"Then it's settled. Our next mining day will be seven days from now. Have Chenchen contact me then. In the meantime, Shopkeeper Xue, you can have some fun in this underground city. For the mental health of the clan members and employees, there are plenty of entertainment and leisure facilities here. Enjoy yourselves."
As he spoke, Morton Lan handed Xue Xi and Ai Chen a blue-and-gold card each. "These are underground city spending cards tied to my account. Just use them as you please and have fun."
Xue Xi felt awkward about taking advantage of someone unrelated to her, but Ai Chen generously accepted the cards on her behalf. Seeing Xue Xi's puzzled look, she explained, "Hey, little Xue Xi, our Dream Conch Wing Race has some business dealings with Uncle Lan too. Besides, Uncle Lan is the head of the miners here. Even if we swipe his card all the way through the city, it'll be fine, right, Uncle Lan?"
At that moment, Morton Lan no longer looked like the grimy miner he had been before. He was as elegant as a nobleman. Faced with Ai Chen's teasing, he did not object and merely nodded gently. "Chenchen is right. Shopkeeper Xue, there's no need to be polite. They're only little things from the underground city. I'd be more worried about you laughing at them."
Since he had put it that way, Xue Xi found it embarrassing to refuse any longer. After thanking him, she accepted the card. Still, she had her principles about not taking advantage of strangers. At worst, if she spent too much, she could leave him a dish before departing.
With that in mind, Xue Xi followed Ai Chen out after they bade farewell to Morton Lan. There had been no underground city when Ai Chen