Mo Yan thought it was just a minor episode, but no sooner had she walked a short distance than a little shadow began to follow her. She stood still, looking helplessly at the child not far away, waving him over.
The child trotted over with a bounce in his step, his bright, shining eyes looking utterly innocent.
Given the hefty kick he had delivered, causing the middle-aged man such pain, Mo Yan couldn’t believe he was as harmless as he appeared, "Tell , what do you want by following ?"
Upon hearing this, the child suddenly beca coy, "I, I ca to thank you!"
Mo Yan gazed at him with amusent, "No need for thanks, just don’t steal anything in the future. Otherwise, if you get caught next ti and soone less kind breaks your limbs, it won’t be good for you."
Although it was ant as a warning, the child burst into tears, sobbing, "Wuwu, I don’t want to be a thief, but no one will hire a child, and I have a sister to support. If I don’t steal, my sister will starve to death."
Mo Yan felt a lump in her throat upon hearing this, and upon seeing the child sobbing uncontrollably, she quickly pulled him into her embrace to comfort him, "Alright, alright, stop crying. If your sister knew her brother was crying in the street, she would surely tease you."
While speaking, she pulled out a handkerchief from her sleeve to wipe away his tears, not minding the dirt on his face.
This seed to work as the child imdiately stopped crying, though his hiccuping made him look even more pitiable.
Mo Yan took him to a small restaurant, ordered so dishes, and they chatted over the al. That’s when she found out that half a year ago, the child and his sister were kicked out by their stepmother. In order to support himself and his sister, he had resorted to stealing.
"Big sister, I know stealing is wrong. I only steal food, not Silver. You must believe ."
The child looked pleadingly at Mo Yan, as if trying to prove himself.
Mo Yan sighed softly and gently said, "Big sister believes you."
Although the child resorted to thievery everywhere, it was out of desperation for survival, and fortunately, he hadn’t lost his conscience.
Like unloading a heavy burden, the child began eating his al heartily. But after just a few bites, he stopped moving.
Mo Yan looked at him puzzled, only to see that he had started to tear up again, this ti silently.
When he saw Mo Yan looking at him, the child quickly wiped his face with his hand and cautiously said, "Big sister, can I eat less and take the rest ho for my sister to eat?"
Mo Yan felt a twinge in her nose and touched his head, saying, "Don’t worry, eat up. Later, big sister will order so more delicious food for you to take to your sister."
Upon hearing this, the child was overjoyed, but he insisted that Mo Yan not order anymore and just shoveled the plain rice into his mouth.
It was painful for Mo Yan to watch, and she did not want to cause him discomfort. So, she did not insist on ordering more and rely picked at her food before setting her chopsticks down.
After the child had finished eating, Mo Yan paid the bill and had the waiter pack the leftover food for the child to take to his sister.
As they were parting, Mo Yan wanted to give the child so Silver, but he refused, "Big sister, you’re a good person. I’ve been caught stealing so many tis, but no one has ever co to save like you did. There really are good people in this world. Big sister, you will be rewarded."
Hearing his earnest words, Mo Yan’s cheeks felt hot. The child didn’t ask for much, only wanting to support himself and his sister. If it weren’t for being completely out of options, she believed he would not have resorted to theft. Perhaps she could find a way to help him escape his current plight.
The child firmly declined the Silver, and Mo Yan thought that since he was just a child, if other beggars found out he had Silver, not only could he lose it, but he could also get beaten up, so she did not press the matter.
"Then where do you live? If I have a chance, big sister will co to see you and your sister."
The child shook his head, refusing to tell her, thanked her repeatedly, and then ran off with the food.
Mo Yan watched his retreating figure helplessly, having wanted to figure out where he lived so that she might ask the Punishing Shopkeeper for a favor, possibly securing him a job to support himself. But like that, he had run away.
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