Xie Jianyu and Zhang Fengxi exchanged a glance.
Zhang Fengxi thus beckoned the child to come closer. The little boy shyly approached Zhang Fengxi. The alpha squatted in front of him with a bright smile on his face.
"Hey, little boy, what about this? I happen to need a strong young man like you back in the kitchen. If you are willing to help out in the restaurant every day, I will give you some food to take back home every day."
The little boy gaped at Zhang Fengxi in disbelief.
"R-really?"
Zhang Fengxi’s mouth drooped in disappointment.
"Don’t you want to? Aww... and I need an extra pair of hands so urgently..."
The little boy started to bounce up and down in excitement.
"I want to!" he shrieked happily. "I will go to work now!"
The boy bolted into the restaurant, but Zhang Fengxi laughingly stopped him from advancing.
"Easy, boy. You can start tomorrow. Go to the kitchen and ask the kind brothers and sisters there to pack some food for you and your mother, okay?"
The little boy dropped to the ground and bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Young Master!" he said repeatedly before he marched into the kitchen.
After witnessing the exchange, the other inhabitants started complaining.
"Hey, I am taller and stronger than him! Why don’t you hire me instead?" a disgruntled man said.
"Yeah! That boy’s arm is skinnier than a twig. He can’t even lift a sack of rice!" a woman shouted. "I am a much better kitchen help!"
"I don’t have any family members left," another man piped up. "You don’t have to give me food to bring back home! You only need to feed me during the day!!!"
Zhang Fengxi patiently listened to their words before he beamed at them and said, "Everyone, unfortunately, we only need one extra person to help out. In the future, when we need more people, we will definitely post an announcement!"
After the crowd settled down, Zhang Fengxi leaned closer to Xie Jianyu and whispered into his ear.
"Xie Jianyu, let’s accompany the little boy back home. Other people might try to snatch the food off his hands on the road."
Xie Jianyu nodded. The townsfolks were desperate for food. If one could get two bowls of congee, no one would settle for one.
The little boy was smart for his age. He knew that the people outside were unhappy about him getting extra food to bring home, so he went out from the back door to avoid bumping into them.
Zhang Fengxi and Xie Jianyu walked quietly as they followed the little boy back home. True to Zhang Fengxi’s prediction, a group of young men emerged from the alleys and surrounded the little boy.
"Hey, little kid, what do you have there?" the biggest of them all asked.
Another teenager leaned closer to the paper bag in the little boy’s hand and took a whiff.
"Hmm... it smells so good. I think it’s meat."
The word "meat" brought excitement to the other young men’s eyes.
"I haven’t eaten any meat in months," one of them said while wiping saliva off the corner of his mouth.
"Same. Boy, we are so hungry. Can you share some with your big brothers here?"
The little boy quivered violently from head to toe. The young men towered over him menacingly.
"A new restaurant opened up at Orchid Alley!" he cried out. "Everyone gets free food today! Big Brothers, I beg you. This food is for my mother. My mother is sick."
Someone chuckled.
"I heard that your mother is dying soon. Why waste food on her? We need the food more."
Xie Jianyu went livid with anger when he heard the insolent words. He wanted to get out of their hiding place and drive the young men away, but Zhang Fengxi pulled him back into the shadow.
"Wait."
"Wait for what?" Xie Jianyu frowned. "Didn’t you plan to keep him safe?"
"This is a fight between men," Zhang Fengxi calmly said. "You can protect him today, but you can’t protect him forever. He will have to learn how to cope with these bullies by himself."
"If I can protect him today, then I will...!"
"Sssh."
Zhang Fengxi pressed a finger against his lips and held Xie Jianyu back.
"Watch."
The warmth from the steamed buns inside the paper scalded the little boy’s thin arms, but he refused to loosen his grip. He must bring food back to his mother, no matter what!
"Uwaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!"
With a battle cry, the little boy launched forward. He rammed his bony little body against the legs of one young man. The latter cried out from pain because the little boy bumped hard against his shin.
While he howled in pain and hopped on one leg, the little boy broke away from the hole in the formation.
"Get him!!!" the biggest one cried out angrily.
The little boy was not only agile but also fast. Before long, he managed to shake off his pursuers. Just as he thought that he was safe, he just had to trip over a huge stone.
"Ahhhhh!!!"
The little boy watched in horror when the paper bag flew from his arms. The precious steamed buns were thrown into the air. They were going to be wasted. His mother was not going to be able to eat them...
The little boy started crying earnestly as he lay on the muddy ground. He was so disappointed with himself. He had the chance to feed his mother for once, but he failed to do so.
"Don’t cry," a soft voice was heard in front of him.
The little boy lifted his head in shock. He stared at Xie Jianyu’s delicate, handsome face. Behind him was Zhang Fengxi, who had safely caught the paper bag.
The little boy was stunned to see Xie Jianyu and Zhang Fengxi there. When did these two people show up? The little boy did not hear the sound of their footsteps!