9 The Woodcutter's Son 2

Li Wei blinked rapidly as she tried to figure out the boy's intentions. Married him to get the jade? Was that 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 didn't believe he was serious, right? What an absurd idea! There's way he'd marry a stranger. Even if she was a beautiful 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 want the jade. Well then, there's no chance you'll get this piece of loving 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 his wooden cart and pushed in the opposite direction of the inn. All she could do was stared at his back that was faced her now.

That boy was oh so annoying! He laughed so loudly at her, 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. Just like the owner. For a person like herself, only the finest jade with the most intricate design was up to her match.

Li Wei pouted her lips in annoyance as she remembered something. She turned and spoke to Hui, who stood nearby and witnessed the whole scene, "Go after that boy and buy all his fire woods. Give him double the regular 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 interacting with the boy, but she was mature and functioned with reasons. "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 precious we treasure. 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.

San'er considered the young miss' words and thought it was wise and made sense. "Ahh okay, I understand now."

"Good, now let's go in and enjoy those delicious food and comfortable beds. Don't think anymore of his nonsense marriage. Race you inside!" Without waiting for a response, Li Wei quickly dashed towards the counter. San'er could only stand there as she shook her head in disapproval and then slowly walked inside too. 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 paused. Oh, the old man must've been talking about the boy she argued with earlier. She quickly shook her head.

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 him."

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 argue 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 fire woods to us, but I strongly rejected. The old man wanted to help him, but I forbidded 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. Hui, I'm ready." 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 his fire woods.

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 she left in the room in the corner of the second floor-- a large pile of freshly chopped fire woods 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 shooked expressions on the old couple's faces.