Xia Dabao insisted on giving him the sweet potatoes and eggs, "I'm not just giving these to you for nothing. I give you eggs and sweet potatoes, and you lend me that book to read. I'll return it to you after I'm done reading, I promise not to get it dirty or damaged, okay?"
She was finding a way for Tian Xiaobei to step down gracefully. Treating the food as rental payment for the book allowed the prideful Tian Xiaobei to accept without refusal.
Tian Xiaobei licked his somewhat dry lips before nodding slightly, "Okay, do you want to come and get the book, or should I bring it to you?"
"You bring it to me. I'll be at home tonight," Xia Dabao said, while also handing over the sweet potatoes and eggs to Tian Xiaobei. Tian Xiaobei took them, then turned around and began to eat them in big bites, with his back to Xia Dabao.
