Chapter 40 (2/2)

“One for five copper coins! Buy five for twenty copper coins. My meat skewers are the best in this street, you won’t regret buying from me, young man!” the owner replied with a smile.

‘Oh? Five for the price of four? Such a good price!’ Lin Xiao thought as he took out a gold piece. “Then I’ll have five,” Lin Xiao said as he handed the gold piece to the owner.

When the owner saw this, his eyes went wide, and he gave Lin Xiao a nervous look. “This… Young master, do you have a smaller change?” the owner asked, changing the way he addressed Lin Xiao.

“Smaller change…? Well…” Lin Xiao was also feeling troubled now. When he sold his spoils to Ping Jianyu, he priced them as he usually would. So, all he has was gold, he didn’t even have any silver on him.

“Brother Lin?”

At this time, a soft, gentle voice called out to him and Lin Xiao can’t help turning his head around. He saw Fei YuXing, accompanied by a maidservant and a guard from the Xia family.

“It is brother Lin. I wasn’t sure if I got the right person before,” Fei YuXing said with a smile on her face. Then, she noticed that Lin Xiao actually looked troubled. “Brother Lin, what’s wrong? Are you in trouble?” she asked as she glanced between Lin Xiao and the stall owner. Figuring out the problem, she turned back to Lin Xiao, “Did brother Lin not have any money to buy food?”

“Huh? No! I do have money with me but… the owner asked for a smaller change which, I don’t have with me right now,” Lin Xiao said with a sheepish smile. “Ah, Sister Fei! Since you’re here, you must be out to buy things, right? Can you help me and exchange this with smaller change?” Lin Xiao asked as he held out the gold pieces in his hand.

“So, this is the case. Sure, no problem at all!” Fei YuXing said before she glanced over at her guard. “Chang Bo, give Brother Lin ninety silver and a thousand copper coins,” Fei YuXing said and Chang Bo, went forward as he took the pouch tied on his waist. Chang Bo carefully calculated a thousand copper coins before tying the pouch up once again. Then he reached into his cloth and took out another pouch and this time, he calculated exactly ninety silver before handing it over to Lin Xiao. In return, Lin Xiao handed a gold piece to Chang Bo.

“Many thanks, brother Chang! And to you too, Sister Fei! If you were not around, I wouldn’t know what to do,” Lin Xiao said in a merry tone. Now that he solved his money problem, he should be able to enjoy his freedom.

“You don’t have to mention it, brother Lin!” Fei YuXing replied. “Actually, since we’ve met out here, how about going together?”

Lin Xiao, who had just received his five meat skewers after paying the owner, turned to Fei YuXing once more. “Go together?” Lin Xiao pondered about it for a moment as he took a bite on one of the meat skewers he has. ‘Though it would be more advantageous if I go with Sister Fei… Shizun said that it is not proper for a man and a woman to go together alone unless they are close. Though we spent a few days together, I don’t think what we have can be considered close. But then again, she has a guard and a maidservant with her, so it’s not considered alone…’

While Lin Xiao was in deep thought, a falcon suddenly flew over and circled above Lin Xiao. This made Lin Xiao look up and a smile formed on his face. “Oh, hey! You’re here again,” Lin Xiao said as he held up his arm so that the falcon can rest on his forearm. “When we arrived at the capital, you flew off again. I thought I won’t see you until a month later,” Lin Xiao chuckled before he lifts the meat skewer in his other hand close to the falcon’s beak. “Want some?”

The falcon, in return, simply stared at the meat skewer in a confused manner but it didn’t move to eat it. “I guess not,” Lin Xiao concluded. “Now where was I… ah, yes! Sister Fei, if you don’t mind, let us go together! This is actually my first time out in the market ever since we arrived a week ago, so if you could show me around, that would be great!”

“Alright. Then let’s go to the northern part of the market. I heard that there is a new shipment of accessories and ornaments coming over at one of the popular shops. I also plan to buy something as a token of appreciation to Master Long. Maybe you can help me?” Fei YuXing’s face beamed up when Lin Xiao agreed to go together.

“A present for Shizun?” Lin Xiao thought for a while. “Hmm… that’s actually a good idea. No, if I buy something, Shizun will find out that I went out…” Lin Xiao mumbled to himself. After a while, an idea popped in his mind and Lin Xiao grinned as he turned to Fei YuXing.

“Sister Fei, can you do Lin Xiao a big favor?”