Ch. 1121..1130
Chapter 1121:1121 Jewelry Design
Half an hour later, the jewelry that Tan Ron picked was delivered to Source Creek Manor. The person in charge of delivering the jewelry not only brought this year’s new jewelry styles but also some precious jewelry that had been out of print.
Tian Tian’s eyes widened when she saw so many pieces of jewelry. She knew that the jewelry brand under the Tao family was very famous. Her mother had bought her jewelry before, but only a few pieces. After all, the high-end jewelry designed by the Tao family was too difficult to get.
But now, all the precious jewelry under the Tao family’s name had been sent to her. She was dazzled and did not know which one to choose.
Tian Tian picked up a set of youthful and lively jewelry. There were some elements of oriental style on it, and the earrings were of an uneven design. The left side was green bamboo, and the right side was white orchid. It was very beautiful.
“This looks good! I want this one!” Tian Tian liked the earrings very much.
Tan Rou felt that the set of jewelry looked a little familiar. She walked over and smiled. “I designed this set of jewelry two years ago. I didn’t expect them to send this over too.”
Tian Tian was even more surprised. “Rourou, is this the jewelry you designed?
I didn’t know you could design jewelry.”
Tan Rou said, “I haven’t been designing for the past two years. Firstly, I don’t have the time. Secondly, there are already many designers in the brand studio. I can’t steal their jobs.”
The person in charge next to her suddenly said, “It’s a pity that you’re not a designer. These sets of jewelry were designed by you. Even after more than four years, there are still many people coming to us to buy these sets of jewelry. It would be great if Miss could continue to design jewelry.”
Tan Rou smiled and shook her head. She didn’t say whether she was willing to provide them with designs or not.
After Tian Tian heard the manager’s words, she had an idea in her mind. “Rourou, why don’t we design a piece of jewelry together? We’ll finish it today, and we’ll finish it in the next three days. Then, we can auction it at the banquet.”
There was an auction segment at the charity banquet. All the money from the auction would be donated to the orphanage or nursing home. Tian Tian was still wondering what to use for the auction this time. These jewelry gave her a good idea. She could design a set of jewelry with Tan Rou, then make it and auction it at the charity banquet. No matter how much it was sold for, it was her sincerity.
Tan Rou also thought that this was a good idea. However, she had never heard of Tian Tian being a designer. She asked, “Do you know how to draw designs?”
Tian Tian smiled sweetly. “Hehe, I don’t know how to draw, but you do. You’ll be in charge of drawing, and I’ll be in charge of making them. How about that?”
Tan Rou agreed. “Alright, let’s pick out the jewelry that we’re going to wear at the banquet first. Then, we’ll do the new designs.”
Tian Tian had already chosen the jewelry. She had her eyes on Tan Ron’s jewelry. She felt that the set was very beautiful and very elegant.
After choosing the jewelry, Tan Rou took out a tablet to draw. Tian Tian sat at the side and watched her draw the design. She also gave her some advice.
“Rourou, do you think the design target this time is a young or middle-aged woman? I see that the designs you’ve designed are all geared towards young people,” Tian Tian said.
” Why don’t you design this set of jewelry into a style that middle-aged women like this time?”
Tan Rou accepted Tian Tian’s suggestion and suggested, “Grandma believes in Buddhism. This charity banquet is also held in her name. Why don’t we add some Buddhist elements to the design?”
Tian Tian thought that this was a good idea. “Nowadays, many aunties and grandmothers like Buddhism. If our design has Buddhist elements, it will definitely be very popular.”
Tan Rou thought about it for a while and started drawing.
She had designed a set of jewelry, including a necklace, earrings, and bracelets. As she was targeting middle-aged women, the jewelry were mainly made of gold and they looked elegant.
As for the gemstones inlaid on the jewelry, she planned to use rubies. Rubies were good for color and were very suitable for wearing in winter.
Tan Rou spent three hours drafting and editing the design drafts. Once the drafts were done, Tian Tian got someone to start the production. As long as they made the most of their time, they would be able to finish it within three days.
Chapter 1122:1122 Charity Auction
Reality proved that as long as you wanted to do it, there was nothing you could not do. Although three days were a little tight, Tian Tian still managed to make the set of jewelry. She didn’t have the skills herself, so she contacted a very good craftsman. The craftsman was very challenging and spent three days making a very beautiful set of jewelry.
Tian Tian shared it with Tan Rou the moment she got it. She covered the box with the jewelry tightly, afraid that she would accidentally lose them.
“Xiao Rou, come and take a look. The jewelry we made together is ready.” Tian Tian opened the box.
The golden necklace was inlaid with a blood-red gem. This color of gem was rare, and it was not cheap. One carat cost 70 to 80 thousand.
“Tiantian, these rubies of yours are quite beautiful.” Tan Rou praised.
“Does Xiao Rou like rubies too? I still have a few more. I’ll give them to you next time!” said Tian Tian generously.
Tan Rou didn’t take it. “No need! I was just casually saying. Besides, there are many gemstones here. If you want to make jewelry again, come to me and get it.”
