Regardless of what the others were thinking, sorrow was etched onto every face. What drew even more attention from the neighborhood residents, however, was the child, Wang Qiqi. On one hand, they lamented that such a young child had lost both parents; on the other, they marveled that someone so small possessed so much money. Some even felt a touch of envy, thinking about the good fortune the Wang Dagui couple was about to have, possessing this windfall waiting for them.

Wang Qiqi paid no mind to the gazes cast by the neighbors or their hushed whispers. Her sole mission today was to see her parents off on their final journey smoothly. Wang Dagui and his wife could only sigh inwardly at the things people were saying. If getting money were truly that easy, why would they be in their current predicament?

When he had subtly pressured her to help with her elder brother and sister-in-law’s funeral arrangements, she had stubbornly borne the entire burden alone, preferring to hire strangers rather than humble herself before him, even saying she didn’t want to trouble them. “Dagui, she’s already hired help now; how can we use the excuse of looking after her?” Li Cui had even planned that if they couldn't swindle any money, she would simply take some money for living expenses while cooking for the girl, ensuring she could pocket a decent sum. But today’s news dashed even that small hope for Li Cui. “Hmph, so she hired someone, did she?

Don’t worry, I’ll talk to Big Sister later.” Wang Dagui couldn't swallow this insult. He had spent the past few days inquiring about the Gao family. Rumor had it they were quite low-key; despite years in business, they hadn't flaunted wealth with new cars or houses, still living in their old residence. Furthermore, the Gao family’s children had excellent grades.

The only minor downside was that the boys tended to attract a lot of female attention. But then again, what could one expect from handsome, high-achieving boys from a good family? If no girls were circling them, Wang Dagui would have been more concerned. “The boy our daughter has taken an interest in this time is genuinely quite good; he has a fine character.

However, I noticed that the girls around him are all dressed very well. Don't be too stingy; you must dress our daughter appropriately.” Dress her up? Li Cui was speechless at Wang Dagui’s clear lack of sense. “Do you think clothes are free?

What’s your salary, really? And what if you gamble and lose? Who will pay back your debts?” Li Cui thought to herself—if the man had to cover gambling debts, and her daughter needed new clothes, what would be left for her to eat or drink? “In short, what our daughter does is her business.

If she needs clothes, she can earn the money herself. I don't have that kind of money.” When the eldest sister-in-law was alive, Li Cui never had to consider spending money on Qiqi’s clothes. But now, everything seemed to fall on her. Yesterday, they ran out of salad oil, and a trip to the supermarket for that and a few other things cost another hundred silver dollars.

Li Cui was already simmering with irritation, so there was little chance her temper toward Wang Dagui would be good. Seeing his wife storm off angrily, Wang Dagui had no choice but to follow. Fortunately, the couple had spoken these words very softly; otherwise, they might have become a laughingstock. Li Cui held a ball of fire deep in her chest, a rage she couldn't vent anywhere.

She felt terrible, but she had to endure it; the current situation was stronger than her. Moreover, the moment her husband’s older sister entered today, she had been overly warm and solicitous toward that girl Wang Qiqi, helping to receive guests. When Li Cui walked in, the older sister had merely lifted her eyelids slightly and offered a brief greeting. Li Cui understood perfectly: Wang Damei was sending her a clear signal.

When Li Cui followed the main party into the prepared mourning hall, she found the entire space seemed to be a world of lilies—filled to the brim with them. “Oh my, the service attitude at the funeral home is truly excellent these days; they even used so many real lilies to decorate the hall.” Goodness, how much must a hall like this cost? “Lilies were my mother’s favorite flower,” Wang Qiqi said coldly. “Why does Second Aunt bring up money with every breath?

Don’t worry, no matter how much it costs, I, Wang Qiqi, will not ask you for a single cent.” This is my family’s money; why are you wincing as if it's yours? Wang Damei listened to her niece’s displeased tone. Although she also felt the child was a bit wasteful—it was only a matter of an hour or two; there was no need to spend so much—she knew that ever since her second brother planned to secretly take possession of the elder brother couple’s compensation money, even involving her in the scheme, Wang Qiqi’s attitude toward her had become somewhat distant. Even the ten thousand she offered per child was only because she didn’t want the day of the funeral to look too grim.

Whether one called her concession a desire for peace or not, Wang Damei felt this was the last time the girl would yield. Afterward, she would have no need to beg her for anything. Let's see if she backs down then. If everyone maintained polite relations, perhaps the girl would treat them kindly too.

