Mrs. Yuan glanced at her but didn't drive her away.
She just looked at the magnificent array of pearls and jade in front of her, nodded silently, and said softly, "The gifts from the Xiao family are of excellent quality. They not only symbolize auspiciousness but also wealth. They must have been carefully selected... It seems that he truly loves and cherishes you."
Li Wanming scratched her neck shyly and pointed at a delicate agate ornament. "Can I play with this?"
She was born in the Year of the Tiger, and the agate ornament was a cute little tiger.
The body was carved from top - grade yellow agate, with a warm luster and delicate texture. In the sunlight, it even showed a faint amber glow. The tiger's head was slightly raised, with round and bright eyes.
What was even more amazing was that the tiger's whiskers were inlaid with extremely thin gold wires, each one distinct and slightly curled, making it look vivid and lifelike.
The whole little tiger stood upright, looking both fierce and cute.
Li Wanming took a fancy to it at first sight. She couldn't help but pick it up from the rosewood box and held it fondly.
"The gifts for the betrothal are naturally yours..."
Mrs. Yuan said calmly. But before she could finish her words, an old woman with white hair rushed out of the room. Leaning on a walking stick, she staggered towards the sixteen - carry rosewood boxes and pounced on them.
"Mine! Mine! They're all mine!"
Li's mother's eyes glowed with greedy red light. She hugged the half - box of tiger - head gold and refused to let go, wishing she could roll on it.
"Oh, my dear! So much gold! I've never seen so much gold in my life... How many gold necklaces can I make with this!"
Mrs. Yuan's eyebrows twitched, and a look of impatient contempt appeared on her face.
She took a deep breath and shouted into the inner room, "Li—Ru—Song!"
"Coming... coming!"
Li Rusong shuffled out in his slippers. "My goodness, Mom! How did you run out when I wasn't looking? Your butt injury isn't healed yet. Why are you running around?"
"You're such an old lady. What if you get hurt again and the injury gets worse?"
Li's mother clung to the gold. "My gold..."
"What gold? There's no gold. It's just dirt!" Li Rusong hoisted his mother onto his shoulder. "Mom, go back to your room and lie down. Son will peel sunflower seeds for you..."
"I don't want seeds. I want gold..."
Li's mother was so anxious that she could hardly speak clearly. In a panic, she grabbed a handful of longan - sized pearls and stuffed them into her bosom.
Just then, Wanmo, who had been practicing shooting at the drill ground, came back. With a beautiful twirl of her gun, the tip of the gun was slanted into Li's mother's belt.
"Grandma, these are the betrothal gifts from the Xiao family for Wanming. If you dare to take them..."
"I've never seen such shiny pearls..."
Li's mother was still trying to stuff the pearls into her waistband when she suddenly let out a shrill scream—Wanmo had cut off half of her belt with the gun tip.
"If you dare to take them..."
Wanmo held the gun handle coldly. "I'll let your butt soak up some sun today!"
"Such a sin!"
Cold sweat broke out on Li Rusong's forehead. "You, as a granddaughter, how can you say such nonsense about letting your grandma soak up the sun?"
But looking at the cold and glinting gun tip in Wanmo's hand, he knew she wasn't joking.
If Li's mother didn't return the pearls, Wanmo would really press down on her wrist and expose her mother's butt.
Li's mother looked at the pearls in her hand and then at her endangered belt. She wavered between keeping the pearls and suffering humiliation.
It was really hard to let go.
But if she didn't, she was about to lose her dignity in public.
It was so difficult...
Truly difficult.
Li Wanming said weakly, "Grandma, if I were you, I'd protect my butt first."
"Shut up! Don't add fuel to the fire!" Li Rusong glared at her and then coaxed his mother carefully. "Mom, listen to your son. Put the pearls down first... I'll get you some better ones later!"
—He really didn't want to see his mother's butt!
"Get me better ones? You're just talking nonsense!"
Li's mother scolded through gritted teeth. "Your soul has long been taken away by that shrew surnamed Yuan. Do you still remember to get me pearls? All the property of our Li family will end up being given to her and her three brats..."
Wanmo was too lazy to listen to her nonsense. She twirled her wrist, and the silver - bladed wind - leaf gun swept across Li's mother like a spirit snake.
A dozen pearls, a pair of Lantian jade carvings, and a tuft of snow - white feathers from the betrothal goose's head fell out of Li's mother's bosom.
Li Wanming rubbed her eyes hard.
No wonder she thought the betrothal goose had suddenly gone bald.
It turned out that Li's mother had plucked the feathers from its head at some point.
Her skills were really as nimble as the wind—one had to admit it!
Li's mother screamed and struggled on Li Rusong's shoulder. "Put me down! You good - for - nothing! You spineless wimp! You just watch your daughter bully me... I'm such a sinner to have given birth to such a coward like you..."
Li Rusong didn't listen to a single word. He picked up speed and carried his mother into the inner room.
Li's mother struggled on his shoulder. "Put me down! That's my money..."
As she spoke, she flailed about, and her thick meaty palms slapped Li Rusong's face with a crackling sound.
From afar came Li Rusong's muffled wails and curses:
"Your money, my foot! That's all Wanming's money. It's the betrothal gifts from the Prince Ning's Mansion for Wanming! If she didn't become the princess of the heir, where would all these betrothal gifts come from? You're such an old lady, why is your mind still as muddled as a bowl of paste..."
Mrs. Yuan withdrew her gaze and told Chuntao to inventory all the gifts and store them in the warehouse. She said that these would be given to Li Wanming together with the dowry later.
"Chuntao, you're Wanming's personal maid. You've grown up with her since childhood. In the future, when you enter the Prince's Mansion with her, you'll be her most capable assistant. You should learn how to help her manage the household."
"I'll entrust all these betrothal gifts and the future betrothal presents to you for safekeeping."
"You must inventory them clearly for Wanming and keep them properly. No one from the Li family should get them, no matter who asks."
"Don't worry, Madam!"
Chuntao's eyes lit up. She immediately curtsied and replied cheerfully, "Third Miss has taught me how to keep accounts. If you entrust these things to me, I guarantee to manage them clearly and keep them strictly. Not a single cent will be missing!"
Li Wanming thought it was inappropriate and stepped forward. "Mom, traditionally, the betrothal gifts and presents are for the bride's family. There's no reason to give them to me and let me take them to my husband's family..."
Mrs. Yuan looked up at her. "Do you really think the Prince Ning's Mansion is a good place?"
"Fool..."
Her fingertips slowly dug into her palm. Looking into her daughter's big, clear eyes, her voice became low, as if each word carried a heavy burden.
"High - ranking families are always gorgeous on the surface but a mess inside, full of fangs that devour people without spitting out the bones. If you don't have any money, how can you survive there?"
Mrs. Yuan raised her hand, and her rough fingertips stroked the hair beside her daughter's temple. She felt that the scattered hair was still as yellow, soft, and thin as when she was a child.
Her voice softened involuntarily.
"Mom is useless. I haven't saved a fortune or prepared a grand dowry for you. I can only let you take all these... If you encounter any difficulties in the future, having money in your hand will at least make you feel more at ease."