Tian Tian knew that Tan Rou had several gemstone mines, so she didn’t persist. “The next time I want to make a bracelet, I’ll come to you to pick out gemstones.”
“Of course. I’ll find you the biggest and most beautiful gemstone.” Tan Rou said.
They closed the box after reading it and waited for the auction to take it out.
The scale of the charity banquet was not very large, but all of them were well- known figures in the circle; even Mayor Guo had brought his wife.
“When do you plan to start working on the cooperation we discussed last time?” Mayor Guo asked kindly.
“Mayor Guo, it’s almost the new year. Can’tyou let me have a good new year?” Tan Rou replied.
“If I still have to work during the New Year, that’s tragic.”
Mayor Guo rubbed his fingers. “Sigh, then the first thing you have to do after the new year is to deal with our cooperation. I can wait, but the project can’t.”
Since TR had cooperated with the government many times, Tan Rou didn’t want to leave Mayor Guo alone. There were too many things to do this year, and she was too busy. However, the situation next year should be better. The project she wanted to do had been completed. In the next six months, the TR could focus on handling the work arranged by the government.
Tan Rou nodded. “Alright. I’ll deal with the collaboration with you after we return to work after the new year.”
Mayor Guo was very satisfied. “Alright, I’ll go in first.”
“Sure!” Tan Rou said.
A few minutes after Mayor Guo entered, Shen Jing and Zhuang Yan came over. They did not come empty-handed, but with two huge boxes.
When Shen Jing saw Tan Rou, she immediately abandoned her husband and came to Tan Rou with a smile. “Rourou, I haven’t seen you in a long time. Do you miss your mother?”
Tan Rou and Zhuang Liu were already married. Although they didn’t announce their relationship, they had already called each other’s parents ‘parents’ in private.
Tan Rou said obediently, “Yes, I’ve missed you very much. Yesterday, I told Alt Liu that I’m going to spend the New Year with Mom and Dad this year.”
The Zhuang family had few people, but the Tao family had many people. Therefore, they planned to have New Year’s Eve dinner together this year. It would be more lively with more people.
Shen Jing was very happy. “That’s great! I’ll cook for you guys personally.”
Zhuang Yan also walked over. “Let’s go in and register the auction items first. Rourou, is there anything worth bidding tonight?” he asked Tan Rou.
“Give me some intel in advance, I won’t tell anyone.”
Tan Rou smiled and replied, “Dad, I’m not in charge of the auction items.
Besides, I don’t know which items are valuable and which are not. So, you have to go and see for yourself.”
Shen Jing blamed Zhuang Yan. “What are you thinking about? We’re not here to pick up scraps. This banquet is organized by the old lady. The purpose is not to do charity. Don’t think about fishing for treasures here.”
“Oh, looks like I’ve said something wrong. I’ll take it back!” Zhuang Yan realized that his words were inappropriate.
Shen Jing patted him lightly. “Let’s go in quickly. We don’t want to disturb Rourou’s work here.”
Not long after the two of them entered, Zhuang Liu came.
Chapter 1123:1122 Charity Auction
Reality proved that as long as you wanted to do it, there was nothing you could not do. Although three days were a little tight, Tian Tian still managed to make the set of jewelry. She didn’t have the skills herself, so she contacted a very good craftsman. The craftsman was very challenging and spent three days making a very beautiful set of jewelry.
Tian Tian shared it with Tan Rou the moment she got it. She covered the box with the jewelry tightly, afraid that she would accidentally lose them.
“Xiao Rou, come and take a look. The jewelry we made together is ready.” Tian Tian opened the box.
The golden necklace was inlaid with a blood-red gem. This color of gem was very rare, and it was not cheap; one carat cost 70 to 80 thousand.
“Tiantian, these rubies of yours are quite beautiful.” Tan Rou praised.
“Does Xiao Rou like rubies too? I still have a few more. I’ll give them to you in a while,” said Tian Tian generously.
Tan Rou didn’t take it. “No need, I was just casually saying it. Besides, there are many gemstones here. If you want to make jewelry again, come to me and get it.”
Tian Tian knew that Tan Rou had several gemstone mines so she did not persist. “The next time I need any jewelry, I’ll definitely come to you.”
“Of course. I’ll find you the biggest and most beautiful gemstone.” Tan Rou said.
They closed the box after reading it and waited for the auction to take it out.
The scale of the charity banquet today was not very large, but all of them were well-known figures in the circle; even Mayor Guo had brought his wife.
“When do you plan to start working on the cooperation we discussed last time?” Mayor Guo asked kindly.
“Mayor Guo, it’s almost New Years. Can’t you let me have a good one? If I still have to work during the New Years, that’ll be too tragic.”
Mayor Guo rubbed his fingers. “Sigh, then the first thing you have to do after the New Year is to deal with our cooperation. I can wait, but the project can’t.”
Since TR had cooperated with the government many times, Tan Rou didn’t want to leave Mayor Guo alone. There were too many things to do this year, and she was too busy. However, the situation next year should be better. The project she wanted to do had been completed. In the next six months, the TR could focus on handling the work arranged by the government.
