Chapter 303 Zhao Houjing successfully got money from his good father
Sun Tu looked at Zhao Houjing's jumping up and down and sighed helplessly, "He knew it wouldn't be that simple." But his money didn't just come from the wind. Only a madman would give so much money to a child who had already changed his surname!
"Fifty taels! Dad doesn't have any more."
"Fifty taels is too little, what can I buy? Mother would have sent someone to send me money if she liked it. Otherwise, Dad, please give me the travel expenses to return to Yuanjing! With five or six hundred taels, I should be able to go back." Zhao Houjing became more and more excited as he spoke, and the smiles on his face became more and more, as if he thought his idea was a good one.
Sun Tu thought to himself, do you think I'm a sucker?
"Didn't you come here with only three hundred taels? Why do you need so much to go back?"
Zhao Houjing knew his good father would ask this question, and he had already thought of an answer. "I only have three hundred taels, but before I left, I borrowed another three hundred taels from a classmate, saying I'd pay it back when I got back. Dad, don't you know how hard it's been for me this journey? So, can you give me a few hundred more taels when I get back?"
After Zhao Houjing finished speaking, he pulled Sun Tu's sleeve and acted coquettishly.
Sun Tu could only reprimand him softly: "What's wrong with you being like this? Sit still."
Zhao Houjing sat back down reluctantly, "Then Dad, give me the silver! One hundred and fifty taels."
"Jing'er, listen to me first. I come from a humble family and don't have as much money as your mother. So I really don't have that much money. But I still love you, so I'll lend you 150 taels this time. When your mother brings you the money, you can return it to me, okay?"
Sun Tu did this because he thought that if nothing happened, Zhao Houjing would leave sooner or later, so he couldn't give him the money for nothing.
Zhao Houjing sneered in his heart, but he agreed without hesitation. "I thought it was something important! I agree. I'll ask my mother to send some more for me."
Sun Tu rolled his eyes in his heart. It's no wonder your mother is rich. But he still praised Zhao Houjing, "Jing'er really understands how difficult it is to be a father!"
Then, under Zhao Houjing's expectant gaze, Sun Tu went behind the screen and took out a silver note of 100 taels and a silver note of 50 taels. He handed them to Zhao Houjing reluctantly.
Zhao Houjing pulled twice but it didn't budge, so he could only cry out, "Dad, please let go!"
When Sun Tu heard Zhao Houjing's blunt words, he could only suppress his reluctance and let go.
Zhao Houjing took the banknote in his hand, carefully checked its authenticity, and then carefully put it in his arms.
"Then my son will go buy a gift first!"
Seeing that he had received the banknotes, Zhao Houjing was too lazy to flatter his good father.
Seeing this prodigal son trying to run away after getting the banknotes, Sun Tu was speechless in his heart, but he still smiled and said, "Jing'er, wait a minute."
Zhao Houjing looked at Sun Tu with pretended confusion: "Dad, is there anything else?"
"Jing'er, it's like this. Dad received news that it will be unsafe outside in two days. So if you have anything to buy, buy it all at once today, and then you can stay in the mansion with peace of mind."
This is Sun Tu’s ultimate goal, to make Zhao Houjing stay in the mansion willingly.
Zhao Houjing looked at Sun Tu with pretended annoyance. It would be suspicious if he didn't ask at this moment: "In that case, when should I leave for Yuanjing?"
"Wait until this storm has passed, then come back! That way, Dad will be more relieved."
Sun Tu tried his best to smile more kindly and establish his personality as a person who loves children.
Zhao Houjing looked at his good father's face, seeing that he had the same smile as when he was a child, and he felt that he had never understood him before. If he hadn't heard Sun Tu's plan in advance, his good father would have wanted to keep him as a hostage. He would probably be foolishly moved by this good father!
"I'll listen to Dad. I'll go buy a gift for Mom first." Zhao Houjing said in a happy tone, turned around and walked out with Huai Qing. When he was almost at the door, he did not forget to carry Sun Tu on his back and waved.
From Sun Tu's perspective, Zhao Houjing looked carefree and relaxed after receiving the money. He was envious of him. The confidence of children raised in wealth and those raised in poverty was really different!
Zhao Houjing bid farewell to this place and his past self in a carefree manner. Without a second thought, he took Huai Qing straight to the largest restaurant in the small county. He also cautiously asked Huai Qing, "Is anyone following us?"
Huai Qing was paying attention all the way! He shook his head very confidently, "Master, no. I was paying attention all the way!"
"Well, well done. I'll reward you when we get back."
Zhao Houjing was thinking about leaving this place soon, and he couldn't help but feel very happy. Then he took Huai Qing and went directly to find Dong Mian.
The reason Sun Tu was so relieved was that he had actually asked the servants and learned that Zhao Houjing had only brought Huaiqing with him, not even Dongmian and his books and clothes. He was relieved because he had seen Dongmian before; she was Zhao Lingmeng's capable maid.
Even if Zhao Houjing wanted to run away, he wouldn't leave Dongming and his precious writing brushes, inkstones, and books behind. So what's there to worry about?
After Zhao Houjing and his servant reunited with Dongmian, they exchanged a few words, and then Zhao Houjing opened a small private room for Dongmian to rest in. He took Huaiqing with him to prepare some dry food and other things.
Zhao Houjing took Huaiqing to the bank to exchange the banknotes for silver. He exchanged the 100-liang banknote for gold, which was small and easy to store and not easily discovered. As for the 50-liang banknote, Zhao Houjing decided to exchange it for small change, so that they could use it more easily on the road.
Then he took Huaiqing to the cloth shop, sold his clothes, and changed into some regular clothes. He also bought some men's clothes for Dongmian. He wanted to change his appearance before leaving the county. That way, even if his good father noticed something was wrong and sent people after him, they wouldn't be able to catch up for a while.
Zhao Houjing and Huaiqing bought a bunch of long-lasting dry food and kettles. They also bought a teapot to boil water for drinking on the way.
Since they were little, their mother had always warned them that raw water could harbor bugs and shouldn't be drunk directly. So, whenever possible, he still tried to boil water.
Actually, buying these miscellaneous items didn't cost much silver. Zhao Houjing looked at the remaining forty taels in his hand and finally gritted his teeth. He went to inquire about the escort team that was leaving the city today. Because the three of them had no carriage or horses, they couldn't get far on foot.
Finally, they found a escort team that was about to leave the city at noon and agreed to take the three of them to a small county town two counties away for ten taels of silver per person.
Zhao Houjing paid the money without hesitation and quickly returned to the restaurant with the receipt. He took Dongmian, who had changed his clothes and disguised himself as a middle-aged man, and went straight to the escort team.
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