Chapter 16

Chapter 16: You're Just Ugly and Full of Tricks! Tearing it apart was how cats expressed death. Upon learning how dangerous that place was, Jia Qingcheng drew in a sharp breath of cold air. But for Prince Chu's illness, she had no choice but to take the risk. However, she wasn't fighting alone either. "Got it. Dried fish will be in ample supply." "Oh my, Sister Qingcheng is so beautiful and kind-hearted. This kitty loves you the most!" Seeing the big orange tabby praise her so effusively, Jia Qingcheng laughed at herself wryly. Even animals had discerning hearts, but humans didn't... "But if you can help me with one more favor, I'll prepare you a feast of ten-delicacy pork liver and lamb lung soup." "Meow meow!" The moment the big orange cat heard it could eat the most delicious ten-delicacy nourishing meal, it immediately swallowed the dried fish whole, then trotted over to rub against the back of her hand... This was a sign of willingness to cooperate. ... Dusk settled low. Inside the jewelry shop, the shopkeeper saw it was almost closing time, yet the person who owed money still hadn't arrived. He was losing his patience. "Master Pei, when will your silver arrive? If it doesn't come, this old servant will have to report you to the authorities." "What's the hurry? You haven't closed your doors yet, have you? It's still early!" Pei Wuliang was also growing impatient. What was going on? In his past life, no matter what he bought, Jia Qingcheng would always silently settle the bill for him from behind. She never let him worry about anything. Today, when she came to pay the silver, he would definitely demand an explanation from her. Otherwise, don't blame him for ignoring her. "Young master, it's almost the hour of you (5-7 PM). This old servant is just anxious." "Shopkeeper, what do you mean by that? Are you saying Brother Wuliang would owe you silver? Don't forget, the Pei family was once a prestigious clan. Young Master Pei is the legitimate heir—would he owe you such a paltry sum?" "Jiaojiao speaks the truth. Buying your goods is doing you a favor. Don't get too cocky!" "You two, paying for goods is only natural. What's this talk of doing favors?" "Enough nonsense. Just wait. Gather all your people and wait for the silver to arrive, then count it slowly. Don't make this young master look down on you, acting like you've never seen money before!" "You—" "Young master, this servant is back!" Hu Ba's ecstatic voice came from outside the street. When Song Jiaojiao saw Hu Ba arrive, she was even more convinced that the ugly thing had brought the money. She had thought the ugly thing was so proud, but here she was, obediently coming to pay. After all, Pei Wuliang was the man she loved most. For the sake of her beloved man, she didn't mind suffering a little grievance. Anyway, she was just an ugly thing with a worthless backbone. "Brother Wuliang, sister is here!" "Hmph, she kept me waiting long enough!" In his past life, Jia Qingcheng had never made such a low-level mistake. This time, he would definitely give her a good scolding! "Young master, this servant has arrived." "Why is it only you? Where's Qingcheng?" Pei Wuliang didn't see Jia Qingcheng's figure outside and quickly questioned Hu Ba. Hu Ba was about to speak when Pei Wuliang cut him off, "What are you waiting for? It seems she gave you banknotes. Hand the banknotes to this young master!" This time, he would definitely slam the banknotes right in the face of this money-grubbing shopkeeper, to see if he still dared to look down on others like a dog! With that said, Pei Wuliang quickly turned to look at the shopkeeper. The shopkeeper hadn't expected that Miss Jia was truly that infatuated with this young man. It seemed he had overestimated the backbone of the Jia family's young lady. Well then, how much pride could an ugly girl have? She was probably just trying to scare this heartless man! "Young master!" "Shopkeeper, this young master wants to slap these banknotes in your face. What do you say to that?" "Please don't, young master. This old servant is just following proper procedure. I'm not deliberately making things difficult. Where's your silver?" After thoroughly humiliating the shopkeeper, Pei Wuliang turned to look at Hu Ba. "Why haven't you taken out the banknotes yet?" What was wrong with Qingcheng this time? Why didn't she pay in cash? If it were cash, he would throw each coin at these people's faces, letting them know what happened when they offended him! "Young master, where would this servant get silver!" "Stop joking. Did Qingcheng deliberately tell you to say that? I understand now—is she still angry that I brought Jiaojiao out to buy jewelry instead of accompanying her?" Hu Ba: "..." "Young master, truly, there's no silver. The eldest young lady said she knows, and she should be coming along behind." What? She knows? When the shopkeeper heard that the silver hadn't arrived and Miss Jia hadn't come either, he immediately grew bold. "Master Pei, where's your silver?" Pei Wuliang: "..." What was Qingcheng playing at? Couldn't she just give the silver to Hu Ba? Did she have to come herself? She was walking so slowly—wasn't she just trying to make him wait more anxiously? Truly ugly in appearance, and ugly in heart too! "What's the hurry? Isn't the eldest Miss Jia on her way? Would she owe you money?" "Shopkeeper, we're about to close! It's getting dark!" The shop assistant quickly came forward to announce that it was getting dark. At this point, a customer inside the shop finally couldn't hold back. "Young Master Pei, if you don't have silver, don't come here putting on airs. That Miss Jia isn't coming. Give up on that hope!" "Shut up! She will come. The relationship between Qingcheng and me is none of your business to gossip about!" "Relationship? What relationship? At the spring banquet, you announced your intention to marry the woman by your side. Jia Qingcheng is to marry into Chu Wangfu as a living widow—what relationship does she still have with you?" "Exactly! Since you've betrayed her, don't expect Miss Jia to still acknowledge you. She may be ugly, but she's not stupid!" "You—" "Wuliang gege, what should we do? Sister probably really isn't coming. Why don't you just pay the bill here first? We can't keep waiting like this—it's too embarrassing." Song Jiaojiao knew that Jia Qingcheng hated them and naturally wouldn't come. Waiting this long already proved that Jia Qingcheng had no intention of settling the bill. She had originally thought Jia Qingcheng was just a fool—no matter how they deceived and humiliated her, she wouldn't dare resist. After all, she was destined to be a widow, and her future could only rely on Pei Wuliang. But she had underestimated Jia Qingcheng's rebellious spirit. She actually dared to refuse payment! "Jiaojiao, don't be upset. Let me handle this!" Pei Wuliang didn't want his beloved to see him in such an embarrassing state, so he quickly had the maidservant escort Song Jiaojiao out to wait in the carriage. As for himself, he was subjected to the pointing and whispering of the crowd. At that moment, he wished he could find a hole to crawl into. His masculine dignity was being trampled upon by everyone at this very moment! Damn it—when had he ever suffered such humiliation? "Master Pei, pay up!" The crowd of onlookers felt quite satisfied watching this. After all, if Jia Qingcheng had actually shown up, they wouldn't have sympathized with her at all. Fortunately, the Jia family's young lady had a backbone. This time, they'd teach this heartless man a proper lesson! "Hmph, you want to see me make a fool of myself? Let me tell you, that's impossible. Though my family has fallen on hard times, I still have this small amount of money." With that, he walked over to the shopkeeper and spoke in a negotiating tone, "Shopkeeper, could you put this on my Pei family's tab for now?" In the past, all these accounts were charged to Jia Qingcheng. But now he knew very well that the shopkeeper wouldn't agree to that, so he settled for the next best option! The shopkeeper looked at him as if he were some disgusting creature. If it weren't for wanting his money, the shopkeeper would have had someone drag him out and beat him senseless. "Master Pei, if I put it on your tab, when will you come to settle the account?"