Tan Rou nodded. “Alright. I’ll deal with the collaboration with you after we return to work after the new year.”
Mayor Guo was very satisfied. “Alright, I’ll go in first.”
“Alright, welcome,” Tan Rou said.
A few minutes after Mayor Guo entered, Shen Jing and Zhuang Yan came over. They did not come empty-handed, but with two long boxes.
When Shen Jing saw Tan Rou, she immediately abandoned her husband and came to Tan Rou with a smile. “Rourou, I haven’t seen you in a long time. Don’t you miss your mother?”
Tan Rou and Zhuang Liu were already married. Although they didn’t announce their relationship, they had already changed the way they addressed each other’s parents.
Tan Rou said obediently, “Of course I’ve missed you! Yesterday, I told Ah Liu that I’m going to spend the New Year with Mom and Dad this year.”
The Zhuang family had few people, but the Tao family had many people. Therefore, they planned to have New Year’s Eve dinner together this year. It would be more lively with more people.
Shen Jing was very happy. “Alright! I’ll cook for you guys personally.”
Zhuang Yan also walked over. “Let’s go in and register the auction items first. Rourou, is there anything worth bidding tonight?” he asked Tan Rou.
“Give me some intel in advance, I won’t tell anyone.”
Tan Rou smiled and replied, “Dad, I’m not in charge of the auction items.
Besides, I don’t know which items are valuable and which are not. So, you have to go and see for yourself.”
Shen Jing blamed Zhuang Yan. “What are you thinking? We’re not here to pick up scraps. This banquet is organized by the old lady. The purpose is to do charity. Don’t think about fishing for treasures here.”
“Oh, looks like I’ve said something wrong. I’ll take back that question.” Zhuang Yan realized that his words were inappropriate.
Shen Jing patted him lightly. “Let’s go in quickly. We don’t want to disturb Rourou’s work here.”
Not long after the two of them entered, Zhuang Liu came.
Chapter 1124:1123 Jewelry Stolen
When Tan Ron saw Zhuang Liu, she would unconsciously smile. “Why are you so late?”
Zhuang Liu passed a box to Tan Rou. “I took this, but I was caught in a traffic jam, so I came late. Has the auction started?”
“Not yet,” Tan Rou said.
Zhuang Liu showed Tan Rou the contents of his box. It was a pocket watch with blue and green gems inlaid on it. When he opened it, the needle inside could still turn.
“Avery beautiful pocketwatch. Is its timing accurate?” Tan Rou asked.
Zhuang Liu said, “Yes. Since it was created, it has never stopped spinning. It has been spinning for more than too years.”
Tan Rou was also a little surprised. It wasn’t that she hadn’t seen a pocket watch before, but it was the first time she had seen a pocket watch that still worked after a hundred years. Hence, she took a few more glances and even compared the time to see if it was accurate.
Seeing that she liked it, the Zhuang family prepared to give it to Tan Rou, but Tan Rou didn’t want it. She didn’t have the habit of wearing a pocket watch. Moreover, this pocket watch was ancient. Someone must have worn it before. She didn’t like things that strangers had worn.
After Zhuang Liu knew what she was thinking, he couldn’t hide the smile on his face. “I’m not asking you to wear a pocket watch. Moreover, this pocket watch is obviously a man’s style. It doesn’t suit you at all. What I mean is that you can take it apart and study the mechanical mechanism. This pocket watch can spin for more than a hundred years, so it must have its advantages. If you can get some inspiration from it, then you can use the pocket watch.”
Tan Rou was tempted for a moment. However, this pocket watch was very exquisite and had a long history. Once she took it apart, this pocket watch would be useless.
“I don’t want it. You should take it to auction.” Tan Rou was looking forward to the auction price.
The auction started at 7 pm. The first item was provided by Old Lady Tao. It was a very beautiful pink bottle that had been used by an ancient emperor.
Everyone’s eyes were on the bottle, but they didn’t dare to bid for it because it was a last-minute event tonight. No one knew what kind of collectibles there were. If they bid for one collectible at a high price, what if they liked the next one even more?
Of course, if the person participating in the auction was very rich, then this would not be a problem.
In the end, the vase was bought by Shen Jing for five million. “Our house just happens to be lacking a flower vase. This vase is really suitable.”
The others could only silently envy Shen Jing for being rich. If they spent five million to buy the bottle, they would definitely hide it well. They would not take it out at all, let alone use it as a vase.
The second auction item was one of the items that Shen Jing and Zhuang Yan had brought over. It was a painting that was 300 years old.
Grandpa Tao liked calligraphy and painting, so he bought this painting.
After bidding for a few more pieces, it was time for the set of jewelry that Tan Rou and Tian Tian had created together. There were too many treasures in front, and they were very precious. This made Tian Tian feel embarrassed to take out her jewelry.
Tan Rou could tell that Tian Tian was a little nervous. Hence, she said, “It’s alright. If no one bids for it later, I’ll pay for it.”
Tian Tian felt a little relieved. “I’ll buy it with you.”
