Chapter 78

When Ji Chenbiao heard those words, a bad feeling suddenly rose in his chest, and he tightened his grip on the phone.

At that moment, someone nearby set off firecrackers. The man on the other end seemed to have said something, but Ji Chenbiao couldn’t hear it at all. When he asked again, the line had already been disconnected.

He called back, but the number was no longer reachable. All he caught was the man’s last words: “I’m sorry.”

Ji Chenbiao didn’t dwell on it. Ever since he left that small village, even people like Little Li and Lao Wu—whom he had helped many times—were reluctant to even say goodbye out of fear of retaliation from the Wang family. That was when he had clearly seen the frailty of human nature.

Not to mention this guy was just his little sister’s college boyfriend. He’d already helped a lot over the years, and that was more than enough.

On the way back, Ji Chenbiao picked up a stick of candied hawthorn for Dadan, thinking how that little guy would definitely cling to it and start gnawing away. His steps became noticeably lighter.

Dadan had always been entrusted to the care of the auntie who cooked. He was more obedient than most children—never cried or fussed, and occasionally babbled in amusing ways.

Besides, Mr. Zhou had mentioned Dadan’s situation before, so the auntie took good care of him. Dadan also got along well with her.

Ji Chenbiao casually bought a bag of snacks and gave it to the auntie when picking up Dadan, as a small gesture of gratitude.

The winter in this city was much warmer than before. Dadan was bundled in a down jacket that came from Hong Kong—not too thick, but quite warm.

At the moment, he was in his father’s arms, both hands tightly hugging his neck.

“Yah~”

Ji Chenbiao initially thought the little rascal had finally turned affectionate. But then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Dadan’s tiny hands waving persistently in the air, clearly reaching for the bag of candied hawthorn.

Clearing his throat, he startled Dadan, who quickly withdrew his hands and clung tightly to his father’s neck, humming quietly, clearly a bit unwilling to give up.

“Dadan.”

“Hmph~”

The candied hawthorn was strung on a bamboo skewer. Ji Chenbiao, worried about the sharp tip, broke it off after they got home and handed it to Dadan.

Dadan tugged at his clothes, signaling him to lean closer.

Ji Chenbiao bent down and brought his ear close, curious what this little guy wanted to say. Unexpectedly, Dadan simply lifted his head and gave his cheek a soft kiss.

“Mwah~”

The slightly damp warmth brushed his cheek and was gone in a second, but Ji Chenbiao froze right there. It took him a while to come back to his senses. When he turned to look at Dadan, the kid was already munching on a hawthorn ball.

Ji Chenbiao tried to stay composed, but no matter how much he held it in, he couldn’t help it. When he walked into the little kitchen with his back to Dadan, a big smile crept across his face.

He grinned while cooking a bowl of extra soft noodles and placed it on the table. Looking at Dadan gnawing on his treat, he picked him up and brought him over.

His mouth was covered in crushed sugar from the hawthorn balls. Ji Chenbiao put down the bowl, heated some water, and wiped Dadan’s face clean with a towel.

After that, he gently pinched Dadan’s nose and chuckled at his disgruntled little expression.

“Such a mess, and you’re still not happy I cleaned you up?”

Dadan didn’t dare say a word and silently started eating noodles with a spoon.

The noodles were boiled until they were very soft. A light press with the spoon could cut them in half, so it was easy for a child to eat.

Dadan wasn’t picky. If something tasted good, he’d eat with a smile; if it didn’t, he’d scrunch up his little face and still try hard to swallow.

It wasn’t hard to tell from the relaxed look in his eyes tonight that he was pretty satisfied with dinner.

“The New Year’s almost here. Want to eat dumplings made by Daddy? I’ll learn from the auntie tomorrow and make sure you have a good New Year.”

For all this time, they either ate in the cafeteria or threw meals together casually. Ji Chenbiao’s cooking hadn’t really improved—it was still just as bad as in the beginning.

Dadan noticeably slowed down his eating, casting suspicious glances his way from time to time.

And it wasn’t just Dadan. Ji Chenbiao himself wasn’t sure if he could pull it off—but he definitely couldn’t let that show in front of his son.

