Chapter 700 - The Sandalwood Comb

“Keepsake?”

Shao Xue repeated that word.

Zang Linger knew that Shao Xue didn’t know what it was.

Thus she let her open the box, saying, “Open it up, and see it for yourself.”

Hearing Zang Linger’s words, Shao Xue opened the box.

The mahogany box looked ancient and exquisite. It seemed that time had passed through it.

Shao Xue slowly opened the box and saw a delicate sandalwood comb lying inside.

She frowned, feeling more confused, “Is this a comb?”

Shao Xue felt strange. She had thought that Zang Linger was handing something precious to her.

But out of her expectation, it was just a delicate ancient comb.

“Yes.”

“Is it appropriate to see the elder of the Luo Family with this?”

Shao Xue was more puzzled.

When Shao Xue was leaving Yuncheng, Song Yunxuan had told her to get something from the Zang Family before seeing the elder of the Luo Family in Harbor City.

The reason she went to see Luo Jiachi this time was that she wanted him to approve her marriage with Luo Xi.

But how could she make it just by a sandalwood comb?

She held the comb and frowned, not understanding why.

Seeing that Shao Xue was frowning, Zang Linger knew that she knew little about the Luo Family.

Thus she said, “You only saw the comb. You didn’t see the story behind it.”

“What?”

Shao Xue looked at Zang Linger, asking.

Zang Linger chuckled and held Shao Xue’s fingers, letting her sit on the sofa, “Luo Jiachi and his wife were in deep love with each other when they were young.”

Shao Xue held the comb, and suddenly she understood, asking, “Did this belong to his wife?”

“Yes. It was their token of love.”

Zang Linger replied with a smile.

Shao Xue understood, replying, “Mr. Luo will think of his wife on seeing the comb, right?”

“Yes.” Zang Linger nodded, continuing, “Mr. Luo’s wife was not beautiful, but she loved him very much and so did Mr. Luo. He remained single for thirty years after the death of his wife.”

“Thirty years...”

Shao Xue pondered.

Now Luo Jiachi was seventy-five years old, which was to say that he was forty-five when his wife died.

It was not difficult for a man of forty-five to find a wife, especially for the diamond bachelors.

However, Luo Jiachi didn’t have other women and remained single till now.

It was easy to see how deeply he loved his wife.

If not, how could he have remained single for all these many years and raised their kids?

Shao Xue held the delicate sandalwood comb in both hands, feeling somewhat sorry and moved.

Zang Linger continued, “Mr. Luo’s wife helped him a lot when he was starting a business. She also suffered a lot and even risked her life saving him.”

Shao Xue pressed her lips, replying, “She must be a good wife.”

“Yeah, but she died too early and wasn’t able to enjoy her life. When Luo Jiachi’s business was improving, his wife began to get sick, which confined her to bed. Finally, she couldn’t make it and died in the winter thirty years ago.”

Zang Linger said with mixed feelings.

Shao Xue looked at Zang Linger, asking, “So where did you get this comb?”

“That’s a long story.” Zang Linger said, looking at Shao Xue smilingly.

Shao Xue smiled back, asking, “So could you please tell me about it?”

“Sure, it won’t take long.” Zang Linger took over the comb in her hand and looked at the comb teeth and the sandalwood on the back of the comb, saying, “This comb was made by a family of combers at that time. It might have been rare 30 years ago, but it was very common 50 years ago. At that time, Luo Jiachi was at the lowest point of his life and career. Seeing that his investment failed and his career had no improvement, his wife took all the dowry and other things to the pawnshop to exchange for money. Our family has owned pawnshops for over a hundred years. And Luo Xi’s grandmother went to one of our pawnshops to pawn the comb. It’s said that the person who received the comb at that time told Luo Xi’s grandmother that the comb was not valuable, which was about the price of a needle and thread. But the lady stared into the comb and hesitated for a long time before pawning it. My grandmother was also a collector of women’s household goods. She went to the store one day and saw the comb in the man’s hand. She liked it very much. Then she asked about its story and took it away.”

“It’s rare to keep the comb for fifty years.” Shao Xue sighed with emotion.

Zang Linger smiled, “You don’t know much about our family. My grandfather is a shrewd man and good at collecting all kinds of useful stuff. My grandmother used the comb every day. After about two or three years, the Luo Family’s business was improving. After hearing of the story of the comb, my grandfather chose to keep it. When later he heard that Luo Jiachi was inquiring about the comb, he got more interested and put the comb on the Ancient Shelf of the Collection Attic.”