Tan Rou was no longer conflicted because she believed that this set of jewelry would definitely be sold.
Sure enough, as soon as this set of jewelry was displayed, all the noble ladies present were attracted by it. They all raised their signs and bid, wanting to buy this set of jewelry.
In the end, Shen Jingyu bought the set of jewelry at a high price. Mrs. Tao had wanted to snatch it from Shen Jing, but when she remembered that it was designed by her daughter and daughter-in-law together, she was not in a hurry to get it. She could ask her daughter and daughter-in-law to design another set for her.
Shen Jing pulled Mrs. Tao’s hand to the room where the auction items were placed. “I saw that you liked this set of jewelry just now, so I’ll give it to you.”
“Take it. If I want it, I can get Tiantian and Xiao Rou to make another set,” Mrs. Tao declined.
However, when they saw the box for the second time, they found that the bracelet and earring were gone, leaving only a necklace.
Chapter 1125:1124 Vanished into thin air
After the auction item was won, it would usually not be handed directly to the buyer. Instead, it would be placed in the auction room at the back. Only after the buyer had paid the full amount could the treasure be taken away.
Shen Jing had come to pay the money, but as soon as she and Mother Tao entered the house, they saw the servants of the Tao family running out in a panic.
“Madam! The bracelets and earrings in the box are gone,” said the servant, Ah Ju.
“What?” Mrs. Tao didn’t understand what she was saying. “Speak clearly. What’s missing?”
Alt Ju swallowed a mouthful of saliva and said, “The thing that this lady took is gone! Just now, we were about to open the box to check the auction item, but as soon as we opened it, we found that the two bracelets and two earrings inside were gone. Now there’s only a necklace left.”
Mrs. Tao and Shen Jing looked at each other and quickly ran to the jewelry box. Sure enough, there were no bracelets or earrings inside, only a lonely necklace.
“Check the surveillance cameras! Find out who stole the bracelet and earrings!” Mrs. Tao was furious.
There weren’t many surveillance cameras installed in the Tao family’s house, but there were surveillance cameras in this room. However, after checking the surveillance cameras, they realized that no one had opened the box at all.
“How is that possible?” Mrs. Tao did not believe her.
“If no one opened the box, how could the bracelet and earring disappear into thin air?”
Shen Jing sighed. “Forget it, don’t look for it. There are still many guests here tonight. If the others find out that something is missing, they will gossip.”
Although she wanted to wear the jewelry designed by Tan Rou, it was probably not fated for her. She had already bought it and it was stolen by someone else.
Mrs. Tao was very annoyed. “If I had known earlier, I would have given this box a lock.”
“This is the first time I’ve seen jewelry designed by Rourou,” Shen Jing said regretfully. “It’s a pity that I can’t wear it.”
“Mom, what happened?” Tan Rou and Zhuang Liu were originally looking at pocket watches. This was because Tan Rou had bought the pocket watch in the end. She didn’t want to wear it and just wanted to study the structure inside. If she said she wanted it, Zhuang Liu would give it to her directly. However, Tan Rou did not want to do that.
“The jewelry I just bought is missing.” Shen Jing said sadly, “That’s the jewelry you designed. I haven’t even worn it yet and it’s gone.”
“Gone?” Tan Rou walked to the box and saw that there was only the necklace left. “Have you checked the surveillance camera?”
“Yes. We’ve already checked the surveillance footage a few times,” Shen Jing said dejectedly. “We didn’t find anyone opening the box.”
“When we were on stage just now, the jewelry inside was still intact. It was a two-minute walk from the stage to the stage. If someone stole the jewelry, it must have been stolen during this period.” Tan Rou said.
Mrs. Tao’s eyes turned cold. “Who stole the jewelry? Hurry up and come clean now! If you admit it now, I can still have mercy on you! But if I find out that you stole it, you can directly head to the police station right now!”
The servants looked at each other and said that they did not steal it.
“Are you all unwilling to admit it? Then I’ll have to hand you over to the police station,” Mrs. Tao said regretfully.
“Forget it.” Shen Jing said again, “The old lady organized this charity event to accumulate good fortune. If people knew that there was a thief in the house, they would say that it was bad luck.”
Mrs. Tao was also very conflicted. “If you call the police over, they’ll interrogate the guests. It’s not something expensive. The guests definitely won’t steal it. The guests who came today are all more important. It won’t be good to affect their mood.”
“Mom, I think the thief is still here,” Zhuang Liu said.
Tan Rou agreed with him. “Who was holding this jewelry box when we left the stage just now?”
A maid immediately said, “Ah Ju was carrying it. She must have stolen the jewelry.”
Ah Ju was the first person to discover that the jewelry was missing. When she heard the accusation, she immediately retorted, “It wasn’t me. When I came down, my stomach suddenly hurt, so I gave the jewelry box to Ah Jiao.”
The maid named Alt Jiao stuttered, “No! It wasn’t me… I didn’t… I didn’t steal anything…”
Chapter 1126:1125 Blame Each Other
Ah Jiao was a stutterer. She couldn’t speak fluently to begin with. Now that so many people were looking at her, she couldn’t speak even more.
