Song Yao and Song Ziwen looked at Wang Damei strangely when they heard their mother say that. It wasn't their fault; after Wang Dajun and his wife had their accident, they had only made a brief appearance and then claimed work was busy, never visiting their maternal uncle's house again. They were even less aware of the compensation amount their uncle's family received. Of course, they knew their uncle had been killed by a car, so there would be some compensation, but based on the tone of their mother's words, it sounded like Wang Qiqi had received quite a sum, otherwise, why would their mother sound so envious?

"Mom, has the issue with my uncle and aunt's cremation been settled this time? How much did the other party pay?" Song Ziwen wondered if the matter had been resolved so quickly because the other party had offered a substantial amount.

Song Yao also looked at Wang Damei with feigned concern. She was calculating in her mind: if the compensation was large, she would take her young cousin out shopping and buy her some clothes. After all, that girl Wang Qiqi was quite easy to placate.

"I don't know the exact amount, but your Second Uncle said the most the other party was willing to offer was five hundred thousand," Wang Damei thought of the two hundred and fifty thousand that would no longer be hers; how could her heart not ache? It was an unbearable pain, making her want to vomit blood and die from the nausea.

"Five hundred thousand?" Song Yao murmured the amount unconsciously, thinking about what five hundred thousand even meant—so much money. "My parents combined probably don't make fifty thousand a year."

"That's a lot of money, but it's also appropriate. My uncle and aunt probably earned fifty or sixty thousand a year. If they were still alive, their earnings wouldn't be small," Song Ziwen calculated. "But Mom, surely my Second Uncle and Second Aunt wouldn't be that generous?"

Song Ziwen didn't have a good impression of Wang Dagui and his wife. Whenever he saw them, they were either crying poor or asking their family for help, offering only some bruised apples and rotten oranges in return. Compared to his maternal uncle, these people were worlds apart. Song Ziwen couldn't imagine them letting such a good opportunity slip away without seizing it.

Song Yao certainly understood the personalities of her Second Uncle and Second Aunt. She let out a cold snort. "Haven't these funds been pocketed by my good Second Uncle and Second Aunt? Mom, you are Qiqi's paternal aunt; you also have the right to raise her." With her own mother's capabilities, she wouldn't completely fleece Wang Qiqi, but at least it would be better than living with the Second Uncle's family. With that couple, one could never be sure.

"Exactly, Mom. You're the eldest paternal aunt, and you're retired with nothing much to do. It’s perfect for you to look after Qiqi," Song Ziwen chimed in, his mind turning quickly. After all, his mother's money would eventually be his, as he was their son. "Mom, we won't be fooled by just twenty thousand. If this compensation is to be divided, we should at least get half."

Song Yao nodded vigorously beside him. Half would be wonderful. Then she could ask her parents to buy her a separate apartment, saving her from having to live with her in-laws after marriage—there were just too many rules, and Song Yao found it very uncomfortable.

Wang Damei nodded at them. "Come on, you're overthinking things. All that money is with Qiqi now. The other party settled directly with Qiqi, bypassing your Second Uncle. As for the exact compensation amount, we don't know, but it’s definitely around five hundred thousand. The part about giving each of you ten thousand—that was her suggestion."

Song Yao and Song Ziwen murmured, "I knew my Second Aunt wouldn't be that generous."

"This might be the last time I get this much money. Before, my uncle even told me he'd give me a big red envelope when I got married," Song Ziwen said greedily. It was human nature: if you have ten thousand, you start wanting twenty, then thirty.

"You two are so greedy. Qiqi said she would still give you a big red envelope when you get married," Wang Damei said casually.

"Still giving a big red envelope?" The two exclaimed in surprise. "That's great; it’s better to keep the money with Qiqi."

"Oh, please. Who knows how much the Second Aunt will swindle away later? It would be better if she gave us the red envelopes now," Song Yao said after her initial excitement faded. Getting the money sooner was better; the longer it dragged on, the more Song Yao worried the money might never reach them.

"Stop it, you two shouldn't be so heartless. Besides, that child Qiqi isn't as useless as you think. Did you know that your Second Uncle was initially handling the compensation negotiations, but in the end, Qiqi settled it herself?" Wang Damei thought her two children really didn't understand their relatives on their mother's side. "Don't provoke Wang Qiqi in the future; that girl is not as simple as you imagine."

"It's impressive that Qiqi managed to stop the Second Uncle from getting his way," Song Yao wouldn't take those words to heart. "That money was supposed to go to Qiqi anyway. Even if the Second Uncle signed an agreement with the other party, the money was ultimately for Qiqi." At most, they should know how much money Qiqi has; why make such a fuss? Of course, she'd probably still be swindled out of it later.

Wang Damei could only look at Song Wenbo. What could she say? Before this, she and her husband had been plotting with their Second Uncle to divide up Wang Dajun’s compensation. "In short, Qiqi is different from before."

Song Wenbo recounted what happened when they visited Wang Dajun's house today, how Wang Qiqi confronted Li Cui and the others. "Now you know Qiqi isn't just some little girl, right?"

