Chapter Twenty-Six: The Mysterious Jade Pendant Appears Out of Nowhere!

Meng Yun felt a bit embarrassed. “This is something my daughter insisted on putting in yesterday—she even demanded it be tied with a butterfly knot, pestering me half the night. I should just take it back; it’s too humiliating.” Who ever gives someone their own father’s beard as a gift?

Meng Yun stepped forward, trying to retrieve the box. “Hey, that won’t do. Since this is a gift from the baby, how can I return it? No, absolutely not.”

To her surprise, Gu Xiaoxiao held the box tightly, refusing to let go.

Meng Yun was baffled. What kind of odd preference did Xiaoxiao have for beards?

“Xiaoxiao, you like this kind of gift?”

“Of course I do! Who wouldn’t love a treasure from a child? And I must say, I’ve never seen a treasure of such fine quality before,” Gu Xiaoxiao exclaimed with excitement. “Really, treasures like this are rare.”

But then she added, “Hey, Yun, are you sure you’re willing to give me such a precious thing?”

Meng Yun stared at Gu Xiaoxiao as if she’d lost her mind. When did beards become treasures?

“If I were you, Yun, not to mention a daughter pestering you for one night—even if she did for two, I wouldn’t give away such a treasure.”

Meng Yun was speechless. “Xiaoxiao, can a beard really be considered a treasure? Besides, it was plucked straight from my father’s face.”

Meng Yun was still utterly perplexed after hearing this.

Gu Xiaoxiao’s eyes widened in surprise. “Beard? What beard?”

“The one you’re holding. Yesterday, Fubao pulled it right off my father’s face,” Meng Yun answered helplessly.

“But there’s no beard in this box,” Gu Xiaoxiao replied.

“How can that be?” Meng Yun said, taking the gift box to look inside. There, resting quietly, was an oval jade pendant radiating a faint purple glow—and, in the corner, her father’s beard.

“What on earth is going on?” Meng Yun stared in disbelief.

“How should I know? Didn’t you give this to me?” Gu Xiaoxiao snatched the box back. “It’s mine now, don’t try to take it.”

With that, she shut the box and left, planning to show it to her father—and, incidentally, to annoy a certain someone who was always boasting about the treasures in his shop and its profits.

Ha! Just having this one treasure was enough to outshine him. Ahahaha!

Left in the room, Meng Yun was utterly bewildered. But—

“Hey, Xiaoxiao, my father’s beard is still inside!” she called, chasing after her.

As for the purple jade pendant, Gu Xiaoxiao never got the chance to show off—it was taken by Gu’s father. Later, when she saw the thing hanging on her nephew’s neck—

Gu Xiaoxiao was close to tears. Was she even really their child? Sob, sob, sob.

Back at the mansion, Meng Yun still couldn’t figure out where the thing came from. Meanwhile, Fubao was kicking her legs on the bed—“I need to exercise, yay yay!”

The ginseng spirit, having had its fun, had returned; where it went was a mystery only it knew.

Meng Yun watched her daughter amusing herself on the bed and suddenly recalled the ginseng’s sudden appearances. Last time, too, it had arrived without warning, each time bringing a great treasure. Was it something her own daughter attracted, or was the thing from the mountain still lingering nearby?

The thought made Meng Yun’s heart race. No, she had to discuss this with Mother.

So, in the middle of the night, Meng Yun went to find Madam Meng. Meng’s father wore a dark expression…

After a late-night consultation between mother and daughter, the adorable Fubao was carried, still in her dreams, to Ci’en Temple to meet Master Wuneng.

Madam Meng and Meng Yun were received by Master Wuneng, who sported a long white beard but was still full of vigor. Master Wuneng rarely granted audiences, but for Fubao, he made an exception.

Their granddaughter {her daughter truly has great influence}—Madam Meng and Meng Yun.