“I didn’t steal anything…” Ah Jiao’s hand was swinging like a pendulum.
“If I steal something, I’ll die a horrible death…”
This oath was quite vicious, but it could not wash away Ah Jiao’s suspicion. From the stage to the room, only the two of them had touched the jewelry box, so the thief was definitely one of them.
“You were the only one who took the box after Ah Ju left. If you didn’t steal it, who else could it be?” Mrs. Tao’s head hurt a little.
“You’re a good child. I believe you did this because you were confused. If you’re willing to take out the jewelry, I won’t blame you.”
Alt Jiao was a stutterer. Her father disliked her for not speaking properly, so he left her and her mother behind. Later, when Ah Jiao’s mother died, Ah Jiao helped others wash dishes on the street.
Once, when Mrs Tao passed by, she thought that this little girl was quite cute, so she brought her back to work for them. Although Ah Jiao couldn’t speak, she was very hardworking. Mother Tao liked her very much.
“Madam, I didn’t steal it…” Ah Jiao was so anxious that she broke out in a cold sweat. “I’m not the only one who took the box. Everyone has taken it before…”
She pointed at the maids. “They said they wanted to see it, so Ah Ju showed it to them…”
Tan Rou asked All Ju, “Other than the two of you, did anyone else touch the box?”
All Ju nodded. “Everyone took the boxes because they said that these pieces of jewelry are very beautiful. If they wear them on their bodies, they will definitely look very good.”
Tan Rou thought for a moment and turned to ask the other maids, “When you got the box, were the jewels still there?”
The few of them nodded. “Yes, when we took it, the bracelet and earring were still there. After we finished reading it, we returned the box to All Ju. We didn’t secretly take anything.”
“Alright, since you don’t want to admit it, then there’s no need for you to stay in the Tao family. There are guests at home today, so we can’t call the police. You can just pack up and leave. I’ll transfer this month’s salary to your accounts after this.
The maids were crying. They didn’t steal anything, and they didn’t know who stole it. “Madam, please give us another chance. I didn’t steal anything. You have to believe us!”
Zhuang Liu looked around and whispered something into Tan Ron’s ear. Tan Rou immediately understood what Zhuang Liu meant, so she instructed Aunt Zhou, who was standing at the side, to find something. Then, she walked back to the maid and asked a few simple questions.
“Where do you usually work? One by one, don’t rush,” Tan Rou said.
All Jiao was the first to say. “I… I work in the garden…”
“I work in the kitchen,” said another maid.
The remaining maids were responsible for cleaning the house and did not have a fixed position.
“Who usually conies to clean this room?” Tan Rou asked another question.
All Ju and another maid raised their hands and said they had been there.
Tan Ron’s gaze lingered on Ah Ju for a while, then she chuckled. “Oh, then you’ve worked hard. This room is quite big and you would need a break from time to time, right?”
Everyone did not understand what she meant, but Zhuang Liu understood. “You can’t rest during working hours. If a person wants to rest, she will definitely find a place without surveillance cameras. There are only corridors in this house that have no surveillance cameras.”
All Ju immediately pointed at the maid next to her. “Her! Every time she conies to work, she’ll slack off. She especially finds a place where there are no surveillance cameras, so she must be the one who stole it.”
The maid who was accused looked confused. “But every time I take a break, you’re also resting. If you ask me, you’re suspicious too.”
All Ju said, “Last time, you said that your brother owed a lot of money from gambling. It must have been you who stole it. You wanted to steal something to exchange for money to go home and pay off your brother’s gambling debts, right?”
The maid was very angry. “I didn’t. Besides, I’ve already cut ties with my brother. I won’t give him money at all.”
All Ju refused to give up. “You must have stolen it.”
With that, the two of them started fighting.
Chapter 1127:1126 Modus operandi
Mrs. Tao wanted to stop them, but Tan Ron stopped her. “Mom, just let them fight. When they’re tired, the thief will show herself.”
Mrs. Tao didn’t quite understand. “Could it be that whoever loses is the thief?”
“No, but you can look forward to seeing who will be the final winner,” Tan Rou said with a smile.
Not long after, Aunt Zhou returned. She quietly walked to Tan Ron’s side and showed her the things in her hands.
“Where did you find it?” Tan Rou asked.
“In the bathroom,” Aunt Zhou said.
Tan Rou immediately knew who had stolen the jewelry. She stopped the two people who were fighting and said, “Stop arguing. I already know who the real thief is.”
Alt Ju and the other maid heard Tan Ron’s voice and immediately stopped. They pointed at each other. “Miss, she must have stolen it.”
Tan Rou didn’t directly say who the thief was. “I’ll give you one more chance. If the thief takes the initiative to admit his mistake, I can let you go this time. I won’t call the police to arrest you.”
None of the maids were willing to say that they were thieves. They clamored for Tan Rou to tell them who the real thief was.
Tan Rou shook her head lightly. “Since you’re not willing to step forward, I can only say it.” She pointed at Ah Ju.
“You stole the jewelry in the box, right?”
