“Don’t be angry. I just didn’t want you risking your life for money.”
As she spoke, Jiang He cautiously reached out to tug on his sleeve.
Xie Zhao shook her hand off immediately.
“I know. The fact that you valued my life more than making money… it moved me. I didn’t want you to worry, so I listened to you.”
His expression darkened.
“But what about you? You lied to me.”
“I’m not angry because you pawned your dressing table. I’m angry because you lied to me again.”
“You promised that you’d discuss things with me first. Did you?”
“Pawning your dressing table is a major decision. If I hadn’t discovered it myself, were you planning to keep it from me forever?”
Jiang He: “…”
I only pawned my own dressing table. Why does he look like I’m some heartless woman who sold her own child?
Besides…
Had he forgotten what he originally said?
“You can decide anything on your own while you’re in Anyue. Just don’t leave Anyue without telling me.”
He’d probably forgotten.
“Do you know how much the furniture in this house—and this entire residence—is worth?”
Jiang He blinked.
“I don’t.”
Grinding his teeth, Xie Zhao continued,
“I know the pawn business better than anyone. An orphan girl with no parents, holding onto valuables like these, is an easy target. Do you understand?”
“How could you let strangers into the house while I wasn’t home?”
“I know.”
Jiang He explained calmly.
“That’s why I deliberately brought the shop assistant through your room first. He’d know I wasn’t living here alone, and that a man lived in this house.”
Xie Zhao relaxed ever so slightly.
At least she had a little sense.
“But you still should’ve discussed it with me. I know this line of business. At the very least, I could’ve kept you from being cheated.”
“They wouldn’t.”
She shook her head.
“They were already eyeing my wardrobe and bed too. No pawnshop would ruin its reputation over the first transaction.”
Xie Zhao: “…”
Why does she always have an answer for everything?
Still fuming, he unfolded the pawn ticket.
When he saw she’d only borrowed ten taels, the corner of his mouth twitched.
Then he noticed the interest was only two mace.
That eased his mind a little.
At least the interest wasn’t too high.
“You have to repay ten taels within six months.”
“How do you plan on doing that?”
“Once I sell the cloth I’ve purchased, I’ll have the money.”
“Doing business involves risks.”
He looked at her.
“What makes you so sure you won’t lose money?”
No one could guarantee profits one hundred percent of the time.
Although she was fairly confident.
“If it really doesn’t work…”
She lowered her voice.
“I’ll just sell the house.”
“Aunt Zhang said she’d buy it for thirty taels.”
“…What?”
Xie Zhao glared at her again.
He opened his mouth, wanting to lecture her.
But seeing her standing there with her head lowered, looking pitiful, he swallowed the words.
In the end, he simply sighed helplessly and turned to leave.
“I’ll find a way to repay the silver.”
Jiang He looked up sharply at his retreating figure.
He’ll repay it?
How?
The current him had nothing except his own strength to sell.
Raising her voice, she called after him,
“We’re not related. It’s not worth it.”
She genuinely felt it wasn’t necessary.
More importantly…
She didn’t want to owe Xie Zhao any more than she already did.
He stopped walking.
Turning around, he looked at her with icy eyes.
“What did you say?”
Some things should have been said long ago.
Even though his gaze was intimidating, she forced herself to continue.
“My family did save your life.”
“But ever since my father fell ill, you were the one taking care of him. You were the one emptying his chamber pot and tending to him day after day.”
“Even I, his own daughter, couldn’t do everything you did.”
“So what more is there to repay?”
“Xie Ziming…”
“My family’s debt of gratitude has already been repaid.”
Xie Zhao slowly walked back toward her.
“What do you mean by that?”
That overwhelming pressure again.
Jiang He instinctively stepped back.
“I don’t want the debt of saving your life to keep binding you.”
“And I don’t want you binding yourself with it either.”
“Xie Ziming…”
“You don’t have to carry such a heavy sense of obligation.”
“If you do, you’ll only make your own life miserable.”
