Wang Dagui approached Wang Qiqi, his expression shifting to one of profound sorrow. “Brother, brother! Doctor, please look at my older brother! Hurry and send him to the hospital!”

Seeing his niece’s demeanor and the doctors’ hesitation to provide emergency aid to his brother and sister-in-law, Wang Dagui understood. His brother and sister-in-law were likely gone. Hahaha, it wasn't a wasted trip rushing from the mahjong table. He looked at his stunned niece, standing there like a blockhead, and sneered inwardly. So what if his sister-in-law came from a well-off family? So what if her parents left her two properties? They would all belong to him eventually, hahaha. It wasn't that Wang Dagui looked down on his niece, but Wang Qiqi had been sheltered too well by her parents. The girl had absolutely no concept of money; those assets would naturally fall into his hands sooner or later. As for the niece, he’d support her through university and then provide a modest dowry. She was just a girl, after all; the Wang family's wealth was rightfully his.

Li Cui noticed her husband’s calculating look and nudged his sleeve. Although that girl Qiqi seemed stunned, there were so many people around; if they caught any hint of his intentions, it would be disastrous. “Qiqi, dear, please help your father down. He isn’t comfortable like this...”

Hearing the couple’s raised voices, Wang Qiqi recalled conversations they’d had when they thought no one was listening—how they’d raise the niece once her parents were gone, how kind they were at first, only to reveal their true colors once the properties were secured. The memory ignited a blaze of anger in Wang Qiqi, but she knew this wasn't the time to show her hand. She had to hold back. Her father had told her things, and as long as she held onto those secrets, it was enough. She certainly wouldn't let go of what they were scheming for.

With that thought, Wang Qiqi mused, if they wanted to act the part of a loving uncle and aunt, she would play the dutiful niece. “Uncle, my dad, my dad... he...”

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

Wang Dagui and Li Cui had mentally prepared for Wang Dajun’s death, but hearing it confirmed by the niece still made Wang Dagui inwardly ecstatic. Still, he forced himself to contain it. He remembered his own sister was still around, and Wang Dagui knew she was just as greedy for money. “Be good, Qiqi. You still have your uncle. Your aunt and I will take care of you from now on.”

Hearing Wang Dagui, Li Cui chimed in, supporting her husband’s words. She had long coveted her brother and sister-in-law’s three-bedroom, two-living-room apartment. Not only was it larger than their own two-room, one-living-room place, but it was also beautifully renovated. Using the excuse of caring for Qiqi, they could easily move in and eventually take charge of the whole property.

“Qiqi, don't worry. Your aunt will treat you well, like my own daughter.”

Li Cui’s words made Wang Qiqi want to vomit. These two were truly shameless. And their performance was earning praise from the surrounding onlookers.

“It’s a blessing she has such a good uncle and aunt; the child’s fate isn’t entirely miserable.”

“Indeed. Uncles and aunts so upright are rare these days.”

Upright? Yes, very upright—upright enough to plot to steal every property left to their niece. And they got a good reputation in public, too. Wang Qiqi didn't need to look up to know her aunt and uncle must be overjoyed right now; at least their act was winning approval from many people.

Wang Qiqi fought back the urge to sob. “Thank you, Uncle and Aunt. It’s alright; I’m already grown up. I can take care of myself. Dad told me I need to learn to be independent.”

Upon hearing this, Li Cui grew annoyed with the deceased brother-in-law who was still interfering with their fortune. “Qiqi, well... if you’re grown up, you still need someone to live with, for instance—” But before she could finish suggesting that living alone wasn't ideal, Wang Dagui stopped her. To be fair, Wang Dagui wasn't entirely dim-witted; he simply focused all his scheming energy on his own siblings.

“Qiqi, since your father is gone, why don’t we call the funeral home to take your parents away?”

If Wang Qiqi weren't present, Wang Dagui would have immediately called the funeral home to have his brother and sister-in-law removed. He certainly wouldn't let his dead brother and sister-in-law return to that house; it felt inauspicious, especially since he was already living in it. Even selling it would be good.

Li Cui backed him up. “Yes, Qiqi. That way, you won’t be frightened. Although it seems a bit disrespectful to your parents, you are timid, dear, we don’t want you scared.”

Li Cui also didn't want Wang Dajun’s body brought back; it felt unlucky. How could a house where a corpse had lain rest fetch a high price?

“No. I want Mom and Dad to go back home.”

In her past life, her parents were directly taken away by the funeral home at their behest. This was something Wang Qiqi deeply regretted when she grew up. Even if someone died in the hospital here, the family was expected to bring the body home first. “Qiqi might be timid, but they are her mother and father. They will watch over Qiqi from heaven. And I believe Mom and Dad will constantly protect Qiqi at home, ensuring bad people won’t bully her.”

