Li Wei blinked rapidly as she tried to figure out the boy's intentions. Marry him to get the jade? Is this boy crazy or out of his mind? "N-no way!"
It was really funny how her eyes almost bulged out at his suggestion. That expression plus the innocent face of the girl made him burst out laughing nonstop. She couldn't have believed he was serious, right? What an absurd idea!
There was no way he'd marry a stranger. He really had no interest from the start, but for some reason he just wanted to play around. "Ahuh, I knew it, you didn't truly wanted the jade. Well then, there's no chance you'll get this piece of precious jade now. Off we part and never cross paths again!"
With that, he quickly turned his heels and strode away. He piled the fire woods in his arms into a wooden cart and pushed in the opposite direction of the inn. All she could do was stared at his disappearing back wordlessly.
That boy was oh so annoying! He laughed so loudly, it was obvious he was making fun of her! How dare he played her because of a piece of jade! Whatever, the jade was really simple and boring anyway.
Li Wei turned and spoke to Hui, who witnessed the whole scene nearby, "Go after that boy and buy all his firewood. Give him double the price and claim it's because of an urgent use. Also, give him an umbrella. It seems like it will rain tonight."
Hui nodded and did as asked without questions. While San'er who also saw the situation, whispered, "Miss, why are you being nice to him when he was so rude to you?"
Li Wei was childish when she was in front of him, yet still took care of him from behind. "Silly, it was my fault for not looking anyway. He did go overboard with his suggestion, but it was also because I pushed too far. We all have something we can't let go. It was understandable he refused to sell it."
Li Wei would have never admitted this if the boy was still there, but it was true. She understood the feeling of needing to protect something precious. Even if there was an amazing offer, one would still choose to protect. Sometimes, nothing else could measure up to that precious treasure.
"Miss, do you have something you wish to protect?" San'er asked out of curiosity.
"Don't we all?" She smiled lightly.
San'er considered the young miss' words. Some things are not meant to be said. Treasure it silently, protect it quietly. This was the young miss' way. "Ahh okay, I understand now."
"Good, now let's go in and enjoy those delicious food and comfortable beds. Race you inside!" Without waiting for a response, Li Wei dashed into the inn at maximum speed.
San'er could only stand there as she shook her head in disapproval. What happened to the matured young miss who was just giving a lecture?
The owner of the inn was an old man in his fifties. He was seated at the corner when he was startled by the sudden entrance of a girl. She came up to him and spoke politely, "Sir, we'll take two rooms for the night."
"Sure, go up the stairs to the second floor and turn right. The two rooms in the corner are yours."
"Thanks," Li Wei placed the money on the counter and grabbed the keys.
"I saw you talking to the woodcutter's son at the door. Do you know him?" The old man asked.
She shook her head. "No, this is our first meeting."
The old man seemed to pause for a moment as he contemplated on what to say next, "Well, it seems like you're a traveler so let me give you this advice. It'll do you good to stay away from the woodcutter's son."
Li Wei didn't know what to say, she only thanked the man before walking up to the stairs. There's no way she would judge a stranger based on the words of another stranger, but she had no more energy to banter with the old man. Also, who told that boy to annoy her earlier? She was in no way obligated to protect him when he was rude to her.
Well, she was rude too, but he was more rude!
In the morning, Li Wei stopped by the counter again as she came down the stairs. This time, it was the old man's wife at the counter. She greeted the wife as she returned the two keys, "Good morning, aunty. Here are the keys."
The wife quickly stashed the keys away and whispered, "Young girl, I heard that you had an encounter with the woodcutter's son yesterday?"
"It seems so." Li Wei had no idea where this was going, but what was the deal with everyone showing interest in her personal business?
"Oh no, I feel bad for you. So unfortunate of you to bump into him. Yesterday he came here trying to sell firewood to us, but I strongly rejected. The old man wanted to help him, but I forbade him. Who knows, maybe those fire woods turned unfortunate at the boy's touch. I'd even say, the conversation you had with him was too long. No one dares to speak to him more than three sentences here in Ta'lin Village--"
"Aunty, I have to leave now," Li Wei loudly interrupted the woman's sentence as she saw Hui walking inside to retrieve the belongings in her hands. Before she ran out, she spoke bluntly, "Take care. I hope you'll focus more on good hospitality and less on gossip from now on."
In the carriage, Li Wei pushed aside the curtains stared at the direction the boy had gone in. She didn't know why, but she couldn't stand the woman's gossip any longer. Why was the old couple so biased against the boy? It's not as if he forced them to buy his wood.
On the ride, she only closed her eyes silently as she once again avoided talking to San'er. She was still annoyed and thus, she cursed at him inside her head.
Damn that woodcutter's son!
How dare that boy brought up marriage over a piece of jade?
She may not have been the only one cursing that boy, for that afternoon, the old couple should soon find a surprising gift in the room in the corner of the second floor-- a large pile of freshly chopped firewood from the woodcutter's son whom they spoke so ill of.
Although she was in a sour mood, Li Wei almost broke into laughter as she imagined the shook expressions on the old nosy couple's faces.