"Zhu Zi! Let's go home!"
After struggling several times and spitting up a few mouthfuls of blood, Mad Dog Egg managed to force a painful smile as he staggered to his feet and spoke to the other young beggar.
Tears streamed from the other young beggar's eyes. She nodded slightly and, gritting her teeth, supported Mad Dog Egg as they stumbled step by step to a dilapidated temple in the west of the city.
The moment Mad Dog Egg returned to the temple, the last of his strength gave out. His body trembled, and without a word, he collapsed to the ground.
Zhu Zi, her face a mask of panic, pulled half a stale, sour-smelling steamed bun from her clothes. She tore it into small strips and tried to feed them into Mad Dog Egg's mouth.
That half of a sour bun was the only thing Mad Dog Egg and Zhu Zi had managed to beg for all day; it was their entire meal. For beggars like them, food was the only life-saving medicine.
