Blades of Grass

"Mother, I'm hungry..."

Soft sobbing suddenly echoed nearby. Even the cries sounded weak and feeble.

Wei Changle turned his head and saw a dilapidated shack. Inside, two children were squatting on the ground, dressed in thin, tattered clothes. Their frail bodies trembled in the cold.

A woman approached, carrying a wooden bucket. She reached inside, grabbed a handful, and pulled out a small snowball. Handing it to the boy, she said gently, "Gou'er, don't cry. Eat this."

"I don't want it. Eating it won't make me full," the boy muttered.

"Be good, Gou'er. Look, your sister isn't crying," the woman coaxed. "Tonight, I'll make porridge for you. There's only a little rice left, so hold on for a few more days. Your father is working outside the city. Once he comes back with some flour, I'll make pancakes for you to eat. How does that sound?"

She pressed the snowball into Gou'er's hand and then grabbed another from the bucket, handing it to the little girl beside him.

"Mother, father's been gone for so long. Why hasn't he come back?" the little girl asked softly. "Where did he go? Doesn't he miss us? I miss him so much."

The woman's voice remained gentle. "He'll be back soon. Your father is trying to earn more money so he can buy you new clothes. He'll be home any day now—maybe even tomorrow morning."

Listening to this, Wei Changle muttered to himself, "They're human beings, not livestock. They shouldn't have to live like this." His expression grew darker, and he turned to ask, "Zhinu, how much dry rations do we have left?"

Zhinu immediately grabbed the bundle, took out what was left of their food, dismounted, and prepared to deliver it to the family.

"Wait a moment," Wei Changle called, turning to Old Wei Gu. "How much silver do you have on you?"

Old Wei Gu's face was somber as he replied softly, "I have some silver left. Second Master, I understand your intentions, but the little silver we have won't save all these poor people."

"Saving one is better than saving none," Wei Changle said. "Eating snow to stave off hunger—I've only ever heard of it before. I never thought I'd see it with my own eyes today."

Old Wei Gu pulled out two small silver pieces and handed them to Zhinu. Without saying a word, Zhinu entered the shack, placed the food and silver on the ground, and left without looking back, his eyes red with emotion.

The gesture was so sudden that the woman and her two children were left stunned. It wasn't until Zhinu had mounted his horse again that the woman pulled the children to their knees. They bowed toward the three men outside, their faces filled with gratitude.

But Wei Changle had already spurred his horse forward.

At that moment, he finally understood why Fu Wenjun had advised him to enter through the west gate.

He realized that if they'd entered through the south gate, they would have seen a completely different scene.

Even if he had entered through the south gate, he would have eventually learned of the slums. But encountering such devastation immediately upon entering the city had a far greater impact.

The three men rode in silence, navigating the narrow paths of the slums, which resembled a hellish underworld. After traveling a few miles, they finally began to hear the sounds of activity.

The surrounding houses also started to improve. Though most were still makeshift wooden structures, there were no longer any tattered tents. Additionally, the roads became noticeably wider.

After traveling a bit further, they began to hear the cries of street vendors. Stalls started appearing along the sides of the road.

Although the goods being sold weren't anything luxurious, for the people in the far western slums, these items were nothing short of unattainable treasures.

Continuing on horseback along this road felt conspicuous. Wei Changle dismounted first, leading his horse by the reins as he walked.

Along the way, he saw many beggars dressed in rags. Most were young children, shivering in the cold wind. When they saw passersby, they approached pitifully to beg, their faces filled with desperation.

However, no one paid them any attention. The kinder ones simply ignored them, while the crueler ones would kick them away.

"Master Tu Jiu, have you eaten lunch yet?" Ahead, a vendor selling flatbread called out obsequiously to a man passing by. Bowing deeply, he wore a servile smile, his demeanor excessively humble.

Tu Jiu, wearing a wool vest and a fur hat, swaggered as he walked, his hands clasped behind his back. He strutted with an air of arrogance, taking his time.

"What's this? You want to treat me to a meal at Beifeng Tower?" Tu Jiu stopped in front of the stall, grinning. "Old Song, don't forget that if you strike it rich, you owe it to me. You'd better show your gratitude and increase my monthly tribute."

Old Song quickly replied, "Ah, Master Jiu, you're joking. I'm nothing but a lowly man—I'll never strike it rich in this life. Beifeng Tower isn't a place for people like me. Only someone as important as you could step foot in such a place. We wouldn't even dare dream of it."

As he spoke, Old Song wrapped a few flatbreads in oiled paper and handed them over with both hands, smiling obsequiously. "If you don't mind, Master Jiu, please give these a taste."

