Zhao Jiaqi glanced at the table. There were no substantial dishes. The fish was crucian carp, barely larger than her palm.
What was advertised as pork and vermicelli noodles had only a few pieces of meat floating on top, with the rest being vermicelli. As for the tofu, let alone buying a small basin, one could at least get three to five jin for ten copper coins.
The other dish, "killing pig's dish," was an insult to both pork and pickled cabbage. The basin was full of soup, pickled cabbage, vermicelli, a tiny bit of pig's blood, and as for the pork... it had likely wandered off somewhere, as there was none in the dish.
Zhao Jiaqi couldn't be bothered to argue with the waiter. It was genuinely difficult in the dead of winter, so she put on her shoes, ready to eat.
Meanwhile, Fan Zehao fumbled in his embrace, pulling out a very old, very worn purse embroidered with indecipherable plants.
He stingily dug out a pile of copper coins and was about to hand them to the waiter, "How much silver? Let me count!"
This statement momentarily stunned the waiter. Looking at the pile of copper coins, which contained not a single piece of broken silver, he thought, "Oh dear, this person is truly impoverished!"
Then he glanced at the woman beside him and suddenly realized. So, this man was a live-in son-in-law, married into the wife's family. Such men were not considered very desirable!
In this day and age, even "eating soft rice" was not easy!
"Guest, the bill has already been settled!" the waiter said, nodding at Zhao Jiaqi. He then added, "Madam, if you need anything, just call me!"
Zhao Jiaqi was unaware of his fleeting thoughts, and Fan Zehao was still preoccupied with the matter of the bill.
He didn't notice the waiter leave until he was gone. By the time he came to his senses, Zhao Jiaqi had already eaten two bites of the pork from the pork and vermicelli noodles. He reached for a piece of meat with his chopsticks, but seeing Zhao Jiaqi staring at him, he felt awkward eating it and offered it to his wife.
He asked, "The money from selling our deer and calf is with me. How do you have silver on you?"
Zhao Jiaqi gave him a sidelong glance. "The inn where we stayed the night before, the meals we ate – did you pay for any of them? You're asking now; isn't it too late?"
"That's true. So, where did your silver come from?" Fan Zehao hadn't thought much of it. He had assumed it was paid for by the people secretly protecting her. He had no idea it was her silver.
But he knew for a fact that when they left to search for her memories, his wife had no silver on her. Fan Zehao only had two taels of silver in total, and that was all in his possession.
Zhao Jiaqi bared her teeth at him and rolled her eyes. "I don't like asking people for money. It's better to earn it myself and spend it freely!"
One sentence enlightened Fan Zehao. He immediately took out the purse from his embrace and poured all the copper coins onto the dining table. The sound of the copper coins hitting the table was like firecrackers going off during the New Year.
That wasn't all. He reached into another part of his chest and took out another purse, even more worn than the first. Zhao Jiaqi couldn't bear to look and shook her head repeatedly.
This time, it was silver that fell onto the table, solid pieces that made a dull thud, more pleasant than the sound of firecrackers!
He pushed his silver and copper coins forward, sliding them towards her, and began to report with a foolish grin, "We've just arrived in Hexinzhou. The lodging and meals were paid for with money from home. We have one tael and three hundred wen left from that two taels of silver. We sold the deer and calf for fifty-five taels. That day we went out to eat, we ordered a pork knuckle, fifty-eight wen..."
Even a steward reporting to a master wouldn't be this clear. He could even remember the price of dishes! Zhao Jiaqi felt a headache coming on and raised her arm. "Stop, stop, stop. Don't say any more. I believe you haven't spent recklessly or hoarded any private money!"
"How could I do such a thing!" he said, sounding very self-righteous.
After he finished his report, he could eat with peace of mind. Conversely, Zhao Jiaqi looked down at the silver and copper coins, unsure of what to do for a moment.
How to put it? In her understanding, it was natural for a husband to earn money and give it to his wife for safekeeping.
However, she hadn't accepted this man in her heart yet. But seeing him so foolishly give all his savings to her, without a hint of softness or even the slightest regret, made her heart feel conflicted.
She pondered for a moment. Although they were truly husband and wife, she hadn't fully embraced that role. She would only accept this money after she remembered everything.
So, she pushed the silver back towards him. "You keep this money yourself." Fearing he might be unhappy or sad, Zhao Jiaqi quickly added, "You can give it to me again later!"
Although he didn't overthink things with his wife, usually appearing foolish, he wasn't stupid. He naturally understood why his wife refused his silver!
He didn't say anything and took out the two purses again, separating the copper coins and silver and then handing them to her. "After we got married, all the money I earned from hunting was given to you. You once said that a wife relies on her husband for clothing and food. I remember that. So, all our household money is entrusted to your care!"
"Only in your hands can this silver be used to its fullest potential. I know you haven't accepted me yet, but that doesn't stop you from spending this money!"
The foolish grin was gone, the silly demeanor vanished, replaced by sadness and a hint of tears. Zhao Jiaqi had never seen her like this in recent days, and her heart couldn't help but ache.
She stared at the purses for a few moments, then reached out and took them. "These purses are really ugly. Why are you still keeping such worn-out ones? I'll buy you two new ones tomorrow. You're a prince; aren't you afraid of losing face when you go out with something like this!"
Seeing his wife accept the money, Fan Zehao began to grin foolishly again. "Hehe, no need to change them. I'll carry them my whole life. You made them for me!"
After saying that, he gently caressed the incredibly ugly purse in her hand as if it were a priceless treasure!
Zhao Jiaqi: ...
Oh my goodness, she made them! The craftsmanship was too terrible. It wasn't his face that would be lost, but hers!
She grabbed Fan Zehao's wide sleeve. "How many years have you been carrying this purse? Have you ever taken it out before?"
Fan Zehao didn't even think before answering, "You embroidered it for me in the third month after we got married. Our daughter is already fourteen, so this purse is almost fifteen years old!"
After speaking, he even nervously tugged at his hair. "I took it out when I ate with my elder brothers. My elder brothers all know about it, and even the former Emperor Huangfu Jintao knows about it!"
Zhao Jiaqi deflated. How could she possibly have the appetite for food now? This was embarrassing enough to shame the underworld.
Her heart couldn't take it. Her pride and desire for dignity for most of her life had been shattered by a single purse. She felt utterly humiliated.
"You eat. I'll just sit here quietly!"
Seeing his wife's embarrassment, Fan Zehao belatedly realized that she was shy. But he was still clever. "I was joking, teasing you. How could I show such a beautiful purse to them? I can't hide it enough!"