Chapter 120 - 112: Jade Pendant

Chapter 120: Chapter 112: Jade Pendant

Meng Nan followed Old Mrs. Bai into the house and watched her take a small box from a large, locked wooden chest. The small box was also locked, and the keys to both were hanging around her neck.

As the old woman took the keys from her neck, she inadvertently pulled out a Jade Pendant that was also hanging there. It was obvious at a glance that the Jade Pendant was no ordinary item. Its design was exceptionally unique, clearly the work of a master artisan. ’Even the Jade Pendant I’m wearing is no match for it.’

’How could such an impoverished family possess something so valuable?’

The old woman hastily tucked the Jade Pendant back inside her collar. Meng Nan’s expression remained unchanged as he watched her first unlock the large wooden chest, and then take out the small box.

Meng Nan turned. "Bring the box outside."

Back in the courtyard, in front of everyone, Meng Nan addressed Bai Fugui, who stood beside Bai Erzhu. "This box of your grandmother’s—have you ever seen it before? Or opened it?"

Bai Fugui had likely never been face-to-face with an official before, let alone been spoken to by one. He was so frightened he trembled and couldn’t utter a word.

Bai Erzhu quickly interjected, "That box has always been in my mother’s care, kept locked year-round. Even I have never touched it, let alone Fugui! This has nothing to do with Fugui. Sir, you mustn’t wrongly accuse an innocent person."

Meng Nan said, "I never said this had anything to do with him. I am simply trying to understand the situation. Why are you so agitated?"

Bai Erzhu said, "Sir, my mother is the one who keeps the keys. She never lets them out of her sight. Fugui has never even seen this money box."

Old Mrs. Bai had a nagging feeling that something was wrong, but her mind was slow to catch on, and she couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was.

Bai Zhi and Hu Feng, however, both smiled knowingly. It seemed Meng Nan had already solved the case.

Meng Nan nodded and turned back to Old Mrs. Bai. "I just personally witnessed you unlock that chest, as well as this money box. Both locks were perfectly intact, and you keep the keys on your person. So, how exactly was your silver stolen?"

Old Mrs. Bai grew anxious, her finger subconsciously pointing toward Bai Zhi again. "It was her! It must have been her! Before the family property was divided, she often worked in the main house and would come into my room to clean. Who else could it be?"

Meng Nan said, "Are you suggesting Bai Zhi has the ability to take things from a distance? Your box was clearly locked, and the key was on your person. If she doesn’t have such a power, how could she have possibly taken the silver from your box?"

"This... this—I don’t know how she did it, but it must have been her! It was definitely her!"

Meng Nan’s expression grew cold. In a grave voice, he commanded, "Open the box."

With trembling hands, Old Mrs. Bai reached for the cord around her neck. In her fumbling, she once again yanked out the Jade Pendant she had tucked inside her collar.

The Jade Pendant gave off a soft, warm luster in the sunlight. The face of a Laughing Buddha was clearly visible on it, and a streak of crimson between its fingers was particularly striking.

The moment Zhao Lan saw the Jade Pendant, her expression changed, and her hands, hanging at her sides, instantly clenched into fists.

Hu Feng, who was standing beside Hu Changlin, also saw the Jade Pendant. As soon as he did, that strange, inexplicable feeling of familiarity washed over him again.

’So familiar... It’s like I’ve seen this Jade Pendant somewhere before.’

But no matter how hard he racked his brain, he couldn’t recall a thing.

Old Mrs. Bai tucked the Jade Pendant back into her collar. With trembling hands, she took hold of the smaller key and struggled for a long time before she finally managed to open the box.

The box was very small, about the size of Meng Nan’s palm.

He took the box from Old Mrs. Bai’s hands and peered inside. There were only a few scattered silver coins and several strings of copper coins.