Chapter 300: Beggar Old 3
Old Liu, his face covered in pockmarks, coughed into his hand. "Earn some virtue with your words, will you? No matter what, Lady Sun is a pitiful person. Old Sun has been dead for several years now. She’s rather decent these days, why must you incessantly dredge up her past..."
"Pah! What do you mean, ’incessantly dredge up her past’? That young woman is naturally promiscuous. Since Old Sun died, how many men do you think she’s had? Everyone knows. The line of men at her back door each night is probably not shorter than the one at Auspicious Fabric Store."
Upon hearing this, the women one by one frowned in disdain, while the men’s smiles carried a hint of lewdness. Among them were many who had been guests in Lady Sun’s chamber. Remembering how seductive she could be, they couldn’t help but get excited again.
Just then, from a corner of the crowd, a destitute beggar in rags suddenly dashed to the front of Liu Ji Baozi Shop.
While everyone was distracted, he reached out his filthy hand, grabbed two large meat buns, and bolted.
His movements were exceedingly quick.
The owner of the baozi shop, Old Liu, grabbed a rolling pin and charged out: "Stop right there! Where did this stinking beggar come from, gutsy enough to steal from your master Liu... Stand still for me!"
He hurled insults as he gave chase.
Those who had been doing business in this area for years, had seen many such incidents.
Jing County flourished in river trade, with all kinds of mountain goods passing through here. All sorts of people converged in this place, including plenty of gambling dens. Countless merchants arrived flush with cash, only to be stripped of every last penny in these dens and left on the streets.
For those truly driven to desperation by hunger without a penny to their name, what choice did they have but to steal or rob?