Chapter 107 Parents' Debts, Children's Repayment!

Zang Lanyi pulled out a piece of paper, picked out the walnut kernel from one of the walnuts, and placed it in front of Ling Yue.

As for the kernel from the remaining walnut, she picked it out and ate it herself.

She took care of her boss while also looking after herself.

She was getting better and better at being a personal bodyguard.

"Uncle, Auntie, I've brought some gifts for you," Ling Yue said, stiffly changing the subject.

Immediately after, a response similar to an NPC's was triggered.

Mother Jiang: "It's enough that you came, why bring gifts?

Xinyao has a careless personality and is prone to being sloppy and impulsive. Since you were in the same dorm before, you must have looked after her a lot."

Father Song: "It's not easy to make money nowadays. Child, take these gifts back with you.

We're already very happy that you're willing to visit our home!"

Meeting Song Xinyao last night was purely accidental.

There was no time to prepare gifts carefully overnight, so Ling Yue had asked Qu Shu to just buy some random things outside.

"They're just some very ordinary gifts," Ling Yue said, winking frantically at Song Xinyao.

Song Xinyao raised an eyebrow, her eyes signaling 'received, received.'

She let out an "Aiyo":

"Dad, Mom, don't worry.

Parents' debts are paid by their children!

For the next few days, I'll act as Ms. Ling Yue's exclusive guide. I guarantee a full-service experience of playing, eating, and drinking!"

"Still so improper!" Mother Jiang felt both helpless and indulgent toward her daughter.

Song Xinyao used humor to brush past the matter of the gifts.

Seeing two gift boxes of strawberries and thinking they would spoil if left for too long, she immediately decided to wash them and eat them.

Today was Friday, and Jiang Ruoting had gone to school.

She set aside a bowl for her.

While washing them, Song Xinyao was sneaking bites when she was caught red-handed by Father Song, who had entered the kitchen to check the stove.

Song Xinyao's cheeks were bulging, but Father Song had no intention of scolding his daughter. He glanced outside and whispered into Song Xinyao's ear, "The gifts your classmate brought aren't cheap."

"She said they were just ordinary gifts." Song Xinyao really hadn't noticed what exactly was given.

However, these strawberries were purely sweet without a hint of sourness, juicy and large; they definitely weren't cheap.

"That teapot set she gave me is the 'Peach and Plum Garden Night Banquet' in Famille Rose from Yilin Hall." Having just taken a peek, Father Song's breath almost stopped.

He usually used a thermos worth about a hundred yuan.

"Is it very expensive?" Seeing her father's worried face, Song Xinyao stopped chewing.

Father Song nodded vigorously. "I've visited shops selling utensils before. The set your classmate brought—one pot and four cups—is worth at least nearly 50,000 yuan."

"Cough, cough... That expensive?!" she exclaimed in a low, shocked voice.

"Yes, and she also gave your mother a bolt of Kesi silk!"

"Ah? There's Kesi silk in that box?"

Kesi silk is a national intangible cultural heritage; people from Suzhou couldn't possibly be unaware of its value.

Song Xinyao's heart pounded. Kesi silk didn't have a fixed price; it could be tens of thousands per meter, or a bolt could be worth millions, tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions.

"It's over. Now, even if I sell myself to work for her, I won't be able to pay it back." Even when Song Xinyao tried to be serious, she still sounded a bit improper.

Her mind whirred again. "If Yueyue were a man, my mom would probably acknowledge her as her son-in-law on the spot."

Father Song's heart ached. "Stop joking around! I'm talking about something serious. How are we going to repay such a huge favor?"

Song Xinyao: "...Uh, Dad, why don't you braise more beef first?"

Father Song: "Even if I buy ten cows to braise, it wouldn't be enough."

Outside.

When Mother Jiang saw the bolt of Kesi silk, her spirits were jolted.

"Yueyue, this... you're being too kind!"

This pattern was wonderful!

The length was completely sufficient to make two large sets of wedding attire!

