The anti-Qing movement began with the looting of the Eight-Nation Alliance.

Tan Ya sneered inwardly. He thought, "If Zhou Bapi is so ruthless, then you, Huang Shiren, are no different. You're both the kind of people who'll squeeze every last drop of urine from a toad."

The waiter quickly brought over a fresh cup of tea, which Tan Ya picked up without ceremony. He first opened the lid to smell it, then took a small sip. It was indeed excellent tea, even more fragrant and mellow than the previous one.

He didn't know anything else; he'd never tasted any good tea before! The only time he'd had that kind of aged tea was last year when a merchant treated him to it.

"Brother Tan, what do you need so many children's clothes for?"

"What? Does Manager Huang have to be so inquisitive about buying used clothes?" Tan Ya glanced at him sideways.

"Hey! No, no! How could that be! Erzi, quickly bring out a few sets of children's clothes for Brother Tan to see." Huang Shiren laughed and hurriedly called to his servant.

"Wait a minute, Manager Huang. I need quite a lot of used clothes this time, and you only have a few dozen pieces here, which is far too few!" Tan Ya quickly interjected to stop him.

"Hey! It's all added up, big or small! Help your brother out, and I won't treat you unfairly."

The pawnshop has already collected a huge pile of these old clothes, and Huang Shiren is having a real headache! These days, the rich don't want them, and the poor can't afford them. He certainly won't let Tan Ya, this sucker, get away with it.

The waiter quickly brought out two sets of children's clothes!

"Look, Brother Tan. These clothes are all about 80% new, and they're even made of silk. Look, I'll give you a discount."

"Whether it's silk or not doesn't matter, I'm buying these for poor children! As long as it's clothing, I only care about the price," Tan Ya said, glancing at the clothes.

"Hehe! Anyway, silk is better than cotton and linen, right?" Huang Shiren chuckled dryly.

"That's not necessarily true. What good is just looking good? For poor people, linen is more durable!"

"That's right! You're right, little brother. Hehe!"

"Alright! Since Brother Huang is so hospitable, I can't refuse. Just find all the children's clothes first! I'll come over later and we can talk then."

"Alright! But, finding clothes will take forever. Brother Tan, how about we put down a deposit first? Hehe! It's not that I don't trust you, it's just that, hehe..." Huang Shiren rubbed his hands together.

"Look at how stingy you are! Do you think I can just run away?" Tan Ya rolled his eyes at him and threw out a gleaming silver dollar.

Huang Shiren, quick-witted and agile, reached out and grabbed it, examining it from all angles.

"These are silver dollars from the West. Have you seen them before, Manager Huang?"

"Hehe! I've seen it twice, it really is beautiful!" Huang Shiren carefully stroked the large breasts on the silver dollar in his palm, even brought it to his lips and blew on it, then put it to his ear to listen.

"That's settled then! I'm leaving now, you guys get it done quickly!"

"Alright! Erzi, hurry up and see Brother Tan off." Huang Shiren didn't even look up, his eyes still fixed on the silver coins. He casually called out to the waiter.

Tan Ya walked out of the pawnshop, and just as he was about to leave, he frowned when he saw the clothes on his body and turned back.

"Brother Tan, is there anything else?" Huang Shiren asked, looking up in surprise.

"Hey! I'm doing work for someone else now, so this outfit doesn't suit me anymore."

"Is that all? It's all my fault for being negligent, Erzi. Quickly find Brother Tan a set of fine clothes."

Soon, the shop assistant brought out a light blue long gown that was neither new nor old. Tan Ya looked at it and was quite satisfied. He then borrowed the inner room of the pawnshop to change into it.

"Clothes really do make the man, and gold makes the Buddha. Brother Tan looks much more energetic in these clothes. You can tell he's destined for great things," Huang Shiren flattered.

"Hmm! Not bad, put it on the tab, we'll settle it together later!" Tan Ya nodded.

“Brother Tan, you’re slapping your brother in the face! What do you need money for? These clothes are yours for the taking!” Huang Shiren said, suppressing his heartache.

"Really, it's free? You're giving me a set for free?"

"Look at what you're saying, Brother Tan brought me such a big deal. It's only right that I give you a set of clothes. Hehe!"

"Alright! Thank you, Manager Huang!" Tan Ya nodded, turned around, and walked out of the pawnshop.

. . . . . . . .

As he left the last pawnshop, Tan Ya felt a nausea in his stomach. He shook his head and headed towards the dock.

Passing by a steamed bun shop, the aroma wafted towards him. Tan Ya patted his stomach but couldn't resist going inside.

"Uncle Lin, give me two meat buns, oh well, I'll just have one!"

"Tan Ya, are you trying to kill yourself? You actually want to eat meat buns?" The middle-aged shopkeeper casually picked up a plate and said seriously.

"Hey! Uncle Lin, we got a big customer today. I'm in for a treat, hehe!"

"Tan Ya, I'm not trying to be mean, but you're not getting any younger. You should save your money. Saving more will help you find a wife..."

"Okay, okay, Uncle Lin!" Tan Ya started to get a headache.

He knew Uncle Lin meant well and had taken good care of him. It's just that he'd said those things too often.

Would you like a bowl of noodle soup?

"No need, Uncle Lin. I drank too much tea today, and my stomach is still rumbling!"

"You think you've had too much tea? You've probably been drinking too much cold water!" Uncle Lin scoffed.

One bite and his mouth was filled with juicy goodness; Tan Ya was so happy he almost cried. He had forgotten when he last ate meat. Life would be wonderful if he could eat meat buns every day.

Tan Ya finished the steamed bun in a few bites and licked his lips. He wanted to eat another one, but his stomach was simply too full. He should have drunk less tea earlier.

"Uncle Lin, get me two more meat buns. Wrap them up and take them back for my mother to try. And twenty steamed buns too."

"Tan Ya, you've really struck it rich! Oh, I didn't notice earlier, but you must have just bought those clothes!"

"Tan Ya, you've made something of yourself!" Uncle Lin looked Tan Ya over carefully for a few moments and said with satisfaction.

"Yes! Uncle Lin, I've found a good employer this time. Things will be much easier from now on!" Tan Ya nodded confidently.

"Good! Tan Ya, you must work hard and listen to your employer. I'm happy to see you succeed. It's a pity your father died too young and didn't get to see it. Sigh!" Uncle Lin sighed deeply after saying this.

"Uncle Lin, how many steamed buns do you have left?"

Tan Ya didn't want to continue this topic. His father died when he was three years old, reportedly from illness. He had no memory of it; his mother had raised him single-handedly since he was a child.

"There should be forty or fifty left!"

"Okay, Uncle Lin. Hurry up and steam another pot, I'll bring some people to eat later."

"Tan Ya, how many people do you have? I steam a pot with over a hundred people. Can you all finish eating them?"

"Don't worry, Uncle Lin, I'll buy all your steamed buns today, no matter how many you have. Here's the deposit for you." Tan Ya grabbed a handful of coins and threw them in front of Uncle Lin, then grabbed the steamed buns and ran off.

"Hey! Tan Ya, wait a minute, explain yourself..." Uncle Lin called out from behind.

Hearing the sound, Tan Ya ran even faster. Uncle Lin just talks too much; once he starts, he never stops. He was in a hurry to get to work!