Chapter 117: Every Despicable Soul Has Its Pitiful Side

Watching Du Yun stride away, Zhang Liansheng and Zhao Jinbao stood rooted to the spot, dazed and unable to collect their thoughts for a long time.

"Brother, what do we do now?" Zhao Jinbao glanced at the small sugar cake in his brother’s hand and swallowed instinctively. The golden, crispy pastry seemed to sprout tiny hands that pulled at him, drawing him closer and closer despite himself.

"What do you mean, what do we do? We head home and figure it out!" Seeing his younger brother on the verge of biting into the cake, Zhang Liansheng hurriedly shoved the two wristwatches into his pockets and gave Zhao Jinbao a swat on the head. "Move it, don't be such a glutton!"

With the watches in his pocket and the sugar cake in his hand, Zhang Liansheng felt his whole body trembling with excitement. Truth be told, he had never held anything so valuable, nor had he ever tasted a sugar cake that smelled so divine. Still, he suppressed the urge to shove the pastry into his mouth and led his brother toward home with long, purposeful strides.

"Grandma, we’re back!" Zhang Liansheng called out loudly at the entrance.

"Grandma, I’m back too!" Zhao Jinbao echoed.

"Oh, you're back? You’re home early today!" A woman who looked to be in her sixties or seventies emerged from the room, leaning shakily on a wooden staff. Her hair was white as frost, and her back was so severely hunched that she looked as thin and frail as if a gust of wind might blow her away.

"Grandma, business was good today. The boss sold out of snacks quickly, so we came back early." Watching his grandmother grope her way along the doorframe, Zhang Liansheng felt a pang of sorrow, his eyes stinging with unshed tears.

Their family had once been well-off, making a living as traveling merchants. Everyone except their grandmother had accompanied the trade caravans—including his parents and his aunt and uncle. But between natural disasters and man-made catastrophes, the entire family had perished. Not only were their goods lost, but their hard-earned fortune had been exhausted to compensate the families of the men who had died alongside them.

Watching their home suddenly stripped of everything, their grandmother had worked day and night at her needlework to support her two grandsons, the last of the family line. Over time, her eyesight had failed; now, she could only vaguely perceive silhouettes and could no longer see anything at a distance.

"Good, good, good. The boss has a kind heart; you must work hard for her!" Grandma Zhang nodded with relief, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief before feeling her way back toward the room. "Have you two eaten? I’ve made some wild vegetable porridge; have a little."

"Grandma, don't go to any trouble. Look, the boss was pleased with our work and even gave us some sugar cakes!" Seeing his grandmother fumbling to serve the porridge, Zhang Liansheng quickly caught her withered hand and pressed the sugar cake into it.

"Oh my, she even gave you sugar cakes? This boss who sells snacks is truly a kind person." Grandma Zhang looked at the golden cake in her palm and smiled, her wrinkles blooming like an unfolding chrysanthemum. She looked so genuinely happy.

"Wonderful, you boys have a future now. I can die in peace! I’ve already had my porridge; you two eat the cakes while they’re hot!" Her smile remained, but she didn't take a bite. Instead, she laughed softly, wiping away tears that had appeared in the corners of her eyes.

"Grandma, we’ll eat together!" Knowing she wasn't full but simply self-sacrificing, Zhang Liansheng didn't argue. Once inside, he placed the cakes on the cutting board, used a knife to chop them into four pieces, and firmly pressed a piece into his grandmother’s mouth.

"Come on, Jinbao, you eat too!" Zhang Liansheng held his own piece to his nose, inhaling the sweet, fragrant aroma before taking a bite. The taste was so rich and sweet that it brought tears to his eyes. How long had it been since he had eaten something so delicious?

"Yes!" Zhao Jinbao, who had been staring at the cakes until his eyes ached, lunged forward as soon as his brother called. He grabbed a piece and shoved it into his mouth. He only took one small piece, leaving the rest undisturbed. After finishing his share, he saw a few drops of syrup on the board and scraped them up with his finger, licking it clean. Since the cake had cooled, the sugary filling wasn't as liquid as when it was fresh, leaving only a few sticky traces behind.

Zhao Jinbao smacked his lips, unsatisfied. He wanted more, but seeing his grandmother hadn't finished hers, he stood there conflicted, his eyes darting toward the board, though he dared not ask for more.

Although Zhao Jinbao wasn't as mature as Zhang Liansheng, he wasn't a bad child. He had followed his brother’s lead since he was small, helping Grandma Zhang with chores, and as they grew older, they had scoured the streets for work. But at their age, who would hire nine-year-old children? They had spent their days drifting, eventually falling into the habit of pilfering food when hunger took hold. They had strayed, but they had never committed any major crimes. They had only attempted to target a "fat sheep" twice, only to run into Du Yun and hit a wall.

"This sugar cake is truly fragrant. Your boss has such skill; she will surely achieve great things!" Grandma Zhang murmured, savoring the flavor. It was crispy and sweet—even better than the snacks brought from the provincial capital when they were wealthy. This boss was certainly no ordinary person. "Work hard, don't fear exhaustion, and don't bring shame to your boss. As long as you two are doing well, I can die content."

Grandma Zhang wiped her eyes again and shuffled back into her room. She was truly happy today. Her grandsons had found a good employer; their future would surely be smooth, and she could finally rest easy regarding those who had passed.

"Grandma, don't worry, we will definitely work hard." Zhang Liansheng had originally planned to sell the watches, take his grandmother and brother, and run away. But seeing her expression now, he changed his mind. If this girl named Du Yun could bring such profound change to their lives, what did it matter if he worked for her?

At that moment, Zhang Liansheng’s eyes gleamed in the darkness. His thin, frail frame seemed to hold a newfound, immense energy, so radiant that one could hardly look away.

Back at her home, enjoying a wonderful lunch, Du Yun could never have imagined that the few sugar cakes she had given away so casually would spark such a monumental shift in the future.