Chapter 126: The Jewelry Box was Also Replaced
Chapter 126 The Jewelry Box Was Also Replaced
Cheng Dajun knew that his former wife’s family—the Yue Family—had a scholarly heritage, and even though they later fell on hard times, the dowry they provided for their daughter was still exquisite.
For instance, the carved sandalwood bed they were still using was such that even when he married Xiao Yuhua and thought about replacing it, Xiao Yuhua kept it because she liked it too much to let it go.
However, the materials of the jewelry picked out by his eldest son were not of high quality.
He knew if his son could tell something was wrong, there must be a reason. So he looked at him and asked, "How did you know these are not your mother’s dowry?" A sardonic smile curved Cheng Jiuhe’s lips: "All of my mom’s jewelry was engraved with a tiny orchid."
Cheng Dajun hurriedly picked up the jewelry still in the box, and indeed, every piece was engraved with a tiny orchid in a hidden spot.
In contrast, none of those orchids could be found on the pieces Cheng Jiuhe had singled out.
"Moreover, the materials are clearly listed on my mom’s dowry inventory. This pair of jadeite jade bracelets is explicitly described as emerald jade bracelets," he said.
He lifted the pair of bracelets he had singled out: "And this pair—everybody take a look for yourselves—is this emerald?"
Although Cheng Dajun was not an expert on jade, he had seen emeralds, and their captivating green was definitely not something these bracelets could match.
Next, Cheng Jiuhe pointed out six discrepancies between the items he had chosen and the descriptions on the dowry list.
"So—" Cheng Jiuhe looked at Xiao Yuhua: "All these pieces of jewelry have been replaced."
Cheng Dajun looked at Xiao Yuhua and demanded, "What exactly is going on?"
Xiao Yuhua folded her arms: "How would I know what’s going on? It was already like this when I saw it."
Cheng Jiuhe took a deep breath to suppress the anger in his heart: "Aunt Xiao, you just said you’ve been taking care of my mom’s jewelry for so many years. If it wasn’t you who swapped them, then who did?"
Cheng Jiunian shifted his eyes and suggested, "Maybe it was your mom who swapped them out herself?"
The things his mom would have swapped out would definitely be of high value; he had to get his hands on them. Not to mention the emeralds—those were truly quality goods, hard to buy even for hundreds of thousands.
Cheng Jiuhe sneered: "If she sold her own stuff for money, why would she bother to replace it with something inferior? Therefore, it definitely wasn’t my mom who swapped the jewelry."
He closed his eyes momentarily: "Only you and my dad had access to this jewelry. Are you implying that it was my dad who swapped them?"
Cheng Dajun, accused of exchanging his wife’s dowry jewelry, cursed angrily: "What nonsense are you spouting?"
But he immediately grasped his eldest son’s inference. He turned to Xiao Yuhua: "Bring them out!" Xiao Yuhua didn’t want to. But Cheng Dajun’s thoughts differed. He didn’t want people poking his back, accusing him of coveting his former wife’s dowry.
He went straight to the safe and took out a jewelry box.
Xiao Yuhua panicked upon seeing it: "Don’t, that’s my jewelry box."
But Cheng Dajun had already opened it, and the emerald bracelets lay right on top. He handed the bracelets to Cheng Jiuhe, then searched the box for the other five sets of jewelry—all of which had an orchid engraved in a hidden spot.
He handed them all to Cheng Jiuhe. Just as he was about to put the jewelry box back, Cheng Jiuhe suddenly said, "This jewelry box is also my mom’s. On its top right, there’s an orchid engraved."
Upon inspection by Cheng Dajun, indeed, there was an orchid on the box.
Without comparison, one wouldn’t know; this jewelry box was much nicer than the one Xiao Yuhua initially brought out.
Cheng Dajun sighed inwardly; his stepmother really was not presentable!