Chapter 43 - 42 Silent Night Cicada

“`”Who did she say carved it?” Luo Fan asked in surprise.

“The girl said it was her own work, wanting to exchange it for some cash,” he replied.

Luo Fan frowned at the exquisitely carved nucleus, took out a check from his pocket, and without asking how much Zhang Yi had bought it for, he wrote a number on it directly.

He then handed it to Zhang Yi and said earnestly, “Uncle Zhang, those two are my Luo Family’s great benefactors. Such a heaven-sent nucleus carving would not have been sold unless something pressing had come up. We had originally prepared a thank-you gift, but her husband declined it. He is a very upright man, and both my grandfather and I didn’t feel it right to persist. I ask you, Uncle Zhang, to part with this nucleus carving and let me complete this gesture of gratitude, would that be all right?”

Zhang Yi concentrated for a moment and glanced at the number on the check. He had no choice but to applaud Luo Fan’s forthrightness. Thirty thousand yuan—the price was one he could not refuse. Moreover, he respected Luo Fan’s wish to repay his benefactors.

Privately and publicly, he felt compelled to make it happen.

And so, the nucleus carving was taken away by Luo Fan.

At this moment, Gu Qiaoqiao was completely unaware that her nucleus carving, which she thought was sold at a high price, had changed hands for thirty thousand yuan in a blink.

As Gu Qiaoqiao walked toward Jinghua Department Store, she pondered. By now, Bai Yun must be nearly home. Yet such an incident had never occurred in her past life, it was a trap she had entirely devised.

She wasn’t even sure Bai Yun would fall for it.

After all, to some extent, Bai Yun was much more shrewd than her.

However, there’s a saying that cleverness can lead to one’s own downfall.

If she dared to follow herself, how could she let go of such a rare opportunity?

Gu Qiaoqiao didn’t rush but leisurely entered Jinghua Department Store. She hadn’t yet decided what to do about the divorce, and her parents, not knowing the truth, might not even agree to it.

So, judging by the situation, she might still have to leave the Imperial Capital with Qin Yize after all.

With only a week left, she needed to start buying gifts for her family.

It wouldn’t be practical to carry large items, but she could buy some things not available back home. She had calculated that she could sell one nucleus carving for eight hundred yuan. Before departing, she could carve at least seven.

And none of them would be duplicates.

Even if they sold for six hundred yuan each, the total for seven would be four thousand two hundred.

Gu Qiaoqiao’s eyes sparkled with excitement. With this money, her family could cover their expenses for two years.

Although how they spend might differ, back home the area was still quite remote, and sometimes, there really was nowhere to spend money even if you had it.

And most importantly, the raw materials were extremely cheap.

She planned to buy some olives and then go buy woolen sweaters for her family. They were light and easy to carry, and in the North, they could be worn for three seasons a year.

As noon approached, Gu Qiaoqiao, carrying her bags, returned to the Qin Family home.

The front gate of the Qin Family house was half open, with Dahei on one side of the entrance. On seeing Gu Qiaoqiao come in, the dog joyously pounced forward, spinning around in front of and behind her.

It was at this moment that the main room’s door opened.

Shen Manru’s face was stern as she stared fixedly at Gu Qiaoqiao and the bags in her hands.

Behind her was Bai Yun, with a smug smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

Gu Qiaoqiao seemed somewhat baffled, yet she entered the house unhurriedly.

Inside the house, Qin Xuan paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, visibly anxious.

The Silent Night Cicada from Duobao Pavilion was missing.

Though small, it was the most meaningful item in the Pavilion.

It was left behind by his father, a work from the Qianlong era by the master Shan Shan.

These things, in truth, were not worth his agitation.

He was born to a scholarly family that had been exposed to countless antiques and calligraphy from a young age, and with guidance from his maternal grandfather, he did not much care for these treasures that others coveted.“`

But this Silent Night Cicada was different.

This Silent Night Cicada had always been a beloved toy of my father’s. After he passed away, I put it away.

However, a few days ago, I took it out and placed it on the shelf at Duobao Pavilion to care for it.

But I never expected…

Qin Xuan’s suspicious gaze fell on Gu Qiaoqiao who had just walked in, and the bag she was carrying in her hand.

Could it be that Gu Qiaoqiao had stolen and sold it?

Deep down, I didn’t quite believe it.

Everything in the Duobao Pavilion is very valuable. My wife had already explained this to her when she first came.

But then again, did she take it because it was valuable?

But why take the Silent Night Cicada, my father’s favorite of all things?

Grandma Qin wasn’t home, Qin Xiaoyu was sitting quietly on the sofa, occasionally sneaking glances at Gu Qiaoqiao with obvious disdain in her eyes.

Before Gu Qiaoqiao could set down her bag, Shen Manru repressed her anger and asked in a low voice, “Where have you been?”

Gu Qiaoqiao glanced at the few people in the room, frowned, but still responded, “I went to Yubao Square.”

“What did you go to Yubao Square for?” Shen Manru’s voice suddenly rose.

“I…” Gu Qiaoqiao began, then seemed to hesitate. She looked down at her own bag and didn’t speak.

“Did you go to Yubao Square to sell something?” Shen Manru asked through clenched teeth.

Gu Qiaoqiao fell silent for a moment, then nodded, “Yes.”

“What did you sell?” Mr. Qin asked, starting to lose his composure.

“It was my own stuff.”

“Your own?” Shen Manru laughed angrily. “Gu Qiaoqiao, why don’t you tell us what ‘your own stuff’ is?”

“Nucleus carving,” she said.

Nucleus carving?

Isn’t that exactly right?

Bai Yun wasn’t going to play the good sister to Gu Qiaoqiao this time. She looked at Gu Qiaoqiao and said painfully, “Sister-in-law, you’ve gone too far. The Qin Family has been so good to you, how could you be so heartless and steal from them to sell?”

Gu Qiaoqiao’s eyes suddenly turned cold. She glared at Bai Yun and demanded loudly, “Bai Yun, don’t falsely accuse me. Which eye of yours saw me taking the Qin Family’s belongings?”

“Gu Qiaoqiao, did you or did you not take the Silent Night Cicada from the Duobao Pavilion?” Shen Manru asked with a dark expression.

“I did not,” Gu Qiaoqiao denied flatly.

“Then what did you sell?” Qin Xiaoyu challenged, standing next to Mr. Qin.

“Why should I tell you? Is there a law that says I have to?” Gu Qiaoqiao replied sarcastically.

Qin Xiaoyu was taken aback.

And her face began to turn red.

Humph, even if she had done something wrong, Gu Qiaoqiao’s mouth was still so annoying.

Bai Yun’s eyes darted around, and she coaxed softly, “Gu Qiaoqiao, just tell the truth. The Silent Night Cicada is a relic from Grandpa Qin. No matter how much you sell it for, it will be a loss. There’s still time now. My father knows the owner of Yubao Square, and we can redeem it. If we wait any longer and someone else buys it, it will be too late…”

Bai Yun’s words were like adding fuel to the fire.@@novelbin@@

Shen Manru walked up to Gu Qiaoqiao, her eyes blazing. She stared intensely at Gu Qiaoqiao, holding back the urge to reach out. Her words seemed to be squeezed out through her teeth, “Gu Qiaoqiao, tell us how much you sold it for and how much you spent. I’ll cover the difference, and we’ll go buy back that item.”