Soon it was New Year’s Eve. After lunch, Ji Chenbiao began preparing dough in the afternoon.

Dadan had been playing nearby but came over curiously when he saw what was going on. He rested his chin on his hands and stared with wide eyes.

“Wah?”

He scooped two ladles of flour into a bowl and added water, trying to stir it with chopsticks until it was no longer powdery. Staring at the thick paste in front of him, Ji Chenbiao fell into deep thought.

Dadan, being clever, grabbed a spoon himself and added more flour. After mixing again, it looked a bit dry, so Ji Chenbiao added more water.

When Ji Chenbiao poured water again, Dadan realized something was off.

He sat by silently and watched the cycle of too-wet, then more flour, then too-dry, then more water… over and over again. By the time the dough was finally the right consistency, the bowl was filled to the brim.

Dadan’s mouth dropped open in shock.

“Wah~”

Ji Chenbiao did want praise from his son, but definitely not under these circumstances. He coughed awkwardly and explained:

“It’s New Year. We should eat more.”

Dadan’s expression clearly read, “Don’t try to fool a kid.” Ji Chenbiao felt a bit guilty under that look, but still tried to explain.

“Come on, it’s a holiday. Shouldn’t we at least eat our fill?”

“Mm.”

Dadan nodded slightly, still doubtful. He watched suspiciously as his dad separated the huge lump of dough into small balls and coated them with flour.

Then he ran to the outdoor tap, washed his hands thoroughly, dried them by the stove, and finally called out:

“Daddy.”

Ji Chenbiao casually tore off a smaller ball of dough and tossed it to Dadan, waving him off:

“Go play.”

Dadan gripped the dough a little unhappily but mimicked Ji Chenbiao’s technique, carefully wrapping his own dumpling.

Originally, Ji Chenbiao had given him the dough just to keep him from messing around, but unexpectedly, the little guy’s dumpling actually looked decent.

The two dumplings side by side—clearly made by father and son—were equally ugly, so neither could complain about the other.

Once Ji Chenbiao was sure Dadan wasn’t just messing around, he pulled him over to help.

He rolled the wrappers, and Dadan wrapped the dumplings. Since he was small and didn’t have much strength, the dumplings weren’t too pretty, and Ji Chenbiao had to pinch them tighter afterward.

Because he had prepared way too much dough, they ended up wrapping dumplings until dark. Ji Chenbiao even shared some with other dorm-mates who hadn’t gone home.

It was New Year’s Eve, and since everyone worked under Mr. Zhou, they all had gifts prepared in return—mostly special foods from their hometowns that they only had during the New Year.

When his dad went out to deliver dumplings to someone, little Dadan was already feeling down, worrying that they’d only be having dumplings for New Year’s. It made him a bit sad—after all, even on regular days, they usually had three dishes and a soup.

But then Ji Chenbiao came back with one dish after another, piling the once-empty table full.

Especially the plates of fried meatballs—Dadan could smell their aroma from far away and tiptoed eagerly, unable to wait for a taste.

The withered little bean sprout that he was seemed to come back to life the moment he saw all that delicious food.

“Just fried, you have to wait until they cool down before eating.”

“Waa~”

They had bought Spring Festival couplets earlier and stuck them outside the single dorm room door. During dinner, the sounds of fireworks and firecrackers erupted outside—it was lively and festive.

With a radish ball still in hand, Dadan leaned on the window watching the night sky. The quiet darkness lit up by fireworks looked breathtaking.

Meanwhile, Ji Chenbiao was in the kitchen boiling dumplings, carefully stirring with a spatula over and over, worried they might not cook properly. After making sure they were done, he served them into bowls and brought them to the table.

“Dadan, come eat.”

“Coming!”

As soon as Dadan heard his dad’s voice, no matter how reluctant he was, he ran back to the table and started digging through the bowl with his little personal fork.

He was trying to find the dumplings he had wrapped himself.

Unfortunately, the ones he and his dad made looked too much alike—equally ugly—and after staring for a while, he still couldn’t tell which were his, so he closed his eyes and bit into one at random.

It didn’t look too great, but the taste was decent. The filling especially was flavorful, and the ingredients stayed tender and fresh even after boiling.

