23. The Jade Gourd

“Slow down, slow down...”

After gulping down several mouthfuls of tea, Jiang Ruo finally felt the anger subside.

“You…” Granny Liu truly had no way with her granddaughter. Seeing the tears on the child’s face, she carefully took out a handkerchief to wipe them away.

The child’s skin was tender; even a little pressure would quickly redden her complexion.

“It’s not Grandma’s fault,” Jiang Ruo lowered her head and softly told the old lady as she wiped her tears.

“What?” Granny Liu, focused on wiping the tears, didn’t catch it clearly at first.

“I said it’s not Grandma’s fault. I’ve been having nightmares these days, maybe because I’m scared inside. It has nothing to do with you.”

Her mood visibly dipped as she spoke.

She had changed her mind at the last moment; the instant she saw Grandma get angry, her mind had already concocted an excuse, intending to shift most of the blame onto her maternal grandparents.

After all, her maternal grandparents truly doted on her, sending many things every year, including fabrics and such. Though this time was a bit outrageous, with her around, Grandpa and Grandma could surely be persuaded.

But just now, she had reconsidered. Grandpa and Grandma loved her too much; she didn’t want to deceive such adorable elders.

Unbeknownst to her, these words tightened Granny Liu’s heart, and even Grandpa Jiang, standing nearby, looked at his granddaughter with growing concern.

“Sweetheart, did you have another nightmare? Did the jade gourd come off?”

“Yes, yes, yes, go check quickly!” Grandpa Jiang urged his wife, worry in his eyes almost tangible.

Even Jiang Eldest and Jiang Third’s faces grew anxious upon hearing this.

The jade gourd?

Everyone’s reaction startled Jiang Ruo, and her memory involuntarily retreated. “She” indeed had a jade gourd tied to her neck with a red thread, but at the time, she had been reluctant to take it away, so the gourd was buried along with “her.”

However... everyone’s reaction suggested there was something she didn’t know—something related to the jade gourd.

Granny Liu, unable to wait for her granddaughter’s reply, pulled aside Jiang Ruo’s collar and looked at her bare neck. Her face visibly paled.

“Not there?”

Still unconvinced, she searched inside the clothes—still nothing.

“Have you found it, wife?” Grandpa Jiang anxiously asked.

Granny Liu was too tense to pay attention to him. She nervously looked at her granddaughter. “Darling, did you put the jade gourd somewhere in your room?”

By now, Jiang Ruo had realized the jade gourd meant more than she initially thought.

Frowning, she followed Grandma’s words, raising her hand to feel her neck, speaking as if unaware the object was gone.

“Wasn’t it on my neck?”

When her hand touched the empty space, her expression suddenly froze, then she looked at Grandma in panic.

“Grandma… where did it go?”

Her voice trembling with tears, frightened and anxious, she clung tightly to Granny Liu, clearly terrified.

“Don’t worry, don’t worry... maybe it fell somewhere in the room. Grandma will help you look for it.”

Granny Liu calmed down somewhat, soothing her tearful granddaughter without a second thought for other things. She immediately took Jiang Ruo back to her room.

Wang Xiaocao and Third Sister-in-law exchanged a glance, worried, and followed along.

Grandpa Jiang was anxious too, but being a man, he found it hard to enter the granddaughter’s room. Watching his son and grandson stand awkwardly, he snapped, “What are you standing there for? Hurry and go look!”

“Oh, right, right, right, go quickly,” Jiang Eldest quickly caught on and nodded eagerly.

“Look in the yard, kitchen, woodshed, and the house—Third Uncle and I will check. You, Fourth Army, take the younger siblings and search the village and the mountain foot,” Jiang Eldest ordered.

Thinking of the fading daylight, he added, “And check the town too.”

Recalling the niece had been to town, Jiang Third hurriedly reminded them.

“Yes, Fourth Army, you go to town, especially around the department store and grocery shops. Be quick.”

Though the time was tight, they held onto hope.

After Jiang Eldest’s instructions, everyone had a clear direction and quickly dispersed.

Grandpa Jiang, still uneasy, returned to his and Granny Liu’s room.

When the child was fine, she often ran in there—perhaps she dropped it there unknowingly.

The family’s frantic search stirred the second household. Knowing Jiang Ruo’s jade gourd was missing, Jiang Second also grew anxious and joined the search. Li Cuihua hurried to help as well.

Only Jiang Danni, with her injured foot, sat steadily on her bed in her room. The commotion in the yard instantly lifted her spirits, no longer gloomy as if the world owed her a debt.

Inwardly, she cursed with satisfaction—serves her right, bad luck. Hearing the whispered schemes against her, the traps laid in front of Grandpa and Grandma, the underhandedness—it was gratifying to see such swift retribution.

Still... it was truly a pity the jade gourd was lost. It was a beautiful piece, shimmering green like water flowing inside. She had long coveted it and always felt it was special. But Jiang Ruo guarded it closely—she would share everything except the jade gourd. It often made her teeth itch in frustration, yet she had to hide it and coax her.

No, thinking of this, Jiang Danni, who had been sitting calmly, couldn’t stay still any longer.

Wasn’t this a perfect opportunity? How foolish she had been to almost miss it. Limping, she hurried outside to search.

Seeing this, Jiang Second felt a bit comforted and reconsidered his earlier thoughts. The child was simply too proud, and their excessive concern for Jiang Ruo had neglected her, causing jealousy in their daughter’s heart.

Meanwhile, back in the room with her “darling,” Granny Liu, despite her worried heart, carefully searched everywhere.

Desk, bed, underneath, bedding—even inside cupboards and trunks, she didn’t miss a spot. She even checked the mouse hole in the wall. Alas, all she found was a layer of dust; no jade gourd, not even a sizable stone.

After the women’s fruitless search, Granny Liu’s brow furrowed deeper.

“Mom, maybe it fell in the yard. Don’t worry, my brother and I will look again,” Wang Xiaocao, understanding the jade gourd’s significance to her niece, tried to comfort the old lady, then quickly pulled Third Sister-in-law out to search again.

“Grandma…” Jiang Ruo looked at Granny Liu with a pitiful, almost tearful gaze. The old lady quickly embraced her, trying to ease her own expression.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Lost things can be replaced. Grandma will ask for another one for you.”

She hoped the old Taoist from the mountain was still around, a flicker of worry crossing her eyes.

She blamed herself for being too lax, not asking about the child’s jade gourd for many days.

But now, it was too late for regrets. Hopefully, they would find it soon.

Outside, every corner and cranny of the yard was thoroughly searched, including the chicken coop and pigsty.

Jiang Danni didn’t mind the smell and went to the chicken coop. She remembered Jiang Ruo had been there yesterday collecting eggs—maybe it fell then.

She inspected the chicken nests meticulously, not leaving a single blade of grass untouched. Even the chicken manure storage was examined. Covering her mouth with a handkerchief, she gagged as she rummaged but still found nothing.