Wang Dagui approached Wang Qiqi, his expression immediately shifting to one of profound sorrow. "Big Brother, Big Brother! Doctor, please look at my elder brother quickly, send him to the hospital now!"

Seeing his niece’s distraught appearance, and noting the doctor’s reluctance to administer first aid to his brother and sister-in-law, Wang Dagui knew in his heart that his elder brother and his wife were likely gone. Hahaha, it was worth leaving the mahjong table for this. He looked at his stunned niece, frozen in place, and scoffed internally. So what if his sister-in-law came from a wealthy family? So what if her parents left her two houses? All of that would eventually be his anyway, hahaha. It wasn't that Wang Dagui looked down on his niece, but Wang Qiqi had been protected too well by her parents. The concept of money meant nothing to the girl; eventually, all that wealth would find its way to him. As for the niece herself, he’d pay for her university education and then provide a dowry; she was just a girl, after all. The Wang family assets belonged to him.

Li Cui noticed the calculating look on her husband’s face and tugged at his sleeve. Even though that girl Qiqi seemed utterly lost, there were so many people around; if they witnessed anything untoward, it would be disastrous. "Qiqi, dear, put your father down; he won't be comfortable like that... ..."

Hearing the raised voices of the couple, Wang Qiqi recalled their past gossip—how they’d supposedly raised her after her parents passed, how they’d initially been kind, and the subsequent shift in their demeanor once all the property was secured. The memory made her furious, but she knew this was not the moment to lash out. She had to endure. Everything her father had told her was hers to keep, and she certainly wouldn't surrender what they coveted.

With that thought, Wang Qiqi decided that if they insisted on playing the part of the good uncle and aunt, she would play the part of the dutiful niece. "Uncle, my father, my father... he..."

Wang Qiqi clutched Wang Dajun tightly. "My father was hit by a bad person."

Although Wang Dagui and Li Cui had already suspected Wang Dajun’s demise, hearing it confirmed by their niece filled Wang Dagui with perverse glee. Yet, he struggled to contain it. He still had a sister—and Wang Dagui knew she was just as greedy for money as he was. "Be good, Qiqi. You still have your uncle. Your aunt and I will take care of you from now on."

Li Cui quickly chimed in, echoing her husband’s words. She had long coveted the spacious three-bedroom, two-living-room apartment belonging to her in-laws. Not only was it larger than their own cramped one-bedroom unit, but it had also been beautifully renovated. Using the excuse of caring for Qiqi, they could easily move in, and soon enough, they would be running the place.

"Qiqi, don't worry, your Auntie will treat you well, like our own daughter."

Hearing Li Cui say this made Wang Qiqi want to vomit; the couple was shamelessly audacious. And to top it off, their performance earned praise from the surrounding onlookers.

"It's fortunate she has such a good uncle and aunt; the child isn't entirely ill-fated."

"Exactly, devoted relatives like that are rare these days."

Devoted? Yes, devoted to scheming for every last asset their brother and sister-in-law left for their niece, all while maintaining a spotless public reputation. Wang Qiqi didn't need to look up to know her uncle and aunt must be ecstatic; their act had clearly convinced the crowd.

Wang Qiqi forced back her tears. "Thank you, Uncle and Aunt. It’s alright; I’m grown now. I can take care of myself. Father told me I need to learn to be strong."

The moment Wang Qiqi said this, Li Cui became annoyed with her dead brother-in-law for holding up their financial plans. "Qiqi, well... ..." She was about to suggest that although Qiqi was grown, it was better for someone to live with her, but Wang Dagui cut her off. Frankly, Wang Dagui wasn't unintelligent; he simply focused all his cunning on scheming against his own siblings.

"Qiqi, since your father is gone, perhaps we should call the funeral home to take your parents away."

If Wang Qiqi weren't present, Wang Dagui would have immediately called to have his brother and sister-in-law collected. He certainly wouldn't allow their bodies to be kept in that house; it was too ominous.

Li Cui added her support. "Yes, Qiqi. That way, you won't be frightened. Although it seems disrespectful to your parents, Qiqi, you're timid; you shouldn't be scared." Li Cui, of course, didn't want Wang Dajun and his wife lingering nearby—it felt unlucky.

"No. My mother and father must go home."

