Cui bolted downstairs, the distinct feeling that someone was still whispering about her trailing in her wake. This set Li Cui’s temper alight. She blamed it all on Wang Qiqi, thinking to herself, Hmph, if you don’t come begging me, don’t expect any help from me. She decided that when the time came, she would make Wang Qiqi plead three times before even considering it, maintaining a haughty distance. Then she’d give her a proper lesson. As for the fifty thousand yuan left by Qiqi’s parents, she’d originally intended to save it for the girl, but now, she figured, there was no need for that; she’d pocket every cent herself. Honestly, Li Cui’s scheme was rather neat, but alas, she was dealing with the reborn Wang Qiqi. Would the girl ever let herself be manipulated so easily?

Wang Dagui whistled a cheerful tune, happily heading home to rest and gather his composure before visiting his elder brother’s place. He was startled to find his wife already at home. “Why are you here? Weren’t you supposed to be helping that girl, Qiqi?”

Li Cui huffed, “Her wings have hardened; she doesn’t need my help anymore. In that case, why should I go there and make myself a nuisance?” Li Cui had made up her mind: if she couldn't save face, she certainly wouldn't trot over there to help. Going over so haphazardly would only make them suspect her motives.

Wang Dagui had just been about to flop onto the ** to rest, but upon hearing his wife, he leaped straight off the **. He pointed a finger at Li Cui and snapped, “You’re not going to help? How can that be? I just finalized the deal with them; they agreed to this amount.” Wang Dagui felt an immense wave of pleasure thinking about it. He’d worried that with his brother and sister-in-law gone, his money supply would dry up, but he hadn't expected the other party to agree to such a sum. He even contemplated skimming half for himself before telling his wife. As for the orphan Wang Qiqi, Wang Dagui genuinely hadn't thought about giving her any of it; he figured housing her and feeding her for a few years was repayment enough.

Putting the money aside for a moment, Li Cui’s reaction was manageable. But the instant her husband brought up the money, her rage boiled over. She immediately strode over to Wang Dagui, jabbing him as she cursed, “If it weren't for your greed for death money, would I have to stand there like a monkey at your brother’s house today!” The more Li Cui seethed, the louder her accusations grew, moving from Wang Dagui shirking household chores to not earning enough, then to his gambling debts, and finally to his failure to provide her and their daughter with the kind of life his elder brother’s family enjoyed.

Wang Dagui bristled when he heard this. Before, when people compared him unfavorably to his elder brother, he’d let it slide. Now that his brother and sister-in-law were gone, he didn’t have to listen to this shrew anymore. How could Wang Dagui endure that? Moreover, in his mind, he was about to become wealthier than his brother and sister-in-law’s household. “What are you going crazy for? I told you to go over there and placate that girl, Wang Qiqi. Even though my brother only left behind a hundred thousand, do you know how much the compensation they're offering is?”

“How much? How much could it be? Eighty thousand? A hundred thousand?” Li Cui was furious. Had Wang Dagui taken leave of his senses? He’d only gone out to handle a matter, and whether it succeeded was still up in the air. Did that warrant treating her this way?

“One hundred thousand? Eighty thousand? Go steal it! I’m telling you, he said they can settle for thirty0,000 privately.” Wang Dagui felt wonderfully smug. His brother had only paid a little over a hundred thousand for that house when he bought it, plus renovations. “Aren’t you always envious of my brother’s house? Once we get the money, we’ll buy an identical one, and we’ll decorate it even better than theirs. Will that satisfy you?” As for the remaining two hundred thousand, Wang Dagui had already decided: he’d keep it for himself to spend, giving him a nice cushion for gambling in the future.

Thirty thousand? That number stunned Li Cui into a brief stupor. Thirty thousand! She hadn't imagined their family would ever see so much money. She, like Wang Dagui, had completely forgotten that this money wasn't theirs. “Then we can take a trip to Thailand! Weren’t your brother and sister-in-law just in Thailand last year? Your sister-in-law said it was amazing…” Ah, if only her brother-in-law and his wife hadn't been such short-lived ghosts; they spent a fortune going to Thailand. They should have stayed home instead.

Li Cui was already lost in visions of their Thai vacation, complete with buying new jewelry. Hmph, sister-in-law always wore so little jewelry. Mentioning jewelry suddenly jogged a thought in Li Cui’s mind. “Right, Dagui, did you see sister-in-law’s usual jewelry today?” Li Cui concentrated hard, trying to recall… she truly hadn't seen any of it. Where had those things gone? This left Li Cui deeply perplexed.

Hearing Li Cui mention this, Wang Dagui looked puzzled too. “Yeah, now that you mention it, I had a feeling something was off, but I couldn't place it. You’re right. But do you think Wang Qiqi knows anything?” Wang Dagui’s immediate assumption was that Qiqi had hidden the items herself.

