Rebirth: Traveling To Ancient Times As A Companion Reading Chapter 6

Scanning his surroundings, Qiao Yi finally set his sights on a kind-looking woman not far away.

Qiao Yi limped over to her stall.

At that moment, she was focused on kneading dough, fine beads of sweat forming on her forehead. She didn’t immediately notice Qiao Yi, whose height was barely level with the table.

It wasn’t until Qiao Yi spoke in a tiny voice, calling out, Sister.

In his past life as a pampered heir who lived a life of leisure, Qiao Yi might not have known much, but his greatest talent was acting like a good boy to get an allowance from his family.

The same logic applied in ancient times. Even if he had to beg, Qiao Yi’s skill at playing the part of a well-behaved child to gain favors was something he could use on strangers with perfection.

So, when the woman looked toward the source of the voice, she saw a small, obedient figure standing before her stall. A pair of bright, obsidian-like eyes stared up at her. Because he was short, he had to tilt his palm-sized face upward, wearing a sweet, innocent smile.

Although he was thin and his complexion was somewhat sallow from hunger, it was easy to see that the child was truly handsome. His features were remarkably well-proportioned, especially those large, expressive black eyes that gazed at her like a well-behaved puppy. It was impossible not to feel a surge of pity.

Oh my, whose little child is this? The woman stopped her work in surprise, her voice softening instinctively. Why are you all alone? Where are your parents?

Hearing this, Qiao Yi looked down helplessly as if reminded of something painful. His voice was timid. I… I… don’t have parents.

Hearing those words, the woman noticed the tattered rags on Qiao Yi’s body that barely covered him, and she immediately understood.

She sighed helplessly. What a tragedy. How old is this child to have already lost his home?

Under the woman’s pitying gaze, Qiao Yi appeared flustered, his hands fidgeting as if he didn’t know where to put them. I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I haven’t eaten in a long time, and I’m just so hungry, so…

Don’t be afraid. It’s just a bit of food. I’ll go get some for you.

Although the woman pitied the child, she knew she didn’t have the power to do much more. The most she could do was give him something to eat.

Perhaps her heart was truly too soft. Even though she was giving within her means, she still provided a lot.

She packed a large bundle of food and even gave Qiao Yi a set of clothes she had brought to the market to trade for her own son.

Watching the small figure walk away with unsteady steps, the woman shook her head helplessly. She wondered how long such a small child could survive on his own.

Forget it, everyone has their own fate. One can only blame the child’s poor luck. If she had the means, raising one more wouldn’t be a problem, but she couldn’t. This was the most she could do to help him.

The woman turned around, only to find that her husband had returned at some point. He was glaring at her with a furious expression.

The woman tried to explain, Husband, I…

But before she could finish, the man shouted angrily, Do you think our stall is a charity? There are so many beggars in Yicheng. If we give free food to every beggar who comes by, why are we even running a stall to make money?! Our whole family might as well go live on air!

He’s just a child of a few years with no parents.

A child? He’s just a beggar! If he wants to beg, why doesn’t he go to the Lou family for food instead of coming to us? Hasn’t the Lou family been setting up sheds to distribute porridge at the end of Qingyang Street these past few days? If he’s really hungry, why doesn’t he go there?

He looks barely ten years old, about the same age as our own poor child. It’s just a bit of food, why must you be so stingy?

You…

Qiao Yi moved slowly and hadn’t gone far. He heard every word of the argument between the woman and her husband behind him.

Looking down at the food and clothes in his arms, Qiao Yi hesitated. He thought to himself that the situation for women in ancient times was already difficult. Maybe he should return these things and just go beg for some porridge instead.

After an internal struggle, Qiao Yi turned around, intending to return the items. He happened to lock eyes with the woman’s husband.

The woman, with her back to Qiao Yi, was still trying to say something to the man.

When the man saw Qiao Yi’s face and his frail frame, he seemed to freeze for a moment.

Then, perhaps because of something else the woman said, the anger on the man’s face mostly dissipated. He stopped arguing with her and withdrew his gaze from Qiao Yi. A customer is here. Get to work, he said.

Qiao Yi stood there dazed, clutching his things. He didn’t know what had happened or if he should still return the items.

It wasn’t until the black cat appeared at his feet and rubbed against him with a meow.

Qiao Yi snapped out of it. Forget it, he would eat first. If he didn’t eat something soon, he really would starve to death. If he had the chance in the future, he would come back to repay this couple.

Leading the black cat into a small, dark alley, Qiao Yi opened the bundle the woman had given him. In addition to a set of clean clothes, there were several steamed buns and even a meat bun. It was enough to last him for a few days.

He took out the meat bun, broke it in half, and threw the half with more filling to the black cat, who was crouching and staring at him expectantly.

Eat up, Qiao Yi said, patting the black cat’s head. Once you eat this, you’re my cat. Don’t you dare run away.

Meow.

Seeing the black cat eating happily, Qiao Yi began to eat his own portion.

Because his stomach was painfully empty, Qiao Yi couldn’t eat too much at once. He could only take small, slow bites, observing his surroundings as he ate.

This alley was where he had been lying when he first woke up. It was dark and narrow, seemingly a place where only a child could fit.

There was a piece of cloth spread on the ground, neither too long nor too short, just right for him to lie down and rest. It looked like the original owner had placed it there.

Qiao Yi couldn’t quite understand it. Being able to find such an alley and a place to rest suggested the original owner had been wandering for a while. How could he have failed to beg for even a bit of food? Besides, wasn’t someone distributing porridge over at Qingyang Street? How did the original owner end up starving to death here?

It wasn’t until Qiao Yi took off his rags to change into the intact set of clothes.

