35 Being thrifty is not a sin (2/2)

”The world had been cruel since the very start and the people living it made it even more so. There is no need to dwell much on that, as it is what it is and no one can change that.” Yu Jie Xing said as he took two steps forward closer towards her.

”So when are you going to return the favor you owe me?”

Though Jiao Yu was not small in terms of height but with the man in front of her, she looked smaller, reaching only his shoulder. And with him being so close made Jiao Yu breathe in the smell of sandalwood coming from him.

One did not know how long had they been standing in that corridor and the air around them were mild warm and cold. Jiao Yu did not say a reply and was lost in her thoughts. She had been staying on the other side of the straw screen and might have already made Jing Chu and Bai Chen worry and look for her.

Jiao Yu didn't thought that her small trip outside gave reasons for the heavens to tweak a little bit of her fate however, no one has the accurate and perfect prediction on what the future holds.

Thinking that she had stayed on the other side of the screen, Jiao Yu decided to say, ”My entourage must have been looking for me. In regards with the payment of the favor I owe you, I'll make sure to send it to you if you kindly tell me where to send it.”

Yu Jie Xing did not reply and only looked at her with a raise brow, seemingly amused to know that Jiao Yu was actually planning to pay him with money for his help. Since it's like that then, why not play along with it?

”Are you sure a young lady like you can pay me?” Yu Jie Xing asked.

”How much is it?”

Yu Jie Xing thought of something for a moment and then said, ”a thousand of gold taels.”

A thousand silver taels???! In silver, that's equivalent to a ten thousand of silversright? How can Jiao Yu get that much money? Is this man really in his right mind? Jiao Yu thought. She could pay him with the chest Liu Sheng Xiao had given her but Jiao Yu could not let herself touch any of it now or spend it and also in one go for such an unreasonable price for his help. Is he not just messing with her? Maybe she could pay him back if she sends money to him monthly. Jiao Yu thought again.

Gulping down the flame in her heart, Jiao Yu calmly said, ”Gentleman, I think the price is unreasonable and like you said, how can a young lady have such wealth to spend wastefully.”

”If it is alright with you, I'll pay you every month.”

Of course Yu Jie Xing expected her to say that. Clasping his hands behind him, Yu Jie Xing playfully said, ”Really smart.. hmm.. let's see.”

”Why not instead of paying me monthly, let's have you pay me five taels of silvers weekly? and also in every week we can meet up by the Qing bridge.”

Five taels? What is this man really thinking? Jiao Yu thought as she tried to pry his head open in her mind to see what he was planning. However, the condition was very appealing on Jiao Yu's situation as she did not have to pay him thousand of silvers monthly but only a measly five taels weekly. However, the place seemed a bit too open to meet up. The Qing bridge was indeed open and everyone in Jing capital could pass by it and even walk through it but for now, it was the least of her problems.

”Alright, I'll meet you again next week on the same day today. I'll leave now.” Jiao Yu once bowed slightly towards him and turned to leave but before she could go through the screen, she heard him hushedly saying.

”Ah, I forgot to ask her how was she related to the villagers in the Xiangli village?”