"Your flatbreads—I've eaten them so many times I'm sick of them," Tu Jiu sneered, though he still reached out to grab the bundle without sparing it another glance. He swaggered forward, still swaying with self-importance.

After he had walked a few steps, Old Song, the vendor, spat angrily at Tu Jiu's back. The sycophantic smile on his face had long since disappeared.

Wei Changle, experienced and observant, immediately understood the situation. Without a doubt, this Tu Jiu was nothing more than a lazy, arrogant thug.

Leading his horse, Wei Changle followed behind. Before long, he saw Tu Jiu stop to inspect a few women standing along the roadside.

On the street, at intervals, stood a number of women. Although their clothes were plain, they were at least clean.

Some were standing, others squatting, but all of them kept their heads lowered.

Tu Jiu occasionally approached a woman, lifting her chin to scrutinize her face. When he reached the fourth woman, he examined her for a moment before asking, "New here?"

The woman responded with a voice so faint it was like a mosquito's buzz. Tu Jiu finally let go of her chin, pulled a flatbread from his oiled-paper bundle, and handed it to her.

But she hesitated. With a timid, trembling voice, she asked, "Could I… could I have two flatbreads?"

"If you don't want it, forget it," Tu Jiu snapped. "You're just a filthy whore! Trying to bargain with me? There are more women selling themselves on this street than cockroaches. Do you want it or not?"

The woman had no choice but to take the single flatbread. She turned and headed down a narrow alley, with Tu Jiu following closely behind.

Wei Changle, of course, understood exactly what was happening.

He clenched his teeth and fists tightly.

"Second Master, Shanyin's world is as it is—you can't save everyone," Old Wei Gu said softly beside him. "If you intervene, that woman might never get another flatbread again. Worse, she could face even greater harm."

Wei Changle took a deep breath, knowing that Old Wei was right.

His heart heavy, he remained silent and continued forward on foot.

This wasn't the kind of problem that could be solved with fists.

"There's a noodle shop up ahead," Old Wei said after a while. The road had widened significantly, and conditions were much better. Brick and tile houses began to appear on either side, and a noodle shop was open, bustling with activity.

"Gentlemen, come have some noodles!" A plump man with a big, round face stood at the entrance, his expression warm and inviting. "Not to brag, but in all of Shanyin, or even just this street, our soup noodles are unmatched. Everyone who tries them sings their praises!"

Hearing the owner's invitation, Wei Changle suddenly realized he was indeed hungry.

He glanced at the owner, thinking how starkly different he looked compared to the malnourished and pale people they had passed earlier. The shopkeeper's rosy cheeks and round frame were almost jarring.

"How much?" Wei Changle asked.

"Very affordable, just ten wen per bowl!" The owner replied with a friendly smile, already calling into the shop, "Three honored guests! Prepare to welcome them!"

Wei Changle shook his head. "Not just three of us."

"Oh, there are others?" The shopkeeper's smile grew even wider as he looked around. "Where are the other guests?"

Wei Changle glanced around. On the sides of the street, a number of ragged children huddled together, shivering in the cold. Turning to Zhinu, he said, "We can't help everyone, but do what we can. Call the children over—I'll treat them to some noodles."

Zhinu nodded and immediately went to gather the nearby children. Meanwhile, Old Wei Gu found a spot to tie up the horses.

"What a generous heart this young master has," the shopkeeper exclaimed, ushering Wei Changle into the shop with enthusiasm. "What noble origins must a young master like you have? Your accent doesn't sound local to Shanyin."

"I'm from Taiyuan," Wei Changle replied. "I'm here visiting a friend."

The shopkeeper guided Wei Changle to a seat inside, where a server promptly poured him tea. The service was polite and attentive.

A short while later, Zhinu returned, leading a group of about twenty children to the shop. Each of them looked timid, their faces pale and gaunt. When they reached the entrance, none of them dared step inside.

The shopkeeper quickly walked over, waving his hands. "Don't come inside! Stay outside—I'll bring the noodles out to you."

"Nonsense!" Wei Changle rose abruptly, his tone sharp. "If I'm paying for these noodles, they're guests. Why shouldn't they come in and sit down?"

"Young master, I run a business," the shopkeeper said with a forced smile. "If these beggars come inside, how can I serve other customers afterward? Please understand, this is just the shop's rule."

Wei Changle sneered. "And who made up this ridiculous rule? In my presence, there are no such 'rules.'" Turning to the children, he beckoned, "Come in and eat your noodles."

Zhinu had already taken two of the children by the hand and led them inside. Seeing this, the others hesitated for a moment before cautiously stepping into the shop.

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