As Jiho spoke, a moment of silence enveloped the scene, punctuated only by the gentle rustling of leaves in the night breeze.
The Jiao couple exchanged glances, their eyes reflecting the shimmer of the moonlight.
They then turned their attention to the stack of silver taels, the sight of which seemed to weigh heavily on their minds.
At last, Madam Jiao took a deep breath and opened her mouth to speak. Her tone was measured, conveying both respect and caution as she addressed Jiho.
"I am sorry, Scholar Li, but I don't understand what you want. However, seeing such a large sum of money, we don't think we could do it," she explained, her words carrying a sense of honesty and practicality.
Jiho, in turn, observed Madam Jiao with an indifferent expression. Her eyes, normally filled with determination, now held a hint of disappointment at the response.
She remained composed, though a flicker of emotion passed through her gaze.
