Chapter 297: Discussing the Heart, Not the Traces

Ah! My hairpin! Tuan Tuan was unhappy; that was given to me by Xiao Yueyue, it's something from his mother!

Lu Qi handed the sachet and hairpin to Tuan Tuan, snorted: "Your hands are fast, I didn't even see how you got them."

Xiao Ningxun gave the hairpin to his sister and reinserted it into her hair.

Xiao Er looked at them: "You two are young, but you have quite some experience in the jianghu. One set up a scam in front, the other waited in the back to pick up the scraps!"

The surrounding crowd erupted in an uproar.

Wow! So these two are in cahoots!

At such a young age, how can you be so badly behaved!

Those who cheat and steal should all be handed over to the authorities!

Right! Exactly!

The teenager's face turned as white as paper; the boy, face full of terror, burst out crying with a "wah".

He sobbed, pleading: "Don't, don't send me and my brother to the officials, please."

Tuan Tuan looked at them: "Why are you stealing things?"

The teenager snorted, turned his head and didn't answer.

The boy was more honest: "My father is sick, we have no money for medicine. That's why I and my brother..."

Tuan Tuan instantly felt pity, lowered her head, opened the sachet, poured out all the copper coins and a few bits of silver, and with her small hands offered them to the boy.

Here, take it all, go buy medicine for your father.

The boy stared blankly, dazed, at Tuan Tuan.

The teenager also stared blankly, opened his mouth but couldn't utter a word.

The surrounding people, however, did not think so:

You actually believed the little girl?

All swindlers are like that; when caught they claim their parents are ill.

Can't give them money! Not a word of truth comes out of their mouths!

Lu Qi noticed Tuan Tuan's hairpin was slightly askew, raised his hand to tidy it, but the act frightened the boy he was gripping, causing him to flinch back:

What do you want? Want to beat us to vent your anger?

Go ahead! If you're going to hit, hit me, don't touch my brother! Otherwise, as long as I'm alive, someday...

The boy's tears fell even harder: "Please, please don't hit my brother!"

Xiao Ningxun looked at the two brothers: "Where is your father?"

The teenager's face showed vigilance, he remained silent.

Tuan Tuan, however, understood: "Third Brother, are you trying to find a doctor to see their father?"

Xiao Ningxun nodded, staring at the two half-grown youths: "What, you don't want to save your father anymore?"

The teenager wore a suspicious expression, didn't speak, but the boy exclaimed with delight: "Yes! Of course! I'll take you there!"

The group found a clinic, invited a doctor, and following the brothers' winding path, arrived at a secluded bridge hollow.

All that could be seen was a middle-aged man with graying hair, lying in a dirty pile of bedding, coughing nonstop.

Seeing his two sons accompanied by several finely dressed strangers, he struggled to sit up.

Both brothers rushed over: "Father!"

Xiao Ningxun ordered the doctor to quickly take the pulse.

After examining him, the doctor said: "This is a depletion disorder, caused by accumulated strain; you must not exert yourself further, and need proper rest and recuperation."

Xiao Ningxun looked around: "This place can't accommodate recovery; let's go back to the inn with us."

At this moment the teenager truly believed Xiao Ningxun, he fell to his knees with a thud, kowtowing once: "Zhou Ping bows in gratitude, benefactor!"

The boy also hurriedly knelt and kowtowed: "Zhou An too!"

Tuan Tuan ran over to pull them up: "Get up! Get up!"

The brothers helped their father up, and together with the others returned to Zui Jiangyue.

Xiao Er opened an upper room for the three of them and ordered food.

He had the doctor leave a prescription, and ordered the attendant to decoct it and send it to their room.

Zhou Ping and Zhou An took a hot bath, changed into clean clothes, after attending to their father taking his medicine and falling asleep, they went to Xiao Ningxun's guest room.

Zhou Ping pulled his brother down to kneel together: "Thank you, several benefactors! I, I would like to ask you for one more thing."

Tuan Tuan helplessly ran over to pull them: "Why do you keep kneeling? Hurry up and get up! Have a seat!"

Zhou Ping shook his head, refusing to rise.

Xiao Ran asked: "What is it?"

We want to follow you! Zhou Ping lifted his head, his gaze blazing: "Even if it's just as a tea-serving errand boy or a messenger running errands, that would be fine!"

We can endure any hardship! We only ask the benefactor to take us in! Let us repay this kindness!

Seeing that no one spoke, he gritted his teeth: "If it's difficult, just keep my brother! He's young and obedient. I, I can survive anywhere!"

