[Volume 1] Chapter 12- County town

Jiho was shocked. "It's fifty silver and five hundred copper coins, wow," she exclaimed .

'But I don't get it; that greedy family let me have it easily. Whatever, let's wait and see. But first, we need to buy some groceries, heehee.'

Jiho took her money and a basket as she walked toward the county. From memory, she found a carriage that takes villagers from a nearby village to the county for three copper per person.

As she walked toward the county road, she understood why that greedy family let her have money.

"Jiho, how are you?" a sweet voice made Jiho shudder. She looked and found a mer with too much makeup walking toward her.

Jiho tried to hide and pretended not to see, but unfortunately, the mer saw her and stood in front of her. Jiho recognized him as Xei Cheng, the mer son from the Cheng family.

"Oh," Jiho nodded and walked backward. "This girl..." Xei Cheng's face turned red, and he forced a smile.

After a while, a carriage arrived. As it stopped in front of them, an old woman in her forties, Aunt Zhao, greeted everyone. When she saw Jiho, she teased, "Oh my, if it isn't our scholar Li."

"Hello, Aunt Zhao," Jiho smiled and greeted. After that, she paid rent and turned to walk toward the carriage to take a seat. Suddenly, a voice stopped her.

"Hey, where is my rent?" Xei Cheng looked at Jiho with a sweet smile.

"What?" Jiho asked with a funny smile.

"I said pay my rent too," a smug expression formed on Xei Cheng's face.

'Hum, I know it; she also likes me,' .

"Hah, who do you think you are?" Jiho was amused.

"What?" His smile stopped midway.

"Let me ask you, are you my son, brother, or husband that I need to pay for your ride?" Jiho was amused by his shamelessness.

"You..." His face turned red, and Jiho continued,

"Do your family not know what to say except 'you'? Let me tell you, I have never seen an ugly thing like you."

"Scholar Li, don't go so far," a fat woman shouted. Jiho looked at her with focused eyes, "Hum."

"Hump, you should appo..." Before she could finish, Jiho interrupted her,

"Wait a minute, but can you tell me who you are?" Jiho asked with an innocent face.

"What, I am Shen Jiao."

"Oh... but who are you?" Jiho looked at her with innocent eyes again.

"I just said I am sh..." Before she could finish, she was interrupted again.

"I don't ask your name; I mean, are you my mother?"

"Wha... no."

"Then his," as she pointed her finger at Xei Cheng.

"No," she looked at Jiho with a confused expression.

"Then who are you to lecture me on what to do?"

"I... I..."

"Everyone clearly saw it; he started it. If not for me clarifying, people might think he is my lover," Jiho said, looking at Xei Cheng.

"But how can you talk to a mer like that?"

"Hah, so do you want me to do just what he says and let my future spouse misunderstand me?" Jiho looked at the fat woman as if looking at a fool.

"I..."

"I am sorry for her, Jiho," Xei Cheng said with tears in his eyes.

"Haha," Xei Cheng was shocked at her laughter. 'Why is she laughing?'

"If someone would look at you, they would think you are being bullied. Let me tell you, don't play this trick on me because it will not work," Jiho's serious tone made people realize that coming to taunt her and whose mistake it was.

After saying that, not looking at the crying and aggrieved mer, she came toward the carriage and bowed to Aunt Zhao and the passengersto Apologizing, it was the first time a scholar apologized to common people, so they had a more favorable expression towards her as she sat, and the carriage was about to start.

"W-wait," a shout stopped the carriage. As Jiho looked out, she saw three mers carrying an injured mer on his back and what more amusing is she know two of them .

Aunt Zhao stopped the carriage and came down. "Oh, it's you guys again."

"Aunt Cheng, we need to go to the county medical hall. Can you please give us a ride?" a mer asked in a hoarse tone.

"Ji mer, don't make it tough for me. You haven't paid for six rides before, and now this. I am sorry, but I am also helpless," Aunt Zhao sighed she know it's hertless but she also has a family to support.

BAM

"Please, Aunt Zhao, we beg you," all three of them knelt down.

"Please don't make it hard for me."aunt Zhao turned around to leave The mers' eyes teared up.

"I'll pay for their ride," Jiho's solemn voice interrupted their crying.

(I hope you like it and comment to let me know your opinions).