Chapter 8: Eight, Peace Pendant Chapter 8: Eight, Peace Pendant Song Yan Ning looked at the ginseng in Yang Lisheng’s hands, her little face lighting up with a joyful smile, “Grandpa, does that mean we can go to town again tomorrow?” It had been a long time since she’d been to town.
Yang Lisheng smiled and nodded, placing the ginseng into a bamboo basket and covering it with other herbs, “Tomorrow Grandpa will take you to town. Don’t you want to eat Zhu Ji’s dumplings? Grandpa will buy them for you tomorrow.” He dearly loved his granddaughter; he and his wife wished nothing more than to give her all the best things in the world.
“Grandpa is the best! Xiao Ning loves you the most.” Song Yan Ning reached out to hug Yang Lisheng’s arm and happily shook it.
“You little foodie,” Yang Lisheng said with a laugh, gently pinching Song Yan Ning’s nose, his eyes brimming with indulgence.
Stickin tonguing out playfully, Song Yan Ning asked, “Grandpa, are we going to continue picking herbs?”
Yang Lisheng looked at the sky, “No need, let’s head home.” Having found the ginseng, he was already very satisfied.
Putting the bamboo basket on his back, Yang Lisheng took Song Yan Ning’s little hand and they headed down the mountain.
The gentle breeze blew through the trees, mixing with bursts of refreshing floral scents, lifting one’s spirits.
“Xiao Ning, have you ever thought about going back to your mom and dad?” Yang Lisheng asked Song Yan Ning. He had never hidden the truth about her parents from her, and he didn’t want to send Xiao Ning away, but she was about to start elementary school, and the education in Beijing would definitely be better than here. Xiao Ning was so bright; he really didn’t want to hold her back.
“Does Grandpa not like Xiao Ning anymore?” Song Yan Ning looked at Yang Lisheng, her eyes tinged with a hint of grievance. She didn’t want to return to the Song Family; it was so much freer here.
With a family like the Song Family, there were too many rules and restrictions, and since they rejected her because of her appearance, why would she yearn for them? Her own status was far more noble than the Song Family’s. As for her appearance, it was only due to the seal within her; the day the seal was broken would be the day her true appearance was revealed.
“How could Grandpa not want Xiao Ning? Grandpa just wants you to have a better education,” Yang Lisheng replied, lovingly ruffling Song Yan Ning’s hair.
“I want to be with Grandpa and Grandma; I don’t want to leave. Grandpa, please don’t send Xiao Ning away, okay?” Song Yan Ning pouted, looking like she was about to cry.
Seeing this, Yang Lisheng’s heart ached, and he quickly squatted down to comfort her, “Grandpa won’t send Xiao Ning away. Grandpa and Grandma will never send Xiao Ning away. Be good, don’t cry.”
Song Yan Ning sniffed and looked at Yang Lisheng, “Grandpa has to keep his word.”
“I promise, I definitely will,” Yang Lisheng assured with a nod.
Song Yan Ning wiped her eyes and raised a bright smile, taking Yang Lisheng’s hand, “Grandpa, let’s go home.”
Yang Lisheng shook his head, both helpless and indulgent, and continued walking down the mountain with Song Yan Ning.
As the sun slowly rose, Song Yan Ning opened her eyes, stretched languidly, and got out of bed feeling refreshed. She’d wake up at this time every day and then go outside to practice Tai Chi with Grandpa.
“Grandpa!” Song Yan Ning went outside and saw Yang Lisheng already in the yard.
“Let’s start,” said Yang Lisheng, putting down his teacup and standing up.
Song Yan Ning nodded, walked beside Yang Lisheng, and began to perform Tai Chi with a semblance of expertise.
Li Meixiang finished making breakfast and brought it to the table. Stepping outside, she saw Song Yan Ning and Yang Lisheng had already completed a set of moves and smiled, “Breakfast is ready.”
“Coming!” both Song Yan Ning and Yang Lisheng replied in unison.
“Grandma, Grandpa and I are going to the market later; do you want to join us?” Song Yan Ning, after washing her hands in the kitchen, sat down at the table and took a bite of a steamed bun.
“No, go ahead,” Li Meixiang sat down beside Song Yan Ning, her eyes full of affection.
“Do you need us to bring anything back, Grandma?” Song Yan Ning asked, knowing her grandmother didn’t like noisy places.
“Just come back early,” Li Meixiang replied with a smile, patting Song Yan Ning’s head.
After breakfast, Song Yan Ning accompanied Yang Lisheng on the bus to town. Though they were in the countryside, transportation was very convenient; there was a bus stop right outside the village.
The town was bustling with activity. Besides the various shops, there was also a newly built commercial district with clothing, food, and entertainment.
Yang Lisheng delivered the herbal medicine and ginseng to a pharmacy he frequented. He had been good friends with the boss for many years; otherwise, the pharmacy wouldn’t have bought his herbs. Herbal medicine wasn’t just any commodity; it could be a matter of life and death.
“Old Yang, what good stuff did you bring today?” Xu Dongqing said with a smile, pouring a cup of tea for Yang Lisheng and giving some candy to Song Yan Ning. He’d received a call from Old Yang the day before, mentioning some quality medicinal materials and asking him to price them.
Yang Lisheng took out the ginseng he had found yesterday and handed it to Xu Dongqing, “Have a look.”
Taking it, Xu Dongqing unwrapped the newspaper around it and saw a ginseng as thick as a carrot, his eyes lighting up, “Is this two or three hundred years old?” Wild ginseng had become extremely rare, not to mention one of this age.
Yang Lisheng nodded, smiling, “If you want it, give me a price.”
Xu Dongqing examined the ginseng, his eyes gleaming, “Two hundred thousand.”
“Deal,” Yang Lisheng agreed without hesitation. Although he was underselling it a bit, he valued the long-standing friendship with Old Xu more than haggling over the price. Moreover, without Old Xu buying his herbs all these years, his efforts in collecting would have been in vain.
“Old Yang, always straightforward. Thanks! I’ll wire the money to your account right now.” As he spoke, Xu Dongqing took out his phone to make the transfer.
“It’s done, Old Yang. Check it,” Xu Dongqing said with a smile after putting away his phone.
“Do I need to doubt you?” Yang Lisheng replied with a laugh.
Xu Dongqing laughed heartily and looked at Song Yan Ning by Yang Lisheng’s side. “Xiao Ning is starting school soon, right? Have you decided on a school?”
Yang Lisheng nodded, “East District Experimental Primary School.” It was the closest to their home, and the school’s teaching quality was quite good.
Xu Dongqing nodded and took out a Peace Pendant, offering it to Song Yan Ning, “Xiao Ning, this is for you. Make sure to study hard when you start school.” He knew, despite her young age, Song Yan Ning already had remarkable medical skills.
Song Yan Ning looked at Yang Lisheng, who nodded, and then she took the Peace Pendant from Xu Dongqing’s hand, “Thank you, Grandpa Xu!”
As she took the Peace Pendant, Song Yan Ning suddenly felt her mind go blank for an instant, as if a sliver of her soul had been extracted. There must be something wrong with this Peace Pendant.