It's hard for my elder sister. I rely on the mountains to farm and pay off my debts.

Although the separation between men and women is not as important nowadays as it was in the Ming and Qing dynasties, it is still acceptable for a girl to go shopping alone.

It is indeed cheaper to wear men's clothes.

After hearing this, the shopkeeper didn't think much about it and just opened the back door to let Song Zhi leave.

After leaving the clothing shop, Song Zhi did not leave in a hurry.

Instead, he returned to the previous street from the entrance of an alley not far ahead.

This time, she chose to stop by a stall that was bustling with people. She seemed to be casually browsing the goods on the stall, but in fact, she kept secretly glancing at the clothing shop from the corner of her eyes.

Outside the clothing store, the two people who were originally waiting leisurely gradually realized that something was wrong as time passed.

We've been waiting for nearly two quarters of an hour!

There were three or four waves of customers coming in and out of the shop, but there was no sign of the target.

One of them didn't even wait for anyone. He stood up and rushed into the clothing shop to look for someone, but there was no trace of Song Zhi.

"Boss, a young lady just came into the shop. Where is she now?"

The female shopkeeper saw that the man had a fierce look on his face and was asking about her customers. Regardless of who he was talking about, even if she knew, she would have to evade the question.

The female shopkeeper looked confused and shook her head. "Oh, sir, several ladies came into the shop just now. I wonder which one you are talking about?"

Just then, there were indeed several waves of people coming in and out. The man knew that he couldn't get anything out of them, so he turned around and left with a sullen face.

"Boss, this girl is so alert, she let someone escape. What should we do next?"

"Shopkeeper Wang only asked us to find out her whereabouts and see who she interacts with. We just saw her selling cakes and pastries at Weiyuefang, so we haven't come up empty-handed. Let's go and report this to Shopkeeper Wang."

At this time, Song Zhi, who was not far away, was walking towards the little beggar begging on the street.

She handed over the meat bun she had just bought and said, "Here, I'll treat you to a meat bun."

The little beggar swallowed his saliva, thanked Song Zhi gratefully, and then took the bun that Song Zhi handed over.

He refused to eat it and immediately hid it in his tattered clothes.

Song Zhi raised her eyebrows and asked curiously, "Why don't you eat?"

The little beggar sighed and said, "My parents left early, and my brothers and sisters are waiting for me to bring them food."

Song Zhi nodded, "He's a good brother. How about we discuss a business deal?"

"If you do me a favor, I'll give you a hundred bucks and buy you a tray of meat buns. How about that?"

The little beggar's eyes lit up instantly. "Good man, what do you want me to do? As long as I can do it, I will go through mountains of swords and plunge into boiling water without hesitation!"

Song Zhi couldn't help but smile, and instead of answering, she asked, "Who told you that?"

The little beggar scratched his head embarrassedly. "I was begging outside the teahouse and heard what the storyteller said. Was I wrong?"

Song Zhi shook her head. "You're right, but I don't need you to risk everything. I just need you to help me keep an eye on those two. It would be even better if I could find out where they went next and who they met!"

"Isn't it just surveillance? This is what I'm best at. Just wait, my dear, I'll make sure to find out everything for you."

Song Zhi nodded and pointed to a letter-writing stall not far ahead. "Be careful not to get discovered. When you get the news, go to that stall and wait for me."

The two agreed on a place, and Song Zhi went straight to the stall where they wrote letters.

Song Zhi told the whole story to the scholar who was helping her with the pen. After listening, the other party directly quoted a price of ten cents.

The money was not expensive, so Song Zhi paid it immediately.

To be on the safe side, she did not wait there, but chose a teahouse not far away, ordered a pot of tea, and waited for the little beggar to arrive.

About half an hour later, the little beggar hurried over.

He stood beside the bookstall, looking around.

Song Zhi stood on the second floor. After making sure that no one was following her, she went downstairs to meet the little beggar.

"Well, have you found anything?"

The little beggar smiled and nodded, "Good man, those two people entered the Wang family's pastry shop. I stood by the door and watched them being taken to the inner room by the Wang family's steward to talk."

"As for what the three of them said afterwards, I can't find out!"

Seeing Song Zhi's solemn expression, the little beggar kindly reminded her, "Good man, let me advise you, the food, clothing, and daily necessities in this city are all provided by the Wang family. His family is still very prestigious in the city."

Song Zhi perked up. "From what you said, it seems you are very familiar with the Wang family's situation?"

The little beggar looked proud and said, "I can't say I'm familiar with them, but I do know who the Wang family is and what their reputation is like!"

Seeing that Song Zhi seemed very interested, the little beggar started to tell Song Zhi all the news he had eavesdropped on over the years.

He imitated others, shaking his head and saying: "Ah, alas, it's true that good people don't live long, but evil people will last for thousands of years!"

"Look at how domineering the Wang family is outside now. It's better for you not to offend them."

Song Zhi sneered in her heart, not offending him? She had already offended him to death!

She handed the little beggar the hundred coins she had just prepared.

After he put the money away with a smile on his face, he led people to buy him a tray of meat buns and a tray of steamed buns.

It was a reward for him to thank him for telling me so much news about the Wang family.

The little beggar was very surprised. "Are these all for me?"

Song Zhi nodded, "It's all yours!"

But then he thought again, he was just a child of twelve or thirteen years old, and he wondered if someone would snatch away so much food?

So Song Zhi asked again worriedly, "Can you bring it back safely?"

The little beggar stopped pretending to be pitiful in front of Song Zhi and just whistled.

In a few moments, four little beggars ran out from the streets and alleys from somewhere.

They were of similar age, all teenagers. When they saw the two bags of food in the little beggar's hands, their eyes lit up instantly.

Song Zhi raised her eyebrows and asked, "Are these your brothers and sisters?"

The little beggar nodded solemnly, "They are not siblings, but they are better than siblings!"

Song Zhi nodded in understanding, then asked curiously, "I heard that the county magistrate has set up an orphanage in the city. Why are you still begging on the streets?"

"I am already thirteen years old, and at thirteen, I am no longer eligible to enter the Orphanage. My younger brother is eligible, but how good can his life in the Orphanage be?

"It's the same as not having enough to eat, and getting beaten if you're naughty. It's better to be free and unrestrained like now."

"Every now and then we can meet kind people like you, and we can eat meat buns and steamed buns, which we can't eat in the orphanage!"

After saying that, he waved to Song Zhi, turned around with his younger brothers, and disappeared into the crowd at the corner of the street.