Deanna was stunned when she realized the value of the luminous pearls.
She quickly refused, saying, "I can't accept this, it's too valuable."
The two little ones also shook their heads in refusal.
"Thank you, Old Wright, but we can't take it."
"Yes, Old Wright, please take it back."
Seeing the mother and her children repeatedly refuse, Old Wright encountered such a situation for the first time.
His stubbornness kicked in, and he forcefully placed the two luminous pearls into the children's hands. "Take them. They are my gifts to you. You can't refuse a gift from an elder!"
The children held the luminous pearls, not knowing what to do.
But that wasn't the end of it.
Worried that Deanna might make the children return the pearls, Old Wright pretended to be angry and said, "They are my gifts to the children. You can't refuse, and they can't give them back. Otherwise, I'll be upset!"
Deanna was at a loss, not expecting Old Wright to act this way.
Seeing Deanna fall silent, Old Wright smiled contentedly and looked triumphantly at Old Hughes.
"I've given my gifts. Now it's your turn."
Old Hughes laughed in exasperation at Old Wright's twinkling eyes.
He realized he had been outmaneuvered by Old Wright.
This guy was just as annoying as when they were young.
He glared at Old Wright and huffed, "You really know how to make things happen."
Old Wright didn't mind and smiled.
"I've made my gesture. Don't tell me you're unprepared?"
Old Hughes's face stiffened.
He hadn't expected Old Wright to pull such a move and indeed wasn't prepared.
But since Old Wright had given a gift, he couldn't be outdone.
Luckily, the restaurant was near the pharmacy. Otherwise, who knew how Old Wright would mock him if he found out he was unprepared?
Deanna didn't know what Old Hughes was thinking.
Seeing his troubled expression, she quickly tried to diffuse the situation. "These are just tokens. Old Wright and Old Hughes, please don't worry about it. Gregory and Chloe, return the luminous pearls to Old Wright. They're too precious for us to accept."
"Old Wright, here you go."
Gregory and Chloe obediently handed the pearls back.
Old Wright immediately put on a stern face.
But before he could say anything, Old Hughes spoke first. "Since Old Wright gave them to you, you should keep them. His gifts are not to be wasted."
As he spoke, Old Hughes placed the pearls back into the children's hands.
Then he looked at Old Wright with pride. "And who said I wasn't prepared? Ava, go to the pharmacy and bring me the brocade box from the cabinet."
"Yes." Ava quickly left.
Deanna wanted to stop her but couldn't react in time.
Soon, Ava returned with a brocade box.
"Old Hughes, here's what you asked for."
She placed the box in front of Old Hughes.
Old Hughes nodded and opened it.
Inside was a fine jade stone, still partially unpolished.
It was intended for his great-grandson, to be made into a jade pendant.
But now he decided to give it to Deanna's children as well.
After all, he genuinely liked these two kids.
"Take this jade and find a skilled craftsman to make it into some auspicious pendant for the children."
He pushed the box towards Deanna.
Deanna immediately saw that the jade was of excellent quality and more valuable than the luminous pearls. She waved her hands in refusal. "This is too precious, Old Hughes. We can't accept it."
"Why not? You've already accepted Old Wright's gift. Why can't you accept mine?"
Old Hughes glared at her.
Deanna insisted, "It's different. We really can't accept this gift. Your kindness is enough for us. Besides, we've known each other for years. You've already given us plenty of gifts."
She hoped this would dissuade Old Hughes from giving more gifts.
But Old Hughes wouldn't have it.
He glared and said, "When did I give you gifts? And who said this is a greeting gift? It's just something I want to give to the kids."
He ignored Deanna and mimicked Old Wright's actions by placing the box in Gregory's hands. "Here, this is my gift to you."
Gregory was bewildered and looked helplessly at his mother.
Deanna was also at a loss and found the situation both amusing and frustrating.
Why did they both insist on forcing gifts on others?
Just as she was about to have Gregory return the box, Lance's deep and pleasant voice sounded in her ear.
"Since both elders are so kind-hearted, just accept it. Later on, you can give them some rare herbs or a few prescriptions. To them, those would be much more precious than these little trinkets."