Qiao Yi looked down at the blue and purple bruises hidden beneath his clothes. In some severe spots, the skin had even turned black, looking absolutely horrific.

…

No wonder that besides the hunger, he always felt a vague sense of discomfort throughout his body. It turned out the original owner hadn’t starved to death; he had been beaten to death.

In his previous life, Qiao Yi had many hobbies, and boxing was one of them.

Getting injured was a common occurrence during boxing. So, Qiao Yi could tell that these injuries weren’t from a simple scuffle. Someone had truly intended to kill the original owner.

But who would be so insane as to be so cruel to such a small child? What exactly had happened to the original owner?

Meow呜.

While Qiao Yi was deep in thought, the black cat had finished its half of the meat bun. It was now looking up with its large green eyes, staring greedily at the other half of the bun in Qiao Yi’s hand.

Smack!

Qiao Yi slapped the black cat’s head without hesitation. Don’t even think about it. This is mine. The rest has to be saved; I can’t let you eat everything today.

Meow! Hearing there was no more food, the black cat’s fur immediately stood on end. Its eyes fixed on the food in Qiao Yi’s hand as it began to take an aggressive stance.

Scram! Qiao Yi didn’t indulge it at all and slapped it again. It’s already good enough that I saved you, and now you want to steal my food? I’m telling you, this is all the food I can give you. Don’t be ungrateful!

He could keep it as a pet, but if it wanted to walk all over him, it could keep dreaming!

Qiao Yi’s attitude was firm, and the black cat, having been smacked, immediately behaved. It seemed to understand something and stopped crying for more food. Its fur smoothed down, and it slumped dejectedly on the ground.

Seeing the black cat’s dispirited look from not being full, Qiao Yi thought that this was, after all, the first living creature he had encountered in this world to accompany him. If it starved to death, he would be left all alone in this unfamiliar world.

After putting on his clothes, Qiao Yi finished the rest of the bun in a few bites and scooped up the black cat from the ground. The steamed buns are our emergency rations; we can’t touch them. I’ll take you to find other food. Let’s go!

Although Qiao Yi was a newcomer and didn’t know the layout of the area or even where Qingyang Street was, he knew how to listen and observe. By listening to what people said and following where they went, he eventually made his way to the end of Qingyang Street.

The scene of the distribution at the end of the street was grand. Over a dozen sheds had been set up, each with a large pot inside. A person stood before each pot, responsible for handing out porridge.

Many people had come to receive the Lou family’s charity.

Besides those already lined up, there were many people scattered around.

Several servants in grey cross-collared tunics and soldiers in red slit-skirt robes and red bamboo hats stood at the front, managing the crowd and maintaining order.

Qiao Yi skillfully squeezed his way inside. His small frame allowed him to easily dart to the front.

The people serving the porridge were fast, and it was soon Qiao Yi’s turn.

Relying on his ability to act cute and pitiful, along with a mouth that could speak words as sweet as honey, Qiao Yi—who had come empty-handed without a bowl—not only successfully obtained a bowl but also received rice porridge that was nearly twice as thick as everyone else’s.

Qiao Yi finally left, happily cradling the bowl.

Such a large bowl of rice porridge, while not a massive amount, was enough for him and the black cat to last another day or two.

Holding the still-warm porridge to his chest, Qiao Yi looked back at the long queue and couldn’t help but recall the conversations he had overheard while waiting in line.

After organizing those bits of information and piecing them together, Qiao Yi now had some understanding of this world.

This was ancient times, but it wasn’t any dynasty Qiao Yi was familiar with. There was no Tang or Song, no Ming or Qing; there was only the Great Yong Dynasty, which had never been recorded in history books. The reign title of the current emperor was Yan De, and it was now the tenth year of Yan De. The place where he was currently located was Jiangzhou, in the southeast of the Great Yong Dynasty.

Jiangzhou was near the water, and its trade was highly developed. There were many wealthy merchant families, but the Lou family was the richest among them. Not only in Jiangzhou, but in the entire Great Yong, they were the wealthiest of all.

The one distributing porridge at the end of the street today was this very Lou family.

No wonder they could set up over a dozen sheds to give out porridge; they were the richest family in the country.

Qiao Yi looked down at the bowl in his arms and thought to himself that before he died in his past life, the Qiao family was also among the wealthiest. He could have anything he wanted, yet because of a single meal, he had fallen to this state.

Unfortunately, that meal was one Qiao Yi had cooked himself, so he couldn’t blame anyone else.

He grumbled a bit in his heart, but Qiao Yi didn’t truly wallow in self-pity or regret his current situation. Although his living conditions in his past life were excellent, his parents hadn’t spared him from any education regarding hardships and suffering. Thus, Qiao Yi quickly accepted his reality. Although the start was a bit difficult and tragic, at least he was still alive. It wasn’t bad to experience life in an ancient world in this second life.

Moreover, he had a cat now and wasn’t alone. This part was much better than his past life.

Qiao Yi felt lighthearted, and his steps were brisk.

He soon saw the black cat waiting for him obediently by the roadside. Qiao Yi called out to it directly, Heipa!

Heipa was the name Qiao Yi had just come up with for the black cat.

Hearing the voice and knowing Qiao Yi was calling, Heipa looked toward him and responded, Meow.

Qiao Yi jogged a few steps, his attention entirely on Heipa, failing to notice someone walking quickly toward him from the side.

Caught off guard, Qiao Yi couldn’t stop in time and collided directly with the person.

With a loud crash, the porcelain bowl in Qiao Yi’s hands fell to the ground, shattering into several pieces. The rice porridge inside spilled all over the ground.

My porridge!