The next day, Li Cui arrived at Wang Dajun's house early, her attitude quite willing. Yesterday, Wang Dagui had returned and told her all his plans, which made her ecstatic. If the soundproofing at home hadn't been so poor, she would have happily embraced Wang Dagui and screamed a few times to celebrate that they would soon be millionaires. But it was fine; they celebrated in a different way.

The result of the celebration was that Comrade Li Cui wasn't feeling very spirited today. Of course, she was quite pleased with this effect. Anyone who saw her would only say she was deeply loyal and grieving over the passing of her brother and sister-in-law. “Qiqi, are you sitting here all alone?” Although Li Cui already knew the truth, she still had to put on a show, especially now that it was daylight and people were coming and going outside; it served as a performance for them. “I thought your uncle would stay with you yesterday, so I went back. But when I woke up this morning, I found your uncle had actually gone home, which made me so angry! I argued with your uncle for a bit and then rushed right over.”

Wang Qiqi, with a pale little face, whispered to Li Cui, “Auntie, I was the one who asked Uncle to go back. I truly troubled him yesterday, going to find an ice coffin late at night. I can manage here alone. Oh, I’ll trouble you this morning; I’m going to school first to ask for leave, and then I need to withdraw the money from my parents’ salary cards.”

Yesterday, Wang Qiqi sat at home and thought for a long time, deciding not to touch the fifty-thousand-yuan savings passbook for now. If she needed to handle things, she would use the money in the salary cards first. Anyway, that money could be withdrawn at an ATM, and of course, she knew the PIN.

Li Cui had another task on her mind at this moment: it would be best to settle matters before her elder sister-in-law and the others arrived. However, she didn't know if Wang Qiqi knew how much money the family actually had. “Qiqi, is the money at home enough? If it’s not enough, your aunt will ask your uncle to go home and get some.”

Wang Qiqi pursed her lips. So, they were already anxious to know how much money was in the bank account. In her past life, she hadn’t paid attention to these things, which is how they managed to take everything. “I looked yesterday. There’s only one fifty-thousand-yuan passbook and the money in my parents’ salary cards. I want to leave the passbook at home and take the money from the salary cards first.”

Li Cui hadn't expected her brother and sister-in-law’s savings to be so little. Her mouth dropped wide open. “Ah, only this much?” In her mind, her brother and sister-in-law should have had at least three or four hundred thousand yuan in savings. Even she and Dagui, despite not earning high salaries, had about a hundred thousand yuan saved up. Her brother and sister-in-law always had better benefits at work; how could they only have so little money?

Disdainful of the small amount? Wang Qiqi closed her eyes and thought to herself, If it weren't to avoid arousing your suspicion, I wouldn't even want to leave this ten thousand out here. But Wang Qiqi still managed to look flustered by Li Cui’s question. She stammered, thought for a long time, and then said, “Well, Dad and Mom spent a lot of money buying this house, and the renovation cost money too. And, and…” Wang Qiqi thought hard. “Uncle borrowed twenty or thirty thousand from Mom and Dad a while ago, saying it was for gambling debts. And Auntie, when your family bought your house, my family gave you thirty thousand. When your place was being renovated, Mom and Dad bought over twenty thousand in appliances. And for Elder Aunt’s renovation, they gave eighteen thousand, and bought two TVs, which cost over twenty thousand in total. Plus, some colleagues of Mom’s also borrowed some money.”

Li Cui hadn’t expected Wang Qiqi to list everything out so meticulously. Although, when tallied up, it seemed to match what her brother and sister-in-law had on hand, the problem was the house left by the sister-in-law’s family. And why did Qiqi know all this? Didn't she claim not to know anything? This was what Li Cui was most concerned about now. “Qiqi actually knows so much.”

Wang Qiqi detected the probing in Li Cui’s voice. Did I come across as too shrewd? But it was fine. “Well, I happened to be present, so I found out. I don't know anything else.” After saying this, Wang Qiqi looked up and asked Li Cui brightly, “Auntie, is our family’s money short? But I really don't know! I only know that Dad and Mom often took me out to play and eat. Mom said Dad spoils me too much and makes me spend a lot of money, but it’s Mom who spends more wildly…”

Hearing Wang Qiqi’s detailed report, Li Cui was genuinely speechless. Meanwhile, in her heart, she kept cursing her elder brother and his wife as wasteful. They were destined for an early death, yet they still bothered with beauty treatments, spending hundreds on haircuts! This is how money was frittered away. Don't blame Li Cui for being so easily fooled; the truth was that Wang Dajun and his wife had indeed been very extravagant spenders. Wang Qiqi’s words contained a mix of truth and falsehood, which forced Li Cui to believe her.

In reality, part of the reason Wang Dajun and his wife spent lavishly was that some of the money came from gift cards given to Li Dajun by others. Not using them would be a waste. Of course, Wang Dagui and his wife didn't know this; otherwise, they would definitely know Wang Qiqi was deceiving them.

Wang Qiqi waited for a long time, noticing Li Cui hadn't answered her. She spoke up, “Auntie, I’m going to school to get leave first, and then I’ll withdraw the money. There are many places money is needed.” After saying this, Wang Qiqi turned and walked away.

