Chapter 4742: The Old Beggar “It smells so good!” Yue’er sniffed the air, inhaling the rich aroma that filled the forest. Her eyes gleamed with delight as she followed the enticing scent. Underneath a tree in a small grove, an old beggar was leisurely sipping wine and cooking meat. In front of him sat a pot, chipped at one corner, from which steam and fragrant vapors continuously rose. A fire still flickered beneath it, indicating the meat inside was not yet fully cooked. “Old beggar?” A hint of surprise flickered in Yue’er’s beautiful eyes as she recognized the figure. She trotted forward, inhaling deeply from the pot, her eyes closing in pure bliss as she savored the fragrance. “That’s the smell! Old beggar, what kind of meat are you cooking? Why does it smell so good?” she asked, acting as if they were old acquaintances. She settled herself comfortably next to the old beggar on a wooden bench, craning her neck to peer at the simmering meat under the lid, swallowing her saliva like a hungry cat. The old beggar glanced at her. “Didn’t you manage to get any food?” he inquired. “No, they set their dogs on me, so I ran away and didn’t get close to the village!” Yue’er replied, shaking her head. Her gaze remained fixed on the fragrant pot. “Old beggar, can you share some of the meat in the pot with me? I’m starving!” The old beggar stirred the fire with a stick, his aged voice slow and indifferent. “You’re a beggar, and I’m a beggar. Why should I share my food with you?” “I can give you money!” Yue’er’s face brightened. She took out a gold coin, offering it to him with a smile. “I’ll give you money, and you can share your food with me. I won’t take advantage of you.” The old beggar cast a quick glance at the coin, then extended his skinny hand to take it. “Do you have a bowl?” he asked. “I brought one!” Yue’er chirped, her voice loud and clear as she pulled a bowl from her bosom. The old beggar lifted the lid, and an even richer aroma of meat wafted out, permeating the air and making Yue’er’s mouth water profusely. She couldn’t help but swallow hard, bringing her bowl closer in anticipation. “Pass it over here,” the old beggar instructed. He scooped a generous spoonful of meat into Yue’er’s bowl, then another for himself. He replaced the lid and used two small, sharpened twigs as chopsticks to begin eating. Yue’er, having her own chopsticks, carried her bowl of meat back to her seat and sat down to eat. With her first bite, the rich aroma of the meat filled her mouth. She parted her lips slightly to exhale the hot steam before lowering her head to continue eating with gusto. The old beggar drank his wine and ate his meat, occasionally glancing at the little beggar beside him. Seeing her bowl empty, he generously scooped another large spoonful for her. Yue’er ate three full bowls of meat before finally stopping. She hugged her stomach, leaning back against the large tree, breathing lightly, her small face radiating pure satisfaction. “Old beggar,” she asked curiously, “what kind of meat is this? Why is it so fragrant? I’ve eaten a lot of meat in my life, but I’ve never had this kind of stewed meat. It’s truly delicious.” “It’s dog meat,” the old beggar said slowly, taking a sip of his wine. Yue’er was stunned for a moment, almost instinctively crying out, “Dog meat? This is dog meat? Where did you get a dog?” As soon as the words left her mouth, a sudden realization struck her, and her eyes widened in shock. The old beggar took another bite of meat. “It’s the big yellow dog from the village entrance,” he explained. “I just happened to stew a pot of it.” As he spoke, he glanced at her, a playful smile flashing in his otherwise cloudy eyes. “What’s the matter? You don’t eat dog meat? You said it was delicious just now, and you even ate three bowls.”