Chapter 459
Chapter 459 The Battle Robe
"Miss Xu's birthday?" Lin Wanrong exclaimed, "That's an important day indeed! It'll take a birthday cake, roses, a diamond ring, and so on. I don't see how you can manage without spending at least a thousand taels of silver."
"That much?" Xu Wei was taken aback. He had no clue about a birthday cake and a diamond ring, but seeing Lin Wanrong speak so confidently and fluently, he assumed they must be no trifling matters. He pondered for a moment before gritting his teeth. "A thousand taels it is then. As long as Zhiqing smiles, I'd be willing to eat plain cabbage and tofu for a whole year."
Lin Wanrong patted him on the shoulder and gave a thumbs-up, smiling, "Rest assured, Mr. Xu. For others, it might cost a thousand taels, but in my hands, a mere few dozen taels will suffice. Spending dozens of taels on a birthday is extravagant enough."
Xu Wei looked at him skeptically, "Little brother Lin, are you sure a few dozen taels will be enough? Don't cut corners now."
Humans are odd creatures; the more expensive you tell them something is, the happier they are, yet if you quote them a low price, they grow suspicious. Even Xu Wei, despite his scholarly brilliance, was no exception to this rule. Lin Wanrong chuckled, "Since Mr. Xu has doubts, let's stick to the one-thousand-tael rule then. After all, you're not short of money."
Xu Wei hurriedly waved his hands, chuckling apologetically, "I was only joking with you. Please don't take it to heart. My entire fortune isn't worth a thousand taels. Here's a promissory note for fifty taels, my entire stash of private funds. Please accept it."
Carefully, Xu Wei pulled out a piece of red silk from his bosom and unwrapped it. Indeed, it was a well-preserved promissory note for fifty taels. Though he held a position of power, he lived a life of integrity, never forming factions or mingling with the rich and powerful. Fifty taels was not a small sum for him.
"My good Mr. Xu, there's no need for this extravagance." Lin Wanrong smiled as he pushed the note back, "Keep this money and buy some cosmetics to please your new wife. Miss Xu and I are good enough friends to exchange gifts without her father footing the bill. Wouldn't want to become the laughingstock, would I?"