All Ju was very flustered. She said excitedly, “Miss, I didn’t steal anything. You know that I’ve worked for the Tao family for ten years. I’m very loyal to the Tao family. How could I steal anything?”
Tan Rou said, “I know you won’t admit it. Why don’t you listen to me? If I’m wrong, you can refute me.”
All Ju’s palms were sweaty. “Miss, I didn’t steal anything.” She kept emphasizing that she did not steal anything, as if she had really been wronged.
Tan Rou took the bracelet from Aunt Zhou and placed it in front of everyone. “Ah Ju, come over and take a look at what this is.”
All Ju was very shocked. “This… Isn’t this a bracelet?”
Tan Rou smiled. “Yes, it looks exactly like the lost bracelet. Do you want to guess where we found it?”
All Ju did not dare to look at Tan Rou again. “I don’t know. However, it’s good that we can find it. That way, we can be at ease.”
“Others can be at ease, but you can’t.” Tan Rou placed the bracelet back into Aunt Zhou’s hands.
” These items were found in the toilet and were hidden very well. Someone wrapped them in plastic bags and hid them under the mop behind the toilet door.”
A Ju said, “Really? That’s quite difficult to find.”
“Indeed. If you don’t know the people here well, how would you know that there’s a mop behind the door?” Tan Rou agreed.
“And that’s a dry mop that hasn’t been used for a long time.”
Only Ah Ju and the other maid often came to clean, so only the two of them knew that there was a dry mop behind the door.
“Miss, I didn’t go to the bathroom,” another maid said immediately. “They can testify for me.”
Tan Rou knew that she hadn’t been there. Among the people present, only Ah Ju went to the bathroom after she got off the stage.
“The thief knew the layout of the surveillance cameras here and how long it would take for the audience to get to the room, so she stole the jewelry here before the box was sent to this room. Then, she used the excuse of going to the toilet to hide the thing under the mop behind the door,” Tan Rou analyzed.
“Isn’t she afraid that someone will find out?” Mrs. Tao asked.
Tan Rou continued, “She wasn’t afraid because other than the two of them, no one else would come here to clean. Moreover, this venue has been used tonight. We will definitely have to clean it again tonight. As long as she takes the things away before the other person, no one will find out.”
Another maid said angrily, “I told you she stole it! A few days ago, I heard her say that she wanted to borrow money. Now, she’s not borrowing money anymore. Instead, she’s stealing.”
Tan Rou asked A Ju, “Did you steal the jewelry? Why did you steal?”
Alt Ju bit her lips and admitted, “Fine! I did steal the bracelet and earrings, and
I hid them under the mop.”
Mother Tao was furious. “Why did you do that?”
Chapter 1128:1127 Pitiful Place
The matter had been exposed. Even if Ah Ju wanted to quibble, she couldn’t. Tears flowed from the corners of her eyes. “I didn’t want to steal, but I really had no choice!”
Tan Rou frowned. “Stealing is stealing. I gave you a chance to confess, but you didn’t take it. I’m handing you over to the police now. Is there anything else you want to say?”
Ah Ju’s expression was very sad. “Okay, I can go with the police, but I want to see my daughter first!”
“If your daughter knew that you stole something, she would definitely be sad,” Shen Jing said.
Air Ju lowered her head and cried. “I didn’t want to steal either, but my daughter is sick and needs a lot of money. I don’t have any money on me anymore, and my relatives and friends aren’t willing to lend me money. If I don’t find a way to get money, the doctor won’t let my daughter stay in the hospital.”
At this time, a maid who had a good relationship with Ah Ju said, “Air Ju’s daughter is indeed sick. Last month, she borrowed a few thousand yuan from me. She hasn’t returned it until now.”
Aunt Zhou was in charge of the maids in the house. She knew the situation of all the maids ‘families. She also knew about All Ju’s situation. However, All Ju had never mentioned that she needed money.
“All Ju does have a sick daughter.” Aunt Zhou spoke up for Ah Ju. “Her daughter has congenital heart disease. It was diagnosed when she was two years old. After her husband found out that her daughter was sick, he ran away and hasn’t been back for several years.”
All Ju sobbed. “Yes, my daughter’s condition has worsened. The doctor said that she needs surgery immediately. If she doesn’t have surgery, my daughter can only live for three months at most. My father passed away when I was very young, and my mother’s health is not good either. If my daughter is gone, then I don’t have anyone left in this world!”
For a moment, the atmosphere became very silent. They had thought that it was just a theft incident, but they did not expect such a story to follow. Ah Ju’s act of stealing was wrong, but her love for her daughter was real.
“My daughter is only five years old. I don’t want her to die!” All Ju couldn’t hide her tears anymore. She squatted on the ground and cried. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have stolen, but I really had no choice!”
“Hey ” Shen Jing sighed. “We both have children. When my Xiao Liu was in a
wheelchair, I felt the same way as you. If I could steal the medicine to save him at that time, I would have done the same as you.”
“Isn’t the charity banquet now to help the weak? There’s someone in front of us who needs help. Why not?” Zhuang Liu asked.
