Wang Qiqi returned a few days late, but Li Cui and the others were anxious, coming around every day to check if Wang Qiqi had returned. Although Li Cui considered herself wealthy now, the moment her future son-in-law learned about Wang Qiqi’s substantial assets, it had completely stunned her and Wang Dagui into a faint. They had initially assumed the older brother and his wife had squandered the inheritance left by Qiqi’s parents, never imagining the foundation was so deep. Later, they had even scouted the properties under Wang Qiqi’s name; just those few storefronts generated a considerable rental income each year. Only then did Li Cui and the others grasp why Wang Qiqi spent money so lavishly—it was all due to these assets.

Every time Li Cui thought of those properties, her heart ached. If only they hadn't played hard to get with that stubborn girl, if they had feigned some affection, perhaps she would have willingly handed everything over. Now that her future son-in-law’s family was planning to open a restaurant, those properties would have been theirs with a mere request.

Wang Rui had been quite uneasy watching Gao Kai’s increasingly gloomy expression these past few days, unsure of how to handle his thoughts. Of course, she hoped Gao Kai’s family restaurant would succeed; the bigger the Gao family business grew, the smoother her own future would be. But the moment she considered the assets currently held by Wang Qiqi, she felt ill. Gao Kai hadn't entirely forgotten Wang Qiqi, and seeing how much Qiqi could help him—wouldn't he just switch his allegiance back to her? "Mom, what are we going to do? Gao Kai’s attitude towards me keeps getting worse."

Li Cui was equally frustrated. Although the stock market had been climbing steadily and they often heard the Gao family mentioning profits, the issue was that all the money remained in Gao Kai’s mother’s hands. She was worried too. "I told you not to give yourself to Gao Kai so early. Look at you now, running off to Shencheng every week—and look at your test scores this time."

Seeing her daughter's report card only fueled Li Cui’s anger. "I don't expect your grades to be as good as Qiqi’s, but you need to at least pass. Look at your current results; forget seventy or eighty, it’s hard to find a score that isn't marked in red."

Wang Dagui, hearing Li Cui bring up the grades again, rose and walked toward the door. Really, were his daughter's grades that important? Now, Wang Dagui reflected on how marriage could truly change a person's destiny. His older brother was one thing—marrying a wife with such a deep family background. And his nephew-in-law, Gong Peixing? Ever since marrying Song Yao, life had become so comfortable. Even his niece, Wang Qiqi—when she eventually married, she wouldn't have to worry about finding a boy from a wealthy family. He deeply regretted his own foolishness back then; otherwise, wouldn't their lives be thriving right now? Just counting the rents from his older brother’s properties would have made life smooth sailing, but now everything was in Wang Qiqi’s hands.

When Li Cui saw Wang Dagui adopting that attitude of complete detachment, she grew furious. "Wang Dagui, you need to manage your daughter!" When there were benefits, it was a family affair, but the responsibility for their daughter's education fell solely on her shoulders. "Look at your daughter's grades! I truly regret believing her words back then and paying for her high school education—I shouldn't have bothered with her."

Li Cui’s familiar complaint held no weight with Wang Rui anymore. "Mom, what’s the point of studying? Isn't it just to marry a good man? And your daughter has already achieved that goal early. Besides, I’m not as fortunate as Wang Qiqi; she inherited so much. Otherwise, why would I have to debase myself like this? Do you think I enjoy running to Shencheng every week? You don't know that if I miss a week, he might just end up rolling around with that siren." Thinking of this, a murderous intent flashed in Wang Rui’s eyes. Every time she saw Gao Kai smile at another girl, her chest tightened with fury, wishing she could slash those women’s faces. Of course, it was just a thought; she didn't have the guts. Gao Kai could easily cast their family aside.

Wang Dagui found Wang Rui’s words agreeable. "Exactly! What's more, if we persuade Qiqi to let Gao Kai’s family use those storefronts, then Gao Kai won't dare give you dirty looks. If he does, we’ll just tell Wang Qiqi not to rent to him." Wang Dagui had been worried his son-in-law might leave, but now that such a golden opportunity presented itself, he was secretly delighted. This was clearly a blessing from his deceased brother, ensuring this nephew-in-law wouldn't fly away.

Wang Dagui’s almost idiotic suggestion was disbelieved by both Li Cui and Wang Rui. They both commented simultaneously, "Old Wang, you’re dreaming in daylight." Li Cui looked at Wang Dagui with undisguised contempt. Did he really think Wang Qiqi was so easy to manipulate?

Li Cui couldn't believe Gao Kai hadn't approached Wang Qiqi before. "Didn't Gao Kai initially say he wouldn't have time to come back for New Year's Day, but then suddenly found time after hearing that Qiqi girl was going to be a bridesmaid?" Li Cui connected the dots and questioned Wang Rui, "Otherwise, why would he suddenly be so generous? Thinking about it now, there must be an issue."