Seeing Wang Qiqi leave, Li Cui immediately slipped to the balcony and waved to Wang Dagui below, signaling for him to come up. Li Cui didn't return to the living room; instead, she started rummaging through things in her brother and sister-in-law’s room. She searched cautiously, worried that if that brat returned and found the room a mess, she might become suspicious. Li Cui searched for quite a while and finally found a fifty-thousand-yuan savings certificate beneath the quilts in the wardrobe. Just as Li Cui was unwilling to give up and prepared to search further—

Wang Dagui crept over and pushed the door open, asking in a low voice, “Did you find anything valuable?”

Wang Dagui hadn't slept well all night; he had been preoccupied with how much wealth he might acquire today.

Li Cui was startled by the sound of the door opening. Before she could formulate a response, she heard her husband’s voice. She turned and snapped fiercely at Wang Dagui, “Don’t you know scaring people can kill them?” Honestly, Li Cui was furious, especially after hearing what that girl Qiqi said—that her man had borrowed twenty or thirty thousand from her brother’s family. She hadn’t received this money, and she certainly wouldn't believe that Qiqi was lying to her. “Right, did you borrow money from Big Brother and Sister-in-law a few days ago?”

Her wife’s question startled Wang Dagui. He knew he had asked for this money secretly from his wife, and he hadn't written an IOU for it at the time; his brother and sister-in-law had practically given it to him. Alas, thinking of this, Wang Dagui mused that with his older brother dead, whom would he ask for help if he incurred more gambling debts in the future? Sighing, Wang Dagui suddenly felt that the passing of his brother and sister-in-law might not entirely be a good thing for him.

“I’m asking you, why aren't you answering?” Li Cui turned and placed the quilt back into the cabinet, making sure to tuck the money in as well. After she finished tidying up, she noticed Wang Dagui hanging his head, lost in thought. “I asked you—did you borrow that small sum? That girl Qiqi told me everything.”

Wang Dagui had been wondering who leaked the information, but upon hearing it was Wang Qiqi, he understood. It seemed his wife felt that his older brother’s savings didn't match what they expected. “Yes, they gave me thirty thousand. Didn't I cheat them the last time we played cards? They threatened to chop off my hands and feet if I didn't pay it back.” Wang Dagui dared not lie. Besides, this money didn't come from Li Cui’s hands, so what could she do to him?

If it were before, Li Cui would have been quite happy; since it wasn't their money being spent, it didn't matter. But the crucial point was that this money was considered theirs! “I just asked Qiqi. Your brother’s family only has that fifty-thousand-yuan savings, oh, and the money in their salary cards.” Li Cui’s anger had largely dissipated. Alas.

Wang Dagui immediately protested when he heard that number, saying it was wrong. Later, after listening to Li Cui’s analysis, he said, “And your brother and sister-in-law have paid off about fifty or sixty thousand in gambling debts for you over the years, right? Including this thirty thousand, that makes almost eighty thousand, doesn't it?” Li Cui recalculated, and it seemed to match. “In the future, don’t gamble again. If you gamble again, no one will be around to pay your debts.”

Wang Dagui nodded, indicating he understood. He wasn't an idiot; he knew that without someone backing him up later, he wouldn't be that foolish.

Wang Qiqi first went to school and requested an indefinite leave of absence. Naturally, the teacher was unwilling, as she was in her second year of high school; taking such a long break would surely impact her grades. The teacher tried her best to persuade Wang Qiqi, but at this moment, Wang Qiqi was determined to take the leave, and she promised that she would certainly perform well on the final exams. Seeing Wang Qiqi so insistent, the teacher had no choice but to agree, despite her helplessness.

The teacher also specifically asked Wang Qiqi to leave the home phone number, saying she would send over daily test papers and assignments so that she wouldn't neglect her studies at home. Wang Qiqi knew this was the teacher trying to pressure her into returning to school sooner. But she knew that studying alongside her classmates right now would expose her. She planned to stay home during this period to thoroughly review her previous lessons and catch up on the progress. Fortunately, the high school entrance exam was over; otherwise, Wang Qiqi would have been extremely anxious.

After leaving school, Wang Qiqi went directly to the Bank of China Headquarters and opened a safe deposit box at the counter. Although there was a safe at home, Wang Qiqi felt it wasn't secure enough. Perhaps during her absence, her uncle and the others had already started a major search at her house. Wang Qiqi had also considered what would happen if they found the safe. She deliberately placed the jewelry her mother often wore, bought by her father, into the safe. After all, an empty safe would raise suspicion. The jewelry left by her maternal grandparents for her mother was a bit dated in style, so her mother often kept it locked away. Wang Qiqi had taken it out once in the past and placed it in her schoolbag, and this time, she simply brought it along. This was her only opportunity to move the valuables out without arousing suspicion.

Wang Qiqi entered the restricted area of the safe deposit boxes under the puzzled gaze of the custodian. She then placed the jewelry and several property deeds inside. As for the deed for the house they currently lived in, Qiqi didn't take it out. In case they tried to sell the property later, Wang Qiqi wouldn't have to worry about having nowhere to live. It could be said that eighty percent of the family's major assets were thus moved out by her. The things left in plain sight would not be easy for them to touch.

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