Completion

Mrs. Wang held the diamond in her hand. It was still dirty, but even then, she could tell it was beautiful.

"What's this?" Madam Wang asked: "Is this something you dug up from the ground?"

"Yes," Qibao said: "I went digging last night. I didn't get back until midnight."

"Oh, dear." Mrs. Wang said, concerned: "Why didn't you take us with you? We could have helped you dig! You must be tired from working so late."

Qibao felt a warm rush inside her: "Grandma, I'm not tired at all. Listen, this is something really special."

"What's that?" Mrs. Wang asked: "It's quite pretty, though, even prettier than jade!"

"It's called a diamond." Qibao explained: "You can make all kinds of jewelry from it. It's also very valuable!"

"Could you make bracelets with it?" Mrs. Wang wondered.

Her grandmother always had such extravagant thoughts, Qibao mused. In my previous life, I'd never seen many people wearing diamonds as bracelets.

Qibao took a diamond bracelet from her space and showed it to them: "It could look like this!"

"Oh! How beautiful! So sparkly!" Mrs. Wang held the bracelet, clearly smitten by it.

Mrs. Lin was equally amazed: "It looks really expensive!"

Qibao said: "Mother, take it to the yard and look at it in the sun. It'll look even better."

Mrs. Lin heard her daughter's words and quickly walked to the door with the bracelet.

The sunlight shone on the bracelet, the diamonds refracting a colorful sparkle, beautiful enough to dazzle the eyes.

Mrs. Wang said: "It's really beautiful! It's much better-looking than the bracelets I saw in the jewelry shop!"

Qibao said: "This bracelet is made from these diamonds. If they're well crafted, they can also be made into necklaces, earrings, and hair decorations."

Mrs. Wang asked: "Qibao, how many did you dig up?"

Qibao said: "Quite a few. I didn't bother counting them."

Mrs. Wang said: "I've never seen such beautiful jewelry. If we sell it, it'll probably fetch a lot of silver. You must keep them safe. Keep them for yourself in the future. Grandma thinks the most beautiful jewelry should only be worn by my precious Boa'er!"

Qibao said: "Grandma, don't worry. I have plenty left! If Grandma likes it, I'll give it to you. I have so many others."

Mrs. Wang smiled and said: "I'm already so old. These beautiful things are more suitable for someone your age to wear."

Qibao said: "I say it's suitable for Grandma. Diamonds don't pick who wears them."

At that moment, Fuqiu approached with breakfast and noticed the bracelet in Mrs. Lin's hand. She exclaimed in surprise: "Madam, that bracelet on your wrist is lovely! It even seems to glow!"

Mrs. Lin smiled and said: "Qibao told me it's called a diamond. It's the first time I've seen one too!"

Qibao put the bracelet around Mrs. Lin's wrist: "This is for you, Mother. Later I'll pick out a few more for Grandmother, Eldest Aunt, and Second Aunt."

Mrs. Lin didn't refuse. The bracelet was a gift from her daughter, and she liked it, so she accepted it, feeling quite pleased: "Qibao, finish your breakfast first. It'll get cold."

Qibao nodded, picked up her bowl, and began eating.

When Qibao finished, Fuqiu took the bowl and chopsticks to the kitchen.

Mrs. Wang asked: "Qibao, if you want to turn that diamond into jewelry, won't you need someone to make it? Wouldn't that draw unwanted attention?"

"I'll do it myself." Qibao replied: "I don't need anyone else." With the countless textbooks in my space, it's not a problem.

Mrs. Zhang and Mrs. Li returned from outside and checked on Qibao.

"Can you show me what's on your wrist, Sister-in-law?" Mrs. Li's keen eyes spotted the diamond bracelet on Mrs. Lin's wrist.

They pulled Mrs. Lin over to take a closer look. The more they admired her bracelet, the more they were impressed: "Third Sister-in-law, where did you get this? It's dazzling! I must buy one too."

