Chapter 75: What Are You Talking About, Old Man?

Jinzi scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed. “No need to praise me so much.”

“My brother is kind and upright, and he doesn’t bow down to evil forces. He deserves praise.”

“Hehe, Sis, then what will you do to show your appreciation?”

Qiu Yinuo paused for a moment, then, with a bit of pain, fished out a large bone from the pot and placed it into his bowl. “Here, you can have it. I won’t fight you for it today.”

Jinzi immediately picked up the bowl and hugged it close to himself. “You promised, no fighting with me. This bone is mine now.”

“We’re not dogs. What’s so great about fighting over a bone?”

“…” Jinzi felt like he’d been insulted for no reason.

After eating, Jinzi had planned to wander around the yard for a bit before going to bed, but his sister immediately shooed him back to his room.

“Go to bed early. I have an important task for you tomorrow.”

“What task? Is it really worth me going to bed at 6:30?”

“A task that requires complete focus.”

Jinzi lay on the bed all night, wondering what kind of work could possibly require so much concentration. He thought of all the possibilities but still couldn’t figure out what he could be tasked with.

Early the next morning, Qiu Yinuo came in with an old, tattered cotton jacket that was falling apart, with patches all over it. “Jinzi, it’s getting late. Get up, I still have to put makeup on you before we can leave.”

Jinzi thought he must have misheard. Did his sister really just say she was going to put makeup on him? He was a grown man; what did he need makeup for?

“Quit dawdling. Beggars aren’t as lazy as you.”

“What? Beggars? What are you talking about?”

Seeing him getting up, Qiu Yinuo immediately tossed the shredded cotton jacket and pants at him. “I borrowed these with great difficulty. Hurry and put them on, and call me once you’re done.”

Jinzi, still confused, changed into the clothes. “Sis, I’m done changing.”

Qiu Yinuo came in holding a small box. “Sit down, I’m going to do your makeup.”

While applying the makeup, she started explaining her plan to him.

“We have no power or influence. If we want to take down such a big official, we have to put in more effort than others.”

“What kind of effort?”

“Disguising as beggars. The other day when I passed by, I saw several beggars squatting around. They’ve probably been there for quite a while, so they must know things that others don’t.”

“So you want me to blend in with the beggars and gather information from them?”

“Exactly. I need you to figure out the connections of that Cultural Association President—who they are close to, who their enemies are. We need to know our enemy inside and out to win.”

“Then what are you going to do, sis?” Qiu Qianjin asked.

“You identify who those people are, and I’ll dig out their dirty secrets. Once we have enough, we’ll bring them all down in one fell swoop.”

Just hearing that fired Qiu Qianjin up. His eyes burned with excitement. “Don’t worry, Sis. I’ll definitely complete the mission and live up to your trust!”

Qiu Yinuo quickly pulled him back to sit down. “I know, you’re the best. Now stop moving.”

“Sis, I’m going out disguised as a beggar—why are you putting powder on my face?” He accidentally caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror across the room and nearly jumped in shock.

The reflection showed a gaunt, pale-faced figure, looking like a walking skeleton. How could that possibly be him?

Before he could even cry out, Qiu Yinuo smacked him hard enough that he didn’t even dare touch his own face.

“Ouch! Sis, your slaps hurt so much now. Can’t you be a little gentler?”

“Don’t mess up the makeup I worked so hard to put on you. You need to be extra careful today—don’t touch your face or get it wet.”

“What kind of black magic is this? I don’t even recognize myself.”

“That’s the point. Even if your identity is exposed, at least no one will suspect you. By the way, when you go out later, avoid the neighbors.”

“Got it!”

The March wind was like scissors, sharp and cold. Qiu Qianjin pulled his thin cotton jacket tighter around him, his back hunched like a real street beggar.

By the time he arrived near the Cultural Association office at 7 a.m., it was still deserted.

He scouted the area, trying to find a “prime begging spot,” but was quickly pushed aside. No one welcomed an extra mouth cutting into their already limited handouts.

He ended up crouching in a corner, watching people come and go. By noon, he still hadn’t managed to overhear a single useful thing, which made him anxious.

When the others went off to scavenge food with empty stomachs and battered bowls, Qiu Qianjin slipped away and returned with two cornbread buns. He chose an old man who’d been lounging all morning in the sun with his eyes closed.

“Uncle, I just ran into a kind soul who gave me a few coins. Bought two buns with it—want one?” he asked, trying to sound humble.

The old man’s eyes flew open. Without a word, he snatched the bun and devoured it greedily. Not satisfied, he reached to grab the second one too.

“Hey! What gives? You already ate one!” Qiu Qianjin quickly hid the other bun behind his back, fuming. “If you didn’t look like my grandpa, I wouldn’t have given you anything!”

The old man snorted. “Then give me the other one too. You can look like my grandkid for all I care.”

Qiu Qianjin choked. He was speechless.

Seeing he wouldn’t get the other bun, the old man closed his eyes and went back to pretending to nap.

Qiu Qianjin was furious. He sat next to the old man and angrily bit into his half of the cornbread bun.

The old man peeked through half-lidded eyes as the bun shrank in Qiu Qianjin’s hands, saliva pooling in his mouth.

With a dramatic sigh, Qiu Qianjin glanced at him and muttered, “Fine. You can have the rest, since I look like your grandkid.”

Before the words finished leaving his mouth, the old man grabbed the bun and smacked him lightly. “Brat. Show some respect when you’re talking to your elders.”

“OW!” Qiu Qianjin yelped, but before he could protest further, the old man clamped a foul-smelling hand over his mouth.

“Quiet. The president of the Cultural Association just came out. You don’t want to get on his bad side. Offend him and you might disappear without a trace.”

Hearing that, Qiu Qianjin froze. His eyes darted toward the heavyset, balding man emerging from the building.

With a menacing scowl and an aura that reeked of trouble, the man looked every bit as nasty as rumored. Qiu Qianjin immediately dropped his gaze, pretending to be invisible.

Once the man passed, the old man resumed chewing on the bun.

Qiu Qianjin inched closer, trembling in character. “That guy… he looks like someone important. Just the way he walks scared the life out of me.”

The old man chuckled coldly. “Of course he does. He wouldn’t have landed that position if he didn’t have family pulling strings.”

“What kind of strings?”

The old man gave him a swift kick. “Don’t cozy up to me. If you want gossip, go suck up to someone else.”

Qiu Qianjin’s heart skipped a beat, but he quickly masked his nervousness. “Whoa, Uncle, what are you talking about?” he said, flashing a sheepish smile.