Zhuang Liu’s words woke Shen Jing up. She walked over and helped Ah Ju up. “Forget it. I won’t pursue this matter anymore. I will also help you with your daughter’s matter.”
Tan Rou also said, “Since Mom won’t pursue the matter, I have nothing to say. Which hospital is your daughter in? How much money do we need now?”
When Ah Ju heard that Tan Rou and the others were going to donate money to her daughter, she was so touched that tears flowed down her cheeks. “Thank you, Miss. Thank you, Madam Zhuang!” At the same time, she felt very guilty.
“I’m sorry, I’m really sorry!”
Among the items auctioned tonight, only this set of jewelry was the cheapest. Moreover, there were five pieces in a set. The loss of a few pieces would not affect the entire collection which was also why Ah Ju had picked this item to steal.
However, she did not expect that this set of jewelry was made by Tan Rou and Tian Tian together. She also did not expect Madam Zhuang to care so much about this set of jewelry.
In the end, the Tao family and the Zhuang family did not call the police. They each sent a representative to the hospital to visit Air Ju’s daughter. It was indeed as Ah Ju had said, her daughter had to undergo surgery.
When Tan Rou saw the little girl at the hospital, the softest part of her heart was touched. That girl was so thin that it was as if a gust of wind could blow her away.
She thought of herself back then. When she was four years old and locked in a dark room, she was also worried that she would die, but in the end, she stubbornly survived.
This girl was lucky. She had a mother who loved her. Even if her mother did something wrong, she only did it because she had to.
Chapter 1129:1128 New Year Together
After the charity dinner, Grandma Tao donated all the money from the auction that night to the orphanage and nursing home. She also took out a sum of money to invest in medical charity organizations to help more people who had no money to see a doctor.
After that, the Tao family came up with a new rule. If a servant in the family had any difficulties, they could send an application to Aunt Zhou. If the situation was true, the Tao family would offer help. However, they also required the servants not to steal or commit other crimes.
Ah Ju’s daughter was scheduled for surgery the next day. On the day of the new year, the little girl could be discharged from the hospital. Mother Tao specially brought the little girl and her grandmother home so that their three generations could spend the new year with the Tao family.
This year, the Tao family was lively. Not only were there people from the Tao family, but there were also people from the Zhuang family who came to celebrate the new year.
The elders of the Zhuang family and the Tao family were in charge of the New Year’s Eve dinner, so Zhuang Liu and Tan Rou had more time to spend together.
The two of them walked hand in hand in the greenhouse garden. There were a few more kinds of roses in the greenhouse this year. Each flower was as big as plates, and the color was very beautiful.
“These roses were newly cultivated by my dad this year. Aren’t
they beautiful?” Tan Rou caressed the pink and white roses. “In order to cultivate these new species, he couldn’t sleep well for half a month. He came every hour to see how the flowers were growing, and it was no exception at night.”
Zhuang Liu smelled the flowers. The roses were not very fragrant, but the scent of these roses was very strong, like candy.
“Our dad is really patient.” Zhuang Liu was quite envious of this kind of life.
” When we’re old, we should also build our own greenhouse.”
Tan Rou said, “Instead of spending time on a greenhouse, it’s better to make a herb garden. The temperature in winter is too low. Many medicinal herbs can’t grow here. If we can have a medicinal garden, we can have fresh medicinal herbs at any time.”
Tan Rou did have a herb garden, but it was not in the Capital. Land in the Capital was too expensive, and the cost of making a herb garden was too high.
Zhuang Liu secretly remembered the matter of the herb garden. When they built the new house, they would open up a separate piece of land to make the herb garden. They would also build it into a greenhouse. It would be best to open up a few more compartments inside so that it would be convenient for Tan Rou to adjust the temperature.
The two of them walked around the garden, stopping from time to time to admire the flowers. However, there were not only flowers in the greenhouse, but also some bushes and fruits, such as blueberries.
“It’s quite rare to see fresh blueberries in this season.” Zhuang Liu reached out and touched the blueberries. The fruit powder on the fruit immediately stained his hand. “Are these blueberries sour?”
“They’re not.” Tan Rou picked a handful of blueberries. “Try it. It’s sweet.” They were all home-grown fruits, so they were not afraid of pests and diseases, so the blueberries were not treated with pesticide.
Zhuang Liu bit Tan Ron’s hand and slowly used his tongue to roll the blueberry away. After tasting it, he commented, “Mmm, it’s indeed a very sweet fruit.”
Tan Rou rebuked. “Just eat the fruit if you want, why do you have to bite me?”
Zhuang Liu picked a blueberry and put half of it into his mouth, wanting to feed it to Tan Rou.
Although Tan Rou thought that it was disgusting, she still ate the blueberry. “Just this once. Don’t do this again.”
The blueberries were very small. When Tan Ron’s lips came close, Zhuang Liu swallowed the blueberries directly. Then, his lips touched Tan Ron’s lips. After a while, there was an ambiguous sound in the greenhouse.
Of course, they only kissed and hugged. They didn’t do anything out of line in the greenhouse because there were surveillance cameras everywhere. They couldn’t be too presumptuous.
