Chapter 6: Who’s the Little Beggar Calling Out To?

Though it felt like Su Qingqing had spent a long time inside the Yuanbao System, in reality only a moment had passed—no one outside even noticed.

Staring at the unsold big grey wolf in front of her, Su Qingqing fell deep into thought.

So that computer in her study had brought her into this era?! It turned out the computer was actually the Yuanbao System, and it needed her to earn money to recharge and level up. If she failed, they’d both disappear in three years. As for what functions this so-called system actually had… still unknown.

She was incredibly frustrated, feeling helpless, weak, and pitiful. Now she had to earn money not just to support her little brother, but also to feed and power up this bizarre system.

Money, money, money—everything needed money.

Money might not be everything, but without it, you’ve got nothing. A truth as old as time.

Hauling the grey wolf to town had used up a lot of energy. Her stomach growled loudly, making her feel even worse.

Since being struck by lightning, her appetite had grown significantly. She got hungry quickly—especially after using the divine power granted by the heavens.

She patted her belly. Be good. Once the wolf is sold, I’ll get you something nice to eat.

Still lost in thought, a girl with twin buns on her head and a haughty expression approached her.

“Hey, little beggar. How much for the big grey wolf?”

“Little beggar?” Su Qingqing blinked.

When she didn’t respond, the twin-bunned girl waved a hand in front of her face. “Hey, I’ve called you several times! Are you deaf? Filthy beggar—so rude.”

Su Qingqing raised her head. “Who are you calling a little beggar?”

“You, of course.”

“Oh.”

“Well then, little beggar, could you move aside? You’re polluting the air around me.”

The girl frowned. “What did you just say?”

Su Qingqing raised her voice, “I said, there’s a foul-mouthed, arrogant pest in front of me who’s polluting the air.”

The crowd nearby—many of them poor villagers selling wild goods like her—burst into laughter. They had seen how disdainfully the twin-bunned girl had treated Su Qingqing.

They too wore patched, worn-out clothes. But they earned their living with honest hands, working from dawn till dusk to support their families, all while paying heavy taxes.

Who didn’t want good food and clothes? But poverty wasn’t something to be mocked.

The twin-bunned girl realized she had just been insulted indirectly. Enraged, she raised her hand to slap Su Qingqing.

Just as her palm was about to land, Su Qingqing sidestepped.

Thud! The girl lost her balance and fell hard to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust and feathers from nearby game. The scene was… spectacular.

People backed away and laughed even louder. A crowd quickly gathered.

“She deserves it—face-first like a dog.”

“Yeah, serves her right.”

“Perfect fall for someone with eyes too high for her head.”

Su Qingqing stood with arms crossed and mocked, “Oh dear, miss, how clumsy of you! Are your eyes blind or something?”

“Tsk, such a shame—so young, yet already blind.”

A villager chimed in, “Right? Poor girl—blind at such a young age.”

“I’ve seen prettier girls scrubbing feet in the brothel. And now she’s blind? Even an old widower wouldn’t want her.”

The girl, who had started to rise, collapsed again from rage. Her fists clenched, teeth grinding, tears streaming—not just from anger but from pain too.

She was the favored maid of a young master. In the manor, everyone called her “Sister Mei” with respect. Never had she suffered such humiliation.

She swore she’d have her master avenge her—she’d teach this little beggar a harsh lesson and send her off to the brothel.

In three days, the lord of the household would be celebrating his fiftieth birthday. He loved wolf pelts, so her young master had sent her to town to find one as a birthday gift. And now, she had ended up in disgrace.

From a distance, a woman dressed in a white floral corset top with a sheer shawl over her shoulders noticed the large crowd and heard a familiar sobbing sound.

She turned to the maid beside her—a young girl with clear, delicate features and twin buns—and said gently, “Lan’er, go see what’s happening over there. I think I hear Mei’er from my brother’s courtyard crying.”

“Yes, miss. Please wait here. I’ll go check.”

Lan’er made her way into the crowd and was stunned to see Mei’er lying on the ground in tears—disheveled, covered in dust and feathers, bruised and battered.

What on earth happened?

In the manor, Mei’er always acted superior, bullying junior maids with her young master’s favor. She was never treated like this.

Lan’er turned to a nearby, honest-looking man and quickly gathered the details. Then she pushed out of the crowd and ran back.

“Miss, it is Mei’er.”

“What happened?”

“She came here to buy a wolf pelt for the young master’s birthday gift. She saw a poor-looking girl selling a big grey wolf and mocked her for her clothes. Then she tried to slap the girl but tripped and fell instead.”

“Honestly, miss, I think Mei’er deserved it. That girl looked pitiful, but she didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I understand. Let’s go take a look.”

The two of them walked into the crowd, made their way to the center, and approached Su Qingqing.

The young lady signaled Lan’er to pull Mei’er aside—no need to embarrass herself further.

The crowd, sensing the drama had ended, gradually dispersed.

The white-clothed woman turned to Su Qingqing and said sincerely, “Miss, I apologize. That maid is from our manor. Her behavior today was disgraceful. I assure you, she’ll be disciplined.”

Seeing the woman was being sincere, Su Qingqing responded, “No need to apologize. I don’t hold grudges against blind cripples.”

She hadn’t taken the incident seriously to begin with.

The woman glanced at the large grey wolf next to Su Qingqing and asked, “Miss, would you be willing to sell that wolf to me?”

“If you like it, take it. Pay whatever you think it’s worth,” Su Qingqing said calmly—she found the woman quite agreeable.

The woman gave her a polite bow. “Thank you, miss!”

She had worried Su Qingqing might refuse out of spite. Fortunately, she was wrong.

Her father loved wolf pelts, so she planned to have the hide made into a cloak or winter hat for him. Besides, she felt guilty—her maid had bullied someone undeserving. Buying the wolf was her way of making it up.

This young woman, though dressed in rags, carried herself with quiet dignity and a clear gaze—so unlike the typical country girl.

“Miss, do you often come to town to sell wild goods?” she asked.