That night, Ji Chenbiao poured himself a little wine. After a sip, he looked at Dadan’s cheeks puffed out with food and, with a nostalgic tone, said:

“Dadan, don’t worry. I’ll make sure you live a good life. Once we figure out what happened to your aunt, I’ll take you somewhere better to settle down—and support you through college!”

Dadan blinked innocently, still chewing on a dumpling. He quietly swallowed it down, suddenly feeling a bit pressured.

College? He’d heard his aunt mention it before.

His dad had a lot of confidence in him, but Dadan wasn’t some obliviously confident kid. He seriously doubted if he could even get in.

Outside, firecrackers were still popping. Ji Chenbiao’s feelings were complicated.

It was the first time he hadn’t gone back to his parents’ and sister’s graves for the New Year to burn paper money. He wondered if they would be upset.

He knew he couldn’t return to that village without having achieved something. Until then, he could only play the role of an unfilial son for a few years.

One day, when he made it, Ji Chenbiao planned to move all their graves somewhere better.

Halfway through the dumplings, Dadan shoved a piece of fried cake into his mouth.

His teeth hadn’t all grown in yet, so it was hard for him to chew—especially with crispy fried stuff like this. He had to chew for a long time, until his cheeks started to ache.

The sound of him gnawing on it, like a little hamster munching peanuts, caught Ji Chenbiao’s attention.

“Dadan, thank you.”

He raised his wine glass toward Dadan, who tapped it with his piece of fried cake.

“Ya~”

It was their first New Year’s here. Ji Chenbiao hadn’t had time to prepare much.

All the street vendors were gone on New Year’s Day, so that night, he could only watch fireworks with Dadan from the window.

“Daddy, piu—boom~”

When the fireworks exploded in the sky, Dadan jumped with joy. Ji Chenbiao, seeing how excited he was, reached out to rub his head.

“Yeah, beautiful. Next New Year, remind Daddy to buy fireworks ahead of time, okay? Then we can light them ourselves too.”

Ji Chenbiao thought Dadan would be happy with this little dream, but to his surprise, Dadan’s face showed hesitation. After a long while, he shook his head.

“No… we’re poor.”

Some things Ji Chenbiao thought Dadan wouldn’t remember, he had actually remembered clearly—like that one meat bun in the hospital, and the plain steamed bun his dad had eaten.

They were already so poor. Watching other people’s fireworks secretly was fine. He believed no one would mind them quietly enjoying the show.

“Dadan, the jade we sold back then brought in a lot of money—like, a lot.”

Enough for an average person to live a worry-free life.

“Waaah~”

It was the first time Dadan had heard his dad talk about this. Once the surprise wore off, he leaned close to Ji Chenbiao’s ear and whispered:

“Auntie.”

When Ji Chenbiao heard that, he thought he misheard and asked again without thinking:

“Hm?”

“Auntie!”

Dadan repeated patiently, his clear eyes shining. Ji Chenbiao could see his own reflection in them—and that serious little face.

“Auntie? You mean spend the money to figure out what happened to her?”

Dadan couldn’t quite put his thoughts into words, but when his dad said that, he gave a big thumbs up.

“Mm! Auntie!”

Hearing that baby voice, Ji Chenbiao suddenly felt his nose sting. He crouched down and hugged Dadan tightly.

Not wanting Dadan to see his weakness, he waited until his breathing steadied before replying in a normal tone:

“Thank you, Dadan.”

Everyone else had tried to talk him out of investigating what happened to his sister, telling him to let it go. But this tiny kid had chosen to support him—and even offered help. The emotion he felt was overwhelming.

Dadan patted his dad’s back with his little hand and rubbed his fluffy head against him.

“No thanks.”

Then he wiggled out of the hug and thumped his left shoulder with his right hand.

“Dadan’s… is Daddy’s!”

Generous to the extreme, little Dadan had no idea just how much wealth he was sharing. He even started wondering if what he gave wasn’t enough.

“Daddy gets more. Dadan gets less.”

After saying that, his wrinkled little face relaxed, finally satisfied with the distribution of wealth.

Later, when they were sitting on the couch watching the Spring Festival Gala, Ji Chenbiao was still thinking about what Dadan had said. He gently stroked Dadan’s fuzzy head and asked softly:

“If Daddy gets everything, what will Dadan do when he grows up?”

