The Resolute Cannon Fodder Teaching In Ancient Time

Chapter 3: Three Treasures ✨

Xu Zhen left with her payment, but having offended the minister's granddaughter, she decided to stay home for a few days, avoiding going out. The next day, she checked her merit points and found five more points added, totaling seven points now.

Xu Zhen felt puzzled. She had received her wages the day before, which didn’t count as a good deed. Even if she had inadvertently done something good, it shouldn't account for so many merit points. Could Qinglong Mountain have good feng shui?

Unable to figure it out, she closed the interface and went to play with the little beggar.

Over the past few days, the little beggar had begun to speak. Her voice was still hoarse, but she could finally express herself. However, she remained introverted and rarely spoke, often replying only after Xu Zhen had asked several questions.

As Xu Zhen approached, she found the little beggar chopping wood. Xu Zhen circled around her a few times. Seeing the beggar ignoring her, Xu Zhen brought out a small bamboo chair, placed it beside the beggar, and sat down. She bent over, resting her torso on her legs to maintain eye level with the beggar.

After watching the wood chopping for a while, she asked, "Where did you get the firewood?"

The little beggar paused her movements, looked up at Xu Zhen, and hoarsely replied, "By the bamboo forest, picked it up."

Xu Zhen leaned closer, "Why are you gathering firewood?"

The beggar resumed chopping and said, "To repay."

"Repay for the ten taels I spent saving you?" Xu Zhen asked.

The beggar nodded, "Yes."

Xu Zhen explained, "I willingly spent that money. It saved not just your life but mine too. You don't need to repay it."

The beggar didn’t respond.

Xu Zhen continued, "Besides, the firewood sells for only three copper per bundle. How long will it take you to repay ten taels?"

The little beggar continued chopping with a small sword with a dark red hilt, its blade glinting green as if rusted. Xu Zhen asked, "Is that your sword?"

The beggar replied, "Her name is Hong Yue."

Xu Zhen found the name pleasant and asked, "Which 'Hong'? Which 'Yue'?"

The beggar shook her head.

"Can't read, can you?" Xu Zhen guessed.

The beggar paused her fair-skinned wrist momentarily before answering, "No."

Xu Zhen chuckled, "I'll teach you someday."

After saying this, Xu Zhen thought about the current emperor's emphasis on literature over martial arts, promoting private education so that almost everyone was literate. Even three-year-olds on the street could recite lines like "A gentleman is not worried or afraid."

Yet the little beggar was illiterate, suggesting she might have been a wanderer from a young age. Feeling a bit hungry, Xu Zhen went to the kitchen, grabbed a white bun, tore it in half, and held it to the beggar's mouth, "Open wide."