Instead of feeling touched…
Xie Zhao only became angrier.
He had no memories.
The first person he saw after opening his eyes had been Old Jiang.
Old Jiang had just lost his wife.
He himself was gravely ill.
Yet to pay for Xie Zhao’s treatment, he had started selling off the family’s belongings.
Even during such desperate times…
He had never abandoned him.
The medicine had been expensive.
Even so, Old Jiang had still chosen to save a complete stranger with a suspicious identity.
To Xie Zhao…
They had never been unrelated.
They were family.
Long ago, he had already regarded Old Jiang as his own father.
And Jiang He…
As his own younger sister.
But now…
She was telling him they weren’t related.
She was settling accounts with him.
Saying they owed each other nothing.
She wanted to sever all ties with him.
Xie Zhao felt a chill settle in his heart.
“So…”
He let out a bitter laugh.
“So that’s what you’ve been thinking all along.”
Jiang He felt a knot of unease.
“Fine.”
His smile grew even more bitter.
“Once I find you a reliable husband and fulfill Old Jiang’s final wish…”
“I’ll leave.”
Watching his resolute back disappear, Jiang He found it strangely lonely.
But…
That wasn’t what she’d meant.
She truly just didn’t want him risking his life for money.
Nor did she want him spending his entire life shackled by a debt of gratitude.
He carried far too much moral burden.
Seeing it weighed heavily on her as well.
But…
Forget it.
If he misunderstood her, then so be it.
Sooner or later, they’d be going their separate ways anyway.
…
After that day…
Xie Zhao barely spoke to her anymore.
He had quite the temper.
Whatever.
Jiang He was busy enough herself.
She didn’t have the energy to bother with him either.
Xie Zhao thought the same.
Whenever they faced each other, he wore an icy expression.
The moment she turned her back, though, he’d grit his teeth in frustration.
That brat has quite the temper.
She’s actually ignoring me now?
Still…
Things couldn’t continue like this forever.
So on his next day off, he invited Lu Changgeng over to the house.
Naturally, Lu Changgeng readily agreed.
It had been quite a while since he’d seen Miss Jiang He.
He’d wanted to visit for some time but had been too embarrassed to ask.
At last, Xie Zhao had invited him first.
“Sure.”
Lu Changgeng smiled.
“Last time Miss Jiang He said she liked the fish I cooked. I’ll bring a fish tomorrow. Then you won’t need to buy any groceries.”
“You have money to buy fish?”
Xie Zhao asked.
“I don’t.”
Lu Changgeng laughed sheepishly.
“But I can catch one from the river. The river by our village is almost dried up now. It’s actually very easy to catch fish.”
Xie Zhao’s eyes lit up.
“Really?”
“Then I’ll come with you tomorrow.”
Lu Changgeng: “…”
Wasn’t I supposed to be coming to your house?
“Well…”
He scratched his head awkwardly.
“I’m afraid that won’t work. The river belongs to our village. The village chief doesn’t allow outsiders to fish there.”
Xie Zhao looked disappointed.
“I see…”
“All right then.”
The following day, Lu Changgeng really did arrive carrying a large fish.
Xie Zhao hadn’t told Jiang He in advance.
She was visibly surprised.
“Brother Lu, what brings you here?”
Lu Changgeng immediately looked at Xie Zhao in surprise.
You didn’t tell her?
Xie Zhao pretended not to notice.
With no choice, Lu Changgeng awkwardly explained,
“The river near our village is drying up. Lots of fish are stranded in the shallow water now, so I caught one and brought it over.”
“I see.”
Jiang He smiled warmly.
“That’s such a big fish. Thank you!”
“You’re welcome.”
Lu Changgeng smiled back.
“What flavor would Miss Jiang He like today? I’ll cook it for you.”
Jiang He’s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled.
“Anything is fine.”
“As long as it’s made by Brother Lu, I’ll enjoy it.”
Xie Zhao: “…”
…Huh?
She smiles that brightly just looking at Lu Changgeng?