C18 New Discovery

Ann Jue quickly paid the deposit and secured the large iron door. However, even for someone they knew well, crafting such a door would take three to five days. To ensure the safety of the small bungalow in the meantime, she borrowed an iron chain from a neighbor, fastening it to the door and wrapping it with several locks until she felt reassured.

Yet, their anxiety might have been excessive. Thieves typically ignored small bungalows, easily deducing the owner's poverty. A poor person who guarded their possessions fiercely could pose a serious risk to a thief, making the crime not worth the potential struggle.

Leaving the small bungalow with frequent glances back, Ann Jue was determined to buy a larger house as soon as possible to relocate her cherished belongings. But purchasing a house was no simple feat. It was 1992, and she recalled the Plastic Factory had a housing allocation policy, likely the last distribution of welfare housing. With enough money and the right connections, she might just secure a place.

Upon returning home, she broached the subject with Ann Jue.

"Jue, about the welfare housing... Sigh, I'm aware our current place is a bit cramped, but the Plastic Factory's allocation policy isn't great this time. It probably won't include your father or Mrs. Zhou."

A look of guilt crossed Ann Jue's face. He felt inadequate, as many of his colleagues had received larger houses, while he remained in the small welfare house initially assigned to him by the factory, without even owning the property rights. He could only reside there rent-free.

Ann Jue didn't want to pressure him, but she saw an opportunity. After some thought, she said, "Dad, maybe you could inquire about it! Lee Xiaodou mentioned in class that this could be the factory's final distribution of welfare housing. In the future, we'll have to buy commercial housing. Our county might be incorporated into Chongcheng City next year, and if that happens, when the county becomes a district, property prices in our area are sure to increase!"

"Really?" Ann Jue, a simple factory worker, was out of the loop on such matters and had never heard such news.

Ann Jue nodded earnestly. "Exactly, Lee Xiaodou's father is a civil servant, and if Mr. Lee says it's likely, then it probably is. So, Dad, whether or not you or Mrs. Zhou end up getting a welfare house, you've got to inquire and figure out a way to secure one."

After a long silence, her father's expression shifted from worry to resolve, likely inspired by Ann Jue's encouraging look. He slapped his thigh and stood up with determination. "Alright, I'm going to have a drink with the folks from the finance department at the Plastic Factory and get the lowdown on the situation!"

Seeing her dad invigorated, Ann Jue was overjoyed. She returned to her room, finished her homework, then locked the door and studied her right eye—huh, the outline of the green jadeite seemed to have become more distinct.

She repeatedly enlarged and reduced it, curious to see if it would change further. After numerous attempts, she noticed that the object's appearance had indeed become more defined. Previously, the specific outline was blurry, but now not only was the outline fully visible, but even the patterns on it could be discerned.

"This looks like... the auspicious Three Abundances pattern." After careful examination, Ann Jue recognized the design as one Mr. Xue had once discussed with her.

The auspicious Three Abundances pattern consists of a Buddha's hand, a peach, and a pomegranate. The Buddha's hand symbolizes peace and good fortune, the peach represents longevity, and the pomegranate signifies fertility and prosperity.

Regardless of its true nature, the symbolism was quite positive! Ann Jue mused optimistically. She mentally traced the pattern several times, then shrank it back into her right eye. Taking up a pen, she sketched the "auspicious Three Abundances" pattern onto a sheet of white paper.

When she had some time, she planned to flip through "Talking Jade" to see if there was any mention of a pattern identical to this one. It could be deeply connected to Mr. Xue. Otherwise, why would it have appeared in her eye after his passing?