Dadan hugged his dad’s arm and squinted his eyes. The Gala was fun, but he was so young he couldn’t stay up. Still, he stubbornly tried to stay awake.

Half-asleep, he heard his dad’s question. This time, he didn’t argue or hide how he felt.

He was like a sun-warmed kitten—lazy and soft. His voice was babyish and a little slurred, but Ji Chenbiao could still understand him.

“Dadan… has Daddy.”

Hearing that natural, matter-of-fact answer, Ji Chenbiao couldn’t help but reach out and gently poke his chubby cheek, muttering with fake sternness:

“After I scam your money, I’ll ditch you.”

He boldly lay in his father’s arms, turning himself into a squirming little caterpillar.

Ji Chenbiao, worried he might fall, simply scooped his son into his arms, chuckling softly as he said:

“Alright, alright, I won’t drop you.”

“Mm-hmm.”

It was the first day of the new year, and most people in the dorm building had gone to visit relatives. Only Ji Chenbiao and Dadan were left behind, and the entire courtyard was unusually quiet.

There had been a lot of food prepared for the New Year. It had looked satisfying on the day itself, but once the holiday passed, just thinking about it gave him a bit of a headache.

Dadan’s favorite fried rice cakes, when re-fried in oil, tasted just as good as when they were fresh. If not for his still-growing teeth, he definitely would’ve eaten more than two pieces.

Despite giving a lot of the dumplings they made yesterday to others, there were still plenty left.

That morning, Ji Chenbiao boiled some rice porridge, steamed the dumplings, and reheated the rest of the food.

Dadan was still little, and since he’d already had two pieces of fried rice cake before the meal, he only drank half a bowl of porridge and ate one steamed dumpling.

After eating, he leaned back in his chair, let out a full burp, squinted his eyes, and stared at his dad. Eventually, Ji Chenbiao felt a bit self-conscious under that gaze and couldn’t help but ask:

“What are you looking at?”

“Looking at Daddy. Piu-liang!”

Dadan gave his dad a big thumbs-up, his eyes squinting in delight. After saying that silly phrase, he immediately jumped down from the chair, hugged his head, and ran off into the room.

Complimenting Dad wasn’t wrong—but complimenting him like that was bound to get him scolded.

Ji Chenbiao watched his son vanish in a flash, feeling a little helpless. It was the first day of the new year—he wasn’t really going to beat a kid. Dadan was just overthinking it.

With nothing that needed to be done over the next few days, Ji Chenbiao actually felt a bit out of sorts. He was used to staying busy—he couldn’t sit still. Even just playing with Dadan at home wasn’t enough to keep him completely occupied.

By chance, he ran into an old coworker who confirmed something for him: work would resume on the eighth day of the lunar new year.

People in the jade trade were mostly a little superstitious; they always picked an auspicious day to start work.

Knowing he had a few more days to spend with Dadan, Ji Chenbiao relaxed a bit. Once the shops on the street started reopening, he even took Dadan out to play for two days.

On the sixth day of the new year, Ji Chenbiao received a package from Haicheng. His first instinct was that it must be from Xiaomei’s ex-boyfriend—the sender’s name was an unfamiliar man’s.

The package wasn’t big. It was well-wrapped, not too heavy. Ji Chenbiao carried it home, with Dadan asking curiously along the way what was inside.

“It’s something for your aunt.”

After that reply, Dadan didn’t ask anymore. He just obediently walked beside his dad, holding his hand.

Kids are great at reading the room. Dadan knew that whatever had happened with his aunt made Daddy very sad, so he sensibly didn’t bring it up again.

“It’s okay.”

What happened with Xiaomei had been a long time ago. Ji Chenbiao still cared deeply, but it wasn’t like in the beginning, when he couldn’t even bear to hear her name.

Besides, what bad intentions could a little kid like Dadan have? He was just curious, trying to understand things with no malice whatsoever.

“It’s from your aunt’s ex-boyfriend. It probably has something to do with her.”

“Ohhh.”

Dadan’s curiosity was satisfied, but he didn’t look happy. He could tell that Daddy was feeling down.

