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Chapter 39 - Chapter 39: My Ashes Are Found

My mother approached with an ingratiating smile. I noticed she was carrying a small, gift-boxed case. What was she delivering so late at night?

"Mom, I know you've been feeling down lately. I heard your appetite has decreased too. That won't do. That child, Ning'an, is so thoughtful. She specifically went to an auction and acquired two sets of bone china tableware."

"Take them away. I don't need them." Grandma's face was cold. "I don't want anything from her."

"Mom, why don't you take a look first?"

As she spoke, my mother took out the tableware without waiting for permission. It was a beautiful blue and white porcelain set.

White base, blue patterns, elegant and refined.

But the designs on the bowls weren't flowers, birds, insects, or fish. Instead, they were inscribed with Tibetan script.

"What is this?"

"Isn't that what makes this set so precious? It was completed through a crossover collaboration between two masters."

"Crossover?" A trace of suspicion flashed in Grandma's eyes.

"Yes. The bowl forms were created by a master potter, but the Heart Sutra inscriptions were transcribed by a renowned scripture master. These bowls carry a Buddha-nature."

Hearing the word "Buddha," Grandma's expression finally shifted. "Really?"

"Of course. Ning'an knows you observe a vegetarian diet and chant Buddhist scriptures. She went through great trouble to win these at auction. Handcrafted by two top masters—many people wanted them. Ning'an paid a high price. Eating from these bowls will surely help you live a long and healthy life."

"Then... leave them here."

In her later years, Grandma had become particularly devout in her Buddhist faith, almost to a pathological degree.

I could understand. The higher one's status, the more one fears death. She lacked for nothing, her descendants were filial, and she had enjoyed a life of luxury. After Grandpa passed, witnessing death firsthand left a psychological shadow.

Science and medicine could only temporarily alleviate the pain of her illness, so she turned to deities, praying to Buddha, trying to extend her life.

When it came to these metaphysical things, people here would rather believe they existed than risk ignoring them.

Grandma looked at my mother. "Aren't you leaving yet?"

My mother rubbed her hands together. "Mom, actually, besides bringing the bowls, I came today to discuss something with you. You see, Su Wan is married now. From now on, she's part of the Lu family. She and Shiyan grew up together; the Lu family is a nest of blessings. I'm not worried about her in the least. It's Ning'an I'm concerned about..."

She sighed. "After Dad passed, the Su family hasn't been what it used to be. We can't stop the decline. If this continues, I'm afraid Ning'an won't find a good match. I know you've always intended to leave your shares to Su Wan."

By now, both Grandma and I understood.

Grandma's face changed dramatically. "If you came for my shares, forget it! I'd rather donate them to a Hope Primary School than give them to Su Ning'an!"

"Mom, how can you be so biased? Su Wan is your granddaughter. Isn't An'an your own flesh and blood too? She suffered for years outside after Su Wan pushed her into the water. Is your heart made of iron? I'm not asking you to favor her, just to treat them fairly."

I thought I had moved on from my failed relationship with Lu Shiyan, that I could remain calm no matter what he and Su Ning'an did.

But now I realized, compared to the hurt from family, what was that?

Grandma defended me: "You say I'm biased, but aren't you the same? Back then, you condemned Wanwan based solely on Su Ning'an's word. I ask you, who can prove Wanwan pushed Su Ning'an into the water all those years ago? Did you see it with your own eyes?"

"An'an is her own sister. Why would she lie to us? What good would that do her?" My mother believed Su Ning'an's words implicitly.

Grandma smirked coldly. "Then Wanwan also said she didn't push her. Why didn't you believe her? As you said, Su Ning'an is her own sister. Why would Wanwan push her sister into the water? What good would that do her?"

"Mom, I think you're just being argumentative. It was crowded during the lantern festival. It's possible Su Wan accidentally pushed her sister. She just denied it to avoid blame. We should be discerning about right and wrong."

"Su Wan is married now. She doesn't lack for food or clothing at the Lu family. Ning'an is reaching the age for marriage discussions soon. I just thought if you gave the shares to her, she could hold her head higher when she goes to her husband's family."

What a considerate, wonderful mother. Su Ning'an's marriage isn't even on the horizon yet, and she's already scheming for her dowry.

I desperately wanted to ask her: What about me? Am I not her biological daughter anymore?

The Lu family's betrothal gifts included a villa worth thirty million, a luxury car, and cash, totaling over a hundred million. For the Lu family, this wasn't disrespectful; no one could find fault.

But what about from my own family? Before the wedding, my mother, citing poor company performance, reduced my promised dowry of 8.88 million to 880,000. A prime-location shopfront worth ten million was replaced by one in the remote suburbs worth a million.

My dowry was drastically reduced. By then, I had already given up on Lu Shiyan, and with the death of my child, I didn't care about these material things.

No amount of money could bring back my child.

Even though I knew perfectly well that six months earlier, the Lu Corporation had given the Su family several highly profitable projects. The Su family was not short of money.

They simply wanted to save all the money for Su Ning'an. Su Ning'an had her eye on a collector's-grade piece of jewelry with a sky-high price tag—over eighty million.

My mother took it upon herself to use my dowry money to cover it. She bought that jewelry set without batting an eye.

When the jewelry was delivered, I saw through the crack in the door how happily my mother helped Su Ning'an put it on, her eyes overflowing with maternal love.

She said, "My An'an deserves the best in the world."

Clearly, I, her daughter, counted for nothing in her eyes.

She squeezed my dowry dry, and now she was setting her sights on Grandma's shares.

Grandma was furious. "Take your worthless things and get out! Let me tell you, don't think I don't know what you and your husband are plotting. In this family, I'm the only one who truly loves Wanwan. Everything this old woman has is saved for Wanwan. No one else is taking it! Get out!"

Grandma was so angry she started coughing violently. I wanted to pat her back to soothe her, but my hand passed right through her.

My mother was shown out. I saw Su Ning'an waiting outside the door. The two of them whispered and complained together.

Su Ning'an comforted my mother. "Mom, don't be angry. They're just shares. I don't want them anyway. Let Sister have them."

As she said this, I saw the venom in Su Ning'an's eyes. A sense of foreboding washed over me.

The bone china bowls... she acquired them. Tibetan script! I rushed frantically towards the bone china bowls in the room. Sure enough, a beam of light sucked me inside, exactly like before.

Which meant... these bowls contained my ashes!!!

That deranged monster had given my ashes to Grandma!

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