Xiao Hei Yu jumped up, and Xia Xiuzai was startled. He quickly looked around. The small alley where they were had no passersby, but from the far end of the alley, someone heard Xiao Hei Yu's voice and curiously peeked in their direction.

  "Little Dragon, don't make a noise. We're just discussing family matters, it's not good if others hear us." Xia Xiuren hurriedly lowered his voice to persuade Xiao Hei Yu, afraid that someone would be attracted over and overhear their conversation. As a father, he was at a loss for words, having to ask his young daughter for money, which was truly an embarrassing thing.

  Xiao Hei Yu'er hugged her arm, coldly staring at Xia Xiucai: "Big brother, you still know how to be ashamed. I'm telling you, if you want money, there's none, but if you want a life, I'll give you mine. With me around, don't think about bullying Sixteen."

  Xia Xiuzai glanced at Xia Zhi. At this moment, Xia Zhi was shielded by Xiao Hei Yu behind him. She didn't look as flustered as Xiao Hei Yu, seemingly neither surprised nor angry about his request.

  Xia Zhi's face still had a faint smile on it.

  Xia Xiuzai's heart was increasingly distressed. If there were no other options, he would not have opened his mouth. But if the money brought back this time was too little, he would not be able to pass Tian Shi's test. And Tian Shi could not explain himself in front of her parents-in-law.

  "Xiao Long, sixteen, this money I won't take for nothing, it's just to help out in an emergency. Once this matter is over, whatever amount I took from sixteen, I'll return that much." Xia Xiuren gritted his teeth and explained to Xia Zhi and Xiao Heiyu.

  "Hey," Xia Hei Yu sneered, clearly not believing Xia Xiu Cai. He also waved his hand to stop Xia Zhi from speaking, meaning that he would handle this matter completely. "You say you want to pay back, but what do you have to pay back with? The money you earn is all taken away by Tian Lai Juan. In the end, it's still Xia Liu who loses out! No way, I won't agree to this."

  Liu Bei borrowed Jingzhou and had no intention of returning it. Li Shanzhang said that Xia Xiuzai's character is very good. Xia Zhi trusted Li Shanzhang. Xia Xiuzai may have slowly repaid the money she borrowed from others, but the money taken from her was not necessarily returned.

  She also believed that Xia Xiuzai's words were sincere at the moment, but in the process of paying back the money later, she would definitely encounter difficulties and obstacles, and the result might be that she couldn't pay it back.

  But this is still the most insignificant problem.

  Xia Zhi is not a stingy person with money, but this money she wants to spend is worth it, and she spends it willingly.

  "I'm definitely going." Xia Xiuzai's face flushed with embarrassment at Little Black Fish's words, but he said this sentence with determination.

  "No borrowing." Little Black Fish shook his head, saying it with a tone that brooked no argument.

  The two brothers with a significant age gap were stuck here.

  Xia Zhi thought for a moment and then took a step forward. She asked Xia Xiuren: "Dad, how much do you plan to borrow from me?"

  She opened her mouth, and both Xiao Hei Yu and Xia Xiucai were shocked.

  Xiao Hei felt that Xia Zhi had softened and made a mistake. "Sixteen, it's not easy to make money. Even if you want to throw your money away, you can't fill the bottomless pit of Lao Tian's family. You won't get anything good out of it, and they'll still owe you in the future."

  Xia Xiuzai's face began to twitch. Xia Hei Yu had heard these words many times before, and Old Man Xia had advised him in the same way in the past.

  "Uncle, don't worry. I have a plan." Xia Zhi whispered to comfort Xiao Hei Yu, telling him that she had her own arrangements, then she straightened up and asked Xia Xiucai, "Dad, how much money do you want to borrow?"

  Xiao Hei Yu was pinned down by Xia Zhi, and he stared at Xia Xiucai with a huff. If Xia Xiucai dared to open his mouth wide, he would pounce on him together with Da Qing and execute him on the spot.

  Even if Xiaoxiao didn't look so fierce, Shucai wouldn't dare ask for more.

  "This is really helpless. Sixteen, can you, can you lend me ten taels of silver?" Xia Xiuzai carefully looked at Xia Zhi. He had twenty taels in his hand, and with the addition of ten more, although it was still far from what the Tian family demanded, but this time when he returned home, he could barely shut Tian Shi's mouth and let her temporarily explain to her natal family.

  Looking at Xia Zhi bowing her head and not speaking, Xia Xiucai thought she was asking for too much. He felt uneasy. "How about this, a little less is also okay. As for the rest, I'll think of another way."

  Xia Zhi raised his head and asked Xia Xiucui, "Dad, are you really going to give the Tian family two hundred taels? If so, I won't lend you a single penny."

  The little black fish turned its head and hummed softly: "No matter how much he begs, it's right not to lend him a single cent."

  Xia Zhi smiled and stroked the top of Xiao Hei's head. Xia Xiuzai had finally spoken up, and if he didn't lend even a single copper coin, things would inevitably become awkward between them. If that happened, many things would become difficult to handle.

  Her surname is Xia, she is the daughter of Xia Xiuren and Tian shi, this will never change. So, she has to maintain a relationship with two people.

  She can lend money to Xia Xiuzai, and even give him some money, but it's not unconditional.

  Xia Xiuren bowed his head and pondered for half a day, seemingly also wanting to understand. Firstly, he was not possible to gather two hundred taels of silver, secondly, Tian Dabao's marriage really didn't need two hundred taels.

  "Sixteen, I think I understand. This time when Da Bao gets married, we'll give them at most fifty, no, forty taels."

  Forty taels is enough to buy a wife from some poor place and bring her back home.

  "Thirty taels, not one tael more." Xia Zhi said.

  Xia Xiuzai looked at Xia Zhi, and after a moment's hesitation, he gave in. "Thirty taels is thirty taels, I suppose." Thirty taels should be enough to buy a woman back, but Tian Dabao's wedding arrangements would have to be somewhat more frugal.

  Xia Zhi smiled and guessed what Xia Xiu was thinking. "Dad, this thirty taels of silver, my mother will naturally have her own private allowance to make up for it." All the family's expenses were in Tian Shi's hands. Tian Shi wouldn't give money to his sons or daughters to spend, nor would he spend it himself; instead, he would send it all to his wife's natal family.

  He mentioned thirty taels, and Xiao Hei also stopped talking. If it's really possible, there's no need to go fill up the bottomless pit at Tianjia, and Old Master Xia would be willing to pay this amount.

  "Dad, I can lend you money, and it's okay if you don't pay me back. But I have a condition." Xia Zhi said seriously to Xia Xiuciai.

  Xia Xiuzai also thought of this, the little girl was different from before, not only had her own opinions, but also wasn't so easy to talk to. Xia Zhi was prepared to set conditions.

  "Alright, sixteen, you say it, I'll agree to whatever I can do."

  "I won't make it difficult for Father." Xia Zhi smiled, "I just want Father to agree with me on two things."

  "Which two?"

  "Firstly, regarding my marriage, I will make the decision in the future. If someone proposes a match, you and mother can discuss it with me, but cannot make the decision on my behalf." Xia Zhi said slowly.

  It's not her fault for being too prepared. Last time in the academy, those gentlemen's half-joking words had already sounded the alarm for her. Although she was only twelve years old, she couldn't help it that early marriage was popular in this era. She didn't want to be betrothed or sold to someone without her knowledge or consent by Xia Xiuren or even worse, by Tian Shi.

  This matter is non-negotiable, and Xia Zhi is willing to pay any price for it.

  Xia Xiuzai first borrowed money from her, this is a good opportunity given by heaven.

  (。)