Back home, Ji Chenbiao opened the package. The first thing he saw was a letter. He only recognized a limited number of characters, and even though he’d worked hard at studying since moving to Shancheng, it still wasn’t enough.

Holding the letter, he took Dadan with him to find someone who could read it.

The letter said, roughly, that the man was no longer young. He’d spent all these years chasing the truth about Xiaomei, putting off his own life. His parents couldn’t bear it anymore and arranged a blind date for him.

Yes—he was getting married.

The boy who once made a lifelong promise with Xiaomei on campus had finally given in to his parents’ wishes.

From now on, he wouldn’t continue searching for the truth. His fiancée wouldn’t allow it. So he sent over everything he’d collected—every clue, every bit of information.

The things he didn’t have the strength to finish, he hoped Ji Chenbiao could take over.

After hearing this, Ji Chenbiao showed no visible reaction. He put the letter aside and politely thanked the person who’d read it for him.

Once home, he carefully took out each item from the package and looked through them all, one by one.

After sending Xiaomei to university, the siblings hadn’t kept in close contact. But through these things, it was as if he could see his once confident, radiant little sister on campus again.

Ji Chenbiao had once believed in how he raised his sister. After seeing these photos, he believed in her character.

What happened back then—absolutely wasn’t what he’d been led to believe.

At this moment, Dadan was crouched to the side, holding a photo, his mouth hanging open in surprise.

“Auntie’s so piu-liang!”

“Mm, very pretty.”

In the photo Dadan held, Xiaomei was wearing her school uniform, her hair in twin ponytails, looking especially youthful and sunny.

Ji Chenbiao squatted there in silence for a long time after looking through it all. It felt like this package held Xiaomei’s entire youth—not just photos, but certificates, awards, even a thick wad of money—the sum Ji Chenbiao had once sent her, and from the feel of it, it might’ve even increased.

Dadan didn’t know how to comfort his father. All he could do was cling to his dad’s arm, watching him with worried eyes.

It took Ji Chenbiao a long time to snap out of it. When he finally stood, his legs were unsteady from squatting so long, and he staggered a bit, scaring Dadan into freezing in place.

“Daddy!”

Dadan’s voice was already on the verge of tears. Ji Chenbiao came back to himself and, seeing his son’s frightened expression, forced a smile and reached out to rub his head.

“It’s okay. I just squatted too long. Don’t be scared, Dadan. It’s Daddy’s fault—it won’t happen again.”

Still a little unsteady, Ji Chenbiao put the package into the cabinet and locked it. When he turned around, he saw the little shadow that had been following him—the one that hadn’t stopped staring at him with worry.

“Really, it’s nothing. Don’t worry.”

“Daddy…”

Dadan hugged his father’s leg, looking aggrieved. Ji Chenbiao bent down and picked him up.

“Don’t be afraid, Daddy’s here, Dadan.”

Ji Chenbiao’s heart was in turmoil. Holding his son, feeling his arms filled by that small body, the coldness in him that had almost completely taken over finally started to thaw.

Dadan wrapped his arms around his father’s neck and gently kissed him on the cheek.

Ji Chenbiao admitted—seeing how outstanding his sister once was, and then facing the cruel reality, it had sparked a storm of impulsive thoughts in his mind.

But just when those dark emotions threatened to consume him, he looked into Dadan’s pure eyes and saw only himself reflected there.

Dadan was still so small—so small that he relied on him for everything, needed his love and guidance to grow.

Like a fragile seedling, he needed the shelter of a sturdy tree to thrive.

Because of Dadan’s presence, what could’ve been chains became anchors—keeping Ji Chenbiao grounded, helping him stay calm and rational no matter what he faced.

And for Ji Chenbiao, being tethered in this way wasn’t such a bad thing.

“Daddy, I’m scared.”

Once Dadan no longer felt his father was as frightening as before, he finally mustered the courage to cautiously share his thoughts.

Ji Chenbiao held him for a long time. Later, he began to talk to Dadan about Xiaomei, and about his own childhood.

Back then, Ji Chenbiao had been playful and uninterested in studying. On top of that, he really didn’t have much talent in that area, so he dropped out of school early and stayed home.

