Chapter 548: Did you steal it?

The boy narrowed his eyes at her, motionless.

Tuan Tuan fished out a small handkerchief from her bosom and handed it to Xiao Er: "Second Uncle, give it to him."

Xiao Er took it and handed it to the boy: "Wipe your face."

The boy stared at him, dazed.

Seeing he didn't move, Xiao Er shoved the handkerchief into his hand: "Our miss gave it to you, use it to wipe the blood off your face."

The boy lowered his head to look at the handkerchief in his hand, snow‑white, and compared to his filthy black hands it seemed not of this world.

He clutched the handkerchief and rubbed it haphazardly across his face.

The blood was smeary, and the more he rubbed, the messier it got.

How did wiping make it dirtier?

Tuan Tuan furrowed her little brow: "Second Uncle, let's quickly find an inn and then let him wash up, okay?"

"Okay."

Daoba pointed ahead: "Little ancestor, this place is too small; the only decent inn is that one. Let's settle in first, have something to eat, then wash him and change his clothes."

Tuan Tuan nodded: "Mm."

The group walked toward the inn, the boy head down, trailing behind like a tiny shadow.

Arriving at the inn, they handed the horses to the waiter, Xiao Er lifted Tuan Tuan down, took her small hand, and went inside.

The adobe‑walled house had peeling plaster, a few wooden tables stood crookedly, their surfaces pitted and greasy‑shiny.

Colorful blankets hung on the walls, a clay stove squatted in the corner, a black iron pot sat on it, puffing out hot steam.

Behind the counter stood a thin old man, waving a feather duster to chase away flies.

Lu Qi furrowed his brows: "This is the best? It's really a wrong done to the miss."

Xiao Er glanced at Tuan Tuan with heartache.

Tuan Tuan, however, looked around curiously: "Everything here is fun! Second Uncle, look, that big pot is really weird!"

Xiao Er: "……"

Daoba shrugged: "This place is just like that; having a shelter from wind and rain is already good."

Xiao Er said nothing, pulling Tuan Tuan closer into his embrace.

Seeing guests, the old man tossed aside the feather duster and came over, muttering a string of words.

Daoba heard a few sentences, turned to Xiao Er and said: "He says there are two upper rooms; does he want us to take them?"

Xiao Er nodded: "Yes."

The old man gestured, Daoba pulled out some silver and handed it to him.

The old man took it, slipped it into his bosom, picked up an oil lamp, and led the group through a low door into the backyard.

The two rooms were adjoining; Daoba pushed open one, peered inside, then turned to Xiao Er: "We'll just stay one night; make do."

Xiao Er lowered his gaze to Tuan Tuan: "Miss, I'm sorry you've been wronged."

Tuan Tuan blinked: "Not wronged at all, but why is this bed so low?"

The so‑called bed was merely two earthen platforms, covered with a layer of felt, atop which lay a thin quilt.

Tuan Tuan walked to the bed, reached out to touch the felt, her face full of novelty, then clambered up and bounced: "It's really hard!"

Daoba said: "This is fine; all the beds here are like this."

Tuan Tuan climbed down from the bed: "It's fun; I've never stayed in an inn like this before."

Lu Qi glanced at the boy: "Brother Xiao, you and the miss stay in this room; I and Daoba will take him to the next one."

Xiao Er understood; with those two watching the boy, if he still tried to run it would be as hard as climbing to heaven: "Okay."

Daoba and Lu Qi led the boy into the adjacent room and set down their bundles.

The boy's head hung low; as soon as he entered, he squatted straight down in the corner.

Daoba was about to speak when Tuan Tuan pushed the door open and ran in, looking around: "Huh, where is he?"

Lu Qi pointed to the wall corner.

Tuan Tuan turned her head, then saw the boy curled up in the wall corner: "What are you doing here?"

She ran to the boy, grabbed his hand, and dashed out: "Come on! Let's go eat!"

The group came to the counter, found a table, and sat down.

Daoba shouted: "Boss! Bring out the best food!"

The old man didn't even answer, turned and walked away.

After a while, several plates were brought up.

A plate of golden‑brown baked buns, a pot of fragrant milk tea, a plate of roasted lamb—huge chunks, sizzling with oil—and a dish of dried fruit.

Daoba greeted as if he owned the inn: "Come, come, come! Everyone try!"

Xiao Er used hot water from the big pot, picked up Tuan Tuan's small plate, rinsed it, then placed a few pieces of lamb on it for her.

Tuan Tuan took a bite: "Delicious!"

Xiao Er broke off another piece of bun and handed it to her.

Daoba poured Tuan Tuan a bowl of milk tea, and Lu Qi placed a few dried figs on her plate.

Tuan Tuan, eating happily, lifted her eyes to the boy sitting motionless at the table: "Eat! Aren't you hungry?"

The boy sat ramrod straight, not daring to put his hands on the table.

Tuan Tuan transferred each piece of lamb from her plate to his, even putting the bun from her hand onto his: "Hurry up and eat!"

The boy looked at her for a moment, rubbed his hands on his body, then picked up a piece of meat and put it in his mouth.

Tuan Tuan stared at him: "Is it good?"

The boy nodded slightly, and Tuan Tuan beamed: "Then eat, and make sure you fill up!"

The boy's eye sockets were a little red; he no longer hesitated and began eating big mouthfuls.

He ate very quickly, as if afraid someone would take it from him, gulping down everything on his plate like a wind sweeping away clouds.

He wiped his mouth, then stopped moving, but his eyes remained fixed on the lamb in the large bowl before him.

Tuan Tuan looked astonished: "Wow! You eat so fast!"

She glanced at the table: "Looks like not enough; let's order some more."

Daoba shouted: "Boss! Bring two more plates of lamb and one plate of buns!"

Having said that, he pushed a whole plate of lamb toward the boy: "What's the rush? No one's competing with you."

Soon, two large plates of roasted lamb and a large plate of buns were brought up again.

The boy didn't even lift his head, grabbing handfuls and continuously stuffing them into his mouth.

Lu Qi poured him a bowl of milk tea; he drank it all in just a few gulps.

Daoba stared, mouth agape: "Kid, how long has it been since you last ate?"

Xiao Er filled Tuan Tuan's plate: "Miss, eat while you watch."

"Mm-hmm." Tuan Tuan ate in small bites, eyes fixed on the boy: "He eats so deliciously!"

The boy finished off two large plates of lamb, one plate of buns, and three bowls of milk tea before stopping.

Tuan Tuan tilted her head at him: "Are you full?"

The boy said nothing, lowered his head further, and let his hands drop to under the table.

After everyone finished eating, Daoba got up to find the boss, requested hot water and a set of boys' clothes, and took them inside.

Lu Qi led the boy back to the room, pointed to the hot water: "Wash up and change into clean clothes."

The boy hesitated, then went in; Lu Qi closed the door, stood at the entrance waiting, and did not leave.

After a short while, the door opened.

The boy's facial grime had been washed away; his skin was surprisingly white, not like that of a street‑wandering child.

Lu Qi blinked, then said: "Come with me," and led him into the adjoining room.

Tuan Tuan looked up and saw the boy's skin was snow‑white, his brows and eyes delicate, his nose bridge straight, his lashes long and thick, his eye sockets deep, and his pupils a pale blue.

She stared, stunned: "Wow! I didn't know you were this handsome!"

The boy's face flushed red, his hands clenched his sleeves, and the tips of his ears turned bright red.

Daoba gaped, and Xiao Er froze for a moment.

Lu Qi coughed and then said directly: "Was that pass clearance document from the caravan stolen by you?"