After saying that, Yang Chuxia laughed. Using her own money to buy her own betrothal gifts was quite amusing.
"You came just in time. I was wondering how I could ask you for money without the three uncles and aunts noticing that we’re meeting," Ye Zi’an said with a smile. He had enough money on him – rents from his land, wages from Shopkeeper Li, who was kind to people and often rewarded him generously, as well as his previous savings. He also occasionally took on additional jobs, like copying books. All of his money added up should be enough to prepare the betrothal gifts.
However, after calculating, he felt like it was still too insufficient and had nothing worth showing off.
Yang Chuxia giggled and looked around Ye Zi’an’s house. Some items were already prepared with red paper embellishments. Driven by curiosity, she looked around, wondering what could be inside. "Brother An, what did you prepare?"
"The Buddha says it’s unutterable," replied Ye Zi’an, teasing her.
"Humph, I’ll find out sooner or later," snorted Yang Chuxia. "After all, these things will eventually belong to me."
"That’s right, they’re all yours."
"That’s what I thought," Yang Chuxia said proudly, then continued, "Well, I’ve brought the money. My mother said we shouldn’t see each other these days, so I’ll pretend to be leaving. Goodbye, my friend."
With that, Yang Chuxia prepared to leave.
"Wait, Xiaxia," Ye Zi’an hurriedly called out to her, puzzledly asking, "What’s a copper shoe? A shoe made of copper?"
Yang Chuxia burst into laughter. "Xiao’an, your imagination is truly rich. For now, you can just think of it that way."
Ye Zi’an silently nodded.
"Do you have any more questions?"
Just as Yang Chuxia reached the door, Ye Zi’an called out to her again. "Wait, Xiaxia."
"What now?" Yang Chuxia looked at him suspiciously.
"Are you just going to leave ?" Ye Zi’an asked, "You don’t want to stay a little longer?"
"Uh?" Yang Chuxia didn’t catch Ye Zi’an’s hesitation and shook her head. "No, I have to go back. My mother will be back soon, and if she sees me here, she’ll scold me again."
Ye Zi’an nodded slightly, feeling a hint of disappointment.
"I’ll be going then." Yang Chuxia reached for the door.
"Wait, Xiaxia." Ye Zi’an’s voice came again.
"What’s up now?" This time, Yang Chuxia was certain that Ye Zi’an had something to say. She wasn’t in a hurry to go home, so she returned to the room, slumped in a chair, and asked, "Just spit it out. What exactly do you want to say?"
Ye Zi’an approached Yang Chuxia and hesitantly said, "I just wanted to ask you... what kind of betrothal gifts do you want?"
Yang Chuxia nearly spat and thought, ’This kid!’ He had been fidgeting just for that simple question? However, the more she thought about it, the weirder it seemed. "Brother An, do people even directly ask such questions?"
"I just want to prepare something you’ll like," Ye Zi’an said in a low voice.
Hearing this, Yang Chuxia’s eyes lit up. She leaned in closer to Ye Zi’an and smirked, "If I tell you what I want, you’ll prepare it for me?"
"Of course, as long as it’s something I can do now."
"Simple. You can definitely do it. Listen well: one tael of stars, two taels of the moon, three taels of breeze, four taels of clouds, five taels of fire, six taels of energy, seven taels of mist, eight taels of music, nine taels of burning hail, and a pound of dried snowflakes."