Chapter 458 - 459: Not Selling Pity
After finishing their meal, Gu Qibao felt slightly stuffed, so she suggested taking a walk in the streets before they drove home.
Di Mingjue readily agreed.
Hand in hand, they openly strolled down the street. It was already late evening.
Gu Qibao was stepping on a flower pot stand, her hands lifted high as she tried to balance herself while laughing heartily.
"Would you like to buy some flowers, sir?" a little girl selling roses asked Di Mingjue shyly.
"How much are they?" Mingjue asked her.
"Twenty each, but it’s cheaper if you buy ten." The little girl looked at Mingjue with hopeful eyes.
Gu Qibao jumped off the flower pot, "We’ll take your entire basket, can you count how many you have?"
"Really?" The little girl was ecstatic at once.
"Yes," Gu Qibao nodded then turned to Mingjue, "Do you mind, dear?"
"Not at all." Mingjue pat her on the head.
Next to the little girl stood a woman who was holding a baby. Seeing the generous couple, she quickly nodded her head in appreciation, "Thank you both."
"Is she your child?" Gu Qibao pointed at the little girl.
"Yes," The woman nodded, sadness evident in her eyes, "Her father is ill and we no longer have any source of income while I’ve just had a baby. We have no choice but to sell flowers at night to make ends meet."
Gu Qibao felt a pang of sadness. The health of a family member is such an important thing.
The little girl counted the roses happily, looking up at Gu Qibao she asked, "Pretty lady, I have thirty roses in total, that’s six hundred, can I ask for five hundred instead?"
"No need," Gu Qibao patted her on the head, taking out a bundle of cash from her bag without counting it. She must have had around two thousand. She put it all in the girl’s hand, complimenting softly, "You’re such a good girl, helping your mother at such a young age. You must be great at school, aren’t you?"
"Yes!" The little girl nodded, "I’m third in my class."
Gu Qibao felt a moment of heartache— realizing there was not much cash left in her bag, she glanced at Mingjue.
Mingjue smiled, unbuckled his wristwatch and handed it to the little girl, "Take this. You won’t have to work so hard selling flowers anymore. Focus on your studies and help your mom take care of your dad."
The little girl’s mother was surprised and quickly interfered, "Sir, we can’t accept that! The money from the flowers is plenty. We earn our money through our own labor, not by selling our pity. Please take it back. We do appreciate your good intentions though."
This woman certainly had some backbone and seemed to be quite articulate. She was all about earning a living, not begging for mercy.
Mingjue appreciated her integrity. He gently nodded and said politely, "I apologize for being presumptuous."
"No, not at all." The woman offered a shy smile, "You’re too kind, sir. It was my mistake. Thank you both, and may you remain in good health."
Gu Qibao nodded. She quite liked this woman, she couldn’t help but play with the baby in her arms.
The woman freely handed the baby to Gu Qibao, smiling as she said, "Would you like to hold him?"
Gu Qibao was taken aback, "Can I?"
"Of course." The woman placed the baby in Gu Qibao’s arms.
Gu Qibao was suddenly dumbfounded. No matter how she held him, it didn’t seem right. She was so afraid she’d drop the child.