Li Cui pondered, “Wait, Qiqi took a backpack when she went to school to ask for leave today. Do you think she took the jewelry out to show a classmate?” Li Cui was filled with regret now. She shouldn't have been so hasty trying to find the items and should have prevented Wang Qiqi from walking out with the backpack. Now, the jewelry was a lost cause. “Do you think brother and sister-in-law might have left behind some savings?” Li Cui offered another possibility.

Wang Dagui wasn't entirely sold on Li Cui’s idea. “I doubt that. If you had that much wealth, would you entrust it to a classmate for safekeeping?” He reasoned that if someone intended to move assets, they’d choose a secure location, not a classmate. “If it were a bankbook, that would be simple, but if it’s jewelry, handing it over like that makes it impossible to explain later.” He paused. “How long was Qiqi out of the house?”

Li Cui thought back. “According to what she said this morning, she asked for leave, went to the bank to withdraw some money, and then headed home. The travel time matches up pretty well.” Li Cui recalled that if Wang Qiqi walked, the timing actually fit perfectly.

“I predict it’s still in the backpack. The girl doesn't have that many friends, and very few she’s close to. I suspect she panicked momentarily; the things are probably either in her room or in that bag.” Wang Dagui thought for a moment. “Sigh, why didn’t we check her room today?”

Wang Dagui said this with deep regret, “But even if we don’t find those items, it doesn’t matter; we still have the thirty thousand.” Wang Dagui couldn't believe that his brother would have secretly left that much money for Wang Qiqi.

Hearing Wang Dagui mention the thirty thousand again, Li Cui remembered something vital. “The reason I came back from Wang Qiqi’s place just now was about this very issue.” Li Cui quickly recounted the origin of the conflict, naturally modifying her story to favor herself.

Hearing Li Cui’s version, Wang Dagui felt annoyed with Qiqi, but the core problem remained. “Li Cui, Li Cui, what can I even say to you? You have to understand that Wang Qiqi’s behavior now might be due to a certain shock. You know how much my brother and sister-in-law doted on her. She is at her most insecure moment right now; her reaction is understandable. But what did you do, as her aunt? It’s a miracle the girl was even polite to you.”

Wang Dagui glared at his incompetent and trouble-making wife, Li Cui. “I’m telling you, go back immediately and apologize to that girl. You need to realize the key to this whole thing is Wang Qiqi.” Wang Dagui quickly sorted out his strategy.

Li Cui obviously wouldn't agree with Wang Dagui’s plan; she wouldn't lower her head to that girl. “I am an elder! Is that how a junior should treat an elder? Besides, if I’m the first one to back down this time, do you think we can still control that girl? Don’t forget, you need her consent to get that compensation money. Otherwise, why would they pay you?”

Wang Dagui considered Li Cui’s words and realized she was right. The conflict between his wife and Wang Qiqi was fundamentally about that compensation fund. If he forced his wife to apologize, wouldn't that essentially validate Wang Qiqi’s stance? The other party was willing to pay so much only to prevent his son from facing serious consequences. If the case went to trial, would they still offer that much money? Then his thirty thousand, plus his personal twenty thousand, would vanish. The thought of those precious portraits of great men slipping away made him unwilling to concede.

After lengthy deliberation, he declared to Li Cui, “Okay, here’s what we’ll do. Right now, apart from us, only Big Sister’s family can help with the funeral arrangements for your brother and sister-in-law. You know sister-in-law’s relatives aren't local; even if they rush over, they’ll only be guests. If we don’t show up to help, let’s see how that little girl manages.” The more Wang Dagui thought about it, the more he saw this as a tactic to force Qiqi’s hand. Then he could make the girl sign a proxy form, and the money would safely land in his pocket. At this moment, Wang Dagui could almost feel those portraits of great men that had just left him returning to his wallet.

“If we don’t cause trouble, won’t your Big Sister’s family go and help?” Li Cui snorted. She knew that sister-in-law was also someone who only moved when profit was involved. Don't let her silence fool you; she was likely waiting for Big Brother-in-law to return at noon to discuss things before making a decision. “Are you willing to give all that money to Big Sister then?” Li Cui watched Wang Dagui out of the corner of her eye. Wang Dagui immediately wilted. He knew Big Brother-in-law was no pushover; if meat passed in front of him, a thick layer would definitely be sliced off. The only reason he didn't take it all was that Big Brother-in-law adhered to a habit of leaving others a little bite—which was precisely why many people resented him, yet his position remained relatively secure. “We’ll go to Big Sister’s house directly for lunch.” He decided to lay the cards on the table. Wang Dagui didn’t believe his brother-in-law would remain unmoved upon hearing about such a sum.

Li Cui understood immediately: first, unify their front. That was good. Even if they had to share some with Big Sister’s family, it was better than getting nothing or handing everything over to them. “Fine, I’ll go make some lunch for our daughter first.” As for Wang Qiqi, Li Cui had no intention of worrying about her; she frankly wished the girl would starve to death.

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