As Xia Luo and others watched in surprised confusion, Robin surprisingly brought the little girls over.

The girl in her arms looked at Robin somewhat blankly. She was unusually quiet, offering no resistance.

As she walked back, Robin remained silent. She cast a complex glance toward Zhong Shenxiu, as if conveying something through her eyes alone.

Zhong Shenxiu returned a look, the meaning of which only Robin truly understood. Uncharacteristically, Robin offered a small smile, then placed the little girl in her previous seat, speaking as gently as possible, "Eat now."

The little girl seemed extremely uneasy, glancing back and forth at Xia Luo and the others, not daring to move.

"What a lovely little sister, tell older sister, how old are you?" Keni asked with a smile.

"Almost four," the little girl answered timidly.

"What's your name?" Keni inquired again.

"Niu Niu," the girl's voice grew softer.

"Don't be afraid, the sisters here are all good people, we won't hurt you. Here, take whatever you want to eat." As Keni spoke, she handed over a pair of chopsticks and piled a lot of food into Niu Niu's bowl.

Xia Luo also smiled. When looking at the little girl, she couldn't help but glance at Zhong Shenxiu, as if making some silent comparison.

"Pretty older sister, can I really eat?" Niu Niu stared at the food in the bowl, swallowing hard.

"Of course!" Keni beamed.

"But... but I don't have any money." Niu Niu was still full of apprehension.

"Eat without worry. Older sister doesn't want money! You are so adorable, older sister loves cute children the most." Keni's heart had been touched by Niu Niu.

Niu Niu reached out a hand, then quickly pulled it back. She glanced back at the servers standing in the distance.

Keni seemed to sense what she was thinking and quickly said, "Don't worry. If they bully you, just let your sister Robin beat them up for you. I guarantee they won't dare to again next time!"

As she said this, Keni also glanced toward Robin.

Xia Luo, listening nearby, rolled her eyes dramatically, thinking to herself, So this is how Robin got led astray!

Unable to resist Keni's constant persuasion, Niu Niu finally tentatively took a small bite. Seeing that nothing bad happened, she finally let loose and began to eat ravenously. Her manner of eating was just like a small wolf cub starved for days; both little hands were working overtime, and her small mouth was constantly opening and closing.

Xia Luo and Angeliya were stunned speechless; the way this little girl ate was a match for Robin. Truly a display of absolute focus and diligent consumption, as if she had already reached a state of self-forgetfulness!

Keni giggled, but when she looked at Robin, there was a trace of tenderness in her eyes. She could now somewhat understand why Robin could eat so much. It was hunger accumulated over the years!

Just as Niu Niu was eating with great relish, a woman hurried out from the kitchen area. After searching briefly, her gaze landed on Niu Niu, who was eating.

The woman became distressed. She rushed forward hurriedly, her voice arriving before she did:

"Niu Niu, what are you doing?"

Niu Niu, who was enjoying her meal, suddenly changed expression at the sound of the voice, immediately stopped what she was doing, and when she turned to see the woman, she jumped off the chair.

"Niu Niu, why are you being so disobedient? Didn't Mother instruct you not to run out randomly? Why didn't you listen!" The woman was anxious and angry. After scolding Niu Niu, she quickly turned apologetically to Keni and the others, saying, "She's just a child and doesn't know better; I hope you can forgive her this once. I promise to watch her better next time!"

"Big sister, you don't need to get so agitated!" Keni smiled slightly, immediately easing the tension considerably. "We insisted on inviting Niu Niu to eat. We all like her very much. Please don't blame Niu Niu; if anyone should be blamed, it's us for being inconsiderate!"

The woman looked at Keni with some surprise. These words made her feel deeply uneasy. She never expected someone of Keni's high status to apologize to her, a mere servant. For a moment, she didn't know what to say!

Keni then invited Niu Niu to sit down and continue eating. However, this time Niu Niu absolutely refused, clinging tightly to her mother's clothes.

It was unclear what work this woman did in the kitchen; the grease covering her was even more obvious than Niu Niu's. And looking at her sallow skin and somewhat dull yellow hair, it was clear she suffered from long years of toil.

Keni was very thorough in her thinking. Fearing that the mother and daughter might be punished by the shop management, she quickly asked a server to find the owner. After an explanation, the owner bowed and scraped his way out, guaranteeing that the mother and daughter would not be troubled, and promising to give the woman a lighter assignment so she could better look after Niu Niu!

Finally, the woman led Niu Niu away. As she left, Niu Niu didn't forget to wave goodbye to Robin and the others, and when she smiled, revealing two small canine teeth, she looked exceptionally charming!

This seemed to be just an interlude; the group finished their meal and departed.

.

In the evening, Keni, who had gone out alone, returned and reported her investigation findings to Zhong Shenxiu.