Mrs. Lin replied happily: "Qibao gave it to me!"

Mrs. Zhang and Mrs. Li circled around Lin Shi, studying her wrist enviously.

"First Aunt, Second Aunt." said Qibao: "You'll each get one too. Just wait."

Mrs. Li smiled: "Daughters really are the best." She said, embracing Qibao and kissing her cheek several times.

"Keep these well." Mrs. Wang advised: "They're very precious. Right now, only Qibao has them."

Mrs. Zhang said: "Mother, such a beautiful thing, I have to wait until Wenwu and Zhiyong get married before I can take it out and wear it, it will be so dignified and glorious!"

Mrs. Li laughed: "Haven't all our family's memorable moments been thanks to Qibao?"

"Second Sister-in-law is right!" Mrs. Zhang agreed: "Qibao's our lucky star!"

While everyone was distracted, Qibao slipped away into her room. She entered her personal space, grabbed three diamond bracelets, and gave them to her grandmother, First Aunt, and Second Aunt.

Overcome with joy, the three women treated the bracelets like priceless treasures. They couldn't bear to wear them and insisted on taking them straight back to their rooms to hide carefully away.

......

Time flies, and the project in the village is finally completed.

The village chief, delighted, planned to buy fireworks for a proper celebration. This was the fruit of several years' labor for all the villagers of Xujia Village, holding special significance.

Everyone in the village was overjoyed, even the men could truly rest easy now.

The old man and the village chief discussed briefly, deciding to send someone to town the next day to gather supplies. They'd arrange a meeting for everyone, as the old man had something to say.

The village chief, taking it seriously, immediately called for a discussion with everyone.

The villagers agreed without hesitation. They didn't need the Xu's to use their money for meat, they'd contribute and organize it themselves. A few men volunteered to drive ox carts to town early the next morning to buy alcohol and meat.

When the old man returned home and sat silently in the main room, his thoughts were unclear.

Mrs. Wang asked: "Old man, what's on your mind? Why so quiet all of a sudden?"

"Based on the timing." The old man said: "Tomorrow should be the day the results are announced!"

"Don't get ahead of yourself." Mrs. Wang said: "Didn't they say an official will come with the good news if someone passes? That'll take a couple of days, at least!"

"Hai, for some reason, just thinking about this makes my heart race with excitement." The old man admitted.

Mrs. Wang smiled: "The results aren't even out yet! Don't get ahead of yourself. If he really passes, you'll be so excited, you'll probably do a backflip!"

The old man chuckled: "Hye! Wife, if he passes, I bet you'd be the one doing the backflip!"

"You think I don't know what I'm talking about!" Mrs. Wang retorted: "I've seen the world out there!"

"Oh yeah? What world have you seen?" The old man shot back: "It's probably no bigger than a little patch of sky above your head."

Mrs. Wang, clearly peeved, said with a touch of sarcasm: "Look at you, all big and mighty now that you've been to the big city! You're so high and mighty, if you go to the capital, your tail feathers might just reach the moon!"

The old man could only stare, too mad to speak.

Uncle Xu and his two brothers, afraid to say the wrong thing, kept their heads down and concentrated on gulping down their tea.

The three sisters-in-law exchanged puzzled glances, wondering how the old couple had gone from chatting amicably to quarreling in the blink of an eye.

Seeing the situation spiral out of control, Qibao quickly stepped in, playing it cool: "Grandma," she said sweetly: "I'm craving your sugar cakes."

The instant Mrs. Wang heard her precious granddaughter's request, she brightened: "Alright, alright! Grandma will make them right away. Just wait, Boa'er!"

With that, she headed straight for the kitchen.

Looking at her still-irritated grandfather, Qibao smiled: "Grandpa, don't get mad. Grandma's just got a sharp tongue and a big heart. Don't take her words too seriously."

"I've been married to your grandma for decades." The old man said: "I know her better than you think. She's always liked to argue with me—it's just how she is. I'm used to it by now."