Shao Xue didn’t completely understand.

If Song Yunxuan were around, she would tell her that on the Ancient Shelf of the Collection Attic lay all kinds of stuff that could hold back certain persons. And the comb would play a role in making Luo Jiachi change his mind.

When Zang Linger finished, she didn’t continue talking about anything concerning the Zang Family. Instead, she said, “After lunch, you can meet Mr. Luo.”

“Okay.” Shao Xue nodded.

Zang Linger added, “Don’t be nervous. I’ll send you there then.”

“Thank you.”

Shao Xue was being courteous and polite. Zang Linger was quite fond of her.

And Shao Xue enjoyed a hearty lunch prepared by the family servants.

Zang Linger made an appointment with Luo Jiachi the day before yesterday. He told her that he would be available this afternoon and they could go there.

It was just that he didn’t give them an exact time.

Shao Xue and Zang Linger both felt that they had better go there as early as possible, which would show their sincerity.

So, they went to visit him around two o’clock.

Hearing that Zang Linger had brought another girl over, the housekeeper of the Luo Family said with a smile, “Sorry, Mr. Luo is having a rest. Wait a moment, please.”

Zang Linger was going to ask when he would wake up.

But just at that moment, Shao Xue cut her off, saying, “OK, we’ll wait. And when he wakes up, please tell us.”

Hearing Shao Xue’s words, the housekeeper nodded, replying, “OK.”

“Aren’t you in a hurry?”

Zang Linger turned to look at Shao Xue, asking.

Shao Xue smiled, replying, “There’s no need to hurry. Let’s just wait for him for some time. We can’t disturb him while he’s asleep, right?”

Zang Linger smiled back, replying, “Yep.”

Shao Xue and Zang Linger were waiting in the living room.

None of the family servants came to serve them tea or talk to them.

They felt that they were left out.

Shao Xue and Zang Linger were both clever.

Sensing that they were left out, Zang Linger smiled, saying, “It appears that Mr. Luo is testing you.”

Maybe he was not having a rest. He might do it on purpose.

After all, when making an appointment with Luo Jiachi, Zang Linger didn’t tell him that she would bring Shao Xue over.

Now Shao Xue came along. Not only did he not want to see them, he also had a down on her because of what Zang Linger did.

Shao Xue said, “Sorry for getting you in trouble.”

Shao Xue apologized to Zang Linger.

Zang Linger smiled, “Never mind.”

With this, she said, “Give the box to me.”

Hearing that, Shao Xue immediately handed the box over to Zang Linger.

Zang Linger said, “Wait here. I’ll be right back.”

Shao Xue nodded.

Then Zang Linger started to walk upstairs.

Just at that moment, the housekeeper walked over to stop her, saying, “Sorry, Miss Zang. Mr. Luo is having a rest.”

Zang Linger smiled, saying, “In this case, please give it to him, Mrs. Xu.”

Zang Linger handed over the mahogany box to Mrs. Xu.

Mrs. Xu, the housekeeper, knitted her brows, but she still took over the box.

As the box was made of mahogany and was a little heavy, no one could guess what it was inside.

Mrs. Xu didn’t ask what it was inside.

But Zang Linger added, “Please remember to tell Mr. Luo that it was brought over by Miss Shao Xue.”

Hearing Zang Linger’s words, Mrs. Xu was more curious and confused.

But she couldn’t ask any further questions because of her job.

She could only go to see Luo Jiachi with the box in her hands.

Luo Jiachi was not having a rest at all. He was practicing Chinese calligraphy in the study.

And he was in good spirits.

The housekeeper knocked on the door of the study and then heard the elder saying, “Come in.”

Mrs. Xu pushed open the door and entered.

The elder was still practicing Chinese calligraphy without even looking up. His calligraphy was vigorous and forceful.

Seeing that, Mrs. Xu could just say, “My lord, Miss Shao told me to hand it over to you.”

Hearing that, Luo Jiachi looked at his calligraphy, snorting, “She’s clever and well-informed. Luo Xi must have told her that I didn’t approve of their marriage. So she rushed over to get round me.”

Mrs. Xu replied, “My lord, do you want to see what’s inside?”

After finishing writing a character, Luo Jiachi put the Chinese brush down, saying, “Bring it over. I’ll see if she can get me round.”

Hearing the elder’s order, the housekeeper walked over and opened the mahogany box for him to see.

The housekeeper couldn’t see what was inside the box.

But she could see Luo Jiachi’s countenance.

Seeing the thing inside the box, Luo Jiachi goggled, appearing quite surprised.