Granny Yin fumbled under her pillow and took out a small wooden box. She handed it to Wan Ruo and said earnestly, "This is the dowry I've saved for you, dear. I was going to give it to you on your wedding day. There's a jade bracelet in it, which was left by your mother..."
Wan Ruo took the small wooden box and looked at her granny.
"Open it and take a look!" Granny Yin motioned to her.
Wan Ruo slowly opened the wooden box. Inside, there was indeed a white jade bracelet with a flat yellow pit on it. Although it wasn't made of top - grade jade, that yellow pit made it unique. There were also some pieces of silver, all saved by Granny Yin through years of frugality.
"And there are some things about your mother that I've never told you since you were a child... I think it's time I did. Cough... cough..."
Wan Ruo looked at her weak granny lying in the hospital bed, filled with distress. She shook her head and said, "Granny! Don't say anymore. You should rest first!"
Looking at her sensible granddaughter, Granny Yin showed a relieved smile on her face. She took Wan Ruo's hand and said tenderly, "I'm fine, dear. Your mother..."
While Granny Yin was having a long talk with Wan Ruo, Uncle and Aunt Zhang were discussing something on the other side.
Looking at the old woman's condition, it seemed she wouldn't live much longer. That was just perfect. They had to get all of the old woman's inheritance and get rid of that nuisance!
Uncle and Aunt Zhang burst into the room, holding a bowl of herbal medicine. They pretended to ask, "Mother! You're awake?"
Granny Yin frowned slightly when she saw the two suddenly come in. "Yes! Wan Ruo, these two are your mother's elder brother, Qin Jiang, and his wife, Aunt Zhang. Your uncle and aunt!"
Wan Ruo looked at the two. Weren't they the same two who came to see Granny yesterday? So they were Granny's son and daughter - in - law. She quickly got up and bowed.
"Hey! Hey! This child is so well - behaved!" Aunt Zhang replied politely. As soon as she looked around, she saw the small wooden box on the bed.
Granny Yin noticed her strange look and quickly put the box away.
"Ah! Mother, this is the herbal medicine I just boiled for you. Drink it while it's hot!" Aunt Zhang quickly stepped forward with the bowl.
"Not in a hurry. Put it there first." Granny Yin said coldly. Then she looked at her granddaughter tenderly and said, "Wan Ruo, Granny wants to eat the snacks you make!"
"How about making your favorite red bean pastries? It'll take a while. I'll go make them now. You guys talk first!" Wan Ruo said and was about to leave.
Granny Yin grabbed her hand, handed her the wooden box, and motioned for her to put it away.
Wan Ruo backed out. Uncle closed the door. Wan Ruo looked back at the closed door. She felt something was odd but couldn't tell what. She didn't think much and left.
"Alright, stop pretending! Just say what you want to say!" Granny Yin said coldly.
Hearing this, the two looked at each other. Aunt Zhang gave a signal, and Uncle immediately understood. He stepped forward, put on a pitiful act, and knelt on the ground with a plop, crying, "Mother, save me! I owe a huge gambling debt at home. I have no money to pay it back... They're going to take your granddaughter, Manman, to pay off the debt! We fled overnight and found this place after much inquiry... We have nowhere to go. Mother, you can't ignore us!"
The angrier Granny Yin got as she listened. "You good - for - nothing! Gambling again! You're really making me mad! Cough... cough..."
Granny Yin spat out a mouthful of blood and trembled with anger.
Seeing the old woman so angry, Aunt Zhang quickly stepped forward and pretended to comfort her, saying, "What's done is done. Don't get angry. We just want to stay here for a while to avoid trouble. It would be even better if you have some savings to help us get through this difficult time. You wouldn't just watch your own granddaughter being taken away to pay off the debt, would you?"
"Humph! As I expected, you only come when you need something. Over the years, have you ever shown a bit of filial piety? Now you even dare to make such demands. How shameless... I have no money. I can't help you!" Granny Yin said with difficulty.
Hearing this, they didn't care about being polite anymore and just came straight to the point. "There must be something valuable in that wooden box just now, right?"
"What?" Uncle jumped up as soon as he heard there was something valuable. He didn't pretend anymore. "You old hag! You don't leave the valuable things for your son but give them to that outsider! You're so stupid!"
Granny Yin looked coldly at the two scoundrels. She had long known their evil intentions but didn't expect them to turn against her so quickly.
At this time, Wan Ruo was still in the kitchen preparing the red bean pastries that Granny loved. Suddenly, a voice came from behind. "Hey! I'm talking to you! Do you have anything to eat? I'm starving!"
Wan Ruo turned her head and looked towards the door. There stood a graceful girl about her age. As she got closer, Wan Ruo recognized that she was the girl who came with Uncle and the others yesterday. She should be her cousin, right? She was quite good - looking!
Qin Manman thought this girl was stupid, just staring at her without saying a word for a long time. She said again, "Are you deaf? I'm asking you a question. Do you have anything to eat?"
"Ah! Yes. Here. These are the red bean pastries I just made. Try them!" Wan Ruo came to her senses and quickly handed the pastries to her.
Qin Manman took the pastries with her delicate hands. She took a small bite at first, then was a bit shocked and immediately took big bites. Maybe she was too hungry, or maybe the pastries were really delicious.
"Um! The taste is good. Do you have more?" Qin Manman asked while eating.
Seeing that she finished the red bean pastries in two bites, Wan Ruo guessed she must be starving. "Yes, there's still a lot! Eat more!" Wan Ruo said with a smile as she brought a plate of red bean pastries in front of her.
"You make good snacks. They're really delicious, but you're a bit dull. What's your name?" Qin Manman asked while eating.
Wan Ruo frowned slightly. This girl was eating her food but still saying she was stupid. She thought Qin Manman was the stupid one!
"My name is Wan Ruo. You're Uncle's daughter, right? What's your name?" Wan Ruo asked.
Looking at Wan Ruo, who was wearing shabby clothes, Qin Manman said with a look of disgust, "Uncle? Who's your uncle? Don't try to claim kinship with us!"
Claim kinship? Wan Ruo rolled her eyes mentally. Did this girl think she was a royal relative or had a mountain of gold? She looked like a refugee. Who would want to claim kinship with her? "Fine! You eat first. I have something to do and I'm leaving!" Wan Ruo ignored her and left with the plate of pastries.
"Hey! Where are you going! Wait for me!" Qin Manman followed behind while holding the pastries.
"This... She's gone?" Aunt Zhang was shocked. Just then, Wan Ruo and Manman walked into the room. Aunt Zhang immediately covered her face with a handkerchief and pretended to cry, "Mother, why did you leave so soon? Mother... mother..."
Wan Ruo was shocked when she saw this scene. The plate in her hand slipped and fell to the ground with a thud.
"Granny!" She rushed to the bedside anxiously. Looking at her granny with blood at the corner of her mouth and a pale face, who had already passed away.
She held her granny's wrinkled face in her hands, unable to accept it. "How could this be? She was fine just now... How could this be?..." Her sudden shout startled the two guilty - minded people.
Thunder suddenly rumbled in the clear sky outside. As tears streamed down Wan Ruo's face, it began to pour heavily even though the sky was still clear.