But Xiaomei was different. She had always been smart and loved studying.

After their parents passed away, someone advised Ji Chenbiao not to let Xiaomei continue her education. They said she should stay at home for a few years, grow up, get married, and exchange herself for a decent dowry.

But Ji Chenbiao didn’t agree. He gritted his teeth and worked hard to earn enough money to support Xiaomei through high school. She didn’t let him down—she got into the most prestigious university in Haicheng, becoming the only female university student in their entire region.

After she started college, Xiaomei rarely asked her brother for money. Instead, she received scholarships.

She was like a pearl, one that had been refined through countless trials and hardships, finally about to shine with her own light—until someone ruthlessly crushed that pearl.

And to cover up the truth, they let that pearl be buried in filth, sullied beyond recognition.

Dadan couldn’t understand the complicated parts, but he knew his father cared deeply about his aunt. He also understood that his aunt was an outstanding person.

Imitating the way his father usually comforted him, he reached out and gently patted his father’s back.

Ji Chenbiao didn’t intend to let a child shoulder all his emotions. He took a deep breath and brought Dadan out the door.

He wasn’t in the mood to cook anything today, nor did he want to. Plus, knowing Dadan had been frightened earlier, he figured he’d take him out to eat.

Two fast food chains had recently opened in Shancheng, both reportedly well-known international brands loved by kids abroad.

Ji Chenbiao took Dadan inside and ordered fried chicken and burgers, plus a cola. He ordered two portions each of chicken drumsticks and wings.

He didn’t have much of an appetite himself, but he didn’t want Dadan to finish everything alone—it would only add psychological pressure on the boy.

It was Dadan’s first time eating junk food like this. He found it fascinating and, since it actually tasted good, he polished off his entire meal cleanly without wasting a bite.

By the time they finished, night had fallen. Pedestrians hurried past on the street, and Ji Chenbiao held Dadan’s hand as they walked along the roadside. The wind was still chilly, and patches of unmelted snow were visible here and there.

The soft yellow glow of the streetlights fell on the snow, creating a uniquely beautiful scene.

As Ji Chenbiao was admiring this beauty—so different from that of his hometown—Dadan suddenly let out an uncontrollable burp.

When Ji Chenbiao looked down, Dadan sheepishly covered his mouth with one hand, blinking his big eyes in an attempt to look innocent, his ears bright red.

…

On the eighth day of the New Year, work officially resumed. Mr. Zhou handed out red envelopes to every worker who came. Knowing that Ji Chenbiao had Dadan at home, he even slipped an extra little one to the child.

Ji Chenbiao didn’t care much for the red envelope, but he figured Dadan would be happy.

Selling that piece of jade to Mr. Zhou had been a one-time deal, and Mr. Zhou had no obligation to look after him afterward. The fact that he still did—it spoke volumes about his character, and Ji Chenbiao remembered that kindness well.

While the other workers were already busy handling freshly returned raw stones, Mr. Zhou called Ji Chenbiao aside.

During the New Year, there had been an exhibition abroad. The piece of top-grade imperial green jade that Mr. Zhou brought stole the show, gaining massive attention and boosting his company’s reputation. Many parties expressed interest in collaborating with him.

With his business booming, Mr. Zhou was especially grateful to Ji Chenbiao and his son for selling him that raw jade.

Although the price he paid was fair, the value that piece had brought him afterward had far exceeded what he originally paid.

Mr. Zhou was a good man, and right as work began, he brought it up with Ji Chenbiao.

“Mr. Ji, I paid a fair price back then. What you turned that money into afterward—that was all you.”

Ji Chenbiao immediately understood Mr. Zhou’s meaning and straightforwardly expressed his stance. His calm and forthright attitude only made Mr. Zhou admire him more.

“What I’m saying is—how about transferring you to another site? It might be a bit tougher, but the pay will be much higher.”

“If you’re willing, you can also buy some raw stones and cut them yourself in your spare time. I’ll give you the employee discount.”

Mr. Zhou really appreciated Ji Chenbiao. The first offer was meant to support his livelihood, and the second to satisfy the little hope that everyone in this trade carried.

After all, to have cracked open so many valuable pieces of jade and not owned a single one—it would create some inner conflict for anyone.

