The discussion of "there are too many bugs during Jingzhe, and they're annoying" did a fine job of easing the friction between the two black cats.
After Zheng Qing solemnly declared that he would take on Jiang Yu's "debt," wrote out an IOU for one thousand jade coins on the spot, and agreed that the Shadow Cat could "occasionally" rest beneath the Cat Fruit Tree, the relationship between the two cats abruptly grew much warmer.
Naturally, just how much sincerity that "warmth" contained was impossible to say.
Zheng Qing did not take the debt of one thousand jade coins too seriously—if he had borne such a huge debt before this year's Spring Festival, he would inevitably have been anxious and overwhelmed with pressure. But ever since reaching an agreement with the Trident Sword and becoming the Alliance's official "arms supplier," he only needed to "bleed a little" each month by drawing a few talismans to earn seven hundred and fifty jade coins, almost all of it pure profit.
One thousand jade coins amounted to little more than a month's wages, so naturally he did not dwell on it.
The decision to allow the Shadow Cat a place beneath the Cat Fruit Tree had been far more difficult for him to make.
Perhaps sensing that the atmosphere between the two cats had eased, the Little Paper Crane that had been circling overhead fluttered down. Its paper beak parted slightly, and Master Baoyangzi's voice rang out abruptly:
"Transfer order: In accordance with the work arrangements of the Relevant Department, and upon deliberation, staff member Number Thirteen is hereby assigned to assist Zheng Qing, student of First University Jiuyou Academy (student ID: 2008TW-1-002), in collecting and organizing materials required for his Graduation Thesis. Execute immediately. Hereby notified. March 6, 2010, Bading Calendar. Bao