Chapter 8: Dad, Look, My Treasure Backpack

Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Dad, Look, My Treasure Backpack

"Daddy, Mengmeng has something for you, too." Mengmeng was very happy, her smiling face like a blooming rose. Her small hands pulled a small, patterned pink box from her school bag.

Jiang Fan thought to himself, ’Why does this box look so familiar?’

’I probably delivered something similar back when I was running errands.’

But when Mengmeng opened the box, what appeared inside was, shockingly, a large diamond ring.

Jiang Fan: ’No wonder this box looked so damn familiar. The packaging from big-name jewelers, like Six Happiness Jewelry Store, all look like this.’

The one in Mengmeng’s hand was even bigger. He roughly estimated it was worth several hundred thousand.

’Where did this little rascal get this?’

’Don’t tell me it’s Yin Ruxue’s wedding ring?’

He opened his mouth to ask Yin Ruxue, but swallowed her name back down before it could leave his lips.

’Mengmeng is Yin Ruxue’s child, and I’m Mengmeng’s father. That makes Yin Ruxue and I a married couple.’

’Ahem, it’s better to call her Xue’Er.’

"Um, Xue... Xue’Er, is this diamond ring from our wedding?"

In the driver’s seat, when Yin Ruxue heard the name "Xue’Er," the car noticeably slowed, and her expression froze.

Jiang Fan was sure that if Mengmeng weren’t there, she would have told him to get the hell out of her car.

"Daddy, this ring isn’t your and Mommy’s wedding ring, you know."

"A classmate gave it to me."

"A classmate gave it to you?"

Jiang Fan was at a loss for words. ’What kind of families are these?’

’Desk-mates gifting each other diamond rings worth hundreds of thousands.’

Mengmeng explained in her small, sweet voice, "My deskmate, Jiang Xiaoming, used up one of my erasers. Mommy said that was something Daddy bought for me."

"They’re my most precious things. Every one I use is one less that I have."

"I figured since I’d never even seen what Daddy looked like, he must be really busy. That means a gift from him has to be super precious."

"But Jiang Xiaoming just had to trade with me."

"In the end, he told me he’d trade something precious from his home for it. That’s the only reason I agreed."

"If this dumb rock wasn’t so sparkly, Mengmeng wouldn’t have traded for it at all."

Jiang Fan was astounded. So that was the convoluted story behind it.

"Daddy, I traded the eraser you bought me with a classmate. You’re not mad at me, are you?"

’Mad at you? Why would I be mad at you? I should be buying you more erasers! Our family’s future fortune depends on you now.’

’Ahem.’

’It’s way too easy for this kid to make a buck.’

’Just as I thought. Making money isn’t about what you can do; it’s about your circle.’

Yin Ruxue spoke up, "Mengmeng, what you’re holding is called a diamond ring. It’s a very important memento from when Jiang Xiaoming’s parents got married."

"If Jiang Xiaoming’s mom and dad find out the diamond ring is missing, he’s going to get a beating."

"You wouldn’t want to see your classmate Jiang Xiaoming get a beating, would you?"

Jiang Fan imagined Jiang Xiaoming getting beaten. ’A leather whip? A hard slap to the face?’

’Or maybe hung up and flogged? If he were a kid from a poor family, losing something worth hundreds of thousands would be an absolute nightmare. His parents would probably feel like just having another kid and starting over.’

’But anyone who can afford a school that costs 800,000 a year must be well-off. Still, losing a diamond ring with so much sentimental value... he’d probably still get a good thrashing.’

Mengmeng was a sensible child, after all.

"Mm, Mengmeng doesn’t want Jiang Xiaoming to get beaten. Mengmeng will give it back to him tomorrow."

"Yes, yes. Mengmeng is Mommy’s good girl."

Curious as ever, Mengmeng looked at the ring in her hand as a thought struck her.

"Mommy, you just said this shiny little rock is a very important thing from when Jiang Xiaoming’s mommy and daddy got married."

"So, did you and Daddy have one when you got married, too?"

Mengmeng looked at Jiang Fan and Yin Ruxue, her face full of eager anticipation.

Jiang Fan froze. ’Don’t look at me, I have no idea either!’

In the end, it was Yin Ruxue who came to the rescue.

"Yes, we do. They’re at home."

"Wow." Mengmeng bobbed her little head, her eyes twinkling like stars.

"So our family has something precious like that, too!"

It was as if a whole new world had opened up for the little girl at that moment, and she felt utterly content.

’Great,’ he thought. ’Just make things up out of thin air, why don’t you.’

Suddenly, Mengmeng quietly called out to Jiang Fan, lowering her voice to a whisper.

Yin Ruxue leaned back a bit, but she couldn’t hear anything clearly.

Mengmeng leaned close to Jiang Fan’s ear and whispered, "Daddy, I can’t give you that little stone now. How about I give you something else instead?"

"Whatever you like, Daddy, I’ll give it to you."

Mengmeng unzipped her school bag.

He’d figured it would just be some curious little trinkets.

But he never expected that this little girl’s school bag would be filled with jade bangles, emerald rings, and other such things. Gold bracelets were the most numerous; there were three or four of them.

???

Jiang Fan’s brain short-circuited.

’What was going on? She was a walking treasure chest!’

’No wonder the little imp’s school bag felt so heavy when she got in the car.’

’Turns out she was walking around with millions in cash.’

Yin Ruxue, in the front seat, looked utterly exasperated.

She couldn’t for the life of her figure out where Mengmeng had gotten all these things.

Jiang Fan asked, "Mengmeng, did you trade for all of these with your classmates?"

"Yeah."

"You’re not mad at me, are you, Daddy? I just traded the limited-edition erasers you bought me for these... ten or so little trinkets with my classmates."

’Mad? What’s there to be mad about? Only a useless member of society would get mad over this.’

’In my past life, I had no damn idea an eraser could be so valuable.’

"Mengmeng, how long have you been collecting these things?"

"Almost a whole semester."

’Her classmates have probably survived the fallout by now. Excellent. Children have no sense of guilt.’

"Ahem. Mengmeng, how about tomorrow, Daddy takes you to return these things to your classmates?"

"These are their most precious possessions. And Daddy? He doesn’t want anything. You are the greatest gift heaven could have given to Daddy."

When he finished speaking, he gently nuzzled his forehead against Mengmeng’s.

Mengmeng leaped into Jiang Fan’s arms. "Hee hee, I’m Daddy’s best gift!"

"Mengmeng loves Daddy." Mengmeng planted a big, smacking kiss on Jiang Fan’s forehead.

Her kiss left a small, wet spot on his forehead.

A warmth spread through Jiang Fan’s heart.

Yin Ruxue silently watched it all.