DNDAS

Chapter 24: Times Were Bad

Fu Li didn't hear the rejection in Zhuang Qing's voice and thought that he hadn't heard the amount clearly. "Two hundred thousand."

Zhuang Qing was silent. He looked at Fu Li like he was watching a preposterous television drama.

"I don't know many yao. The mallard said he doesn't have money, while the other is locked inside your bureau," Fu Li held up the paper cup and drank a mouth of plain water. "You have the most money among the yao I know."

Zhuang Qing: So, where did you get the false impression that I would lend you money?

"Actually, I'm a yao who doesn't like borrowing things from others," Fu Li smiled with embarrassment.

Zhuang Qing picked up his teacup and drank a mouth of tea. Then it'll be better for you to not force yourself to do something you dislike.

"I got to know a very good human this month," The smile on Fu Li's face dimmed. "He passed away a few days ago."

"Humans will always succumb to death. That is the nature of their life cycle." The indifference on Zhuang Qing's face lessened a little. He placed the teacup down and said, "Don't grieve too much."

"I'm not sad," Fu Li raised his head and directed a smile towards him. "Still, thank you."

Faced with Fu Li's pitch-black eyes, Zhuang Qing felt an inexpressible discomfort. He shifted his line of sight away from him. "You're just one yaoguai, what do you want with so much money?" The amount was too little for the purposes of marriage or house-purchasing but was too much for meals or clothing.

"I heard from the cat raised by the human that he once mentioned wanting to be buried with his deceased wife. But later on, he donated his savings to a severely ill child, so there isn't enough money now for a couples' grave." Fu Li pursed his lips and continued speaking, "The relevant department heard of his past deeds and prepared a grave for them. I've already taken a look at the grave. If the couple were to be buried there, there would be no chance for them to be husband and wife again in their next life."

"So you intend to dip into your pockets and buy a grave for them?" Zhuang Qing realized that he didn't understand this yaoguai. He seemed to occasionally place great importance on money, yet didn't seem to regard money as important when it came to spending it.

After pondering over it, he could only say that this yaoguai had interacted with too small a number of humans, so he viewed this world too simply and optimistically.

"Mr. Fu, it isn't easy to earn money now either. Our bureau often does over time, the higher-ups don't always reimburse us for travel expenses, and there are times when our wages are delayed..."

"Mr. Zhuang, I understand what you mean," Fu Li's expression was grave.

Zhuang Qing's expression lightened. It was good if he could understand his tactful rejection.

"I'll go over to Mr. Chu Yu later and retrieve my recruitment form," Mr. Fu sighed. "How could wages be delayed?"

Did this yao understand dragon speech? Was he deliberately feigning stupidity?

Zhuang Qing took a deep breath in his heart. "I meant to say that I didn't..."

"Boss!" Chu Yu pushed open the door and entered, a hint of anxiety in his voice. "A few azure dragons barged in!"

"Don't panic." Zhuang Qing stood up and told Chu Yu, "I'll go over."

Zhuang Qing's legs were very long. He left the office within a few steps.