The moment the group came to a halt, the refugees scrambled and surged into the mansion like madmen.
The long-neglected gates had been wide open for a long time, and a thick layer of withered leaves lay upon the courtyard floor.
The fellow villagers rushed into each room, scurrying about erratically and rummaging everywhere.
Every single one of them competed to be first, squeezing and shouting, while keeping a vigilant guard against the others.
They were terrified that if they were even a step too slow, the gold, silver, and precious treasures would be snatched up by someone else first.
Although Third Zhou also hoped to go inside and fish out some treasures, he didn’t squeeze blindly like the people ahead as if his life depended on it.
He smacked his lips, led his family, and followed at the very back with steady steps.
After all, his precious daughter was resting upon his back. What if she was squeezed and injured by those people who valued money more than life?
His own daughter was the true precious darling. Third Zhou’s heart would ache terribly if she even scraped a bit of skin; she was something no amount of wealth could ever buy.
Besides, this was the official residence of an official from the previous dynasty, which had long been abandoned for an unknown number of years.
Even if some good things had been left behind without being carried away, they would have long since been taken by others. How could it ever be their turn?
“Mother, Nianxi, let’s just walk around everywhere and treat it entirely as looking at something novel.”
Third Zhou didn’t count on picking up any treasure, but this was the first time the Zhou family had entered such a large mansion and courtyard, so it was good to broaden their horizons.
Old Madam Zhou nodded with approval. As expected of the son she raised, he wasn’t like those brainless and short-sighted people.
“Let them scramble like madmen. Don’t let them scare our Mianmian. Come, let’s go to the backyard to rest for a bit,” Old Madam Zhou gave the word.
The backyard was spacious and quiet, without many buildings, leaving only a solitary pagoda tree standing alone.
The Zhou family members all headed toward that direction.
However, Second Zhou and Li Chunzhu lingered and refused to go. Both of them were brooding over the unearned wealth and wanted to look for missed treasures just like the others.
Thus, taking advantage of a moment when Old Madam Zhou wasn’t paying attention, these two foolish creatures sneaked off secretly.
Li Chunzhu pulled Meifu and plunged straight into the main house. Together with several refugees inside, she scrambled to rummage through trunks and chests.
Second Zhou was a coward and didn’t dare to compete with others.
So, with his back hunched, he headed to the less crowded western wing.
Over here, only after Old Madam Zhou found a stone stool to sit on did she realize that her second son and Fourth’s wife were missing.
Using her toes to think, she knew the two of them had gone to join the commotion.
Old Madam Zhou spat in anger, “These two restless creatures! They insist on going against me. Dreaming in broad daylight—if there truly were any treasures, could it ever be their turn?!”
“Mother, don’t be angry,” Sun Pinghua hastily comforted her. “I’ll go find Second Zhou and bring him back right now.”
There were many people in the mansion, and who knew where Second Zhou and Li Chunzhu had crawled off to. Old Madam Zhou was also afraid that Sun Pinghua wouldn’t be able to find them and might be harmed by other refugees.
“Forget it, Second’s wife, you just stay right here.” Old Madam Zhou shook her head. “Let the two of them go. If they get squeezed or scraped by some blind fool, it will serve to teach them a lesson.”
After traveling for more than half the day, the Zhou family members ate big jujubes from time to time along the way, so they weren’t very hungry.
Thus, Old Madam Zhou opened her bundle, took out the flatbreads bought from the town earlier, and distributed half a piece of flatbread to each person first.
“Eat this for now. If it’s not enough, ask me for more.”
Looking at the situation now, they still had several days’ walk before they reached the land they were to reclaim.
Therefore, these flatbreads had to be eaten sparingly; they relied entirely on this little bit of traveling rations along the way.
Old Madam Zhou encircled Zhou Mianmian in her arms and opened her small cotton cloth.
The cotton cloth was wet and still carried the aroma of eggs, and the wrapped bird eggs had all been eaten up. Old Madam Zhou grinned widely with joy the moment she saw it.
Being able to eat was a blessing! Mianmian ate a lot, and she, as her grandma, felt robust just watching her.
“Mianmian loves to eat eggs. How about Grandma boils a few more for you?” Old Madam Zhou coaxed dotingly.
As she spoke, she brought out that broken pot and instructed Sun Pinghua to gather some withered leaves to light a fire.
She also told Song Nianxi to go look by the well to see if there was any water.
She had to provide more than enough for her granddaughter.
The two daughters-in-law were just about to set to work when Zhou Mianmian ignored the bird eggs and instead slithered out of Old Madam Zhou’s arms.
Her small body stood right in the middle of the courtyard. Just like a little adult, she stared and sized up the courtyard for a good while.
Finally, she found the right spot. Swaying her body, she walked straight toward the big pagoda tree, squatted down, and began to dig the soil.
Mianmian’s palms were small, and she dug slowly.
After digging for a bit, she grew a bit tired, gasping for breath while continuing to dig.
Her pair of fair and soft little hands were thoroughly dirtied.
Holding the pot lid, Old Madam Zhou watched her granddaughter with amusement.
Her sweet granddaughter actually loved to play with mud; she truly was a little rascal.
However, as she watched, Old Madam Zhou gradually noticed something amiss.
She rubbed her eyes. On Mianmian’s hands, how did some green stuff suddenly appear? What were those things?
Zhou Mianmian pouted her little back, still dug at the soil under the tree in all seriousness, and a few more “green stones” appeared in her hands and lap.
Old Madam Zhou threw down the broken pot and was just about to stand up to come look.
Just then, she saw Zhou Mianmian halt her actions as well.
Standing up, she pattered over toward Old Madam Zhou’s side.
A few hints of striking emerald green were revealed within her lap.
“Grandma, these are for you.” Zhou Mianmian plunged forward while swaying.
Opening her little hands, she poured everything onto Old Madam Zhou’s bundle.
At this moment, not only was Old Madam Zhou startled, but Third Zhou and Fourth Zhou also opened their eyes wide and gathered around.
Song Nianxi and Sun Pinghua were also completely stunned, staring fixedly at the few pieces of green objects upon the bundle, their mouths wide open.
What kind of stones were these, to grow so emerald, green, and translucent?
Looking closer, they even carried a greasy, smooth sensation.
Although they grew in unequal sizes and their shapes were somewhat rough, if they were polished up, they could be made into a beautiful object.
“Mother, these stones are green and shiny, they look so beautiful.” Fourth Zhou picked up a piece.
At first, it felt icy cold, but in the next breath, it turned warm to the touch. “It’s too beautiful! How about I make a couple of small stone carvings for Mianmian to play with?”
Third Zhou, however, interrupted him hastily.
“Fourth Zhou, you bumpkin! How is this a stone? Look closely at it again—this is jade!”
Fourth Zhou was dumbfounded.
Old Madam Zhou wore an even greater expression of shock, “What?! Jade! Mianmian dug all of these from beneath the tree. Could it be that we have truly found the treasure inside this grand mansion?!”