Wang Qiqi had initially intended to retrieve money from her own room, but a sudden thought led her directly to her parents’ bedroom. She knew they usually kept a reserve fund of about two or three thousand there. Upon entering their room, she quickly jotted down the address the auntie had mentioned onto a desk calendar, then retrieved the cash from their usual hiding spot. Near that spot were savings passbooks totaling over a hundred thousand—one for fifty thousand, and five separate ones for ten thousand each. As for the money in her parents' salary cards, Wang Qiqi was ignorant of that sum. Leaving this money where it was wouldn't hurt; she figured her parents lacked the nerve to take it now anyway. After replacing the documents, Wang Qiqi left the room and handed the money to the couple. “Thank you both so much today.”

The couple hadn't expected the girl to actually give five hundred each. Honestly, they had thought seven or eight hundred would be the absolute maximum. “Is there a clean towel available? I’ll help wipe away the bloodstains.”

Wang Dagui and his wife entered a step behind, and they certainly made no move to help; instead, they looked around with undisguised greed shining in their eyes. But when they heard Wang Qiqi’s voice, Wang Dagui asked with feigned concern, “Niece, your brother and sister-in-law’s situation happened so suddenly; we didn't prepare anything at home.” Wang Qiqi closed her eyes. Dad, you were exactly right. As soon as you left, your younger brother’s family came to scheme for the money of me, an orphan. They're even willing to profit off the dead.

Not long after, Wang Qiqi opened her eyes again, wiping away tears as she spoke, “Uncle, I’m just a child. How would I know all these things? Perhaps you could handle the arrangements for the funeral rites?” For this small amount of money, I’m willing to let you earn it.

Although Wang Dagui knew his niece would likely delegate the task to him, he hadn't received her definitive answer before. But now, his opportunity for profit had arrived.

Wang Qiqi quickly looked up at her uncle’s ecstatic expression. “Uncle, Dad mentioned there’s an ‘all-in-one’ service available outside. You don't need to run around buying things. Just hand it over to them. Make sure you get quotes from several different companies to compare prices.” While Wang Qiqi was letting Wang Dagui profit from this situation, she wasn't keen on excessive spending. “The money my parents left me needs to be conserved; I still have university to attend. I can’t spend too lavishly now, or my future life will be problematic. Although Auntie and Uncle said they’d look after me, I feel uneasy asking for too much. Besides, I checked just now—my parents left me over a hundred thousand, which should cover my living expenses until graduation.”

Wang Dagui desperately wanted to lunge forward and slap his niece twice. How did my brother and sister-in-law raise such an idiot? Announcing how much money they left her in front of all the neighbors—how was he supposed to spin the story outside about how his brother’s family was taking care of his orphaned niece now? What was even more infuriating was that this girl spoke of saving money, yet she showed no such frugality when she spent that thousand earlier.

Li Cui was also stunned. This was completely different from what she and her husband had plotted on the road. Calling an ‘all-in-one’ service was convenient, but if they compared bids from multiple companies, how much kickback could they possibly skim off the top?

“Actually, Uncle, the weather is getting warmer. I just want to rent an ice coffin for Mom and Dad to lie in. As for the rest, that will depend on how the situation is resolved.” Wang Qiqi certainly noticed her uncle’s reluctance. “I was just worried you would get exhausted, Uncle. Never mind, this part isn't urgent. Let’s just rent two ice coffins first.”

Wang Dagui considered this. Indeed, until the matter was settled, his brother and sister-in-law would have to remain in the ice coffins. Even if he got a twenty-yuan kickback per day per coffin, that was six hundred yuan a month! He could secure that money first. “Fine, I’ll go out and look right now.”

Seeing her uncle about to leave, and noticing the neighbors outside beginning to disperse, Wang Qiqi immediately called out, “Auntie, Uncle, can you stay here with Qiqi for these next few days?” In front of all these people, if you refuse to stay now, I wonder what face you’ll have to demand to look after me once the funeral arrangements are done.

Li Cui blurted out, “Xiaoqian, although we said we would take care of you, you know we have so many things at home. If Auntie stays here, what about Xiaorui?” Are you kidding me? Stay here with two coffins in the living room? It would terrify me to death! Not to mention, they had no idea how long this whole affair would drag on. If it took six months or a year, she’d have to face two corpses daily? We came here to make money, not to be tortured!

Wang Dagui found his niece’s request strange, but he assumed Wang Qiqi was scared. He thought to himself, If the little girl is so scared, why insist on bringing her parents home? Never mind that his wife, Li Cui, objected; Wang Dagui himself found the idea terrifying. Moreover, wouldn’t that mean he’d have to stand guard here day and night? Wang Dagui had no idea that the niece he hadn't paid attention to was already setting traps for him.

“Xiaorui can stay over,” Wang Qiqi pressed on, step by step. Hmph, I can dismantle all your excuses one by one. I just don't want you to have any pretense to move in later. “Uncle and Auntie were just by my parents’ side moments ago, saying they would take good care of Qiqi.”