The Sichuan restaurant they visited today turned out to be the property of the "Stacy Family." Niu Niu's father had died long ago. Niu Niu's mother was a hereditary servant, required to work fourteen hours a day for meager earnings.

Zhong Shenxiu was slightly confused by the term "hereditary servant," so he promptly asked for clarification.

Keni seemed very knowledgeable about this matter. Through her explanation, they learned that ever since the abolition of slavery, those who were once slaves had become these "hereditary servants." They possessed a degree of personal freedom but were bound to serve their former masters for generations. Although they received a small wage, it was pitifully small.

It could be said that these people occupied the very bottom rung of society, even lower than common citizens!

Zhong Shenxiu remained silent for a long time after hearing Keni's account, but a meaningful smile played on his lips.

"The Stacy Family," he mused. It seems they owe me quite a bit of money? I guess I need to find an opportunity to collect the debt!

Of course, although Zhong Shenxiu had this thought, he didn't intend to act on it immediately. After all, the monk might run away, but the temple wouldn't; he could confront the "Stacy Family" anytime he wished.

Over the next two days, Zhong Shenxiu continued his experimental research, while Keni often took Robin out shopping and dining, stopping by to see Niu Niu along the way.

Two uneventful days passed, but when Keni and Robin looked for Niu Niu on the third day, they found her eyes red and her face streaked with tears. Seeing Keni and Robin, she reacted as if they were long-lost relatives and began to cry again.

"Niu Niu, don't cry, tell older sister what happened?" Keni immediately picked Niu Niu up.

"Mother didn't come back yesterday," Niu Niu said, sobbing.

Keni was momentarily stunned, then quickly pressed for details, but as a small child, Niu Niu couldn't articulate clearly. After a long time, all they gathered was that Niu Niu's mother had been called away yesterday and hadn't returned since.

"Mother said she would come back, but she... didn't come back. Niu Niu waited all night," Niu Niu continued, choking back sobs.

"Niu Niu, don't worry. Your mother probably just had something urgent and couldn't get back right away; she'll be back soon. Stop crying, or Mother will be unhappy if she sees you. Niu Niu is the best, come on, smile for us." Keni tried to soothe Niu Niu while thinking seriously about the situation.

Niu Niu forced a smile, but it was extremely strained. After coaxing Niu Niu for a while longer, Keni entrusted her to Robin and went off to find the person in charge to inquire about the situation!

After some questioning, Keni learned that the "Stacy Family" was holding some kind of sacrificial ceremony requiring a large number of helpers, so they had temporarily requisitioned some staff from various establishments, promising their return that day, though temporary changes were possible.

Having clarified the reason, Keni quickly told the manager that she would take Niu Niu out shopping and to ask him not to worry if Niu Niu's mother returned. She also gave the manager a red envelope.

The manager, already aware that Keni was someone important, became even more compliant after receiving the bribe. He readily agreed without questioning where Keni intended to take Niu Niu.

So, Keni and Robin took Niu Niu to wander through the major department stores, buying lots of delicious treats and fun toys for her!

Niu Niu was, after all, just a child, not a little pervert like Zhong Shenxiu and Robin; she quickly forgot her sadness, and a smile returned to her face.

They went to many places that day. Not only did they buy Niu Niu many new clothes, but they also purchased many gifts for Niu Niu's mother.

Niu Niu had an incredibly happy time; this was the first time she had ever left that restaurant and seen so many wonderful things.

Clear laughter rang out continuously from Niu Niu's mouth, sounding like a little angel. After being dressed up, Niu Niu was countless times cuter than before, truly like a moving porcelain doll, captivating to behold!

Although Robin showed little outwardly, her heart was happy along with Niu Niu's.

Time passed quickly amidst the joy, and before they knew it, the sky had darkened.

Fearing that Niu Niu's mother might return and worry, Keni and the others stopped lingering and brought Niu Niu back! However, Niu Niu's mother still had not returned.

Keni and Robin felt too uneasy to leave Niu Niu alone. Since they had nothing pressing to do, they decided to wait with Niu Niu.

Just as Keni was talking to Niu Niu, she suddenly caught sight of the manager from earlier signaling urgently toward her from the corner of her eye, as if asking her to come over immediately!

"Niu Niu, wait here for a moment, older sister needs to use the restroom!" Keni said before walking over.

Soon, Keni returned. Although the calm smile remained on her face, a strange light flashed in her eyes.

Afterward, Keni and Robin took Niu Niu to the "Dark Chamber of Commerce" and settled her in. Immediately after, Robin walked over to Keni and asked, "Sister Keni, what happened?"

The smile on Keni's face vanished instantly, replaced by a look of gravity. Her voice dropped, sounding heavy as she delivered the news: "Niu Niu's mother is dead!"

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