Chapter 24: This Girl is a Shameless Money-Grubber

Hu Zhaodi chuckled, “So it’s really you!”

Rufeng scratched his nose awkwardly. “Miss Hu, how did you know I was there?”

“I could smell you. You’ve got a smoky scent all over you.”

Of course, that was a lie; Hu Zhaodi’s nose wasn’t that sharp.

Rufeng, however, believed her, raising his arm to sniff. “I don’t smell anything!”

“Just because you can’t smell it doesn’t mean I can’t. Now, help me pick these mushrooms. Afterward, go catch a wild chicken and make a stew for your master.” She pointed to the mushrooms growing on the dead tree.

Rufeng looked skeptical. “These things…are edible?”

“Of course they’re edible! They’re delicious, so get it!”

Nodding, Rufeng crouched down to gather the mushrooms. Since he couldn’t carry them all by hand, he laid his outer robe on the ground and began to gather it.

Hu Zhaodi smiled, adding her own mushrooms onto Rufeng’s makeshift bundle. When they’d finished picking, Rufeng wrapped them up and carried them openly as he followed her, keeping a little distance to help spot more.

A short while later, Hu Zhaodi spotted a Polygonum multiflorum. Judging by the thickness of its tendrils, it seemed fairly old, and she eagerly knelt to dig it up.

Seeing her struggle with a stick, Rufeng approached. “Miss Hu, what are you digging? Need help?”

Hu Zhaodi turned and smiled. “It’s Polygonum multiflorum. I’d love a hand. If you dig it out for me, I’ll search nearby for other goodies.”

“Alright, but don’t wander too far.” Rufeng silently added to himself: If something happens to you, there’ll be hell to pay.

“Got it. I’ll leave the Polygonum multiflorum in your capable hands.”

“Understood. Leave it to me.”

As Rufeng pulled out his knife and began digging, Hu Zhaodi wandered nearby, out of his line of sight. She managed to bag a deer and two wild rabbits, sending the deer into her space and carrying the rabbits back to him.

Just as she arrived, Rufeng had finished extracting the Polygonum multiflorum root, which looked well over a hundred years old. Hu Zhaodi examined it carefully; this root alone could fetch a decent price.

They continued searching the mountains for a while longer, with Rufeng also managing to catch two wild chickens. As lunchtime approached, Hu Zhaodi suggested they head back.

They’d had a good morning, gathering herbs and meat without any trouble from large predators. Once back at the cave, Hu Zhaodi started cooking.

As usual, Rufeng watched over the rice, while she prepared the dishes.

After lunch, she returned to the mountains to hunt and gather more herbs. With Rufeng acting as her bodyguard, she encountered no dangers and brought in a good haul.

At dinnertime, Hu Zhaodi said, “Young Master Mo, I’ll be going to town tomorrow to buy some grains and oil. For breakfast and lunch, you’ll have roasted rabbit—I’ve already seasoned it, so all you need to do is roast it.”

Mo Jinnan paused, then nodded. “Alright. While you’re in town, pick up two sets of bedding for me.”

Hu Zhaodi extended her hand, palm up.

He looked at her, puzzled. “What’s that for?”

“Money! Don’t you need money to buy things?”

“Didn’t I already give you two hundred taels?”

Hu Zhaodi rolled her eyes. “Big brother, those two hundred taels were for cooking; we never agreed it would include buying you things!”

Mo Jinnan’s mouth twitched slightly. “Miss, that’s two hundred taels, not two taels. Even a top chef at a restaurant barely makes two or three taels a month, and two blankets won’t cost that much.”

“So what? You were the one who suggested paying two hundred taels for meals, I didn’t twist your arm. Besides, coming here to cook for you is a huge risk to my life! Do chefs at restaurants face dangers every day? My life is valuable, you know. If it weren’t for the fact that you saved me, I wouldn’t cook for two hundred taels!”

Rufeng couldn’t help but cut in, “Miss Hu, how is cooking for my master life-threatening?”

Hu Zhaodi sighed dramatically. “This is the deep mountains! Every day I come and go risking my life, I also encounters with snakes or wild beasts. If I’m late and lose my way, or if the weather turns bad, that’s life-threatening! You may have skills, but I’m just a weak, defenseless girl.”

Mo Jinnan nodded. “You make a good point. From now on, Rufeng will come fetch you in the morning and escort you home at night.”

“That’s unnecessary,” Hu Zhaodi waved dismissively. “Besides, if you want to buy something, you’ll have to pay up yourself. I’m dirt poor; I finally earned a little money and won’t spend a single coin on you.”

Reluctantly, Mo Jinnan took out another hundred-tael note and handed it over.

Hu Zhaodi’s eyes sparkled like stars in the night, gleaming with a peculiar delight.

Rufeng silently grumbled to himself: This Hu girl isn’t just stingy; she’s a shameless penny-pincher, completely obsessed with money.

Seeing her greedy expression, Mo Jinnan couldn’t resist teasing her. “Remember to return any leftover silver after you buy the blankets.”

As expected, the smile immediately vanished from Hu Zhaodi’s face.

“Return it? You think I’m feeding you two for free? Do you really expect a poor orphan like me to cover expenses for a wealthy young master?”

“Isn’t the two hundred taels meant to cover ingredients?”

Hu Zhaodi pulled a shameless move. “Who told you that includes ingredients? I never said it did.”

“Alright, fine. Keep it, then. Just get enough supplies so we don’t have to go to town every other day.”

“Fine, I’ll head back now. Remember to take your medicine on time—I’ll come again tomorrow afternoon.”

With that, she set down her bowl and chopsticks and strode out of the cave.

Mo Jinnan watched her leave, a smile tugging at his lips. This girl is shameless and greedy, yet… strangely a little cute.

Rufeng was so startled by his master’s expression that he dropped the food he was holding with his chopsticks. After following him for years, he’d never seen Mo Jinnan look so pleased with a young woman.

Noticing Rufeng’s gaze, Mo Jinnan’s eyes turned icy again. “What are you staring at? Didn’t you hear what I said?”

“What did you say?” Rufeng asked instinctively.

“Escort Miss Hu in and out of the mountains.”

Quickly setting down his bowl and chopsticks, Rufeng hurried after Hu Zhaodi, trailing her from a distance as he escorted her out of the mountains.

This time, because he kept further back, Hu Zhaodi didn’t notice Rufeng following her.

In high spirits, she murmured to herself, “Wow, another hundred taels! Once that guy recovers, I can buy some land and build a house.”