20. Just a acquaintance

Luckily they found space in a nearby restaurant and while she at with Tao, Weiling at with other servants on the other table quickly.

Shu Ya rolled her eyes and pointed at her. ''I know why you are eating fast but if you harm your body and can you even serve me?''

Weiling stopped in motion and looked at the huge amounts of food she grabbed to eat and blushed. ''Sorry, miss. I need to serve you so I was anxious.''

Shu Ya smiled. ''You don't need to be anxious. Eat comfortably. I still have two hands or do I look like one of those children that need to be fed? Do not look down on me.'' Her voice became lower as she looked at Weiling with an emotionless expression.

Weiling became flustered. She got used to almost order her around and Shu Ya usually listen do her words but as it seems she crossed the line. ''Sorry, miss.''

''Eat comfortably. Later on, you will go straight to the ship and prepare warm water as I want to take a bath. Hongli, you will take her there and count all the stuff I bought so far. Bring rolls of cloth and presents to my room. Xiaosi you will go with them two. I will stay with Uncle Tao a bit longer and will come soon after.'' She saw Weiling that wanted to protest and gave her with a cold gaze as she continued to eat as nothing happened.

Soon after that they stood up and were about to leave when Weiling approached her. ''Miss, you shouldn't be alone...''

Shu Ya didn't even speak to her or look at her and just waved her hand. Hongli looked at Weiling and pulled her out. Outside he let her go and looked at her one more time. ''Weiling, do not cross the line. She is our master. You are a servant. No matter what she orders you, you have to follow. Do you understand?''

He could see unwillingness on her face appearing and shook his head. ''It seems you are still thinking you are young miss. But if family Bai thinks you are not good enough, they will charge you with someone more able. And you might end up as the normal servant of the second class, or maybe even third.''

Weiling stomped her foot and looked at him angrily. ''Miss won't do that to me.''

He just shrugged. ''Don't say later I didn't warn you. No matter what happens in the future, I will always be on her side. It seems you still didn't make completely decision.''

The whole conversation was heard by two people and they winked at each other. ''We have now a chance.''

They slowly entered the restaurant and walked straight towards Shu Ya's table. ''Miss Bai, we meet again.''

Shu Ya just glanced at them seriously and nodded respectfully. ''Yes.'' Then she continued to eat her rice and meat. This food was so delicious, basic food without additives. Completely amazing taste. Too bad, she had a child's body or would have asked for some of the fruit wine.

The two young men could see her calm expression and thickened their faces and sat directly at her table. Cook Tao looked at them in surprise. ''Who are you?''

The youth pointed ta Shu Ya and smiled. ''We are miss Bai's acquaintances. Right, miss Bai?''

Shu Ya stopped toe at for a moment and rose her eyes towards them. ''Explain the word acquaintances, please.''

He was stunned bu her request. ''Its person you know, but not really... friend.''

Shu Ya finished her last spoonful of food and stood up. ''You said it yourself. Not a friend, just someone you know from seeing before.''

They stood up as well. ''We could become friends...''

Shu Ya rose her hand to stop them. ''No, thank you. It was your choice of words, not mine. Let's live by the given definition. Have a nice day.''

Cook Tao stood up and stepped between them. He looked at the two young men in wonder. ''If she was a young lady of your age I would understand your wish to know her better, but she is just a child. You are not one of those people that have strange preferences?''

Poisonous. So poisonous. Shu Ya almost laughed but controlled her emotions and started walking away while Tao was right behind her and their eyes.

The two young men looked at each other in horror. ''Did he just made us as perverts in front of her? There are so many females in the world why do we need to run after the little kitten. That person is giving us a bad name.''

But when they wanted to protest the two people disappeared already in the crowd.

Tao walked beside Shu Ya and suddenly stopped as she saw something on the floor that one old woman was selling. ''What is it?''

Shu Ya felt excited suddenly. She crouched down and looked through the whole mess of things literally just thrown on the floor for sale. ''Auntie, I like these plants. Can I have a few? They are cute.''

The older woman saw a cute girl looking at her and pointing at a few weeds between healing plants. ''Those are just some weeds. You can take them with you. What a mess. My husband was so drunk that he ripped the plants with all the roots. Maybe you can transplant them into a bit fo earth. They are cute indeed but have no value to me.'' She just wanted to clean the mess of the weeds.

Shu Ya saw a broken bowl nearby and picked one big piece where she put various plants inside. ''Auntie, I will make embroidery for my family with these plants. How much all of them?''

The woman saw she took as well a few better healing pants and rose two fingers. ''Twenty copper coins.''

Shu Ya looked at Tao and he nodded and took the copper coins out his bag.

Straight after that, she was about to leave when she saw something else. ''Auntie, you sell honey and honeycomb?''

The woman proudly pointed at the pots. ''My son found these near the mountain. I have three big pots of honeycomb and seven big pots of honey. You want some?''

Shu Ya nodded. ''How much all?''

The woman tried to recount and gave up. ''Two big silver.'' She was just spouting nonsense as all that was supposed to be sold for few small silver bits.

Shu Ya just nodded. ''I will pay, but you have to bring it right now to the ship.''

The woman was astonished by her question and suddenly jumped. ''Wait, I will call my husband.''

Shu Ya looked at the plants in her broken bowl and covered it with a small handkerchief. ''They are getting dry. I will need some earth as well...'' She mumbled while waiting.