Chapter 214 An Uncut Natural Diamond as a Thank-You Gift!
There were only ten workers, including Grandpa Zhao, but Jiang Ling considered that they were all the labor force in their families, so she set a meal standard of two portions for each of them.
You can take any leftovers home.
The women who come to help with the cooking also receive two meals.
The workers' wages were already very low. Jiang Ling originally wanted to suggest increasing their wages, but Grandpa Zhao said it was inappropriate, as it would disrupt the market, so Jiang Ling had to give up.
Consider this an extra subsidy.
Soon, the makeshift kitchen set up in front of the shop became lively.
Knowing that they would be eating white flour dumplings today, everyone worked even harder.
Everyone was busy with their own things in the early morning.
Jiang Ling was taking inventory of supplies in the general store.
Xiao Ran was working alongside Grandpa Zhao and the workers at the new house construction site.
Xiao Yi was squatting on a small stool at the entrance of the shop, with a wooden basin in front of her, diligently helping Aunt Zhao pick and wash the vegetables she needed.
At that moment, a tall and slender figure walked over.
It was Zhao Shiying, who had recovered from serious injuries.
"Xiao Ying is here too."
"Are you here to see Miss Jiang?"
The familiar older women at the door greeted him.
Zhao Shiying's injuries had clearly healed considerably. Although she still looked weak, her complexion had improved a lot.
In fact, Zhao Shiying could have gotten out of bed ten days ago.
That day, when he first arrived at the entrance of Jixiang General Store, Aunt Chen had told him that Jiang Ling had taken Xiao Ran and Xiao Yi to the capital for a trip and had not yet returned.
But he still came over. He knew this shop; it had been there since he was a child, but it had never been open.
The shop looks much the same as he remembers it now, except that there is a plaque above the door that reads "Auspicious General Store".
During the time Jiang Ling was in the capital, Zhao Shiying came over almost every day.
Sometimes it's early morning, sometimes it's dusk.
He didn't say much, but simply leaned against the wall next to the shop, staring at the door in a daze, as if confirming its existence, or as if waiting for something.
When he sees a lot of fallen leaves at the door, he picks up the broom leaning against the wall and silently sweeps them clean.
That snowy night, he was about to rest when he unexpectedly saw Xiao Ran coming to find him.
Only then did he realize that Jiang Ling had returned from the capital.
Xiao Ran first asked him how his recovery was going.
Then, she solemnly proposed that she wanted to learn martial arts from him.
Zhao Shiying remembered that she had promised him, so she agreed.
The next day, he nervously arrived at the shop with a carefully prepared thank-you gift, rehearsing in his mind how to express his gratitude.
He knew that he was only able to survive because of this Miss Jiang, who treated him and gave him medicine without taking a penny.
They also kindly gave him fabric and nutritional supplements.
He was already disheartened after his failed attempt to avenge his family. It was she who comforted him, reminding him that as long as one is alive, there's always hope.
To do so much for someone I've never met is a debt of gratitude heavier than Mount Tai.
Zhao Shiying waited anxiously outside the door, carrying the gifts.
But even when the sun was high in the sky, the wooden door remained tightly shut.
It wasn't until Xiao Ran came over to sweep up the fallen leaves that he was told that Miss Jiang had gone out to buy goods and would not open the shop for another five days.
He was inevitably disappointed; he came full of enthusiasm but left dejected.
Today, he finally saw the grocery store door open, and that familiar figure was busy inside.
He stepped forward somewhat awkwardly, his voice still a little hoarse:
"Miss Jiang, it's been a long time."
Jiang Ling looked up at the sound of his voice, and was somewhat surprised to see him. She quickly put down the account book in her hand and came out to greet him.
"Young Master Zhao? What brings you here? Has your injury healed?"
Zhao Shiying calmed herself down slightly, a faint smile appearing on her lips, and bowed slightly in greeting:
"Thank you for your concern, Miss Jiang. I have fully recovered. I have come today to express my gratitude for saving my life."
"It was just a small favor. We're neighbors, no need to be so polite."
Jiang Ling quickly waved her hand, leading him to sit down at the table next to her, and poured him a cup of hot tea:
"It's cold outside, so let's have a cup of hot tea to warm ourselves up."
Zhao Shiying thanked him and accepted the gift, only then taking a closer look at the shop.
It was completely different from what he had seen and imagined.
The store is bright and clean, with rows of shelves neatly arranged. Most of the goods displayed on the shelves are wrapped in transparent, glass-like materials, allowing you to clearly see what's inside.
The other goods were even more bizarre and strange, both in appearance and shape, they were things he had never heard of or seen before.
A faint, fresh fragrance lingered in the air.
“Miss Jiang’s shop is different from other shops.”
Jiang Ling smiled slightly, "I've just been traveling around collecting some rare items. I hope you'll forgive my ignorance, Young Master Zhao."
Zhao Shiying did not press the matter further.
After taking a sip of hot tea, he put down the teacup and carefully took out an object wrapped in a clean cloth from his bosom.
He gently placed the cloth on the table and unfolded it layer by layer.
Inside, a rhomboid crystal, about the size of a thumb, was revealed, completely clear and transparent!
Upon recognizing what it was, Jiang Ling couldn't help but gasp!
This was the first time she had ever seen such a large, uncut, natural diamond!
Judging from Jiang Ling's reaction, she recognized what it was.
Zhao Shiying looked at the crystal-clear stone, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
“This was a gift from my grandfather to a miner who was trapped in a mine shaft when he rescued him years ago. The man said he had found it by chance in a very deep vein. My father has always treasured it as a family heirloom.”
Fearing that too many people would notice, he wrapped it up after showing it to Jiang Ling.
He raised his head, clenched his fists, and looked on with pain in his eyes:
"But misfortune may be a blessing in disguise, and a blessing may be a misfortune in disguise. It is precisely because of this thing that our families have been torn apart and people have been separated by life and death."
Zhao Shiying revealed that his father was wrongly accused of stealing back then, which may have been related to this diamond.
The wealthy man, Qian, somehow learned that Zhao Shiying's family possessed diamonds and offered to buy them several times, but Zhao Shiying's father refused, as he did not intend to sell them.
Undeterred, Master Qian devised a plan to force Zhao Shiying's father to hand over a diamond in exchange for peace. However, Zhao's father was ungrateful and even took the matter to the authorities. So, Master Qian decided to go all the way...
Although he didn't say it explicitly, Jiang Ling already understood.
A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime.
Although diamonds were not as famous as they are today, they were still very valuable and rare in ancient times due to their special material.
A piece of raw stone as large as the one in front of us is extremely rare.
It is quite valuable.
Zhao Shiying gently pushed the diamond, which carried the family's memories and blood and tears, toward Jiang Ling.
“Miss Jiang, you have been a great benefactor to me. I, Zhao Shiying, am now all alone and have nothing of value except this item, which is worth some money. Please accept it, otherwise I will feel uneasy.”
Since his parents passed away, he sold everything in his house to learn martial arts, and now he is destitute, with this being the only valuable thing he has left.
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