Seeing Zhang Xiaohua so flustered, Ou Yan and Qiutong both burst into laughter.
Only then did Qiutong say with a smile, "Don't pull such a long face. Miss was only teasing you. Think about it yourself—what bank would have banknotes worth one tael? The notes here are all worth five taels each, and Miss specifically had the accountant exchange them at the bank."
Only then did Zhang Xiaohua understand that the two elder sisters were having a laugh at his expense. Still, four hundred five-tael notes amounted to a full two thousand taels of silver. Zhang Xiaohua's head spun a little.
He waved his hands involuntarily. "Sister Ou, isn't this a little too much? Even the Great Gang Leader only rewarded me with one thousand taels in banknotes. You're giving me so much at once—I feel like my hands are burning."
Ou Yan smiled. "Actually, this silver isn't solely a reward for you from the Martial Arts Tournament. Last time, when you saved my life, you only accepted a one-hundred-tael banknote. I truly felt bad about that, so I prepared a little more. And I heard from the Great Gang Leader that you requested leave on behalf of your second brother and plan to go home. You and your second brother have been away for quite some time, so I imagine you haven't saved much money. You exchanged that one-thousand-tael banknote for notes worth ten taels each—were you planning to bring them home as well?"
Zhang Xiaohua answered honestly, "Yes, Sister Ou. That was exactly what I had in mind."
"Then that settles it. Take these banknotes with you too and bring them home for your family, so they'll know you're doing very well out here and won't have to keep worrying about the two of you."
Zhang Xiaohua still