"I'll go open the door," A Jiu got up and went to the front hall, then removed a plank from the door.
The shopkeeper Bai impatiently squeezed in sideways.
He raised the two cloth bags of rice in his hands, "I'm truly sorry. I know what I've done is against my conscience, so I've packed extra for Miss Jiu. It should last you for a while."
He placed the two bags on the counter. At this time, so much rice was enough to feed a large family for seven or eight days.
So many families had starved to death for lack of food. It could be said to be as precious as gold.
"I don't want that much. At the original price, one jin of white rice would be enough for me." A Jiu didn't stand on ceremony. She opened the rice bag and used a copper scale to measure out one jin.
The rest was returned.
"Please don't! This is all for Miss Jiu," Shopkeeper Bai stepped forward and covered the cloth bag, his face a mixture of embarrassment, anxiety, and worry.
"Actually, I have something to ask of you, Miss Jiu."
"What is it?" A Jiu realized she couldn't refuse. So, he had a request.
"It's like this, my son..." Shopkeeper Bai looked around. He couldn't let anyone else hear this, or his son would be taken to the charity house.
"My son has caught a fever. I've been hiding him at home, but don't worry, I haven't let him go out. Please, do me a favor..."
He lifted the front of his tunic and knelt down.
"Save my son, and I will repay you by being your slave forever."
A Jiu's pupils contracted. There was a sick person hidden in the city? He was bold. If discovered, he would be punished.
A Jiu adjusted her breathing, recalling her system with different merit points, which was also teaching her how to be a person.
"You conduct business dishonestly. Those who do evil will reap their own consequences. I only save those with a conscience."
Shopkeeper Bai suddenly straightened up, looking at A Jiu with surprise. "I, I know my business practices are not in line... But I'll give you money, name your price."
"I don't take ill-gotten gains," A Jiu took her one jin of rice and turned to leave.
"Miss Jiu, I... If I change my ways, will you save my son?" Shopkeeper Bai was anxious, shuffling his knees on the ground.
A Jiu stopped and looked back at Shopkeeper Bai. "I'm afraid you haven't just deceived me as a buyer. However, if you can accumulate virtue and do good deeds, acting with a clear conscience, I'm willing to treat your son for free."
"Really? Okay, okay..." Shopkeeper Bai's eyes welled up with tears as he quickly kowtowed. "I... I'll go and compensate everyone I've cheated. I don't have much rice and flour now. Can I... Can I return the silver?"
"As long as you can live with yourself, then naturally it's good." A Jiu finished speaking, grabbed the more than ten jin of rice from the bag, and stuffed it back into Shopkeeper Bai's hands.
"Actually, I'm not lacking food. Take this and compensate those you've cheated."
"Okay, okay, I'll go now." Shopkeeper Bai grabbed the rice bag and ran out the door. He suddenly stopped at the doorway and looked back at A Jiu.
"Are you sure you'll keep your promise and treat my son?"
A Jiu immediately felt that his intentions were suspicious. "You're doing this for yourself, not for me. What, you plan to do some good deeds, have me cure your son, and then continue to cheat people?"
At these words, Shopkeeper Bai's brow furrowed. This girl had hit the nail on the head.
"Let me tell you, if you have such thoughts, your future retribution will be far worse." What A Jiu couldn't stand the most wasn't arbitrary pricing, as the situation was such that grain was more precious than gold. Cheating others after jacking up prices was truly wicked.
"This... I understand, Miss Jiu. I will definitely persist in doing good deeds."
Shopkeeper Bai hugged the rice bag and dashed away.
On the way back, he indeed encountered people and returned the rice. The rice was quickly distributed, and then he had to go home for silver.
The next morning, before Tongzi's shop even opened, Shopkeeper Bai returned.
He looked haggard after the night.
The first thing he said to A Jiu was, "I repaid my past debts of conscience last night. Today, can you please see my son first?"
Tongzi looked at A Jiu, then at Shopkeeper Bai, unable to interject for a moment.
"Alright," A Jiu said, instructing Tongzi to tell her parents she would be back soon.
Shopkeeper Bai was overjoyed and quickly got up to follow, looking A Jiu up and down. "You're not bringing anything?"
As A Jiu walked, she asked questions, and her questions revealed terrifying news.