If the second master of the Cheng family really used his influence, Long Yi would not be sure whether he would still be able to protect the two innocent people.

Long Yi couldn't help but sigh with heavy thoughts, "We need to work harder and find ironclad evidence to prove their innocence before the order from the capital arrives."

After he finished speaking, the study fell into a long silence. Only the quietness of the night outside the window and the blood of the two men fighting for justice was still boiling in their chests.

The little girl tossed and turned all night in the old but cozy hotel room. The morning light shone through the thin curtains and the sky gradually turned pale.

She rubbed her sleepy eyes, stretched out of habit, and then the first thing she thought of was to find some water to moisten her dry throat.

The layout of the hotel was complicated, with rooms one after another and winding corridors. For the little girl who had just arrived, finding the kitchen was undoubtedly a small adventure.

She wandered around the quiet hotel, passed through the long corridor, turned a few inadvertent corners, and walked briskly, but she still couldn't find the door leading to the kitchen with the smell of smoke.

Just when she was feeling annoyed, a smiling young man happened to appear from the corner, as if he had already seen through her little confusion.

The young man was sharp-eyed and attentive. He understood her expression at a glance and immediately brought a kettle of boiling water and a basin of clean water for her to wash. His movements were light but caring.

The little girl felt warm in her heart when she saw the young man's thoughtful service. She couldn't help but smile sweetly and said "thank you" softly.

At the same time, Zhang Laoer got up early with steady steps. When he walked out of the room, he specially prepaid a few more nights' room and meal expenses for the children to ensure that they would have a stable place to stay in the days to come.

Before leaving, he called Zhang Sanwa to him, took out a stack of silver from his arms, about ten taels, and said earnestly: "Take these, just in case. Remember, Chengguan County may seem calm on the surface, but undercurrents are surging. You'd better not leave the hotel."

Zhang Sanwa and his younger brother Zhang Siwa promised readily that they would take good care of their two younger sisters. Only then did Zhang Laoer feel at ease on his journey.

By the time the four of them had finished washing up, the aroma of food from the restaurant downstairs had already filled the air.

Although the restaurant of Leping Hotel is not well-known, the chef's skills are unique, especially the simple but practical breakfast.

The hot rice porridge, served with soft and delicious bread, although the taste was mediocre, but in the eyes of the hungry children, these large portions of food were enough to satisfy their stomachs.

After breakfast, the four little ones felt a little bored in the small space of the hotel. Zhang Siwa rolled his eyes and suggested going out for a walk to stretch their muscles.

Considering his father's advice, he cautiously suggested to just wander around the street where the hotel was located, never stray far away, and promised to return soon.

In this regard, Zhang Sanwa, who has always been curious about Chengguan County, readily agreed.

In the past, they were always trapped in the isolated Zhangjia Village. Disputes with their family members occupied almost all their time, and they never had the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the county town at their feet.

In order to prevent the youngest sister Xiao Youniang from getting lost in the busy streets, the three older children spontaneously surrounded her in the center of the team. Zhang Sanwa was even more thoughtful and borrowed a sturdy black belt from the waiter of the hotel. He tied one end firmly around his own waist and the other end around Xiao Youniang's slender waist.

The little girl did not resist and, with a shy smile, she followed her brothers and sisters into the bustling street.

Although Chengguan County is not prominent among the many towns in Qingzhou Prefecture, the atmosphere of life in the county is much richer than that in Zhangjia Village.

The streets were crowded with people, and vendors were dotted on both sides like stars. The aroma of various snacks mixed together, tempting the taste buds of passers-by.

As the little girl walked among them, she could smell all kinds of mouth-watering aromas from time to time. Her eyes jumped between the dazzling array of snack stalls, and her little face was full of curiosity and excitement.

Just as they strolled to a steaming bun shop, a sudden scene attracted everyone's attention.

I saw a skinny beggar boy desperately reaching out his hand to the steamer that was emitting tempting steam, swiftly grabbed a few buns and tried to escape the scene.

However, the shop owner reacted quickly, and grabbed the little beggar by the collar with such force that the thin body had almost no room for resistance and was dragged back to the original place.

Then, the shop owner kicked the beggar boy hard in the abdomen, making a dull sound. The pain made him curl up on the ground instantly, but even so, his little hands, which were red from the steam, still tightly grasped the two hard-earned buns.

The shop owner was so angry that his face turned red. These buns covered with dust could no longer be sold. His anger turned into a series of curses and he raised his foot to stomp on them hard.

"Even if my buns are fed to dogs, it's not your turn as a little beggar to ruin them!"

The sudden turn of the scene made Xiao Youniang and her brothers and sisters stunned in place. The noisy voices around them seemed to have quieted down at this moment, leaving only the little beggar's breathing and the shop owner's angry curses.

Faced with this sudden situation, the little girl's petite body trembled involuntarily, and she hurriedly sought shelter in her eldest brother's strong arms.

Even so, he still stared at the ragged beggar boy.

Although the young man was covered in dust and dirt, his eyes were as clean and clear as mountain springs.

The moment Xiao Youniang looked into his eyes, it seemed as if an invisible force penetrated her heart. The stubbornness contained in those eyes made her heart tremble, and an inexplicable resonance arose spontaneously.

Although she was young and could not fully understand the complex emotions behind that look, she could clearly feel that the two buns tightly held in the boy's hands were not just food to him, but also a kind of persistence.

Recalling the days of hunger she had experienced, Xiao Youniang's throat couldn't help but choke up. The feeling was bitter and unforgettable.

She pursed her lips and looked up at Zhang Sanwa beside her, pleading in her eyes: "Brother, can you give me a few copper coins? I...I want to buy some buns to ease my cravings."

Although Zhang Sanwa was confused and didn't understand why the little girl, who had just finished her meal, was crying hungry again, he still rummaged through his pocket and took out ten heavy copper coins. Without asking any questions, he just smiled and let her use them as she pleased.

Holding the copper coin, Xiao Youniang quickly walked towards the bun stall and stopped a dispute that was about to break out in time.

She got back an oil-paper bag filled with ten big buns.

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