Hmph, I won't go along with your plan. I’ll state it this way; let’s see if you dare move them into your house now.

“Besides, that house was bought with my parents’ hard-earned money. Why shouldn’t they have their final rites from home?”

Wang Qiqi knew her aunt was extremely superstitious. Perhaps, thinking from another angle, the aunt simply felt she was pushing the girl too far and worried that if Wang Dajun and his wife saw it from below, they wouldn't fare well after they passed, which explained her frequent incense burning and donations.

Wang Dagui and Li Cui hadn't expected their niece to be so sharp-tongued. They exchanged a look. How could the niece say such a thing? Had her parents mentioned something to Qiqi before they died? But they dismissed the idea immediately; her brother’s only demands on Qiqi had been about studying, and he kept most family matters hidden from her.

Wang Dagui didn't press the issue with Wang Qiqi. Being quick-witted, he changed the subject. “Qiqi, who would bully you? Besides, with your parents like this, who would even move them back?”

Hearing this, Li Cui eagerly agreed. “Right, Qiqi. You can’t just leave your parents lying here forever; this isn't a solution either.”

Wang Qiqi certainly knew the couple was unwilling and would never help transport the bodies home, but who was she dealing with? Not some naive eighteen-year-old girl. “It’s fine.”

Wang Qiqi wiped her tears and stood up. She turned to the gathering crowd. “Is there any kind soul who can help me take my parents back? As a daughter, I wish for my parents to have their final ceremonies from home, not to be left alone in the cold funeral parlor.”

The onlookers nodded in agreement with Wang Qiqi’s sentiment, but the problem was that while they thought her idea was noble, transporting the deceased was considered inauspicious by many. The scene quickly fell into an awkward silence; no one volunteered.

Wang Dagui and Li Cui were surprised that the girl had the nerve to say that, but the ensuing quiet made them glance at each other. The girl was still just a girl; her ideas were sometimes good, but some tasks simply weren't done by anyone.

Wang Qiqi wasn't discouraged by the silence. “For anyone who transports my parents back, I will pay five hundred yuan per person.”

Wang Qiqi felt the money was well spent for her parents.

The bystanders gasped when they heard the quoted price. “Five hundred yuan each?” At that time, a monthly salary in the city was barely over a thousand yuan. To move two bodies, perhaps taking only an hour, and earn five hundred—local people might not be tempted, but the outsiders gathered nearby were certainly interested.

Li Cui heard the price and nearly blurted out an accusation that her niece was a spendthrift. Sending them to the funeral home to be kept on ice only cost that little amount. Why was this child so wasteful? Furthermore, if that dead girl was willing to spend five hundred yuan, shouldn't that money go to her and Dagui instead of outsiders? But looking at the crowd, she was too embarrassed to ask. A five-hundred-yuan rate was for strangers. Having just performed their act as loving aunt and uncle in front of so many people, demanding payment immediately would look terrible to the onlookers.

Wang Dagui’s heart also ached. That money was rightfully theirs, and yet their niece was spending it without batting an eye. It was impossible for Wang Dagui to feel happy about that. However, he soon calmed down. He convinced himself the niece was spoiled by her parents, too naive to understand how hard it was to earn money. This situation, he figured, would make it easier for him to swindle the assets later. As for Qiqi’s sudden show of force, Wang Dagui attributed it automatically to her reluctance to leave her parents exposed outdoors, insisting on following local customs.

Wang Qiqi, however, had no time to consider her uncle and aunt’s thoughts. Her focus was on finding someone willing to take her parents home. She had one more thing to clarify first. “I only need two people. You all decide amongst yourselves.”

With that, Wang Qiqi walked over to the police officer. “Excuse me, Officer, may I take my parents home? And regarding this incident, how should it be mediated? The other party was driving under the influence; shouldn't that warrant criminal charges?”

Wang Qiqi wasn't sure how severe the penalties for drunk driving were at this time, but she had to ask.

“They should get the death penalty.”

A well-dressed, middle-aged lady standing nearby interjected, casting a contemptuous look at the driver, who was still sleeping soundly, unaware of what had happened. “Are you under Captain Min Zhe Yuan’s command in the Traffic Police department? Wait, this precinct is under Min Da-dui, isn’t it?”

The traffic officer glanced at the lady, then nodded. “Yes, I am subordinate to Captain Min.”

Being able to address the captain by his name suggested either a close personal connection or significant family power—someone even their own captain would defer to.

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