“You need to observe the situation carefully,” Wang Damei muttered. Though she truly didn't want to manage her thoughtless sister-in-law, this was her elder brother’s final major life event; she couldn't let her cause a public spectacle. Li Cui looked at her sister-in-law’s displeased expression and gestured toward the profusion of lilies. “Big Sister, look at how many flowers this is—how much money must this cost?

Even if it’s her money, still…” Wang Damei looked at the fool agonizing over money, inwardly cursing. No matter how much she worried, it wasn't her money. “It’s not your money. Let her cause a scene if she wants to.

She is venting her dissatisfaction, her unhappiness. If you want to argue, go ahead; see who will support you.” If she didn't come to her senses soon, Wang Damei decided, she wouldn't lift a finger to help her. Seeing the anger already appearing on Big Sister’s face, Wang Dagui quickly tugged his wife’s arm. “Can you just quiet down?

This is Big Brother’s important day.” Li Cui saw that no one was siding with her, let alone her own daughter. At this moment, staring at those bouquets of flowers, she could no longer register the gazes of those around her. Wang Rui looked at her aunt and uncle lying amidst the flowers and had only one thought: how romantic. She hadn't expected Wang Qiqi to think of decorating the hall with so many flowers.

“Sister Qiqi, Auntie and Uncle will be so happy; lilies were her favorite flower when she was alive.” “Yes,” Wang Qiqi replied. She caught a flicker of jealousy in Wang Rui’s eyes, but otherwise, she seemed genuinely unaffected. However, Wang Qiqi’s inner self was far from as harmless as her exterior suggested. Perhaps her arrogance masked an ugly soul.

Still, Wang Rui was behaving commendably today, so Wang Qiqi would be gracious. “I think they would be very happy.” Wang Qiqi had briefly considered planting some flowers and foliage at her parents’ gravesite but quickly dismissed the idea. Planting expensive species meant they’d likely be stolen soon; planting common, hardy ones meant they would grow wildly out of control. Thus, she abandoned the thought entirely.

“They will definitely be happy,” Wang Rui muttered, clenching her teeth, wanting to ask a question but unsure how to phrase it. After the ceremony concluded, the staff prepared to wheel Wang Dajun and his wife away. Wang Qiqi asked them to wait a moment, took a pair of scissors from her bag, cut off two locks of hair from her head, and placed them beside her parents. “Mom, Dad, I will live well, not as miserably as I did in my previous life.” Wang Qiqi gave her parents a final, lingering look, her eyes brimming with tears, as she followed the staff to the railing near the incinerator, watching her parents pushed inside.

Wang Qiqi thought she would remain strong; after tending to her parents all these days, her tears felt long since dried up. But at this final moment, she broke down, weeping uncontrollably, finally collapsing onto the ground, repeatedly crying out, “Mom! Dad!” Wang Qiqi had only one thought: to take her parents back, even if it meant renting a cold storage casket to keep them preserved indefinitely, rather than letting them endure this agony. Luo Hongjuan watched as everyone was ushered toward the reserved resting lounge, with only the young girl Wang Qiqi following the cart.

She sighed, then turned and followed in Qiqi’s footsteps. She watched the child she had always perceived as cold weep so heartbrokenly, finally sitting down on the floor. In that moment, she thought she saw her own son, Xiaotao, behaving exactly the same way when her husband passed away, kneeling by the railing, clinging to his leg, screaming for his father. Luo Hongjuan walked over to Wang Qiqi, lifted her up, and gently patted her back.

“Qiqi, be good. If you grieve like this, your parents will see from above and be very sad.” Crying, Wang Qiqi only registered that someone was pulling her up. She assumed it might be her paternal aunt, but she was surprised to find it was Luo Hongjuan, a neighbor lifting her. “Auntie Luo, Auntie Luo, my parents—they really don’t want Qiqi anymore!

Qiqi will be very good; Qiqi doesn’t want pretty clothes, doesn’t want delicious food, doesn’t want all that money. I just want my parents to come back…” Luo Hongjuan kept patting Wang Qiqi’s back, simply listening as the girl vented the turmoil in her heart. Wang Qiqi vented for about twenty minutes before she slowly regained her senses. Realizing she was leaning against the shoulder of an esteemed figure’s mother, she looked up to see that the shoulder of the woman’s dress was soaked with her tears.

“Auntie Luo…” “I know,” Luo Hongjuan said, gently straightening Wang Qiqi’s head. She pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and gently dabbed Qiqi’s face. “When your Uncle Han passed away, Xiaotao cried just like you, asking for his father to return. But things have happened, and it’s impossible to go back to the past.

However, I believe Qiqi can live very well on her own, so her parents in heaven won’t worry, right?” Wang Qiqi nodded, “Mm, I will. I will.” Is Recommended by 】For more chapters, please visit the website to remove ads and read the full text novel reader