CHAPTER 48: CHAPTER 48: UNCLE!

"You little brat, you keep running, and I’ll make you pay with my knife... huh?"

The middle-aged man chased after him wielding a vegetable knife, but seeing a man suddenly blocking the boy, his mood turned sour: "You, move aside, don’t get in the way while I take care of him!"

"How many buns does he owe you?"

Li Qingmu asked calmly, cleverly asking about the number of buns owed rather than the money. If he asked about money, the man might name an outrageous price, but asking about buns... how many could a young lad eat? Three or five at most!

As expected, the middle-aged man was a bit stunned by the question and nodded instinctively: "Two..."

Li Qingmu took out ten copper coins and handed them to him: "This is my younger cousin, he’s been causing trouble and bothered you, here’s the money for the buns, and I’ll buy two more buns."

One bun cost about one cent; buying four buns with ten cents meant the man was making a profit.

When he realized it was a business deal, the man nodded instinctively, got two buns wrapped in oil paper, clearly showing care in packaging.

"Thanks a lot!"

Li Qingmu took the buns and handed them to the young man.

"Ah, I’ve been tricked!"

A voice of regret from afar belonged to the man, but since the transaction was done and he was paid, it was hard for him to cause further trouble.

"Are you starving?"

Watching the boy snatch the buns and devour them ravenously without saying a word, Li Qingmu couldn’t help but shake his head. Was the kid starving?

Which privileged family’s child has slipped away without notice, finding himself in such a sorry state?

Li Qingmu speculated he was from a noble family rather than a rich family, for his clothes had embroidery done with golden silk and silver thread—a privilege unique to nobility. Commoners using such embellishments was taboo, punishable by confiscation of possessions or banishment to Lingnan.

The boy ignored Li Qingmu, continued eating on his knees, but overeating too fast made him choke, coughing violently.

Li Qingmu’s forehead was lined with frustration. Was this kid really from a noble family? He had no decency. He helplessly ordered the shopkeeper to bring another bowl of noodles.

"Eat it with soup; it’ll feel better!"

The boy glanced at Li Qingmu and then boldly grabbed the noodle soup.

The continuous slurping sounds signaled the boy’s quick eating pattern. He swiftly finished the soup bowl and two meat buns, a speed that left others in awe.

Li Qingmu couldn’t resist asking: "How many days haven’t you eaten?"

"Three days."

The boy wiped the greasy mouth, raised a dirty little face towards Li Qingmu, eyes dark and bright like a starry sky.

Li Qingmu gazed at him for a moment, then snapped back with a smile: "Hurry home. If you run into traffickers, it’ll be dangerous."

"I’ve encountered them before; it won’t happen again."

Uh...

Looks like the boy had quite an experience, likely he saw Li Qingmu as approachable, leading him to call for help amidst many diners.

Hah, do I look that easygoing?

Li Qingmu instinctively touched his chin, realizing days of travel had left him unkempt with a small cluster of stubble on his chin.

Ah, no wonder the boy called him uncle earlier.

"Let’s go!"

He said flatly, grabbing his pack and heading off.

"Cousin, you can’t ignore me!"

The boy quickly followed, the term causing Li Qingmu to stumble slightly, almost tripping—who’s your big cousin?

He turned around, frustrated: "Why are you following me? I’m heading to Ling’an City, weren’t you running away from there?"

The boy was shocked, "How... how did you know I came from Ling’an..."

Li Qingmu said his origin effortlessly; did he know who he was?

Panic gripped the boy, unsure if he should follow him, then noticing a few burly men nearby glancing at him menacingly... could they be traffickers?

In an instant, he sprinted away: "Cousin, wait for me!"

...

Looking at the little tail following him, Li Qingmu felt a headache.

Making connections with nobility was something many dream of, meeting one should be great, but he was far from happy.

So troublesome!

The boy seemed silly but was indeed cunning—escaping from the heavily guarded provincial city of Ling’an, crossing mountains and forests, through several cities here without getting caught by traffickers showed his alertness.

Having such a brat tagging along the way... Li Qingmu grumbled inwardly.

"Cousin, you won’t just leave me, right?"

The boy hurried as Li Qingmu walked briskly, appearing to want to ditch him, making him anxious. His journey was perilous, finding initial excitement but leading to exhaustion; now longing to return home, but feared his father might punish him.

Recalling sneaking away from home with a little pack... ah, his father would surely not spare him!

"If you behave, I’ll take you home!"

The clear cold voice brought relief to the boy.

"Besides, stop calling me cousin!"

This term felt awkward to Li Qingmu.

The boy looked puzzled, "But you are my cousin, you said so yourself!"

"..."

Li Qingmu was speechless, turned around and tapped the boy’s head, "If I hadn’t said that, would that man have let you go so easily?"

"Oh—" The boy stuck out his tongue, made a face, "Then I’ll call you uncle, okay?"

"Hmm..."

Uncle sounded more acceptable, Li Qingmu wasn’t sure of his feelings, seeing the boy always wanting to address him as an elder, maybe thinking this way he could manage him?

"Another city ahead is Ling’an, we’ll part ways there, and you go back to your family; you’re familiar with Ling’an City, I believe."

"Okay!"

Hearing Li Qingmu say it, the boy secretly breathed a sigh of relief, looking at Li Qingmu with gratitude—in others’ hands, they’d surely seek a reward from his parents, but not him.

"Uncle. You’re headed to Ling’an, preparing for the imperial examination?"

"Yes!"

"Uncle, is your study going well?"

"Uh... it’s just average!"

"Aren’t you tired of it? Doing homework is so tiresome!"

"Is that why you ran away?"

"Yes!"

That became the daily routine of Li Qingmu and the boy, listening to his chatter along the way, as they finally arrived at Ling’an City.

Ling’an, the provincial capital of Jiangling County, had a majestic and solemn city gate, towering along with two stone lions guarding it, spewing fireballs fearlessly.

Upon entering the gate, the boy saw a team of people coming, quickly grabbed Li Qingmu’s sleeve, pleading: "Uncle, when someone comes can you say I was kidnapped by traffickers and you brought me back?"

"Hmm, afraid of getting punished by your family?"

Li Qingmu’s question was crafty, embarrassing the boy a bit, and seeing those people drawing near, he loosened Li Qingmu’s hand and ran off: "Help, help, this trafficker nearly kidnapped me!"

"..." Li Qingmu.