Feng Kai Ze picked up his bike, and pushed it in a different direction from the crazy woman.
Da Tian Ting ran in front of Feng Kai Ze and waved two hundred and fifty dollars (i.e. 250 in Chinese is a pun. An alternate meaning to 250 is calling someone an idiot. E.g. 419 can also mean for one night / one night stand).
‘Today I didn’t bring a lot of money with me,’ Da Tian Ting said. ‘I still need to buy essentials. Here is two hundred and fifty dollars. Don’t worry, I always keep my promises. Next time, I’ll give you the outstanding two hundred and fifty dollars.’
Feng Kai Ze looked at the two hundred and fifty dollars in the crazy woman’s hand. Was she calling him an idiot? He would be an idiot if he accepted her money.
Feng Kai Ze ignored the crazy woman, and pushed his bike away from her.
‘Hey!’ Da Tian Ting called. ‘Are you sure you don’t want to take two hundred and fifty dollars?’
Everyone outside the markets heard Da Tian Ting’s words, and they laughed.
Da Tian Ting didn’t notice her words sounded like she was insulting the grudge holding man.
Feng Kai Ze was embarra.s.sed seeing everyone laugh at his expense. He pushed his bike faster away from the crazy foolish woman. How old was she? Didn’t she know giving him two hundred and fifty dollars was insulting him? In his books, her insult was another strike against her.
Da Tian Ting wanted to chase after Feng Kai Ze. But everyone’s laughter made her embarra.s.sed to chase him. She didn’t know what they were laughing about.
A couple walked past Da Tian Ting, and they spoke loud enough for her to hear.
‘What do you call a woman who insults an idiot and chases after the idiot?’ the man asked.
‘Of course an idiot,’ the woman said.
Da Tian Ting understood her mistake. She didn’t intend to insult the man. She only wanted to pay him back half the money she owed him.
Da Tian Ting sighed. The next time she saw the man again, she would pay him back the five hundred dollars and apologise for her careless words.
Da Tian Ting pushed her bike to another parking lot, she paid the parking ticket and walked into the markets.
Inside the crowded markets, Feng Kai Ze and Da Tian Ting didn’t notice they were walking in the same direction.
Da Tian Ting held her old bag, and thought about her foolish past. She used to shop at Shang Duan Hua’s favorite shops, and spent her money on him. It was time for her to browse in different shops to look for things she liked.
A moment later, a thief s.n.a.t.c.hed Da Tian Ting’s old bag and ran off.
End of Chapter Fourteen