“Yes, all from customer tips.”
Yu Song-shi looked suspicious, “You earned this much in half a year at the Jiaofa House? How could anyone give so much money just to hear you play the qin and sing?”
Yu Yi saw her mother suspecting the source of the money and hurriedly explained: “Truly, I swear to heaven that these silver coins are all earned by me, obtained completely legitimately, without the slightest bit of crooked means.”
From her heart, Yu Yi did not want to hide from her mother what she was doing, but Bo Shi had instructed her that she must not disclose to anyone that she could traverse various time and space realms, not even to her closest relatives.
Yu Song knew her daughter’s temperament and believed her when she swore, but thinking about how these silver coins were earned by selling her art in the courtesan house, she still had to carefully please them and make them happy to receive tips. Yu Song couldn’t help but feel heartache, and said with tears in her eyes: “Yi’er, these silver coins were not easily earned. Don’t spend them all, save some. If you meet someone who treats you well, these can be your dowry, giving you confidence when you go to your husband’s home.”
Yu Yi blushed and said: “Mother, why talk about marriage?”
Yu Song said: “You are seventeen this year and cannot delay any longer. If it weren’t for the family’s troubles… alas…”
In her heart, Yu Yi thought that having been in the courtesan house, even though she had redeemed herself, who would believe she was still pure? What man would be willing to marry her? From the day she entered the courtesan house, she had actually never thought about marriage. Moreover, she had seen many instances of mutual betrayal and distrust between couples, which truly gave her no beautiful expectations of marriage.
But to avoid making her mother sad, Yu Yi did not voice her inner thoughts, and just smiled: “Now, my only desire is to live with you and my sisters. First, to honor you, and second, to take care of my sisters.”
So I won’t marry, or I’ll bring a son-in-law home for you.”
Yu Song shook her head and smiled softly: “What nonsense. Can the Yu family still bring in a son-in-law?”
