Chapter 290: A New Mission Arrives
In the study, a stone the size of a tea table sat awkwardly. No matter how large the study was, or how well-decorated the surroundings were, the stone still seemed out of place.
“This was part of my grandma’s dowry. She lived in Port City in her later years, so she brought it with her,” Lu Jingyao explained.
Xu Youyou asked, “A stone as a dowry?”
Lu Jingyao nodded. “I thought it was weird back then too, but no one really knew why.”
Old Master Lu suddenly coughed. Facing the concerned looks of the two young ones, he said quietly, “Actually, I know where it came from…”
“Grandpa, you told me before you didn’t know,” Lu Jingyao said, clearly displeased.
Old Master Lu looked away guiltily and said, “You were asking me right in front of your grandma. How could I dare explain it then?”
Lu Jingyao asked, “Grandma didn’t allow you to talk about it?”
Old Master Lu nodded. “Your grandma always felt she made a foolish decision back then but didn’t want to admit it. She was very stubborn, so to prove she was right, she treated this big rock like a treasure and carried it everywhere.”
As Old Master Lu explained, Xu Youyou couldn’t help but picture a stubborn old lady in her mind.
Old Master Lu glanced at Xu Youyou and said, “Youyou, I couldn’t tell Jingyao before, but don’t worry. Your grandma would have liked you, so I’m willing to tell you now.”
Xu Youyou chuckled softly.
Old Master Lu continued, “Back then, your grandma had two sisters. They lost their parents when they were young and were raised by their grandfather, who was a wealthy landlord. When the three sisters came of age, their grandfather arranged dowries for them.”
“He was quite a legendary figure himself—a renowned gambling king in his youth. He built up a huge fortune through gambling. When it came time to prepare the dowries, he decided to make them gamble for it.”
“There were three dowries: one was all the family’s silver, one was all the family’s land, and the last was this stone.”
“Your grandma thought that when things seem unusual, you should act against the norm. So for some reason, she chose the stone when picking her dowry.”
Xu Youyou and Lu Jingyao listened to this strange story, not knowing how to react.
Old Master Lu said, “Your grandma didn’t really choose wrong. The two aunts who got the land and money ended up staying home and bringing in husbands to live with them. Your grandma honored the marriage contract and married me.”
“At that time, the Lu family had already declined. We were so poor we barely had enough thin porridge to eat. Originally, I was supposed to marry your second grandaunt, but in the end, it was your grandma who came.”
Xu Youyou said, “Grandpa, I’m sure you didn’t let Grandma suffer for long. Like they say, ‘A blessing in disguise.’”
Old Master Lu smiled awkwardly. “Your grandma’s good life wasn’t really because of me—it was thanks to the country.”
“Your two grandaunts had money and land, but when the country was fully liberated, they were classified as landlords. Our family, having nothing, was classified as poor peasants. Your grandma, a landlord’s granddaughter with only a stone for dowry, and I became factory workers.”
“Later, during the economic reform, your grandma was the first in the factory to quit and start her own business. She made a fortune, and I followed her. Now, there’s barely anyone left in your grandaunts’ families.”
Xu Youyou hadn’t expected such a twisty story. Life really is unpredictable—no one knows how things will turn out until the end.
“Youyou, I know you have a sharp eye. Since you kept looking at the stone, you must have noticed something,” Old Master Lu said.
Xu Youyou nodded lightly. “Grandpa, I work in the jade business too. I’m about 80% sure this stone has jade inside.”
Over the past year, Xu Youyou had taken many training courses in the virtual space. She didn’t understand much of the high-tech courses, but she bought all the courses on stone identification and even exchanged her credits for practical training time.
After tons of practice, she was confident that even without the system, she could make a living in the stone gambling business.
Old Master Lu didn’t doubt her words at all. He just sighed and said, “Your great-grandfather loved his granddaughters dearly. As a gambling king, how could he have prepared anything ordinary? Now it seems he sensed trouble ahead and made backup plans for his descendants. It’s just that your grandma never understood why her grandfather would ‘trick’ her like that.”
Lu Jingyao said, “Grandpa, when we visit Grandma’s grave this year, you should tell her about this. That way, she won’t keep thinking about it.”
Old Master Lu nodded.
None of them mentioned cutting open the stone. It stayed exactly where it had always been.
Even though Xu Youyou was curious about what kind of jade was inside, she understood the Lu family’s wish to preserve it the way it was, since it was something the old lady had left behind.
After a good night’s sleep, Xu Youyou opened her eyes to find the system interface flashing before her.
[Ding! Treasure-hunting mission activated. Please complete the mission within 15 days.]
Staring at the system screen, Xu Youyou suddenly had a question.
She asked, “Yesterday, we saw that stone. Its owner didn’t know its true value either. Why didn’t you trigger a treasure-hunting mission back then? You’re becoming smarter, aren’t you?”
The system’s mechanical voice was still cold, but the answer felt strangely warm:
[Even though its owner doesn’t know its value, they already treasure it as a priceless gem.]
“I see,” Xu Youyou said softly.
After a year of rest, this was the first mission she had received. Originally, today’s plan was just to explore Port City.
Old Master Lu, not wanting to be a third wheel, watched the two young people leave with a loving smile.
As soon as they were gone, he immediately called the butler over.
“Hurry, take me to Repulse Bay! I need to catch up with my old friends and tell them the Lu family is about to have a big celebration. They better get their red envelopes ready!”
The butler said with a laugh, “Master, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you this happy.”
Old Master Lu chuckled, “When you get old, all you want is to enjoy your grandchildren.
But these kids these days! Always talking about not marrying, not having kids… Now that Jingyao, the eldest, is leading the way, the younger ones won’t have any more excuses!”