She had two daughters, and whether or not they would marry in the future, as a mother, she wanted to hand-make their wedding gowns. She had been looking for good material for years.

The bolt of Kesi silk Ling Yue gave her was exactly what she had set her heart on.

It was too expensive; she couldn't accept it!

But... she had searched for years before finding such a good piece of material...

Ling Yue was completely unaware of Mother Jiang's internal struggle.

She began her NPC-like speech: "I just had my subordinates buy this randomly. I don't know if Aunt Jiang likes it?"

Mother Jiang suddenly tucked away her joy and solemnly patted the back of Ling Yue's hand. "I like it very much. Wait for me a moment."

Ling Yue didn't miss the change in Mother Jiang's expression.

First, there was shock in her eyes, then great delight, and finally, the melancholy from just now.

Ling Yue was a bit confused.

She thought about asking Zang Lanyi if she had noticed anything.

Turning her head, she found that Zang Lanyi was still happily peeling walnuts, lost in her own world.

Forget it, what could she possibly understand?

Before long, Mother Jiang came downstairs carrying a wooden box.

Seeing the wooden box in her mother's arms, Song Xinyao in the kitchen instantly stopped her joking and ran to the living room holding a bowl of strawberries.

"Mom, why did you bring this box out?"

Mother Jiang carefully placed the box on the sofa cushion.

She didn't answer Song Xinyao but gently opened the box.

"This is the work I'm most satisfied with from the first half of my life, the Double-Sided Magnolia Embroidery."

Mother Jiang wiped her hands clean, lifted the first layer of white silk inside the box, and then took out the fabric from the second layer.

She gently unfolded it.

Under the sunlight, the pure white magnolia flowers actually shimmered, looking as if fresh flowers were leaping off the cloth.

On the front was a single branch of magnolia.

On the back, several butterflies were actually perched on the magnolia flowers!

"This is for you," Mother Jiang said solemnly, looking at Ling Yue.

Ling Yue's eyes widened instantly, and she waved her hands repeatedly. "No, no, no, Auntie, I can't take this. It's too precious!"

With such incredible craftsmanship, it looked very expensive at a glance.

Aunt Jiang put the embroidery back into the box as it was. "There's no need to be polite. This work of mine is far from being worth as much as your bolt of Kesi silk."

"Huh?"

Ling Yue's gaze fell on the long wooden box she had brought.

Was that bolt of cloth really that expensive?

She had only told Qu Shu to buy something random and instructed her it didn't have to be too expensive, precisely because she was worried a gift too heavy would scare people.

But... she and Qu Shu were simply not in the same league when it came to economic power.

Therefore, her "not too expensive" and what Qu Shu considered "not too expensive" were naturally not in the same league.

A miscalculation.

Mother Jiang seemed carefree, but she was actually very observant.

She saw that Ling Yue might not know exactly how much the gifts she brought were worth.

She closed the box and handed it to Ling Yue. "Yueyue, don't overthink it.

I was planning to sell this Double-Sided Magnolia Embroidery in a few years anyway. My daughters are grown, and I need to prepare their dowries.

I've been looking for material to make wedding gowns for the past few years, but I haven't found any.

This bolt of Kesi silk you sent today is elegant and beautiful. It's more than enough to make two large sets of wedding gowns!

I like it very much, and I need it very much.

In our China, we value reciprocity. I hope you won't look down on Auntie's gift as being too meager."

Ling Yue waved her hands again. "How could I? It's just that I've made you part with something you love."

"Don't say that. In fact, I'm the one who got the better deal.

I still feel a bit uneasy. How about this? Didn't Xinyao say that parents' debts are paid by their children? While you're in Suzhou, just order her around as much as you want. Don't be polite."

Song Xinyao pouted. "Mom~ Are you really going to sell me off?"

Mother Jiang gave her a sharp, annoyed look.

The atmosphere had reached this point; further refusal would seem like looking down on the other person's gift.

Ling Yue had no choice but to take the box. "Then I'll accept it. Thank you, Auntie."