Chapter 26: The Grandmother's Intentions

On the way home, Madam Zhou looked at her daughter, who seemed to have something on her mind but hesitated to speak, and curiosity surged to its peak.

First, there were the knives, and now she had shown such skill at the Silver House; how did she not know that her daughter could appraise the quality of jade? And as for the flaws in those pieces of jewelry and pendants, Wufu didn't mention them, but she couldn't notice them at all.

Yet, once Wufu pointed them out, she took another careful look and indeed saw that they were just as her daughter had said.

Madam Zhou glanced over her daughter's head, realizing that they hadn't bought anything after all.

"Wufu, I promised to buy you silver earrings, but we didn't manage to this time, next time…" Madam Zhou started apologetically.

Yet Wufu asked, "Mother, are we running out of money?"

Madam Zhou's steps faltered, and a trace of embarrassment crossed her graceful face, with a smile that turned a bit stiff, she awkwardly said, "Well… after Mother finishes the embroidery work she has taken on this time, and gets paid, how about buying you some jade ware then?"

Wufu was startled for a moment, and seeing the embarrassment and eagerness on her face, she knew she had been misunderstood and laughed, "I'm not fond of those."

Madam Zhou felt a pang of sadness, a sour feeling, thinking her daughter was worried about their dwindling purse and being considerate, and she also thought that if only they had a man in the house, someone to take charge…

Would everything be different?

Madam Zhou couldn't help but recall Manager Rong's words and pursed her lips.

Wufu, however, was unaware of her mother's thoughts and instead turned her thoughts to their finances. Looking at Madam Zhou's words just now, and considering the state of their home, their mother-daughter life seemed quite difficult.

It was all due to the lack of money.

Wufu glanced at Madam Zhou's fingers, seeing some of them were pricked and slightly torn from needlework, she frowned, realizing they couldn't just rely on her mother's embroidery for income. Otherwise, over time, her eyes would surely suffer.

It seemed they needed to find new sources of income.

"About that, Wufu, did you tell the manager you could carve jade?" Madam Zhou asked cautiously.

Wufu responded with a smile, "Do you believe me, Mother?"

Madam Zhou was taken aback, momentarily lost for words, but soon she smiled, "I do believe. You have been smart since you were young, learning everything quickly. I remember when I first taught you to recognize characters and read, you picked it up fast, even faster than Dajun. Your grandfather said the same."

"Really?"

Madam Zhou nodded hurriedly, "Truly. You are as clever as your father…"

Her voice suddenly cut off, and she carefully observed her daughter, fearing she might get angry, and felt a tinge of regret.

Why on earth had she brought up her father? Wufu didn't like to hear about him.

Wufu, however, pretended as if she hadn't heard, only hugging her mother's shoulder with a smile, "So you trust what I say?"

Madam Zhou nodded again.

"Do you trust everything I say?"

"How could I not trust your words?" Madam Zhou laughed, affectionately touching her head as she had done when Wufu was little.

Wufu then said, "Then remember, Mother, you must always believe what I say from now on, all right?"

Madam Zhou agreed.

Wufu seemed very pleased, and said, "If Mother trusts my words, I will make sure you have good days in the future."

Madam Zhou's heart tinged with a bit of sourness, but she went along and nodded.

With different thoughts in their hearts, the mother and daughter passed through the village, under the scrutinizing eyes and gossip of the villagers. Madam Zhou, with her head down, hurried along, while Wufu walked with her head high, unconcerned.

Reaching their home at the foot of the mountain, they saw someone standing at the front door. Madam Zhou was stunned for a moment before hurrying forward to greet her.

"Mother? Why are you here? How long have you been waiting?"

Wufu looked up and saw an elderly lady, her hair impeccably coiffed, standing at their doorstep.

That was her grandmother, Old Lady Zhou!