In her previous life, her parents had been unceremoniously hauled away by the funeral home staff. This was a regret that haunted Wang Qiqi into adulthood. Here, even if someone died in the hospital, the family was expected to transport the body home first. "Even if Qiqi is timid, they are still my mother and father. They will watch over me from heaven. And I believe they will stay right here in our home, protecting Qiqi, making sure no bad people bully me." Hmph, I won't cooperate with your wishes. I'll say exactly what I want, and then we’ll see if you dare to try moving in.

Wang Qiqi knew her aunt was quite superstitious. Conversely, she considered that perhaps the aunt feared they were pushing her too far, worried that the spirits of Wang Dajun and his wife might witness their mistreatment and bring misfortune upon them once they passed on—which might explain her frequent incense burning and charitable donations.

Wang Dagui and Li Cui were taken aback by their niece’s sharp retort. They exchanged glances. How could their niece speak like that? Had her parents mentioned something to her before they died? But they dismissed the thought; her parents had only ever drilled one message into Qiqi: study, study, study. They kept household matters away from her.

Wang Dagui wisely avoided arguing further and quickly changed the subject. "Qiqi, who would dare bully you? Besides, with your parents like this, who is going to move them back home?"

Li Cui nodded vigorously at Wang Dagui's words. "Yes, Qiqi, we can't just leave your parents lying here, can we? This isn't a solution."

Wang Qiqi knew the couple wouldn't lift a finger to help move her parents home, but she wasn't some naive eighteen-year-old anymore. "It's fine."

Wang Qiqi wiped away her tears and stood up. Turning to the gathered onlookers, she called out, "Is there any kind soul who could help transport my parents home? As a daughter, I wish for my parents to have their funeral depart from our home, not to be left alone in a cold funeral parlor."

The crowd nodded in agreement with Wang Qiqi’s sentiment, but the reality was that while her wish was honorable, transporting the deceased felt deeply unlucky to them. The atmosphere immediately grew chilly, and no one stepped forward.

Wang Dagui and Li Cui were surprised the girl had voiced such a request, but the subsequent awkward silence confirmed their suspicions. The little girl had good ideas, perhaps, but some things just weren't done.

Wang Qiqi remained undeterred by the scene. "To whoever helps me take my parents home, I will pay five hundred each." To spend money on her parents, Wang Qiqi felt it was worth every cent.

The bystanders gasped when they heard the price. "Five hundred each?" At this time, a monthly salary in the city was barely over a thousand yuan. To move two bodies, perhaps taking an hour at most, and earn five hundred—locals might remain hesitant, but the out-of-towners present were definitely tempted.

Li Cui, hearing the price, nearly shouted that Qiqi was a spendthrift. Sending the bodies to the funeral home for cold storage only cost a fraction of that! How could this child be so wasteful? Moreover, if the dead girl was willing to pay five hundred yuan, shouldn't that money go to her and Dagui rather than strangers? But looking around at the crowd, she couldn't bring herself to demand it. They had just performed such a loving act for their niece in front of everyone; demanding payment immediately would ruin their image.

Wang Dagui’s heart also ached. That money was supposed to be theirs. He couldn't fathom his niece throwing it away without batting an eye. However, his anger quickly dissipated. He concluded that his niece was simply spoiled by her parents and had no concept of how hard money was earned. This development, he thought, would make it easier to swindle the money later. He rationalized Qiqi’s forceful tone earlier as mere filial piety—her desperation not to let her parents remain outside, insisting on adhering to local custom.

Wang Qiqi had no time to dwell on her uncle and aunt’s thoughts. Her immediate concern was finding someone willing to transport her parents. She added one more clarification. "I only need two people. You all figure out among yourselves."

With that, Wang Qiqi turned and walked toward the police officers. "Excuse me, Officer, may I take my parents back home? Also, how will this matter be mediated? The other party was driving under the influence; shouldn't that constitute a criminal offense?" Wang Qiqi wasn't sure how severely drunk driving was punished at this time, but she had to ask.

"They should be executed."

A well-dressed woman in her forties, standing nearby, interjected. She glanced with disdain at the drunken driver still snoring obliviously nearby. "Are you under Traffic Police Captain Min Zheyuan? Wait, this district falls under Captain Min’s jurisdiction, correct?"

The traffic officer looked at the noblewoman, nodded, and replied, "Yes, I report to Captain Min." Anyone who could address the Captain so casually either had a close personal connection with him or held significant power—someone even their own Captain deferred to.