Unintended Immortality

“Mister, you're leaving already? Isn't this too hasty? Did I not treat you well enough?”

“Mr. Liu, what are you saying? Over these past two days, you've treated me with great hospitality. I've been eating and living well. Yesterday in particular, your warmth as well as the villagers' simplicity and honesty, were things I've rarely seen in my life. Honestly, I'd love to stay a few more days.” Song You sincerely told Old Official Liu, “However, I have to go to Long Commandery to deliver a family letter on behalf of an old man. I've already stayed for two days, and it's really inappropriate to stay longer.”

To prevent any misunderstanding, Song You showed him the letter sealed in a bamboo tube.

“Even so...” Old Official Liu couldn't help but sigh, tapping his cane on the ground. However, delivering a letter was an important task involving a matter of trust, so he couldn't insist on making him stay. Instead, he just instructed someone to fetch silver money and dry rations.

“You've driven away the vicious tiger in our village, saving us a lot of assets. Even without your help, I would have had to spend money to hire someone from the county to do it. It’s only right and proper to offer you some remuneration.” Mr. Liu said, standing up with the help of his cane and offering a plate of silver money to Song You, “Giving just some dry rations wouldn't be proper, so I prepared some silver money for you to cover your travel expenses.”

Song You looked down and saw a plate of loose silver pieces, possibly totaling twenty to thirty taels.

In this era, most people would never see so much silver at once, and hiring someone from the county to drive away a tiger would cost nowhere near this much. This amount included a substantial premium for a “master.”

But Song You couldn't possibly accept this money.

Not only did he have an invaluable epiphany yesterday, but the good food and warm reception over the past two days were more than enough to repay the favor of driving away the tiger.