“Xiao Rou…” Tian Tian came over to look for Tan Rou. As soon as she entered the door, she saw the two of them kissing in the flowers. “I didn’t do it on purpose. I didn’t see anything!”
She ran outside with a red face.
Tan Rou and Zhuang Liu were very calm. They couldn’t help but laugh as they watched Tian Tian’s retreating figure.
“It’s probably time to eat. Let’s go backfirst,” Tan Rou said.
Zhuang Liu let Tan Rou leave first. He still had things to do.
“You can’t pluck my dad’s new flowers. If you do, he won’t be nice to you.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t touch a flower,” Zhuang Liu said with a smile. He just wanted to secretly take a photo of these flowers as a reference.
Chapter 1130:1129 Playing Mahjong Together
After dinner, the sky was already dark, but there were still a few hours before midnight. While others were watching the Spring Festival Gala, some were playing indoor games.
Grandma Tao liked to play mahjong. Every year, she would play a few rounds of mahjong, but her playing skills were not good. She basically lost every round. However, she didn’t mind. The money she lost would be given to the younger generation as lucky money.
“It’s boring to always play Mahjong with you guys.” Grandma Tao didn’t want to play with her daughters-in-law anymore. “How about this? Tiantian and Xiao Zhuang will play Mahjong with me this year.”
Tian Tian didn’t know how to play cards, but she didn’t want to disappoint her grandmother, so she could only ask her husband for help.
Tao Zhi received her distress signal, so he said to Grandma Tao, “Grandma, Tiantian isn’t good at this game, so I’ll sit next to her. We’ll play as a team.”
“Alright.” Grandma Tao agreed. “But you have to promise not to peek at our cards.”
“Grandma, don’t worry. I won’t leave my seat,” Tao Zhi promised.
Anyway, it was just family fun, so there was no need to be so serious.
Zhuang Liu didn’t know how to play Mahjong either. He had only seen his mother play cards with other madams a few times, but he had never learned it seriously. “Grandma, I don’t know how to play either, so can I let Rourou sit next to me?”
Zhuang Liu knew that Tan Rou was very good at playing this game. One year during the Chinese New Year, Tan Rou won a lot of money for the first time. She showed the money she won to Zhuang Liu and even gave him a big red packet.
As soon as he spoke, he was met with the opposition of everyone in the Tao family.
Mrs. Tao was the first to object. “No, no, Rourou is too good at it. She always wins without any suspense. It’s too boring to play Mahjong like this.” Afraid that her daughter would be sad, she added, “Rourou, perhaps you can sit out of this game? Mommy will give you a big red packet later.”
Tan Rou smiled. “Mom, I won’t be joining the game tonight. I’ll just watch from the side.” She moved a chair and sat behind Zhuang Liu.
“Don’t worry, I won’t help him.”
Grandma Tao heaved a sigh of relief. Although she didn’t care about money, she cared about winning or losing. If Tan Rou played, she would be the only one who would win. That would be meaningless.
“Rourou, I’ll give you a big red packet when I win some money,” Grandma Tao said to Tan Rou with a smile.
“Thankyou, Grandma. I hope you can win more money.” Tan Rou agreed.
Grandma Tao’s face was red with laughter. “Just watch me win money.”
Grandma Tao, Zhuang Liu, and Tian Tian were only three people, so Grandma Tao let Shen Jing play in the end. The four of them just happened to form a mahjong table.
Shen Jing was very good at Mahjong. Usually, when she played cards with the rich madam, she would only win, so she felt that she would still be the biggest winner tonight.
“If I win money tonight, I’ll give everyone a watch.” Shen Jing said.
Grandma Tao also raised the stakes. “If I win the most money tonight, let me give everyone here a good white jade token.”
Tian Tian and Tao Zhi discussed for a while and decided to give everyone a piece of ginseng.
Three out of the four of them were planning to give something, and Zhuang Liu was no exception. He was giving calligraphy and paintings.
Second Aunt Tao smiled and said, “I regretted that I didn’t participate in the game. Now, I don’t regret it at all. No matter who wins, I will get the treasure. That is much more interesting than playing cards.”
Mrs. Tao continued, “Let’s place a bet too. Let’s see who wins the most tonight. The loser will have to give a red packet to the winner. One person against one. Each red packet must not be less than 10,000 yuan.”
“That’s a good idea.” Aunt Tao agreed. “I’ll bet first. I bet that Madam Zhuang will definitely win.”
“Then I’ll bet that my daughter-in-law will win,” said Mother Tao.
Everyone placed their bets, but no one guessed that Zhuang Liu would win because Zhuang Liu had said from the beginning that he did not know how to play Mahjong.
Seeing that no one was betting on him, Zhuang Liu turned to his wife for comfort. “Rourou, you’ll bet on me, right?”
“Of course I’ll bet on you!” Tan Rou smiled.
“Even if you lose without a doubt, I will still vote for you.”
Zhuang Liu was very touched. He rolled up his sleeves. “Just you wait. I’ll definitely let you win.”