearing light makeup, and her hair was styled in an exquisite married woman’s bun. Amidst the purity in her eyes, there was an added touch of feminine charm.
Even though she looked completely different, Zhao Zhitong still recognized her. She was none other than Zhao Liuniang, the daughter of Madam Liang, who was the Village Chief’s second daughter-in-law.
Indeed, her and her mother’s guess had been correct. When Lady Zhao came to the village saying she’d take girls to the county town, it wasn’t to find them husbands at all. It was to procure a concubine for her own husband.
Zhao Liuniang also saw Zhao Zhitong. Her face turned red, and she subconsciously shrank back, not wanting Zhao Zhitong to see her.
Although she hadn’t seen much of the world, she knew that being a concubine wasn’t something to be proud of.
Niu Baishun thought Zhao Liuniang was scared and immediately shielded her, saying loudly, "You little beggar, you’ve upset my beauty! Liuniang, come, you tell me, how should I punish him?"
Zhao Liuniang glanced at the little beggar and whispered, "I... I don’t know."
Niu Baishun stroked his tiny mustache. "You don’t know, huh? How about this, little beggar? Aren’t you very hungry? Today, I’ll reward you with two baskets of steamed buns. You have to eat them all for me!"
The little beggar said, "Thank you for your kindness, sir, but I can’t eat that many. Please just give me two steamed buns."
"HAHAHA!" Niu Baishun laughed loudly, as if he had heard some great joke. He looked at Xiao Guizi beside him and said, "Hey, did you hear him? He said I’m being kind, HAHAHA."
Then he continued, "Well, you’re right, I do love to be kind. Xiao Guizi, go to that stall next door and get me two baskets of steamed buns. They’re a gift for this little beggar."
Xiao Guizi acknowledged and immediately ran to the stall next door, returning shortly with two baskets of steaming hot buns.
The little beggar kept saying that two were enough.
But he didn’t know that Niu Baishun’s intention was obviously to make things difficult for him.
Niu Baishun stood arrogantly, shouting, "Eat! This is my reward to you! You’re not leaving until you finish every last bite!"
As soon as his words fell, the two servants behind Niu Baishun walked over, grabbed the little beggar, pressed him to the ground, and began forcing him to eat the steamed buns.
By then, the commotion had attracted a sizable crowd. They watched as Niu Baishun bullied the beggar and discussed the matter in heated whispers.
After being forced to eat two steamed buns, the little beggar started crying out that he couldn’t eat anymore.
Niu Baishun, cuddling his concubine, laughed until he was bent over, pointing at the little beggar and saying, "Not a chance! You must finish them all for me!"
The little beggar was pushed to his knees on the ground, clutching the steamed buns in both hands, struggling to stuff them into his mouth.
After eating five steamed buns, the little beggar clutched his stomach and began to sob and whimper, "I can’t do this anymore, sir, I really can’t eat anymore."
The little beggar’s eyes rolled back, and he looked as if he was about to vomit.
Zhao Liuniang, looking scared, softly called Niu Baishun’s name, "Sir," wanting to ask him to let the little beggar go, but the words caught in her throat, and she didn’t dare say them.
Niu Baishun patted Zhao Liuniang’s shoulder. "Liuniang, don’t be afraid, there’s more fun to come."
Then he said to the little beggar, "Hey, you’re not allowed to vomit! If you dare to vomit and disgust my little beauty, I’ll make you eat whatever you throw up right back down!"
The little beggar struggled to swallow, distressed. "Sir, please spare me. I really can’t eat anymore."
The little beggar seemed to have truly reached his limit; even a single bite was an immense struggle to swallow.
"Eat! You must finish them for me!"
Niu Baishun was unwilling to let him go and even directly ordered his men to start forcibly stuffing food into the little beggar’s mouth.
Many people in the crowd couldn’t bear to watch any longer and began to speak up.
"Aiya, Master Niu, you have to stop him from eating! If he eats any more, he’ll die!"
"Yes, Master Niu, please spare him! He can’t eat anymore. If he continues, he might really die from overeating."
Niu Baishun stood aside, watching with nonchalant amusement. Hearing the crowd’s words, he said dismissively, "Hah, die from overeating? How could someone die from overeating?"
"Can’t you all see? I’m doing a good deed here! This little beggar was about to starve to death. I’m giving him steamed buns. If he doesn’t eat them all, isn’t he looking down on me?"
"Besides, I’ve never heard of anyone dying from eating a few steamed buns."
The onlookers’ pleas had no effect. Niu Baishun showed no intention of stopping, and his two servants continued to forcibly stuff steamed buns into the little beggar’s mouth.
Seeing the little beggar’s state, Zhao Zhitong frowned and called out, "Boss Niu, stop them! You’re actually going to kill someone!"
As soon as Zhao Zhitong spoke, the little beggar stopped struggling. His head lolled to one side and drooped lifelessly.
The two attendants were startled and quickly let go. Without their support, the little beggar collapsed to the ground.
"This is bad!" the surrounding people exclaimed. "Someone’s really going to die!"
Seeing the motionless little beggar on the ground, Niu Baishun was frightened and immediately said, "This has nothing to do with me! I only gave him a few steamed buns."
Many onlookers accused him of causing the death, and some even suggested reporting it to the officials.
Others began calling for help to save the beggar.
At this moment, someone noticed Zhao Zhitong and Sun Daqing.
"Hey, isn’t that the young physician from De Ren Tang? Young Physician Zhao, quickly come and check on this beggar! He looks like he’s about to die from overeating."
"Yes, yes, Young Physician, please take a look quickly."
Many people on this street had seen Zhao Zhitong treat patients and knew she was a young physician from De Ren Tang. Thus, upon seeing her, they called out for her to examine the little beggar.
Zhao Zhitong wasted no words and walked straight over. She squatted down, first checking the little beggar’s eyelids, then his pulse.
Her expression turned grave. She immediately reached out and pressed the little beggar’s abdomen; it was indeed severely distended.
Nearby, Niu Baishun was still insisting the little beggar was faking it. "Humph, what the hell is he pretending for? Who’s ever heard of someone dying from eating a few steamed buns?"