Wang Rui had taken the first part of Li Cui’s statement to heart, but she didn't agree with the latter part. "Mom, even if he hadn't attended the wedding that day, he would have bought it anyway. He mentioned it several times before, but I stopped him from spending the money, didn't I? Didn't you tell me to spend less of his money so he wouldn't look down on me?" Wang Rui refused to admit that the clothes she and her parents wore were bought by Gao Kai out of consideration for Wang Qiqi; that would severely diminish her standing.

"But Mom, I think what Wang Qiqi said to Gao Kai that day was so arrogant. She truly doesn't regard us as family. Hmph, with a little bit of money, she thinks she’s all that and acts high and mighty." At this moment, Wang Rui completely forgot her own show of arrogance that New Year's Day, instead criticizing Wang Qiqi now. "Dad, you’re her uncle. You need to step up as an elder and properly educate Wang Qiqi. If she continues like this, how will she ever get along with colleagues, and who will back her up among the elders later?"

Wang Dagui began discussing with Wang Rui how they should approach Wang Qiqi about the storefronts. Meanwhile, Li Cui pondered why Wang Qiqi spoke to Gao Kai the way she did, surely she knew about Xiao Rui and Gao Kai’s relationship? The fact that Qiqi spoke that way meant she hadn’t taken their family seriously at all. "Alright, stop assuming things. Wang Dagui, even though you are her uncle, how do you plan to lecture her into handing over the properties?"

Wang Dagui nodded. "What else can we do?" Try to sweet-talk Wang Qiqi? Would she listen?

Li Cui snorted. "If you lecture her, this will fail one thousand percent." Li Cui gave Wang Dagui a sidelong glance. "Don't you understand your standing yet? Even if your daughter marries Gao Kai, Qiqi won't care. She has her own money; the people she associates with are different. Does she need to beg the Gao family? Right now, the Gao family is begging her. Adjust your attitude."

Adjust the attitude? That remark displeased not only Wang Dagui but also Wang Rui. "Mom, you're praising outsiders while belittling our own strength. Dad, just do as we planned."

"Exactly! I am her uncle. Her parents are gone. As the elder uncle, shouldn't I educate my niece when she does wrong? Besides, is she even part of the Wang family anymore?" Wang Dagui bellowed, his voice cracking with indignation.

Li Cui, seeing Wang Dagui act as if he were completely justified, chose not to argue further. Fine, let them handle it however they wished. If Wang Qiqi, that wretched girl, was scared by Wang Dagui, she might actually be persuaded. However, Li Cui felt she should speak with Wang Damei about this matter—for instance, that a young girl holding so many assets—shouldn't the elders manage some of it, only transferring it to Wang Qiqi upon her marriage, to prevent the girl from squandering it.

Lying in her quilt, Wang Qiqi was completely unaware that her assets were already being coveted, and that people were trying to rally allies. But even if Wang Qiqi knew, she would only offer a few cold laughs, stating they were dreaming.

Tucked in her bedding, listening to the sound of the distant train tracks, Wang Qiqi truly couldn't sleep. She would wake up periodically, check the boxes beneath her, and then close her eyes to doze off again. In this semi-conscious state, Wang Qiqi finally arrived at the station. Song Ziwen was already waiting on the platform. Seeing Wang Qiqi and her group, he immediately called out, "Qiqi, over here! Over here!"

Wang Qiqi yawned. She truly couldn't stand the winter in the South. Yet, in this cold weather, Song Ziwen had come to meet her. "Brother, what are you doing here today...?" Wasn't Song Ziwen supposed to be working the afternoon shift?

Song Ziwen took the luggage. "My sister urged me to pick you up. Come with me." Song Ziwen pulled the luggage and led Wang Qiqi and the others through the staff exit. "Yesterday, I overheard Li Cui calling home; her talk implied that you have too many properties and she’s worried you’ll become a spendthrift, wanting you to hand the properties over to the elders for management until you marry."

Song Ziwen had been startled by Li Cui’s call yesterday. He hadn't realized this cousin was such a major landlord with so many properties under her name. Although Song Ziwen felt a twinge of jealousy, his sister Song Yao was right: if he worked hard and saved money to buy property, he could have such a day too. And even with so many houses, Wang Qiqi was still intent on buying properties to become a landlord herself. With this comparison, Song Ziwen's sense of complacency vanished.

Wang Qiqi was shocked that Li Cui had come up with such a scheme. "What did Auntie say?"

"My mother said you are an adult and, legally, fully capable of managing your own properties, and besides, we haven't seen any signs of Qiqi being a spendthrift." Song Ziwen shot Wang Qiqi a knowing glance. If his mother had been swayed, would he be leaking this information? "But I suspect they won't give up easily. Oh, by the way, I heard the Gao family took a liking to one of your storefronts?"

Wang Qiqi hummed in agreement, briefly recounting the matter of Gao Kai approaching her. Song Ziwen had only one response to Wang Qiqi's actions: Good. "Just don't rent the property to the Gao family. Their whole family was so arrogant on my sister’s wedding day." Song Ziwen was petty; he still remembered the unpleasant things Li Cui did on Song Yao's wedding day. (To be continued)