The weight of a one-yuan coin was not insubstantial, and when it dropped into the beggar's bowl on the ground, it made a crisp sound that added a tiny spark of energy to the otherwise oppressive atmosphere of the platform. However, it quickly returned to its dull state.
About a dozen passengers subconsciously turned their heads, glancing at the bench. They saw the homeless man expertly reach out—without getting up, guided purely by feel to take the coin—and thought to themselves that another fool had been duped. Their gaze fell upon Tang Zheng and then swiftly turned away, dismissing him as just another passerby unworthy of concern.
The homeless man pulled back the newspaper covering his head and glanced at Tang Zheng. He assessed his dress, guessing at his occupation and experience, and contemplated whether he could coax some more money from him.
