Chapter 184 Heirloom
“Thank you, Grandpa!”
As he finished speaking, he bowed slightly.
Even the old man acknowledged the person, so naturally the others had nothing to say.
The atmosphere became much more relaxed.
Ding Chuanzhen was the first to react and immediately started laughing too.
Then he slowly took out a jade pendant that was entirely emerald green and handed it to Ruan Chuxia.
"This is a little gadget I collected a while ago. It symbolizes peace and good fortune. Wear it if you like."
Even Xiao Zhenwu rarely took action and took out a classic watch and gave it to her with a smile.
“This is what I wanted.”
But something seemed to be missing from this joyful atmosphere.
Only Guo Huaqin was left a little dazed. She watched everyone thanking each other and laughing, with empty hands and a look of astonishment and loss on her face.
But she hadn't prepared anything at all, and the situation was extremely awkward.
The whole person seemed to be nailed to the spot.
The other three looked at her.
How come she didn't expect this situation?
It was clearly planned well from the beginning, and I just needed to deal with it calmly.
In fact, she originally thought that Ruan Chuxia was from the countryside and her background was not respectable enough, so she would not be liked by the old man at all. So she did not care about this matter and did not even make any extra preparations.
She never expected that Ruan Chuxia would not only be accepted, but also perform unexpectedly well.
Unexpectedly, not only was they accepted, but they also observed every detail of etiquette and even prepared gifts for everyone.
Her meticulousness made everyone look at her with admiration, and also put Jiang Yumin at a disadvantage.
This made her particularly passive.
All the original plans were disrupted, and she could only bite the bullet and deal with it on the spot.
She had no choice but to take off the jade bracelet on her hand, which she had worn for many years.
She forced a smile, carefully put the jade bracelet on Ruan Chuxia's wrist, and said, "Xiao Ruan, this is something passed down from our family. I hope you and Zhiyu will live happily in the future and grow old together."
Even Ruan Chuxia was a little surprised to hear her say this.
Xiao Zhiyu, who was sitting on the side, was even more stunned.
This jade bracelet is an heirloom in their family and has great symbolic significance.
My mother has said countless times before that she will only give it away on the day when she marries Jiang Yumin in the future.
But now it appears in Ruan Chuxia's hands.
It was actually handed over to Ruan Chuxia today?
Guo Huaqin stood aside, looking at the bracelet being worn on her daughter-in-law's hand, and a trace of bitterness rose in her heart.
He didn't know that his mother was also secretly heartbroken at this moment.
Those were the emotions churning in the mother's heart, both reluctant and helpless.
The bracelet was her dowry jewelry. It had been with her for many years and held a heavy weight in her heart.
But after secretly glancing at the old man's happy face, which was filled with a kind smile and a look of satisfaction, she felt that her decision to give the bracelet away was the right one.
The old man has always liked Jiang Yumin's gentle and pleasant personality, and he also prefers a close relationship between his grandchildren and her. Now he gives this jade bracelet to Ruan Chuxia, obviously wanting this daughter-in-law to integrate more deeply into the Xiao family.
Even if she admires Jiang Yumin in her heart, what can she do?
No matter how strong this relationship is, it cannot overcome the reality of the family structure.
After all, the Xiao family's decisions are always based on the old man's opinions.
This is something that both Guo Huaqin and the other members of the Xiao family are well aware of and beyond doubt.
As soon as the jade bracelet touched her skin, Ruan Chuxia immediately felt a warmth coming from her wrist all the way up to her heart. The strange feeling made her stunned for a moment, and her heartbeat involuntarily quickened a few beats, and she was shocked.
Could this be the warm jade that everyone in later generations would fight for and that was extremely expensive?
She was amazed and guessing in her heart. The more she felt the heat, the more it seemed to contain spiritual energy. The more she suspected that this was not an ordinary object, but a very valuable treasure.
She quickly waved her hands and said, "Mom, this is too expensive, I dare not accept it..."
As soon as she finished speaking, she subconsciously raised her hand to take off the bracelet, fearing that accepting it would cause any trouble or misunderstanding.
As she spoke, she wanted to take off the bracelet, her fingertips were already moving around her wrist, ready to take off the bracelet with a sparkling emerald glow.
Guo Huaqin was startled when she saw this, and quickly held her hand, saying anxiously, "Oh, don't take it off. I've already given it to you, how can you take it back?"
His tone was gentle but firm, as if he was afraid that his feelings would really be rejected.
Ding Chuanzhen also advised: "Xiao Ruan, just keep it."
His tone was kind and matter-of-fact, and he continued, "You are the granddaughter-in-law of our Xiao family. Who else can I give it to if not you?"
These words seemed ordinary but carried a clear attitude - she had officially become a part of this family.
Ruan Chuxia couldn't resist everyone's kindness. Feeling the sincere expectations and recognition from those around her, she finally gave up and accepted it. She nodded and said, "Then... thank you."
Just at this time, Mrs. Min came over and invited everyone to eat.
The light by the kitchen door exuded a warm atmosphere, and the faint aroma of food wafted through the air, as if reminding everyone to sit down at the table and share some family time, and also temporarily put an end to the somewhat heavy topic just now.
Everyone walked towards the restaurant together.
The hall is covered with thick carpets that almost completely absorb the sound of footsteps. The surrounding lights are warm and soft, making it look cozy yet solemn.
As soon as he walked into the restaurant, Xiao Zhiyu's face turned gloomy, his brows slightly furrowed, and even a hint of anger flashed in his eyes, as if something extremely unpleasant had instantly touched his emotions.
He stood at the door, not taking a step forward, but staring at the large, long dining table in front of him.
Because what's on the table is—
Russian Western food!
A bowl of steaming borscht sat on a gold-rimmed porcelain plate, the rich aroma of sour cream mixed with the unique fragrance of beetroot filling the air; next to it was a perfectly grilled Chicken Kiev steak, with a crispy skin and juicy inside; next to it were bollinger cakes dotted with red and black caviar, cucumbers pickled in honey, and a few unnamed cold dishes.
Although all this looks exquisite, it is undoubtedly a big challenge for someone who has never been exposed to Russian cuisine.
Ruan Chuxia probably didn't even know what Russians looked like, so how could she have seen these dishes?
Isn't this deliberately trying to embarrass her?
But surprisingly, Ruan Chuxia did not show any embarrassment. Instead, a faint smile appeared on her face, and she seemed to be quite interested.
The corners of her mouth rose slightly, and her eyes revealed a sense of ease and calmness.
It seems that the "tests" that the Xiao family puts on him are really varied and endless.
The old man sitting in the main seat at this time had a slightly gloomy look in his eyes. Seeing his son's face getting worse and worse, and then looking at Ruan Chuxia's uncontrollable smile, he felt a little unhappy in his heart.
He coughed twice, cleared his throat, and said in a slightly serious tone, "Huaqin, did you arrange this meal? Why did you choose Russian dishes? Aren't the eight major cuisines in China enough for you to choose from?"
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