"Izzy, I really do think you could do so much more than this though..."
Rolling my eyes and tossing the pickaxe onto the cart, I turned back and began to haul as much of the Spirit Jade as I could while saying "And I told ya, Gio, that if I get into the Sect I'll do 'so much more', but if not this'll be where I stay."
"What're the two of you talkin' 'bout?"
Before Giovanni could respond I gave Father a grin and said "Gio wants me to aim higher than just being a miner, says he can't stomach me gettin' as withered and cranky as you~!", which made the older man snort as he helped us move all of the pale green stones onto the cart.
"Yer sister can definitely do a lot more than just mine, Gio, but you and I both know she ain't much of a thinker, especially not like you."
I let out an exasperated "Hey!" even though I agreed with him, and as we loaded up the cart the scholarly man that I loved just smiled wryly as he nodded in agreement as well, though I could see he still wanted to say something more... yet he held it in.
Giving him a nod and rolling out my shoulders, I groaned softly before pushing him aside as I took up the cart, smirking at him and saying "Let the country bumpkin do the hard work, city boy~!" and immediately earning a playful swat to the back of the head.
Stepping out of the mines and onto the paved mountain passes had us drenched from head to toe immediately, the sweat and grime being washed away as we started our journey back towards the markets whilst there was still a paltry amount of light illuminating the way forwards.
We were all far too exhausted to do much more bantering as we walked, so the journey passed us by in relative quiet, the only noise coming from the sheets of rain falling down all around us as well as the occasional tree creaking and groaning as it withstood the sharp winds.
Chilled to the bone and tired, the moment we laid eyes on the small town that we called home relief washed over us much like the rain, pushing away some of the exhaustion and letting us march into town with triumphant grins.
We didn't even need to get to the market stalls before the various merchants had rushed over, all of them shouting numbers at my Father in hopes of being able to convince him to sell all of the Spirit Jade to them.
And yet like always he raised his hand and shouted back "Enough! Come, let us do business like civilized people. Mister Shen, Madame Po, as always you have the rights to bid first.", causing the merchants to grumble before they walked alongside us as we made our way to the pavilion.
"Come now Mister Luca, you needn't give us this sort of favoritism every single time. It simply isn't fair to the others."
Despite saying that the fur clad woman was grinning ear to ear as she studied the pile of Spirit Jade stacked up in the cart, causing the man - the thin, goatee clad Mister Shen - to gestured at the woman with his prayer beads as he said "Po, hush now. Dishonesty dulls your luster."
The two officials from the city glared at one another before they turned back to Father, who brushed off his hands and accepted the warm cup of tea from a nearby merchant before saying "Mister Shen, Madame Po, the Manor and the Sect shall always have priority. No one here can deny that."
Both of them smiled at the larger man and nodded, ignoring the quiet grumblings from everyone else as they began to study the Spirit Jade and calculate how much they could buy before things got 'ugly'.
"You have... about a hundred good pieces here. Maybe an additional thirty five smaller pieces. The Manor would like to purchase fifteen and ten respectively, at the usual price."
"And the Moon Resplendent Sect would like to purchase twenty good pieces only, for the usual price as well."
I began to slowly tune out as I listened to the numbers get listed, Father pushing the price up just a tad while the two merchants acted like their usual price was a gift from the Gods above... only to be reminded that their priority only extended to the opening bids.
"Mister Luca, seeing as little Giovanni is getting closer to the exam date, I'll agree to the twelve Silvers per good piece and four per smaller piece. A gesture of goodwill between the Manor and a potential official."
Despite sounding so magnanimous, Mister Shen's smile never reached his eyes as he stated a number just a tad below what Father was asking, and immediately I had to turn away lest I snarl at the man for being as smarmy as ever.
Even Madame Po - who was such a persistent 'negotiator' herself - gave Mister Shen a look, though he didn't care as he waited for Father's reply... which came not long after as he softly said "That is fair, Mister Shen."
As the man's grin widened, Father stepped forwards and looked straight down into his eyes as he added - in an even softer, almost gentle tone - "But do remember that the paths are treacherous this time of year.", which made Mister Shen shiver as he tried to stand his ground.
Father may be old but he was still massive and certainly a formidable man, what with his arms being almost as wide as my waist while his height loomed over almost everyone in the town save for the other old man who guarded us... and he was a proper - albeit retired - Cultivator.
Patting Mister Shen's shoulder, Father repeated "It is a fair price, Mister Shen." before turning towards Madame Po, who was smiling now behind the ornate fan she had pulled from her fur coat, those emerald eyes of hers flashing with glee.
"And of course the Moon Resplendent Sect is willing to pay fourteen per good piece, Mister Luca, as we always do."
Nodding, Father began to carefully and methodically count out their purchases before handing them over, taking the money from them and staring at Mister Shen for a moment longer before watching as the man rushed away, unable to do much else.
"And Mister Luca, don't worry about Shen doing anything to little Giovanni here. I won't allow such a promising young man to be ruined because of his idiocy. Take care now."
With that she was off as well, and although I wanted to ask her about something I was instead pushed back towards the cart as the other merchants lunged forwards, their voices overlapping as they tried to get Father's attention as early as possible.