Li Cui thought to herself that she would never let her daughter stay here; it was too ominous. She never expected this damned girl to immediately throw back the words she had spoken an hour ago. “Qiqi, you are a big girl now, but Xiaorui is still a child…”

Wang Qiqi performed a look of sudden realization. “So, in Auntie’s eyes, Qiqi is a big girl who can take care of herself, but Xiaorui is still a child who needs Auntie’s care, right?”

Wang Dagui and Li Cui both sensed something was amiss upon hearing this, but the problem was, even knowing his niece’s question was problematic, they were determined not to stay here.

Wang Dagui’s mouth moved; he actually wanted to say they could stay, but then he remembered he had to work during the day. If they stayed here, wouldn't he be obligated to stay up all night? Besides, the girl probably just wanted to assert that she was basically an adult now. “Yes, Qiqi is an adult now; she can take care of herself.”

When her uncle said this, Wang Qiqi was overjoyed internally. This is exactly what I wanted you two to say. “Yes, Qiqi is an adult now, and I will take good care of myself. It’s fine; Qiqi will stay by her parents’ side alone and tell Mom and Dad how much Uncle and Auntie took care of Qiqi.” Wang Qiqi heavily emphasized the word ‘care.’

Wang Dagui and Li Cui missed the stress Wang Qiqi placed on ‘care,’ but the neighbors who heard the exchange glanced at the couple with clear disdain. In their minds, Wang Qiqi was a very reserved and kind-hearted girl. Her words today didn't sound like the reaction of someone whose parents had just died. They suspected Wang Dagui and his wife had some less-than-honorable plans. They held a very good impression of Wang Dajun’s (the deceased father’s) family.

Wang Dajun’s couple were warm-hearted people. Whenever neighbors needed help, if they had the time, they would always assist. But Wang Dagui and his older brother were different; Wang Dagui was selfish, only thinking about lining his own pockets. He was good at maintaining appearances, but that only fooled those who didn’t know him well. Anyone who dealt with Wang Dagui for long understood his true nature.

“Uncle, I’ll have to trouble you with my parents today.” Wang Qiqi didn't give her uncle or aunt time to reconsider, especially her uncle, as Wang Dagui was usually the one who grasped the main goals and devised most of the bad ideas, with Li Cui serving as the accomplice.

Hearing Wang Qiqi say that, Wang Dagui slapped his forehead. Right! He had important business to attend to. What could be more important than making money? “Qiqi, wait for me at home, I’ll go find the ice coffins immediately.”

Li Cui watched the outsiders wiping down her brother-in-law and sister-in-law’s bodies and suddenly felt a chill run through her. She looked around but saw everyone else acting normally. Was this a warning from her deceased in-laws?

Thinking this, Li Cui felt that the room, which she had previously thought acceptable, now seemed gloomy. She didn't want to stay in this cursed place for one more second. “Qiqi, Xiaorui is still at home. I need to go back and stay with her. Also, tomorrow morning…” Li Cui remembered a crucial matter: her brother-in-law and his wife were here, and someone needed to be around.

“I’ll ask the school for a few days off tomorrow,” Wang Qiqi replied. She knew Li Cui wasn't keen on staying; she wouldn't part with her meager salary. But this was for the best. When her parents’ colleagues and friends came to offer condolence money, Qiqi could record it herself. These were debts she would have to repay later. In her previous life, her uncle’s family had taken all this money. Though they had given her the ledger, she had stupidly sent money to people on that list when their own families faced hardship. She wouldn't repeat such foolishness.

Hearing Wang Qiqi say this, Li Cui nearly fled out the door. Even though some neighbors were no longer standing right at the entrance of the Wang residence, they were still chatting downstairs. Seeing Li Cui’s frantic exit, and hearing a real-time update from a reporter, their contempt for the couple intensified.

“Dajun was such a good man, how could he have a brother like that?”

“Even the sister-in-law is not human; truly, a family of a feather.”

“Poor Dajun, such a good person, and Qiqi was so doted on by him and his wife, they kept her shielded from many things. Who knows how Wang Dagui’s couple will bully her now.”

“Hmph, more than just bullying. I bet they’ll try to swindle away everything Dajun and his wife left behind.” After one person said this, everyone fell silent. It was, after all, the honest truth. Qiqi was clever, but she was still a child, unable to contend with her aunt and uncle.

“Well, it is their family affair, no matter what. They are relatives after all.”

“That’s not entirely true. If Wang Dagui and his wife go too far, and considering what Qiqi said just now, she doesn’t sound like someone who will be easily swindled by them.” If Wang Qiqi were present, she would have given a thumbs-up; everything those people were saying had come true in her past life.

Someone at the car crash scene said, “Zhu Dajun spoke with Qiqi for a long time before he left. He must have been giving her pointers, otherwise why would she speak like that? Fine, for Dajun’s sake, if Wang Dagui does anything Qiqi doesn't agree with, we should step in and say a few words.”

“Agreed! Agreed! We can’t let Dajun leave the world restlessly.” After this long discussion, and as the sky began to darken, everyone gradually dispersed.

Is by 】More chapters please visit the URL for highly recommended ad-free full-text novel reading software