Rebirth: Splendid Marriage in the 80s Chapter 2314 - 2250: A Meeting Gift

Yang Zhiqi arrived that evening carrying a bag of oranges, which he immediately presented to Chiang Xiao upon entering.

"These oranges are exceptionally sweet, Xiao Chiang. Have a taste," he offered.

"Thank you, Uncle Yang," she replied.

Chiang Xiao accepted the fruit without much thought, intending to head to the kitchen to slice them for everyone. However, Meng Xinian, who was busy sketching a training diagram at the desk, spoke up with a cool tone, "Little, make sure you keep those. It’s a meeting gift from your Uncle Yang."

Wait, a meeting gift?

Chiang Xiao felt a bit puzzled by the remark.

Yang Zhiqi grumbled under his breath, calling him a brat.

"Do I really seem that stingy?" he asked.

He then retrieved a small box from his pocket and held it out to Chiang Xiao. "I have a former teammate who started a jade business after leaving the team. He gave me this bracelet a while ago. It’s quite lovely, but my wife’s wrists are too thick to fit into it."

Meng Xinian turned around at this, his eyebrows arching as he looked at the box.

Yang Zhiqi went on, "We originally planned to save it if we ever had a daughter. But after raising two troublesome boys, the hope of having a daughter seems gone, so you should have it. Think of it as a meeting gift from your Uncle Yang."

Previously, he hadn't focused on building a close bond with Chiang Xiao. After all, his relationship with Meng Xinian was already akin to a father and son. Meng Xinian actually spent more time with him than with Meng Chaojun.

There were even times when Old Meng had to come to him just to find where Meng Xinian was.

Furthermore, having watched Meng Xinian grow up, their bond was truly unique.

He had initially assumed that once Meng Xinian wed, Chiang Xiao would simply be like a daughter-in-law to him. He never expected his own parents to take such a step, siding completely with Chiang Xiao and treating her as one of their own.

Since she was calling him Uncle, this meeting gift was certainly well-deserved.

Besides, she had saved his father’s life, a debt of kindness he felt he could never truly repay.

Chiang Xiao glanced toward Meng Xinian.

"Jade is extremely precious; how can I possibly accept this?" She shook her head in refusal.

"How valuable can it really be? It’s just a jade bracelet," Yang Zhiqi said with a dismissive wave. "My old teammate mentioned that unless the jade is entirely green, it isn't worth much. He told me this one only has a trace of green, so it’s not that expensive."

Hearing his explanation, Chiang Xiao felt a flicker of curiosity and wanted to see the bracelet for herself.

Meng Xinian spoke up, "Little, let’s just accept it. At most, we’ll let him stay for dinner today."

Yang Zhiqi pointed a finger at him. "You little rascal."

He understood Meng Xinian's intent; the boy just wanted to make sure he got a free meal.

Every day, his parents would praise Chiang Xiao’s cooking without end. Recently, their complexions had visibly improved, and they had even gained some healthy color in their faces. Looking at them, he realized he had been far too negligent in the past, failing to notice how thin and sallow his parents had become.

Chiang Xiao took the box and opened it. When she saw the bracelet inside, her eyes widened in surprise.

Even though she wasn't an expert on the subject.

She might be a novice, but she could still distinguish quality. She remembered a part-time job she held during a holiday where the shop owner, knowing she was an art student, commissioned a portrait. She recalled being paid two hundred bucks once it was finished.

At that time, the owner had been very specific about including the jade bracelet on her wrist in the painting, even taking the time to explain the value of jade to her.