51: Chapter 51 Collapse

In a tavern in Guandong City.

A large table was laden with a sumptuous feast.

Zhang Bufan slowly enjoyed the food, occasionally taking a sip of wine.

His companion, Baldy, was still the same, like a starving ghost reincarnated, standing directly on the table; as soon as the Shop Assistant brought the food, it was swept clean in no time, his small stomach seemingly a bottomless pit.

Fire Qingrou sat opposite Zhang Bufan, gripping her chopsticks and repeatedly poking at the rice in front of her, not eating a single bite, not even interested in her favorite large pig trotters, puffing out her cheeks, clearly sulking.

Zhang Bufan finished the wine in his cup, gently set it down, looked at Fire Qingrou, and asked, “Junior Sister Huo, are you still angry?”

“Hmph!” Fire Qingrou snorted lightly and turned her head away.

Actually, the reason Fire Qingrou helped the distressed siblings was not out of great compassion, but because when she heard their story, she suddenly thought of her own parents.

Zhang Bufan not only didn't help but also seemed to disapprove of her actions, which she found very hard to understand, so her Young Miss temper flared up instantly.

“Alas, she really hasn't experienced the harsh realities of society!” Zhang Bufan sighed inwardly; he felt it was his duty to let Fire Qingrou understand the treacherous nature of the world.

Although this might be a blow to Fire Qingrou's spirit, one cannot grow without stumbling.

Zhang Bufan poured himself another cup of wine and softly asked, “Junior Sister Huo, do you think I was wrong, or perhaps too cold-blooded?”

Fire Qingrou turned her head back, not answering, but everything she was thinking was written all over her face.

“Haha, Junior Sister Huo, how about we make a bet?” Zhang Bufan chuckled and continued, “I bet those siblings are lying.”

“Alright, what's the stake?” Fire Qingrou's eyes lit up, and she eagerly asked.

Zhang Bufan pretended to think for a moment and said, “If I win, I don't want anything from you, just don't cry.”

“Then what if I win?” Fire Qingrou quickly retorted, a bit impatient, clearly very confident in herself.

“Anything you say goes.” Zhang Bufan finished the wine in his cup, a playful look in his eyes.

“Good, it's a bet. As for the stake if I win, I'll tell you once I've thought about it.”

“Alright, once we're full, we'll go find those siblings together.”

Fire Qingrou nodded, as if she had already won, picked up a large pig trotter with her chopsticks, and took a bite.

Indeed, when her mood improved, her appetite grew; Fire Qingrou quickly finished a large plate of pig trotters, and at the same time, she was still thinking about what kind of stake she should make Senior Brother fulfill when she won.

Zhang Bufan smiled and continued to eat and drink.

Half an hour later.

Zhang Bufan rode Baldy along the roads of Guandong City, with Fire Qingrou walking beside him.

“Baldy, do you still remember the little girl's scent? Now, lead us to her.” Zhang Bufan patted Baldy's neck and said.

Smell, this could be considered Baldy's special ability; whenever Baldy arrived at a place, he could smell the aroma of wine and food from afar, so asking him to find a person should not be a problem now.

“Chirp, chirp, chirp!” Baldy nodded and walked in a certain direction.

A short while later.

Baldy carried Zhang Bufan to a courtyard.

“Did that little girl redeem the courtyard so quickly?” Fire Qingrou glanced at the courtyard and whispered.

“We'll know whether it is or isn't with one look.” Zhang Bufan dismounted from Baldy's back, then directly flew onto the courtyard wall, lightly stood on it, and looked into the courtyard.

Fire Qingrou also jumped up, standing shoulder to shoulder with Zhang Bufan.

But when she saw the scene inside the house, her whole body trembled, her face filled with disbelief.

At this moment in the courtyard, the dirty little girl from the city gate not long ago was wearing a luxurious dress, playing a chasing game with the little boy.

“Brother, run a little slower, I can't catch you.” The little girl stopped, panting.

“Little sister, we earned so much money this time, Mom and Dad will definitely be very happy. What gift do you want?” The little boy also stopped, asking with a smile.

“I haven't thought of anything yet.” The little girl pinched her chin and thought for a while, then shook her head.

“That foolish woman was too easy to trick; it would be great if we could encounter someone like her every day.” The little boy's face showed a smug smile.

“Brother, someone as foolish as that older sister, you might not even meet one in several months.” The little girl said crisply.

“That's true, but we made a good haul this time, enough to squander for a long while.”

On the wall, Zhang Bufan looked at Fire Qingrou, who was trembling beside him, saying nothing.

After a long time, Fire Qingrou softly said, “Senior Brother, let's go.”

Having said that, Fire Qingrou directly jumped off the wall, her figure somewhat dejected as she walked forward.

It was a lie, she never thought it was all a lie; the little girl hadn't lost her parents, and the little boy wasn't lame, nor was he mute.

And she, Fire Qingrou, had become the foolish woman they spoke of.

“Alas!” Zhang Bufan sighed lightly, silently riding Baldy and following behind Fire Qingrou.

Zhang Bufan saw through the siblings' tricks at a glance; such schemes were commonplace in the Great Xia Kingdom of his previous life.

Actually, if Fire Qingrou had thought about it carefully, or used her Divine Sense to investigate, she would have seen through the siblings' trick.

After walking for a long time, Fire Qingrou still seemed to have lost her soul; Zhang Bufan couldn't bear to watch any longer, dismounted from Baldy's back, went to Fire Qingrou's side, and comforted her, “Junior Sister Huo, don't be sad anymore. Learn from your mistakes.”

“Wuwu, why did they do this, why did they lie to me?” Fire Qingrou's tears could no longer be controlled; she directly threw herself into Zhang Bufan's arms and burst into tears.

She was truly heartbroken; she had initially felt pity for the siblings and kindly wanted to help, but she never expected to become the 'big fool' in their eyes, and she had even lost her temper with Senior Brother because of this matter.

With a soft fragrance in his embrace, Zhang Bufan's body suddenly stiffened; he felt this wasn't quite right and wanted to break free.

But feeling Fire Qingrou's scalding tears on his chest, Zhang Bufan endured it.

“Uh, Junior Sister Huo, that's enough, my clothes are soaked.” After a good while, Zhang Bufan saw that Fire Qingrou was still crying endlessly, so he could only speak up.

“Ah…” Fire Qingrou let out a shriek, suddenly let go of Zhang Bufan, reached out and frantically wiped away the tears on her face, “Uh… Senior Brother, I…”

“It's alright, it's all over.” Zhang Bufan didn't know what to say either, reached out and rubbed Fire Qingrou's head, then turned and jumped onto Baldy's back.

She had actually hugged Senior Brother just now; he wouldn't be angry, would he?

Fire Qingrou's mood was already affected by another matter at this moment, her mind a mess.

Zhang Bufan said nothing and continued on his way.

Half a month later.

Zhang Bufan and Fire Qingrou finally arrived at the territory of Qingxuan City.