142 Look From A Beauty (2/2)

”What will you be preparing this time, Jia?” The young owner asked.

”Hello, Gen Rong! May I please have shinbones and a bit of meat? I plan to prepare soup tonight.”

”Right away.”

Gen Rong turns to the young helper behind him who nods. Gen Rong turns back to look at Jia and glances at the figure in the corner.

”I see you have an extra mouth to feed.”

Jia glanced at Rin who stood quietly in the corner. Rin noticed their stares and raised her head, glancing over at Jia. She didn't say a word but gently nodded. Gen Rong bobbed his head in return.

”She's a relative from out of town.”

”A relative?” Gen Rong arched a brow.

Jia didn't respond to his remark and merely stared back at him with a sharp expression. Gen Rong chuckled slightly at the tall girl's attempted aggressive expression.

The young helper returns with a paper packet from the back and grabs three large hunks of shinbones from the stock of beef bones. He wrapped a handful of stew meat and placed it on the wooden counter.

”Will that be all?”

Jia nodded.

”Ten silvers.”

Jia took a brown pouch from her pocket and looked inside. Her expression turned strange. Jia scratched her head, and embarrassment appeared on her broad face.

”Ah, how much for just the shinbones?”

”Three silvers.”

Jia clicked her tongue. ”You're rather stingy with your meat prices, Gen Rong.”

Not at all offended, the young owner just smiled. ”Haha, well, we have to make a living somehow. Meat is becoming harder to hunt for in this weather.”

Jia could only sigh in agreement. ”Well then, pardon my error, but I'll only be buying the shinbones today.”

”Of course.” Gen Rong returned the meat to the case. ”You're making a broth tonight?”

Jia let out a snort. ”As one would expect. What else would there be to cook during this unpleasant weather?”

”It would be better to have broth with some meat, I would imagine.” Gen Rong spoke with a smile.

”Yes, it would. If only the prices were lower would we be able to enjoy that.” Jia laughed.

Gen Rong crossed his arms and laughed out loud. He suddenly unlocked the case of meat and reopened the paper packet of bones to place half the meat he previously returned inside.

Jia was stunned and looked at the young owner with wide eyes.

”Hey, I was just kidding around. I can't take this for free...”

”Consider it the first sale of the day.” Gen Rong smiled and stole a glance at the beauty in the corner. ”You have an extra mouth to feed after all.”

Jia wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. Grasping the meaning of his actions, she kindly thanked him and turned toward the two figures waiting in the corner.

”Let's go.”

...

Outside the shop, Rin glanced at the paper package in Jia's hand.

”If things are becoming difficult to afford because of me, I don't mind helping out.” Rin offered.

When Jia looked to meet Rin's concerned gaze, her heart softened.

”Don't worry. You won't need to lift a finger. If you accompany me on my trips from now on, we'll receive free food for a long time!”

Confused, Rin tilted her head.

Jia giggled. ”Gen Rong, the butcher just now, he likes you. It was a present.”

Rin opened her shiny, emerald eyes wide.

She coughed slightly. ”That doesn't seem like a reason to sell away free meat.”

”You'd be surprised by what men will do for beautiful women. Believe me, a single glance from a beauty like you, and he'll be passing you his entire shop!”

Rin revealed a helpless expression. ”Jia…”

Jia couldn't resist laughing as she looked at the complicated expression on the girl's face.

She grabbed Rin's hand and swung it back and forth. Jia said in a clear and pleasant voice, ”Now that I have my own little beauty as a friend, we'll be unstoppable in this town!”

Rin's face flashed a very subtle emotion as her eyes swept over the tall girl playfully holding her hand. Although Jia wasn't a beauty, her kind dark eyes and broad smiles made one feel warm and comforted.

She called her a friend.

Suddenly, Rin smiled.

This feeling…it was nice.