Zhou An pouted and tugged his brother's hand: "Brother, I don't want to go; I want to stay with you."

Xiao Ran, somewhat puzzled: "Since you can endure hardship, why do you cheat and steal?"

Zhou Ping twisted the corner of his mouth: "We went to the dock to carry sacks, but they said we were too young and weak. We also tried teahouses and other places, but they said we had no guarantor and refused us."

Our mother died early; our father painstakingly raised us. Now he's ill, we need to buy medicine for his treatment, we have no other way, so we can only resort to stealing and cheating.

Tuan Tuan's eyes reddened hearing this; she tugged Xiao Ningxun's sleeve: "Third Brother, they're good people, please agree to take them in."

Xiao Ningxun patted her small hand, looking at the two brothers: "I don't lack helpers around me. I accept your heart."

No need to repay the favor. Once your father improves a bit, I'll give you some silver to find a legitimate livelihood and live decently.

Upon hearing the refusal, Zhou Ping's gaze dimmed: "Benefactor! You saved my father, your kindness is as weighty as a mountain; we don't wish to part like this, taking your money to live our own peaceful lives."

"Please accept us! No matter what you ask us to do, we are willing."

"The two of us brothers wander the streets; though our trades are unsavory, we can still be of some use to the benefactor."

In his haste he blurted out, "As long as the benefactor gives the word, even if we have to climb a mountain of knives or wade through fire, we won't falter!"

Tuan Tuan heard the fresh phrase and said, "My Third Brother would never send you to any mountain of knives or oil pot!" She looked up at Xiao Ningxun and said, "Third Brother, just keep them."

Xiao Ningxun smiled, pulling her into his arms, and after a moment's contemplation said, "You two brothers, when faced with danger, neither fled alone; though you went astray, your filial devotion is commendable and understandable."

"Very well, then keep them."

Zhou Ping rejoiced, quickly pulling his younger brother to bow together, "We thank the benefactor!"

The two brothers left, overjoyed.

Xiao Ran frowned, "Why take them in? One's a swindler, the other's a thief."

Xiao Ningxun shook his head, "We judge by heart, not deeds. These brothers are of good nature and both have potential."

Tuan Tuan nodded vigorously, "Third Brother is right! They're not bad people!"

Xiao Ran shrugged, "Hope so."

Early the next morning, everyone had breakfast together in the main hall.

Zhou Ping and Zhou An arrived early; Tuan Tuan called them to sit and eat together, but they refused.

The two wore clean blue cloth garments, their hair neatly combed, and stood with hands at their sides by the table.

Seeing Xiao Ran's tea cup empty, Zhou Ping immediately stepped forward to pour tea; Lu Qi reached for a distant dish of pickled vegetables, and Zhou An silently moved the dish to his side.

Tuan Tuan finished her porridge, and seeing the brothers still standing, her little brows furrowed at once.

"Why are you still standing?" she slid off the stool, ran over with a clatter, grabbing each of their sleeves, "Come sit! Eat together!"

Zhou Ping hurriedly waved his hands, "N‑no need, miss, you use it, we'll just attend to you."

"I don't want you to attend!" Tuan Tuan stamped her foot, pulling them hard, "Sit! You're family now! Family eats together!"

Xiao Ningxun nodded, "Tuan Tuan is right, sit down and eat."

Zhou Ping's eyes grew slightly moist; not daring to refuse further, he carefully pulled his brother to sit, managing only half a seat.

At first the brothers only dared to pick up the food before them, but seeing Tuan Tuan continuously pile various tasty snacks into their plates like little hills, they gradually relaxed.

Xiao Ningxun said, "Today we're going to the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion; why not pretend we're buying spices? Let's see if we can get a chance to see their account books."

Xiao Ran nodded, "That method works."

Xiao Erdao said, "We're worried we're not regular customers, so we might not get to see them. If we startle them and raise suspicion, it'll become harder."

Lu Qi nodded, "Let's try our best."

The speaker was careless, the listener intentional; Zhou Ping and Zhou An exchanged a glance.

The brothers discussed for half the night how to repay the benefactor and let him know they are useful.

They owned no valuables, only skills that couldn't be displayed publicly; worried about how to repay, upon hearing this both eyes instantly brightened.

Isn't this exactly their strongest skill?

Zhou Ping carefully spoke, "Benefactor, if you wish to see the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion's account books, we brothers can… steal them out for you."

"After you finish reading, we'll return them unchanged, ensuring they go unnoticed by gods or ghosts."