Hearing what their parents said, Song Yao and Song Ziwen slightly retracted their condescension toward Wang Qiqi. "Why bother worrying about it? The money wasn't ours anyway, right, little brother?"

Song Ziwen nodded, checked the time, and said, "Mom, if there’s nothing else, I'm leaving." He had an appointment to play mahjong with his friends, and if he didn't go, they would start nagging him.

"You, gamble less. I really don't know what’s gotten into you, always gambling. Be careful you don't end up like your Second Uncle," Wang Damei knew her son wouldn't listen to her advice; her words were just noise to him.

Song Ziwen had become accustomed to ignoring his parents' reprimands. "Mom, I'm just going back to the dorm. Your son only gambles once in a while." With that, he left. "Don't worry, I'll definitely be there on time that day."

Seeing her little brother leave, Song Yao picked up her bag. "Mom, I’m heading out too." Song Yao, who wasn't married yet, had actually been living with her boyfriend for a while. Since both families had already agreed on the marriage, they were just waiting until they reached the late marriage age to get the license and hold the banquet.

Wang Damei was speechless at the character of her children. "They are all like this—treating the house like a restaurant, running off after a meal." They used to stay over occasionally, but now they were lucky to stay one or two nights a year.

Song Wenbo looked at his wife, who was sulking, opened his mouth, but didn't voice the thought in his mind. He couldn't possibly tell his wife that she was too nagging, making the children reluctant to come home.

"I know you all think I'm annoying, but I’ve always been this way," Wang Damei looked at the time. "Let's get to bed early; it’s getting late."

If Song Yao and Song Ziwen were in a happy mood, then Wang Rui’s mood was quite terrible. "Ah, really? Qiqi is really going to give me ten thousand?" Wang Rui felt her heart race; she hadn't expected to become a 'ten-thousand-yuan household' herself.

Li Cui said crossly, "I was just telling you. After we get the money that day, you can keep five hundred for yourself." Li Cui was actually quite frustrated. Don't think one thousand yuan is a lot; after paying back the over four thousand Wang Dagui lost gambling, Wang Rui would only have about five thousand left—a far cry from the hundreds of thousands originally discussed.

Wang Rui had been planning how to spend the money: treating friends to a movie, having a meal, and, of course, buying clothes, which she loved most—that alone would easily amount to a thousand. But her mother only wanted to give her five hundred? How could that be enough?

Wang Rui was immediately unhappy. "Give me five hundred? Then I won't go that day." Hmph, if she didn't go, how would her mother collect the ten thousand? Although Wang Rui's grades weren't great, her mind was sharp. She knew this money was her performance fee.

Li Cui didn't expect her daughter to be so immediately defiant, showing no regard for her in front of others. Honestly, they were all the same as that wretched Wang Qiqi, making things difficult for her. "Look at you two! The older one gambles all day, losing money constantly, and I’m always cleaning up his mess. And you, the younger one!" After scolding the elder one, Li Cui turned her spear on her daughter. "The younger one is also worrisome. Look at your grades; is there any hope for high school? Can you please focus on your studies instead of always eating, drinking, and playing, or competing with your friends over clothes?"

Wang Rui paid no attention to Li Cui’s words. Relying on her mother to buy her clothes or good food and drink was out of the question; anything her mother bought would be cheap, cheap, and cheap—all bargain-bin items. The clothes she wore now were all bought by her paternal uncle and aunt.

"You, please. Your paternal uncle and aunt are gone now; don't expect to have nice clothes to wear later," Li Cui huffed. "And if your father keeps gambling, our family will truly be destitute."

"That’s not true; Dad doesn't always lose. Dad wins sometimes too. Didn't Dad win quite a bit just a few days ago?" Wang Rui didn't believe a word of what Li Cui said. Her old man wasn't doomed to perpetual bad luck; he won sometimes too. "Dad breaks even over the course of a year."

"But your dad really lost money now. Ask him," Li Cui told Wang Dagui to answer for himself.

Wang Dagui nodded sheepishly. "After subtracting what I won, I still lost over four thousand." Wang Dagui also found it strange; his luck had been terrible recently. However, Wang Dagui didn't take it to heart; he thought those three tables were cheating and ripping him off. He decided to change his gambling partners in the future. "Don't worry, I'll definitely win back the principal."

Wang Rui spoke to Li Cui without restraint. "Give me at least two thousand. Five hundred is unacceptable for me to show up. Even if Dad loses money, it’s only five thousand at most. Do you think five hundred is suitable compensation for me, someone who is putting in the effort?" Hmph, get the money first. As for her mother mentioning that the paternal uncle was gone and no one would buy her clothes, Wang Rui thought, wasn't there still Qiqi? She was so foolish; she’d surely be able to trick her out of it, especially now that she had money.

Wang Rui’s words nearly made Li Cui faint from anger, but Wang Dagui beside her chimed in that even this small amount should be given. What else could Li Cui say? "Fine, fine, I won't manage it anymore. You two father and daughter can arrange this money yourselves." With that, Li Cui washed her hands of the matter. In truth, Li Cui's idea was that once Wang Rui got the money, she’d give it to her anyway.

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