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In the VIP room of the hospital in the capital, Lady Gu looked at the room full of relatives, her sharp gaze sweeping over everyone, then landing on her considerate husband, before she angrily said:
"I told you, it's just a small sprain, but you insisted on making such a big deal and transferring me to the capital."
"Coming here was one thing, but you called the children over one by one, making it feel like a prison visit. What exactly are you trying to do?"
Lady Gu's voice was loud, and from the tone, it was clear that she was in high spirits, showing no signs of any real issue.
Seeing her in good spirits, Gu Xuemon and Chen Hui, who had rushed over in a panic, sighed in relief. After all, the elderly were the most fragile, and a small injury could easily take a toll on their health.
Currently, there was nothing serious. Lady Gu didn't even need a cast; her foot was simply wrapped in bandages.
Gu Xuemon had asked the nurse, and according to the assessment, hospitalization wasn't necessary, and she could go home right away.
"I was just worried that the doctors in other places might not be skilled enough, and it might delay treatment," Mr. Gu defended himself, his voice tinged with dissatisfaction. His face, square and stern, and his thick, long eyebrows gave him a commanding presence, which didn't diminish even with the white hair at his temples.
Of course, in front of Lady Gu, this authority quickly disappeared, and he appeared as obedient as a little husband.
Chen Hui understood the dynamic between her in-laws. Seeing the atmosphere calm down, she smiled and stepped in to ease the tension: "Mom, Dad only meant well. As long as you're okay, all of us feel relieved."
Lady Gu understood this well, but scolding her husband had become a habit. It wasn't that she was truly angry. Now that her daughter-in-law had stepped in, she was happy to let it go.
She waved her hand, saying, "Alright, alright. I'll forgive you for making decisions without consulting me this time, but don't let it happen again."
"Okay, I promise there won't be a next time."
Mr. Gu gave his third daughter-in-law a grateful look and hurriedly brought some silver ear soup for his wife to drink.
"This is fine, no need for everyone to stay here. Go back to your work and don't waste time here."
Lady Gu had taken a few bites of the soup, then lifted her eyelids and spoke to the room.
She knew that her third son was very busy. The Gu family's current prominence relied heavily on him, and she understood that maintaining the family's prosperity meant he couldn't afford to waste time.
She wasn't someone to act overly dramatic. Having her son check on her was enough. There was no need for everyone to stay and accompany an old woman.
Gu Xuemon had real business to attend to. He nodded and told his wife to take care of Lady Gu, and if anything came up, to call him.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of mom."
Chen Hui nodded, reassuring him to go back.
"You all go back too. It's crowded with so many young people, and the room feels stuffy."
The brothers, Gu Heng and others, had planned to stay, but Lady Gu refused, so they left without lingering.
In a short while, everyone had rushed in and out. The room was finally left with only Mr. and Mrs. Gu, Chen Hui, and Yao Yao, who stood last.
"This little girl is Yao Yao, right?"
Lady Gu's cloudy eyes brightened as she looked at the delicate little girl standing before her.
She had heard that her third son and daughter-in-law had adopted a little girl. At first, she wasn't very supportive because raising someone else's child could be troublesome. You couldn't scold or punish them, and if you weren't careful, they might turn ungrateful.
However, she understood it was her son and daughter-in-law's choice. Even if she didn't like it, she wouldn't interfere. So when her third son sent her an invitation to meet the child, they were conveniently overseas and had an excuse to not come.
But some time ago, when her son mentioned that the little girl had helped them close several business deals and brought luck to the family, Lady Gu confirmed the situation and began to soften her attitude.
Now that she saw her, she understood why her daughter-in-law had decided to adopt the child.
The round, chubby face with big, watery eyes was simply adorable!
"Come here, let grandma see."
Lady Gu smiled and waved her hand, no longer showing any disdain as she called the girl closer.
The Gu family had always been male-dominated, and with three sons, they had no granddaughters in the younger generation, which made her feel a bit disappointed.
A granddaughter, soft and lovely, wasn't she a treasure?
"Yao Yao, come, call me!"
Chen Hui gently touched Yao Yao's head, reassuring her.
For Yao Yao, there was no need for comfort. She quickly called out, "Grandma!"
Lady Gu smiled happily at the obedient little granddaughter. Then she suddenly remembered that she hadn't brought a gift and fumbled around her neck before taking off her jade Buddha necklace.
"Here, Yao Yao, grandma didn't prepare anything, but this jade Buddha is something I brought back from Puhua Temple."
"The monks there blessed it. It's very auspicious. Wearing it will protect you and keep you safe."
She said as she tried to put the necklace on Yao Yao.
Seeing this, both Mr. Gu and Chen Hui exchanged glances. Mr. Gu, who knew how much his wife loved this necklace, was surprised that she would give it to the granddaughter she wasn't very fond of before.
The change was so sudden that it left him a little flustered.
Chen Hui also found it strange, thinking of her own daughter's heroic actions, tearing evil spirits apart with her bare hands.
The jade Buddha was likely not going to be needed for "protection" in that sense.
"Wow, this necklace is beautiful!"
Yao Yao obediently let Lady Gu put it on her, then touched the necklace on her chest and sweetly said, "Thank you, grandma. I really like it."
"I'm glad you like it!"
Lady Gu asked her to twirl around to show it off, and the more she looked, the more she liked it.
"Grandma gave Yao Yao a gift, so now Yao Yao has to give grandma one too."
"This is what my master taught meâone must reciprocate a gift."
Lady Gu froze for a moment, not expecting her young granddaughter to understand the concept of gift-giving. This made her even happier.
However, she was a bit confused. Who was this master? Was it the guardian before the Gu family adopted the child?
Lady Gu didn't know much about her granddaughter, and since Gu Xuemon and Chen Hui hadn't revealed anything about Yao Yao's background, especially given that they had opposed it at first, mentioning gods and ghosts wouldn't help their case.
Chen Hui glanced at her daughter's face and immediately understood what she was about to do. However, she didn't stop her, as seeing was believing.
Soon enough, Lady Gu saw her granddaughter pull out a talisman from somewhere.
"What is this..."
Lady Gu was completely confused, her eyes showing bewilderment. She had never expected her granddaughter to take out something like this.
She subconsciously looked at her third daughter-in-law, as if asking, "Are you hiding something from me?"
"Mom, I can't explain everything right now, but you'll understand soon."
"Yao Yao is... special."
Lady Gu was about to say more, but before she could, she saw her granddaughter place the yellow talisman on her injured foot.
Yao Yao pressed her fingers onto the talisman and muttered some incantation that Lady Gu couldn't understand. The talisman ignited by itself, and almost immediately, a cool, comforting sensation spread through her swollen ankle.
At the same time, the pain that had been bothering her vanished completely.
Lady Gu instinctively moved her foot and found that it was even more flexible than before the injury.
Her cloudy eyes instantly widened in shock. She stared at her little granddaughter, amazed and confused.
What kind of miraculous technique was this?!