The stepmother's smile faltered. She hastily explained, "It was a greeting gift from Zane Coleman. I told him not to, but the young man was so insistent. He just threw the money on the table and left. I was planning to return it to him, but I'm not familiar with the distillery and haven't been able to find him."
"My second son works at the same distillery as Zane Coleman. Give the money to me, and I'll have him return it," Phoebe Huxley offered helpfully.
The stepmother cursed inwardly. 'That meddling old bandit. That fifty yuan is already in my pocket; there's no way I'm giving it up.'
"There's no need to trouble you, Aurelia. I'll go to the distillery tomorrow and give it to him myself."
