Chapter 85: The Priceless Treasure

"You can have whatever you want, dear."

A person's wealth isn’t just measured in gold, jewels, properties, or social connections. It’s also a matter of perspective.

Don’t be fooled by how the old lady usually carried herself—poised, refined, the picture of genteel luxury. When the moment came to open her eyes and show her cards, she made it clear what it meant to be born into the Dragon King's clan.

Even Li Zhuiyuan had to admit—his meticulous calculations over the past few days now felt terribly petty.

Only in front of someone like her could a young man truly feel like... just a child.

"Thank you, Grandma."

Liu Yumei walked over slowly and stopped before Li Zhuiyuan, gazing at the young man before her.

"Grandma's getting old. Her eyesight’s failing. You really managed to fool me, you little rascal."

That was as good as a slap to her own face.

It meant everything—both the pleasant and the not-so-pleasant, all their wariness and testing—could now be put behind them.

"Grandma, you were just charmingly muddled."

"Muddled is muddled. No need to dress it up, makes it sound like I care about saving face."

"Great-grandpa used to be charmingly muddled too. Just means you're someone with good fortune."

Liu Yumei’s lips twitched; she couldn’t hold the smile back.

Since they’d turned the page, the knot in her heart unraveled. She now found the boy more and more pleasing to the eye. And in three days, he'd officially become family.

She could finally understand Li Sanjiang’s constant joy.

No wonder that old goat had been grinning like a fool for the past year. So this was what happiness looked like.

"Do you need..."

She cut herself off.

How could she stoop to asking if the boy needed money, like that old goat always did?

Sure, she had more money than she could spend in ten lifetimes, but precisely because of that, giving money felt the least sincere.

Even if she handed out stacks of cash, it could never match the charm of that old man's crumpled, wallet-worn bill.

But it didn’t matter. Ever since the boy first stepped onto that courtyard and she took one glance at him, she knew—he didn’t care about money.

It wasn’t that he’d transcended worldly needs. There are just people in this world who are born without ever needing to worry about survival.

And that was different from being some spoiled young master. Those types clutched their inherited grain silos like fat pigs calculating how much they could consume in one lifetime.

But this kid—if he ever chose to step back, even just one step, the state would see to it that he’d live comfortably.

Liu Yumei reached out and brushed Li Zhuiyuan’s collar.

"You’ll need a few outfits for summer. Better prepare some for autumn too. Don’t worry, you’re not like A Li—you’ll need to be presentable in public. Grandma will make you something fashionable."

Li Zhuiyuan murmured, "Actually... it’s okay to make them like A Li’s too."

Liu Yumei burst out laughing. This time, she doubled over.

From the side, Aunt Liu inwardly rolled her eyes. Wasn’t this the same woman who used to scoff at how Li Sanjiang was wrapped around the boy’s finger? Look who’s all twisted up now.

"Grandma, I’ll head out then."

"Mm, go on." Liu Yumei waved him off.

Just as he turned to leave, she called out to him again.

"Think carefully—forgetting anything?"

The boy opened his canvas bag, revealing the copy of The Liu Clan's Art of Observing Qi. He held it up and gave her a little shake.

"Didn’t forget. Got it right here."

Liu Yumei was a little surprised, then even more pleased.

It meant that even if she hadn’t shown up or said a word today, the boy still would’ve taken the book with him. He had already accepted the path she offered.

"You little brat. I thought you’d need to see the rabbit before letting your hawk fly."

"How could I?"

When A Li held him, patted his head, silently repeating the words he once told her—it was already decided.

"Study it carefully. If there’s anything you don’t understand..." Liu Yumei paused. She remembered the boy’s terrifying gift for reading. Still, this was a treasured family technique. That thought reignited a sense of pride in her. "If there’s anything you don’t get, come ask me. I’ll explain it to you."

"Of course, Grandma."

Li Zhuiyuan figured it was best not to mention he’d already read both the Qin and Liu family manuals. No need to ruin the mood.

The old lady cared about appearances. If she found out he’d already memorized the family’s prized technique right under her nose and couldn’t scold him for it, she’d probably go vent her frustration on her porcelain collection.

For now, he’d just pretend this was his first time reading it—dig deeper, pretend to have an epiphany.

Then—

Teach Grandma a thing or two.

…

After the boy left, Aunt Liu helped Liu Yumei to her feet.

"Looks like you’re genuinely happy today."

"I still want to touch it again."

"What, you’re not at ease yet?"

"What kind of logic is that? Even if I know it’s the real thing and not a fake, can’t I still hold onto it for a while and admire it?"

"Got it, got it. You’ve found yourself a treasure and want to enjoy it slowly."

"Is that so wrong?"

"Not at all. Do whatever you want. But I’m just saying—people say a mother-in-law looks at her son-in-law and the more she sees, the more she likes. You’re a whole generation above. Don’t go getting so smitten you give away the whole family fortune. Then you’ll be howling, ‘Oh no, what was I thinking?!’"

"A Ting, you’ve been getting a little too bold lately."

"Why not? You’re happy, we should be too. Back in the day, welcoming someone into the clan was a big deal. You’d be handing out red envelopes right now."

"Fine, fine, take it. Whatever you want from the house, just go grab it. Who’s stopping you?"

"I don’t want anything else. Just one thing—from tonight on, you take your herbal tonic on time."

"That stuff’s bitter as hell..."

"You’re getting older. You need to live to a hundred. A Li’s still young. So is Little Yuan. If another storm brews on the river, we’ll still need you to hold the line."

"I’ll drink it, all right?"

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