Being able to buy stones at an internal price would at least give him some hope and make life more interesting.

“Thank you, Mr. Zhou. But… should I study a bit more first?”

Ji Chenbiao was clearly tempted. At the processing plant they were currently at, it was rare to find jade at all. But the place Mr. Zhou spoke of—it was different.

It was the most famous raw stone market in all of Shancheng, where million-yuan jades could be cut open nearly every day.

One slice could make you poor, another rich—that was the place where the city’s boldest gamblers gathered.

“Stay here for another month and study under someone. Once your skills are solid, you can transfer over. Just like before—if you want, bring Dadan along.”

Mr. Zhou knew how much Ji Chenbiao cared about his son. No matter where he went, he wanted to bring the boy with him, so he made sure to add that note at the end.

“Alright. Thank you so, so much.”

Ji Chenbiao was so overwhelmed that his voice trembled slightly. Mr. Zhou gently stopped him from bowing and smiled:

“I should be thanking you too.”

Over the next month, Ji Chenbiao studied hard under Old Wen. Once Old Wen understood Mr. Zhou’s intentions, he even gave Ji Chenbiao a few books so he could practice drawing at home.

When they parted, Old Wen gave him a suggestion: if he had time, he should consider learning how to read and write—it wouldn’t hurt him.

When the month was up, Ji Chenbiao packed his things at the dorm. Dadan helped him pack too, his face full of poorly hidden worry—afraid that maybe he’d eaten too much lately and gotten them both kicked out.

Even after they boarded the vehicle, Dadan was still frowning all the way.

Until they arrived, and Ji Chenbiao used a key to unlock the clearly much nicer employee dormitory door—

“Waaah?”

Dadan let out a surprised gasp. Ji Chenbiao was happy too. He leaned down and rubbed Dadan’s cheek with his nose, smiling as he said:

“See? This is our new home! We’ll clean up later. First, I’ll take you to see where I’ll be working.”

Ji Chenbiao had always been curious about Shancheng’s biggest raw stone market. Now that he was finally here, he couldn’t wait to go check it out.

“Okay~”

Dadan was excited too. Clinging to his father’s neck, he wiggled to urge him to go faster.

Mr. Zhou had already informed everyone at the new site. When Ji Chenbiao arrived, he had his employee badge proudly pinned to his chest.

After greeting his future colleagues, the older-looking man named Old Zhou took the initiative to say:

“You don’t need to come to work today, things are already wrapped up here.”

“Alright, then I’ll just wander around a bit.”

Ji Chenbiao had been planning to explore the place anyway, so Old Zhou’s words suited him perfectly.

Carrying An’an in his arms, he strolled around and heard a loudspeaker near a somewhat secluded shop.

“Raw stones that used to cost thousands, tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands—now being sold at a loss! Not 9999, not 999, just 599!”

It was clearly a scam targeting the gullible. Ji Chenbiao turned to leave, but An’an tugged lightly at the corner of his shirt, eyes practically glowing.

With that eager, longing look on his face, Ji Chenbiao just couldn’t bring himself to say no. Thinking it wasn’t a lot of money anyway, he carried him inside.

Once inside, he put Dadan down and told him to pick whatever he wanted from the pile.

Ji Chenbiao had some knowledge of raw stones. He could tell that the pile was mostly worthless scraps, meant to fool unsuspecting amateurs.

And his little Dadan had, unfortunately, just become one of them.

But seeing Dadan crouching there seriously picking through the stones, Ji Chenbiao couldn’t bring himself to crush his confidence. So when Dadan finally selected a piece that was clearly not going to produce jade, Ji Chenbiao didn’t even blink before paying for it.

“Want it opened here?”

The shopkeeper took the money Ji Chenbiao handed over and asked proactively.

Ji Chenbiao, enjoying a rare day off and not wanting to work overtime, nodded.

“Yes.”

“Alrighty.”

The stone-cutting area was right in the center of the shop, placed for easy viewing by passersby. The craftsman sitting there was already yawning.

He took the raw stone, still looking bored, and casually chose a spot to cut.

In the very next instant, his heart suddenly jumped, and he gasped sharply.