An Yiqing’s willow eyebrows raised, a smile on her lips that was full of deep meaning.
She parted her red lips and spoke softly, "A robbery? Just with you few?"
The group of youths was taken aback, looking at each other in confusion. This wasn’t how it went in the TV dramas they had seen; wasn’t a young girl supposed to scream and beg for mercy when faced with a robbery?
"Don’t, don’t talk nonsense! Hurry up! Hand over the money!" The boy leading them swallowed nervously, his threats belying an underlying timidity.
"Yeah! Hand over the money! Quick!" The other boys behind him joined in on the clamor. Though they were all tall, the tension and hesitation in their eyes were undisguised.
An Yiqing looked at these tall yet anxious boys and let out a soft laugh.
"What are you laughing at?"
"Hmm, why do you want to rob? Isn’t it better to get a job when you are able-bodied?" An Yiqing asked them with a smile, her voice gentle.
The boys were taken aback by her words, a flash of sadness in their eyes quickly concealed by a forced ferocity.
"Stop with the nonsense! Give me the money, and I’ll let you go! Hurry up!" The boy at the front swallowed again and took a step forward with the fruit knife in his hand.
Just then, an angry voice came from the end of the alley!
"You mangy brats! How dare you commit robbery!"
As he spoke, a boy in his early twenties with a sturdy build ran towards them, carrying a large bag. As soon as he stopped, he didn’t say another word and instead kicked at the group of boys!
"So you’ve grown bold enough to rob others, huh? Has everything Mother Huang taught you gone to the dogs?!" The boy kicked each of them in turn, his voice filled with fury and disappointment.
The youths hung their heads, silently taking the scolding and the punishment, uttering not a word of complaint, their eyes heavy with guilt.
"Brother Ah Yi, don’t blame them. It was my idea," said the boy who had led the robbery attempt, stepping forward with his head bowed.
The man named Ah Yi looked at him with frustrated resignation and finally heaved a sigh, "I’ve told you all that money matters should be left to me and Second Brother to handle. All you need to do is to study hard and learn! Did you just let my words go in one ear and out the other?!" Ah Yi extended his right hand and vigorously jabbed the boy’s forehead with his finger.
The boy lowered his head and roughly wiped away the tears that had started streaming down his face with the back of his hand, choking up as he said, "I’m sorry, Brother Ah Yi. I’ve embarrassed you and Second Brother! But, Mother Huang’s illness can’t wait, she’s dying! She’s dying!"
By the end, the boy had broken into loud sobbing, with the boys behind him starting to cry as well.
An Yiqing, who had quietly watched in silence, darkened her gaze upon witnessing this.
Mother Huang? Could it be Huang Fen, the matron of this orphanage? If that was true, then these children...
Her eyes flickered as she suppressed the shock within her.
Ah Yi looked at his younger brothers with a face full of sorrow, his voice heavy as he said, "Don’t cry, stop crying. Mother Huang is a good person; she’s sure to get better. I will figure something out about the money. You kids still have to go to school and work part-time; you’ll wear yourselves out! Also, if I catch you doing something again, you won’t be able to face Mother Huang!"
Ah Yi’s resonant voice left the boys feeling incredibly guilty and they nodded vigorously in response.
In her heart, An Yiqing quietly agreed, finding herself with newfound respect for these boys who had just tried to rob her.