"It's already very late, I have to go now. Also, you should head home early too. Your mother might still be waiting for you."

Henry Clark turned around, ready to leave. But before he had taken a few steps, he was suddenly tackled from behind by Billy Clark, who hugged his right leg tightly.

"Help me, help me... buy a few of my things! One tael of silver... one tael of silver! Billy needs one tael of silver! Mother needs one tael of silver! Billy wants to save mother..."

Billy Clark suddenly cried out emotionally, a trace of anxiety and despair showing in those innocent eyes.

"Mother? What's wrong with your mother? One tael of silver! Why do you need so much silver?"

Henry Clark was taken aback.

"Mother... Billy's mother is sick, the doctor said we need silver... Billy wants to cure mother's illness, Billy needs one tael of silver!..."

Billy Clark clung to him like he was holding onto his last lifeline, refusing to let go no matter what.

"So it turns out his mother is sick... everything he's done is for his mother."

From his broken, intermittent words, Henry Clark understood the situation.

"Help me, I beg you, help me... please save my mother, okay?"

Billy Clark shook Henry Clark's leg desperately, two large teardrops rolling down, full of sorrow and longing.

Henry Clark felt a wave of difficulty in his heart. It hadn't been easy for him either; he had worked so hard just to earn eighty-five copper coins. If he gave it all to Billy Clark, then he and Uncle Harris...

But looking into those eyes, Henry Clark found it hard to say no.

Those eyes were so much like his own back then. Thinking of his own late mother, Henry Clark couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.

"I don't have much money on me, only eighty-five coins. Take it for now. Although it's not a full tael of silver, it should be enough to treat your mother's illness. Usually, doctors take advantage of widows and orphans like you, so what they tell you is probably exaggerated. Go to the south of the city and find that doctor surnamed Zhou. He is known for his medical ethics and has a reputation for helping the needy. His prices are always lower than others. Ask him to treat your mother, and she will surely recover."

Henry Clark gritted his teeth, took out his money pouch, hesitated for a moment, and finally stuffed it into Billy Clark's hand.

Unexpectedly, even after accepting Henry Clark's money pouch, Billy Clark still refused to let go.

"Mother said, never take things from others for free... Billy has many things, look, look! Take whatever you like, take it all if you want!"

Billy Clark looked up stubbornly.

Henry Clark glanced over and saw that scattered around Billy Clark were some items: a comb, a clay jar, a bronze mirror, a figurine, rouge, handmade shoes, embroidered cloth... all kicked to the ground during the earlier beating.

"These must be all his family's belongings."

Henry Clark felt a surge of pity, and couldn't bear to take anything from him.

"No need, I don't need any of these things. Take them back with you."

Henry Clark said.

"No! Billy can't take things from others for free..."

Billy Clark insisted stubbornly, still refusing to let go.

Henry Clark was helpless, knowing that Billy Clark was stubborn. If he refused, this might never end.

"Alright. You take all these things back, I don't need so many. Just one will be enough."

Henry Clark glanced around casually and picked the most inconspicuous item—a flat pebble with some strange bark-like patterns on it. It looked like something picked up from a riverbank, nothing special at all.

Henry Clark vaguely remembered that it was because Billy Clark tried to sell this item earlier that he got beaten up. Of all the things on Billy Clark's stall, this was the least valuable.

"Let's just say I bought this."

Henry Clark smiled wryly to himself.

In a way, he and Billy Clark were both fellow sufferers, so how could he bear to take anything from him?

"Hehe, you are a good person... only you believe me... this star iron is for you..."

Billy Clark giggled foolishly, as if a great burden had been lifted.

Strangely enough, when he saw Henry Clark pick up that broken stone, Billy Clark no longer tried to hold him back. As if a big problem had been solved, he gathered up his things and left happily.

"Star..."

Henry Clark straightened up, watching Billy Clark's departing figure, a bit dazed. Then, as if remembering something, a strong sense of guilt welled up in his heart.

"Now I'm truly penniless."

Henry Clark felt a wave of bitterness, but he did not regret it. With a self-mocking smile, he casually stuffed the stone into his chest.

"Ah!"

Henry Clark suddenly let out a low cry. He wasn't sure what he had touched, but he felt as if something had pricked him. The pain was faint and fleeting, so Henry Clark didn't pay it any mind. He gathered his things and hurried off, completely unaware that a drop of blood had seeped into the stone in his chest...

……

Chapter Five: Shameless Scoundrel!

After returning from outside, Henry Clark felt heavy-hearted.

"After a whole day of hard work, I can't believe I'm still going home empty-handed in the end."

Henry Clark hung his head, his mind in a daze, not even knowing how he passed through the side gate of The Clark Residence.