C10 The Emerald in Her Eyes

Grieving the loss of Mr. Xue, Ann Jue found herself in low spirits. To lift her mood, she resolved to sort through the books and various items Mr. Xue had given or lent to her. She was determined to preserve these treasures well.

It wasn't until she started organizing that she realized she had been unknowingly sitting on a gold mine. Mr. Xue had gifted her several sets of ink from the Qianlong era, all in pristine condition without any damage. In the hands of a connoisseur, these would be considered invaluable antiques! But back in the nineties, the antique craze hadn't yet hit their small town, and aside from her, few people understood the true worth of these unassuming blocks of ink.

With great care, Ann Jue placed the ink sets into a paper box, filling the gaps with old rice paper she had used for brush writing practice. She added a camphor wood bead to absorb moisture before sealing the box and storing it in her wardrobe. Living in a small house without a safe, she concluded that the wardrobe was the best hiding spot. She disguised the box further with a layer of clothing, confident that even the most observant visitor wouldn't detect the hidden gems. Naturally, her father wouldn't rummage through her wardrobe without cause.

Having secured the ink, Ann Jue turned her attention to the ancient books. Among those Mr. Xue had bequeathed to her were several yellowed tomes, including two hand-copied, thread-bound manuscripts whose value she couldn't yet discern. Concerned about dampness and mold, she thoughtfully placed them on the second shelf of her bookcase, a spot that received regular sunlight and was inconspicuous among her other books.

But the risk of a visiting friend accidentally damaging these precious volumes was a worry. To err on the side of caution, Ann Jue retrieved an iron box, tucked the books inside with additional camphor wood blocks, and slid it under her bed. If need be, she could always bring them out for a sunbath later on.

After taking care of everything, Ann Jue checked her right eye once more. To her astonishment, the green dot had changed shape. She furrowed her brow and silently commanded, "Enlarge the green dot." The green spot's outline became distinct, its color more vivid and translucent. It resembled a gel-like substance or a gently flowing stream of green.

Her mind flashed back to a handwritten manuscript titled "Talking Jade" she had once perused in Mr. Xue's room. After a thorough examination, she was convinced that the green substance closely resembled a piece of jade!

The idea of a piece of jade materializing in her eye was utterly bizarre!

Yet, Ann Jue couldn't determine whether the jade in her right eye was genuine. She suspected it couldn't be real; if it were, her eye would have burst by now! Since only she could see it and its size was variable, it was likely some sort of optical illusion. She was puzzled as to why it would manifest on her cornea.

"Jue, are you up?" her father's steady voice suddenly broke her concentration.

"Dad, I'm awake. What did you go out to buy?" Ann Jue stepped outside, not wanting her father to worry.

Seeing her looking much better, he smiled warmly. "You haven't had sweet and sour pork ribs in a while, so I bought some. I'll cook them for you in a bit!"

A wave of emotion swept over Ann Jue. She took the basket from him and placed it on the ground, saying, "I'm not hungry yet. Let's wait for Mrs. Zhou to come back and eat together."

Her father looked at her, slightly surprised, then dabbed at his eyes and said with a smile, "Alright, alright. Our Jue is so thoughtful."

His biggest concern about marrying Zhou Qian was how Ann Jue would handle it. But seeing her like this, he felt a wave of relief and his worries melted away.